structure 1 of 2

1
as in building
something built as a dwelling, shelter, or place for human activity the only structure on the island is an old Spanish fort—or what's left of it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in construction
something put together by arranging or connecting an array of parts the Egyptian pyramids are among the most remarkable structures ever built

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in framework
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form the basic structure of all those tract houses is the same: basically, a box

Synonyms & Similar Words

structure

2 of 2

verb

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 structure
Noun
Fabrics are skewed structured with a whisper of stretch—hold without the squeeze. Minty Mellon, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2025 Unlike the cash-heavy salaries and bonuses that structure most CEO contracts, Musk has repeatedly tied his fortune to Tesla’s ability to smash through aggressive milestones. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
This cage flexed during tremors, making the buildings among the world’s earliest earthquake-resistant structures. Big Think, 18 Sep. 2025 Luckily for bridge users, the city of Newport has recently become the sole owner of the structure, and the change will likely make closures a lot less frequent. Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for structure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for structure
Noun
  • Its neon sign and garage-bay bones carried a nostalgia too strong to ignore, so when the building went up for sale, Conner, Loftin, and Verret set out to honor its history while making the space their own.
    Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
  • The Truth Teller building is a nine-story, ornate 1920s building downtown, and the newspaper is now on half of the ninth floor and the other half is a toilet paper sales office.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Perpetua anticipates the mine would create nearly 1,000 jobs during construction and more than half that total for operations.
    Kevin Fixler September 20, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The logs are precision-fitted, showcasing the artistry of traditional log construction.
    Randy Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Its sponsors argue that America must remain unified under one legal framework—the Constitution—and reject attempts to introduce alternative systems.
    Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Minutes after the game, Napier wandered into the framework of Hard Rock Stadium accompanied by UF athletics director Scott Stricklin.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • With a thoughtful use of color, Wezel constructs a visual world that feels both alienating and intensely sensorial, like a vivid dream uncomfortably close to reality.
    Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
  • For instance, at least 10% of the project’s total units must be constructed as affordable units in the first phase of development.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • As a result, the Rubin CPX, while built on the same Rubin AI GPU architecture, is designed differently than the Rubin AI GPU, with 128GB of GDDR7 memory plus hardware encode and decode engines to support video generation.
    Jim McGregor, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The cathedral, a landmark of Gothic architecture in the heart of France's capital, was built around 1260 AD and stood for 850 years, seeing more visitors than the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Yet the authors argue that 2024 YR4 is a valuable case study for building planetary defense capabilities.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Whereas a rival might build four huge trains, VG’s new Plaquemines campus will soon count 36 modular trains when it’s completed.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The country also opted to create a 500 billion euro ($592 billion) infrastructure and climate investment fund.
    Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The Russian incursions into NATO airspace builds on a years-long hybrid warfare against countries in the alliance, defined by acts of sabotage, cyberattacks, destruction of infrastructure and attacks on individuals.
    Laura Kelly, The Hill, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Investors grew concerned that a bubble may be forming in the AI space after the chipmaker announced a $100 billion investment in OpenAI , marking an unusual deal between a supplier and customer.
    Fred Imbert, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Sinkholes, depressions in the ground caused by the sudden collapse of the surface layer, can form for various reasons, including natural causes like intense rainfall, flooding or drought, as well as human activities such as construction and aging infrastructure.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Structure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/structure. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on structure

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!