sample

noun

sam·ple | \ ˈsam-pəl

Definition of sample

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a representative part or a single item from a larger whole or group especially when presented for inspection or shown as evidence of quality : specimen

2 : a finite part of a statistical population whose properties are studied to gain information about the whole

3 : an excerpt from a recording (such as a popular song by another performer) that is used in a musical composition, recording, or performance … had to substantially rewrite "Sometimes I Miss You … " when he was denied permission to use a Michael Jackson sample …— Jon Young

sample

verb

sampled; sampling\ ˈsam-p(ə-)liŋ

Definition of sample (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to take a sample of or from especially : to judge the quality of by a sample : test sampled his output for defects sample a wine

2 : to use a segment of (recorded music, sounds, or dialogue from another source) as part of one's own musical composition or recording A Josh Wink record takes a series of sampled noises, then twists and warps them through a barrage of sound processors …— Frank Broughton : to use a sample (see sample entry 1 sense 3) from (another recording or performer) … claims Carey sampled his hit "I Want to Thank You" on her 1992 song "Make It Happen."— Jancee Dunn

sample

adjective

Definition of sample (Entry 3 of 3)

: serving as an illustration or example sample questions

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about sample

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for sample

Synonyms: Noun

cross section, sampler, sampling, selection, slice

Synonyms: Verb

test, try (out)

Choose the Right Synonym for sample

Noun

instance, case, illustration, example, sample, specimen mean something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category. instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain. an instance of history repeating itself case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with. a case of mistaken identity illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement. a telling illustration of Murphy's Law example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case. a typical example of bureaucratic waste sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities. show us a sample of your work specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available. one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

Examples of sample in a Sentence

Noun

We would like to see a sample of your work. I tasted a sample of the new cereal. Free samples were handed out at the store. The sample included 96 women over the age of 40. A random sample of people filled out the survey. We looked at a representative sample of public schools.

Verb

She sampled everything the resort had to offer, from golfing to yoga. A low percentage of the women sampled said that they smoked during pregnancy. Five of the 20 schools sampled did not meet the standards.

Adjective

The teacher handed out a sample essay. Here are some sample questions for the test.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Jerry Newby, one of the family members, just got some samples in June. — William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al.com, "Alabama cotton figures in crop’s resurgence," 15 July 2019 About 70 breweries — including Silver Spring’s Astro Lab Brewing, the District’s Hellbender and Right Proper, and Alexandria’s Port City — will be on hand to pass out unlimited tasting samples. — Washington Post, "12 things to do in the D.C. area this week," 15 July 2019 Foodies by the dozen gather at Monterey Road and Brand Boulevard to sample and buy fruit, vegetables, pastries and various international foods from the outdoor vendors. — Glendale News-Press, "On the Town: Comedy festival to raise spirits and bring in funds for local organizations," 15 July 2019 Ticket price includes tequila sample tickets, food from Mazunte, souvenir T-shirt and more. — Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Things to do this week in Cincinnati: July 15-21," 14 July 2019 But between the cement floors, florescent lighting, and chorizo samples, most people don’t think of Costco as a place to buy clothing. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, "Costco Has Become a Surprising Destination for Clothing," 13 July 2019 Receive samples of their 4-in-1 Essential Face Tonic, Fantastic Face Wash, and Fortifying Face Balm with your $50 Ursa Major purchase. — Bianca Nieves, Teen Vogue, "How to Get Free Natural and Clean Beauty Products from Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale," 12 July 2019 Operating from the research vessel G. O. Sars, Norwegian and Russian researchers took radiation samples from a duct that had previously been sampled by Russian investigators in the 1990s and 2000s. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "30 Years Later, a Sunken Soviet Sub Is Still Leaking Radioactivity," 12 July 2019 Officials will keep monitoring the lake throughout the summer and will take weekly water samples to test toxin levels as long as algae blooms are present. — oregonlive.com, "Don’t swim in Vancouver Lake, health officials say," 12 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

