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 Web
Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
So, for example, there’s a move to generate artificial data using artificial intelligence to increase our sample size.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2024
The margin of sampling error for voters in the AP VoteCast survey was estimated to be plus or minus 0.4 percentage points.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 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
See all Example Sentences for sample 
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Noun
In general, the larger the sample size in such studies, the greater the chances are that the outcome will be statistically significant.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
So, for example, there’s a move to generate artificial data using artificial intelligence to increase our sample size.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
For the latter, Mike chopped up his band’s still-rising hit and reorganized the instrumental into a repeating pattern, similar to a DJ sampling part of an old rock song for a new rap track.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2024
The margin of sampling error for voters in the AP VoteCast survey was estimated to be plus or minus 0.4 percentage points.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 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
See all Example Sentences for sample
Dictionary Entries Near sample
Cite this Entry
“Sample.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sample. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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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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