Subitize
verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 To judge (the number of objects in a group) rapidly, accurately and confidently without counting them. intransitive, transitive
"Previous researchers have noted a similarity between the set sizes that adults can estimate rapidly, or subitize, and the set sizes that infants can discriminate: both are less than five items. This similarity has led some to suggest that subitizing is […]"
Example
More examples"Previous researchers have noted a similarity between the set sizes that adults can estimate rapidly, or subitize, and the set sizes that infants can discriminate: both are less than five items. This similarity has led some to suggest that subitizing is […]"
Etymology
From Latin subitus (“sudden; unexpected”) + -ize, from the feeling of immediately knowing the number of items present.
More for "subitize"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.