Gauge: meaning, definitions and examples

Alternative spelling of 'gauge' but used less frequently; some people might see this as a typo.

A specific device that measures and records the quantity of a substance, such as water, gas, or electricity.

• The water meter shows how much water you have used.
• The gas meter needs to be checked monthly.

Refers to something that shows the state or level of something, often used in economics, science, or technology.

• The unemployment rate is a key economic indicator.
• The indicator light tells you when the device is charging.

Refers to the act of assessing the size, amount, or degree of something. It can also describe a step taken to achieve a particular purpose.

• We need to measure the room before buying furniture.
• The new taxes are a necessary measure to balance the budget.

Used to refer to estimating or determining the magnitude, amount, or volume of something; often used in informal contexts.

• You can gauge his interest by looking at his body language.
• It's hard to gauge how well the project will do at this early stage.

Commonly used in more formal contexts to describe the act of making a judgment about a situation, person, or piece of work after careful consideration and analysis.

• The teacher needs to assess the students' performance through various tests.
• We must assess the potential risks before making a decision.

Often used in academic or professional settings to methodically determine the value, significance, or quality of something after a detailed examination.

• The company needs to evaluate its current staff to improve productivity.
• We need to evaluate the effectiveness of the new marketing strategy.

Usually denotes the act of determining the size, amount, or degree of something using standard units or instruments; often used in both everyday and technical contexts.

• We need to measure the length of the room to buy the right amount of carpet.
• Scientists measure temperature with a thermometer.