liter

noun

li·​ter ˈlē-tər 

variants or litre

: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see Metric System Table

Examples of liter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Department of Energy has agreed to purchase three liters of helium-3 harvested from the moon no later than April 2029. —Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025

With that money, the group was able to provide: 12.6 million liters of fresh drinking water. —Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 24 July 2025

The newest limited edition popcorn bucket holds a massive 9 liters, or 361 oz., of popcorn and is shaped like the movie's villan—Galactus, Marvel’s devourer of worlds. —Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine says women generally need about 2.7 liters (11.4 cups) of water a day, and men need 3.7 liters, or 15.6 cups. —Erica Sweeney, Time, 17 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

French litre, from Medieval Latin litra, a measure, from Greek, a weight

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for liter

• beater
• cheater
• dieter
• eater
• heater
• litre
• meter
• metre
• neater
• praetor
• seater
• skeeter

Kids Definition

liter

noun

li·​ter

variants or litre

ˈlēt-ər

: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see metric system

Medical Definition

liter

noun

li·​ter

variants or chiefly British litre

ˈlēt-ər 

: a metric unit of capacity equal to the volume of one kilogram of water at 4°C (39°F) and at standard atmospheric pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury