model

noun

mod·el | \ ˈmä-dᵊl

Definition of model

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 obsolete : a set of plans for a building

2 dialectal British : copy, image

3 : structural design a home on the model of an old farmhouse

4 : a usually miniature representation of something a plastic model of the human heart also : a pattern of something to be made

5 : an example for imitation or emulation his written addresses are models of clearness, logical order, and style— A. B. Noble

6 : a person or thing that serves as a pattern for an artist especially : one who poses for an artist His wife served as the model for many of his paintings.

7 : archetype

8 : an organism whose appearance a mimic imitates

9 : one who is employed to display clothes or other merchandise has appeared as a model in ads for swimsuits

10a : a type or design of clothing girls, self-conscious in their Paris models— Paul Bowles

b : a type or design of product (such as a car) offers eight new models for next year, including a completely restyled convertible

11 : a description or analogy used to help visualize something (such as an atom) that cannot be directly observed

12 : a system of postulates, data, and inferences presented as a mathematical description of an entity or state of affairs also : a computer simulation (see simulation sense 3a) based on such a system climate models

13 : version sense 2 an experimental model of a bionic arm

14 : animal model

model

verb

modeled or modelled; modeling or modelling\ ˈmäd-liŋ , ˈmä-dᵊl-iŋ

Definition of model (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to plan or form after a pattern : shape legislative institutions primarily modeled on the English pattern

2 archaic : to make into an organization (such as an army, government, or parish)

3a : to shape or fashion in a plastic material modeling figures from clay

b : to produce a representation or simulation (see simulation sense 3a) of using a computer to model a problem

4 : to construct or fashion in imitation of a particular model modeled its constitution on that of the U.S.

5 : to display by wearing, using, or posing with modeled gowns

intransitive verb

1 : to design or imitate forms : make a pattern The students are modeling in clay.

2 : to work or act as a fashion or art model Each contestant modeled in front of the judges.

model

adjective

Definition of model (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : serving as or capable of serving as a pattern a model student

2 : being a usually miniature representation of something a model airplane

Other Words from model Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about model

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for model

Noun

model, example, pattern, exemplar, ideal mean someone or something set before one for guidance or imitation. model applies to something taken or proposed as worthy of imitation. a decor that is a model of good taste example applies to a person to be imitated or in some contexts on no account to be imitated but to be regarded as a warning. children tend to follow the example of their parents pattern suggests a clear and detailed archetype or prototype. American industry set a pattern for others to follow exemplar suggests either a faultless example to be emulated or a perfect typification. cited Joan of Arc as the exemplar of courage ideal implies the best possible exemplification either in reality or in conception. never found a job that matched his ideal

Noun

model, example, and ideal mean something that serves as guidance or imitation. model is used for a thing or person very worthy of imitation. That school system can be a model for the whole state. example usually means that the person, act, or conduct is likely to be copied, even though this may not always be a good thing. Parents are examples for their children. ideal is used for something, either real or imagined, considered to be the best of its kind that can exist. She is the ideal of beauty.

Examples of model in a Sentence

Noun

She's building a model of the Earth for science class. a plastic model of the human heart We've improved on last year's model, making the car safer and easier to control. He bought one of the old 1965 models. We couldn't afford one of the fancy TVs and had to buy the standard model. We've developed a computer model of the economy to predict what will happen in the future. Companies are developing new business models.

Verb

The faces of the gods were modeled in white stone. They're modeling this year's new spring fashions. She got a job modeling shoes for a catalog company. a fashion model who has angered animal lovers by modeling fur coats

Adjective

Our university has a model program for training its athletes. why can't you be like your sister, who is such a well-behaved model child?

