figure

UK: /ˈfɪgə^r/ US: /ˈfɪgjɚ/ ,(fig′yər; esp. Brit. fig′ər)

Inflections of 'figure' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

figures

v 3rd person singular

figuring

v pres p

figured

v past

figured

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fig•ure /ˈfɪgyɚ/   n., v., -ured, -ur•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. Mathematics a symbol for a number.
2. Mathematics an amount or value expressed in numbers:
   a figure that was more than we could afford.
3. figures, [plural] the use of numbers in calculating;
   arithmetic:
   good at figures.
4. a written symbol other than a letter.
5. the form or shape of something;
   outline:
   a dim figure in the dark room.
6. the human bodily form or frame:
   a graceful figure.
7. a character or personage, esp. one of distinction:
   a well-known figure.
8. the appearance or impression made by a person or sometimes a thing:
   a mother figure for the human race.
9. a diagram, illustration, map, or drawing in a text:
   In the first figure you can see the statistics for the five most populous states.
10. Sport a movement or series of movements in skating or dancing.

v. 

11. to compute or calculate:
    [~ + (up +) object] Let's figure (up) the total and split the bill.
12. Informal Terms to conclude, judge, reason, or think:
    [not: be + ~-ing* ~ + (that) clause] I figured that you wanted me to stay.
13. to be or appear in, esp. in an important, obvious, or prominent way:
    [no object] Your name figures in my report.
14. Informal Terms (of a situation, act, request, etc.) to be logical, expected, or reasonable:
    [not: be + ~-ing* it + ~;

    no object]

    It figures: when I have the time to travel, I don't have the money.
15. Informal Terms figure on, [ ~ + on + obj] to count or rely on;
    take into consideration;
    plan on:
    We had figured on Dad being able to baby-sit.
16. Informal Terms figure out:
    • to understand;
      solve: [~ + object + out]
      I can't figure her out; one minute she's happy, the next, sad.
      [~ + out + object]
      I can't figure out the directions.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fig•ure  (fig′yər; esp. Brit. fig′ər), n., v., -ured, -ur•ing. 
n. 

1. a numerical symbol, esp. an Arabic numeral.
2. an amount or value expressed in numbers.
3. figures, the use of numbers in calculating;
   arithmetic:
   to be poor at figures.
4. a written symbol other than a letter.
5. form or shape, as determined by outlines or exterior surfaces:
   to be round, square, or cubical in figure.
6. the bodily form or frame:
   a slender or graceful figure.
7. an individual bodily form or a person with reference to form or appearance:
   A tall figure stood in the doorway.
8. a character or personage, esp. one of distinction:
   a well-known figure in society.
9. a person's public image or presence:
   a controversial political figure.
10. the appearance or impression made by a person or sometimes a thing:
    to make quite a figure in financial circles; to present a wretched figure of poverty.
11. a representation, pictorial or sculptured, esp. of the human form:
    The frieze was bordered with the figures of men and animals.
12. an emblem, type, or symbol:
    The dove is a figure of peace.
13. [Rhet.] a figure of speech.
14. Biology a textural pattern, as in cloth or wood:
    draperies with an embossed silk figure.
15. a distinct movement or division of a dance.
16. a movement, pattern, or series of movements in skating.
17. [Music.] a short succession of musical notes, as either a melody or a group of chords, that produces a single complete and distinct impression.
18. [Geom.] a combination of geometric elements disposed in a particular form or shape:
    The circle, square, and polygon are plane figures. The sphere, cube, and polyhedron are solid figures.
19. [Logic.] the form of a categorical syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
20. [Optics.] the precise curve required on the surface of an optical element, esp. the mirror or correcting plate of a reflecting telescope.
21. Furniture the natural pattern on a sawed wood surface produced by the intersection of knots, burls, growth rings, etc.
22. a phantasm or illusion.
23. cut a figure. See cut (defs. 42, 44b).

v.t. 

24. to compute or calculate (often fol. by up):
    to figure up a total.
25. to express in figures.
26. to mark or adorn with a design or pattern.
27. to portray by speech or action.
28. to represent or express by a figure of speech.
29. to represent by a pictorial or sculptured figure, a diagram, or the like;
    picture or depict;
    trace (an outline, silhouette, etc.).
30. [Informal.] to conclude, judge, reason, or think about:
    I figured that you wanted me to stay.
31. [Music.]
    • to embellish with passing notes or other decorations.
    • to write figures above or below (a bass part) to indicate accompanying chords.

v.i. 

32. to compute or work with numerical figures.
33. to be or appear, esp. in a conspicuous or prominent way:
    His name figures importantly in my report.
34. [Informal.] (of a situation, act, request, etc.) to be logical, expected, or reasonable:
    He quit the job when he didn't get a raise—it figured.
35. figure in, to add in:
    Figure in rent and utilities as overhead.
36. figure on, [Informal.]
    • to count or rely on.
    • to take into consideration;
      plan on:
      You had better figure on running into heavy traffic leaving the city.
37. figure out, [Informal.]
    • to understand;
      solve:
      We couldn't figure out where all the money had gone.
    • to calculate;
      compute.
38. figure up, [Informal.] to total:
    The bill figures up to exactly $1000.

• Latin figūra shape, trope, equivalent. to fig- (base of fingere to shape) + -ūra -ure
• Old French
• Middle English 1175–1225

fig′ur•a•ble, adj. 
fig′ure•less, adj. 
fig′ur•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. number.
• 2. sum, total; price.
• 5. See form. 
• 8. personality.
• 24. reckon.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

figure / ˈfɪɡə ˈfɪɡjər/ noun

1. any written symbol other than a letter, esp a whole number
2. another name for digit2
3. an amount expressed numerically: a figure of 1800 was suggested
4. (plural) calculations with numbers: the candidate must be good at figures
5. visible shape or form; outline
6. the human form, esp as regards size or shape: a girl with a slender figure
7. a slim bodily shape (esp in the phrases keeporlose one's figure)
8. a character or personage, esp a prominent or notable one; personality: a figure in politics
9. the impression created by a person through behaviour (esp in the phrase to cut a fine, bold, etc, figure)
10. a person as impressed on the mind: the figure of Napoleon
11. (in combination): father-figure
12. a representation in painting or sculpture, esp of the human form
13. an illustration or explanatory diagram in a text
14. a representative object or symbol; emblem
15. a pattern or design, as on fabric or in wood
16. a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating
17. any combination of points, lines, curves, or planes. A plane figure, such as a circle, encloses an area; a solid figure such as a sphere, encloses a volume
18. See figure of speech
19. one of the four possible arrangements of the three terms in the premises of a syllogism
    Compare mood22
20. a numeral written above or below a note in a part
    See figured bass, thorough bass
21. a characteristic short pattern of notes

verb

1. when tr, often followed by up: to calculate or compute (sums, amounts, etc)
2. (tr; usually takes a clause as object) to think or conclude; consider
3. (transitive) to represent by a diagram or illustration
4. (transitive) to pattern or mark with a design
5. (transitive) to depict or portray in a painting, etc
6. (transitive) to express by means of a figure of speech
7. (transitive) to imagine
8. (transitive) to decorate (a melody line or part) with ornamentation
9. to provide figures above or below (a bass part) as an indication of the accompanying harmonies required
   See figured bass, thorough bass
10. (intransitive) usually followed by in: to be included: his name figures in the article
11. (intransitive) to accord with expectation; be logical: it figures that he wouldn't come
12. go figure ⇒ an expression of surprise, astonishment, wonder, etc

Etymology: 13th Century: from Latin figūra a shape, from fingere to mould

ˈfigurer noun