weigh
10 synonyms for weigh, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To find out how heavy something is, usually with scales.
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.
librate
How to use weigh
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
weigh the options
weigh anchor
weigh in
Etymology
From Old English wegan ("to carry, move, weigh"), from a very old root meaning "to carry or transport" — a distant relative of "vector" and "wagon".
Full origin of weigh →Frequently asked questions
What does “weigh” mean?
The word “weigh” means to find out how heavy something is, usually with scales. In plain terms, to measure heaviness, to have a certain heaviness, or to think carefully about options.
How do you pronounce “weigh”?
“Weigh” is pronounced way (/weɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “weigh” in a sentence?
Here is “weigh” used in a sentence: “The nurse weighed the baby at every checkup.”
What part of speech is “weigh”?
“Weigh” is a verb.
Where does the word “weigh” come from?
The word “weigh” comes from Old English. From Old English wegan ("to carry, move, weigh"), from a very old root meaning "to carry or transport" — a distant relative of "vector" and "wagon".
Is “weigh” a common word?
“Weigh” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “weigh” have?
“Weigh” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to find out how heavy something is, usually with scales.
What is the difference between weigh and weight?
Weigh is a verb: you weigh something to find out how heavy it is, or an object weighs a certain amount. Weight is normally a noun naming the measurement itself, as in 'the weight of the box.' Writing 'the box weights ten kilos' is a common mistake; the correct verb form is weighs.
Is it 'weigh in' or 'way in'?
The phrasal verb is weigh in: people weigh in on a debate by offering an opinion, and boxers weigh in before a fight by being officially weighed. 'Way in' is only correct as a noun phrase meaning an entrance, as in 'the way in is around the back.'
