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

British Dictionary definitions for weigh on (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 on (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

Idioms and Phrases with weigh on

weigh on

Also, weigh upon. Depress, as in His criticism weighed on her, or The long silence began to weigh upon us. This idiom was first recorded in 1775.

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

British Dictionary definitions for weigh on (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of weigh

Word Origin for weigh

British Dictionary definitions for weigh on (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for weigh

Idioms and Phrases with weigh on

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

Words related to weigh on

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verb

Derived forms of weigh

Word Origin for weigh

British Dictionary definitions for weigh on (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for weigh

Idioms and Phrases with weigh on

British Dictionary definitions for weigh on (1 of 2)