meager
Meager (adj) means Poor or lacking in amount, quality, or extent; barely enough. Example: “The refugees survived on a meager ration of rice and water.”
How to use meager
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot enough of something — a small, disappointing amount, or a body that's too thin.
This is the standard American spelling; British English generally prefers "meagre".
Word forms
meagerer comparative, meagered past tense, meagers singular, meagerest superlative
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Can you complete this real example?
The refugees survived on a _____ ration of rice and water.
Etymology
From Old French maigre, from Latin macer ("thin, lean") — the same root that gives us "emaciated".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for meager
See all rhymes for meager →Frequently asked questions
What does “meager” mean?
The word “meager” means poor or lacking in amount, quality, or extent; barely enough. In plain terms, not enough of something — a small, disappointing amount, or a body that's too thin.
How do you pronounce “meager”?
“Meager” is pronounced MEE-guh (/ˈmiɡɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “meager” in a sentence?
Here is “meager” used in a sentence: “The refugees survived on a meager ration of rice and water.”
What part of speech is “meager”?
“Meager” is an adjective.
Where does the word “meager” come from?
The word “meager” comes from Latin. From Old French maigre, from Latin macer ("thin, lean") — the same root that gives us "emaciated".
How many meanings does “meager” have?
“Meager” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: poor or lacking in amount, quality, or extent; barely enough.
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