average 1 of 3

1
2
3

average

2 of 3

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

3 of 3

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
Five holes played to an average score under par for the day, including the gettable stretch of Nos. 4-6. Justin Ray, New York Times, 15 June 2025 His ratings have been profitable 69% of the time, delivering an average return of 29.6%. Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 15 June 2025
Noun
This might explain why Sweden’s life expectancy is around 83 years old, two years higher than the OECD Better Life Index average of 81. Gregory Wakeman, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 June 2025 That would mark a dramatic increase from Jan. 20 to May 19, when the agency made an average of 656 arrests a day. Mike Catalini, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Verb
Teams went from averaging slightly less than 1,300 miles per season from 1980 through the mid-1990s to more than 1,500 these days. Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025 Both locations are shaded red on NOAA's forecast map, indicating that temperatures are expected to average above the typical summer range. Dan Peck, ABC News, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for average
Recent Examples of Synonyms for average
Adjective
  • For many workers, that target can be difficult to match, considering that median income for full-time workers in their 30s is roughly $60,000 to $70,000, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data for the first quarter of 2025.
    Mike Winters, CNBC, 5 June 2025
  • The median income for suburban renters, at $42,500, lags significantly behind that of homeowners, who earn an average of over $86,000.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • At the World Championships, Metcalfe saw a competitor achieve a 100kg deadlift and decided to push herself beyond her normal limits.
    Andy Frye, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • In normal circumstances, the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act barring U.S. soldiers from acting like law enforcement in the U.S. But the Insurrection Act, first enacted in 1792, allows the president to deploy the military inside the U.S. to help civilian law enforcement with law enforcement duties.
    Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • This choice allows the plants to make maximum use of the soil's water and nutrients resources, particularly important in the poor soils and arid climates typical of Apulia.
    Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • Bacalao is served in all manner of dishes; one of the most popular is with pil-pil sauce, made of olive oil, garlic and the juice of the fish, and typical in the Basque Country.
    Jon Yeomans, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • Davis shared her love for Sacramento’s ballroom culture, which focuses on competitive performance, dancing and modeling to reflect societal norms such as gender and social classes.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
  • Their lower rate of engagement can reflect a cultural background shaped by different societal norms around mental health, where there has traditionally been a stigma associated with seeking help.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Szostak went on to show that in a case like this, functional information can be measured experimentally.
    Philip Ball, Wired News, 8 June 2025
  • Toyota measures twice and cuts once, and the cutting just began.
    Mark Phelan, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • That wasn’t to be, as Inter Milan equalized in the 93rd minute and then scored in extra time to secure a 4-3 second leg win on the night and dramatic 7-6 semifinal aggregate victory as part of what many called the best UCL last four tie of all time.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
  • But Louisville quickly equalized, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at two.
    Cameron Priester, Sun Sentinel, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • JetBlue Airways flight 312 arrived from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport around 11:55 a.m. in what passengers described as an ordinary landing.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
  • But then again … Look one more time at the last entry in the catalog of ordinary human stuff that the turtle’s shell is compared to: pottery.
    A.O. Scott, New York Times, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • The standard Grand Prix mode is present and correct.
    Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • Since, the Air Jordan 4 RM has been released in dozens of inline styles, offering consumers a more accessible alternative to the standard Air Jordan 4 Retro.
    Riley Jones, Footwear News, 7 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Average.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/average. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on average

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!