umpire 1 of 2

noun

ˈəm-ˌpī(-ə)r How to pronounce umpire (audio)
Definition of umpirenext
as in referee
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy usually acts as umpire in the all-too-frequent squabbles between the two other roommates

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umpire

2 of 2

verb

as in to decide
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) in our family disputes regarding the use of our home entertainment system are umpired by Dad

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 umpire
Noun
Snell threw two pitches to Hao-Yu Lee and then, after a conversation with home plate umpire Chris Guccione, headed off the field and disappeared down the dugout tunnel. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 Brewers manager Pat Murphy had a discussion with third base umpire and crew chief Vic Carapazza in the third, when Misiorowski fell behind 2-0 on Francisco Alvarez following a walk to Morel. — CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
Ogilvie has also squeezed in umpiring the last three years. — Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 Despite reportedly taking some violent blows to the head and wrestling the alleged thief to the ground, Ballou was able to umpire the Phillies’ game the next night. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for umpire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umpire
  1. referee
  2. decide
  3. judge
  4. settle
  5. determine
  6. arbitrate
  7. adjudicate
  8. adjudge
Noun
  • Casual comments that harm former colleagues and employers do not disappear when the following day’s newspapers are thrown in the bin, yet hang around forever to cause untold damage to all referees’ reputations.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The new rules mandated that referees stop play for a ten-minute hydration break that allows players to drink fluids, change clothes, or shower in their locker room.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of referee
Verb
  • Kushner for his part emphasized in his note this week that FIFA’s members would ultimately have decided whether to participate.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The two companies decided to change the way the figurines were auctioned to avoid the gouging narrative.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of decide
Noun
  • The motion to assign the case to a specific judge is expected to be heard before arguments begin on the sentence motion.
    — Greg Smith, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Local 42’s attorneys had previously filed a motion asking a Jackson County judge to hold the city in contempt, arguing that officials had failed to carry out a previous judgment in the case from March that enforced the arbitrator’s decision.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of judge
Verb
  • The tropical cyclone reached Category 5, defined by sustained winds of 157 mph or greater, overnight Friday before losing some of its steam and settling into Category 4’s limits of sustained winds of 130 to 156 mph by Saturday.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Our offensive weapons give Kyler a perfect runway to land the plane, finally settling into an environment that can nurture his skill set and get a payday in a prove-it year.
    — Adam Coleman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of settle
Verb
  • Graf also reiterated that his ruling was not a definitive finding of guilt, which will have to be determined by a jury during a future trial.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In a July 29 order, the court determined Millennia failed to make those fixes.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of determine
Verb
  • In each instance, once parties have agreed to arbitrate, a court may confirm and enforce the resulting arbitration award, subject to limited grounds for setting it aside.
    — Asma Uddin, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The planned center for arbitrating investment and commercial disputes, for example, will sit within the Syrian Investment Authority, which is itself attached to the presidency.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of arbitrate
Verb
  • The Justices’ daily business involves resolving ambiguities, clarifying jurisdiction, harmonizing conflicting statutes, and adjudicating conflicts in special jurisdictions.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In cases where the visa holder has an active asylum application, the claim will have to be adjudicated and denied before removal proceedings can move forward.
    — Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of adjudicate
Verb
  • Antoine Griezmann, France vs Croatia, 2018 Griezmann restores France’s lead with a penalty after Ivan Perisic was adjudged to have handled in the box.
    — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov won the Hart Trophy as the NHL player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team, marking the second such honor of his career after also winning the award in 2019.
    — Mercury News, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Definition of adjudge

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umiaks
umpire
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Cite this Entry

“Umpire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umpire. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on umpire

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about umpire

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