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Yesterday, the 33-year-old model, author, and mother of two made a point of dedicating an Instagram post to her #MyWishForMoms initiative, which raises awareness around maternal mental health. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "Why Chrissy Teigen’s Nude Pregnancy Snap Was a Mother’s Day Mic-Drop," 13 May 2019 The campaign features four print images, a closeup on each of four models, as well as a video inspired by eighties infomercials. — Glamour, "Does Gucci’s New Lipstick Ad Make You Uncomfortable? Good," 6 May 2019 The model, reality TV star, and Harper's BAZAAR cover girl took to Instagram this afternoon to troll her four sisters Kim, Kylie, Khloé, and Kourtney for becoming mothers. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kendall Jenner Just Trolled Her Sisters with an Epic Pregnancy Meme on Instagram," 26 Apr. 2019 Currently the dialogue around sustainability remains centered on a capitalist model, encouraging the masses to buy their way into a sustainable lifestyle. — Celine Semaan, Teen Vogue, "Why I Started a Sustainable Fashion Conference Series," 26 Apr. 2019 After all, there are so many Muslim women activists, politicians, athletes, models, innovators, creatives, and more breaking barriers, fighting for change, and creating incredible pieces of art. — Shammara Lawrence, Allure, "What MuslimGirl's Amani Al-Khatahtbeh Wants to See From the Beauty Industry in 2019," 27 Mar. 2019 The model Flex House also integrates a full suite of smart home and sustainability-minded fixtures. — Jenny Xie, Curbed, "The 7 most impressive prefab homes from 2018," 27 Dec. 2018 Another model, Parker Hurley, wrote an essay for Racked in February accusing Weber of attempting to fondle him. — Nadra Nittle, Vox, "Photographer Bruce Weber faces more allegations of sexual misconduct from male models," 21 Dec. 2018 Deliveries of the entry-level models start this weekend — more than six weeks after the company starting taking orders. — Dana Hull, The Seattle Times, "Tesla just made it harder to buy its cheapest $35,000 electric car," 12 Apr. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Lipton took a hiatus from acting and modeling to focus on raising their daughters. — Vogue, "Model and Actress Peggy Lipton Dies at 72," 12 May 2019 Nowadays Tyra Banks's days are split between hosting America's Next Top Model, producing, guest-lecturing at Stanford Business School, and other endeavors that aren't necessarily what made her a household name, i.e., modeling. — Abby Gardner, Glamour, "Tyra Banks Came Out of Retirement to Be on the Cover of the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue," 8 May 2019 Check out the full collection, modeled by Kardashian and lensed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott below. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kim Kardashian Just Released $90 Sunglasses and They’re Good," 5 Apr. 2019 For the second release, Allbirds released Wool Runners in a blue and brown shoe modeled after the Pygmy Nuthatch. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "Allbirds and the Audubon Society Created Sneakers Inspired by Endangered Birds for Earth Day 2019," 18 Apr. 2019 So many figures were produced over the coming 12 years that the Hasbro team started modeling characters after themselves. — Maude Campbell, Popular Mechanics, "Yo, Joe: How a 12-Inch Soldier Doll Became a Toy Legend," 9 Apr. 2019 Engineers have already started modeling water flow and measuring environmental impacts. — Jenny Staletovich, miamiherald, "Could raising a 90-year-old road fix South Florida's water problems?," 18 June 2018 After an exhausting week of in-fighting, several sources say the Murdochs put their knives away and sit down to watch the drama closely modeled on their real-time dynastic struggle. — Ben Widdicombe, Town & Country, "Confirmed: Yes, Rupert Murdoch's Family Enjoys Watching "Succession"," 8 Apr. 2019 Cuthbert used to be a social worker in Canada, specializing in mental health and addictions counseling, while modeling on the side. — Jessica Radloff, Glamour, "'Fiji Water Girl' Kelleth Cuthbert Tells Us: 'This Is Something I Would Go Viral For'," 7 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Men, women, families, all generations can come and enter this model world for a day, have a fun shopping experience, and an eventful meal. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "Tyra Banks Is Bringing a 21,000 Square-Foot Amusement Park to Los Angeles," 5 Feb. 2019 And then again for what happened immediately backstage, when model Slick Woods went into labor and had to be taken straight from the show to the hospital. — Krystin Arneson, Glamour, "This Model Just Wore a Breast Pump Down the Runway at London Fashion Week," 16 Sep. 2018 Today, the French fashion house presented its latest collection at Paris Couture Week with a model lineup of giant life-size dolls that stole the show. — Lauren Alexis Fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Life-Size Dolls Walked The Runway At Viktor & Rolf," 5 July 2017 More model news: Now check out 100 years of beauty icons: Follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter, or subscribe to our newsletter for daily beauty stories delivered right to your inbox. — Andrea Park, Allure, "Andie MacDowell, 60, Made Her Triumphant Return to the Runway," 1 Oct. 2018 Canup is one of the leading scientists using large-scale simulations to model planet-scale collisions like the one thought to have formed Earth's own moon. — Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com, "Giant Impact May Have Created Mars' Moons," 18 Apr. 2018 Apple set the model ten years ago with the iOS app store, a well-manicured software ecosystem that’s far-reaching enough to draw in developers and controlled enough to keep out junk. — Russell Brandom, The Verge, "Will third-party plugins survive the tech backlash?," 6 July 2018 In the Porter House, there will be a model railroad display by Poway Station and a model train display from the Motor Men. — Emily Sorensen, Pomerado News, "Old-Fashioned Fourth of July offers patriotic fun," 29 June 2018 After the Birth of Her Son At the end of the day, the stunning space for DJ represents the design visions of both the singer and her model husband, 26. — Melody Chiu, PEOPLE.com, "Jordin Sparks' Designer (and Cousin!) Opens Up About the Singer's 'Timeless and Classy' Nursery," 29 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'model.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about model

Dictionary Entries near model

Statistics for model

Last Updated

16 May 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for model

The first known use of model was in 1570

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for model

model

noun

English Language Learners Definition of model

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a usually small copy of something

: a particular type or version of a product (such as a car or computer)

: a set of ideas and numbers that describe the past, present, or future state of something (such as an economy or a business)

model

verb

English Language Learners Definition of model (Entry 2 of 3)

: to design (something) so that it is similar to something else

: to make a small copy of (something) : to create a model of (something)

: to make something by forming or shaping clay or some other material

model

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of model (Entry 3 of 3)

: deserving to be copied by others : very good or excellent

—used to describe something that is a small copy of something larger

See the full definition for model in the English Language Learners Dictionary

model

noun

mod·el | \ ˈmä-dᵊl

Kids Definition of model

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a small but exact copy of a thing

2 : a pattern or figure of something to be made

3 : a person who sets a good example Their daughter is a model of politeness.

4 : a person who poses for an artist or photographer

5 : a person who wears and displays garments that are for sale

6 : a special type of a product Our car is a recent model.

model

adjective

Kids Definition of model (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : worthy of being imitated a model student

2 : being a miniature copy a model airplane

model

verb

modeled or modelled; modeling or modelling

Kids Definition of model (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : to plan or shape after a pattern This sports car is modeled on a racing car.

2 : to make a model of He learned how to model a dog in clay.

3 : to act or serve as a model She was asked to model for an artist.

model

noun

mod·el | \ ˈmäd-ᵊl

Medical Definition of model

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a pattern of something to be made : a cast of a tooth or oral cavity

2 : something (as a similar object or a construct) used to help visualize or explore something else (as the living human body) that cannot be directly observed or experimented on — see animal model

3 : a system of postulates, data, and inferences presented as a mathematical description of an entity or state of affairs