weigh
way
Weigh (verb) means to find out how heavy something is, usually with scales. Example: “Please weigh the flour carefully before adding it to the bowl.”
verb
1
To find out how heavy something is, usually with scales.
"Please weigh the flour carefully before adding it to the bowl."
"At the post office, they weigh each parcel to work out the postage."
"The nurse weighed the baby at every checkup."
2
To have a particular weight.
"My suitcase weighs far too much to carry up the stairs."
"Newborn babies usually weigh only a few kilograms."
"The parcel weighs almost two kilograms."
3
To carefully consider or compare things before deciding.
"You should weigh up the costs carefully before you buy a second car."
"She weighed the pros and cons before accepting the job offer."
"The judge had to weigh the evidence from both sides."
4
Nautical: to raise the anchor before setting sail.
"Once the tide turned, the captain ordered the sailors to weigh anchor."
"The ship will weigh anchor as soon as the last passenger is aboard."
"The crew weighed anchor at dawn."
How to use weigh
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo measure heaviness, to have a certain heaviness, or to think carefully about options.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "way" or "whey" — all pronounced the same but spelled and meaning differently.
Common pairings
weigh the options
weigh anchor
weigh in
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Word forms
- Plural
- weighs
- Third person singular
- weighs
- Past tense
- weighed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please _____ the flour carefully before adding it to the bowl.
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".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for weigh
See all rhymes for 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.'
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