gauge 1 of 2

verb

variants also gage
Definition of gaugenext
1
as in to calculate
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement glance over the pattern and try to gauge how much fabric you'll need

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to measure
to find out the size, extent, or amount of very difficult to gauge how upset he really is by his controlled reaction

Synonyms & Similar Words

gauge

2 of 2

noun

variants also gage
1
as in indicator

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in touchstone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun gauge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gauge are criterion, standard, touchstone, and yardstick. While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect.

polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

When is criterion a more appropriate choice than gauge?

While the synonyms criterion and gauge are close in meaning, criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not.

questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

When could standard be used to replace gauge?

While in some cases nearly identical to gauge, standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

Where would touchstone be a reasonable alternative to gauge?

The synonyms touchstone and gauge are sometimes interchangeable, but touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

How are the words yardstick and criterion related as synonyms of gauge?

Yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

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 gauge
Verb
Then, there’s the number of jobs in a market, based on a poll of employers that gauges local staffing. —Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 30 May 2025 Homeland Security Investigations has performed an intelligence threat assessment to gauge the risk to the border czar. —Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 23 May 2025
Noun
Another reason consumers have been insulated: Businesses are already absorbing the costs, according to the latest gauge of US wholesale inflation, known as the Producer Price Index. —Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 16 May 2025 Wall Street’s fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index, surged more than 15%. —John Towfighi, CNN Money, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for gauge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gauge
  1. calculate
  2. measure
  3. indicator
  4. touchstone
  5. figure
  6. dial
  7. principle
  8. estimate
Verb
  • Key applications include improving efficiency, calculating value at risk and modeling market dynamics for traders.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
  • Marc: The beginning — when the titular character is crying, and then immediately switches from sobbing into the camera to being this cold and calculating person.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 June 2025
Definition of calculate
Verb
  • Szostak went on to show that in a case like this, functional information can be measured experimentally.
    — Philip Ball, Wired News, 8 June 2025
  • Toyota measures twice and cuts once, and the cutting just began.
    — Mark Phelan, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Definition of measure
Noun
  • Total new orders, an indicator of overall demand, also contracted for the first time in eight months.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 June 2025
  • Throughout our lives, we have been taught that comparison is an indicator of our worth.
    — Veronica Angela, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of indicator
Noun
  • The movie remains a Hollywood touchstone nearly a century after its release.
    — Jeremy Helligar, People.com, 7 June 2025
  • While whiskey remains a cultural touchstone for claims on American identity, the reality is that American consumers have consistently chosen vodka as their spirit of choice for decades.
    — Time, Time, 4 June 2025
Definition of touchstone
Verb
  • Losers, despite Wilken’s ruling, figure to be at least some of the walk-ons and partial scholarship athletes whose spots are gone.
    — Eddie Pells, Baltimore Sun, 7 June 2025
  • To figure that amount, ask your employees to complete Form W-4.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of figure
Noun
  • President Trump’s dial is perpetually set on bellicose.
    — Michael Luo, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
  • The Swiss watch brand has teamed up with Italian soccer team Como 1907 on the Hublot Classic Fusion Como Edition, a 42-mm chronograph encased in a sleek black ceramic case with a deep blue dial.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 4 June 2025
Definition of dial
Noun
  • This principle seems obvious, yet many measurement approaches inadvertently push brands toward funnel imbalance.
    — Cody Greco, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • Looking ahead, Sartori believes the principles guiding Zegna’s evolution — craftsmanship, timelessness and genuine customer relationships — will become increasingly important as luxury consumers seek lasting value over temporary satisfaction.
    — Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 2 June 2025
Definition of principle
Verb
  • But those modest provisions, frequently touted by Republicans, aren't estimated to produce any savings.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 June 2025
  • The University of Arizona estimated that roughly 2,500 to 3,000 wild mountain lions are living in the state.
    — Rachel Raposas, People.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of estimate

Browse Nearby Words

gaudy
gauge
gauged
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Cite this Entry

“Gauge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gauge. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gauge

Nglish: Translation of gauge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gauge

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