size up

verb

sized up; sizing up; sizes up

transitive verb

: to form a judgment of
size up the situation

Examples of size up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The boots come in whole sizes only, and the company recommends sizing up for a loose fit. Becca Blond, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2025 To accommodate a liner, size up your main insulating glove by one. Liner gloves aren’t very effective against wind, precipitation, impacts, abrasion, or lacerations. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 22 Dec. 2024 Thune has served as whip since 2019 and campaigned heavily for his GOP colleagues during this election cycle, a metric often used to size up candidates' fundraising prowess and willingness to help out the party. Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024 So, before turning off the lights that zigzagged across the lot, McArdle sized up the pile of trees that had been banished to the back of the shed. Greg Borowski, Journal Sentinel, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for size up 

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of size up was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near size up

Cite this Entry

“Size up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/size%20up. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on size up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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