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• method
  method

  noun

  a procedure, technique, or way of doing something, especially in accordance with a definite plan.
• Method
  Method

  noun

  (sometimes not capital)

method

American  

[meth-uhd] / ˈmɛθ əd /

noun

• methods
  plural

1. a procedure, technique, or way of doing something, especially in accordance with a definite plan.

   There are three possible methods of repairing this motor.

   Synonyms:

   technique, mean

2. a manner or mode of procedure, especially an orderly, logical, or systematic way of instruction, inquiry, investigation, experiment, presentation, etc..

   the empirical method of inquiry.

   Synonyms:

   technique, mean

3. order or system in doing anything.

   to work with method.

4. orderly or systematic arrangement, sequence, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   disposition

5. Also called Stanislavski Method.  Also called Stanislavski System.  the Method. a theory and technique of acting in which the performer identifies with the character to be portrayed and renders the part in a naturalistic, nondeclamatory, and highly individualized manner.

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adjective

1. (usually initial capital letter) of, relating to, or employing the Method.

   a Method actor;

   Method acting.

method ¹ British  

/ ˈmɛθəd /

noun

1. a way of proceeding or doing something, esp a systematic or regular one

2. orderliness of thought, action, etc

3. (often plural) the techniques or arrangement of work for a particular field or subject

4. Leisure:Bell-ringing any of several traditional sets of changes See major minor

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Method ² British  

/ ˈmɛθəd /

noun

1. (sometimes not capital)

   1. a technique of acting based on the theories of Stanislavsky, in which the actor bases his role on the inner motivation of the character he plays

   2. ( as modifier )

      a Method actor

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Synonym Usage

Method, mode, way imply a manner in which a thing is done or in which it happens. Method refers to a settled kind of procedure, usually according to a definite, established, logical, or systematic plan: the open-hearth method of making steel; one method of solving a problem. Mode is a more formal word that implies a customary or characteristic fashion of doing something: Kangaroos have a peculiar mode of carrying their young. Way, a word in popular use for the general idea, is equivalent to various more specific words: someone's way (manner) of walking; the best way (method) of rapid calculating; the way (mode) of holding a pen.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antimethod
  adjective
• methodless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• methods
  plural

Etymology

Origin of method

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English: “medical procedure,” Latin methodus, from Greek méthodos “systematic course,” equivalent to met- meta- + hodós “way, road”

Explanation

There's a certain way of doing things. A systematic, logical process for accomplishing a task. And it's called a method. There are methods of payment, production methods, and even "method acting." If someone asks if there's a "method to your madness," she wants to make sure there's some kind of plan behind all the crazy stuff you're doing. If you've thought it through and have organized the next steps, go ahead and tell them to buzz off, it's just your method of getting things done.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

method Method methods

A more expensive method that requires multiple steps.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Bioloon starts with the same rubber material but uses a method that links the polymer chains together without harmful additives.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

The method, already used in around 50 countries to combat drought, hail and air pollution, is new for Central Asia -- a region warming twice as fast as the global average.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

"There are many long dinosaur trackways around the world where this method could be applied to extract behavioral information that was previously inaccessible."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

Newton’s method of differentiation was based on a notational trick: he let the fluxions change, but he only let them change infinitesimally.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

And that’s what people think Method is, is that you never break the character, you take the character home, but it’s not.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026

The RZA, the GZA, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna represent hip-hop’s greatest squad and one of the last standing from the genre’s golden era in the 1990s.

From Salon ● May 31, 2026

“I’m not a Method actor in any sense, but it felt like to play somebody starving and then go home at night and have a big steak would be making my job harder,” Radcliffe says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 2, 2026

A few weeks ago, a television documentary - The Tutberidze Method - was released in Russia, celebrating her track record in training medal winners.

From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2026

My teachers are all very knowledgeable about the Method.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day

Taipei also accuses Beijing of using a range of "greyzone" methods -- tactics that fall short of an act of war -- including cyberattacks to harass the island.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

Other researchers can and will argue with those results, and are free to present their findings and methods to make their point.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

"We have our main core, the same manager, same methods and same desire to achieve more. A lot of people thought we reached a ceiling a couple of seasons ago and we proved them wrong."

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

Together, these methods allowed the team to identify the astrocytes responsible for restoring injured tissue.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

“Trickeries and all methods of deceit will be resorted to.”

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

• approach
• arrangement
• design
• form
• habit
• manner
• mechanism
• mode
• plan
• practice
• process
• program
• recipe
• rule
• scheme
• style
• system
• technique
• way