size
1 Americannoun
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the spatial dimensions, proportions, magnitude, or bulk of anything.
the size of a farm; the size of the fish you caught.
-
considerable or great magnitude.
to seek size rather than quality.
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one of a series of graduated measures for articles of manufacture or trade.
children's sizes of shoes.
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a fortune of great size.
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actual condition, circumstance, or state of affairs.
That's about the size of it.
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a number of population or contents.
What size is Springfield, Illinois? The size of that last shipment was only a dozen.
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Obsolete. a fixed standard of quality or quantity, as for food or drink.
verb (used with object)
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to separate or sort according to size.
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to make of a certain size.
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Metallurgy. to press (a sintered compact) to close tolerances.
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Obsolete. to regulate or control according to a fixed standard.
verb phrase
idioms
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of a size, of the same or similar size.
The two poodles are of a size.
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try on for size,
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to put on briefly in order to test the fit of, as a garment or shoes.
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to consider, evaluate, do, or use before taking further action.
We'll try the plan on for size to see whether it's practical.
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noun
verb (used with object)
noun
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the dimensions, proportions, amount, or extent of something
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large or great dimensions, etc
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one of a series of graduated measurements, as of clothing
she takes size 4 shoes
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informal state of affairs as summarized
he's bankrupt, that's the size of it
verb
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to sort according to size
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(tr) to make or cut to a particular size or sizes
noun
verb
Usage
The use of -size and -sized after large or small is redundant, except when describing something which is made in specific sizes: a large (not large-size ) organization. Similarly, in size is redundant in the expressions large in size and small in size
Synonym Usage
Size, volume, mass, bulk are terms referring to the extent or dimensions of that which has magnitude and occupies space. Size is the general word: of great size; small in size. Volume often applies to something that has no fixed shape: Smoke has volume. Mass, also, does not suggest shape, but suggests a quantity of matter in a solid body: a mass of concrete. Bulk suggests weight, and often a recognizable, though perhaps unwieldy, shape: the huge bulk of an elephant.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of size1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun sise, syse, originally, “control, regulation, limit,” from Old French sise, shortening and alteration of assise assize
Origin of size2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English noun sise, syse; perhaps special use of size 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The size of a tablet computer and attached to drones, the military-grade jammers can hinder Russian air defence systems from tracking and targeting such weapons in-flight, Downing Street said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
CHAMINADE: There’s speed and size surrounding sophomore quarterback Jeremy Mellalieu.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
It then took more than 70 years to become an “aged society,” in which the size of that cohort has doubled to 14%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Jo Moseley from law firm Irwin Mitchell explains that when it comes to judging what is "reasonable", a tribunal would take into account factors like the person's role, and the size of the business.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
I picture him cutting wrapping paper to the right size and taping the ends in place, and for some reason that image is more than my heart can handle.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power described it as a “pinhole sized leak.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
That growth has propelled sales of compact trucks since 2021, from 1% to 6.7% last year of all pickups, according to Edmunds, which includes the Maverick and Hyundai’s similarly sized Santa Cruz in the category.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
A similarly sized 27-point improvement was seen for women’s employment for those who were previously not employed.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026
The new membranes draw inspiration from biological systems such as aquaporins, which regulate the movement of molecules through precisely sized channels.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 12, 2026
Cluny sized it up: exactly what he wanted, the perfect distance from the wall.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Tadeh Ghazalian, owner of Dialog, was still sizing up the damage to his restaurant the other day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Online shopping, says Charlotte, “is something I avoid, especially as I get older — I just don’t have the patience to decode the sizing differences of four different brands selling basically the same shirt.”
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
Meanwhile, sizing studies done on the SPR in the 1970s recommended an inventory minimum of 250 million barrels.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
They are also sizing down through exchanges, returning larger sizes in favor of smaller ones.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
Abruptly, she stopped and looked Jack up and down, as if sizing him up.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
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.
