par

noun

ˈpär How to pronounce par (audio)
Definition of parnext
1
as in standard
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared that last dining experience was not quite up to par

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in equivalence
the state or fact of being exactly the same in number, amount, status, or quality these California wines are on a par with the best produced in Europe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in average
what is typical of a group, class, or series a pulse of 70 is par for people of that age group

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 par Also a list of the true names and addresses of all former slaves, along with their actual occupations and 1858 yearly incomes, which, surprising no one, were right on par with the incomes of similar whites. — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026 The French gêne par procuration delegates discomfort, while the German Fremdschämen means foreign shame. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, there has been a steep decline in deforestation in Latin America and the Caribbean, leaving the two regions almost on a par. — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Cilvaringz did his thing with this album, his production was on par with some of the stuff RZA would do back in the day. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for par
Recent Examples of Synonyms for par
  1. standard
  2. equivalence
  3. average
  4. criterion
  5. equivalency
  6. normal
  7. benchmark
  8. equality
Noun
  • Although his roles were ostensibly romantic leads, Astaire had an almost radically unorthodox appeal—one that, in its urbanity, cosmopolitanism, elegance, and grace, challenged the prevailing standards for male movie stardom.
    — David Hajdu, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
  • If students are not meeting basic academic standards, though, state governments sometimes step in and take over the day-to-day operations of entire school districts.
    — Daniel H. Robinson, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of standard
Noun
  • Holography is another step in that tradition, an equivalence between area and volume that holds at least for certain spaces.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
  • To measure the equivalence principle at a quantum scale, the researchers turned to a piece of equipment called the Quantum Galileo Interferometer.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of equivalence
Noun
  • Murban crude, produced by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has a carbon intensity less than half the global industry average.
    — H.E. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In 2025, an average of 27 commercial fishers sold approximately 42,000 lbs of ta’ape statewide, 47% more than in 2018.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of average
Noun
  • That policy needs to evaluate prospective patients against criteria such as the patient’s needs and the agency’s ability to provide services, in relation to the current caseload, average case mix intensity, staffing and competence of staff.
    — Colin Conner II, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Studies have estimated that anywhere between 25% and 35% of the patient population would meet the current clinical criteria for gene therapy.
    — Steven Ross Johnson, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of criterion
Noun
  • After the birth of her son, Jorjiana passed her high school equivalency exam and took jobs bussing tables or working in fast food.
    — Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The measure also prohibits undocumented students from enrolling in adult general education programs in high schools and state colleges, which help prepare those taking the GED exam for the equivalency of a high school diploma.
    — Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of equivalency
Noun
  • The company has been very good about adjusting to the new normal too, which is great.
    — Marah Eakin, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Three years after Israel’s invasion, Gazans are tentatively building a new normal in the rubble of their old lives.
    — Ghada Abdulfattah, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of normal
Noun
  • The commercial benchmark, by comparison, showed continuous performance decay during testing.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In human medicine, research cites a benchmark of 10,000 steps per day as a threshold that, when combined with healthy nutrition, supports weight loss.
    — Will Boyd, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of benchmark
Noun
  • The National Organization for Women (NOW) called upon women nationwide to strike for equality on that day.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Egyptians’ support for gender equality and expressive individualism also increased, albeit more modestly.
    — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of equality

Phrases Containing par

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papules
par
parable
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Cite this Entry

“Par.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/par. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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