figures 1 of 2

Definition of figuresnext
plural of figure

figures

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of figure
1
2
as in estimates
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement let's figure the juice in the pan to be about a cup and just add it to the mix

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of figures
Noun
Kofman’s article chronicles the path of such ideas from the fringes to the mainstream, outlining their influence on figures such as Peter Thiel, Stephen Miller, and Elon Musk. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 20 May 2026 State Department figures show 6,066 — or 99% — of the refugees were from South Africa, while the other three hailed from Afghanistan. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 19 May 2026 The deportation is particularly notable because Saab had become one of the most politically sensitive figures within Venezuela’s ruling structure, frequently portrayed by the Maduro regime as proof that Washington criminalized those helping the country circumvent sanctions. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026 Other celebrity spokespeople for the brand have included actors/models Gigi Hadid, Zendaya and Damson Idris and sports figures Rafael Nadal and Lewis Hamilton. Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 More than three-quarters of HIV patients tied to the Penobscot County outbreak received care within 30 days of diagnosis, according to Maine CDC figures. Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026 On-pitch leadership from figures like James, Colwill and Fernandez will also help. Cerys Jones, New York Times, 13 May 2026 Some top administration health figures had publicly questioned the credibility of the agencies that are now central to explaining a new and uncertain threat. Lena H. Sun, Washington Post, 12 May 2026 In terms of concrete figures, Nasser said that more than 1 billion barrels of oil supply have already been lost due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. CNBC, 12 May 2026
Verb
Meaning that even with the curious and disorienting turn of the signage, Arrowhead still figures to be resplendent in the worldwide spotlight. Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026 Despite the loss, Torrey Pines figures to be a top-four seed in Division 1 when the playoff pairings are revealed next Saturday. John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026 The San Francisco Giants on Saturday traded their primary starting catcher Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians — a move that figures to give Sacramento-area product Daniel Susac more playing time in the majors. Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026 King figures to get ample opportunity to show off his dual-threat skills during the Hall of Fame preseason game in Canton, Ohio. Joseph Person, New York Times, 6 May 2026 Butler, hiring alum Ronald Nored after Thad Matta’s retirement, figures to have some tough sledding ahead after losing stars Finley Bizjack to West Virginia and Michael Ajayi to the NBA Draft and could see another year in the basement as the rest of the league rises. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026 For one thing, Cora figures to be in demand and the Phillies, an old team in decline with not much of a farm system, don’t figure to be a particularly desirable destination. Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026 This isn’t the end of coaching for Donovan, 60, who figures to be a top candidate for openings around the NBA. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figures
Noun
  • Now, the farmer is running the calculations.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026
  • Often referred to as the next frontier of computing, quantum computers are being sought to complete calculations that are impossible for classical computers.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Watch which benchmarks Google chooses to show on stage.
    Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • The league then chooses the team’s general managers.
    Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwards Mazza estimates the supply and demand imbalance could extend into 2028 due to AI demand and the data center hyperscaler build-out.
    Josh Romero, CNBC, 15 May 2026
  • Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum estimates that 39% of core job skills will change by 2030, with entry-level roles most exposed to automation pressures.
    Victor Fang, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • That methodology removes the zig-zagging, and calculates a far more accurate PE.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 13 May 2026
  • The Social Security Administration calculates the COLA every year by comparing third-quarter CPI-W data to the third-quarter data of the previous year.
    Lorie Konish, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • As heavily shorted stocks rise, Cramer thinks investors betting against them may be forced to buy shares back — a dynamic known as a short squeeze that can accelerate gains even without a major change in fundamentals.
    Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 19 May 2026
  • Everyone thinks fat stores are just these passive blobs of tissue that hang off your body.
    Eileen Finan, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Now, if someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo is added, that would change that math.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2026
  • Or, if your Social Security funds are mixed with other income in the same account, the math becomes more complicated, and these protections may not cover the full balance.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • So in that sense, a lot of what clipping does is help good artists find the audiences who would’ve liked them anyway by accelerating the early excitement just enough to push them past the algorithmic threshold that decides who gets discovered and who doesn’t.
    Lane Brown, Vulture, 15 May 2026
  • And the audience, Hammond has come to understand, is ultimately the one who decides.
    Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Nothing about the results computes.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 4 May 2026
  • That means if a gig worker or their employer computes a tip amount and requires customers to pay it, that tip isn’t tax-deductible.
    Annette Nellen, The Conversation, 6 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Figures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figures. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on figures

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster