struc·ture
ˈstrək-chər 
1
: the action of building : construction
2
a
: something (such as a building) that is constructed
b
: something arranged in a definite pattern of organization
a rigid totalitarian structure—
J. L. Hess
J. L. Hessleaves and other plant structures
3
: manner of construction : makeup
Gothic in structure
4
a
: the arrangement of particles or parts in a substance or body
soil structure
molecular structure
b
: organization of parts as dominated by the general character of the whole
economic structure
personality structure
c
: coherent form or organization
tried to give some structure to the children's lives
5
: the aggregate of elements of an entity in their relationships to each other
the structure of a language
structured; structuring
ˈstrək-chə-riŋ
ˈstrək-shriŋ
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
They studied the compound's molecular structure.
The film had a simple narrative structure.
the structure of a plant
the social structure of a college campus
changes to the company's power structure
The structure was damaged by fire.
Children need a lot of structure in their lives.
Verb
She structured the essay chronologically.
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Recent Examples on the WebSharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2023
Made of gold vermeil, the hexagon shape evokes the panel structure of a classic soccer ball.
—Jasmine Gomez, Women's Health, 9 Aug. 2023
The tuition structure will not be reversed at this time, Lehning said in an email reply to Carroll.
—Sabrina Leboeuf, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2023
The bridge needs 216 cables total, 108 cables on each tower, to maintain stability and hold the entire structure to the tower through tension.
—Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 9 Aug. 2023
Gorley established key parts of the chord structure on piano and mapped out a general plot overview.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 8 Aug. 2023
Rescue Company took in a vehicle into a structure in Decatur Township this evening.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2023
Seasonal tours and interpretive signage tell the story of the 19th-century structure, which was relocated from Chatham and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Stop and smell the roses at Heritage Museums & Gardens.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2023
But, like the legal structure of the Islamic Republic itself—accountable to both God and the will of the people—the mandatory wearing of the hijab is, in some sense, an invention of the late Ayatollah Khomeini.
—Azadeh Moaveni, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2023
Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2023
To build products like this would require fundamentally different ways of structuring data.
—WIRED, 3 Aug. 2023
During the video, Sakurai pondered how Nintendo might structure a team for a potential next entry in the Smash Bros. series and his fears that there isn’t one person who can take over from him.
—Jay Peters, The Verge, 28 July 2023
The Direction of Time In some cases, spatial absoluteness seems to structure not only memories of the past, but also the conception of time in general.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 25 July 2023
The wines can be very juicy, easy-drinking, and unpretentious, but sometimes more structured with ageing potential.
—Per and Britt Karlsson, Forbes, 17 July 2023
There’s a general idea that Ohtani will stay on the West Coast and that the Dodgers have structured their payroll to make a run at him.
—Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2023
Like the deals are structured in such a way that if the thing just gets built, then certain people are going to make a lot of money.
—Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 July 2023
The hearing is structured as sort of a mini-trial — with both sides presenting witnesses.
—Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 28 July 2023
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Noun
Style While cornhole boards share the same basic structure (sloped boards measuring 48 x 24 inches with a 6-inch hole centered 9 inches from the top and 12 inches from the sides), players have plenty of flexibility with the style of their boards.
—Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2023
Made of gold vermeil, the hexagon shape evokes the panel structure of a classic soccer ball.
—Jasmine Gomez, Women's Health, 9 Aug. 2023
The tuition structure will not be reversed at this time, Lehning said in an email reply to Carroll.
—Sabrina Leboeuf, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2023
The bridge needs 216 cables total, 108 cables on each tower, to maintain stability and hold the entire structure to the tower through tension.
—Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 9 Aug. 2023
Gorley established key parts of the chord structure on piano and mapped out a general plot overview.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 8 Aug. 2023
Rescue Company took in a vehicle into a structure in Decatur Township this evening.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2023
Seasonal tours and interpretive signage tell the story of the 19th-century structure, which was relocated from Chatham and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Stop and smell the roses at Heritage Museums & Gardens.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2023
But, like the legal structure of the Islamic Republic itself—accountable to both God and the will of the people—the mandatory wearing of the hijab is, in some sense, an invention of the late Ayatollah Khomeini.
—Azadeh Moaveni, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2023
Verb
Prosecutors’ first witness was former House Majority Leader Greg Harris, D-Chicago, who took the stand in part to give jurors a civics lesson about how state government is structured and run.
—Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2023
To build products like this would require fundamentally different ways of structuring data.
—WIRED, 3 Aug. 2023
During the video, Sakurai pondered how Nintendo might structure a team for a potential next entry in the Smash Bros. series and his fears that there isn’t one person who can take over from him.
—Jay Peters, The Verge, 28 July 2023
The Direction of Time In some cases, spatial absoluteness seems to structure not only memories of the past, but also the conception of time in general.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 25 July 2023
The wines can be very juicy, easy-drinking, and unpretentious, but sometimes more structured with ageing potential.
—Per and Britt Karlsson, Forbes, 17 July 2023
There’s a general idea that Ohtani will stay on the West Coast and that the Dodgers have structured their payroll to make a run at him.
—Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2023
Like the deals are structured in such a way that if the thing just gets built, then certain people are going to make a lot of money.
—Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 July 2023
The hearing is structured as sort of a mini-trial — with both sides presenting witnesses.
—Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 28 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'structure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing structure
Dictionary Entries Near structure
Cite this Entry
“Structure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/structure. Accessed 14 Aug. 2023.
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Kids Definition
structure
1 of 2 noun
struc·ture
ˈstrək-chər
1
: the action of building : construction
2
: something constructed or arranged in a definite pattern of organization
3
: manner of construction : the arrangement or relationship of elements (as particles, parts, or organs) in a substance, body, or system
soil structure
the structure of a plant
molecular structure
social structure
the structure of a language
structure
2 of 2 verb
structured; structuring
ˈstrək-chə-riŋ
ˈstrək-shriŋ
: to form into a structure : organize
Medical Definition
structure
noun
struc·ture
ˈstrək-chər
1
: something (as an anatomical part) arranged in a definite pattern of organization
2
a
: the arrangement of particles or parts in a substance or body
molecular structure
b
: organization of parts as dominated by the general character of the whole
personality structure
3
: the aggregate of elements of an entity in their relationships to each other
More from Merriam-Webster on structure
Nglish: Translation of structure for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of structure for Arabic Speakers
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