list

1 of 9

noun (1)

1
a
: a simple series of words or numerals (such as the names of persons or objects)
a guest list
b
: an official roster : roll
drawing up a list for … party nominationRichard Scammon
2
: catalog, checklist
The song jumped to the top of the hit list.
3
: the total number to be considered or included
add spelling reform to his list of interestsW. B. Shaw

list

2 of 9

verb (1)

listed; listing; lists

transitive verb

1
a
: to make a list of : enumerate
She began listing places she wanted to travel.
Can you list three former U.S. presidents?
Please list the medicines you currently take.
b
: to add (someone or something) to a list : register
They listed their property (for sale).
The animal has now been officially listed as endangered.
He listed messiness as a pet peeve.
c
: to have or show a list of
This guide lists simple tips for operating your fire pit better …Brian Bennet
… put up eight huge electronic billboards listing gate information for flights to and from nearly 20 cities …Bridget O'Brian
The database lists people who need food, cooks, drivers, and deliveries.Paul Ford
d
: to have or show (someone or something) as part of a list, register, or record
Our system lists you as her emergency contact.
The recipe lists some ingredients I've never heard of.
The Lenovo site currently lists that configuration at $2,016 …Mark Coppock
2
: to place (oneself) in a specified category
lists himself as a political liberal
3
archaic : recruit

intransitive verb

1
: to become entered in a catalog with a selling price
a car that lists for $12,000
2
archaic : enlist
listee noun

list

3 of 9

verb (2)

listed; listing; lists

intransitive verb

: to tilt to one side
especially, of a boat or ship : to tilt to one side in a state of equilibrium (as from an unbalanced load) compare heel

transitive verb

: to cause to list
The shifting cargo listed the ship.

list

4 of 9

noun (2)

: a deviation from the vertical : tilt
The ship had a heavy list to starboard.
also : the extent of such a deviation

list

5 of 9

noun (3)

1
: a band or strip of material: such as
a
: listel
b
c
: a narrow strip of wood cut from the edge of a board
2
lists plural in form but singular or plural in construction
a
: an arena for combat (such as jousting)
entered the lists against the bullFrank Yerby
b
: a field of competition or controversy
The candidate entered the political lists.
3
: stripe
The horse had a list along its back.
4
obsolete : limit, boundary

list

6 of 9

verb (3)

listed; listing; lists

transitive verb

1
: to cut away a narrow strip from the edge of
2
: to prepare or plant (land) in ridges and furrows with a lister

list

7 of 9

verb (4)

listed; listing; lists

list

8 of 9

noun (4)

archaic

list

9 of 9

verb (5)

listed; listing; lists

transitive verb

archaic : to listen to : hear

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Moore was put on the injured list with a Grade 2 oblique strain Sunday morning. Sarah Valenzuela, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2023 Material All of the artificial trees on our list are designed from some sort of PVC. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2023 Jimenez, just returned from the injured list, hit Cisnero's third-pitch sinker for a bloop double into left field and drove in two runs, cutting the Tigers' lead to 4-3 and putting runners on second and third. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 28 May 2023 Now that you’re situated, here’s a more specific list of 10 restaurants near the Portland International Raceway where NASCAR fans can eat well, should their tailgates happen to run out of BBQ and beer. Mrussell, oregonlive, 28 May 2023 At the top of CR's list is the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, which can be had for a 10 percent discount. Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 28 May 2023 No wonder the bathing suit has been climbing Amazon’s Movers & Shakers list, which tracks trending products, and is one of the site’s best-selling one-piece swimsuits. Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 27 May 2023 How to play Powerball Here's how to play Powerball: Powerball's last jackpot winner Here is the list of 2023 Powerball jackpot wins, according to powerball.com: $754.6 million — Feb. 6; Washington. $162.6 million — Mar. 4; Virginia. $252.6 million — April 19; Ohio. Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 27 May 2023 Jackson, Bryan, Wallace, Buchanan, Perot, Palin — the list is long. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 27 May 2023
Verb
It's also often listed as an ingredient alongside vitamin C, and there’s a really good reason why. Ann Kaiser, womenshealthmag.com, 31 May 2023 McGhee is listed at 5-9, 149 pounds, but was the three-time Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, averaging better than 22 points per game each of his past two seasons. Dustin Dopirak, The Indianapolis Star, 30 May 2023 Brogdon was listed as probable due to the injury prior to Game 1 and aggravated it later in the series. Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2023 He is listed as a defendant in the federal lawsuit. Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 30 May 2023 The public and political will to address affordable housing is the first step listed in the 2019 Walton Family Foundation housing report. Stacy Ryburn, Arkansas Online, 29 May 2023 Vinyl | Features: Not listed The Bottom Line Overall, the Purple Leaf Outdoor Retractable Pergola is the best pergola for your backyard. L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 May 2023 The company listed the property for sale in 2021 with an asking price of $110 million, but TPWD couldn’t afford to purchase it at the time. Lana Ferguson, Dallas News, 25 May 2023 Known as the Laurel House, the eye-catching Beverly Hills estate just listed for a cool $40 million, offered up by local developer Adnan Sen. Set on just under an acre of land, the residence was completed in 2020 and sports Hefner’s sleek, super-chic aesthetic. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'list.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

French liste, from Italian lista, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German līsta edge

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

origin unknown

Noun (3) and Verb (3)

Middle English, from Old English līste; akin to Old High German līsta edge, Albanian leth

Verb (4)

Middle English lysten, from Old English lystan; akin to Old English lust desire, lust

Noun (4)

Middle English, probably from lysten

Verb (5)

Middle English, from Old English hlystan, from hlyst hearing; akin to Old English hlysnan to listen

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1614, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

1626, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1582, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (3)

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (4)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (4)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (5)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of list was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near list

Cite this Entry

“List.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/list. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

list

1 of 7 verb
archaic

list

2 of 7 verb
archaic
: to listen to : hear

list

3 of 7 noun
1
: a band or strip of material
2
plural
a
: an arena for jousting
b
: a field of competition or dispute

list

4 of 7 noun
: a leaning to one side : tilt

list

5 of 7 verb
: to lean to one side : tilt
a listing ship

list

6 of 7 noun
: a record or catalog of names or items
guest list
grocery list

list

7 of 7 verb
1
: to make a list of
2
: to put on a list
3
: to have a list price
a car that lists at $20,000
Etymology

Verb

Old English lystan "to please, suit, be desirable"

Verb

Old English hlystan "to listen"

Noun

Old English līste "strip"

Verb

origin unknown

Noun

from French liste "a series of names or numbers," from Italian lista (same meaning); of Germanic origin

Legal Definition

list

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on list

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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