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• graph
  graph

  noun

  a diagram representing a system of connections or interrelations among two or more things by a number of distinctive dots, lines, bars, etc.
• graph-
  graph-

  variant of grapho- before a vowel.
• -graph
  -graph

  a combining form meaning “drawn,” “written” (lithograph; monograph ); specialized in meaning to indicate the instrument rather than the written product of the instrument (telegraph; phonograph ).

graph

¹ American  

[graf] / græf /

noun

• graphs
  plural

1. a diagram representing a system of connections or interrelations among two or more things by a number of distinctive dots, lines, bars, etc.

2. Mathematics.

   1. a series of points, discrete or continuous, forming a curve or surface, each of which represents a value of a given function.

   2. Also called linear graph. a network of lines connecting points.

3. a written symbol for an idea, a sound, or a linguistic expression.

4. Computers. a non-hierarchical data structure whose nodes store data elements and whose branches represent connections to other nodes in the structure.

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verb (used with object)

• graphs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• graphed,
  past participle,  past
• graphing
  present participle

1. Mathematics. to draw (a curve) as representing a given function.

2. to represent by means of a graph.

graph- ² American  

1. variant of grapho- before a vowel.

   grapheme.

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-graph ³ American  

1. a combining form meaning “drawn,” “written” (lithograph; monograph ); specialized in meaning to indicate the instrument rather than the written product of the instrument (telegraph; phonograph ).

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graph ¹ British  

/ ɡrɑːf, ɡræf /

noun

1. Also called: chart. a drawing depicting the relation between certain sets of numbers or quantities by means of a series of dots, lines, etc, plotted with reference to a set of axes See also bar graph

2. maths a drawing depicting a functional relation between two or three variables by means of a curve or surface containing only those points whose coordinates satisfy the relation

3. maths a structure represented by a diagram consisting of points (vertices) joined by lines (edges)

4. linguistics a symbol in a writing system not further subdivisible into other such symbols

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verb

1. (tr) to draw or represent in a graph

-graph ² British  

combining form

1. an instrument that writes or records

   telegraph

2. a writing, record, or drawing

   autograph

   lithograph

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graph Scientific  

/ grăf /

1. A diagram showing the relationship of quantities, especially such a diagram in which lines, bars, or proportional areas represent how one quantity depends on or changes with another.

2. A curve or line showing a mathematical function or equation, typically drawn in a Cartesian coordinate system. The graph of the function y = x ² is a parabola.

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Usage

What does -graph mean? The combining form -graph is used like a suffix meaning “drawn” or "written," often to denote a recording of something. It is also used in a technical sense to mean an instrument that produces a written product. It is often used in scientific and technical terms. The form -graph comes from Greek -graphos, meaning “drawn or written, one who draws or writes.”What are variants of -graph?While -graph doesn't have any variants, it is related to the forms -graphy, as in telegraphy, and -graphic, as in pictographic. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on -graphy and -graphic.

Synonym Usage

See map.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• regraph
  verb (used with object)
• -graphic
  combining form
• -graphically
  combining form

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• graphs
  plural

Participles

• graphing
  present
• graphed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• graph
  simple
• graphs
  simple
• have graphed
  perfect
• has graphed
  perfect
• am graphing
  progressive
• are graphing
  progressive
• is graphing
  progressive
• have been graphing
  perfect progressive
• has been graphing
  perfect progressive

Past

• graphed
  simple
• had graphed
  perfect
• was graphing
  progressive
• were graphing
  progressive
• had been graphing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will graph
  simple
• will have graphed
  perfect
• will be graphing
  progressive
• will have been graphing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of graph¹

First recorded in 1875–80; short for graphic formula; see graphic

Origin of -graph³

< Greek -graphos (something) drawn or written, one who draws or writes. See grapho-

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Explanation

A graph is a visual plotting of the relationship between two or more quantities, like a math map. To graph is to create such a chart. The noun graph came into use in the 1800s, when people got tired of saying graphic formula and decided to chop it down. A hundred years later, the verb form of graph was first recorded. Diagram and linear representation are two synonyms for the word. The dancer Martha Graham said, “Every dance is a kind of fever chart, a graph of the heart.” Here, she uses graph to say that dance is a visual representation of what’s in the heart.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

graph graph- graphs graphed graphing

Astronomers study changes in an object's brightness using a graph called a light curve.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

The decision was announced along with a graph showing the vast majority of Fed policymakers saw at least one more was likely necessary before the end of the year.

From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026

The index has trailed the Nasdaq composite and the S&P 500 since January 2020, according to a graph Robinhood provided.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

And it is based on a type of attempted economic revolution in the pricing mechanism that clearly does value a certain type of fan more - those on the diagonally upwards line of that graph.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

She sketched out the design on graph paper, and the stonecutter went to work.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

The 17-page, graph- and chart-heavy report found no contributing factors led to the breakdowns.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 27, 2019

The words 'phonograph,' 'graphophone' and 'gramophone' literally mean 'sound-writing,' for the Greek form graph-, the Latin form scrib-, and the Saxon form write, equally parts of our language, denote exactly the same meaning.

From Copyright: Its History and Its Law by Richard Rogers Bowker

For some supernovae, these graphs form a rounded, bell-like shape as the exploding star grows brighter and then gradually fades.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

Year: 2023 Compiled by: Donny Bridges and Kate Doyle Of note: Lotta cool graphs in this one!

From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2026

For now though, whatever growth graphs the organisers offer, the most impressive numbers belong to the Red Roses.

From BBC ● May 17, 2026

The Microsoft two-year chart below, for example, has two graphs on it.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 23, 2026

Pretty quickly he saw that there was no logic at all in the charts and graphs and waves and the endless chatter of many self-advertised market pros.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

The UW center analyzed how such rumors spread, sometimes through graphed timelines showing inflection points among tweets as heavy-hitting influencers weighed in.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 10, 2023

Results are stored and graphed over time, allowing a patient and physician to review how coordination may change.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 14, 2023

Geologic time periods are graphed, with beginning and ending dates.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2023

There have been no clear trends in global hurricanes since 1980, according to data collected and graphed by research meteorologist Ryan Maue.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 2, 2022

Lindsey and Hassan talked about poker and zits and HD and DVR while Colin graphed his past.

From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green

The school opted for a middle ground, purchasing 200 graphing calculators from French company NumWorks for its ninth-grade classes, with plans to create a schoolwide rollout over three years.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

SAT and AP tests now offer free digital graphing options for students, but it’s harder than it seems for school districts to look beyond Texas Instruments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

I gripped my TI-84 graphing calculator in outrage.

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

Statistics specializes in applying objective quantitative measures to understand data, but there is no substitute for actually graphing it out and getting a look at its shape and structure with one's own eyeballs.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 7, 2023

The cicadas have started their trilling, and the bats swoop down and up as if graphing the bristling excitement.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

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