1
: a representative part or a single item from a larger whole or group especially when presented for inspection or shown as evidence of quality : specimen
2
: a finite part of a statistical population whose properties are studied to gain information about the whole
3
: an excerpt from a recording (such as a popular song by another performer) that is used in a musical composition, recording, or performance
… had to substantially rewrite "Sometimes I Miss You … " when he was denied permission to use a Michael Jackson sample …—
Jon Young
Jon Young
sampled; sampling
ˈsam-p(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to take a sample of or from
especially
: to judge the quality of by a sample : test
sampled his output for defects
sample a wine
2
: to use a segment of (recorded music, sounds, or dialogue from another source) as part of one's own musical composition or recording
A Josh Wink record takes a series of sampled noises, then twists and warps them through a barrage of sound processors …—Frank Broughton
: to use a sample (see sample entry 1 sense 3) from (another recording or performer)
Frank Broughton… claims Carey sampled his hit "I Want to Thank You" on her 1992 song "Make It Happen."—Jancee Dunn
Jancee Dunn
: serving as an illustration or example
sample questions
Synonyms
Examples of sample in a Sentence
Noun
We would like to see a sample of your work.
I tasted a sample of the new cereal.
Free samples were handed out at the store.
The sample included 96 women over the age of 40.
A random sample of people filled out the survey.
We looked at a representative sample of public schools.
Verb
She sampled everything the resort had to offer, from golfing to yoga.
A low percentage of the women sampled said that they smoked during pregnancy.
Five of the 20 schools sampled did not meet the standards.
Adjective
The teacher handed out a sample essay.
Here are some sample questions for the test.
Recent Examples on the WebJessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
The same process was used to capture the scroop associated with a historical dress, and both audio samples will be included in this exhibition.
—Nathan Heller, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
If a flower sample received by a lab exceeds the 0.3% limit, they are required to report it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Griffin said, adding that these instances have increased in the past few years.
—Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Apr. 2024
Nearby, visitors can find great souvenirs at Leland Gal and sample locally grown wine from the Leelanau Peninsula at Verterra Winery.
—Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024
However the mission plays out, samples will be waiting.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024
Pulling off the mission as designed would likely cost up to $11 billion, the review board found, with the samples not reaching Earth until at least 2040.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
The samples merit urgent action, particularly the ones captured around the elementary school, said Koerber.
—Lisa Song, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2024
To perform any of these tests, a sample must be collected.
—Tanya Feke, Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2024
Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
Younger generations of musicians, who came up awash in sampling and remixing, made no discernible outcry for another extension.
—Andrew Dalton, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
In a July survey by the polling organization, the retrospective approval ratings of nearly every recent president sampled were higher than their average approval rating in office.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
Port Ellen is hoping to attract upscale whisky fans to sample a by-appointment-only Atlas of Smoke Experience.
—Angus MacKinnon, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
Natusch himself also has sampled python barbecued, slow-cooked, sauteed and as curry and jerky.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Chickens will inevitably sample a little bit of everything at one point or another, so Kate advises presenting them with plenty of good nibbling choices vs. other toxic tastes.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
Guests will get to sample 5 wines expertly paired with 5 kinds of cheese and hear about wine and cheesemakers from across the state.
—Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
Trixie Smith, Bessie Smith, Little Richard, Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe are among just a handful of artists Professor Bey could sample in her essential musical history lesson.
—Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 8 June 2011
Here’s a sample Mediterranean diet meal plan for a day, which fits a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet and is around the range of those flexible Mediterranean diet macros mentioned above.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Oct. 2022
Noun
The poll survey makeup was 34% Republican, 31% Democratic and 34% independent — a slightly heavier sample of Republican than on average.
—Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
The same process was used to capture the scroop associated with a historical dress, and both audio samples will be included in this exhibition.
—Nathan Heller, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
If a flower sample received by a lab exceeds the 0.3% limit, they are required to report it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Griffin said, adding that these instances have increased in the past few years.
—Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Apr. 2024
Nearby, visitors can find great souvenirs at Leland Gal and sample locally grown wine from the Leelanau Peninsula at Verterra Winery.
—Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024
However the mission plays out, samples will be waiting.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024
Pulling off the mission as designed would likely cost up to $11 billion, the review board found, with the samples not reaching Earth until at least 2040.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
The samples merit urgent action, particularly the ones captured around the elementary school, said Koerber.
—Lisa Song, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2024
To perform any of these tests, a sample must be collected.
—Tanya Feke, Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
If scientists want to sample ancient ice in its pristine form in the solar system, Solomon says, the best source is probably Mercury’s poles.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
Younger generations of musicians, who came up awash in sampling and remixing, made no discernible outcry for another extension.
—Andrew Dalton, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
In a July survey by the polling organization, the retrospective approval ratings of nearly every recent president sampled were higher than their average approval rating in office.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
Port Ellen is hoping to attract upscale whisky fans to sample a by-appointment-only Atlas of Smoke Experience.
—Angus MacKinnon, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
Natusch himself also has sampled python barbecued, slow-cooked, sauteed and as curry and jerky.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Chickens will inevitably sample a little bit of everything at one point or another, so Kate advises presenting them with plenty of good nibbling choices vs. other toxic tastes.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
Guests will get to sample 5 wines expertly paired with 5 kinds of cheese and hear about wine and cheesemakers from across the state.
—Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
Trixie Smith, Bessie Smith, Little Richard, Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe are among just a handful of artists Professor Bey could sample in her essential musical history lesson.
—Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024
Adjective
But, again, this low value only records an increasing inequality of sub-sample size.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 8 June 2011
Here’s a sample Mediterranean diet meal plan for a day, which fits a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet and is around the range of those flexible Mediterranean diet macros mentioned above.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Oct. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sample.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sample
Cite this Entry
“Sample.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sample. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
sample
noun
sam·ple
ˈsam-pəl
1
: a representative part or a single item from a larger whole or group especially when presented for inspection or shown as evidence of quality : specimen
a blood sample
2
: a finite part of a statistical population whose properties are studied to gain information about the whole
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