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

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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

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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

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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 The legal shenanigans in this episode are sub-par for the Kings, when compared to their gold-standard courtroom dramas The Good Wife and The Good Fight. — Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Everything about the flying experience that Condor has control over is on par with international business class expectations at this price point. — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026 The two watches set into motion one of the greatest stories in modern horology and put independent watchmaking on par with—and, at times, above—the great old houses. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 Thus far, the share of Black voters is on par with 2022, and ahead of 2024. — New York Times, 9 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
  • OpenAI took months to discover the incident and notify the Australian agencies affected — that’s unacceptable by my standard.
    — Rumman Chowdhury, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Airport officials said the new design also increases the distance between the terminal and the nearest runway, formerly as little as 257 feet, to about 880 feet — a change that brings the airport into compliance with FAA standards.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 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
  • Galderma said the transaction is expected to be slightly dilutive to its core EBITDA margin in 2027 and to achieve a margin broadly in line with its average from 2028 onward.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • In addition, Bravo viewers on Peacock watch 92% more non-Bravo content than the platform user average — a key stat that underscores by NBCU kept Bravo in the fold while spinning off its other cable networks like CNBC and USA into Versant Media.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of average
Noun
  • For private schemes, the requirements include publicly available criteria, independent monitoring of compliance and procedures to withdraw or suspend a label when requirements are breached.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The government would license these groups and authorize them to test whether AI companies meet various safety criteria.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 11 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 underlying problem for the court seemed to be the lack of a benchmark.
    — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In China, India, Korea and Southeast Asia, sponsorship spending as a share of GDP trails the worldwide benchmark.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of benchmark
Noun
  • The subject of educational equality is particularly acute in a country that places great emphasis on credentials and diplomas, offering few other avenues for success.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Egalitarianism, then, is best seen not as perfect equality but as a set of tools that people use to secure their own autonomy and access to resources.
    — Christopher von Rueden, The Conversation, 3 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about par

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