weigh

weigh — verb

1. to use a scale to find the heaviness of a person or object; or to show a specifi

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

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.

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • weigh yourself
  • weigh luggage
  • weigh exactly
  • weigh approximately
Synonyms
  • 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'

Grammar Patterns

weigh + object

weigh + number + unit

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

I weight myself every morning.
I weigh myself every morning.
'weigh' is the verb; 'weight' is a noun meaning how heavy something is.

2. to be important or have a noticeable effect on a decision, situation, or someone

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to be important or have a noticeable effect on a decision, situation, or someone's opinion.

Example

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

Common collocations
  • weigh heavily
  • weigh against
  • weigh in favour of
Synonyms
  • 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'

Grammar Patterns

weigh + adverb (heavily/greatly)

weigh in favour/against

weigh on + noun phrase

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

His opinion weights a lot in the team.
His opinion weighs a lot in the team.
'weigh' (verb) is the correct form for influence; 'weight' is a noun.

3. to examine two or more alternatives, facts, or possibilities by setting them aga

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to examine two or more alternatives, facts, or possibilities by setting them against each other so that you can choose the best one.

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • weigh options
  • weigh evidence
  • weigh pros and cons
  • weigh against
Synonyms
  • consider

    broader term; 'weigh' adds the nuance of comparing opposing factors

  • evaluate

    more formal; focuses on assessing value or quality

  • balance

    emphasises comparing two sides to reach a fair outcome

Antonyms
  • ignore

    to deliberately not consider something

Grammar Patterns

weigh + noun (options/factors/evidence)

weigh + noun against + noun

Usage Note

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'.

Common Mistakes

I need to weight the pros and cons.
I need to weigh the pros and cons.
'weigh' is the verb for considering; 'weight' is a noun, not a verb in this context.

4. to lift a ship's anchor from the bottom of the sea or river so that the vessel c

4.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to lift a ship's anchor from the bottom of the sea or river so that the vessel can begin sailing.

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • weigh anchor
Synonyms
  • raise anchor

    alternative expression with the same meaning; more transparent for learners

Antonyms
  • drop anchor

    to lower the anchor so the ship stays in place

Grammar Patterns

weigh + anchor

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

The ship weighted anchor at dawn.
The ship weighed anchor at dawn.
'weighed' (not 'weighted') is the correct past tense of 'weigh' even in this nautical sense.
Phrasal verbs

weigh on

phrasal verb

to make someone feel worried, sad, or burdened, usually over a period of time.

The guilt of lying to her friend weighed on Salma for months before she finally confessed.

Christopher felt that his parents' high expectations were weighing on him during exam season.

weigh down

phrasal verb

to make something or someone heavier so that movement becomes difficult; or to burden someone emotionally.

Putri's backpack was weighed down with heavy textbooks, so she walked slowly to the library.

Ava felt weighed down by the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings alone.

weigh in

phrasal verb

To join a discussion or argument by giving your opinion or advice.

The expert weighed in with some useful suggestions.

Should I weigh in on the debate about school uniforms?

weigh out

phrasal verb

To measure a specific amount of something by weight.

The baker weighed out exactly 500 grams of flour.

Could you weigh out some sugar for the recipe?

weigh up

phrasal verb

To consider the good and bad points of something before making a decision.

Sara weighed up the pros and cons of moving to a new city.

We need to weigh up the costs before buying a car.

Idioms

weigh your words

idiom

To think carefully before speaking so that you say exactly what you want to say.

Mina weighed her words before answering the difficult question.

In a job interview, you should weigh your words carefully.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/3

Weigh, consider, evaluate, and balance all involve thinking before deciding, but they highlight different aspects. Weigh suggests comparing opposing factors deliberately — like putting evidence on scales — and is often used with 'against' ('weigh the risks against the benefits'). Consider is the broadest term; it simply means to think about something without necessarily comparing. Evaluate focuses on judging the quality, value, or worth of something ('evaluate a job offer'). Balance is closer to weigh but emphasises keeping opposing sides equal ('balance work and family'). Use weigh when you picture two sides being set against each other and measured. For example: 'She weighed the cost against the convenience before choosing the faster train.'

consider ↗evaluate ↗balance ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • weigh anchor
  • weigh the evidence
  • weigh pros and cons

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanGermanicOld EnglishEnglish

Weigh comes from Old English 'wegan' meaning 'to carry, move, or measure weight'. This word traces back to a common Germanic root 'weganą' ('to move, carry, weigh'), which itself comes from the Proto-Indo-European root '*weǵʰ-' meaning 'to move, transport'. The sense of 'consider carefully' developed from the metaphor of mentally 'balancing' ideas as if on a scale. The nautical phrase 'weigh anchor' preserves the older meaning of 'to lift' or 'to raise', which was the original sense of the Old English word.