chart
chart — noun
1. a visual tool that uses bars, lines, or sections to present numbers or facts so
a visual tool that uses bars, lines, or sections to present numbers or facts so people can compare or understand them quickly
The bar chart on page three compares the population of five Asian cities.
bar chart / pie chart / line chart — types of chart
Can you read this chart and tell me which product sold the most?
read + chart / according to the chart
Ravi drew a simple chart to show how his plant grew taller each week.
draw + chart to show data
According to this chart, the number of students taking music lessons has doubled since 2020.
according to the chart — citing data
- bar chart
- pie chart
- line chart
- flow chart
- draw a chart
- read a chart
- according to the chart
Usage Note
Commonly used with specific chart types (bar chart, pie chart, line chart, flow chart) that name the visual format.
Common Mistakes
2. a weekly ranking of songs or albums based on how many copies were sold, download
a weekly ranking of songs or albums based on how many copies were sold, downloaded, or streamed
Tariq was thrilled when his sister's band entered the top ten on the music chart.
enter / reach the chart
That album stayed at number one on the charts for eight weeks in a row.
stay on / top the charts
Yara checked the music chart every Friday to see her favourite artist's rank.
check the chart for updates
Streaming numbers now decide where a song lands on the chart.
chart position determined by streaming
- music chart
- top the charts
- enter the charts
- number one on the charts
- chart position
Usage Note
Almost always used in the plural form 'the charts' when referring to the overall ranking system. 'Chart' alone can refer to one specific list (e.g. the UK singles chart).
Common Mistakes
3. a detailed drawing of a sea, ocean, or large lake that shows depth, islands, coa
a detailed drawing of a sea, ocean, or large lake that shows depth, islands, coastlines, and safe routes for boats or ships
Before leaving port, the captain marked the safe route on the chart.
navigation chart for ships
The old chart showed a small island that no longer appears on modern maps.
chart showing water features
The fishing crew checked the chart every hour to avoid running aground near the reef.
check a chart to avoid hazards
Modern navigation systems have largely replaced paper charts on most commercial vessels.
paper charts vs electronic navigation
- navigation chart
- sea chart
- nautical chart
- mark on a chart
- study a chart
- nautical map
More formal term for a sea chart used by professional navigators
- hydrographic map
Technical term for maps showing water bodies and depths
Usage Note
Distinguish from noun sense 1 (INFO GRAPH): this sense refers specifically to navigational maps for water travel, not to diagrams of data.
Common Mistakes
off the charts
idiomat an extremely high level; far beyond what is normal or expected
The demand for the new smartphone was off the charts — the company sold a million units in one day.
chart — verb
1. to put measurements or numbers onto a graph or diagram so that patterns and chan
to put measurements or numbers onto a graph or diagram so that patterns and changes can be seen
The research team charted the temperature changes every day for six months.
chart + data (temperature, growth, etc.)
Using the new software, Priya charted the company's sales figures for the past year.
chart + figures / data on software
Students charted the results of their experiment and noticed a surprising pattern.
chart experiment results
The analyst charted the stock price every day to look for buying opportunities.
chart financial data
- chart data
- chart changes
- chart growth
- chart figures
Grammar Patterns
chart + object (data, figures, changes)
Usage Note
Distinguish from verb sense 2 (MONITOR RECORD): PLOT DATA focuses on placing information onto a visual chart or graph, while MONITOR RECORD is about watching and noting progress over time without necessarily creating a visual display.
Common Mistakes
2. to watch the development of something carefully over a period of time and keep a
to watch the development of something carefully over a period of time and keep a detailed record of changes
Doctors charted the patient's blood pressure throughout the night.
medical — chart vital signs
The organisation charted the river's pollution levels over the course of a decade.
chart + changes over time
The historian charted the city's population growth from 1900 to the present day.
chart growth over time
Kofi charted his daily water intake for a month as part of a health challenge.
chart personal data
- chart progress
- chart development
- chart changes
- chart recovery
Grammar Patterns
chart + object (progress, development, changes)
Usage Note
Unlike verb sense 1 (PLOT DATA), this sense does not require that the information be put onto a visual graph; it emphasises careful tracking and documentation.
Common Mistakes
3. to decide on and outline the specific steps or direction needed to reach a goal
to decide on and outline the specific steps or direction needed to reach a goal or complete a task
The committee charted a new strategy to attract more volunteers.
chart a course / strategy / path
Hana charted her career path carefully before applying for the management role.
chart a path / plan
The government charted a new direction for education policy after public consultation.
chart a direction / course
Diego charted his study schedule months before the final exams.
chart a schedule / plan
- chart a course
- chart a path
- chart a strategy
- chart a direction
Grammar Patterns
chart + a/an + course / path / strategy
Usage Note
Typically used with nouns like 'course', 'path', 'strategy', or 'direction'. The metaphor comes from nautical charting (noun sense 2). This sense is more formal than 'plan'.
Common Mistakes
4. to reach a position in the weekly ranking of best-selling or most-streamed songs
to reach a position in the weekly ranking of best-selling or most-streamed songs and albums
The independent artist's first single charted in the top forty on release day.
chart at / in [position]
Despite having no label support, the song charted in several countries across Europe.
intransitive — song / album charts
The debut EP charted at number twelve in Japan within hours of its digital release.
chart at [position] in [country]
The remix charted in the top fifty of three countries, surprising everyone.
intransitive — surprise chart success
- chart at number...
- chart in the top...
- new single charts
- album charts
- enter the charts
More explicit way to say the same thing
- make the charts
Slightly informal
Grammar Patterns
chart at + position
chart in + country/list
Usage Note
Intransitive only — the song or album is the subject, never the object. Unlike noun sense 3 (MUSIC RANK) which refers to the list itself, this verb describes the act of appearing on that list.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- chartedadjectiveB2
- unchartedadjectiveC1
- chartingnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words organise information visually, but each has a different focus. A chart uses bars, lines, or pie sections to present numerical data at a glance — for example, a bar chart showing monthly sales. A graph specifically plots one variable against another using lines or curves, like a line graph of temperature over time. A diagram explains how something works or is structured, such as a diagram of an engine's parts. A table arranges raw numbers in rows and columns without any visual shapes. A map shows geographic locations and routes. In everyday use, chart and graph overlap somewhat, but chart is more general: all graphs are charts, but not all charts are graphs.
Common collocations
Etymology
Chart comes from the Latin word charta, meaning a sheet of paper or papyrus. It passed through Old French chartre and became chartre in Middle English, where it referred to a map or a written document. The sense of a diagram showing data emerged in the mid-1800s, when statisticians began using visual formats to present numbers. The music-ranking meaning appeared in the mid-20th century alongside the rise of pop music charts.