weigh

¹

[wey]

verb (used with object)

1. to determine or ascertain the force that gravitation exerts upon (a person or thing) by use of a balance, scale, or other mechanical device.

   to weigh oneself; to weigh potatoes; to weigh gases.

2. to hold up or balance, as in the hand, in order to estimate the weight.

3. to measure, separate, or apportion (a certain quantity of something) according to weight (usually followed byout ).

   to weigh out five pounds of sugar.

4. to make heavy; increase the weight or bulk of; weight.

   We weighed the drapes to make them hang properly.

5. to evaluate in the mind; consider carefully in order to reach an opinion, decision, or choice.

   to weigh the facts; to weigh a proposal.

   Synonyms: contemplate, ponder

6. Archaic.,  to raise, lift, or hoist (something).

7. Obsolete.,  to think important; esteem.

verb (used without object)

1. to have weight or a specified amount of weight.

   to weigh less; to weigh a ton.

2. to have importance, moment, or consequence.

   Your recommendation weighs heavily in his favor.

3. to bear down as a weight or burden (usually followed by on orupon ).

   Responsibility weighed upon her.

4. to consider carefully or judicially.

   to weigh well before deciding.

5. (of a ship) to raise the anchor and get under way.

   The ship weighed early and escaped in the fog.

verb phrase

1. weigh down

   1. to cause to become bowed under a weight.

      snow and ice weighing down the trees.

   2. to lower the spirits of; burden; depress.

      This predicament weighs me down.

2. weigh in

   1. (of a boxer or wrestler) to be weighed by a medical examiner on the day of a bout.

   2. to be of the weight determined by such a weighing.

      He weighed in at 170 pounds.

   3. (of a jockey) to be weighed with the saddle and weights after a race.

   4. Informal.,  to offer an opinion, advice, support, etc., especially in a forceful or authoritative way.

      The chairman weighed in with an idea for the fundraiser.

3. weigh out,  (of a jockey)

   1. to be weighed with the saddle and weights before a race.

   2. to be of the weight determined by such a weighing.

weigh

²

[wey]

weigh

¹

/ weɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to measure the weight of

2. (intr) to have weight or be heavy

   she weighs more than her sister

3. to apportion according to weight

4. (tr) to consider carefully

   to weigh the facts of a case

5. (intr) to be influential

   his words weighed little with the jury

6. to be oppressive or burdensome (to)

7. obsolete,  to regard or esteem

8. to raise a vessel's anchor or (of a vessel) to have its anchor raised preparatory to departure

weigh

²

/ weɪ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of under way

Other Word Forms

• weighable adjective
• weigher noun
• unweighable adjective
• unweighing adjective
• well-weighed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of weigh¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English weien, wein, weighen, Old English wegan “to carry, weigh”; cognate with Dutch wegen, German wägen, Old Norse vega; akin to Latin vehere “to carry, convey”

Origin of weigh²

First recorded in 1775–85; spelling variant of way ¹ by association with weigh anchor

Word History and Origins

Origin of weigh¹

Old English wegan; related to Old Frisian wega, Old Norse vega, Gothic gawigan, German wiegen

Origin of weigh²

C18: variation due to the influence of phrases such as to weigh anchor

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. weigh one's words. word.

2. weigh anchor, to heave up a ship's anchor in preparation for getting under way.

3. under weigh, in motion; under way.

Synonym Study

See study.

Example Sentences

The governor’s office said they were told federal authorities were considering closing the freeway earlier in the week and when no order materialized by Wednesday, state officials began weighing whether to do so themselves.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, its Saint Laurent label has been weighed down by a smaller wholesale business and a tougher U.S. market.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Coins weighing a tenth of that, at 25mg, are also on offer in the market.

Read more on BBC

Israel had asked the court in May to dismiss the warrants while it weighed a separate challenge over whether the ICC had jurisdiction in the case.

Read more on Barron's

Friday's appeal by the Justice Department of the Illinois ruling is the first time it is asking the Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority, to weigh in on the issue.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• analyze 
• balance 
• estimate 
• evaluate 
• examine 
• ponder