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Definition of figurenext
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as in digit
a character used to represent a mathematical value no doubt the figures on the price tags at the jewelry store are so small because the zeroes are so many

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as in outline
a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface we could gradually see the figure of a ship coming our way through the fog

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as in sculpture
a small statue painted wooden figures by untrained artists can be quite valuable on today's antiques market

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as in doll
a three-dimensional representation of the human body used especially for displaying clothes the museum features a collection of figures strikingly attired in suits of medieval armor

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as in motif
a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) upholstered the chair with a fabric embossed with figures of fleur-de-lis

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as in diagram
something that visually explains or decorates a text the layout editor could have done a better job of getting the figures on the same page as the specific portion of text that they are intended to illustrate

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as in physique
the type of body that a person has Martha has such a slender figure that just about anything looks good on her

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figure

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verb

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as in to estimate
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement let's figure the juice in the pan to be about a cup and just add it to the mix

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of figure
Noun
The newest residential project in the city is Flamingo Village, a complex of 16 buildings and 341 apartments built on 13 acres of historic Hialeah Park, home to a casino and racetrack that has hosted political figures and celebrities like Winston Churchill and Jacqueline Kennedy. Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2026 An exact figure remains impossible to confirm. Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
Lost amid the euphoria of the first relevant Sharks season in a good long while is the fact that this team is still a collection of kids figuring things out on the fly. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026 Really figure it out and keep that light alive. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for figure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figure
Noun
  • What's Next The stablecoin payments market is projected to keep growing at triple-digit rates.
    Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Fletcher was a one-man force, hitting triple digits for the third time in four playoff games and turning a moribund offense into something much more.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The outline of the jaw jitters faintly—two layers are ever so slightly misaligned.
    Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Apatow doesn’t seem to have come to this film with a thesis and a story and an outline already in hand.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The annual Davos gathering of political leaders, top executives and celebrities runs from January 20 to 24.
    Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026
  • As viewers at home debate which celebrity contestant has the best strategy, the streamer has released a statement reminding audiences to be kind.
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Donors contributing $1,000 or more will be recognized on a dedicated bronze plaque affixed to the sculpture.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Media range from murals, surfboards and graphic art to sculpture and fabric.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Every memory holding the sum of us—not me alone, but a nesting doll of memories, proof that someone in the world once mothered us, even if that mothering had to come from only ourselves.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
  • And referring to yourself as my doll.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The new study surveyed 44 sites in southeastern Sulawesi and securely dated 11 rock art motifs, including seven hand stencils.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Taking inspiration from her family's custom coat of arms, as well as the Cartier Halo tiara (the diadem Middleton paired with her stunning Alexander McQueen gown), the earrings feature acorn and oak leaf motifs.
    Hannah Malach, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Williams’ defense attorneys, Miles Brissette and Bob Gill, won admissions from police officers during cross-examination that the officers departed from Fort Worth Police Department procedure by failing to create a scene diagram, a crime scene log and properly mark evidence before collecting it.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Warm minimalism in action Bodron begins every design project with the furniture plan, a diagram that maps out a room’s eventual furnishings.
    Mary Grace Granados Special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The latest numbers from Denver's Metro Association of Realtors shows the median sales prices in the Denver area is down 2%.
    Chierstin Roth, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Corporate Traveler customers saved $2 million more this year than in 2024, despite prices going up or staying the same.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figure. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

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