figure

[ fig-yer; especially British fig-er ]

/ ˈfɪg yər; especially British ˈfɪg ər /

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See synonyms for: figure / figured / figures / figuring on Thesaurus.com

noun

a numerical symbol, especially an Arabic numeral.

an amount or value expressed in numbers.

figures, the use of numbers in calculating; arithmetic: to be poor at figures.

a written symbol other than a letter.

form or shape, as determined by outlines or exterior surfaces: to be round, square, or cubical in figure.

the bodily form or frame: a slender or graceful figure.

an individual bodily form or a person with reference to form or appearance: A tall figure stood in the doorway.

a character or personage, especially one of distinction: a well-known figure in society.

a person's public image or presence: a controversial political figure.

the appearance or impression made by a person or sometimes a thing: to make quite a figure in financial circles; to present a wretched figure of poverty.

a representation, pictorial or sculptured, especially of the human form: The frieze was bordered with the figures of men and animals.

an instructive or illustrative drawing or diagram, as found in a book or an owner’s manual: To attach the wheels to the base of the cabinet, see figure 4.

an emblem, type, or symbol: The dove is a figure of peace.

Rhetoric. a figure of speech.

a textural pattern, as in cloth or wood: draperies with an embossed silk figure.

a distinct movement or division of a dance.

a movement, pattern, or series of movements in skating.

Music. a short succession of musical notes, as either a melody or a group of chords, that produces a single complete and distinct impression.

Geometry. a combination of geometric elements disposed in a particular form or shape: The circle, square, and polygon are plane figures. The sphere, cube, and polyhedron are solid figures.

Logic. the form of a categorical syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.

Optics. the precise curve required on the surface of an optical element, especially the mirror or correcting plate of a reflecting telescope.

the natural pattern on a sawed wood surface produced by the intersection of knots, burls, growth rings, etc.

a phantasm or illusion.

verb (used with object), fig·ured, fig·ur·ing.

to compute or calculate (often followed by up): to figure up a total.

to express in figures.

to mark or adorn with a design or pattern.

to portray by speech or action.

to represent or express by a figure of speech.

to represent by a pictorial or sculptured figure, a diagram, or the like; picture or depict; trace (an outline, silhouette, etc.).

Informal. to conclude, judge, reason, or think about: I figured that you wanted me to stay.

Music.

to embellish with passing notes or other decorations.
to write figures above or below (a bass part) to indicate accompanying chords.

verb (used without object), fig·ured, fig·ur·ing.

to compute or work with numerical figures.

to be or appear, especially in a conspicuous or prominent way: His name figures importantly in my report.

Informal. (of a situation, act, request, etc.) to be logical, expected, or reasonable: He quit the job when he didn't get a raise—it figured.

Verb Phrases

figure in, to add in: Figure in rent and utilities as overhead.

figure on, Informal.

to count or rely on.
to take into consideration; plan on: You had better figure on running into heavy traffic leaving the city.

figure out, Informal.

to understand; solve: We couldn't figure out where all the money had gone.
to calculate; compute.

figure up, Informal. to total: The bill figures up to exactly $1000.

OTHER WORDS FOR figure

1 number.

2 sum, total; price.

8 personality.

24 reckon.

See synonyms for figure on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about figure

cut a figure. cut (defs. 84, 85b).

Origin of figure

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin figūra “shape, trope,” equivalent to fig- (base of fingere “to shape”) + -ūra -ure

synonym study for figure

5. See form.

OTHER WORDS FROM figure

fig·ur·a·ble, adjectivefig·ure·less, adjectivefig·ur·er, nounout·fig·ure, verb (used with object), out·fig·ured, out·fig·ur·ing.

re·fig·ure, verb (used with object), re·fig·ured, re·fig·ur·ing.sub·fig·ure, nounun·fig·ur·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby figure

figurate number, figuration, figurative, figurative language, figuratively, figure, figured, figured bass, figured glass, figure eight, figure-ground

