size up

verb

sized up; sizing up; sizes up

Synonyms of size up next

next

transitive verb

: to form a judgment of

size up the situation

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of size up was in 1884

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Browse Nearby Words

size stick

size up

siziness

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Size up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/size%20up. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.

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