1 [with object] find out how heavy (someone or something) is, typically using scales:weigh yourself on the day you begin the dietthe vendor weighed the vegetables
have a specified weight:when the twins were born, they weighed ten pounds
balance in the hands to guess or as if to guess the weight of:she picked up the brick and weighed it in her right hand
(weigh something out) measure and take from a larger quantity of a substance a portion of a particular weight:she weighed out two ounces of loose tobacco
[no object] (weigh on) be depressing or burdensome to:his unhappiness would weigh on my mind so much
2assess the nature or importance of, especially with a view to a decision or action:the consequences of the move would need to be very carefully weighed
(weigh something against) compare the importance of one factor with that of (another):they need to weigh benefit against risk
[no object] influence a decision or action; be considered important:the evidence weighed heavily against him
be heavy and cumbersome to someone:my waders and fishing gear weighed me down
be oppressive or burdensome to someone:she was weighed down by the responsibility of looking after her sisters
weigh in
(chiefly of a boxer or jockey) be officially weighed before or after a contest:Mason weighed in at 203 lb
weigh in at
informal be of (a specified weight).
informal cost (a specified amount).
weigh in with
informal make a forceful contribution to a competition or argument by means of:Baker weighed in with a three-pointer
weigh into
informal join in forcefully or enthusiastically:they weighed into the election campaign
attack physically or verbally:he weighed into the companies for their high costs
weigh out
(of a jockey) be weighed before a race.
weigh someone/something up
British carefully assess someone or something:investors weighed up their next move
Derivatives
weighable
adjective
weigher
noun
Origin:
Old Englishwegan, of Germanic origin; related to wagon and wain, and to Dutch wegen 'weigh', German bewegen 'move', from an Indo-European root shared by Latin vehere 'convey'. Early senses included 'transport from one place to another' and 'raise up'
