figure

1 of 2

noun

fig·​ure ˈfi-gyər 

 British and often US  ˈfi-gər

1

a

: a number symbol : numeral, digit

b

figures plural : arithmetical calculations

good at figures

c

: a written or printed character

d

: value especially as expressed in numbers : sum, price

sold at a low figure

e

figures plural : digits representing an amount (as of money earned or points scored)

made six figures last year

a score in double figures

2

a

: a geometric form (such as a line, triangle, or sphere) especially when considered as a set of geometric elements (such as points) in space of a given number of dimensions

a square is a plane figure

b

: bodily shape or form especially of a person

a slender figure

c

: an object noticeable only as a shape or form

figures moving in the dusk

3

a

: the graphic representation of a form especially of a person or geometric entity

a figure of a girl with pigtails

b

: a diagram or pictorial illustration of textual matter

figures that illustrate various moves in chess

4

: a person, thing, or action representative of another

Adam … who is the figure of him who was to come

—Romans 5:14 (King James Version)

5

a

: figure of speech

Find the similes and other figures in the poem.

b

: an intentional deviation from the ordinary form or syntactical relation of words

6

: the form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term

7

: an often repetitive pattern or design in a manufactured article (such as cloth) or natural product (such as wood)

a polka-dot figure

8

: appearance made : impression produced

the couple cut quite a figure

9

a

: a series of movements in a dance

Bowing to your partner is one of the figures in square dancing.

b

: an outline representation of a form traced by a series of evolutions (as with skates on an ice surface or by an airplane in the air)

10

: a prominent personality : personage

great figures of history

11

: a short coherent group of notes or chords that may constitute part of a phrase, theme, or composition

figure

2 of 2

verb

figured; figuring ˈfi-gyə-riŋ 

ˈfi-g(ə-)riŋ

transitive verb

1

: to represent by or as if by a figure or outline

2

: to decorate with a pattern

also : to write figures over or under (the bass) in order to indicate the accompanying chords

3

: to indicate or represent by numerals

4

a

: calculate

b

: conclude, decide

figured there was no use in further effort

also : assume

figure it will rain

c

: regard, consider

d

: to appear likely

figures to win

intransitive verb

1

a

: to be or appear important or conspicuous

b

: to be involved or implicated

figured in a robbery

2

: to perform a figure in dancing

3

: compute, calculate

4

: to seem rational, normal, or expected

that figures

5

: to make sense of something

—used interjectionally in the phrase go figure to suggest that something is surprising or perplexing

why do they think women will buy this lie? Go figure

—Ellen Bravo

figurer

ˈfi-g(y)ər-ər 

noun

Phrases

figure on

1

: to take into consideration

figuring on the extra income

2

: to rely on

3

: plan

I figure on going into town

Synonyms

Noun

• digit
• integer
• number
• numeral
• numeric
• whole number

Verb

• choose
• conclude
• decide
• determine
• name
• opt
• resolve
• settle (on or upon)

Examples of figure in a Sentence

Noun

Are you sure of your figures?

I came up with a very different figure.

No precise figures are available yet.

The company had yearly sales figures of half a million units.

We could barely make out some figures moving in the mist.

The vase is decorated with figures of birds and fish.

The walls of the cave are covered with drawings of human and animal figures.

a collection of bronze figures

Verb

“They lost.” “I figured as much.”

She figures to finish by noon.

The debate over tax rates figured prominently in the last election.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The propensity for some of these aged and unique dotcoms to sell for seven figures and up is no surprise. —Michael Gargiulo, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Donald Trump, who secured victory in the November presidential election against Kamala Harris, was celebrated by TIME for being the most influential figure on the global stage over the past year. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

Verb

But every child has to figure this out on their own for the first time. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024

But ancient bone fragments and genes are helping scientists figure that out. —Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "shape, form, likeness, symbol, design, written character," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin figūra "shape, form, outward appearance, likeness, nonliteral form of speech," from fig-, variant stem of fingere "to mold, fashion, make a likeness of, pretend to be" + -ūra -ure — more at feign

Verb

Middle English figuren "to shape, represent symbolically, prefigure," borrowed from Anglo-French figurer, borrowed from Latin figūrāre "to shape, form, make a likeness of, represent," verbal derivative of figūra "shape, figure entry 1"

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing figure

• action figure
• (as) near as someone can tell/figure
• authority figure
• cut a figure
• father figure
• figure eight
• figure in
• figure into
• figure of authority
• figure of contempt
• figure of fun
• figure of fun/ridicule
• figure of merit
• figure of speech
• figure on
• figure out
• figure skate
• figure skating
• go figure
• lay figure
• mother figure
• public figure
• six-figure
• stick figure

Kids Definition

figure

1 of 2 noun

fig·​ure ˈfig-yər 

 British and often US  ˈfig-ər

1

a

: numeral sense 1

b

plural : arithmetic sense 2

a good head for figures

c

: price entry 1 sense 1

2

a

: the shape or outline of something

b

: bodily shape or form especially of a person

3

a

: something that represents a form especially of a person

b

: a diagram or pictorial illustration

c

: a combination of points, lines, or surfaces in geometry

a circle is a closed plane figure

4

: pattern entry 1 sense 3, design

5

: personality sense 4, personage

figure

2 of 2 verb

figured; figuring ˈfig-yə-riŋ 

ˈfig(-ə)-

1

: to decorate with a pattern

2

: believe sense 5, decide

figured we might win

3

: to be or appear important

figure in the news

4

: compute sense 1, calculate

figurer

-(y)ər-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

figure

noun

fig·​ure

ˈfig-yər, British & often US ˈfig-ər

1

: bodily shape or form especially of a person

a slender figure

2

a

: the graphic representation of a form especially of a person

b

: a diagram or pictorial illustration of textual matter

3

: a person who is representative of or serves as a psychological substitute for someone or something else see father figure