list

1 of 9

noun (1)

ˈlist 

1

a

: a simple series of words or numerals (such as the names of persons or objects)

a guest list

b

: an official roster : roll

drawing up a list for … party nomination

—Richard Scammon

2

: catalog, checklist

The song jumped to the top of the hit list.

3

: the total number to be considered or included

add spelling reform to his list of interests

—W. B. Shaw

list

2 of 9

verb (1)

listed; listing; lists

transitive verb

1

a

: to make a list of : enumerate

She began listing places she wanted to travel.

Can you list three former U.S. presidents?

Please list the medicines you currently take.

b

: to add (someone or something) to a list : register

They listed their property (for sale).

The animal has now been officially listed as endangered.

He listed messiness as a pet peeve.

c

: to have or show a list of

This guide lists simple tips for operating your fire pit better …

—Brian Bennet

… put up eight huge electronic billboards listing gate information for flights to and from nearly 20 cities …

—Bridget O'Brian

The database lists people who need food, cooks, drivers, and deliveries.

—Paul Ford

d

: to have or show (someone or something) as part of a list, register, or record

Our system lists you as her emergency contact.

The recipe lists some ingredients I've never heard of.

The Lenovo site currently lists that configuration at $2,016 …

—Mark Coppock

2

: to place (oneself) in a specified category

lists himself as a political liberal

3

archaic : recruit

intransitive verb

1

: to become entered in a catalog with a selling price

a car that lists for $12,000

2

archaic : enlist

listee

li-ˈstē 

noun

list

3 of 9

verb (2)

listed; listing; lists

intransitive verb

: to tilt to one side

especially, of a boat or ship : to tilt to one side in a state of equilibrium (as from an unbalanced load) compare heel

transitive verb

: to cause to list

The shifting cargo listed the ship.

list

4 of 9

noun (2)

: a deviation from the vertical : tilt

The ship had a heavy list to starboard.

also : the extent of such a deviation

list

5 of 9

noun (3)

1

: a band or strip of material: such as

a

: listel

b

: selvage

c

: a narrow strip of wood cut from the edge of a board

2

lists plural in form but singular or plural in construction

a

: an arena for combat (such as jousting)

entered the lists against the bull

—Frank Yerby

b

: a field of competition or controversy

The candidate entered the political lists.

3

: stripe

The horse had a list along its back.

4

obsolete : limit, boundary

list

6 of 9

verb (3)

listed; listing; lists

transitive verb

1

: to cut away a narrow strip from the edge of

2

: to prepare or plant (land) in ridges and furrows with a lister

list

7 of 9

verb (4)

listed; listing; lists

transitive verb

archaic : please, suit

intransitive verb

archaic : wish, choose

list

8 of 9

noun (4)

archaic

: inclination, craving

list

9 of 9

verb (5)

listed; listing; lists

intransitive verb

archaic : listen

transitive verb

archaic : to listen to : hear

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• canon
• catalog
• catalogue
• checklist
• listing
• menu
• register
• registry
• roll
• roll call
• roster
• schedule
• table

Verb (1)

• enumerate
• inventory
• itemize
• numerate

Verb (2)

• angle
• cant
• cock
• heel
• incline
• lean
• pitch
• slant
• slope
• tilt
• tip

Noun (2)

• angling
• bend
• cock
• inclination
• tilt
• tip

Noun (3)

• ribbon
• slip
• strip

Examples of list in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

He was also recently named to Forbes’ prestigious billionaire’s list. —Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 30 Apr. 2024

Powerball 2024 drawing jackpot winners Here is the list of 2024 Powerball jackpot wins, according to powerball.com: $842.4 million — Jan. 1; Michigan. $1.362 million — April 6; Oregon. —Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

French liste, from Italian lista, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German līsta edge

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

origin unknown

Noun (3) and Verb (3)

Middle English, from Old English līste; akin to Old High German līsta edge, Albanian leth

Verb (4)

Middle English lysten, from Old English lystan; akin to Old English lust desire, lust

Noun (4)

Middle English, probably from lysten

Verb (5)

Middle English, from Old English hlystan, from hlyst hearing; akin to Old English hlysnan to listen

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1614, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

1626, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1582, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (3)

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (4)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (4)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (5)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing list

• A-list
• at the top of the list
• best-seller list
• B-list
• bucket list
• dean's list
• disabled list
• drop-down list
• endangered list
• grocery list
• guest list
• high on one's list
• high on the list
• hit list
• injured list
• laundry list
• life list
• list price
• mailing list
• on the critical list
• punch list
• shopping list
• short list
• the disabled list
• the top of one's list
• to-do list
• too numerous to list
• waiting list
• wait-list
• watch list
• white list
• wine list
• wish list

Kids Definition

list

1 of 7 verb

ˈlist 

archaic

: choose sense 3

list

2 of 7 verb

archaic

: to listen to : hear

list

3 of 7 noun

1

: a band or strip of material

2

plural

a

: an arena for jousting

b

: a field of competition or dispute

list

4 of 7 noun

: a leaning to one side : tilt

list

5 of 7 verb

: to lean to one side : tilt

a listing ship

list

6 of 7 noun

: a record or catalog of names or items

guest list

grocery list

list

7 of 7 verb

1

: to make a list of

2

: to put on a list

3

: to have a list price

a car that lists at $20,000

Etymology

Verb

Old English lystan "to please, suit, be desirable"

Verb

Old English hlystan "to listen"

Noun

Old English līste "strip"

Verb

origin unknown

Noun

from French liste "a series of names or numbers," from Italian lista (same meaning); of Germanic origin

Legal Definition

list

noun

: calendar