pro·por·tion
prə-ˈpȯr-shən 
2
a
: proper or equal share
each did her proportion of the work
b
: quota, percentage
3
: the relation of one part to another or to the whole with respect to magnitude, quantity, or degree : ratio
4
5
: a statement of equality between two ratios in which the first of the four terms divided by the second equals the third divided by the fourth (as in 4/2=10/5) compare extreme sense 1b, mean sense 1c
proportioned; proportioning
prə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)niŋ
1
: to adjust (a part or thing) in size relative to other parts or things
2
: to make the parts of harmonious or symmetrical
Synonyms
Examples of proportion in a Sentence
Noun
His ears were drawn out of proportion with his head.
The size of the window seems out of proportion with the height of the wall.
Recent Examples on the Web
Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
The two accounts have nearly 600,000 followers apiece, a significant proportion of those gained since Oct. 7.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
One of my favorite locations is the little post office, which was really a garage with strange proportions that just felt so right to me.
—Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, my sense of proportion was off and [at first] the bulging muscles only made the arms look skinnier, like Popeye.
—Kadish Morris, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
In 2018-19, charitable gaming made up a much higher proportion of all legal gaming receipts in the state, around 20%.
—The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
According to the American Bar Association, 39% of lawyers are women as of 2023 and Black lawyers currently make up only 5% of the profession, far less than the proportion of Black people in the US population (13.6%).
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Coronation Quiche The proportion of other ingredients — cheese, spinach and edamame — to eggs is high in my adaptation of the quiche recipe shared by the British royal family for the coronation of King Charles III.
—Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
As the number of bug zapper listings grew, the proportion of listings Fakespot gave a D or F grade based on unreliable reviews also increased, from 37 percent in 2021 to 38 percent in the following year.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Another important principle, then, revives Hamilton’s dictum that the means must be proportioned to the mischief.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The kitchen is spacious, efficiently arranged, and well equipped, while the nearby family room is cozily proportioned.
—Aditiashetty, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2024
Thick stitching keeps its seams together, with fibrous filling proportioned within the shell to stay in place without feeling stiff.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024
Body: average height but dramatically proportioned.
—Mary Gaitskill, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
Can be made in no time and is perfectly proportioned for two!
—Fox News, 24 Feb. 2021
The flat sheet is also generously proportioned with a beautifully luxurious drape.
—Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2024
Located on the 12th floor with big, north-facing windows, the apartment was, though technically a studio, graciously proportioned, with a dressing area, two large closets, and a spacious bathroom with the original black-and-white tile.
—Curbed, 23 Jan. 2024
Noun
Along with that face-flattening thrust comes the pickup’s novel application of technology beneath its polarizing proportions.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
The two accounts have nearly 600,000 followers apiece, a significant proportion of those gained since Oct. 7.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
One of my favorite locations is the little post office, which was really a garage with strange proportions that just felt so right to me.
—Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, my sense of proportion was off and [at first] the bulging muscles only made the arms look skinnier, like Popeye.
—Kadish Morris, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
In 2018-19, charitable gaming made up a much higher proportion of all legal gaming receipts in the state, around 20%.
—The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
According to the American Bar Association, 39% of lawyers are women as of 2023 and Black lawyers currently make up only 5% of the profession, far less than the proportion of Black people in the US population (13.6%).
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Coronation Quiche The proportion of other ingredients — cheese, spinach and edamame — to eggs is high in my adaptation of the quiche recipe shared by the British royal family for the coronation of King Charles III.
—Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
As the number of bug zapper listings grew, the proportion of listings Fakespot gave a D or F grade based on unreliable reviews also increased, from 37 percent in 2021 to 38 percent in the following year.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
The rooms and suites are both generously proportioned, though the suites come with living rooms, dining nooks, and soaking tubs.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Another important principle, then, revives Hamilton’s dictum that the means must be proportioned to the mischief.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The kitchen is spacious, efficiently arranged, and well equipped, while the nearby family room is cozily proportioned.
—Aditiashetty, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2024
Thick stitching keeps its seams together, with fibrous filling proportioned within the shell to stay in place without feeling stiff.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024
Body: average height but dramatically proportioned.
—Mary Gaitskill, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
Can be made in no time and is perfectly proportioned for two!
—Fox News, 24 Feb. 2021
The flat sheet is also generously proportioned with a beautifully luxurious drape.
—Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2024
Located on the 12th floor with big, north-facing windows, the apartment was, though technically a studio, graciously proportioned, with a dressing area, two large closets, and a spacious bathroom with the original black-and-white tile.
—Curbed, 23 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'proportion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near proportion
Cite this Entry
“Proportion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proportion. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
proportion
1 of 2 noun
pro·por·tion
p(r)ə-ˈpōr-shən
-ˈpȯr-
1
: the size, number, or amount of one thing or group as compared to the size, number, or amount of another
the proportion of boys to girls in our class is three to one
2
: a balanced or pleasing arrangement
out of proportion
3
: a statement of the equality of two ratios (as ⁴⁄₂ = ¹⁰⁄₅) compare extreme entry 2 sense 2, mean entry 4 sense 2b
4
: a fair or just share
did our proportion of the work
5
: dimension sense 1b
a crisis of large proportions
the proportions of a room
proportion
2 of 2 verb
proportioned; proportioning
-sh(ə-)niŋ
1
: to adjust something to fit with something else
2
: to make the parts of go well with each other
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