figure
FIH-guh
Figure (noun) means a number or numerical value. Example: “Sales figures were up ten percent this quarter.”
noun
1
A number or numerical value.
"Sales figures were up ten percent this quarter."
"The accountant checked each figure in the report twice before sending it."
"The final figure was much lower than we had expected."
2
The shape of a person’s body.
"The tailor said the dress would flatter almost any figure."
"He kept a trim figure by cycling to work every day."
"She kept in shape and was proud of her figure."
3
A person considered in terms of their public role or influence.
"He became a leading figure in the civil rights movement."
"The mayor is a well-known figure in our town."
"She became a respected figure in the world of music."
4
A diagram or illustration used to convey information.
"See Figure 2 for a breakdown of the results."
"The figure on page ten shows how the water cycle works."
"Each figure in the manual has a short caption beneath it."
verb
1
To think, guess, or conclude something.
"I figured you’d be running late."
"I figure we should leave early to avoid the traffic."
"He figured nobody would notice if he came in quietly."
2
To calculate or work something out.
"I can't figure out how much petrol we'll need for the trip."
"She figured the total in her head before the cashier finished."
"Let me figure out how much we owe."
How to use figure
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA number, a diagram, a person’s body shape, or a notable person — and as a verb, to work something out or assume something.
Common pairings
figure out
a key figure
sales figures
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Word forms
- Plural
- figures
- Third person singular
- figures
- Past tense
- figured
Fill the gap
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Sales _____ were up ten percent this quarter.
Etymology
From Old French figure, from Latin figura, "shape, form," ultimately from a root meaning "to mold or shape" — the same root behind "dough."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for figure
See all rhymes for figure →Frequently asked questions
What does “figure” mean?
The word “figure” means a number or numerical value. In plain terms, a number, a diagram, a person’s body shape, or a notable person — and as a verb, to work something out or assume something.
How do you pronounce “figure”?
“Figure” is pronounced FIH-guh (/ˈfɪɡjɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “figure” in a sentence?
Here is “figure” used in a sentence: “Sales figures were up ten percent this quarter.”
What part of speech is “figure”?
Depending on how it is used, “figure” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “figure” come from?
The word “figure” comes from Latin. From Old French figure, from Latin figura, "shape, form," ultimately from a root meaning "to mold or shape" — the same root behind "dough.".
Is “figure” a common word?
“Figure” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “figure” have?
“Figure” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a number or numerical value.
What is the difference between a figure and a number?
A number is the abstract mathematical value, while a figure usually refers to how that value is written as digits, or to a specific quantity in data. We say 'sales figures' for statistics and 'written in figures' for 12 rather than twelve. Every figure is a number, expressed concretely.
What does a six-figure salary mean?
A six-figure salary is one written with six digits, meaning it falls between 100,000 and 999,999 in your currency. The phrase counts the number of figures, or digits, in the amount. By the same logic, a five-figure sum is in the tens of thousands and seven figures reaches the millions.
What does 'in figures' mean?
Writing a value 'in figures' means using digits, such as 250, rather than spelling it out 'in words' as two hundred and fifty. Forms and cheques often ask for both to prevent errors. It is simply the difference between the numeral and its written-out name.
What does 'double figures' mean?
Double figures means a number with two digits, in other words any value from 10 to 99. Reaching double figures is a common milestone in sport and counting, as when a player scores ten or more points. Single figures covers 0 to 9, and triple figures begins at 100.
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