amplitude

noun

am·​pli·​tude ˈam-plə-ˌtüd 

-ˌtyüd

1

: the extent or range of a quality, property, process, or phenomenon: such as

a

: the extent of a vibratory movement (as of a pendulum) measured from the mean position to an extreme

b

: the maximum departure of the value of an alternating current or wave from the average value

2

: extent of dignity, excellence, or splendor

3

: the quality or state of being ample : fullness, abundance

… the long unerring lines, the sweep and amplitude of the great artist's stroke …

—Edith Wharton

4

mathematics : the angle assigned to a complex number when it is plotted in a complex plane using polar coordinates

called also argument

compare absolute value sense 2

5

: the height achieved on a jump by a snowboarder, skateboarder, skier, etc.

" … a lot of my strength in snowboarding is my amplitude … "

—Shaun White

Synonyms

• scope
• extent
• realm
• width
• range
• confines

Examples of amplitude in a Sentence

the amplitude of Thomas Jefferson's interests—government, architecture, agriculture, science, philosophy—is truly awesome

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, the highest wave amplitudes recorded were just about 6 feet, Simmers said. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 July 2025

San Francisco saw maximum wave amplitudes of 1.2 feet at 2:24 a.m. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 30 July 2025

This involved delivering a pulse of alternating current with a small amplitude, and at a frequency of 2 Hz that has previously been shown to be effective in encouraging axon growth in lab settings. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 6 July 2025

In turn, the August 2 event created seismic waves with about three times the amplitude of a 2.5 magnitude event that represents the high end of typical activity in the region. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 3 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin amplitūdin-, amplitūdō "size, extent, eminence, prestige," from amplus "more than adequate in size or extent, ample, eminent" + -i- -i- + -tūdin-, -tūdō -tude

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing amplitude

• amplitude modulation

Rhymes for amplitude

• altitude
• aptitude
• attitude
• barbecued
• certitude
• desuetude
• devalued
• finitude
• fortitude
• gratitude
• interlude
• interviewed

Kids Definition

amplitude

noun

am·​pli·​tude ˈam-plə-ˌt(y)üd 

1

: the quality or state of being ample : fullness, abundance

2

: extent sense 1, range

3

a

: the extent of a back-and-forth movement (as of a pendulum) measured from the midpoint to an extreme

b

: one half of the up-and-down extent of the vibration of a wave (as of alternating current)

Medical Definition

amplitude

noun

am·​pli·​tude ˈam-plə-ˌt(y)üd 

: the extent or range of a quality, property, process, or phenomenon: as

a

: the extent of a vibratory movement (as of a pendulum) measured from the mean position to an extreme

b

: the maximum departure of the value of an alternating current or wave from the average value