variants or litre
: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see Metric System Table

Examples of liter in a Sentence

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.
Filling a standard 40 liter fuel tank costs roughly 96 dollars, consuming nearly 70% of a daily wage. — CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026 The Rocket configuration adds another 400 liters of storage capacity, bringing the total to approximately 600 liters. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Toilets and sinks did not appear to be working and 2-liter bottles filled with urine were all over the house, Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said. — David K. Li, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026 Along with reducing water usage for dyeing and finishing from 75 liters to roughly two tablespoons, WTRLSS estimates that its technology also cuts energy use by up to 90 percent versus conventional methods. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for liter

Word History

Etymology

French litre, from Medieval Latin litra, a measure, from Greek, a weight

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of liter was in 1797

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Liter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liter. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

liter

noun
li·​ter
variants or litre
ˈlēt-ər
: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see metric system

Medical Definition

liter

noun
li·​ter
variants or chiefly British litre
: a metric unit of capacity equal to the volume of one kilogram of water at 4°C (39°F) and at standard atmospheric pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury

More from Merriam-Webster on liter

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster