weigh

[[t]we͟ɪ[/t]]

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weighs, weighing, weighed

1) VERB: no cont If someone or something weighs a particular amount, this amount is how heavy they are.

[V amount] It weighs nearly 27 kilos (about 65 pounds)...

[V amount] This little ball of gold weighs a quarter of an ounce...

[V amount] You always weigh less in the morning.

2) VERB If you weigh something or someone, you measure how heavy they are.

[V n] The scales can be used to weigh other items such as parcels.

3) VERB If you weigh the facts about a situation, you consider them very carefully before you make a decision, especially by comparing the various facts involved.

[V n] She weighed her options...

[V n] He is weighing the possibility of filing criminal charges against the doctor...

[V wh] She spoke very slowly, weighing what she would say.

Syn:

evaluate

PHRASAL VERB

Weigh up means the same as weigh. [mainly BRIT]

V P n (not pron) Nirex will be able to weigh up the environmental pros and cons of each site... Also V n P V P wh You have to weigh up whether a human life is more important than an animal's life.

4) VERB If you weigh your words, you think very carefully before you say something.

[V n] He said the words very slowly, as if weighing each one of them.

5) VERB If a problem weighs on you, it makes you worried or unhappy.

[V on/upon n] The separation weighed on both of them...

[V on/upon n] She knows how your brother's disappearance weighs upon you.

6) VERB Something that weighs heavily in a situation has a strong influence or important effect on it.

[V adv prep] Current economic hardships weigh heavily in young women's decisions to find salaried work...

[V adv prep] Human life weighed more with him than purity of policy...

[V against n/-ing] There are many factors weighing against the meeting happening.

Phrasal Verbs:

- weigh down

- weigh in

- weigh out

- weigh up