weigh

A2 · Elementary

v. to have a specific heaviness.

v. to have a specified weight as a physical property. Intransitive and stative use.

“This suitcase weighs twenty kilos, which is the limit for the flight.”

“The newborn elephant weighs over one hundred kilograms, making it one of the largest infants in the animal kingdom.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to think carefully about different facts or options before making a choice.

v. to evaluate or assess the relative importance or value of various factors. Often used with 'up' or 'against'.

“You should weigh the pros and cons before you decide to quit your job.”

“The committee spent several hours weighing the potential risks against the long-term benefits of the proposed infrastructure project.”

C1 · Advanced Formal

v. to be important or have an influence on a decision.

v. to carry importance or influence in a discussion or decision-making process. Intransitive use.

“Her opinion weighs heavily in the final decision because she has the most experience.”

“The testimony of the expert witness is expected to weigh heavily with the jury during the final deliberations.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Nautical

v. to lift a ship's anchor from the bottom of the sea so the ship can sail.

v. to raise an anchor from the seabed in preparation for sailing. Almost exclusively used in the phrase 'weigh anchor'.

“The captain gave the order to weigh anchor and head out to the open sea.”

“As the tide began to turn, the crew prepared to weigh anchor and navigate the narrow channel toward the Atlantic.”