EN

Synonyms for figure

  • noun
  • verb

Most common

human body shape plan diagram

Synonyms by meaning

Noun

1. Form

form, forme US, shape, build, make, show, physique, turn, appearance, configuration, frame, human body, anatomy, likeness, aspect, semblance, flesh, guise, chassis, conformation, soma, bod slang

2. Pattern

pattern, plan, design, diagram, drawing, type, representation, emblem, fashion, scheme, delineation

3. Name

name, public figure, notoriety, renown

4. Effigy

effigy, statue, figurine

Other

number, digit, illustration, figure-head, character, symbol, trope, act, price, dash, flaunt, numeral

Verb

1. Image

image, picture, see, understand, imagine, realize, realise UK, visualize, visualise UK, envision, project, metaphor, fancy

2. Calculate

calculate, work out, reckon, estimate, compute, count on, cipher, cypher UK, forecast

3. Make sense — to be reasonable or predictable

make sense, add up, track

Other

take, bust, cut a figure, cut a dash, appear, enter, contrive, symbolize, symbolise UK, typify, variegate rare

Antonyms

ground, disfigure

All antonyms of figure →

Definitions

  1. n. 1

    A drawing or diagram conveying information.

  2. n. 2

    The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body.

    a figure in bronze; a figure cut in marble

  3. v. 1

    To be reasonable or predictable.

    It figures that somebody like him would be upset about the situation.

  4. v. 2

    To calculate, to solve a mathematical problem.

Related words

Word family
figurine figurative figuratively
Phrases
figure out figure up figure of speech figure away ballpark figure cut a figure figure poem figure of eight

Forms

Plural
figures → forms, shapes, builds, makes…
Past participle
figured
e.g. figured → imaged, pictured, seen, imagined…

Choose the right word

Figure or Type?

A figure in the sense here considered is something that represents an idea to the mind somewhat as a form is represented to the eye, as in drawing, painting, or sculpture; as representing a future reality, a figure may be practically the same as a type.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • shape Ken'nichi made a pond in the shape of Lake Geneva.
  • plan We must adapt our plan to these new circumstances.
  • diagram Do you have a technical diagram for this portion?

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
figuresteady
shapesteady
plansteady
diagramsteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
see1, act1, bod
4 letters
make1, take1, show1, name1, form1, turn1, plan1, type1, dash1, bust1, soma2
5 letters
price1, build1, track1, image2, enter2, shape1, frame1, fancy2, flesh1, digit2, guise1, trope, forme
6 letters
number2, design2, appear2, scheme1, aspect2, symbol2, statue2, reckon2, emblem2, renown2, cipher2, flaunt1, effigy3, cypher2
7 letters
project2, picture2, imagine3, fashion2, realize3, pattern2, drawing2, realise3, anatomy4, diagram3, chassis2, compute2, numeral3
8 letters
estimate3, forecast2, metaphor3, physique2, likeness2, envision3, figurine3, contrive2
9 letters
character3, calculate3, visualize3, notoriety5, semblance2, symbolize3, visualise, symbolise, variegate3
10 letters
understand3, appearance3
11 letters
delineation5
12 letters
illustration4, conformation
13 letters
configuration5
14 letters
representation5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (soma2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
figure
Italiano
figura
Español
figura