weigh
/weɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈe] /weɪ/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈe] /ˈwā/ (ame, mw)
weigh — verb
- weighpresent simple I / you / we / they
- weighshe / she / it
- weighedpast simple
- weighing-ing form
1. to use a scale to find the heaviness of a person or object; or to show a specifi
to use a scale to find the heaviness of a person or object; or to show a specific measurement of weight when placed on a scale.
The nurse weighed baby Amira at her check-up and wrote down the number.
transitive: weigh + object (person)
Wei weighed the bag of rice on the kitchen scale before cooking dinner.
This cardboard box weighs less than two kilograms, so postage is cheap.
Hugo weighed himself after a month of daily exercise and felt proud.
Each piece of luggage at the airport was weighed before being loaded onto the plane.
- measure
more general; 'weigh' is specific to weight, while 'measure' can apply to length, volume, etc.
- tip the scales at
informal expression used for a person's weight, e.g. 'tips the scales at 80 kg'
文法句型
weigh + object
weigh + number + unit
用法筆記
When used intransitively (sense of 'to have a certain weight'), the subject is a physical object and the verb is followed by a number and unit of measurement. The transitive use ('weigh the parcel') is an action a person performs.
常見錯誤
2. to be important or have a noticeable effect on a decision, situation, or someone
to be important or have a noticeable effect on a decision, situation, or someone's opinion.
The teacher's recommendation weighed heavily when the committee chose the winner.
weigh + adverb (heavily) indicating strength of influence
Vinícius knew that his honesty during the interview would weigh in his favour.
weigh in favour/against — directional influence
The cost of city life weighed against their plan to move there with two children.
A candidate's past experience often weighs more than their test scores in hiring decisions.
- matter
less formal; 'matter' means to be important without specifying the kind of effect
- count
informal; 'count' emphasises that something is considered relevant
- carry weight
idiomatic expression meaning to be influential, e.g. 'His opinion carries weight'
文法句型
weigh + adverb (heavily/greatly)
weigh in favour/against
weigh on + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used with adverbs like 'heavily', 'greatly', 'strongly' to indicate the degree of influence. The preposition 'against' or phrase 'in favour of' often follows to specify which outcome is affected.
常見錯誤
3. to examine two or more alternatives, facts, or possibilities by setting them aga
to examine two or more alternatives, facts, or possibilities by setting them against each other so that you can choose the best one.
Imran weighed the risk of quitting his job against starting his own company.
weigh + noun against + noun — comparing two alternatives
The judge carefully weighed all the evidence before announcing the final verdict.
Élise weighed her options for weeks before accepting the scholarship abroad.
Noa asked her parents for advice and weighed their opinions alongside her own feelings.
Before buying a house, Brian weighed the neighbourhood's safety against its distance from work.
- ignore
to deliberately not consider something
文法句型
weigh + noun (options/factors/evidence)
weigh + noun against + noun
用法筆記
Often used with 'against' to explicitly contrast two options ('weigh A against B'). The object is typically an abstract noun such as 'options', 'risks', 'consequences', 'evidence', or 'pros and cons'.
常見錯誤
4. to lift a ship's anchor from the bottom of the sea or river so that the vessel c
to lift a ship's anchor from the bottom of the sea or river so that the vessel can begin sailing.
The captain ordered the crew to weigh anchor at sunrise and sail to open water.
fixed phrase: weigh anchor
After three days in port, the fishing boat weighed anchor and sailed north.
The harbour master signalled that all ships should weigh anchor before the storm arrived.
After fixing the engine, the crew weighed anchor and continued their journey across the Pacific.
- raise anchor
alternative expression with the same meaning; more transparent for learners
- drop anchor
to lower the anchor so the ship stays in place
文法句型
weigh + anchor
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed expression 'weigh anchor'. 'Anchor' is always singular. This is the only sense of 'weigh' in the nautical domain; learners should not generalise 'weigh' to other nautical actions.