figure
figure — verb
- figurepresent simple I / you / we / they
- figures3rd person singular
- figuring-ing form
- figuredpast simple
1. to believe something is likely to happen or be true, based on the information yo
to believe something is likely to happen or be true, based on the information you have
Olivia figured the train would arrive before noon, so she did not rush.
figure + that-clause for predicting
We figure it will take about three hours to drive to the coast from here.
Diya figured her boss would offer her the position after the interview.
I figure Liam has already left for work, since his car is gone.
- doubt
expresses the opposite belief — that something is unlikely
文法句型
figure + that-clause
用法筆記
Common in everyday American speech rather than formal writing. The that-clause is often implied rather than stated: 'I figure so.'
常見錯誤
2. to have a particular opinion about someone or something; to believe they are a c
to have a particular opinion about someone or something; to believe they are a certain kind of person or thing — for example, figuring a colleague as the best candidate for promotion or figuring a rule as unnecessary
Élise figured Nikos as the right person to lead the project.
figure + noun + as + [role]
Camila always figured her grandmother as the strongest person she knew.
The group figured the new dress code as too strict for a casual office.
Omar figured himself as someone who could fix almost anything around the house.
文法句型
figure + object + as + noun/adjective
用法筆記
Commonly uses 'as' to introduce the complement. Without 'as', the structure changes meaning — compare 'I figured him a liar' (sense 2, REGARD AS) with 'I figured he was lying' (sense 1, EXPECT).
常見錯誤
3. to be an important part of something or to appear in a particular context, such
to be an important part of something or to appear in a particular context, such as an event, report, or discussion
The economy figured heavily in voters' decisions during the election.
figure + adverb + in [context]
Ayana's research figured prominently in the final report on climate change.
Putri's name did not figure in the list of award winners this year.
Love and friendship figure large in Gabriela's novels and short stories.
- appear
neutral and more common; does not carry the same sense of importance
- feature
strongly similar; 'feature' suggests a planned or notable role
- play a part
more explanatory; used when introducing the idea for the first time
- be absent
the opposite of being included or appearing
文法句型
figure + adverb + in + noun
用法筆記
Often paired with an adverb ('largely', 'prominently', 'heavily') before the preposition 'in'. The phrase 'figure large' is a fixed collocation meaning 'be very important'.
常見錯誤
4. to find a total or answer by doing arithmetic
to find a total or answer by doing arithmetic
Haruto figured the total cost of the trip before booking anything.
figure + [total/cost/amount]
The accountant quickly figured the tax using a simple table.
Can you figure how much paint we need for the living room?
Eli figured the distance from his house to school in under a minute.
- estimate
to give an approximate answer rather than an exact calculation
文法句型
figure + amount / total / cost
用法筆記
In modern American English, the phrasal verb 'figure out' (discover the answer) is far more common than bare 'figure' for this sense. Bare 'figure' sounds slightly dated or very informal.
常見錯誤
figure — noun
- figuresingular
- figuresplural
1. a written sign like 0, 1, 2, or 9 that is used to show a number, or a number tha
a written sign like 0, 1, 2, or 9 that is used to show a number, or a number that tells you the value, price, or amount of something.
The total figure on the receipt was over five thousand dollars.
figure + of + amount for total value
Min wrote the figure 7 on the board, then added a small zero beside it.
figure as numeral / written symbol
Karim checked the sales figures for the month and noticed a big jump.
Andrew added up the figures in his notebook and found a small mistake.
文法句型
figure + of + amount
a figure of [amount]
用法筆記
Often used in the plural (figures) when referring to official financial or statistical data.
常見錯誤
2. the number of digits that make up a number, used especially in expressions that
the number of digits that make up a number, used especially in expressions that show how large or small an amount is, such as 'double figures' (10-99) or 'six figures' (100,000-999,999).
Her monthly salary finally reached five figures after the promotion.
five figures = 10,000 to 99,999
The company's profits have been in double figures for three years in a row.
in double figures = between 10 and 99 percent
Otis could not believe the damage was in five figures for such a small fire.
The charity hoped to raise a six-figure sum for the new hospital wing.
文法句型
[quantity word] + figures
in + [adjective] + figures
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in fixed phrases with a preceding adjective (single, double, triple, low, high) or number word (five, six, seven). Not used alone — you cannot say 'It was figures' to mean 'it was a big number.'
常見錯誤
3. a human form that is visible but not clearly seen, usually because the person is
a human form that is visible but not clearly seen, usually because the person is far away, in shadow, or in poor light.
Sana spotted a tall figure standing under the streetlamp in the fog.
figure as indistinct person shape
A dark figure moved quickly across the empty parking lot.
dark figure = person in shadow/low light
From the hilltop, Christopher could see the tiny figures of hikers on the trail below.
