av·er·age
ˈa-v(ə-)rij 
1
a
: a single value (such as a mean, mode, or median) that summarizes or represents the general significance of a set of unequal values
b
2
a
: an estimation of or approximation to an arithmetic mean
b
: a level (as of intelligence) typical of a group, class, or series
above the average
3
: a ratio expressing the average performance especially of an athletic team or an athlete computed according to the number of opportunities for successful performance
a batting average
1
: equaling an arithmetic mean
2
a
: being about midway between extremes
a man of average height
b
: not out of the ordinary : common
on an average day
the average person
averagely
adverb
averageness
noun
averaged; averaging
1
a
: to be or come to an average
The gain averaged out to 20 percent.
b
: to have a medial value of
colors that average to gray
2
: to buy on a falling market or sell on a rising market additional shares or commodities so as to obtain a more favorable average price
—usually used with down or up
1
: to do, get, or have on the average or as an average sum or quantity
averages 12 hours of work a day
2
: to find the arithmetic mean of (a series of unequal quantities)
3
a
: to bring toward the average
b
: to divide among a number according to a size, number, or amount that is directly related to or appropriate for something
average a loss
Did you know?
The word average came into English from Middle French avarie, a derivative of an Arabic word meaning “damaged merchandise.” Avarie originally meant damage sustained by a ship or its cargo, but came to mean the expenses of such damage. When the English borrowed the word, they altered it to conform to the pattern of words ending in -age. When a ship or its cargo was damaged at sea, the owners or insurers shared the expense, or average. An average-adjuster determined a division of costs among them. An average then became any equal distribution or division, like the determination of an arithmetic mean. Soon the arithmetic mean itself was called an average. Now the word may be applied to any mean or middle value or level.
Synonyms
Examples of average in a Sentence
Noun
The average of 16, 8, and 6 is 10.
Take all these temperatures and find their average.
An average of 2,000 people attended the show each night.
Prices have increased on average about eight percent.
On average, women live longer than men.
His work has been above the average.
Adjective
Take all these temperatures and find their average temperature.
The investment had a higher average return.
The average age of the company's employees is 36.
The average woman lives longer than the average man.
Do you know what the average person earns?
the average American family buyer
Sales were about average for the industry on the whole.
Average grades are not good enough to get you into graduate school.
She was an average student.
She thought the performance was just average.
Verb
The teacher averaged the students' grades.
What figure do you get when you average the amount of rainfall for the last three months?
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Blum, The Athletic, 11 Dec. 2024
But email marketing is serious business, bringing in an average of $36 for every dollar spent.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 12 Dec. 2024
Despite spending more per person on healthcare than any other nation, the average life expectancy of American adults falls below that of 56 countries on six continents.
—Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2024
DeVries has emerged as one of the best players in the Big 12, averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 47 percent from three.
—Tobias Bass, The Athletic, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for average 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
His strikeouts and walks per nine innings were both better than his career averages.
—Sam Blum, The Athletic, 11 Dec. 2024
But email marketing is serious business, bringing in an average of $36 for every dollar spent.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Their average winning margin in their seven home wins thus far is 4.7 points.
—Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 12 Dec. 2024
Despite spending more per person on healthcare than any other nation, the average life expectancy of American adults falls below that of 56 countries on six continents.
—Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
Last year’s Oscars, the first to begin at 7 p.m. instead of 8 p.m., averaged 19.5 million total viewers on ABC, the most for the telecast since COVID.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2024
DeVries has emerged as one of the best players in the Big 12, averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 47 percent from three.
—Tobias Bass, The Athletic, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for average
Dictionary Entries Near average
Cite this Entry
“Average.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/average. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
average
1 of 3 noun
av·er·age
ˈav-(ə-)rij
1
2
: a level typical of a group, class, or series
their work is above the average
3
: a ratio of successful tries to total tries
batting average
average
2 of 3 adjective1
: equaling or close to an arithmetic mean
2
: being ordinary or usual
the average person
an average day
averagely
adverb
averageness
noun
average
3 of 3 verb
averaged; averaging
1
: to amount to on the average
they average four feet in height
2
: to do or get usually
she averaged 40 miles a day
3
: to find the average of
average the grades
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