measure
24 synonyms and 0 antonyms for measure, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To find the size, amount, or degree of something using an instrument or standard.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use measure
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French mesure, from Latin mēnsūra ("a measuring"), from mētior ("to measure").
Full origin of measure →Frequently asked questions
What does “measure” mean?
The word “measure” means to find the size, amount, or degree of something using an instrument or standard. In plain terms, to find out the size or amount of something, or a standard unit or official action.
How do you pronounce “measure”?
“Measure” is pronounced MEHZH-uh (/ˈmɛʒ.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “measure” in a sentence?
Here is “measure” used in a sentence: “She measured the window before ordering new curtains.”
What part of speech is “measure”?
Depending on how it is used, “measure” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “measure” come from?
The word “measure” comes from Latin. From Old French mesure, from Latin mēnsūra ("a measuring"), from mētior ("to measure").
Is “measure” a common word?
“Measure” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “measure” have?
“Measure” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to find the size, amount, or degree of something using an instrument or standard.
What is the difference between measure and weigh?
Weighing is one specific kind of measuring — finding how heavy something is using its mass or weight. Measuring is the general act of finding any size, amount, or degree, whether that is length, volume, temperature, or time. So you always measure when you weigh, but you can measure many things without weighing.
What are the main types of measurement?
Everyday measurement usually falls into a few categories: length or distance, weight or mass, volume or capacity, temperature, and time. Others include area, speed, and pressure. Each uses its own units and instruments — a ruler for length, scales for weight, a thermometer for temperature — but all compare something against a standard.
Can everything be measured?
Not everything. Physical quantities like length, weight, and time can be measured precisely with instruments. But qualities such as happiness, beauty, or loyalty resist exact measurement, because they have no natural units. People often estimate these using scales or ratings, though such measures are approximate rather than truly objective.
What is an example of measuring something?
Using a tape measure to find the length of a table is a simple example. So is stepping on bathroom scales to check your weight, reading a thermometer for temperature, or filling a measuring jug to a set volume. Each compares the thing against a marked instrument or agreed standard.