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
Examples of structure in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the WebS. I. Rosenbaum, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2024
The final design concept offers a pier structure distinct from any other in Southern California, including the Ocean Beach Pier’s current design, according to city officials.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Back at home, an 850 square foot structure which Amal now shares with more than a dozen others, there was no electricity and no water.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
The group discussed building structures in the East and West Village.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024
Solar eclipses can affect the structure and dynamics of Earth's upper atmosphere, otherwise known as the ionosphere, according to NASA.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The brand still claims to be hellbent on reshaping the look, feel, and product structure of the consumer tech.
—Parker Hall, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Index funds have also prompted a more theoretical debate over the structures of the market.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The team looked at the structure of Dianoconodon youngi’s middle ear, which helps give modern mammals their sharp hearing.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2024
Addie Morfoot, Variety, 6 Apr. 2024
In Canada, where hospice is structured entirely differently, 39% of dementia patients receive hospice care in the last year of life.
—Maria J Silveira, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024
Focus on what’s meaningful to you, and structure your day around being and doing your best.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024
The management and documentation of cybersecurity risks are tracked, structured, and formalized over the life cycle of the vehicle.
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
These play clubs are, of course, geographically constrained, and structured in their unstructuredness.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024
The Dolphins structured it this way so that his cap hit would be low in 2024 ($2.8 million) before jumping to $10 million each of the next two years.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Daily dosing also poses logistical hurdles that force patients to structure their lives around their clinics’ dosing hours.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024
Parker said the current civilian-oversight model is not structured in a way that lets the review board monitor the Sheriff’s and Probation departments effectively.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024
Noun
The question is whether our social structures are ready to keep pace with our advanced science.
—S. I. Rosenbaum, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2024
The final design concept offers a pier structure distinct from any other in Southern California, including the Ocean Beach Pier’s current design, according to city officials.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Back at home, an 850 square foot structure which Amal now shares with more than a dozen others, there was no electricity and no water.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
The group discussed building structures in the East and West Village.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024
Solar eclipses can affect the structure and dynamics of Earth's upper atmosphere, otherwise known as the ionosphere, according to NASA.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The brand still claims to be hellbent on reshaping the look, feel, and product structure of the consumer tech.
—Parker Hall, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Index funds have also prompted a more theoretical debate over the structures of the market.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The team looked at the structure of Dianoconodon youngi’s middle ear, which helps give modern mammals their sharp hearing.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
Margolin suggested that doc producers and filmmakers refer to the Documentary Producers Alliance’s Documentary Waterfall Guidelines for guidance on how to structure the financing from the original budget through the allocation of net profits.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 6 Apr. 2024
In Canada, where hospice is structured entirely differently, 39% of dementia patients receive hospice care in the last year of life.
—Maria J Silveira, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024
Focus on what’s meaningful to you, and structure your day around being and doing your best.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024
The management and documentation of cybersecurity risks are tracked, structured, and formalized over the life cycle of the vehicle.
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
These play clubs are, of course, geographically constrained, and structured in their unstructuredness.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024
The Dolphins structured it this way so that his cap hit would be low in 2024 ($2.8 million) before jumping to $10 million each of the next two years.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Daily dosing also poses logistical hurdles that force patients to structure their lives around their clinics’ dosing hours.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024
Parker said the current civilian-oversight model is not structured in a way that lets the review board monitor the Sheriff’s and Probation departments effectively.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near structure
Cite this Entry
“Structure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/structure. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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