pattern

USPAT-urn/ˈpætɚn/UKPAT-uhn/ˈpatən/

Pluralpatterns

Verbpatterns, patterning, patterned

28 meanings of pattern

Practice

1
recurring ordernouncountable
The regular way something happens or is done, or an order you can see in events or facts.
Like noticing that it always rains right after the sky turns gray.
Doctors noticed a pattern in how the illness spread.
By studying past patterns, she could guess the weather.
UsageYou can say a pattern of behavior or follow a pattern.
Note
2
repeated designnouncountable
Shapes or colors arranged in a regular or repeated way, like on cloth or an animal's coat.
Like the repeating squares on a checkerboard.
The wallpaper had a pretty pattern of blue flowers.
She drew patterns of stars all over her notebook.
UsageOften a pattern of + shapes or colors: a pattern of stars.
Note
3
sewing guidenouncountable
A paper or cardboard shape used to cut out the pieces of clothing.
Like a paper shape you trace around to make the same thing again.
She pinned the pattern to the cloth before cutting.
She pinned the paper pattern to the cloth and cut around it.
Similartemplate
Note
4
model for copiesnouncountable
A model you copy from to make something, such as a shape used to make a mold.
Like a cookie cutter you press into the dough again and again.
The artist used a paper pattern to cut out each shape.
Workers followed the pattern to build identical chairs.
Note
5
verbtransitive
To cover something with a design, often a repeated one.
Like stamping the same shape over and over across a wall.
Workers pattern the tiles with simple shapes.
She patterned the curtains with little stars.
UsageUse with for the design: patterned with stars.
Similardecorate, adorn, embellish, ornament
6
software designnouncountablein compounds
A common way to solve a programming problem that many people reuse.
Like a recipe that many cooks reuse to solve the same cooking problem.
The team used a well-known pattern to organize their code.
Learning each pattern made his programs easier to read.
UsageShort for design pattern: the observer pattern.
Note

Less common meanings

7
base onverbtransitive
To make or do something by copying an example.
Like drawing a picture by copying one you already like.
Some builders pattern new homes on old farmhouses.
Designers often pattern toys after real animals.
UsageUse after or on: patterned after a temple.
Similarmodel, base, mold
Note
8
nouncountable
A person or thing that is so good that others try to copy it.
Like a hero you want to be just like.
In old stories, the brave knight is a pattern for every young man to follow.
Many saw the early church as a pattern for their own groups.
UsageOften a pattern of a good quality, or a pattern for others.
Similarmodel, paragon, example, exemplar, epitome
Note
9
text matchingnouncountable
A piece of text with special symbols used to match or find other text.
Like a fill-in-the-blank that can match many different words.
The search used a pattern to find every word starting with 'cat'.
She typed a pattern to match all the file names.
UsageText matches a pattern: pattern matching.
Note
10
nouncountable
A sample that shows what a larger group or a planned design is like.
The coin in the glass case is a pattern that was made but never used as money.
This rare coin is a pattern that was made but never used as money.
11
behave alikeverbintransitive
To fit into a regular or repeated way of happening.
Like puzzle pieces that fall into the same shape every time.
In this language, the two sounds pattern together in many words.
Linguists noticed that the new word patterns just like other verbs.
UsageOften pattern together or pattern with.
Similargroup
Note
12
shot spreadnouncountable
The way the small pellets from a shotgun spread out when fired.
Like throwing a handful of sand: the bits spread out the farther they fly.
The shotgun left a wide pattern of holes in the paper target.
A tighter pattern means the pellets stay close together.
Similarspread
13
adjective
Seen as a perfect example of its kind, one that others should copy.
In the old story, Tom is a pattern boy who never does anything wrong.
Old family letters praise her grandmother as a pattern wife and mother.
UsageGoes before a noun: a pattern boy.
Similarmodel, exemplary, ideal, textbook
Note
14
verbarchaictransitive
To act as a model for someone or something else.
15
track habitsverbtransitive
To watch an animal over time to learn how it usually moves and behaves.
Like watching a neighbor's daily habits until you can guess when they'll leave for work.
Good hunters pattern a deer for weeks before the season opens.
He patterned the buck until he knew its daily route.
Similarscout, track, study
Note
16
dress materialnoundatedUScountable
The amount of cloth you need to make one piece of clothing.
Similarlength
Note
17
noun
In music software, a short block of notes and beats that can be played again and again in a song.
18
noun
In a grid-based computer simulation, a set of filled cells arranged in a certain way.
19
verbdialectalMulticultural London English
To arrange or organize something so it is set up properly.
20
noundialectalMulticultural London English
A way of doing things, or an agreement about how something works.
21
verbdialectalMulticultural London English
To set up the sale or supply of something, especially illegal drugs.
22
verbdialectalMulticultural London English
To attack or hit someone violently.
23
verbdialectalMulticultural London English
To punish someone so they learn not to do it again.
24
verbdialectalMulticultural London English
To do or carry out an activity.
25
verbdialectalMulticultural London English
To have sex with someone.
26
nounarchaic
Something made by copying another thing.
27
nouncolloquialSingapore
In Singapore, the habit of making trouble or being difficult.
28
nounIreland
In Ireland, a church celebration on the day of a parish's special saint.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of pattern apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from an old word meaning patron or example. That came through Old French from Latin patronus, meaning patron.

Checked 7 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Pattern comes from an earlier word meaning patron or example. en.wiktionary.org
The earlier word came through Old French from Latin patronus. en.wiktionary.org
Latin patronus means patron. en.wiktionary.org