weigh

[ wey ]

/ weɪ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: weigh / weighed / weighing / weighable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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.

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

to measure, separate, or apportion (a certain quantity of something) according to weight (usually followed by out): to weigh out five pounds of sugar.

to make heavy; increase the weight or bulk of; weight: We weighed the drapes to make them hang properly.

to evaluate in the mind; consider carefully in order to reach an opinion, decision, or choice: to weigh the facts; to weigh a proposal.

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

Obsolete. to think important; esteem.

verb (used without object)

to have weight or a specified amount of weight: to weigh less; to weigh a ton.

to have importance, moment, or consequence: Your recommendation weighs heavily in his favor.

to bear down as a weight or burden (usually followed by on or upon): Responsibility weighed upon her.

to consider carefully or judicially: to weigh well before deciding.

(of a ship) to raise the anchor and get under way: The ship weighed early and escaped in the fog.

Verb Phrases

weigh down,

to cause to become bowed under a weight: snow and ice weighing down the trees.
to lower the spirits of; burden; depress: This predicament weighs me down.

weigh in,

(of a boxer or wrestler) to be weighed by a medical examiner on the day of a bout.
to be of the weight determined by such a weighing: He weighed in at 170 pounds.
(of a jockey) to be weighed with the saddle and weights after a race.
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.

weigh out, Horse Racing. (of a jockey)

to be weighed with the saddle and weights before a race.
to be of the weight determined by such a weighing.

OTHER WORDS FOR weigh

5 ponder, contemplate.

See synonyms for weigh on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about weigh

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

weigh one's words. word (def. 29).

Origin of weigh

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”

synonym study for weigh

5. See study.

OTHER WORDS FROM weigh

weigh·a·ble, adjectiveweigher, nounun·weigh·a·ble, adjectiveun·weigh·ing, adjective

well-weighed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH weigh

way, weigh

Other definitions for weigh (2 of 2)

weigh²

[ wey ]

/ weɪ /

Idioms

under weigh, Nautical. in motion; under way.

Origin of weigh

First recorded in 1775–85; spelling variant of way¹ by association with weigh anchor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use weigh in a sentence

My doors weighed around 100 pounds each, so I found hinges that could support a bit more than that just to be safe.
Build your own door and ascend to a higher level of DIY|Courtney Starr|November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
More work is needed to weigh these differences and review the diversity of colugo species.
On a cool night in Malaysia, scientists track mysterious colugos across the treetops|Yao-Hua Law|November 20, 2020|Science News
The number of new unemployment claims rose last week to 742,000, an increase of 31,000 from the previous week, as rising coronavirus cases have spurred a new wave of restrictions and closures begin to weigh on parts of the economy.
Unemployment claims rise as pandemic shutdowns increase nationwide|Eli Rosenberg|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
ProPublica obtained internal testing videos and other documents that showed that Evenflo knew children weighing less than 40 pounds could be severely injured in side-impact crashes while seated in Big Kid boosters.
House Subcommittee Says Proposed Booster Seat Safety Rules Fall Short|by Patricia Callahan|November 19, 2020|ProPublica

In other words, better connections help us weigh risks, make informed decisions on how to act, and curb our impulses.
Warning! Junk foods can harm a teen’s brain|Sharon Oosthoek|November 19, 2020|Science News For Students
I mean my background weighed heavily, because I was brought up in this orthodox way.
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I am not remotely embarrassed to relate he weighed just 9lb.
Confessions of a Turkey Killer|Tom Sykes|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Neil deGrasse Tyson weighed in on what the epic film got wrong and right.
Meet Kip Thorne, the Man Who Crafted the Artful Science of ‘Interstellar’|Asawin Suebsaeng|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When he next tried out for the varsity, he weighed 174 pounds and was faster than he had been on his arrival at West Point.
How His West Point Football Experience Inspired Eisenhower|Nicolaus Mills|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now, until now, I have not weighed in on the Michael Brown shooting—except peripherally.
Untruth and Consequences in Ferguson|Matt Lewis|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"I cannot object, gentlemen," said the Frenchman, as he carefully measured them and weighed them in either hand.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
We embarked on the evening of the 28th of June, and weighed anchor before daybreak of the 29th.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
What weighed with me, too, was the fact that I was undoubtedly overworked and my health was suffering.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
On the tenth of the said month it was washed, and a small grain of gold was obtained that weighed one-half real.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
We have for weeks weighed the coal, and knowing the work it does, can speak with confidence.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick

British Dictionary definitions for weigh (1 of 2)

weigh¹

/ (weɪ) /

verb

(tr) to measure the weight of

(intr) to have weight or be heavyshe weighs more than her sister

(tr often foll by out) to apportion according to weight

(tr) to consider carefullyto weigh the facts of a case

(intr) to be influentialhis words weighed little with the jury

(intr often foll by on) to be oppressive or burdensome (to)

obsolete to regard or esteem

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

Derived forms of weigh

weighable, adjectiveweigher, noun

Word Origin for weigh

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

British Dictionary definitions for weigh (2 of 2)

weigh²

/ (weɪ) /

noun

under weigh a variant spelling of under way

Word Origin for weigh

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

weigh

OTHER WORDS FOR weigh

Idioms about weigh

Origin of weigh

synonym study for weigh

OTHER WORDS FROM weigh

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH weigh

Other definitions for weigh (2 of 2)

Origin of weigh

Words related to weigh

How to use weigh in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for weigh (1 of 2)

Derived forms of weigh

Word Origin for weigh

British Dictionary definitions for weigh (2 of 2)

Word Origin for weigh