graph

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
: a diagram (such as a series of one or more points, lines, line segments, curves, or areas) that represents the variation of a variable in comparison with that of one or more other variables
2
: the collection of all points whose coordinates satisfy a given relation (such as a function)
3
: a collection of vertices and edges that join pairs of vertices

graph

2 of 4

verb

graphed; graphing; graphs

transitive verb

1
: to represent by a graph
2
: to plot on a graph

graph

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
: a written or printed representation of a basic unit of speech (such as a phoneme or syllable)
especially : grapheme sense 1
2
: a single occurrence of a letter of an alphabet in any of its various shapes

-graph

4 of 4

noun combining form

1
: something written or drawn
monograph
2
[French -graphe, from Late Latin -graphus] : instrument for making or transmitting records or images
chronograph

Examples of graph in a Sentence

Verb Students were asked to graph each equation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
While the gist of the reports was typical of past years, the court's report included 20 pages of charts, graphs and illustrations apparently designed to convey its message of being tough on crime with greater clarity. Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 The graph below shows how the median rent in Missouri, Kansas and Kansas City have compared to the national median rent over the past six months. Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 29 Feb. 2024 Slok’s graph shows that the Top 10 PE multiple is now hovering at around 40, far above the readings in the 23 to 26 range between 1995 as the dot.com frenzy gathered momentum and the craze’s near-apex in 2000. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024 The bar graph, also shared Wednesday on X, Phoenix's rate at 11.6, while New York City's and Manhattan's stood at 5.4 and 5, respectively. Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 21 Feb. 2024 By Leila Sloman Contributing Correspondent February 7, 2024 View PDF/Print Mode graph theorymathematicsphase transitionsprobabilityAll topics Introduction Imagine that a grid of hexagons, honeycomb-like, stretches before you. Quanta Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024 Every year, Spectrum editors unpack the massive AI Index issued by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, distilling the report down into a handful of graphs that speak to the most important trends. IEEE Spectrum, 27 Dec. 2023 The graph below shows all the monthly traffic readings from January 2020 through this February. John S. Tobey, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 The graph of gold’s price that flashed on the screen was upward and basically vertical. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024
Verb
The reading passages will be much shorter, and test-takers will now be able to use an online graphing calculator for the entire math section of the exam. Dana Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Indianapolis crime:Suspect in Target theft had graphing calculators in his car. Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Feb. 2024 Which, for the purpose of a connectome, means each connection must somehow be isolated, recognized, and graphed. IEEE Spectrum, 30 Jan. 2024 For example, one recent paper on high-temperature superconductivity was pulled because the researcher couldn't explain the mathematical transformations that were performed on data before it being graphed—the graph itself only appeared once in the paper. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2024 For the three groupings, the NAR graphs the market shares for purchases of primary residences starting in 2013. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2023 Statistics specializes in applying objective quantitative measures to understand data, but there is no substitute for actually graphing it out and getting a look at its shape and structure with one’s own eyeballs. Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 7 Sep. 2023 Pens, binders, graphing calculator: Check, check, check. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2023 Think a graphing calculator (yep, the kids are still using those TIs), three-ring binders, and textbook covers. Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 8 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'graph.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

short for graphic formula

Noun (2)

probably from -graph

Noun combining form

Latin -graphum, from Greek -graphon, from neuter of -graphos written, from graphein to write — more at carve

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of graph was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near graph

Cite this Entry

“Graph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graph. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

graph

1 of 3 noun
1
: the collection of all the points whose coordinates are a solution to an equation
the graph of y = x2
2
: a diagram that shows (as by dots or lines) the change in one variable in comparison with that of one or more other variables
a graph of population growth

graph

2 of 3 verb
: to represent by or plot on a graph
graph each equation

-graph

3 of 3 noun combining form
ˌgraf
: something written or drawn
homograph
Etymology

Noun combining form

derived from Greek -graphon "something written," from -graphos "written," from graphein "to write" — related to graffito, -gram

Medical Definition

graph

1 of 2 noun
: a diagram (as a series of one or more points, lines, line segments, curves, or areas) that represents the variation of a variable in comparison with that of one or more other variables
graphic adjective

graph

2 of 2 transitive verb
1
: to represent by a graph
2
: to plot on a graph
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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