measured
Americanadjective
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ascertained or apportioned by measure.
The race was over the course of a measured mile.
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accurately regulated or proportioned.
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regular or uniform, as in movement; rhythmical.
to walk with measured strides.
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deliberate and restrained; careful; carefully weighed or considered.
measured language; measured terms.
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in the form of meter or verse; metrical.
adjective
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determined by measurement
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slow, stately, or leisurely
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carefully considered; deliberate
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of measured
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at measure, -ed 2
Explanation
Things done in a deliberate, rhythmic way are measured. When you're walking toward a deer in the woods, trying not to scare it off, you'll take slow, measured steps. When you meditate, you take measured breaths and pay attention to the inhale and exhale. And your measured strides up the side of a mountain trail will carry you more quickly to the top than short, erratic bursts of walking and stopping. Measured also means "thoughtful" or "careful," like the measured words you use in your delicately worded resignation letter.
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.
The tests measured several aspects of brain function, including verbal fluency, working memory, word recall and processing speed.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
Researchers measured body weight, fat mass, and fat free mass before and after the intervention.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
Doing so would strengthen public confidence, improve accountability and ensure that misconduct claims are measured against objective evidence rather than dueling narratives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Brazil 1970 are still held as the pinnacle of footballing brilliance, the bar by which every Selecao side since has been measured - with Pele, of course, alongside Jairzinho, Tostao and Rivellino.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
I was cutting and bundling quilting squares into a dozen fat quarters, a-mix-and-matched stack of fabrics all measured and ready to sew.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
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.
