sample 1 of 2

noun

ˈsam-pəl How to pronounce sample (audio)
Definition of samplenext
1
as in sampling
a number of things selected from a group to stand for the whole based on a sample of the menu items, we decided that this was the best restaurant in town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in example
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like this vase is a sample of the high-quality glassware that the glassblowers can produce

Synonyms & Similar Words

sample

2 of 2

verb

as in to test
to put (something) to a test sampled the soup to see if it tasted good

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sample distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of sample are case, example, illustration, instance, and specimen. While all these words mean "something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category," sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities.

show us a sample of your work

When is case a more appropriate choice than sample?

While in some cases nearly identical to sample, case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with.

a case of mistaken identity

When can example be used instead of sample?

The meanings of example and sample largely overlap; however, example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case.

a typical example of bureaucratic waste

When could illustration be used to replace sample?

Although the words illustration and sample have much in common, illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement.

a telling illustration of Murphy's Law

When might instance be a better fit than sample?

In some situations, the words instance and sample are roughly equivalent. However, instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain.

an instance of history repeating itself

In what contexts can specimen take the place of sample?

The synonyms specimen and sample are sometimes interchangeable, but specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available.

one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sample
Noun
Also, there will be free samples, raffle giveaways, and more. —Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025 That sample—just a tiny fraction of the total exposure—also included Amazon, Apple, Nintendo, Snapchat, Spotify, Twitter, WordPress, and Yahoo logins, among many others. —Matt Burgess, Wired News, 22 May 2025
Verb
By turning rough sketches into photorealistic images with accurate materials and trims, teams can visualize products earlier in the process and reduce sampling time and cost by up to 60%. —Angela Chan-Danisi, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 In other words, music fans certainly won’t be lacking for acts to see — as well as food to eat, beverages to be sampled and good times to be had — during the 2025 BottleRock Napa Valley festival, which runs May 23-25 at the Napa Valley Expo in downtown Napa. —Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sample
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sample
  1. sampling
  2. example
  3. test
  4. specimen
Noun
  • Experience the elegance of a traditional Victorian afternoon tea with samplings, etiquette lessons, and a house tour.
    — Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2025
  • In total, Taylor watched 44 videos in chambers that were recorded by police drones in March 2021 — a sampling of the hundreds of tapes that fell within the date range initially requested by Castañares.
    — Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
Definition of sampling
Noun
  • For example, yields on two-year German Bunds jumped by twenty basis points before subsiding.
    — George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
  • At night, for example, when the house is silent and your work is done.
    — Ann Goldstein, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
Definition of example
Verb
  • China has conducted numerous exercises to test what a blockade of the island would look like.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
  • The honor system was tested on recorded outs, and Koechner was calling everything a ball and allowing runners who were out to stay on base and run around the path.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2025
Definition of test
Noun
  • The animal has only been seen once in 30 years, and all descriptions of it stem from a handful of museum specimens.
    — Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 25 May 2025
  • The significance of such specimens underscores why scientific access should be prioritized over private fossil collection, Chapman added.
    — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
Definition of specimen

Browse Nearby Words

sampans
sample
sampled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sample.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sample. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on sample

Nglish: Translation of sample for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'

And So It Begins: 9 Words for Beginnings
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All