Weight

/weɪt/

Meaning & Definition

noun
The force exerted on a body by gravity, often measured in units such as pounds or kilograms.
The weight of the package was too heavy for me to lift.
A measure of the heaviness of an object.
She checked the weight of the apples on the scale.
A heavy object used to exert force or to provide resistance.
He used a weight to help build muscle during his workout.
The relative importance or influence of something.
The weight of his opinion carried more influence than others in the discussion.
A unit or scale used for comparison with other measurements.
The team decided to weigh their options carefully before making a decision.
verb
To measure the weight of an object.
Please weight the flour before adding it to the bowl.
To consider or evaluate the importance of something.
The committee will weight all the evidence before drawing a conclusion.

Etymology

Middle English 'weiht', from Old English 'wiht' meaning 'weight, mass'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

weight of the world:
The feeling of being overwhelmed by responsibilities.
light as a feather:
Something that has very little weight.
dead weight:
A burden that does not contribute positively.
weight off one's shoulders:
A relief from a burden or worry.
carry weight:
To have significant influence or importance.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

Heavy
That backpack is weighty, man!
To apply pressure or influence
He's trying to weight the decision in his favor.