model

mod·el | \ ˈmä-dᵊl

Definition of model

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

2a : a type or design of product (such as a car) offers eight new models for next year, including a completely restyled convertible

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

3 : 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

4 : archetype

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

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

7 : 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.

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

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

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

11 : an organism whose appearance a mimic imitates

12 : animal model

13 dialectal British : copy, image

14 obsolete : a set of plans for a building

model

verb

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

Definition of model (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

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

2a : 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

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

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

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

intransitive verb

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

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

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

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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 More Stories This anxiety of being watched makes sense, given her past as a model and backup dancer, her current fame, and the simple fact of her race and gender. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "FKA Twigs Deconstructs the Private Show," 8 Nov. 2019 Apple, on the other hand, delivers its iOS updates to twice as many models and hundreds of millions of phones all at once without fail. — Michael Simon, PCWorld, "The Google Pixel 4 isn't getting the November Security Update on time and that's a problem," 8 Nov. 2019 Michael TranGetty Images Actor, model, and activist Yara Shahidi just debuted a fabulous rainbow-unicorn look on Instagram that is unbelievably eye-catching (pun absolutely intended). — Katherine J Igoe, Marie Claire, "Yara Shahidi's Unicorn Makeup Is a Gorgeous New Change for Her," 8 Nov. 2019 Television stars, high-heeled models and the president’s son attended the grand opening in early October. — Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, "Forget Popeye’s vs. Chick-fil-A. KFC and Africa Fried Chicken are pecking it out.," 8 Nov. 2019 No matter how acclaimed these models and programs are or how state-of-the-art their technology is, none of them will work without one vital component: parents who are invested in the outcome of their children’s education. — Sarah Schutte, National Review, "How Technology Is Changing Homeschooling," 7 Nov. 2019 The model and reality star was photographed leaving Tiffany & Co. on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills on Tuesday in a stunning (and stunningly short) Zeynep Arcay dress. — Kayleigh Roberts, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kendall Jenner Wore the Tiniest Nude Dress to Buy Jewelry in Beverly Hills," 7 Nov. 2019 But where’s the line for a Black professional hairstylist putting his or her touch on models and clients of all races? — Shalwah Evans, Essence, "Baby Tress and Black Girls Texting Talk Edge Styling And Appropriation," 5 Nov. 2019 Jay Penske has a child with Elaine Irwin, a model and former wife of singer John Mellencamp. — Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star, "Indianapolis Motor Speedway sold: What you should know about Roger Penske," 4 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Krishnamurthy and Bhowmik applied their chimeras-first concept to another system, too, with mixtures of RNA and TNA, an artificial nucleotide often used to model what might have come before the RNA world. — Quanta Magazine, "Origin-of-Life Study Points to Chemical Chimeras, Not RNA," 16 Sep. 2019 Moderators might also model themselves after the citizens who ask questions at town-hall style debates. — Thomas E. Patterson, BostonGlobe.com, "How our obsession with entertainment has trivialized the presidential primary debates," 4 Sep. 2019 On top of extending their size range online, the Curvy Jean collection will also be sold in all of the 1,000+ American Eagle store locations, where mannequins sized 4, 8 and 16 will model it. — Eliza Huber, refinery29.com, "American Eagle's Denim Selection Just Went Size Inclusive — & These Are The Styles To Buy," 25 July 2019 While Sanders was serving in Congress, Bookchin’s work made its way to the Turkish jail cell of Kurdistan Workers’ Party leader Abdullah Öcalan, eventually leading the party to explicitly model itself on Bookchin’s ideas. — Matthew Zeitlin, The New Republic, "Bernie’s Red Vermont," 13 June 2019 The Orioles’ desire to model themselves after the Houston Astros ties strongly to the draft-and-develop model that turned Houston into a championship franchise. — Nathan Ruiz, baltimoresun.com, "Yordan Alvarez's first major league homer sinks Orioles in 4-0 loss to Astros," 9 June 2019 The governor’s race has become somewhat of a referendum on President Donald Trump, who DeSantis has modeled himself on from the beginning of his campaign. — Ella Nilsen, Vox, "Florida governor’s election live results: Andrew Gillum vs. Ron DeSantis," 7 Nov. 2018 Jai started modeling and working with Runaway of Dreams soon after trying the Tommy Hilfiger line. — Kelly Tyko, USA TODAY, "Kohl's adds adaptive clothing to its three top kids' brands," 6 Sep. 2018 The Italian midfielder emerged through the Juventus youth system playing as a forward, modelling himself after his childhood hero Alessandro Del Piero, but his career progression vastly accelerated when he was switched to a deeper midfield role. — SI.com, "Juventus Legend Claudio Marchisio Shoots Down Exit Rumours and is Hopeful of Staying With the Club," 27 June 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The researchers used their observations to tweak certain model simulations of the entire global ocean. — Chelsea Harvey, Scientific American, "Humans May Be Accidentally Geoengineering the Oceans," 15 July 2019 That does not mean his handling of the memos was model behavior, though. — Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, "The DOJ Will Not Prosecute James Comey over Trump Memos," 3 Aug. 2019 The governor is expected to sign the measure which will require heavy-duty trucks titled in the tri-counties to be model year 2007 or newer by 2025. — oregonlive.com, "Oregon lawmakers wrap up buzzer-beating 2019 session," 30 June 2019 The recall includes Fisher-Price play yard model numbers CBV60, CHP86, CHR06, CJK24 and DJD11. — Sarah Min, CBS News, "Fisher-Price recalls 71,000 more inclined infant sleepers," 27 June 2019 There will be model railroad and train displays in the Porter House, and Templars Hall will host a quilt display and an organ grinder. — Emily Sorensen, Pomerado News, "Poway Fourth of July festivities include Old Poway Park events, fireworks at Poway High," 26 June 2019 For most model year 2019 Chevrolet and all model year 2019 Buick, GMC and Cadillac models, the vehicle will automatically shut down in park at 20 minutes without the fob present and one hour with the fob in the vehicle. — Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, "His keyless car killed him while he slept. New legislation could save others," 14 June 2019 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

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.

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Dictionary Entries near model

Statistics for model

Last Updated

14 Nov 2019

Time Traveler for model

The first known use of model was in 1570

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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

model

transitive verb

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

Medical Definition of model (Entry 2 of 2)

: to produce (as by computer) a representation or simulation of

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