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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in tests
to put (something) to a test
sampled the soup to see if it tasted good
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Bone samples were evaluated for DNA analysis, leading to a victim profile that was uploaded to an ancestry database.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Joshua Newton, who conducted research on eDNA for Curtin University’s Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, said challenges also include having cold storage to preserve DNA samples and ensuring samples are not contaminated.
—Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
The scientists took small skin samples before and after the grape diet, testing them both under normal conditions and after exposing them to low doses of ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
The experiment was designed to last for five days, after which the samples onboard the space station were frozen.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 26 May 2026
Because hantavirus was not suspected at the time of his death, no test samples were taken, but he is now believed to be the first hantavirus case on the ship.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The fiber samples traveled aboard the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft and will undergo long-term exposure tests outside the Chinese space station under conditions such as high vacuum, radiation, and extreme temperature fluctuations.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2026
In 2017, detectives used DNA samples preserved from Walls' body and the area in which she was found to create an image of a person of interest, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
Nathan Evans, Pitchfork, 12 May 2026
Then, instead of measuring everything, the protocol samples only a small fraction of the copies.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 Apr. 2026
Bar Tab Taran Dugal samples experimental cocktails in Long Island City.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
In response to these allegations, Gran Tierra told The Athletic that the company has 600 monitoring wells across their Colombian operations, analysing over 1,300 samples in 2024.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Bone samples were evaluated for DNA analysis, leading to a victim profile that was uploaded to an ancestry database.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Joshua Newton, who conducted research on eDNA for Curtin University’s Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, said challenges also include having cold storage to preserve DNA samples and ensuring samples are not contaminated.
—Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
The scientists took small skin samples before and after the grape diet, testing them both under normal conditions and after exposing them to low doses of ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
The experiment was designed to last for five days, after which the samples onboard the space station were frozen.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 26 May 2026
Because hantavirus was not suspected at the time of his death, no test samples were taken, but he is now believed to be the first hantavirus case on the ship.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The fiber samples traveled aboard the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft and will undergo long-term exposure tests outside the Chinese space station under conditions such as high vacuum, radiation, and extreme temperature fluctuations.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2026
In 2017, detectives used DNA samples preserved from Walls' body and the area in which she was found to create an image of a person of interest, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
Verb
Oklou shares the same melodic grace in her wandering arpeggios, and the spectral balearic timewarp of Torus’ Summer of Love samples Stockholm’s own Eric Prydz.
—Nathan Evans, Pitchfork, 12 May 2026
Then, instead of measuring everything, the protocol samples only a small fraction of the copies.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 Apr. 2026
Bar Tab Taran Dugal samples experimental cocktails in Long Island City.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for samples
Noun
-
There will be 25 wineries, breweries and other vendors and samplings from more than 25 local restaurants’ best dishes and desserts along with live music and silent auction.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
The cases of Legionnaires' disease, a type of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria, which can live in mist and water systems, prompted the SNHD to conduct environmental samplings at the Wynn, confirming its systems were infected with the bacteria.—
Carly Sauvageau,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There were other examples of Frank striking the wrong chord with his messaging and his replacement Tudor committed similar mistakes.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
The school official shared examples of other concerning behavior, according to the declaration.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Private worries or a need for rest may contrast with shifting schedules, messages, or a deadline spike, which tests your disciplined focus.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2026
-
This interview question tests whether autonomy is real or just an illusion.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Breakfast features a Middle Eastern spread that goes beyond the traditional selections.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
Some selections come from single barrels chosen exclusively for 1 Hotel Nashville, meaning they genuinely cannot be found anywhere else on earth.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
For the new study, Zietlow and her coauthors examined and reclassified fossils housed in more than a dozen institutions — specimens that had been misidentified as the species Tylosaurus proriger.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
-
One source with deep roots in the paleontology market, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, told me that many fossils now appearing in smaller galleries and auction houses are specimens that struggled to find buyers through traditional natural history channels.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Samples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/samples. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
