1
a(1)
: of, relating to, resembling, or having a graph that is a line and especially a straight line : straight
(2)
: involving a single dimension
b(1)
: of the first degree with respect to one or more variables
(2)
: of, relating to, based on, or being linear equations, linear differential equations, linear functions, linear transformations, or linear algebra
c(1)
: characterized by an emphasis on line
linear art
(2)
: composed of simply drawn lines with little attempt at pictorial representation
linear script
d
: consisting of a straight chain of atoms
a linear molecule
2
: elongated with nearly parallel sides
linear leaf
see leaf illustration
3
: having or being a response or output that is directly proportional to the input
4
: of, relating to, or based or depending on sequential development
linear thinking
a linear narrative
Synonyms
Examples of linear in a Sentence
a flat, almost linear horizon
the bullets from early firearms were notorious for not following a strictly linear path through the air
Recent Examples on the Web
With its stock down more than 50% since the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, the company has been under growing Wall Street scrutiny, especially given its exposure to linear TV, which is in secular decline.
—
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2025
Otherwise, as advertising revenue declines alongside linear viewing, less money in means less money out.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2025
Of the 20 bodies found with the beads, 15 could be identified as women, and the beads were in linear patterns, suggesting they were strung together into clothes, study author Marta Díaz-Guardamino told CNN.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
Backing this theory was the discovery that somatic mutations tend to accumulate in a linear way across the lifespans of most mammalian species.
—New Atlas, 2 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for linear 
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Dade Hayes, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2025
Otherwise, as advertising revenue declines alongside linear viewing, less money in means less money out.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2025
Of the 20 bodies found with the beads, 15 could be identified as women, and the beads were in linear patterns, suggesting they were strung together into clothes, study author Marta Díaz-Guardamino told CNN.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
Backing this theory was the discovery that somatic mutations tend to accumulate in a linear way across the lifespans of most mammalian species.
—New Atlas, 2 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for linear
Dictionary Entries Near linear
Cite this Entry
“Linear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linear. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
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