Frame

/fɹeɪm/ name, noun, verb, slang

name, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The structural elements of a building or other constructed object.
  • Grammar: frame is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: framework, shape, skeleton, abstract logic.
  • Useful contrasts: uncontextualized, acquit, chaos.
  • Usage evidence: The frame itself is worth more than the picture.

How to use "frame"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "frame" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "frame" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "frame" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "frame" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "frame" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "framework" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "frame", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The structural elements of a building or other constructed object.

    "Now that the frame is complete, we can start on the walls."

  2. 2
    one of the ten divisions into which bowling is divided wordnet
  3. 3
    Anything composed of parts fitted and united together; a fabric; a structure.

    "The chiefeſt God firſt moouer of that Spheare, Enchac’d with thouſands euer ſhining lamps, Will ſooner burne the glorious frame of Heauen, Then ſhould it ſo conſpire my ouerthrow."

  4. 4
    a framework that supports and protects a picture or a mirror wordnet
  5. 5
    A human body or the structure thereof; the size, shape, sturdiness etc. of a person's body as described in a certain way; one's build.

    "His starved flesh hung loosely on his once imposing frame."

Show 32 more definitions
  1. 6
    the framework for a pair of eyeglasses wordnet
  2. 7
    A rigid, generally rectangular mounting for paper, canvas or other flexible material.

    "He looked round the poor room, at the distempered walls, and the bad engravings in meretricious frames, the crinkly paper and wax flowers on the chiffonier; and he thought of a room like Father Bryan's, with panelling, with cut glass, with tulips in silver pots, such a room as he had hoped to have for his own."

  3. 8
    a single one of a series of still transparent pictures forming a cinema, television or video film wordnet
  4. 9
    A piece of photographic film containing an image.

    "12 July 2012, Sam Adams, AV Club Ice Age: Continental Drift If the audience had a nickel for every time a character on one side of the frame says something could never happen as it simultaneously happens on the other side of the frame, they’d have enough to pay the surcharge for the movie’s badly implemented 3-D."

  5. 10
    a structure supporting or containing something wordnet
  6. 11
    A context for understanding or interpretation.

    "In this frame, it's easy to ask the question that the investigators missed."

  7. 12
    the internal supporting structure that gives an artifact its shape wordnet
  8. 13
    A conspiracy to falsely incriminate an innocent person.

    "Didn't you ever wonder this whole thing may be a frame?"

  9. 14
    alternative names for the body of a human being wordnet
  10. 15
    A complete game of snooker, from break-off until all the balls (or as many as necessary to win) have been potted.
  11. 16
    the hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal wordnet
  12. 17
    An independent chunk of data sent over a network.
  13. 18
    a system of assumptions and standards that sanction behavior and give it meaning wordnet
  14. 19
    A set of balls whose results are added together for scoring purposes. Usually two balls, but only one ball in the case of a strike, and three balls in the case of a strike or a spare in the last frame of a game.
  15. 20
    an application that divides the user's display into two or more windows that can be scrolled independently wordnet
  16. 21
    The complete set of pins to be knocked down in their starting configuration.

    "In knockemdowns and bowls ten pins are used, the centre one being called the king, and the ball has to be grounded before it reaches the frame."

  17. 22
    a single drawing in a comic strip wordnet
  18. 23
    A movable structure used for the cultivation or the sheltering of plants.

    "a forcing-frame; a cucumber frame"

  19. 24
    (baseball) one of nine divisions of play during which each team has a turn at bat wordnet
  20. 25
    The outer decorated portion of a stamp's image, often repeated on several issues although the inner picture may change.
  21. 26
    The outer circle of a cancellation mark.
  22. 27
    A division of time on a multimedia timeline, such as 1/30 or 1/60 of a second.
  23. 28
    An individually scrollable region of a webpage. Internet
  24. 29
    An inning. slang
  25. 30
    Any of certain machines built upon or within framework. UK, dated

    "a stocking frame; a lace frame; a spinning frame"

  26. 31
    Frame of mind; disposition. dated

    "to be always in a happy frame"

  27. 32
    Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming. obsolete

    "John the bastard / Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies."

  28. 33
    A stage or location in a video game. dated

    "When you play the game it will draw a set pattern depending on the frame you are on, with random additions to the pattern, to give a different orchard each time."

  29. 34
    A way of dividing nucleotide sequences into a set of consecutive triplets.
  30. 35
    A form of knowledge representation in artificial intelligence.
  31. 36
    A complete lattice in which meets distribute over arbitrary joins.
  32. 37
    Clipping of page frame or memory frame. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping
Verb
  1. 1
    To fit, as for a specific end or purpose; make suitable or comfortable; adapt; adjust. transitive

    "I will hereafter frame myself to be coy."

