measure

1 of 2

noun

mea·​sure ˈme-zhər How to pronounce measure (audio) ˈmā- How to pronounce measure (audio)
Synonyms of measurenext
1
a(1)
: an adequate or due portion
all too few of the British actresses … have received their measure of remembrance—Saturday Review
(2)
: a moderate degree
also : moderation, temperance
(3)
: a fixed or suitable limit : bounds
rich beyond measure
b
: the dimensions, capacity, or amount of something ascertained by measuring
took his measure for a coat
c
: an estimate of what is to be expected (as of a person or situation)
the measure of their tragedy is now beyond our imagination—G. F. Kennan
d(1)
: a measured quantity
(2)
: amount, degree
giving children a greater measure of freedom
2
a
: an instrument (such as a yardstick) or utensil (such as a graduated cup) for measuring
b(1)
: a standard or unit of measurement see Weights and Measures Table
(2)
: a system of standard units of measure
metric measure
3
: the act or process of measuring
settled by a measure made by a surveyor
4
a(1)
: melody, tune
(2)
: dance
especially : a slow and stately dance
b
: rhythmic structure or movement : cadence: such as
(1)
: poetic rhythm measured by temporal (see temporal entry 1 sense 3) quantity or accent
specifically : meter
(2)
: musical time
c(1)
: a grouping of a specified number of musical beats located between two consecutive vertical lines on a staff
(2)
: a metrical unit : foot
5
: an exact divisor of a number
6 being the greatest common measure of 42 and 12
6
: a basis or standard of comparison
wealth is not a measure of happiness
7
: a step planned or taken as a means to an end
took strong measures against the rebels
specifically : a proposed legislative act
sponsored an anti-inflation measure in the senate

measure

2 of 2

verb

measured; measuring ˈme-zhə-riŋ How to pronounce measure (audio)
ˈmā-;
ˈmezh-riŋ,
ˈmāzh-

transitive verb

1
a
: to choose or control with cautious restraint : regulate
measure his acts
b
: to regulate by a standard : govern
2
: to allot or apportion in measured amounts
measure out three cups
3
: to lay off by making measurements
4
: to ascertain the measurements of
5
: to estimate or appraise by a criterion
measures his skill against his rival
6
archaic : to travel over : traverse
7
: to serve as a means of measuring
a thermometer measures temperature

intransitive verb

1
: to take or make a measurement
2
: to have a specified measurement
measurer
ˈme-zhər-ər How to pronounce measure (audio)
ˈmā-;
ˈmezh-rə-
ˈmāzh-
noun
Phrases
for good measure
: in addition to the minimum required : as an extra
added another illustration for good measure

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of measure in a Sentence

Noun She felt equal measures of hope and fear. Their actions were motivated in large measure by a desire for revenge. An occasion like this calls for some measure of decorum. The meter is a measure of length. The dictionary includes a table of weights and measures. The legislature has passed a measure aimed at protecting consumers. The governor has proposed a number of cost-cutting measures. They were forced to resort to desperate measures. We need to take measures to protect ourselves. Verb using a ruler to measure a piece of paper an instrument for measuring air pressure mental abilities measured by IQ testing He's being measured for a new suit. His success cannot be measured solely on the basis of his popularity. The cloth measures 3 meters. The room measures 15 feet wide by 30 feet long.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
That’s a measure based on how long a storm says at the range of hurricane strength categories. —Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024 The measure has yet to be voted on by either chamber. —Jonathan Shorman and, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024 In 2019, one year before Colorado voters approved the controversial ballot measure to reintroduce wolves, CPW announced the arrival of a collared female wolf from a Wyoming pack. —Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 4 Apr. 2024 Two council members recently introduced separate measures addressing truancy and absenteeism. —Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024 Voters in the Badger State passed a ballot initiative to ban the use of private funds for election administration − a measure championed by former President Donald Trump and Republican House lawmakers including Reps. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin and Jim Jordan of Ohio. —Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024 Primary prevention is measures taken to prevent a disease from occurring for the first time. —Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2024 In the end, the bills funding the government represented fairly traditional compromise measures. —Carl Hulse, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024 Bone mineral density measures calcium and other minerals in the bones. —Sarah Garone, Health, 23 Mar. 2024
Verb
Deforestation refers to people permanently converting woodlands to other uses such as agriculture and is harder to measure. —Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024 Violent and property crime will be measured by data tools and crime rates, while citizen satisfaction and relationships will be measured through a variety of surveys, the plan states. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024 In 1919, a pair of astronomers who were watching an eclipse verified Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity by measuring how the sun distorts the light from other stars. —Yaakov Zinberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024 The higher a country's Human Development Index (HDI) level, which is measured by human health, longevity and standards of living, the more likely its residents are to develop cancer, the report states. —Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024 To measure each hotdog, the connoisseur is tasked with recording each wiener's length, diameter, weight and price. —Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024 What to know about earthquakes Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says. —Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024 The school’s performance, meanwhile, will be measured in a separate rating that will look at factors like test scores, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism levels, and college and career readiness. —Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024 The company has also not been accredited for measuring over-the-air TV. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'measure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mesure "act of measuring, instrument for measuring, standard unit of quantity, size, measurable amount, proper proportion, moderation, tempurance," borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin mensūra "act of measuring, dimension determined by measurement, amount, instrument for measuring," from mensus, past participle of mētior, mētīrī "to determine the extent of, mark off by measuring" + -ūra -ure; mētior verbal derivative of an Indo-European noun *meh1-ti- "act of measuring" (whence Old English mǣth "measure, degree, efficacy," Greek mêtis "measure, skill, craft," Sanskrit māti- "measure, correct understanding"), nominal derivative of a verbal base *meh1-, whence, as a reduplicated present, Sanskrit mímite "(s/he) measures, shares," Avestan framimaθā "(s/he) should arrange"

