View synonyms for weigh

weigh

[ wey ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to determine or ascertain the force that gravitation exerts upon (a person or thing) by use of a balance, scale, or other mechanical device:
to weigh oneself; to weigh potatoes; to weigh gases.
to hold up or balance, as in the hand, in order to estimate the weight.
to measure, separate, or apportion (a certain quantity of something) according to weight (usually followed by out ):
to weigh out five pounds of sugar.
to make heavy; increase the weight or bulk of; weight:
We weighed the drapes to make them hang properly.
to evaluate in the mind; consider carefully in order to reach an opinion, decision, or choice:
to weigh the facts; to weigh a proposal.
Synonyms: contemplate, ponder
Archaic. to raise, lift, or hoist (something).
Obsolete. to think important; esteem.

verb (used without object)

to have weight or a specified amount of weight:
to weigh less; to weigh a ton.
to have importance, moment, or consequence:
Your recommendation weighs heavily in his favor.
to bear down as a weight or burden (usually followed by on or upon ):
Responsibility weighed upon her.
to consider carefully or judicially:
to weigh well before deciding.
(of a ship) to raise the anchor and get under way:
The ship weighed early and escaped in the fog.

verb phrase

1. to cause to become bowed under a weight:
  snow and ice weighing down the trees.
2. to lower the spirits of; burden; depress:
  This predicament weighs me down.
1. (of a boxer or wrestler) to be weighed by a medical examiner on the day of a bout.
2. to be of the weight determined by such a weighing:
  He weighed in at 170 pounds.
3. (of a jockey) to be weighed with the saddle and weights after a race.
4. Informal. to offer an opinion, advice, support, etc., especially in a forceful or authoritative way:
  The chairman weighed in with an idea for the fundraiser.
Horse Racing. (of a jockey)
1. to be weighed with the saddle and weights before a race.
2. to be of the weight determined by such a weighing.

weigh

[ wey ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

weigh

/ weɪ /

noun

under weigh
a variant spelling of under way

weigh

/ weɪ /

verb

tr to measure the weight of
intr to have weight or be heavy
she weighs more than her sister
troften foll byout to apportion according to weight
tr to consider carefully
to weigh the facts of a case
intr to be influential
his words weighed little with the jury
introften foll byon to be oppressive or burdensome (to)
obsolete.
to regard or esteem
weigh anchor
to raise a vessel's anchor or (of a vessel) to have its anchor raised preparatory to departure

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Derived Forms

ˈweigher, noun
ˈweighable, adjective

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Other Words From

weigha·ble adjective
weigher noun
un·weigha·ble adjective
un·weighing adjective
well-weighed adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of weigh¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English weien, wein, weighen, Old English wegan “to carry, weigh”; cognate with Dutch wegen, German wägen, Old Norse vega; akin to Latin vehere “to carry, convey”

Origin of weigh²

First recorded in 1775–85; spelling variant of way ¹ by association with weigh anchor

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Word History and Origins

Origin of weigh¹

C18: variation due to the influence of phrases such as to weigh anchor

Origin of weigh²

Old English wegan; related to Old Frisian wega, Old Norse vega, Gothic gawigan, German wiegen

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

under weigh, Nautical. in motion; under way.
weigh anchor, Nautical. to heave up a ship's anchor in preparation for getting under way.
weigh one's words. word ( def 30 ).

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Synonym Study

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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