: any of several leguminous plants (such as a chickpea) grown especially for their seed
also : their seeds
1
: a metric unit of mass equal to 1/1000 kilogram and nearly equal to the mass of one cubic centimeter of water at its maximum density see Metric System Table
2
: the weight of a gram under the acceleration of gravity

gram

3 of 5

noun (3)

gram

4 of 5

abbreviation

-gram

5 of 5

noun combining form

: drawing : writing : record
chronogram
telegram

Examples of gram in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Make something beautiful, take a picture for the ’gram, share the meal with a friend or two. Hana Asbrink, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Sep. 2026 Razer Wireless Gaming Headset Deal Weighing just 250 grams, the Razer Barracuda X is built for seamless, marathon cross-platform play. Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026 The average woman, on the other hand, (weighing about 170 pounds) would need 62 grams of protein a day. Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026 All of that adds roughly 39 grams versus the Fold 8 Ultra and just over 50 grams to the even more comparable Fold 8. Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gram

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

obsolete Portuguese (now spelled grão), grain, from Latin granum

Noun (2)

French gramme, from Late Latin gramma, a small weight, from Greek grammat-, gramma letter, writing, a small weight, from graphein to write — more at carve

Noun (3)

by shortening & alteration

Noun combining form

Latin -gramma, from Greek, from gramma

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1702, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gram was in 1702

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gram.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gram. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

gram

1 of 2 noun
ˈgram
1
: a metric unit of mass equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ kilogram and nearly equal to the mass of one cubic centimeter of water at its maximum density see metric system
2
: the weight of a gram of mass

-gram

2 of 2 noun combining form
ˌgram
: drawing : writing : record
telegram
Etymology

Noun combining form

from Latin -gramma "piece of writing, record," derived from Greek gramma "letter," derived from graphein "to write" — related to graffito, grammar, -graph

Medical Definition

gram

noun
variants or chiefly British gramme
1
: a metric unit of mass equal to 1/1000 kilogram and nearly equal to the mass of one cubic centimeter of water at its maximum density
abbreviation g
2
: the weight of a gram under standard gravity

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