But the star of the meal (alas, sampled only by me) was my pork belly. — Anchorage Daily News, "Former ‘Top Chef’ contestant and James Beard-nominated chef takes over Muse restaurant. So: how’s the food?," 17 July 2019 But that doesn’t stop him from savoring the experience like a connoisseur sampling a rare wine. — Chicago Tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Daywatch: No signs of ICE raids for now, blockbuster federal indictments against R. Kelly and other things to know to start your day," 15 July 2019 For example, in the first class residents learned about avocados and sampled guacamole. — Staff Report, Houston Chronicle, "Parkway Place creates ‘Wellness University’ to educate residents about nutrition," 12 July 2019 According to a study published in February by Tunnell’s colleague Kathleen Swanson and other researchers, accumulation rates of plastic pollution are 10 times higher in Texas than other Gulf Coast states sampled over a year-and-a-half period. — Julissa Treviño, WIRED, "Little Plastic 'Nurdles' Are Flooding Beaches and Waterways," 10 July 2019 Not so, as anyone who has sampled the genre widely could attest; there are plenty of dry, complex rosés out there, especially among the Europeans, which tend to lean drier more reliably. — M. Carrie Allan, Washington Post, "Beyond frosé: How to make rosé shine in inventive, breezy summer cocktails," 8 July 2019 Researchers found about 12% of the animals sampled had at least one multidrug-resistant strain of bacteria living on them, and a quarter of those animals had more than one. — Sonja Haller, USA TODAY, "New data shows petting zoos crawl with superbugs, potentially putting more kids at risk," 2 July 2019 When patients sample their blood and run it through the machine, those data get beamed back to Livongo. — STAT, "Diabetes-coaching startup Livongo files to go public in a test for health tech," 28 June 2019 Admission includes 10 tasting tickets and a commemorative glass to make the rounds, sampling the wines and beers. — Sam Boyer, cleveland.com, "Eagles send check to help Ohioans hit by severe weather: Whit & Whimsey," 28 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Participants sample five wines from prestigious appellations while nibbling small bites. — Condé Nast Traveler, "20 Best Food Tours in Paris," 3 Mar. 2018 Guests sample 5 rare sour & funky beers from Rhinegeist cellars, including newest sour ale of dark descent. — Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati.com, "Things to do in Cincinnati this week: June 18-24," 18 June 2018 Though not sample size, Dixon is neither a waif or a plus-size bombshell. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "Miu Miu’s Newest Beauty Is a Rule-Breaking Nerd From Florida," 7 Mar. 2018 Guests sample Greek food at a previous ethnic food event put on by the Aurora Historical Society. — Joy Davis, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora event to celebrate city's ethnic food traditions," 19 Apr. 2018 While in Zoar, take a tour of town, sample German-style meatloaf at the Canal Tavern or go antiquing at the Cobbler Shop Bed & Breakfast. — Lauren Johnson And Jesse Sparks, Smithsonian, "The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2017," 2 May 2017 Sample headlines: What equality really means: An Asian-American take on affirmative action to ‘ — Megan Schellong, USA TODAY College, "Check out these 5 student digital media orgs with campus editions," 24 Aug. 2017 Sample beers from around Ohio, live music, and food trucks. — Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati.com, "Things to do this week: Aug. 15-20," 15 Aug. 2017 Language English English Font Size Small Small Medium Large Position Auto Bottom Top Sample Caption Text Mute Current Time 0:00 Duration Time 0:00 12 Things Fashion People Literally Think (Literally) — Erika Harwood, vanityfair.com, "The BoF 500 Gala Is Coming to New York Fashion Week," 10 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sample.' 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 sample

Dictionary Entries near sample

Statistics for sample

Last Updated

19 Jul 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for sample

The first known use of sample was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for sample

sample

noun

English Language Learners Definition of sample

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from

: a small amount of something that is given to people to try

: a group of people or things that are taken from a larger group and studied, tested, or questioned to get information

sample

verb

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

: to taste a small amount of (something)

: to try or experience (something)

technical : to test, study, or question (a group of people or things taken from a larger group) to get information

sample

adjective

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

: used as an example of something

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

sample

noun

sam·ple | \ ˈsam-pəl

Kids Definition of sample

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a part or piece that shows the quality or character of the whole A water sample was taken to test for purity.

2 : a small amount of something that is given to people to try

sample

verb

sampled; sampling

Kids Definition of sample (Entry 2 of 2)

: to judge the quality or character of by trying or examining a small part or amount We sampled the store's cheese.

sample

noun

sam·ple | \ ˈsam-pəl

Medical Definition of sample

1 : a representative part or a single item from a larger whole or group especially when presented for inspection or shown as evidence of quality : specimen a blood sample

2 : a finite part of a statistical population whose properties are studied to gain information about the whole