liter

noun

li·​ter ˈlē-tər 

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

Soda slushies are ridiculously easy to make in the Frost and require just 1 liter of soda and the Slushie mode. —Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Jan. 2026

On the trail, bring a daypack and always have two to three liters of water on you—shops can be hours apart. —Deanna Romano, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Jan. 2026

The adjustable strap can be worn as a crossbody or as a belt, and the 1-liter capacity is a Goldilocks size for carrying all my essentials hands-free. —Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 1 Jan. 2026

At the time of recording, the team had begun installing copper heatsinks and pipework to link the system’s heat-producing components to the bulky radiator, which has a capacity of more than 10 liters. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for liter

• beater
• cheater
• dieter
• eater
• heater
• litre
• meter
• metre
• neater
• praetor
• seater
• skeeter

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

ˈlēt-ər 

: 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