weigh S3 W3 /weɪ/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ overweight ≠ ↑ underweight , ↑ weighted , ↑ weighty , ↑ weightless ; verb : ↑ weigh , ↑ outweigh , ↑ weight ; noun : ↑ weight , weights, ↑ weighting ]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: wegan 'to move, carry, weigh' ]
1 . BE A PARTICULAR WEIGHT [linking verb] to have a particular weight:
The young birds weigh only a few grams.
Do you know how much it weighs?
What (=how much) do you weigh?
The box was full of books and weighed a ton (=was very heavy) .
2 . MEASURE WEIGHT [transitive] to use a machine to discover how much something or someone weighs:
He weighed some potatoes on the scales.
weigh yourself
Have you weighed yourself lately?
3 . CONSIDER/COMPARE ( also weigh up ) [transitive] to consider something carefully so that you can make a decision about it:
It is my job to weigh the evidence.
weigh something against something
We have to weigh the benefits of the scheme against the costs.
4 . INFLUENCE [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] formal to influence someone’s opinion and the decision that they make
weigh against
This unfortunate experience will weigh heavily against further investment in the area.
weigh in somebody's/sth’s favour
These facts will weigh in your favour.
weigh with
Her evidence weighed strongly with the judge.
5 . weigh your words to think very carefully about what you say because you do not want to say the wrong thing:
He was weighing his words carefully.
6 . weigh anchor to raise an ↑ anchor and sail away
weigh somebody down phrasal verb
1 . if something weighs you down, it is heavy and difficult to carry
be weighed down with something
Sally was weighed down with shopping bags.
2 . if a problem weighs you down, it makes you feel worried and upset
be weighed down by/with something
He felt weighed down by his responsibilities.
a family weighed down with grief
weigh in phrasal verb
1 . to have your weight measured before taking part in a competition
weigh in at
Higgins weighed in at just over 100 kilos.
⇨ ↑ weigh-in
2 . informal to join in an argument or fight
weigh in with
The chairman then weighed in with his views.
weigh on somebody/something phrasal verb
to make someone feel worried and upset:
The desire for peace will weigh heavily on the negotiators.
I’m sure there’s something weighing on his mind.
The burden of responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders.
weigh something ↔ out phrasal verb
to measure an amount of something by weighing it:
She weighed out half a kilo of rice.
weigh somebody/something ↔ up phrasal verb
1 . to consider something carefully so that you can make a decision about it:
We’re still weighing up the pros and cons (=the advantages and disadvantages) of the two options.
2 . to watch someone and listen to them carefully so that you can form an opinion about what they are like:
I could see that he was weighing me up.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to think about something
▪ think to use your mind to decide about something, form an opinion, imagine something etc:
I’ve been thinking about what you said – maybe you’re right.
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I need some time to think.
▪ consider to think about something carefully before deciding what to do:
Have you considered working for a year before going to college?
▪ weigh ( also weigh up British English ) to carefully think about a plan or choice by comparing all the advantages and disadvantages involved:
You need to weigh up the pros and cons (=the advantages and disadvantages) , and decide which investment is the best one for you.
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The committee are still weighing the alternatives.
▪ give something some/a lot of thought to think carefully about something, before you make a final decision about it:
Why don’t you give it some thought and then get back to me?
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He had obviously given the matter a lot of thought.
▪ mull something over to think about a problem, plan etc before making a decision:
Can you give me a bit of time to mull it over?
▪ ponder to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about something, especially a problem or something complicated:
She is still pondering what to do.
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Officials are pondering ways to remove the oil from the beaches.
▪ contemplate to think about something you might do in the future:
Did you ever contemplate resigning?
▪ reflect formal to think carefully about something, especially something that happened in the past:
It was a good time to reflect upon the changes that had happened in my life.