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

Examples of list in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Renaissance premiere Beyoncé brought her Renaissance concert film to the big screen on Saturday night with its Los Angeles premiere, attended by a starry list of guests. Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Dec. 2023 Tack on the long list of options and a Maverick R’s bottom line can easily double that starting sticker. Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2023 In a statement a short time after 7 a.m., the prime minister’s office said a list had been given. NBC News, 30 Nov. 2023 All references to matters deep, big picture, or long term should be immediately tied back to short-term details that can be written down on a to-do list. Bruce Tulgan, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 The digital brokerage on Thursday is opening a wait list for U.K. residents and will grant them early access to its trading app over the next several weeks, with full availability scheduled for early 2024. Hannah Miao, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2023 To no one’s surprise, Taylor Swift topped the list of Spotify’s overall top artist, replacing the three-years-running reigning champ, Bad Bunny. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Nov. 2023 Lifetime Channel might be on Santa’s naughty list this year. Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023 Nearly a year after her kidneys went into failure, Katie Hallum was waiting on a list for a new organ while undergoing dialysis. Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
Verb
Donovan’s project remained listed on the page until this year, according to copies preserved by the internet archive. Joseph Menn, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2023 As of Friday, 557 stocks listed on U.S. exchanges were trading below $1 a share, up from fewer than a dozen in early 2021, according to Dow Jones Market Data. Alexander Osipovich, WSJ, 3 Dec. 2023 Related The official concert listing on Ticketmaster confirms Wayne has replaced Minaj on the lineup at Allstate Arena. Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 3 Dec. 2023 Allen also has a quadriceps issue that limited him in practice (listed as questionable to play). Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2023 Tucked away in the Lenox Hill neighborhood, just steps from Fifth Avenue and Central Park, the sprawling brick and limestone residence is now listed for a speck under $25 million—or a hefty $12.5 million less than its owner, hedge fund mogul George E. Hall, first wanted for the place back in 2017. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2023 Luxury rentals can come with a heavy price tag these days — and at $15,000 a night, Villa Harrah, right on the eastern shores of Lake Tahoe, is one of the most expensive listings in the U.S. on Airbnb, listed as part of the Airbnb Luxe offerings. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2023 Elsewhere on the winners list there are more obvious picks. Zoe Guy, Vulture, 30 Nov. 2023 Published on the Israeli government website, some are listed as having an affiliation with Hamas, but many are listed as under arrest without a specified jail term. NBC News, 23 Nov. 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 8 Dec. 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

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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