What does "structure" mean?
A cohesive whole built up of distinct parts.
Structure
/ˈstɹʌkt͡ʃɚ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Top 500 ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A cohesive whole built up of distinct parts.
- Grammar: structure is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: construction, abstract framework, abstract network, abstract theory.
- Useful contrasts: disorganized activity, extreme chaos, random network.
- Usage evidence: In English, the usual sentence structure is Subject - Verb - Object/Complement.
How to use "structure"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "structure" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- 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 "structure" 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 "structure" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "structure" 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 "structure" is acting as noun, verb 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 "construction" 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 "structure", 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 A cohesive whole built up of distinct parts. countable, uncountable
"The birds had built an amazing structure out of sticks and various discarded items."
- 2 a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts wordnet
- 3 The underlying shape of a solid. countable, uncountable
"He studied the structure of her face."
- 4 the manner of construction of something and the arrangement of its parts wordnet
- 5 The overall form or organization of something. countable, uncountable
"The structure of a sentence."
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing and its construction and arrangement wordnet
- 7 A set of rules defining behaviour. countable, uncountable
"For some, the structure of school life was oppressive."
- 8 the complex composition of knowledge as elements and their combinations wordnet
- 9 Several pieces of data treated as a unit. countable, uncountable
"This structure contains both date and timezone information."
- 10 the people in a society considered as a system organized by a characteristic pattern of relationships wordnet
- 11 Underwater terrain or objects (such as a dead tree or a submerged car) that tend to attract fish uncountable
"There's lots of structure to be fished along the west shore of the lake; the impoundment submerged a town there when it was built."
- 12 A body, such as a political party, with a cohesive purpose or outlook. countable, uncountable
"The South African leader went off to consult with the structures."
- 13 A set along with a collection of finitary functions and relations. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To give structure to; to arrange. transitive
"I'm trying to structure my time better so I'm not always late."
- 2 give a structure to wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
disorganized activityextreme chaosrandom networkunstructured noting
Example
"In English, the usual sentence structure is Subject - Verb - Object/Complement."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "structure"?
Common synonyms include: construction, abstract framework, abstract network, abstract theory, academic structure, action.
How do you use "structure" in a sentence?
In English, the usual sentence structure is Subject - Verb - Object/Complement.
How do you pronounce "structure"?
Pronounced /ˈstɹʌkt͡ʃɚ/.
Etymology
From Middle French structure, from Latin structūra (“a fitting together, adjustment, building, erection, a building, edifice, structure”), from struere, past participle structus (“pile up, arrange, assemble, build”). Compare construct, instruct, destroy, etc.