measure

1 of 2

noun

mea·sure ˈme-zhər

ˈmā-

Synonyms of measure next

a(1)

: an adequate or due portion

all too few of the British actresses … have received their measure of remembrance—

Saturday Review

(2)

: a moderate degree

also : moderation, temperance

(3)

: a fixed or suitable limit : bounds

rich beyond measure

: the dimensions, capacity, or amount of something ascertained by measuring

took his measure for a coat

: an estimate of what is to be expected (as of a person or situation)

the measure of their tragedy is now beyond our imagination—

G. F. Kennan

d(1)

: a measured quantity

(2)

: amount, degree

giving children a greater measure of freedom

: an instrument (such as a yardstick) or utensil (such as a graduated cup) for measuring

b(1)

: a standard or unit of measurement see Weights and Measures Table

(2)

: a system of standard units of measure

metric measure

: the act or process of measuring

settled by a measure made by a surveyor

a(1)

: melody, tune

(2)

: dance

especially : a slow and stately dance

: rhythmic structure or movement : cadence: such as

(1)

: poetic rhythm measured by temporal (see temporal entry 1 sense 3) quantity or accent

specifically : meter

(2)

: musical time

c(1)

: a grouping of a specified number of musical beats located between two consecutive vertical lines on a staff

(2)

: a metrical unit : foot

: an exact divisor of a number

6 being the greatest common measure of 42 and 12

: a basis or standard of comparison

wealth is not a measure of happiness

: a step planned or taken as a means to an end

took strong measures against the rebels

specifically : a proposed legislative act

sponsored an anti-inflation measure in the senate

measure

2 of 2

verb

measured; measuring ˈme-zhə-riŋ

ˈmā-;

ˈmezh-riŋ,

ˈmāzh-

transitive verb

: to choose or control with cautious restraint : regulate

measure his acts

: to regulate by a standard : govern

: to allot or apportion in measured amounts

measure out three cups

: to lay off by making measurements

: to ascertain the measurements of

: to estimate or appraise by a criterion

measures his skill against his rival

archaic : to travel over : traverse

: to serve as a means of measuring

a thermometer measures temperature

intransitive verb

: to take or make a measurement

: to have a specified measurement

measurer

ˈme-zhər-ər

ˈmā-;

ˈmezh-rə-

ˈmāzh-

noun

Phrases

for good measure

: in addition to the minimum required : as an extra

added another illustration for good measure

Example Sentences

Noun She felt equal measures of hope and fear. Their actions were motivated in large measure by a desire for revenge. An occasion like this calls for some measure of decorum. The meter is a measure of length. The dictionary includes a table of weights and measures. The legislature has passed a measure aimed at protecting consumers. The governor has proposed a number of cost-cutting measures. They were forced to resort to desperate measures. We need to take measures to protect ourselves. Verb using a ruler to measure a piece of paper an instrument for measuring air pressure mental abilities measured by IQ testing He's being measured for a new suit. His success cannot be measured solely on the basis of his popularity. The cloth measures 3 meters. The room measures 15 feet wide by 30 feet long. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Grip strength is also an excellent measure of a person's overall muscular strength. —

Dr. Michael Daignault, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2023 Tesla claims that Autopilot is safer than ordinary driving, but autonomous vehicle experts say the data chosen by Tesla to support its safety claims compares apples and oranges, and isn’t the best measure of the safety of the systems. —

Matt Mcfarland, CNN, 31 Jan. 2023 Wattage is the measure of the power that the microwave has. —

Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2023 So occupancy isn’t a great measure of hybrid versus being in-person. —

Sean Mcdonnell, cleveland, 28 Jan. 2023 If a series of factual questions on a test can be answered by a chatbot, was the test a worthwhile measure of learning anyway? —

WIRED, 26 Jan. 2023 This is a harder number to manipulate and can be a more truthful measure of financial strength. —

Charles Rotblut, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2023 But Bridge noted that the count is only one measure of homelessness and that the tally is best used in combination with other available data. —

Juliette Rihl, The Arizona Republic, 25 Jan. 2023 The two-page bill, which is primarily a measure seeking to prohibit schools in the state from accommodating transgender youths, includes a subsection aimed at a different — and theoretical — category of students. —

Brooke Sopelsa, NBC News, 24 Jan. 2023

Verb

One of the study’s approaches was to measure the distance at which objects can be clearly seen in the paintings of Turner and Monet. —

Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023 The capsule formed part of a density gauge, which Rio Tinto was using to measure the density of iron ore at a plant at the Gudai-Darri mine. —

Rhiannon Hoyle, WSJ, 30 Jan. 2023 At the time of his departure, Saal was seeking a consultant to help create a statewide housing plan, which observers and housing advocates say is necessary to measure any sort of progress. —

Alexa Gagosz, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Jan. 2023 The effects on the labor market will be deep but hard to measure. —

Tripp Mickle, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2023 Even more nuanced is how to measure the idea itself. —

San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2023 Second, is to measure the wellbeing impacts of your operations in geographies that migrants are coming from. —

Kevin O'marah, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2022 The first step was to measure carefully; then the designers started playing Tetris to see what would flow best in the space. —

Deanna Kizis, Sunset Magazine, 25 Nov. 2022 The global industry standard is to measure carbon footprints in kgCO2e, or kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent. —

Paul Sillers, CNN, 14 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'measure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mesure "act of measuring, instrument for measuring, standard unit of quantity, size, measurable amount, proper proportion, moderation, tempurance," borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin mensūra "act of measuring, dimension determined by measurement, amount, instrument for measuring," from mensus, past participle of mētior, mētīrī "to determine the extent of, mark off by measuring" + -ūra -ure; mētior verbal derivative of an Indo-European noun *meh₁-ti- "act of measuring" (whence Old English mǣth "measure, degree, efficacy," Greek mêtis "measure, skill, craft," Sanskrit māti- "measure, correct understanding"), nominal derivative of a verbal base *meh₁-, whence, as a reduplicated present, Sanskrit mímite "(s/he) measures, shares," Avestan framimaθā "(s/he) should arrange"

Note: The irregular past participle mensus, alongside a regular derivative mētītus only found in later classical texts, may have been formed by analogy with pensus, past participle of pendere "to weigh."

Verb

Middle English mesuren "to calculate the measurements of, determine the extent of by measuring, apportion, moderate, control, judge," borrowed from Anglo-French mesurer, going back to Late Latin mensūrāre "to calculate the measurements of," derivative of mensūra measure entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of measure was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century