weighed

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

weigh¹ /weɪ/   v. 

1. to have weight or a certain weight: [~ + object; no passive]
   [not: be + ~ -ing] He weighs sixty pounds.
   [no object]
   How much do you weigh?
2. Physics, Weights and Measures to determine the heaviness of (something), esp. by use of a scale:
   [~ + object] The butcher weighed the meat.
3. to think about carefully;
   evaluate in the mind;
   consider carefully:
   [~ + object] weighed the advantages against the disadvantages.
4. weigh down, [~ + object + down] to lower the spirits of;
   depress:
   These burdens weighed him down.

Idioms

5. Nautical, Idioms weigh anchor, [no object] to raise up a ship's anchor.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

weigh¹  (wā), v.t. 

1. Physics, Weights and Measures to determine or ascertain the force that gravitation exerts upon (a person or thing) by use of a balance, scale, or other mechanical device:
   to weigh oneself;
   to weigh potatoes;
   to weigh gases.
2. to hold up or balance, as in the hand, in order to estimate the weight.
3. Weights and Measures to measure, separate, or apportion (a certain quantity of something) according to weight (usually fol. by out):
   to weigh out five pounds of sugar.
4. to make heavy;
   increase the weight or bulk of;
   weight:
   We weighed the drapes to make them hang properly.
5. to evaluate in the mind;
   consider carefully in order to reach an opinion, decision, or choice:
   to weigh the facts; to weigh a proposal.
6. [Archaic.] to raise, lift, or hoist (something).
7. [Obs.] to think important;
   esteem.

v.i. 

8. to have weight or a specified amount of weight:
   to weigh less; to weigh a ton.
9. to have importance, moment, or consequence:
   Your recommendation weighs heavily in his favor.
10. to bear down as a weight or burden (usually fol. by on or upon):
    Responsibility weighed upon her.
11. to consider carefully or judicially:
    to weigh well before deciding.
12. Nautical (of a ship) to raise the anchor and get under way:
    The ship weighed early and escaped in the fog.
13. Nautical weigh anchor, to heave up a ship's anchor in preparation for getting under way.
14. weigh down:
    • to cause to become bowed under a weight:
      snow and ice weighing down the trees.
    • to lower the spirits of;
      burden;
      depress:
      This predicament weighs me down.
15. Sport weigh in:
    • (of a boxer or wrestler) to be weighed by a medical examiner on the day of a bout.
    • to be of the weight determined by such a weighing:
      He weighed in at 170 pounds.
    • (of a jockey) to be weighed with the saddle and weights after a race.
16. weigh one's words. See word (def. 26).
17. Sport weigh out, [Horse Racing.] (of a jockey)
    • to be weighed with the saddle and weights before a race.
    • to be of the weight determined by such a weighing.

• bef. 900; Middle English weghen, Old English wegan to carry, weigh; cognate with Dutch wegen, German wägen, Old Norse vega; akin to Latin vehere

weigh′a•ble, adj. 
weigh′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 5. ponder, contemplate. See study ¹.

weigh²  (wā), n. 

1. Nautical under weigh, in motion;
   under way.

• spelling, spelled variant of way¹ by association with weigh anchor 1775–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

weigh / weɪ/ verb

1. (transitive) to measure the weight of
2. (intransitive) to have weight or be heavy: she weighs more than her sister
3. (transitive) often followed by out: to apportion according to weight
4. (transitive) to consider carefully: to weigh the facts of a case
5. (intransitive) to be influential: his words weighed little with the jury
6. (intransitive) often followed by on: to be oppressive or burdensome (to)
7. weigh anchor ⇒ to raise a vessel's anchor or (of a vessel) to have its anchor raised preparatory to departure

Etymology: Old English wegan; related to Old Frisian wega, Old Norse vega, Gothic gawigan, German wiegen

ˈweighable adjective

ˈweigher noun

weigh / weɪ/ noun

1. under weigh ⇒
   a variant spelling of under way

Etymology: 18th Century: variation due to the influence of phrases such as to weigh anchor