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average

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noun

as in norm
what is typical of a group, class, or series my cat's a cut above the average when it comes to being a finicky eater

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

average

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word average distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of average are mean, median, and norm. While all these words mean "something that represents a middle point," average is the quotient obtained by dividing the sum total of a set of figures by the number of figures.

scored an average of 85 on tests

When can mean be used instead of average?

The words mean and average are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mean may be the simple average or it may represent value midway between two extremes.

a high of 70° and a low of 50° give a mean of 60°

In what contexts can median take the place of average?

While the synonyms median and average are close in meaning, median applies to the value that represents the point at which there are as many instances above as there are below.

average of a group of persons earning 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10 dollars an hour is 6 dollars, whereas the median is 5 dollars

Where would norm be a reasonable alternative to average?

In some situations, the words norm and average are roughly equivalent. However, norm means the average of performance of a significantly large group, class, or grade.

scores about the norm for fifth grade arithmetic

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of average
Adjective
In 2023-24, Peter averaged 18.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 40.9% from long range. Tony East, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 After being moved into a full-time starting role midway through last season, Ware averaged 10.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 54.4% from the field and 21 of 76 (27.6%) on threes during his final 38 regular-season appearances last season. Miami Herald, 10 July 2025
Noun
Illinois ranked 22nd in average annual home insurance costs at $2,743 per year, according to the report. Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025 The average rate of failure on these inspections was 13%, according to Mayes. Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 9 July 2025
Verb
His run became something of a sensation in France, with his defeat drawing an average of 5 million spectators on Sunday. Jack Guy, CNN Money, 7 July 2025 Despite its high housing costs, the city has a poverty rate of 7.3 percent, which is still lower than the state average. 4. Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for average
Recent Examples of Synonyms for average
Adjective
  • New Canaan, where the median annual household income is $163,355, was granted a moratorium earlier this year that temporarily exempts it from lawsuits under 8-30g.
    Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2025
  • In May, the median home price in the Space City fell 1.5 percent year-over-year to $339,900, lagging behind the 1 percent gain reported by the nationwide market.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Deloitte’s Global Resilience Report, based on surveys of over 2,000 CEOs and 6,000 executives, found that 62% view ongoing disruption as the new normal.
    Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Representatives for OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fortune, made outside normal working hours.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • The size of a typical studio apartment is 500 to 600 square feet.
    Kate Talerico, Mercury News, 14 July 2025
  • Among the amenities typical of a hotel, the lodge complex included a saloon, a deli, a coffee shop, a post office, a gift shop, and a visitors center.
    Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • Bold decisions and quick sprints may unlock innovation, but unless they are grounded in deeper structures and shared beliefs, organizations snap back to old norms.
    Jeroen Tas, Time, 10 July 2025
  • Manfred has said multiple times that offseason lockouts are a norm in professional sports, a point the union has taken to mean a lockout in baseball is a foregone conclusion come December 2026.
    Evan Drellich, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Don’t measure your progress by job titles or years in one role.
    Minh Pham-Costello, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • What to know about earthquakes Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • When play resumed, Benfica equalized in stoppage time — but Chelsea responded with an emphatic flurry, taking full advantage of the Portuguese side going down to 10 men in extra time.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2025
  • Experts are also unsure how long any increase in problem gambling might last: Some studies suggest that the prevalence of gambling problems tends to equalize after a spike, but those findings are usually limited to physical casinos and remain debated within the field.
    Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • The researchers suggest a particular chemical marker that could be a dead giveaway of dark dwarfs — the isotope lithium-7, which burns easily and is therefore quickly consumed by ordinary stars.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 7 July 2025
  • Though North Korea sent over special forces units that are better trained and supplied than ordinary infantry, the initial deployment lacked an effective and agile command structure.
    Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • Historically, the use of scientific consensus as a method of understanding scientific postures has been relatively popular and construed as the standard way of doing things.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The day after his arrest, during a standard medical intake, Pérez was diagnosed with several health issues, ICE said.
    Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Average.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/average. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

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