measured

measured — adjective

1. done or said with deliberate control and careful thought, without unnecessary sp

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

done or said with deliberate control and careful thought, without unnecessary speed or strong emotion — used especially of speech, behavior, or actions in tense situations.

Example

The minister gave a measured response to the journalist's aggressive questions.

collocation: measured response

Pim walked at a measured pace through the museum, studying each painting for several minutes.

collocation: measured pace

Common collocations
  • measured response
  • measured tone
  • measured approach
  • measured pace
  • measured words
  • measured step
Synonyms
  • deliberate

    emphasises intentional slowness and purpose; less emotional than 'measured'

  • calculated

    suggests cold, strategic planning, often with a negative tone

  • restrained

    focuses on holding back emotion, less on the thoughtfulness

  • cautious

    emphasises avoiding risk, not necessarily control or dignity

Antonyms
  • rash

    acting without careful thought

  • hasty

    done in a hurry without enough consideration

Grammar Patterns

measured + noun (attributive)

be/seem/remain + measured (predicative)

Usage Note

Frequently describes speech, behaviour, or actions in situations where strong emotions might be expected but the person deliberately shows self-control. Common noun partners include 'response', 'tone', 'approach', 'pace', 'step', and 'words'.

Common Mistakes

The price was measured at $50.' (when meaning 'moderate/reasonable').
The doctor took a measured approach to the treatment plan.
'measured' describes careful, controlled behaviour, not price or amount.
She spoke in a measured voice, very quietly.' (adding 'quietly' is redundant or may confuse).
She spoke in a measured voice, choosing each word with obvious care.
'measured' already implies a controlled, unhurried quality beyond just volume.

2. having a regular, repeating pattern of beats or stressed syllables — used of poe

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

having a regular, repeating pattern of beats or stressed syllables — used of poetry, music, or speech that follows a clear rhythmic structure.

Example

The poet read the lines in a measured rhythm, pausing at each full stop.

collocation: measured rhythm

Eli's speech had a measured, musical quality that made the audience listen more carefully.

Common collocations
  • measured rhythm
  • measured beat
  • measured metre
  • measured cadence
  • measured step
Synonyms
  • rhythmic

    more general; describes any repeated pattern, natural or deliberate

  • metrical

    strictly refers to poetic metre; more technical and less common in everyday use

  • steady

    emphasises evenness and regularity; less tied to art or formal structure

Antonyms
  • irregular

    lacking a consistent pattern of beats or stresses

  • erratic

    unpredictable in rhythm, with no fixed pattern

Grammar Patterns

measured + rhythm/beat/metre/cadence

Usage Note

Mainly found in literary criticism and discussion of music or oral performance. Typical nouns it modifies: 'rhythm', 'beat', 'metre', 'cadence', 'step'. Not used for natural, informal speech patterns — only for deliberately structured or composed rhythms.

Common Mistakes

She walked with a measured step to the shop.' (when 'measured' is meant as 'rhythmic' but the context is casual walking).
The soldiers marched with a measured step in the parade.
'measured step' works for deliberate, formal marching, not everyday walking.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Deliberate, calculated, restrained, and cautious all overlap with measured in sense 1, but each emphasises a different shade. Deliberate focuses on intentional slowness and purpose — you deliberately think before you act. Calculated suggests cold, strategic self-interest and can sound negative or manipulative. Restrained implies holding back a strong impulse, especially an emotional one, whereas cautious emphasises avoiding risk rather than controlling delivery. Measured combines all these elements: it is deliberate, controlled, and unhurried, but with an added sense of dignity and calm self-possession. For example, 'Her measured response to the criticism impressed even her opponents' suggests thoughtful control with grace — if you said 'Her calculated response', it would imply cold strategy.

deliberate ↗calculatedrestrainedcautious ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • carefully measured
  • deliberately measured
  • calmly measured

Phrases

  • in measured tones
  • at a measured pace
  • with measured steps

Prepositions

  • in a measured [way/manner/tone]
  • with measured [steps/words/care]

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Measured is the past participle of the verb 'measure', which entered English from Old French 'mesurer', itself derived from Latin 'mensura' meaning 'a measuring' or 'a measure'. The adjective form developed in the 14th century, first describing things that had been physically measured or limited. By the 16th century it acquired its figurative sense of 'deliberate and restrained' — as if one had carefully weighed one's words or actions before proceeding.