figure eight

noun

: something resembling the Arabic numeral eight in form or shape: such as
a
: a small knot see knot illustration
b
: an embroidery stitch
c
: a dance pattern
d
: a skater's figure

called also figure-of-eight

Examples of figure eight in a Sentence

The skater traced a figure eight on the ice.
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.
Imagine if, instead of turning left at a stop light, a robotaxi decided to blast the stereo and start doing figure eights. Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025 The home’s unconventional shape is based on the figure eight, with the plans influenced by solar paths and climatic behavior. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2025 Combined with Earth’s tilt, this throws off the figure eight’s north-south symmetry. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 June 2025 Run the figure eight, aiming to improve your reaction time on turns and curves. Amanda Loudin, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for figure eight

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of figure eight was in 1748

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Cite this Entry

“Figure eight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figure%20eight. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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