measure

1 of 2

noun

mea·​sure ˈme-zhər  ˈmā- 

1

a(1)

: an adequate or due portion

all too few of the British actresses … have received their measure of remembrance

—Saturday Review

(2)

: a moderate degree

also : moderation, temperance

(3)

: a fixed or suitable limit : bounds

rich beyond measure

b

: the dimensions, capacity, or amount of something ascertained by measuring

took his measure for a coat

c

: an estimate of what is to be expected (as of a person or situation)

the measure of their tragedy is now beyond our imagination

—G. F. Kennan

d(1)

: a measured quantity

(2)

: amount, degree

giving children a greater measure of freedom

2

a

: an instrument (such as a yardstick) or utensil (such as a graduated cup) for measuring

b(1)

: a standard or unit of measurement see Weights and Measures Table

(2)

: a system of standard units of measure

metric measure

3

: the act or process of measuring

settled by a measure made by a surveyor

4

a(1)

: melody, tune

(2)

: dance

especially : a slow and stately dance

b

: rhythmic structure or movement : cadence: such as

(1)

: poetic rhythm measured by temporal (see temporal entry 1 sense 3) quantity or accent

specifically : meter

(2)

: musical time

c(1)

: a grouping of a specified number of musical beats located between two consecutive vertical lines on a staff

(2)

: a metrical unit : foot

5

: an exact divisor of a number

6 being the greatest common measure of 42 and 12

6

: a basis or standard of comparison

wealth is not a measure of happiness

7

: a step planned or taken as a means to an end

took strong measures against the rebels

specifically : a proposed legislative act

sponsored an anti-inflation measure in the senate

measure

2 of 2

verb

measured; measuring ˈme-zhə-riŋ 

ˈmā-;

ˈmezh-riŋ,

ˈmāzh-

transitive verb

1

a

: to choose or control with cautious restraint : regulate

measure his acts

b

: to regulate by a standard : govern

2

: to allot or apportion in measured amounts

measure out three cups

3

: to lay off by making measurements

4

: to ascertain the measurements of

5

: to estimate or appraise by a criterion

measures his skill against his rival

6

archaic : to travel over : traverse

7

: to serve as a means of measuring

a thermometer measures temperature

intransitive verb

1

: to take or make a measurement

2

: to have a specified measurement

measurer

ˈme-zhər-ər 

ˈmā-;

ˈmezh-rə-

ˈmāzh-

noun

Phrases

for good measure

: in addition to the minimum required : as an extra

added another illustration for good measure

Synonyms

Noun

• means
• step
• move

Verb

• gauge
• scale

Examples of measure in a Sentence

Noun

She felt equal measures of hope and fear.

Their actions were motivated in large measure by a desire for revenge.

An occasion like this calls for some measure of decorum.

The meter is a measure of length.

The dictionary includes a table of weights and measures.

The legislature has passed a measure aimed at protecting consumers.

The governor has proposed a number of cost-cutting measures.

They were forced to resort to desperate measures.

We need to take measures to protect ourselves.

Verb

using a ruler to measure a piece of paper

an instrument for measuring air pressure

mental abilities measured by IQ testing

He's being measured for a new suit.

His success cannot be measured solely on the basis of his popularity.

The cloth measures 3 meters.

The room measures 15 feet wide by 30 feet long.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The House measure aims to lower federal costs by freezing states' provider taxes at current rates and prohibiting them from establishing new provider taxes. —July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025

Now the mammoth measure heads back to the House, which narrowly passed its own version at the end of May. —Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 1 July 2025

Verb

Don’t measure your progress by job titles or years in one role. —Minh Pham-Costello, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

What to know about earthquakes Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mesure "act of measuring, instrument for measuring, standard unit of quantity, size, measurable amount, proper proportion, moderation, tempurance," borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin mensūra "act of measuring, dimension determined by measurement, amount, instrument for measuring," from mensus, past participle of mētior, mētīrī "to determine the extent of, mark off by measuring" + -ūra -ure; mētior verbal derivative of an Indo-European noun *meh₁-ti- "act of measuring" (whence Old English mǣth "measure, degree, efficacy," Greek mêtis "measure, skill, craft," Sanskrit māti- "measure, correct understanding"), nominal derivative of a verbal base *meh₁-, whence, as a reduplicated present, Sanskrit mímite "(s/he) measures, shares," Avestan framimaθā "(s/he) should arrange"

Note: The irregular past participle mensus, alongside a regular derivative mētītus only found in later classical texts, may have been formed by analogy with pensus, past participle of pendere "to weigh."

Verb

Middle English mesuren "to calculate the measurements of, determine the extent of by measuring, apportion, moderate, control, judge," borrowed from Anglo-French mesurer, going back to Late Latin mensūrāre "to calculate the measurements of," derivative of mensūra measure entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing measure

• beyond measure
• common measure
• counter-counter-measure
• cubic measure
• dry measure
• have/take/get someone's measure
• have/take/get the measure of (someone)
• in large measure
• in no small measure
• linear measure
• liquid measure
• made-to-measure
• measure off
• measure out
• measure up
• poulter's measure
• pre-measure
• square measure
• tape measure

Rhymes for measure

• leisure
• pleasure
• treasure
• countermeasure
• displeasure

Kids Definition

measure

1 of 2 noun

mea·​sure ˈmezh-ər  ˈmāzh- 

1

a

: an adequate, fixed, or suitable limit or amount

surprised beyond measure

b

: amount entry 2, extent, degree

gained a large measure of freedom

2

a

: the size, capacity, or quantity of something as fixed by measuring

use equal measures of ingredients

b

: something (as a yardstick or cup) used in measuring

c

: a unit used in measuring

the foot is a measure of length

d

: a system of measuring

metric measure

3

: the act or process of measuring

4

a

: dance entry 2 sense 2

especially : a slow and stately dance

b

: rhythm or movement in music or poetry : meter, cadence

c

: the part of a musical staff between two bars or the group of beats between these bars

5

: an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result

especially : a legislative bill or act

measure

2 of 2 verb

measured; measuring ˈmezh-(ə-)riŋ 

ˈmāzh-

1

: to mark or fix in multiples of a specific unit

measure out two cups

2

: to find out the size, extent, or amount of

measure the piece of paper

3

: estimate entry 1 sense 1

measured the distance with my eye

4

: to bring into comparison

measure your skill against an opponent's

5

: to serve as a measure of

a thermometer measures temperature

6

: to have as its measurement

the room measures 12 by 12 feet

measurer

-ər-ər 

noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mesure "measure," from early French mesure (same meaning), from Latin mensura "measure," from mensus, past participle of metiri "to measure" — related to dimension, immense

Medical Definition

measure

1 of 2 noun

mea·​sure ˈmezh-ər  ˈmāzh- 

1

: an instrument or utensil for measuring

2

: a standard or unit of measurement

also : a system of such measures

metric measure

measure

2 of 2 verb

measured; measuring ˈmezh-(ə-)riŋ, ˈmāzh- 

transitive verb

1

: to allot or apportion in measured amounts

2

: to ascertain the measurements of

3

: to serve as a measure of

a thermometer measures temperature

intransitive verb

: to have a specified measurement