average 1 of 3

Definition of averagenext
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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

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

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
As a point of reference, research has shown that, on average, patients who are overweight or living with obesity can lose roughly anywhere from 10% to 20% of their total body weight on a GLP-1, depending on a few different factors. Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 16 Apr. 2026 Roku says its number reflects viewing by at least one member of a household on average. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
Flashfood says its partners, which include Kroger but also regional chains like Piggly Wiggly, Loblaws and Gelson’s, and have reduced shrink by an average of 27% while also driving incremental traffic. Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026 And, traditionally, shopping around has been shown to result in a rate that's around half a percentage point or greater below average. Matt Richardson, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
Prices average around $212-239 per night. Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026 Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley, honorable mention AP All-America players, combine to average nearly 30 points a game as part of a starting lineup with five double-digit scorers. ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for average
Recent Examples of Synonyms for average
Adjective
  • The median age of a first-time buyer is now 40—a number that would have been almost unthinkable a generation ago.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
  • With a population of 29 million, Cameroon is an overwhelmingly young country, where the median age is 18.
    Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Calls to the ships’ operators outside normal working hours either weren’t answered or weren’t immediately returned.
    Julian Lee, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Sanoja has primarily played third base this season, with seven of his nine starts coming there, but his last two starts came in center field on Thursday (to give normal starter Jakob Marsee his first day off from the field) and left field on Friday.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • My apprenticeship began with a simple disassembly, a typical exercise for new employees.
    Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Frazier described a typical pricing cycle pattern, noting that spot prices move first, before highway contract rates follow suit with a three-to-six-month lag.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Hungary, a major net recipient of EU funds, had come under increasing criticism for veering away from democratic norms.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • But it's linked to a broader political battle by both sides for representation in national government that has broken norms around congressional map-making.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Don’t skip the editing process and always measure first.
    Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Still, the government sought to measure their loyalty.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Burns’ wrister through traffic deflected off Kelly, then off a Blues defender and goalie Joel Hofer to equalize the game at 1-1.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Marshall Munetsi equalized in the 74th.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Some people don’t believe the current players support the ordinary people.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • The price of Celsius crypto would go up, but it was being manipulated by those in charge, all as a way to get ordinary citizens to invest.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • His value is in treating him as a weapon, not forcing him into a standard off-ball template.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Vegetarian, gluten- and dairy-free options have become standard.
    Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 17 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Average.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/average. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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