linear

adjective

lin·​e·​ar ˈli-nē-ər How to pronounce linear (audio)
1
a(1)
: of, relating to, resembling, or having a graph that is a line and especially a straight line : straight
(2)
: involving a single dimension
b(1)
: of the first degree with respect to one or more variables
c(1)
: characterized by an emphasis on line
linear art
(2)
: composed of simply drawn lines with little attempt at pictorial representation
linear script
d
: consisting of a straight chain of atoms
a linear molecule
2
: elongated with nearly parallel sides
linear leaf
see leaf illustration
3
: having or being a response or output that is directly proportional to the input
4
: of, relating to, or based or depending on sequential development
linear thinking
a linear narrative
linearity noun
linearly adverb

Examples of linear in a Sentence

a flat, almost linear horizon the bullets from early firearms were notorious for not following a strictly linear path through the air
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.
Rethink The Funnel: Trust The Educated Buyer Traditional sales funnels are linear. Leonard Cercone, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 Carriage disputes have become increasingly common across the media industry, as programmers and distributors seek to keep revenue from linear TV flowing as customers jump to digital venues for their news, sports and entertainment. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 June 2025 In addition to interviews with a slew of famous celebrities, from Lucille Ball and Gilda Radner to Mel Brooks and Muhammad Ali, several of the episodes being added will also include their original musical performances — a rarity with classic talk and variety shows on streaming or even linear TV. Josef Adalian, Vulture, 26 June 2025 As its broadcast partner, the BBC brings audiences wall-to-wall coverage of the fest, with stars shown on linear TV and hundreds of performances available to watch on-demand via iPlayer or heard on the radio. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for linear

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of linear was circa 1656

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Linear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linear. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

linear

adjective
lin·​ear
ˈlin-ē-ər
1
a
: relating to, consisting of, or resembling a line : straight
b
: involving a single dimension
c
: of, relating to, based on, or being linear equations or linear functions
2
: long and uniformly narrow
the linear leaf of the hyacinth
linearity
ˌlin-ē-ˈar-ət-ē
noun
linearly
ˈlin-ē-ər-lē
adverb

Medical Definition

linear

adjective
lin·​ear ˈlin-ē-ər How to pronounce linear (audio)
: of, relating to, or resembling a line
linearity noun
plural linearities
linearly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on linear

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