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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
When Alyssa Farah Griffin noted that the average American isn't focused on the Qatari jet and instead about making ends meet, Goldberg pointed out that the issues are linked. Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 22 May 2025 The average starting salary for vets in these placements is $75,000, and 93% are receiving full-time placement. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 22 May 2025
Noun
This temperature was relatively warm—six degrees C above average. Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 May 2025 Settling in Stock futures were slightly lower in premarket trading Tuesday after the major averages posted modest gains on Monday. Sara Salinas, CNBC, 20 May 2025
Verb
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a league-best and career-high 32.7 points, and also led the league with 7.9 free throws made per game. Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 22 May 2025 And against New York in the regular season, Turner averaged 19.5 points per game while shooting 45.5 percent from deep. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for average
Recent Examples of Synonyms for average
Adjective
  • Rounding out the top three are San Jose, California and San Francisco, where homeowners paid a median $9,554 and $8,156, respectively.
    Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 24 May 2025
  • That fell short of the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists and marked the weakest April since 2009.
    Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Command that eluded McCullers across his first two appearances started to creep back toward normal.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • Instead, the year quickly fell into a pattern that has become all too familiar for the local industry when the hopes that things might finally return to normal were squandered yet again by an unprecedented, devastating event.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Social Security payments are set to go out May 14 – a few days later than is typical.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • However, the typical analyst expects shares to slide from here.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • India’s Hindu nationalist prime minister, Narendra Modi, has likewise been compared to Trump in his populist appeal, majoritarian rhetoric, and dismantling of democratic norms.
    Joshua Keating, Vox, 23 May 2025
  • The Senate vote proceeded in defiance of the parliamentarian’s ruling, marking a stunning rebuke of congressional norms.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • The fastest way to measure your weight is through your body mass index (BMI).
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 May 2025
  • During the first decades of our century, Peru maintained a moderately free economy, as measured by the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom.
    Alejandro Antonio Chafuen, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • But the Stars, who had dominated the first period, equalized soon after.
    Sam Settleman, New York Times, 18 May 2025
  • In a controversial incident, however, Gerard Martin was robbed of the ball and Francesco Acerbi equalized on 93 minutes.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • Be Strategic with Equity Compensation When Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) vest, the value is treated as ordinary income and taxed immediately.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • So many aspects of this Holy Father are just so ordinary.
    Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Rivian's current least powerful battery pack provides 270 miles of driving range, but the standard R2 could have less range as a smaller model.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • The bill also includes a temporary $2,000 boost to the standard deduction, bringing it to $32,000 for joint filers.
    Kevin Freking, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Average.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/average. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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