Sora thought he saw a human figure standing behind the curtain in the dark room.
- shape
more general; does not specifically refer to a person
- outline
emphasises the edge or border of the form, not the person inside
- silhouette
more literary; a dark shape against a lighter background
文法句型
a figure + in/at/on [location]
4. a person, especially one who is well known or important in a particular area of
a person, especially one who is well known or important in a particular area of activity, such as politics, business, or the arts.
Élise interviewed several political figures for her article on the election.
figure in politics = important person
Henry was a key figure in the local community for over thirty years.
key figure = influential person
The event attracted public figures from the worlds of music and film.
Olivia grew up surrounded by famous figures because her father worked in television.
- personality
focuses on fame and public recognition
- personage
more formal; suggests high status or historical importance
- character
less formal; can also mean an unusual or eccentric person
文法句型
[adjective] + figure
a figure in [field/area]
常見錯誤
5. a visual depiction in a painting, drawing, photograph, or sculpture that shows a
a visual depiction in a painting, drawing, photograph, or sculpture that shows a human being or a creature.
A small wooden horse figure, carved long ago, stood in a museum display.
figure of [animal] = carved representation
In the corner of the painting, a tiny figure sits reading under a tree.
figure as person in painting
Asher bought a clay figure of a dancing woman at the craft market.
The children's book was full of colourful figures of animals wearing tiny clothes.
文法句型
a figure + of [person/animal]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3: this sense refers to an artistic image or model, not a real person seen from a distance.
6. the shape of a person's body, especially a woman's body considered in terms of h
the shape of a person's body, especially a woman's body considered in terms of how slim, attractive, or fit it is.
Zola has been going to the gym to keep her figure in shape.
keep figure = maintain body shape
The dress was designed to show off the wearer's figure.
show off figure = display body shape
Madison was happy with her figure after months of regular exercise.
Joon's yoga teacher told the class that good posture helps your figure.
文法句型
[possessive] + figure
keep/lose [possessive] + figure
用法筆記
Commonly used with possessive adjectives (her figure, my figure) and in fixed phrases about fitness or appearance. Can occasionally refer to a man's physique, but much more frequent for women.
常見錯誤
7. a picture, drawing, or diagram in a book, report, or other document, usually giv
a picture, drawing, or diagram in a book, report, or other document, usually given a number so that readers can find it quickly
See Figure 3 on page 12 for a diagram of the heart.
numbered reference: Figure + number in instructions
The annual report includes several figures showing last year's sales growth.
Each chapter has numbered figures that help explain difficult scientific ideas.
The biology textbook has a helpful figure showing how the human heart pumps blood.
- diagram
focuses on a technical drawing rather than any picture
- illustration
more general; can include photographs or artwork
- plate
usually a full-page image printed separately, often in colour
用法筆記
Usually capitalised when followed by a number (Figure 3, Figure A). Often abbreviated as Fig. in academic writing.
8. skill in working with numbers, especially the ability to add, subtract, multiply
skill in working with numbers, especially the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide correctly
Jiwoo is very good at figures and can calculate the total in seconds.
collocation: good at figures
The accounting job requires a solid grasp of figures to manage the monthly budget.
Otis struggled with figures at school until he started using maths games online.
The cashier's error showed that his figures were not always reliable.
- arithmetic
more formal; also refers to the school subject itself
- maths (UK) / math (US)
broader; includes algebra, geometry, etc.
- numeracy
formal term for the ability to understand and work with numbers
用法筆記
Frequently used in the plural without 'the' (good at figures, weak in figures). Less common in modern everyday speech than maths or arithmetic.
常見錯誤
9. any shape that can be described in geometry, such as a circle, triangle, or squa
any shape that can be described in geometry, such as a circle, triangle, or square, whose outline follows a set of straight or curved lines
The children learned to draw basic figures like circles and squares in art class.
A triangle is a three-sided figure whose angles add up to 180 degrees.
collocation: three-sided figure
The students identified different geometric figures such as hexagons and parallelograms.
The architect drew several figures on the blueprint before choosing the final design.
10. a set series of movements or steps forming a pattern, especially in ice skating,
a set series of movements or steps forming a pattern, especially in ice skating, dancing, or a similar performance
The skater performed a difficult figure on the ice during the competition.
collocation: performed a figure
The dance instructor showed the class a new figure that involved three quick turns.
Élise and Joaquín practised the same figure until their movements matched perfectly.
The coach asked the team to practise the opening figure until everyone had it right.
用法筆記
Strongly associated with figure skating (the sport), which takes its name from this sense. Often used with verbs like perform, practise, or learn.