pro·por·tion
prə-ˈpȯr-shən 
2
a
: proper or equal share
each did her proportion of the work
b
: quota, percentage
3
: the relation of one part to another or to the whole with respect to magnitude, quantity, or degree : ratio
4
5
: a statement of equality between two ratios in which the first of the four terms divided by the second equals the third divided by the fourth (as in 4/2=10/5) compare extreme sense 1b, mean sense 1c
proportioned; proportioning
prə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)niŋ
1
: to adjust (a part or thing) in size relative to other parts or things
2
: to make the parts of harmonious or symmetrical
Synonyms
Examples of proportion in a Sentence
Noun
His ears were drawn out of proportion with his head.
The size of the window seems out of proportion with the height of the wall.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024
As more Arabs and Jews migrated there, the territory’s population grew, and with it the relative proportion of Jews.
—Tom Segev, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Officials blame many of the district's challenges, particularly declining enrollment and a larger proportion of special education needs, in part to the water crisis, which spun the city and residents into an ongoing nightmare.
—Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
Only 14% of NYU’s graduating class chose primary care specialties, far below the proportion of U.S. physicians working in primary care (30%).
—Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Matthew Guido, STAT, 22 Apr. 2024
There is also now a button in the system tray for Copilot, my everyday AI companion, which is present now across Microsoft products in inverse proportion to its utility.
—Nathan Edwards, The Verge, 21 Apr. 2024
Schrems claimed that the introduction of subscription fees as the alternative increased the proportion of people agreeing to be tracked from 3% to over 90%.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
The proportion of all COVID deaths among those 85 and older has grown from 29% to 42%.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
Polls show 70% of Okinawans feel their prefecture shoulders an unfair proportion of the burden of hosting U.S. military bases.
—Anthony Kuhn, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Another important principle, then, revives Hamilton’s dictum that the means must be proportioned to the mischief.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The kitchen is spacious, efficiently arranged, and well equipped, while the nearby family room is cozily proportioned.
—Aditiashetty, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2024
Thick stitching keeps its seams together, with fibrous filling proportioned within the shell to stay in place without feeling stiff.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024
Body: average height but dramatically proportioned.
—Mary Gaitskill, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
Can be made in no time and is perfectly proportioned for two!
—Fox News, 24 Feb. 2021
The flat sheet is also generously proportioned with a beautifully luxurious drape.
—Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2024
Located on the 12th floor with big, north-facing windows, the apartment was, though technically a studio, graciously proportioned, with a dressing area, two large closets, and a spacious bathroom with the original black-and-white tile.
—Curbed, 23 Jan. 2024
Noun
Nautor says the hybrid is particularly suited to chartering, with proportions that meet the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) regulations.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024
As more Arabs and Jews migrated there, the territory’s population grew, and with it the relative proportion of Jews.
—Tom Segev, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Officials blame many of the district's challenges, particularly declining enrollment and a larger proportion of special education needs, in part to the water crisis, which spun the city and residents into an ongoing nightmare.
—Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
Only 14% of NYU’s graduating class chose primary care specialties, far below the proportion of U.S. physicians working in primary care (30%).
—Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Matthew Guido, STAT, 22 Apr. 2024
There is also now a button in the system tray for Copilot, my everyday AI companion, which is present now across Microsoft products in inverse proportion to its utility.
—Nathan Edwards, The Verge, 21 Apr. 2024
Schrems claimed that the introduction of subscription fees as the alternative increased the proportion of people agreeing to be tracked from 3% to over 90%.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
The proportion of all COVID deaths among those 85 and older has grown from 29% to 42%.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
Polls show 70% of Okinawans feel their prefecture shoulders an unfair proportion of the burden of hosting U.S. military bases.
—Anthony Kuhn, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
The rooms and suites are both generously proportioned, though the suites come with living rooms, dining nooks, and soaking tubs.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Another important principle, then, revives Hamilton’s dictum that the means must be proportioned to the mischief.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The kitchen is spacious, efficiently arranged, and well equipped, while the nearby family room is cozily proportioned.
—Aditiashetty, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2024
Thick stitching keeps its seams together, with fibrous filling proportioned within the shell to stay in place without feeling stiff.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024
Body: average height but dramatically proportioned.
—Mary Gaitskill, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
Can be made in no time and is perfectly proportioned for two!
—Fox News, 24 Feb. 2021
The flat sheet is also generously proportioned with a beautifully luxurious drape.
—Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2024
Located on the 12th floor with big, north-facing windows, the apartment was, though technically a studio, graciously proportioned, with a dressing area, two large closets, and a spacious bathroom with the original black-and-white tile.
—Curbed, 23 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'proportion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near proportion
Cite this Entry
“Proportion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proportion. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
proportion
1 of 2 noun
pro·por·tion
p(r)ə-ˈpōr-shən
-ˈpȯr-
1
: the size, number, or amount of one thing or group as compared to the size, number, or amount of another
the proportion of boys to girls in our class is three to one
2
: a balanced or pleasing arrangement
out of proportion
3
: a statement of the equality of two ratios (as ⁴⁄₂ = ¹⁰⁄₅) compare extreme entry 2 sense 2, mean entry 4 sense 2b
4
: a fair or just share
did our proportion of the work
5
: dimension sense 1b
a crisis of large proportions
the proportions of a room
proportion
2 of 2 verb
proportioned; proportioning
-sh(ə-)niŋ
1
: to adjust something to fit with something else
2
: to make the parts of go well with each other
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