weigh

1
[ wey ]
See synonyms for: weighweighedweighingweighable on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. to measure, separate, or apportion (a certain quantity of something) according to weight (usually followed by out): to weigh out five pounds of sugar.

  2. to make heavy; increase the weight or bulk of; weight: We weighed the drapes to make them hang properly.

  3. to evaluate in the mind; consider carefully in order to reach an opinion, decision, or choice: to weigh the facts; to weigh a proposal.

  4. Archaic. to raise, lift, or hoist (something).

  5. 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.

  1. to bear down as a weight or burden (usually followed by on or upon): Responsibility weighed upon her.

  2. to consider carefully or judicially: to weigh well before deciding.

  3. (of a ship) to raise the anchor and get under way: The ship weighed early and escaped in the fog.

Verb Phrases
  1. weigh down,

    • to cause to become bowed under a weight: snow and ice weighing down the trees.

    • to lower the spirits of; burden; depress: This predicament weighs me down.

  2. weigh in,

    • (of a boxer or wrestler) to be weighed by a medical examiner on the day of a bout.

    • to be of the weight determined by such a weighing: He weighed in at 170 pounds.

    • (of a jockey) to be weighed with the saddle and weights after a race.

    • 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.

  1. weigh out, Horse Racing. (of a jockey)

    • to be weighed with the saddle and weights before a race.

    • to be of the weight determined by such a weighing.

Idioms about weigh

  1. weigh anchor, Nautical. to heave up a ship's anchor in preparation for getting under way.

  2. weigh one's words. word (def. 30).

Origin of weigh

1
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”

synonym study For weigh

5. See study.

Other words for weigh

Other words from weigh

  • weigh·a·ble, adjective
  • weigher, noun
  • un·weigh·a·ble, adjective
  • un·weigh·ing, adjective
  • well-weighed, adjective

Words that may be confused with weigh

Other definitions for weigh (2 of 2)

weigh2
[ wey ]

Origin of weigh

2
First recorded in 1775–85; spelling variant of way1 by association with weigh anchor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use weigh in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for weigh (1 of 2)

weigh1

/ (weɪ) /


verb
  1. (tr) to measure the weight of

  2. (intr) to have weight or be heavy: she weighs more than her sister

  1. (tr often foll by out) to apportion according to weight

  2. (tr) to consider carefully: to weigh the facts of a case

  3. (intr) to be influential: his words weighed little with the jury

  4. (intr often foll by on) to be oppressive or burdensome (to)

  5. obsolete to regard or esteem

  6. weigh anchor to raise a vessel's anchor or (of a vessel) to have its anchor raised preparatory to departure

Origin of weigh

1
Old English wegan; related to Old Frisian wega, Old Norse vega, Gothic gawigan, German wiegen

Derived forms of weigh

  • weighable, adjective
  • weigher, noun

British Dictionary definitions for weigh (2 of 2)

weigh2

/ (weɪ) /


noun
  1. under weigh a variant spelling of under way

Origin of weigh

2
C18: variation due to the influence of phrases such as to weigh anchor

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012