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Definition of figurenext
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as in digit
a character used to represent a mathematical value no doubt the figures on the price tags at the jewelry store are so small because the zeroes are so many

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as in outline
a line that traces the outer limits of an object or surface we could gradually see the figure of a ship coming our way through the fog

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as in sculpture
a small statue painted wooden figures by untrained artists can be quite valuable on today's antiques market

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as in doll
a three-dimensional representation of the human body used especially for displaying clothes the museum features a collection of figures strikingly attired in suits of medieval armor

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as in motif
a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) upholstered the chair with a fabric embossed with figures of fleur-de-lis

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as in diagram
something that visually explains or decorates a text the layout editor could have done a better job of getting the figures on the same page as the specific portion of text that they are intended to illustrate

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as in physique
the type of body that a person has Martha has such a slender figure that just about anything looks good on her

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figure

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verb

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as in to estimate
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement let's figure the juice in the pan to be about a cup and just add it to the mix

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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 figure
Noun
Estrada Cervantes, the law professor, agreed that the timing of Mexico’s public release of figures is no coincidence. Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026 The contrast between the dark shoes and the light denim creates a figure-lengthening balance that’s ideal for those who love basics with a street style star’s attitude. Alex Sales, Glamour, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
With 108 World Cup victories on Shiffrin’s resume, 71 of them in the slalom, even her US teammate Jacqueline Wiles figured the day was as good as done. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026 Sullivan insisted Connor Hellebuyck, who figures to start Sunday night against Germany, dressing as the backup did not factor into his thinking. Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for figure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figure
Noun
  • The way the service will work is that once a connection is made, the person with the T-Mobile account enters a few digits on their phone (*87* to be exact) and that will enable the real-time translation service on the network.
    Bob O'Donnell, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • But the real story behind those three digits is not the number itself.
    Catherine Rea, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The film vaguely follows the basic outline of the first half of the novel, heavily streamlining the twisted tale of family strife and generational trauma into a more conventional tragic romance centered squarely on Catherine and Heathcliff.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
  • For now, the tax agency advises taxpayers to rely on its outline for the rules when filing their returns this year.
    Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • But Savannah Guthrie's celebrity status has also garnered extensive resources from the federal and local government — including a $100,000 FBI reward for accurate information about her whereabouts or that could lead to an arrest and conviction of whoever took her.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The Berlin Film Festival and its celebrity attendees have been under scrutiny so far this week after jury president Wim Wenders, Golden Bear recipient Michelle Yeoh, and Sunny Dancer star Neil Patrick Harris all declined to talk about cinema’s relationship with politics and the rise of fascism.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Monroe County High School students are chiseling a marble sculpture for America's 250th birthday, guided by an internationally renowned artist and supported by their community.
    Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The lobby action centers on an eye-catching marble fireplace with a bold sculpture instead of flames.
    Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Up next, Johnstone will direct the live-action Monster High movie, based on Mattel’s doll line, for the company, as well as Universal Pictures and Akiva Goldsman’s Weed Road.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The group’s notebooks read like fragments of fairy tales or magical realism—years of stories within stories within stories, like Russian nesting dolls.
    Shannon Taggart, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The Daisy Heel itself extends one of Jacobs’ most recognizable motifs.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • And most importantly, it’s all rendered in a Western motif, not unlike an oversized cabin in the woods.
    Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The other agents in the car continued to lie when describing the circumstances of the shooting to the FBI, including in a diagram that purported to show three cars in front of the agents’ Tahoe blocking them from moving forward.
    Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Inspired by both pre-Columbian cultures and modern scientific theories, Jensen made energetic diagrams of shapes, symbols, and numbers in loud complementary colors, using thick globs of paint; the results generate a fascinating friction.
    Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Like gold, bitcoin produces no profits or dividends, and its price depends on what investors will pay for it.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Its share price has risen more than fourfold since its listing, propelling its market capitalization to almost $200 billion — more than the value investors put on the entirety of GE before then-CEO Larry Culp announced his plan to split it up in November 2021.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figure. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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