weight

WAYT/weɪt/

Pluralweights

Verbweights, weighting, weighted

27 meanings of weight

Practice

1
amount in kilosnouncountable or uncountable
How heavy a person or thing is, often given as a number of kilograms or pounds.
Like saying how heavy a bag is: it is really the amount of stuff inside.
The weight of the bag was about two kilograms.
We measured the weight of each rock before the experiment.
UsageThe verb is weigh: it weighs two kilos. In science class, say mass for how much matter something has.
Similarheaviness, heft
Note
2
gym ironnouncountable
A heavy object, like a barbell or metal plate, that you lift to build muscle.
Like the heavy cans you might lift over and over to get stronger arms.
He lifts weights at the gym three times a week.
She added a heavier weight to the bar.
UsageSay lift weights for the gym activity. Use a weight for one heavy thing you lift.
3
nouncountable or uncountable
The pull of gravity on an object, which makes it feel heavy.
Like how a backpack presses down on your shoulders: gravity is pulling it toward the ground.
A ball falls to the ground because its weight pulls it down.
On the moon, your weight is much less than on Earth.
Note
4
influencenounfigurativelyuncountable
How important or powerful someone or something is, or how much it counts when deciding.
Like when a teacher's words count for more than a classmate's.
Her opinion carries a lot of weight with the team.
The new evidence added weight to his argument.
UsageAn opinion carries weight with people. New facts can add weight to an argument.
Note
5
emotional loadnounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
The pressure or burden of something hard to deal with, such as worry or responsibility.
Like carrying a heavy bag on your back that you can't put down.
The weight of all his problems kept him awake at night.
She felt the weight of the whole team resting on her.
UsageSay the weight of worry or the weight of a secret. When a problem ends, it is a weight off your mind.
Similarburden, load, pressure, strain
Note
6
make count moreverbtransitive
To give each number a value that decides how much it counts.
Like giving some grades more points so they change the average more.
Teachers often weight the final exam more than the quizzes.
The app weights newer reviews to keep the results fresh.
UsageYou weight numbers by something, like age or size. Do not mix it up with weigh.
7
sports classnouncountable
A group of athletes who weigh about the same, used in sports like boxing.
Like sorting players into groups by size so the matches are fair.
The boxer dropped down a weight to win a title.
She is the best wrestler at her weight in the whole state.
UsageBoxers move up or drop down a weight. They fight at a weight.
Similardivision, class, category
Note
8
nouncountable
A heavy object you put on something to hold it down or make it heavier.
Like a stone you set on a pile of papers so the wind can't move them.
She put a weight on the papers so they wouldn't blow away.
A small weight keeps the fishing line under the water.
9
make heavierverbtransitive
To make something heavier by adding a heavy object to it.
Like putting stones in a bag so it won't float away.
They weight the curtains so they hang straight.
Fishers weight their nets to keep them under the water.
UsageYou weight a thing with something heavy. This is not weigh, which means finding out how heavy it is.
Similarload, ballast
Oppositelighten
10
nouncountable
A number used to multiply a value so some values count more than others.
Like giving some scores double points so they matter more.
Each test score is given a weight before the final grade is added up.
A larger weight makes that survey answer count for more.
UsageYou give a weight to a number to make it count more or less.
Similarcoefficient, multiplier, factor
Note

Less common meanings

11
scale blocknouncountable
An object of known mass, used on a balance scale to measure the mass of other things.
Like using a known-size block to figure out how heavy something else is.
The shopkeeper placed a brass weight on the scale to check the flour.
Each weight in the set has its mass stamped on top.
12
atomic massnouncountable or uncountable
How heavy tiny things like atoms and molecules are, measured for science.
Like comparing how heavy one tiny building block is against another.
The atomic weight of carbon is about twelve.
Chemists use the molecular weight to measure out the right amount.
Similarmass
Note
13
burden someoneverbtransitive
To put a heavy load or trouble on someone.
Like carrying a heavy backpack that makes every step harder.
He came home weighted down with worry about his job.
After the flood, the family was weighted down with debt for years.
UsageMost often weighted down with something, like worry or debt.
Similarburden, oppress, encumber
Oppositerelieve
14
unfairly favorverbtransitive
To tip something so that it favors one side.
The rules weight the game in favor of older players.
The judges weighted the contest toward their friends.
UsageSomething is weighted toward one side or in favor of someone.
Similarskew, bias, slant, tilt
Note
15
oil thicknessnouncountable or uncountable
A number that shows how thick or thin an oil is.
Like choosing thick honey or thin water depending on the weather.
This engine needs a heavier weight of oil in summer.
Check the weight printed on the motor oil bottle.
Similargrade, viscosity
Note
16
handicap (racing)verbtransitive
To give a racehorse a set weight to carry so the race is fair.
Officials weighted the favorite to even the field.
They weight stronger horses more heavily than weaker ones.
Similarhandicap
Note
17
yarn thicknessnouncountable or uncountable
How thick or thin a piece of yarn is.
Like the difference between thin sewing thread and thick wool string.
This pattern needs a medium weight of yarn.
This pattern needs a thick yarn weight, so the hat is quick to knit.
Similarthickness
Note
18
font boldnessnouncountable or uncountable
How thick or bold the lines of the letters are in a font.
Like how a marker draws thicker lines than a pencil.
Choose a heavier weight if you want the title to stand out.
This font comes in several weights, from thin to bold.
Note
19
throw strengthverbtransitive
To put a certain amount of force into a throw, kick, or hit.
Like deciding how hard to roll a ball so it stops right where you want.
She weighted her pass perfectly so it reached his feet.
You need to weight the kick so it lands near the goal.
UsageOften said as a well-weighted pass or kick: one hit with just the right force.
Note
20
line thicknessnouncountable or uncountable
How thick or thin a drawn or painted line looks.
Like how a thick line looks stronger than a thin one.
Use a thicker line weight to make the main shapes stand out.
Her lines change in weight, from thick and dark to thin and light.
Similarthickness, width
Note
21
drug shipmentnounslanguncountable
A large amount of drugs, often illegal, being moved or sold.
The dealer was caught moving serious weight across state lines.
They moved a lot of weight through that warehouse.
UsageUsed after move, push or run, with no a: move weight.
Similarproduct
Note
22
solid looknoununcountable
In art, the feeling that something looks heavy or solid.
Like how a drawing of a rock can look heavy even though the paper is light.
The dark colors give the painting a sense of weight.
Careful shading adds weight to the figure.
Similarsolidity, mass
Note
23
thick paintnoununcountable
How thick a layer of paint is and how completely it hides the surface or colors beneath it.
Like the difference between a thin coat of paint and a thick, solid one.
Use less water if you want the paint to have more weight.
She built up the weight of the paint in layers.
Similarbody, thickness
Note
24
moneynoundateduncountable
Money, in the old slang of criminals.
Similarmoney, cash, loot
Note
25
noun
The force a machine works against, not the force that powers it.
26
verb
To add heavy minerals to cloth to make it heavier.
27
noun
In math, the smallest number of basic parts needed to build a space.

Practice

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

Origin

From an Old English word meaning "weight." It comes from the same root as the verb "weigh."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Weight comes from an Old English word meaning “weight.” en.wiktionary.org
Weight and weigh share an etymological root. en.wiktionary.org