  2. 2
    make up plans or basic details for wordnet
  3. 3
    To construct by fitting together or uniting various parts; fabricate by union of constituent parts. transitive

    "Nature that fram’d vs of foure Elements, Warring within our breaſts for regiment, Doth teach vs all to haue aſpyring minds:"

  4. 4
    formulate in a particular style or language wordnet
  5. 5
    To bring or put into form or order; adjust the parts or elements of; compose; contrive; plan; devise. transitive

    "He began to frame the loveliest countenance he could."

Show 19 more definitions
  1. 6
    enclose in or as if in a frame wordnet
  2. 7
    Of a constructed object such as a building, to put together the structural elements. transitive

    "Once we finish framing the house, we'll hang tin on the roof."

  3. 8
    construct by fitting or uniting parts together wordnet
  4. 9
    Of a picture such as a painting or photograph, to place inside a decorative border. transitive
  5. 10
    take or catch as if in a snare or trap wordnet
  6. 11
    To position visually within a fixed boundary. transitive

    "The director frames the fishing scene very well."

  7. 12
    enclose in a frame, as of a picture wordnet
  8. 13
    To construct in words so as to establish a context for understanding or interpretation. transitive

    "How would you frame your accomplishments?"

  9. 14
    Conspire to falsely incriminate an innocent person. transitive

    "The gun had obviously been placed in her car in an effort to frame her."

  10. 15
    To wash ore with the aid of a frame. dialectal, intransitive
  11. 16
    To move. dialectal, intransitive

    "An oath, and a threat to set Throttler on me if I did not "frame off" rewarded my perseverance."

  12. 17
    To proceed; to go. intransitive, obsolete

    "The beautie of this ſinfull Dame, / Made many Princes thither frame, / To ſeeke her as a bedfellow, / In maryage pleaſures, playfellow:"

  13. 18
    To hit (the ball) with the frame of the racquet rather than the strings (normally a mishit).
  14. 19
    To strengthen; refresh; support. obsolete, transitive

    "At last with creeping crooked pace forth came / An old old man, with beard as white as snow, / That on a staffe his feeble steps did frame"

  15. 20
    To execute; perform. obsolete, transitive

    "All have sworn him an oath that they should frame his will on earth."

  16. 21
    To cause; to bring about; to produce. obsolete, transitive

    "Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds."

  17. 22
    To profit; avail. intransitive, obsolete
  18. 23
    To fit; accord. intransitive, obsolete

    "When thou hast turned them all ways, and done thy best to hew them and to make them frame, thou must be fain to cast them out."

  19. 24
    To succeed in doing or trying to do something; manage. intransitive, obsolete
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname.
  2. 2
    An unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States.

Synonyms

All synonyms
frameworkshapeskeletonabstract logicadjoinaesthetic form

Example

"The frame itself is worth more than the picture."

Common questions

What does "frame" mean?

The structural elements of a building or other constructed object.

What is a synonym for "frame"?

Common synonyms include: framework, shape, skeleton, abstract logic, adjoin, aesthetic form.

How do you use "frame" in a sentence?

The frame itself is worth more than the picture.

How do you pronounce "frame"?

Pronounced /fɹeɪm/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English framen, fremen, fremmen (“to construct, build, strengthen, refresh, perform, execute, profit, avail”), from Old English framian, fremian, fremman (“to profit, avail, advance”), from Proto-West Germanic *frammjan, from Proto-Germanic *framjaną (“to further, promote, perform”), from Proto-Indo-European *promo- (“front, forward”). Cognate with Low German framen (“to commit, effect”), Danish fremme (“to promote, further, perform”), Swedish främja (“to promote, encourage, foster”), Icelandic fremja (“to commit”). More at from.

Etymology 2

From Middle English frame (“profit, benefit, advantage; a structure composed according to a plan”), from the verb (above) and also from Old Norse frami (“advantage, fame, bravery, efficiency, privilege, honor”); and frame (“a framework or structure of any kind”) which is of uncertain origin. The latter is usually regarded as a derivative of former; however, compare the rare Anglo-Norman and Old French frame, fraine (“frame, framework”), itself of uncertain origin, which might be a borrowing from the English, from the Norse, or even possibly ultimately from Frankish *hramu (“frame”) related to Dutch raam (“window frame”).

More for "frame"

Synonyms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsBrowse writing guidesExplore topic clusters