gauge

1 of 2

noun

ˈgāj 

variants or less commonly gage

1

a

: a measurement (as of linear dimension) according to some standard or system: such as

(1)

: the distance between the rails of a railroad

(2)

: the size of a shotgun barrel's inner diameter nominally expressed as the number of lead balls each just fitting that diameter required to make a pound

a 12-gauge shotgun

(3)

: the thickness of a thin material (such as sheet metal or plastic film)

(4)

: the diameter of a slender object (such as wire or a hypodermic needle)

(5)

: the fineness of a knitted fabric expressed by the number of loops per unit width

b

: dimensions, size

c

: measure sense 1

surveys are a gauge of public sentiment

2

: an instrument for or a means of measuring or testing: such as

a

: an instrument for measuring a dimension or for testing mechanical accuracy

b

: an instrument with a graduated (see graduate entry 1 sense transitive 2a) scale or dial for measuring or indicating quantity

3

: relative position of a ship with reference to another ship and the wind

4

: a function introduced into a field equation to produce a convenient form of the equation but having no observable physical consequences

gauge

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly gage

gauged also gaged; gauging also gaging

transitive verb

1

a

: to measure precisely the size, dimensions, or other measurable quantity of

b

: to determine the capacity or contents of

c

: estimate, judge

hard to gauge his moods

2

a

: to check for conformity to specifications or limits

b

: to measure off or set out

Did you know?

Gage vs. Gauge

There are two gages: one refers to pledges or securities and is no longer in common general use, and the other is a variant spelling of gauge, which in the noun form refers broadly to measurement (“fine-gauge wire”) or a standard by which something is measured (“polls are a good gauge of how voters might vote”). The earliest evidence we have for the noun gauge goes back to the 15th century, when English spelling was not yet standardized, and the word in question was spelled gauge and gage with roughly equal frequency. Gauge began to be preferred in the late 19th century for most general uses. Some claim that gage appears as a variant more frequently in the U.S., though our evidence shows that the vast majority of uses for gage are from specialized and technical industries, such as mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and electronics, and that these uses of gage are global, not limited to the U.S. Nonetheless, total use of the word gage is small when compared to the total use of the word gauge.

The verb gauge, which refers to measuring or estimating, also has a variant gage. This variant appears to show up primarily in informal sources, though not often. Gauge is by far the preferred spelling in general usage for both the noun and the verb; we encourage you use it.

Synonyms

Verb

• calculate
• figure
• estimate
• judge
• guess

Choose the Right Synonym for gauge

standard, criterion, gauge, yardstick, touchstone mean a means of determining what a thing should be.

standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not.

questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect.

polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

Examples of gauge in a Sentence

Noun

The broadest gauge of the economy—the gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation—has risen little more than 4% since the recovery began. —Alfred L. Malabre, Jr., Wall Street Journal, 26 July 1993

Verb

Through history, the powers of single black men flash here and there like falling stars, and die sometimes before the world has rightly gauged their brightness. —W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk, 1903

On the other hand, no one supposes that the intellect of any two animals or of any two men can be accurately gauged by the cubic contents of their skulls. —Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man, 1871

Incommunicative as he was, some time elapsed before I had an opportunity of gauging his mind. I first got an idea of its calibre when I heard him preach in his own church at Morton. —Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847

Home sales provide a useful way of gauging the overall state of the economy.

He accurately gauged the mood of the voters.

I was gauging her reaction to the news.

instruments for gauging temperature and humidity

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Multiple investigations show that for years, Kerr County officials hemmed and hawed about the need to create a better warning system employing radar, gauges and sirens as well as cellphone networks. —Zeynep Tufekci, Mercury News, 10 July 2025

Comparatively, Morningstar’s U.S. stock market gauge rose by only around 7%, placing it further down the list in terms of its performance year-to-date. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 July 2025

Verb

The study also added new metrics this year to gauge the states’ risks from a trade war and a shrinking federal budget, including cuts in federal research grants. —Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 11 July 2025

Teams can also speak directly with restricted free agents starting at 7:01 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30, so Carolina was able to gauge his interest ahead of Noon on July 1, when free agents are allowed to start signing deals. —Peter Baugh, New York Times, 10 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gauge, gage "fixed standard of measure," borrowed from Anglo-French gauge, gouge "standard of liquid measure, tax paid to an official who determined the capacity of containers" (continental Old and Middle French jauge "graduated rod used for measuring liquid capacity, measurement by such a rod, capacity of a cask"), perhaps going back to Old Low Franconian *galga "rod, beam," going back to Germanic *galgōn "pole, stake, pole on which a condemned person was hung"; (sense 4) translation of German Massstab — more at gallows entry 1

Note: The semantic supposition behind this etymology is that the Old Low Franconian etymon retained the sense "rod" (lost elsewhere in Germanic) which was specialized to refer to a kind of measuring rod in Gallo-Romance. For detailed argumentation and bibliography see Dictionnaire étymologique de l'ancien français (online) at entry jauge.

Verb

Middle English gawgyn, gagen, borrowed from Anglo-French gauger, derivative of gauge gauge entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing gauge

• broad-gauge
• feeler gauge
• gauge theory
• pressure gauge
• rain gauge
• standard gauge
• strain gauge
• vacuum gauge
• water gauge
• wire gauge

Rhymes for gauge

• age
• phage
• plage
• rage
• stage
• wage
• alienage
• assuage
• backstage
• bocage
• downstage
• engage

Kids Definition

gauge

1 of 2 noun

variants also gage

ˈgāj

1

: measurement according to some standard or system: as

a

: the distance between the rails of a railroad

b

: the size of a shotgun expressed as the number of lead balls of the same size as the interior diameter of the barrel required to make a pound

a 12-gauge shotgun

c

: the thickness of sheet metal or the diameter of wire or a screw

d

: the fineness of a knitted fabric in loops per unit of width

2

: an instrument for measuring, testing, or registering

gauge

2 of 2 verb

variants also gage

gauged also gaged; gauging also gaging

1

a

: to measure exactly

b

: to find out the capacity or contents of

2

: estimate entry 1 sense 1

gauger noun

Medical Definition

gauge

1 of 2 noun

variants also gage

ˈgāj 

1

a

: measurement according to some standard or system

b

: the dimensions or extent of something

2

: an instrument for or a means of measuring or testing

3

: the diameter of a slender object (as a hypodermic needle)

gauge

2 of 2 transitive verb

variants also gage

gauged also gaged; gauging also gaging

1

a

: to measure exactly

b

: to determine the capacity or contents of

2

a

: to check for conformity to specifications or limits

b

: to measure off or set out