1
: an instrument having at least one right angle and two straight edges used especially to lay out or test right angles
2
: a rectangle with all four sides equal
3
: any of the quadrilateral spaces marked out on a board for playing games
4
: the product of a number multiplied by itself
5
a
: an open place or area formed at the meeting of two or more streets
b
6
: a solid object or piece approximating a cube or having a square as its largest face
7
: an unopened cotton flower with its enclosing bracts
8
: a person who is conventional or conservative in taste or way of life
9
: a square meal
ate three squares a day
squarer; squarest
1
a
: having four equal sides and four right angles
b
: forming a right angle
square corner
c
: having a square base
a square pyramid
2
: raised to the second power
3
a
: being approximately a cube
square cabinet
b
: having a shape that is broad for the height and rectangular rather than curving in outline
square shoulders
a square, thick, hard-working man—
Maria Edgeworth
Maria Edgeworth
c
: rectangular and equilateral in section
square tower
4
a
: being or converted to a unit of area equal in measure to a square each side of which measures one unit of a specified unit of length
a square foot
see Metric System Table, Weights and Measures Table
b
: being of a specified length in each of two equal dimensions
10 feet square
5
a
: exactly adjusted : precisely constructed or aligned
c
: leaving no balance : settled
e
: substantial, satisfying
square meal
f
: being unsophisticated, conservative, or conventional
6
: set at right angles with the mast and keel
—used of the yards of a square-rigged ship
squareness
noun
squared; squaring
1
a
: to make square or rectangular
square a building stone
b
: to test for deviation from a right angle, straight line, or plane surface
2
: to bring approximately to a right angle
squared his shoulders
3
a
: to multiply (a number) by itself : raise to the second power
b
: to find a square equal in area to
square a circle
4
: to regulate or adjust by or to some standard or principle
square our actions by the opinions of others—John Milton
John Milton6
: to mark off into squares
1
: to agree precisely : correspond
your actions should square with your words
2
: to settle matters
especially
: to pay the bill
squarer
noun
1
: in a straightforward or honest manner
2
a
: so as to face or be face-to-face
b
: at right angles
3
: with nothing intervening : directly
ran square into it
4
: in a firm manner
looked her square in the eye
5
: in a square shape
Synonyms
Examples of square in a Sentence
Noun
The fabric is decorated with circles and squares.
Cut the brownies into squares.
The board has red and black squares.
Adjective
The room has four square corners.
received a square hearing from the disciplinary panel
Verb
The machine squares the wood into flat boards.
If you square 3, you get 9.
Recent Examples on the Web
Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
Because no fill exists at the seams, and down fill peaks at the center of the squares, heat distribution is uneven.
—Marni Jameson, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Talia Lavin, Curbed, 7 Nov. 2024
The Spa | Esencia’s spa spans nearly 3,000 square feet, and is housed under a massive thatched roof with rounded stucco walls surrounded by a tropical flower and herb garden.
—Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Ben Ritz, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Chutkan must decide how to square the blockbuster high court ruling with the allegations about Trump's conduct in the case.
—April Rubin, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024
Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Sep. 2023
The Juncos Hollinger Racing driver didn’t brake soon enough and ran square into the back of Kyle Kirkwood, demolishing his rear wing.
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 5 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for square 
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.
Noun
For example, one square of unsweetened baking chocolate is equally as toxic as 23 chocolate kissesfor a 10-pound cat, according to Petful.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
Because no fill exists at the seams, and down fill peaks at the center of the squares, heat distribution is uneven.
—Marni Jameson, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Though a few stores have been open for months, two of the three floors are now fully operational with 20-plus shops and more than 50,000 square feet of retail.
—Talia Lavin, Curbed, 7 Nov. 2024
The Spa | Esencia’s spa spans nearly 3,000 square feet, and is housed under a massive thatched roof with rounded stucco walls surrounded by a tropical flower and herb garden.
—Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
How could Trump square his promises not to cut Social Security or Medicare with tax proposals that would make these automatic cuts even bigger?
—Ben Ritz, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Chutkan must decide how to square the blockbuster high court ruling with the allegations about Trump's conduct in the case.
—April Rubin, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024
Adverb
On Lap 36, Power spun Benjamin Pedersen rounding the final corner after the race had restarted, and Castroneves ran square into the A.J. Foyt Racing car.
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Sep. 2023
The Juncos Hollinger Racing driver didn’t brake soon enough and ran square into the back of Kyle Kirkwood, demolishing his rear wing.
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 5 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for square
Articles Related to square
Dictionary Entries Near square
Cite this Entry
“Square.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/square. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
square
1 of 4 noun
ˈskwa(ə)r 
ˈskwe(ə)r
1
: an instrument having at least one right angle and two straight edges used to draw or test right angles
2
: a rectangle with all four sides equal
3
: any of the four-sided spaces marked out on a board for playing games
4
: the product of a number multiplied by itself
4 is the square of 2
5
a
: an open place or area formed at the meeting of two or more streets
square
2 of 4 adjective
squarer; squarest
1
a
: having four equal sides and four right angles
a square piece of paper
b
: forming a right angle
a square corner
c
: having a square base
a square pyramid
2
a
: being approximately a cube
a square cabinet
b
: of a shape suggesting strength and toughness
a square jaw
square shoulders
c
: having the shape of a square as its cross section
a square tower
3
a
: being a unit of area that has the shape of a square and sides of a specified unit length
a square foot
b
: being of a specified length in each of two equal dimensions
10 feet square
4
a
: exactly adjusted : well made
b
: just entry 1 sense 2a, fair
a square deal
c
: leaving no balance : settled
d
: being tied in score
the golfers were all square after five holes
e
: large enough to satisfy
three square meals a day
5
: not knowing or following the latest styles
squareness
noun
square
3 of 4 verb
squared; squaring
1
: to form with right angles, straight edges, and flat surfaces : make square or rectangular
square a timber
2
: to bring to a right angle
squared his shoulders
3
a
: to multiply (a number) by itself : to raise (a number) to the second power
b
: to find a square equal in area to
square a circle
4
: to agree or make agree
his story does not square with the facts
5
: balance entry 2 sense 1, settle
square an account
6
: to mark off into squares
7
: bribe entry 2, fix
8
: to take a fighting stance
the two squared off
square
4 of 4 adverb
: in a direct, firm, or honest manner
looked her square in the eye
Medical Definition
square
adjective
: being or converted to a unit of area equal in measure to a square each side of which measures one unit of a specified unit of length
a square foot
Legal Definition
square
adjective
: fitting the factual or legal situation at bar
we have been shown no square holding of a Florida court to that effect—Milhet Caterers, Inc. v. North Western Meat, Inc., 185 So. 2d 196 (1966)
Milhet Caterers, Inc. v. North Western Meat, Inc., 185 So. 2d 196 (1966)
squarely
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share