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View synonyms for weigh

weigh

1

[ wey ]

verb (used with object)

  1. 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.

  2. to hold up or balance, as in the hand, in order to estimate the weight.
  3. to measure, separate, or apportion (a certain quantity of something) according to weight (usually followed by out ):

    to weigh out five pounds of sugar.

  4. to make heavy; increase the weight or bulk of; weight:

    We weighed the drapes to make them hang properly.

  5. 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

  6. Archaic. to raise, lift, or hoist (something).
  7. Obsolete. to think important; esteem.


verb (used without object)

  1. to have weight or a specified amount of weight:

    to weigh less; to weigh a ton.

  2. to have importance, moment, or consequence:

    Your recommendation weighs heavily in his favor.

  3. to bear down as a weight or burden (usually followed by on or upon ):

    Responsibility weighed upon her.

  4. to consider carefully or judicially:

    to weigh well before deciding.

  5. (of a ship) to raise the anchor and get under way:

    The ship weighed early and escaped in the fog.

verb phrase

  1. 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.
    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.

weigh

2

[ wey ]

weigh

1

/ weɪ /

noun

  1. under weigh
    under weigh a variant spelling of under way


weigh

2

/ weɪ /

verb

  1. tr to measure the weight of
  2. intr to have weight or be heavy

    she weighs more than her sister

  3. troften foll byout to apportion according to weight
  4. tr to consider carefully

    to weigh the facts of a case

  5. intr to be influential

    his words weighed little with the jury

  6. introften foll byon to be oppressive or burdensome (to)
  7. obsolete.
    to regard or esteem
  8. weigh anchor
    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
  1. under weigh, Nautical. in motion; under way.
  2. weigh anchor, Nautical. to heave up a ship's anchor in preparation for getting under way.
  3. weigh one's words. word ( def 30 ).

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Synonym Study

See study.

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Example Sentences

A few well respected PPC influencers weighed in on the impact of this change on Twitter.

Consider that 50cc bikes have claimed weights of around 90–110 pounds, 65cc are around 130 pounds, 85cc tip scales at 165 pounds, 110cc about 159–170, and 125cc machines weigh approximately 196–207 pounds.

This makes it hard to weigh the benefits versus the risks of using these drugs to treat ARDS.

This scooter weighs just over 10 pounds and is easily foldable so you can quickly hop off and pack it up whenever you reach your next destination.

Now it is weighing the removal of two of those three pillars.

From Digiday

Its purpose is not to try the case, seek both sides of the argument, or weigh the relative merits of each.

Young male and female fashion models are told how to look, what to eat, and how much they can weigh.

Nevertheless, the expectation that every African-American star or hip-hop hero must weigh in on Ferguson is a problematic one.

When it falls unconscious, a ground crew drags the beast—which can weigh up to 5,000 lbs—into a net strapped to the chopper.

This being a major national news story, it makes perfect sense that the president would weigh in.

On the 2nd of July, we again attempted to weigh anchor, but with no better success than the day before.

Without waiting to think and weigh his extraordinary impression, he did a very foolish but a very natural thing.

I had put my arms about her waist, and I felt her supple body weigh lightly on my clasped hands.

According to the Koran, an angel will weigh both men and women in a great balance; this idea, too, is taken from the magi.

If you would escape Time's bruises and his heavy burdens which weigh you to the earth, you must be drunken.

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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