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use figure in a sentence

Additionally, since NBCU’s program will be measuring against product sales, advertisers will be able to judge for themselves whether NBCU’s results align with their internal figures.
NBCUniversal tests new measurement program to prove it can push product sales for advertisers|Tim Peterson|September 17, 2020|Digiday
Instead, the country has seen at least 193,000 deaths, a figure that is probably an underestimation.
Trump blames blue states for the coronavirus death toll — but most recent deaths have been in red states|Philip Bump|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
As previously reported by Modern Retail, Walmart is currently focused on customer retention and experts expect the membership program to help boost those figures.
How Walmart is advertising its new loyalty program, Walmart+|Kristina Monllos|September 11, 2020|Digiday
San Diego Unified has not made similar figures available, but we know the district is worried.
The Learning Curve: San Diego Unified Is Terrified of Kids Opting Out|Will Huntsberry|September 10, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and one of the most influential figures inside his administration, is said to be quoted extensively in Rage.
5 revelations from ‘Rage,’ Bob Woodward’s new book about Trump|reymashayekhi|September 10, 2020|Fortune
There were rumors of shrieks and flashes emanating from the well, and reports of a figure in white.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Even other men of color considered Revels a curious figure, for Mississippi had never had a large free black population.
The Black Man Who Replaced Jefferson Davis in the Senate|Philip Dray|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The people who are involved in the violence, they figure out ways to remain here at all costs and continue causing trouble.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Several of them disputed the figure of six million Jewish deaths in the Holocaust.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the last national figure to wield ancient personal authority in an explicitly religious way was Robert F. Kennedy.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He was tall and of familiar figure, and the firelight was playing in the tossed curls of his short, fair hair.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
Their opportunities and earnings are relatively small, and in order to live they must figure closely.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
It was when the face and figure of a great tragedian began to haunt her imagination and stir her senses.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Tressan fell suddenly to groaning and wringing his hands a pathetic figure had it been less absurd.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Her tall figure—she was taller than he by at least three inches—was beautiful in its commanding, yet not vulgar, self-possession.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens

British Dictionary definitions for figure

figure

/ (ˈfɪɡə, US ˈfɪɡjər) /

noun

any written symbol other than a letter, esp a whole number

another name for digit (def. 2)

an amount expressed numericallya figure of 1800 was suggested

(plural) calculations with numbershe's good at figures

visible shape or form; outline

the human form, esp as regards size or shapea girl with a slender figure

a slim bodily shape (esp in the phrases keep or lose one's figure)

a character or personage, esp a prominent or notable one; personalitya figure in politics

the impression created by a person through behaviour (esp in the phrase to cut a fine, bold, etc, figure)

a person as impressed on the mindthe figure of Napoleon
(in combination)father-figure

a representation in painting or sculpture, esp of the human form

an illustration or explanatory diagram in a text

a representative object or symbol; emblem

a pattern or design, as on fabric or in wood

a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating

geometry any combination of points, lines, curves, or planes. A plane figure, such as a circle, encloses an area; a solid figure such as a sphere, encloses a volume

rhetoric See figure of speech

logic one of the four possible arrangements of the three terms in the premises of a syllogismCompare mood 2 (def. 2)

music

a numeral written above or below a note in a partSee figured bass, thorough bass
a characteristic short pattern of notes

verb

(when tr, often foll by up) to calculate or compute (sums, amounts, etc)

(tr; usually takes a clause as object) informal, mainly US, Canadian and NZ to think or conclude; consider

(tr) to represent by a diagram or illustration

(tr) to pattern or mark with a design

(tr) to depict or portray in a painting, etc

(tr) rhetoric to express by means of a figure of speech

(tr) to imagine

(tr) music

to decorate (a melody line or part) with ornamentation
to provide figures above or below (a bass part) as an indication of the accompanying harmonies requiredSee figured bass, thorough bass

(intr usually foll by in) to be includedhis name figures in the article

(intr) informal to accord with expectation; be logicalit figures that he wouldn't come

go figure informal an expression of surprise, astonishment, wonder, etc

Derived forms of figure

figureless, adjectivefigurer, noun

Word Origin for figure

C13: from Latin figūra a shape, from fingere to mould

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with figure

figure

In addition to the idioms beginning with figure

figure in
figure on
figure out
figure up

also see:

ballpark figure
in round numbers (figures)
it figures

figure

OTHER WORDS FOR figure

Idioms about figure

Origin of figure

synonym study for figure

OTHER WORDS FROM figure

Words nearby figure

Words related to figure

How to use figure in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for figure

Derived forms of figure

Word Origin for figure

Other Idioms and Phrases with figure