proportion
pruh-PAW-shuhn
Proportion (noun) means the size or amount of one part of something compared with the whole. Example: “A large proportion of the budget goes toward staff salaries.”
noun
1
The size or amount of one part of something compared with the whole.
"A large proportion of the budget goes toward staff salaries."
"What proportion of students passed the exam?"
"Only a small proportion of the audience stayed until the end."
2
A balanced or harmonious relationship between the sizes of different parts.
"The architect designed the building with careful attention to proportion."
"The room feels calm because the windows and doors are in good proportion."
"The statue's head is out of proportion with its tiny body."
verb
1
To adjust the size or amount of something so it relates correctly to something else.
"The punishment should be proportioned to the severity of the crime."
"Try to proportion the sugar to the amount of fruit you use."
"Teachers should proportion homework to the time pupils actually have."
How to use proportion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA share of a whole, or the balanced relationship between parts and the whole.
Common pairings
a small proportion of
in proportion to
sense of proportion
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Word forms
- Plural
- proportions
- Third person singular
- proportions
- Past tense
- proportioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A large _____ of the budget goes toward staff salaries.
Etymology
From Old French proportion, from Latin proportio, from pro ("for, relative to") + portio ("share, part") — the same root as "portion."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for proportion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for proportion →
Frequently asked questions
What does “proportion” mean?
The word “proportion” means the size or amount of one part of something compared with the whole. In plain terms, a share of a whole, or the balanced relationship between parts and the whole.
How do you pronounce “proportion”?
“Proportion” is pronounced pruh-PAW-shuhn (/pɹəˈpɔɹʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “proportion” in a sentence?
Here is “proportion” used in a sentence: “A large proportion of the budget goes toward staff salaries.”
What part of speech is “proportion”?
Depending on how it is used, “proportion” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “proportion” come from?
The word “proportion” comes from Latin. From Old French proportion, from Latin proportio, from pro ("for, relative to") + portio ("share, part") — the same root as "portion.".
Is “proportion” a common word?
“Proportion” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “proportion” have?
“Proportion” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the size or amount of one part of something compared with the whole.
What is the difference between "proportion" and "ratio"?
A ratio compares two separate quantities to each other (for example 3:1), while a proportion compares one part with the whole (three out of four). A proportion is often expressed as a fraction or percentage of a total.
What is the difference between "proportion" and "percentage"?
A percentage is a proportion expressed out of 100, whereas a proportion can be given as a fraction, a decimal, or in words ("a large proportion"). Every percentage is a proportion, but not every proportion is stated as a percentage.
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