list

1 of 9

noun (1)

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 nominationRichard 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 interestsW. 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 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
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 bullFrank 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

list

8 of 9

noun (4)

archaic

list

9 of 9

verb (5)

listed; listing; lists

transitive verb

archaic : to listen to : hear

Examples of list in a Sentence

Noun (1) we put eggs, sour cream, tomatoes, roast beef, and cheddar cheese on the shopping list Verb (1) the coach listed the people on the team her number isn't listed in the phone book our grandfather is listed among the war dead honored by the memorial do I need to list all of the reasons why your idea won't work? Verb (2) the sudden shift of the load in the hull listed the ship badly Noun (2) the extreme list of the racing yacht made it hard for the untried crew to keep their balance Noun (3) shave a thin list from the side of the board
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The singer fills seven spaces on the Vinyl Albums chart, with half of her current wins finding their way back to the list of the bestselling titles on wax in the U.S. Among her quartet of comebacks, Lover ranks highest. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 Among the many other things on her to-do list were security upgrades at the election office. Christina A. Cassidy, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024
Verb
With a list of 30 players being recognized for their achievements, Sophia Smith was listed in fourth, Lindsey Horan was listed in fifth, Mallory Swanson was listed in seventh, and Alyssa Naeher was listed as 17th. Jackie Gutierrez, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Nutley was listed in the school handbook for the 2023-24 school year as the multi-tiered systems support coordinator. Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for list 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'list.' 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 (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

Time Traveler
The first known use of list was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near list

Cite this Entry

“List.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/list. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

list

1 of 7 verb
archaic

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

More from Merriam-Webster on list

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!