Note: The irregular past participle mensus, alongside a regular derivative mētītus only found in later classical texts, may have been formed by analogy with pensus, past participle of pendere "to weigh."

Verb

Middle English mesuren "to calculate the measurements of, determine the extent of by measuring, apportion, moderate, control, judge," borrowed from Anglo-French mesurer, going back to Late Latin mensūrāre "to calculate the measurements of," derivative of mensūra measure entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of measure was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing measure

Dictionary Entries Near measure

measurage

measure

measured

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Measure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/measure. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

measure

1 of 2 noun
mea·​sure ˈmezh-ər How to pronounce measure (audio) ˈmāzh- How to pronounce measure (audio)
1
a
: an adequate, fixed, or suitable limit or amount
surprised beyond measure
b
: amount entry 2, extent, degree
gained a large measure of freedom
2
a
: the size, capacity, or quantity of something as fixed by measuring
use equal measures of ingredients
b
: something (as a yardstick or cup) used in measuring
c
: a unit used in measuring
the foot is a measure of length
d
: a system of measuring
metric measure
3
: the act or process of measuring
4
a
: dance entry 2 sense 2
especially : a slow and stately dance
b
: rhythm or movement in music or poetry : meter, cadence
c
: the part of a musical staff between two bars or the group of beats between these bars
5
: an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
especially : a legislative bill or act
measure table

measure

2 of 2 verb
measured; measuring ˈmezh-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce measure (audio)
ˈmāzh-
1
: to mark or fix in multiples of a specific unit
measure out two cups
2
: to find out the size, extent, or amount of
measure the piece of paper
3
: estimate entry 1 sense 1
measured the distance with my eye
4
: to bring into comparison
measure your skill against an opponent's
5
: to serve as a measure of
a thermometer measures temperature
6
: to have as its measurement
the room measures 12 by 12 feet
measurer
-ər-ər How to pronounce measure (audio)
noun
Etymology

Noun

Middle English mesure "measure," from early French mesure (same meaning), from Latin mensura "measure," from mensus, past participle of metiri "to measure" — related to dimension, immense

Medical Definition

measure

1 of 2 noun
mea·​sure ˈmezh-ər How to pronounce measure (audio) ˈmāzh- How to pronounce measure (audio)
1
: an instrument or utensil for measuring
2
: a standard or unit of measurement
also : a system of such measures
metric measure

measure

2 of 2 verb
measured; measuring ˈmezh-(ə-)riŋ, ˈmāzh- How to pronounce measure (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to allot or apportion in measured amounts
2
: to ascertain the measurements of
3
: to serve as a measure of
a thermometer measures temperature

intransitive verb

: to have a specified measurement

More from Merriam-Webster on measure

Nglish: Translation of measure for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of measure for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about measure

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