figure

1 of 2

noun

fig·​ure ˈfi-gyər 

 British and often US  ˈfi-gər

1

a

: a number symbol : numeral, digit

b

figures plural : arithmetical calculations

good at figures

c

: a written or printed character

d

: value especially as expressed in numbers : sum, price

sold at a low figure

e

figures plural : digits representing an amount (as of money earned or points scored)

made six figures last year

a score in double figures

2

a

: a geometric form (such as a line, triangle, or sphere) especially when considered as a set of geometric elements (such as points) in space of a given number of dimensions

a square is a plane figure

b

: bodily shape or form especially of a person

a slender figure

c

: an object noticeable only as a shape or form

figures moving in the dusk

3

a

: the graphic representation of a form especially of a person or geometric entity

a figure of a girl with pigtails

b

: a diagram or pictorial illustration of textual matter

figures that illustrate various moves in chess

4

: a person, thing, or action representative of another

Adam … who is the figure of him who was to come

—Romans 5:14 (King James Version)

5

a

: figure of speech

Find the similes and other figures in the poem.

b

: an intentional deviation from the ordinary form or syntactical relation of words

6

: the form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term

7

: an often repetitive pattern or design in a manufactured article (such as cloth) or natural product (such as wood)

a polka-dot figure

8

: appearance made : impression produced

the couple cut quite a figure

9

a

: a series of movements in a dance

Bowing to your partner is one of the figures in square dancing.

b

: an outline representation of a form traced by a series of evolutions (as with skates on an ice surface or by an airplane in the air)

10

: a prominent personality : personage

great figures of history

11

: a short coherent group of notes or chords that may constitute part of a phrase, theme, or composition

figure

2 of 2

verb

figured; figuring ˈfi-gyə-riŋ 

ˈfi-g(ə-)riŋ

transitive verb

1

: to represent by or as if by a figure or outline

2

: to decorate with a pattern

also : to write figures over or under (the bass) in order to indicate the accompanying chords

3

: to indicate or represent by numerals

4

a

: calculate

b

: conclude, decide

figured there was no use in further effort

also : assume

figure it will rain

c

: regard, consider

d

: to appear likely

figures to win

intransitive verb

1

a

: to be or appear important or conspicuous

b

: to be involved or implicated

figured in a robbery

2

: to perform a figure in dancing

3

: compute, calculate

4

: to seem rational, normal, or expected

that figures

5

: to make sense of something

—used interjectionally in the phrase go figure to suggest that something is surprising or perplexing

why do they think women will buy this lie? Go figure

—Ellen Bravo

figurer

ˈfi-g(y)ər-ər 

noun

Phrases

figure on

1

: to take into consideration

figuring on the extra income

2

: to rely on

3

: plan

I figure on going into town

Synonyms

Noun

• digit
• integer
• number
• numeral
• numeric
• whole number

Verb

• choose
• conclude
• decide
• determine
• name
• opt
• resolve
• settle (on or upon)

Examples of figure in a Sentence

Noun

Are you sure of your figures?

I came up with a very different figure.

No precise figures are available yet.

The company had yearly sales figures of half a million units.

We could barely make out some figures moving in the mist.

The vase is decorated with figures of birds and fish.

The walls of the cave are covered with drawings of human and animal figures.

a collection of bronze figures

Verb

“They lost.” “I figured as much.”

She figures to finish by noon.

The debate over tax rates figured prominently in the last election.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The figure has topped 33,000, according to Gaza health authorities, and roughly two-thirds are believed to be civilians. —Greg Myre, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024

The security lapse figures were first reported by The Washington Post. Of those roughly 300 incidents, about 200 were people trying to enter the secure area of the airport at the point where passengers exit. —Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024

However, the figures revealed much starker differences in the effect of remote working between men and women. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 5 Apr. 2024

That conclusion was based on The Republic’s data analysis — and the state Health Department apparently did not know that figure until the news outlet published it. —Wyatt Buchanan, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024

In the Bahamas in 2022, that figure was 98 percent. —Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024

The figures, including an outsized Mama Odie, sporting a colorful abundance of beads, are among the most lifelike in Disney’s arsenal. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Elon Musk, for example, is a figure MrBeast has had several interactions with after the Tesla CEO and X owner asked the YouTuber to begin releasing his content on the social media site. —Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024

Russia currently has a moratorium on the death penalty — although the carnage at Crocus City has raised calls by leading political figures to change course. —Charles Maynes, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024

Verb

A little nauseous but otherwise not too bad and baby girl is trying to figure things out. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024

Everyone’s journey to embracing their sexuality is different — and Chappell Roan would just like to wish everyone the best of luck in figuring it out. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024

One of the earlier film’s minor characters, Father Brennan, figures prominently in this prequel, now played by an effectively haunting-looking Ralph Ineson (The Northman). —Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024

The Challenger figures land one day before the U.S. Department of Labor is scheduled to release the March jobs report. —Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024

Ford figured that out with its F-150 Raptor R, which boasts a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine delivering 700 horsepower and 640 lb.-ft. of torque. —Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024

Scientists figured it out, and broke a world record in the process. —Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 1 Apr. 2024

There are different kinds of Cal Grants, but students don’t have to figure that out. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024

Just last year, Marsh was a rookie trying to figure things out. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "shape, form, likeness, symbol, design, written character," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin figūra "shape, form, outward appearance, likeness, nonliteral form of speech," from fig-, variant stem of fingere "to mold, fashion, make a likeness of, pretend to be" + -ūra -ure — more at feign

Verb

Middle English figuren "to shape, represent symbolically, prefigure," borrowed from Anglo-French figurer, borrowed from Latin figūrāre "to shape, form, make a likeness of, represent," verbal derivative of figūra "shape, figure entry 1"

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing figure

• (as) near as someone can tell/figure
• figure eight
• mother figure
• figure of authority
• action figure
• authority figure
• figure of fun/ridicule
• figure into
• figure of merit
• father figure
• figure skate
• figure in
• go figure
• figure of contempt
• stick figure
• figure of speech
• cut a figure
• lay figure
• figure skating
• public figure
• figure of fun
• six-figure
• figure out
• figure on

Kids Definition

figure

1 of 2 noun

fig·​ure ˈfig-yər 

 British and often US  ˈfig-ər

1

a

: numeral sense 1

b

plural : arithmetic sense 2

a good head for figures

c

: price entry 1 sense 1

2

a

: the shape or outline of something

b

: bodily shape or form especially of a person

3

a

: something that represents a form especially of a person

b

: a diagram or pictorial illustration

c

: a combination of points, lines, or surfaces in geometry

a circle is a closed plane figure

4

: pattern entry 1 sense 3, design

5

: personality sense 4, personage

figure

2 of 2 verb

figured; figuring ˈfig-yə-riŋ 

ˈfig(-ə)-

1

: to decorate with a pattern

2

: believe sense 5, decide

figured we might win

3

: to be or appear important

figure in the news

4

: compute, calculate

figurer

-(y)ər-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

figure

noun

fig·​ure

ˈfig-yər, British & often US ˈfig-ər

1

: bodily shape or form especially of a person

a slender figure

2

a

: the graphic representation of a form especially of a person

b

: a diagram or pictorial illustration of textual matter

3

: a person who is representative of or serves as a psychological substitute for someone or something else see father figure