1
: head
2
a
: the top or back of the head
b
: nape
3
: the broad or flat end of a striking tool (such as a hammer)
4
a(1)
: the casting or recording of the votes of a body of persons
(2)
: a counting of votes cast
b
: the place where votes are cast or recorded
—usually used in plural
at the polls
c
: the period of time during which votes may be cast at an election
d
: the total number of votes recorded
a heavy poll
5
a
: a questioning or canvassing of persons selected at random or by quota to obtain information or opinions to be analyzed
b
: a record of the information so obtained
polled; polling; polls
1
2
a
: to cut off or back the top of (something, such as a tree)
specifically
: pollard
b
: to cut off or cut short the horns of (cattle)
3
a
: to receive and record the votes of
b
: to request each member of to declare a vote individually
poll the assembly
4
: to receive (votes) in an election
5
: to question or canvass in a poll
6
: to check (devices, such as several computer terminals sharing a single line) in sequence for messages waiting to be transmitted
: to cast one's vote at a poll
Synonyms
Examples of poll in a Sentence
Noun
The magazine conducted a poll to find out the favorite 100 movies of all time.
A recent poll shows a decrease in the number of teenagers who smoke.
The polls are open until 8:00 tonight.
Verb
About half of the people polled had tried smoking.
The conservative candidate polled more than 10,000 votes in the last election.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024
The nomination period and poll voting for Student of the Week opens every Monday and closes at noon each Thursday.
—The Courier-Journal, 12 Apr. 2024
Now, a new poll reveals most Americans are against the GOP resolution.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Seventy-one percent of Israelis want Netanyahu booted from office, according to polls released Sunday, and 66% want elections called early, which could happen if a handful of members of the ruling coalition defected.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
The Braun campaign has released multiple internal polls, each showing Braun with a commanding double-digit lead.
—The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2024
The Jayhawks, who went 23-11 this past season, are ranked No. 3 in ESPN.com’s first of the many preseason polls that will be released between now and KU’s opener in November.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Complicating this picture, however, is some startling data from a Wall Street Journal poll of seven battleground states, released last week, that supports the vibes theory.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2024
Democrats go all in on an unfiltered Trump Leila Register / NBC News; Getty Images
With the White House hanging in the balance and former President Donald Trump’s poll numbers holding steady, many Democrats are now changing gears and want more Trump in the media, not less.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 8 Apr. 2024
The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2024
The number was slightly higher for those polled in Oakland.
—Kristin J. Bender, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
Around 46% of new hires polled in the first quarter of this year say they were recruited to their jobs instead of applying themselves, up from 34% who reported the same during the fourth quarter of 2023.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Auto industry analysts polled by FactSet were looking for 457,000 vehicle deliveries from Tesla Inc.
—Tom Krisher, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
But Kennedy, 70, is still a scion of the most famous political family in America and has polled as high as 13% of the November vote in a recent Quinnipiac Poll.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 30 Mar. 2024
Overall support for legalization is now at 70%, the highest recorded by Gallup, which began polling the question in 1969, when just 12% of Americans favored legalizing marijuana.
—Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
There are also savvy exchanges that reflect lingering issues of letting candidates speak their mind as opposed to what will poll best.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
That was below what economists polled by FactSet forecast.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
The online poll opened at the beginning of April for Arizona residents to vote for their favorite license plate design and the winner will be announced on Saturday, April 20.
—Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2024
The nomination period and poll voting for Student of the Week opens every Monday and closes at noon each Thursday.
—The Courier-Journal, 12 Apr. 2024
Now, a new poll reveals most Americans are against the GOP resolution.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Seventy-one percent of Israelis want Netanyahu booted from office, according to polls released Sunday, and 66% want elections called early, which could happen if a handful of members of the ruling coalition defected.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
The Braun campaign has released multiple internal polls, each showing Braun with a commanding double-digit lead.
—The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2024
The Jayhawks, who went 23-11 this past season, are ranked No. 3 in ESPN.com’s first of the many preseason polls that will be released between now and KU’s opener in November.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Complicating this picture, however, is some startling data from a Wall Street Journal poll of seven battleground states, released last week, that supports the vibes theory.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2024
Democrats go all in on an unfiltered Trump Leila Register / NBC News; Getty Images
With the White House hanging in the balance and former President Donald Trump’s poll numbers holding steady, many Democrats are now changing gears and want more Trump in the media, not less.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 8 Apr. 2024
Verb
That second-place cluster also includes Chambers, who polled at 10%, indicating there isn't a clear alternative to Braun around which voters are coalescing.
—The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2024
The number was slightly higher for those polled in Oakland.
—Kristin J. Bender, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
Around 46% of new hires polled in the first quarter of this year say they were recruited to their jobs instead of applying themselves, up from 34% who reported the same during the fourth quarter of 2023.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Auto industry analysts polled by FactSet were looking for 457,000 vehicle deliveries from Tesla Inc.
—Tom Krisher, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
But Kennedy, 70, is still a scion of the most famous political family in America and has polled as high as 13% of the November vote in a recent Quinnipiac Poll.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 30 Mar. 2024
Overall support for legalization is now at 70%, the highest recorded by Gallup, which began polling the question in 1969, when just 12% of Americans favored legalizing marijuana.
—Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
There are also savvy exchanges that reflect lingering issues of letting candidates speak their mind as opposed to what will poll best.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
That was below what economists polled by FactSet forecast.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poll.' 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 pol, polle, from Middle Low German
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of poll was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing poll
Articles Related to poll
Dictionary Entries Near poll
Cite this Entry
“Poll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poll. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
poll
1 of 2 noun1
b
: the top or back of the head
2
a
: the casting or recording of votes
b
: the place where votes are cast or recorded
—usually used in plural
at the polls
3
: a questioning of persons to obtain information or opinions
poll
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to take and record the votes of
b
: to request each member of to declare his or her vote individually
poll a jury
2
: to receive votes in an election
the candidate polled 10,000 votes
3
: to question (people) or cover (an area) in a poll
4
: to cast one's vote at a poll
Medical Definition
poll
1 of 3 noun
: the head or a part of it
especially
: the region between the ears of some quadrupeds (as a horse)
poll
2 of 3 transitive verb
: to cut off or cut short the horns of (cattle)
poll
3 of 3 adjective
: having no horns
More from Merriam-Webster on poll
Nglish: Translation of poll for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of poll for Arabic Speakers
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