# weigh

/ˈweɪ/ (US) · /wˈeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/weigh
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to measure weight

verb · CEFR A2

to measure how heavy someone or something is using a scale.

For teachers: to determine the mass of an object or person, typically using a balance or scale. Transitive use.

- The nurse asked me to step on the scale so she could weigh me.
- The laboratory technician must weigh each sample with extreme precision before beginning the chemical analysis.

### 2. to have a certain weight

verb · CEFR A2

to have a specific heaviness.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to consider carefully

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to be important

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to be important or have an influence on a decision.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. to lift an anchor

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I need to weigh my suitcase before we go to the airport.
- The manager must weigh the benefits of a new software system against the high cost of training the staff.
- Before casting her vote, the senator spent weeks weighing the potential economic impact of the bill against the immediate needs of her constituents.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.