English Reference
noun · verb

weight

n. · v.
US /ˈweɪt/ UK /wˈeɪt/ weight UK spelling weighting

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    n.how heavy someone or something is.

    n.the measurement of how heavy an object or person is, typically resulting from the force of gravity.

    Simple

    The doctor checked the baby's weight and height during the visit.

    In context

    The shipping company calculates the total cost based on the weight and dimensions of the cargo rather than the distance traveled.

    Pitfall
    I need to lose some weights. I need to lose some weight.

    When referring to body mass or the general quality of being heavy, the noun is uncountable and should not be plural.

    heavinessmass
  2. 02 A2 Elementary Sport

    n.a heavy object that you lift to make your muscles stronger.

    n.a heavy object, such as a dumbbell or barbell, used in resistance training to build physical strength.

    Simple

    He goes to the gym three times a week to lift weights.

    In context

    The athlete focused on free weights to improve her stability and core strength before the upcoming competition.

    dumbbellbarbell
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.the importance or influence that a person or an idea has.

    n.the relative importance, influence, or authority attributed to something.

    Simple

    Her opinion carries a lot of weight in this company.

    In context

    The testimony of the expert witness added significant weight to the prosecution's argument, swaying the jury's final decision.

    insignificance
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a feeling of pressure or worry that is difficult to deal with.

    n.a metaphorical burden or psychological pressure that causes distress or anxiety.

    Simple

    Finishing the project was a huge weight off my shoulders.

    In context

    The weight of responsibility for the entire department's budget began to affect his sleep and general well-being.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    n.how thick or thin the lines of a font are.

    n.the thickness of the character strokes in a typeface relative to their height.

    Simple

    You should use a heavier weight for the headings to make them stand out.

    In context

    The designer adjusted the font weight to ensure the text remained legible against the vibrant background of the mobile application.

  6. 06 C2 Proficiency Slang

    n.a large amount of illegal drugs.

    n.a significant quantity of illegal drugs, often specifically referring to a pound or more.

    Simple

    The police caught the gang moving weight across the border.

    In context

    Undercover agents were monitoring the warehouse, suspecting it was being used to distribute weight to local dealers.

  7. 07 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to add something heavy to an object so it does not move.

    v.to attach or add a heavy substance to an object to increase its mass or stability.

    Simple

    We had to weight the base of the umbrella so it wouldn't blow away.

    In context

    The curtains were weighted at the bottom with small lead beads to ensure they hung straight and resisted drafts.

  8. 08 C1 Advanced AcademicTechnical Math

    v.to give more importance to one part of a group of facts.

    v.to assign a mathematical value to a variable to reflect its relative importance in a statistical analysis.

    Simple

    The survey results were weighted to represent the whole population fairly.

    In context

    The researchers weighted the data to account for the underrepresentation of younger participants in the initial telephone survey.

Usage weight loss · heavily weight · low weight

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Very common
Updated