ton

1 of 2

noun (1)

plural tons also ton
1
: any of various units of weight:
2
: a great quantity : lot
ate tons of cookies
has tons of money
a ton of work to do
3
a
: a unit of internal capacity for ships equal to 100 cubic feet

called also register ton

b
: a unit approximately equal to the volume of a long ton weight of seawater used in reckoning the displacement of ships and equal to 35 cubic feet
c
: a unit of volume for cargo freight usually reckoned at 40 cubic feet

called also measurement ton

ton

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: the prevailing fashion : vogue
2
: the quality or state of being smart or fashionable

Examples of ton in a Sentence

Noun (1) I received a ton of advice on the problem—all of it unsolicited Noun (2) granite countertops became all the ton in kitchen decor
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.
Noun
There's not a ton of homework needed for this – most of the action is self-contained and most of the characters, B- and C-level MCU players, are explained on the fly. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 May 2025 Since there is a ton of debate about which of The Pitt’s supporting players will get primacy in the Emmys race, this early step forward for LaNasa is worth remembering. Joe Reid, Vulture, 3 May 2025 The ninth-generation Apple iPad packs in a ton of features for the price and easily outranks most low to midrange Android tablets. Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 2 May 2025 Massive windows frame cinematic views of the neighborhood’s rooftops and minarets, bringing in tons of natural light. Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ton

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English tunne unit of weight or capacity — more at tun

Noun (2)

borrowed from French, "pitch, tone, manner, style," going back to Old French, "sound of voices, voice quality," going back to Latin tonus "strain, tension, musical pitch, note" — more at tone entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Noun (2)

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ton was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ton. Accessed 8 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

ton

noun
ˈtən
plural tons also ton
1
2
3

More from Merriam-Webster on ton

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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