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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

Como's Roman-walled centre is already covered by a limited-traffic zone, and bicycles have become a go-to method of transport for locals.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

State Farm customers with an email registered with the company will receive email instructions on how to log into the dividend payment portal and select their method of payment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

In that case, beneficiaries may generally use the 10-year rule, take distributions under another applicable method, or take a lump-sum distribution.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

O’Donnell warns that using this method can get candidates blacklisted from companies who catch on.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Within a few years he developed a systematic method of solving the tangent problem; he could figure out the tangent to any smooth curve at any point.

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

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

The RZA and Method Man are also movie stars.

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

He also had cameos as an actor alongside Method Man in the 1998 hip-hop classic “Belly” and 1999’s “Black and White,” and served as an executive producer for the group’s many LPs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 25, 2026

I'd just had to use the Punch Method again for “speak.”

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

The concern is that smuggling gangs will continue to adapt but Eastaugh told the BBC that changes to their methods demonstrated how hard they are finding it to operate.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

The British press is once again in the spotlight for its methods, this time over accusations that its full-throttle coverage of plagiarism allegations against the Cambridge academic Jason Arday led to his untimely death.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

When the scientists used T4 DNA ligase to connect those fragments, joining efficiency was about twice as high as with traditional methods.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 19, 2026

Many college students will soon be able to pay their tuition via PayPal or Venmo, as traditional institutions move to offer alternative payment methods for this major expense.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

Printing created a community of astronomers working on common problems with common methods and reaching agreed solutions.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

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