calibrate
verb
cal·i·brate
ˈka-lə-ˌbrāt 
calibrated; calibrating
1
: to ascertain the caliber of (something)
2
: to determine, rectify, or mark the graduations of (something, such as a thermometer tube)
3
: to standardize (something, such as a measuring instrument) by determining the deviation from a standard so as to ascertain the proper correction factors
4
: to adjust precisely for a particular function
calibrate a thermometer
5
: to measure precisely
carefully calibrate the dosage of a medicine
especially
: to measure against a standard
Examples of calibrate in a Sentence
carefully calibrate the dosage of a medicine
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead, the four astronauts will take a 10-day journey around the moon to help calibrate systems for future missions like Artemis 3 and Artemis 4, which will actually land on the moon.
—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 30 Jan. 2026
And most recently, she’s been writing on her Substack about the ways that people and politicians can calibrate themselves to the internet to feel some agency and make a difference in the world.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Whatever the majority decides, there will likely be a dissent and both sides will be carefully calibrating their writing.
—Mark Sherman, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
Whether passed down through family recipes or calibrated with fine dining precision, cioppino reflects our immigrant heritage and wild ingredients in San Francisco.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for calibrate
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Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 30 Jan. 2026
And most recently, she’s been writing on her Substack about the ways that people and politicians can calibrate themselves to the internet to feel some agency and make a difference in the world.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Whatever the majority decides, there will likely be a dissent and both sides will be carefully calibrating their writing.
—Mark Sherman, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
Whether passed down through family recipes or calibrated with fine dining precision, cioppino reflects our immigrant heritage and wild ingredients in San Francisco.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for calibrate
Cite this Entry
“Calibrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calibrate. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calibrate
verb
cal·i·brate
ˈkal-ə-ˌbrāt
calibrated; calibrating
1
: to measure the caliber of
2
a
: to determine, correct, or put the measuring marks on (as a tire pressure gauge)
b
: make standard (as a measuring instrument) by finding out and correcting for the differences from an accepted or ideal value
calibration
noun
ˌkal-ə-ˈbrā-shən
Medical Definition
calibrate
transitive verb
cal·i·brate
ˈkal-ə-ˌbrāt
calibrated; calibrating
1
: to ascertain the caliber of (as a thermometer tube)
2
: to determine, rectify, or mark the graduations of (as a thermometer tube)
3
: to standardize (as a measuring instrument) by determining the deviation from a standard so as to ascertain the proper correction factors
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