1
b
figures plural
: arithmetical calculations
good at figures
c
: a written or printed character
e
figures plural
: digits representing an amount (as of money earned or points scored)
made six figures last year
a score in double figures
2
a
: a geometric form (such as a line, triangle, or sphere) especially when considered as a set of geometric elements (such as points) in space of a given number of dimensions
a square is a plane figure
b
: bodily shape or form especially of a person
a slender figure
c
: an object noticeable only as a shape or form
figures moving in the dusk
3
a
: the graphic representation of a form especially of a person or geometric entity
a figure of a girl with pigtails
b
: a diagram or pictorial illustration of textual matter
figures that illustrate various moves in chess
4
: a person, thing, or action representative of another
Adam … who is the figure of him who was to come—
Romans 5:14 (King James Version)
Romans 5:14 (King James Version)5
a
: figure of speech
Find the similes and other figures in the poem.
b
: an intentional deviation from the ordinary form or syntactical relation of words
6
: the form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term
7
: an often repetitive pattern or design in a manufactured article (such as cloth) or natural product (such as wood)
a polka-dot figure
8
: appearance made : impression produced
the couple cut quite a figure
9
a
: a series of movements in a dance
Bowing to your partner is one of the figures in square dancing.
b
: an outline representation of a form traced by a series of evolutions (as with skates on an ice surface or by an airplane in the air)
10
: a prominent personality : personage
great figures of history
11
: a short coherent group of notes or chords that may constitute part of a phrase, theme, or composition
figured; figuring
ˈfi-gyə-riŋ 
ˈfi-g(ə-)riŋ
1
: to represent by or as if by a figure or outline
2
: to decorate with a pattern
also
: to write figures over or under (the bass) in order to indicate the accompanying chords
3
: to indicate or represent by numerals
1
a
: to be or appear important or conspicuous
b
: to be involved or implicated
figured in a robbery
2
: to perform a figure in dancing
4
: to seem rational, normal, or expected
that figures
5
: to make sense of something
—used interjectionally in the phrase go figure to suggest that something is surprising or perplexing
why do they think women will buy this lie? Go figure—Ellen Bravo
Ellen BravoSynonyms
Examples of figure in a Sentence
Noun
Are you sure of your figures?
I came up with a very different figure.
No precise figures are available yet.
The company had yearly sales figures of half a million units.
We could barely make out some figures moving in the mist.
The vase is decorated with figures of birds and fish.
The walls of the cave are covered with drawings of human and animal figures.
a collection of bronze figures
Verb
“They lost.” “I figured as much.”
She figures to finish by noon.
The debate over tax rates figured prominently in the last election.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Musk has been a vocal supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, and allowed the reinstatement of the accounts of highly controversial right-wing figures.
—Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 16 Nov. 2024
Angela Andaloro, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
The views from the sideline and in Jerry Jones’ owner’s suite said it all, as there was a ton of head shaking and exasperated looks with the team pressing to figure it out.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for figure 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Given that The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is based on a series of children’s books written by devout Anglican C. S. Lewis, James Cosmo’s Father Christmas is unsurprisingly the Santa figure on this list who retains the most Christian aura.
—Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Musk has been a vocal supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, and allowed the reinstatement of the accounts of highly controversial right-wing figures.
—Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 16 Nov. 2024
Verb
With Jenna recently going off to college, OP figured the tradition might come to an end.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
The views from the sideline and in Jerry Jones’ owner’s suite said it all, as there was a ton of head shaking and exasperated looks with the team pressing to figure it out.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for figure
Dictionary Entries Near figure
Cite this Entry
“Figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figure. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
figure
1 of 2 noun
fig·ure
ˈfig-yər
British and often US ˈfig-ər
1
2
a
: the shape or outline of something
b
: bodily shape or form especially of a person
3
a
: something that represents a form especially of a person
b
: a diagram or pictorial illustration
c
: a combination of points, lines, or surfaces in geometry
a circle is a closed plane figure
figure
2 of 2 verb
figured; figuring
ˈfig-yə-riŋ
ˈfig(-ə)-
1
: to decorate with a pattern
2
: believe sense 5, decide
figured we might win
3
: to be or appear important
figure in the news
4
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