weigh

[ wey ]

/ weɪ /

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.

Idioms for 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

before 900; Middle English weghen, Old English wegan to carry, weigh; cognate with Dutch wegen, German wägen, Old Norse vega; akin to Latin vehere

SYNONYMS FOR weigh

5 ponder, contemplate. See study.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR weigh ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM weigh

weigh·a·ble, adjective weigh·er, noun un·weigh·a·ble, adjective un·weigh·ing, adjective

well-weighed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH weigh

way weigh weight

Words nearby weigh

weidman, weierstrass, weierstrass approximation theorem, weifang, weigela, weigh, weigh down, weigh in, weigh on, weigh one's words, weigh up

Definition for weigh (2 of 2)

weigh ²

[ wey ]

/ weɪ /

Idioms

under weigh, Nautical. in motion; under way.

Origin of weigh

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

Example sentences from the Web for weigh

Its purpose is not to try the case, seek both sides of the argument, or weigh the relative merits of each.

Awaiting the Grand Jury, Dread in Ferguson and America |Gene Robinson |November 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Young male and female fashion models are told how to look, what to eat, and how much they can weigh.

Does Fashion Week Exploit Teen Models? |Jennifer Sky |September 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Nevertheless, the expectation that every African-American star or hip-hop hero must weigh in on Ferguson is a problematic one.

Not Every Black Celebrity Has to Take a Stand on Ferguson |Amy Zimmerman |August 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
When it falls unconscious, a ground crew drags the beast—which can weigh up to 5,000 lbs—into a net strapped to the chopper.

South Africa’s Great Rhino Airlift |Nina Strochlic |August 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

That position could be changing now as the president meets with his security advisors to weigh his options.

Will U.S. Troops Stand By While ISIS Starves Thousands? |Jacob Siegel |August 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
A cubic inch of mercury at this temperature has been ascertained to weigh 0·48967 lbs.

A Treatise on Meteorological Instruments |Henry Negretti
She stayed to weigh his words in the balance of her own judgment.

Rosa Mundi and Other Stories |Ethel M. Dell
The first question we put to the captain was: “When do you weigh anchor?”

A Woman's Journey Round the World |Ida Pfeiffer
Well may we pause then and weigh every chance of happiness, ere we take the last and final step in any great or novel measure.

The Headsman |James Fenimore Cooper
He unpacked the basket and proceeded to weigh the butter, talking all the time.

White Lilac; or the Queen of the May |Amy Walton

British Dictionary definitions for weigh (1 of 2)

weigh ¹

/ (weɪ) /

verb

(tr) to measure the weight of

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

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

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

(intr) to be influential his 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, adjective weigher, 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)

weigh ²

/ (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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

weigh

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Verb Phrases

Idioms for weigh

Origin of weigh

SYNONYMS FOR weigh

OTHER WORDS FROM weigh

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH weigh

Words nearby weigh

Definition for weigh (2 of 2)

Idioms

Origin of weigh

Example sentences from the Web for weigh

British Dictionary definitions for weigh (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of weigh

Word Origin for weigh

British Dictionary definitions for weigh (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for weigh

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

weigh

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Verb Phrases

Idioms for weigh

Origin of weigh

SYNONYMS FOR weigh

OTHER WORDS FROM weigh

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH weigh

Words nearby weigh

Definition for weigh (2 of 2)

Idioms

Origin of weigh

Words related to weigh

Example sentences from the Web for weigh

British Dictionary definitions for weigh (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of weigh

Word Origin for weigh

British Dictionary definitions for weigh (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for weigh