What does weight mean?
Weight is the measure of how heavy something is, usually expressed in units such as kilograms, pounds, or ounces. In everyday conversation, it often refers to a person's body mass, as in discussions of diet, exercise, or health. The word also has a strongly metaphorical range: a responsibility may be described as a burden, while an opinion may carry weight because of the authority behind it. As a verb, weight means to measure heaviness, to place pressure on something, or to consider something important. These uses are closely related: physical weight involves the force of gravity, while figurative weight concerns significance, influence, or responsibility. The word is useful in both literal and abstract contexts and is standard in British and American English.
The amount of heaviness or mass that a person or thing has, particularly as measured by gravitational force. It can also refer to importance, influence, or a heavy object used for balancing or pressure.
"The weight of the evidence led the committee to change its decision."
Weight is countable for a particular object, class, or unit, but usually uncountable when referring to the general concept of heaviness.
To measure the weight of something, to place a load or pressure on something, or to assign considerable importance or influence to it.
"Experts weighed the evidence before recommending a change."
The figurative senses of considering or prioritizing something are especially common in formal contexts.
The plural is used for separate measurements, classes, or physical objects, as in “different weights” or “barbell weights.”
"The shop sells weights for home fitness equipment."
Weight and weigh share Germanic ancestry: one names the quantity, while the other names the act of finding it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does weight come from?
The English noun developed through Middle English from Old English forms meaning weight or heaviness. Its Germanic relatives include German Gewicht and Dutch gewicht, while the verb weigh belongs to the same broad Germanic tradition of measuring or balancing. The modern senses of importance and influence developed by analogy with the physical notion of heaviness.
Related word forms
How weight is actually used
As a noun, weight is countable when referring to a particular mass, object, or unit, and generally uncountable when referring to the general concept of heaviness. In abstract contexts, it commonly describes importance, authority, influence, or responsibility. As a verb, it can mean to measure, to exert pressure, or to give considerable importance to something.
Easily confused with weight
Weight is usually a noun naming a mass or amount of heaviness, whereas weigh is primarily a verb meaning to measure or compare heaviness.
Weight and wait are homophones in standard English but have entirely different meanings and spellings.