samples 1 of 2

Definition of samplesnext
plural of sample
1
as in samplings
a number of things selected from a group to stand for the whole based on a sample of the menu items, we decided that this was the best restaurant in town

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2
as in examples
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like this vase is a sample of the high-quality glassware that the glassblowers can produce

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samples

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sample
as in tests
to put (something) to a test sampled the soup to see if it tasted good

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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 samples
Noun
In January, OpenAI was reported to be asking third-party contractors, via training data firm Handshake AI, to upload samples of real work products from previous jobs—actual PowerPoints, spreadsheets, and the like—with instructions to scrub confidential material before submission. Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026 Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann, who admitted to killing eight women between 1993 and 2010, pleaded guilty earlier this month after his defense failed to overcome groundbreaking DNA evidence collected from rootless hair samples. Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026 It’s been effective in small samples, but Game 2 exposed the risk. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026 Once known as a dry town, Pullman celebrated beer over the weekend with samples of Seipp Beer and a talk about how beer has long been a part of the neighborhood and Chicago. Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 The company recalled some of its baby food jars because samples there as well as in Slovakia and the Czech Republic tested positive for rat poison. ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026 Singer says the Marijuana Enforcement Division allows producers to decide which samples are tested. Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026 Flying is the company’s second Nova-C lander named Athena featuring NASA’s PRIME-1 drill, to land a drill and mass spectrometer near the south pole of the moon in order to demonstrate the feasibility of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and measure the volatile content of subsurface samples. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026 However, when the Apollo missions brought back samples from the moon between 1969 and 1972, scientists found that the lunar regolith was bone dry. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
The hotel samples some of the city's hottest restaurants and bars, spanning cuisine from China’s Chaoshan to Europe. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026 The Martian samples the scientists studied, which bore a strong match to rocks found near San Diego and South Africa, ranged from as small as a pebble to as large as a boulder. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026 Of the clean-up options detailed in its application, the city prefers a plan that removes the pile and basement foundation, then samples the soil and groundwater to find out whether further work is needed to mitigate toxins. Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026 Max Richter also got a nomination for his score, which samples old-fashioned instruments like the viol and hurdy-gurdy. Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 22 Jan. 2026 Walker deliciously samples new genres here, too. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2025 The new servo extruder continuously samples position and resistance at a rate of 20KHz. PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 Pink Friday 2, catchy track ‘Everybody’, which samples Junior Senior song ‘Move Your Feet’. Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025 As One of Us gleefully samples multiple registers—comic, tragic, satiric, elegiac, poetic—its mesh of archaic and contemporary styles becomes something quite arresting, a joy to read … Chaon’s beautiful novel insists on answers. Book Marks september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for samples
Noun
  • Some chefs offer bites similar to what is offered on their restaurant menus; others curate samplings that are exclusive to the event.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2026
  • That event is followed by the fan-favorite Main Event on Friday, where chefs bring small bites, wine, beer and craft cocktail samplings.
    Tribune News Service, Dallas Morning News, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There are more examples of such calculations.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
  • The Bengals have a long history of finding productive defensive linemen in the middle rounds of the draft, with the 2010 draft adding Carlos Dunlap (Round 2) and Geno Atkins (Round 4) as the most notable examples.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The static fire test follows a series of cryogenic proof tests earlier this year.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
  • The journey tests the physical and spiritual limits of both men.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Here’s how Dolphins have fared all-time with their dozen selections nearest that vicinity (within two spots either way; 9 through 13).
    Greg Cote April 19, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Also, some agapanthus selections can tolerate near coastal conditions, frost, and neglect.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The three specimens represent slightly different stages of development shortly before or after birth.
    Kate Wong, Scientific American, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Small trees and ornamental shrubs make excellent specimens and they can be used as a centerpiece in flower gardens or to draw attention to an architectural element on the front of your home.
    Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 15 Apr. 2026

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

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