model
Americannoun
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models
plural
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a standard or example for imitation or comparison.
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a representation, generally in miniature, to show the construction or appearance of something.
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an image in clay, wax, or the like, to be reproduced in more durable material.
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a person or thing that serves as a subject for an artist, sculptor, writer, etc.
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a person whose profession is posing for artists or photographers.
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a person employed to wear clothing or pose with a product for purposes of display and advertising.
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a style or design of a particular product.
His car is last year's model.
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a pattern or mode of structure or formation.
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a typical form or style.
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a simplified representation of a system or phenomenon, as in the sciences or economics, with any hypotheses required to describe the system or explain the phenomenon, often mathematically.
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Zoology. an animal that is mimicked in form or color by another.
adjective
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serving as an example or model.
a model home open to prospective buyers.
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worthy to serve as a model; exemplary.
a model student.
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being a small or miniature version of something.
He enjoyed building model ships.
verb (used with object)
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models,
present (3rd person singular)
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modeled,
past participle, past
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modelled,
past participle, past (especially British)
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modeling,
present participle
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modelling
present participle (especially British)
-
to form or plan according to a model.
-
to give shape or form to; fashion.
- Synonyms:
- design
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to make a miniature model of.
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to fashion in clay, wax, or the like.
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to simulate (a process, concept, or the operation of a system), commonly with the aid of a computer.
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to display to other persons or to prospective customers, especially by wearing.
to model dresses.
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to use or include as an element in a larger construct.
to model new data into the forecast.
verb (used without object)
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models,
present (3rd person singular)
-
modeled,
past participle, past
-
modelled,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
modeling,
present participle
-
modelling
present participle (especially British)
-
to make models.
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to produce designs in some plastic material.
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to assume a typical or natural appearance, as the parts of a drawing in progress.
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to serve or be employed as a model.
noun
-
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a representation, usually on a smaller scale, of a device, structure, etc
-
( as modifier )
a model train
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-
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a standard to be imitated
she was my model for good scholarship
-
( as modifier )
a model wife
-
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a representative form, style, or pattern
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a person who poses for a sculptor, painter, or photographer
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a person who wears clothes to display them to prospective buyers; mannequin
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a preparatory sculpture in clay, wax, etc, from which the finished work is copied
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a design or style, esp one of a series of designs of a particular product
last year's model
-
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an original unique article of clothing
-
( as modifier )
a model coat
-
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a simplified representation or description of a system or complex entity, esp one designed to facilitate calculations and predictions
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logic
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an interpretation of a formal system under which the theorems derivable in that system are mapped onto truths
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a theory in which a given sentence is true
-
verb
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to make a model of (something or someone)
-
to form in clay, wax, etc; mould
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to display (clothing and accessories) as a mannequin
-
to plan or create according to a model or models
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to arrange studio lighting so that highlights and shadows emphasize the desired features of a human form or an inanimate object
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A systematic description of an object or phenomenon that shares important characteristics with the object or phenomenon. Scientific models can be material, visual, mathematical, or computational and are often used in the construction of scientific theories.
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See also hypothesis theory
Synonym Usage
See ideal.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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modelernoun
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modellernoun
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premodelverb (used without object)
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unmodeledadjective
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unmodelledadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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modelsimple
-
modelssimple
-
have modeledperfect
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have modelledperfect
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has modeledperfect
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has modelledperfect
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am modelingprogressive
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am modellingprogressive
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are modelingprogressive
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are modellingprogressive
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is modelingprogressive
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is modellingprogressive
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have been modelingperfect progressive
-
have been modellingperfect progressive
-
has been modelingperfect progressive
-
has been modellingperfect progressive
Past
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modeledsimple
-
modelledsimple
-
had modeledperfect
-
had modelledperfect
-
was modelingprogressive
-
was modellingprogressive
-
were modelingprogressive
-
were modellingprogressive
-
had been modelingperfect progressive
-
had been modellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of model
First recorded 1565–75; earlier modell, from Middle French modelle, from Italian modello, from Vulgar Latin modellus (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin mod(ulus), a unit of measurement ( see module) + -ellus -elle
Explanation
To model something is to show it off. To make a model of your favorite car is to create a miniature version of it. To be a model is to be so gorgeous that you’re photographed for a living. The word model, which can be a noun, verb, or adjective, comes from the Latin word modulus, meaning “measure,” or “standard.” If you are a model student, you do everything as the school and teachers wish: you are the standard. If you model your life on your hero's, you try to do what he or she does. If you are a clothing designer you will need to hire a model to model your creations.
Vocabulary lists containing model
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 3
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The Scientific Method
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The vulnerability to potential hackers was found by using a powerful model from OpenAI in one of the most high-profile demonstration of AI's cyber capabilities.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
As such, his model is a little more relaxed than Shibuya’s.
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026
They found that the three dimensions in the traditional VAD model are not independent of one another, as previously assumed.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026
Some AI researchers argue that we have a duty to treat AI models with care to minimize the chance of potentially causing distress to the model.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 24, 2026
The crack of wood breaking startled me, but I let out a breath of relief when I saw it was only Jay punching out the pieces of his model airplane kit.
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
I've been saying for years that the logical conclusion of these AI models being able to find vulnerabilities at speed and at scale is that there's going to be a flood of these vulnerabilities.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
A: This is the beginning of a pretty chaotic period, given the abilities of the advanced models.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
If the models went from being stumped by long division to cracking the quasi-Riemann hypothesis in five years, how will the next five years play out?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
The researchers suggest that incorporating power, danger, and structure could eventually help AI models interpret language more accurately and explain their assessments more clearly.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026
Juan Perón, who later became Evita’s husband and the dictator of Argentina, studied Hitler and his Italian sidekick, Mussolini, as role models.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
The nuns modeled how to create a sustaining, supportive community.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
It is one of around 40 similar suits brought by cities, states, tribes and other local jurisdictions, modeled on successful litigation against tobacco and opioid producers.
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
An international team modeled roughly 1,000 years of earthquake activity along the southern San Andreas and San Jacinto fault systems to estimate the amount of stress currently concentrated around Cajon Pass.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026
Consider Jefferson’s musings on the Maison Carrée, a Roman temple in Nîmes, after which he modeled the Virginia State Capitol.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
I write about the Red Cross and the threatening announcement and the meticulous preparation for the visit that is supposed to showcase Mobius as a camp upon which all future camps can be modeled.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
In one example, Adidas claimed that an online listing from June 2025 showed a pair of White Fox-branded socks being modelled by someone wearing pink Adidas shoes.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
“Our model reaches 151 tons/annum at run rate, 64% of Mt Weld’s modelled 235 tons/annum,” Jefferies says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Its ruling Communist Party has used five-year plans modelled on those of the former Soviet Union to set its development targets and social priorities since the 1950s.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
The framework would be replaced by rules modelled on New Zealand's privacy legislation, which Reform says has the lightest-touch regime still recognised as being "adequate" by the EU.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
“The optimum population,” said Mustapha Mond, “is modelled on the iceberg—eight-ninths below the water line, one-ninth above.”
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
"Further long-term geodetic and modeling studies will provide a more thorough understanding and allow for effective hazard monitoring and mitigation at Masaya and other lava-lake hosting basaltic volcanoes," Johnson said.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
One said the show has "gone from iconic glamour to an influencer circus" and they felt "social media clout and performative inclusivity have replaced real modeling talent, elegance, and runway presence".
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
"All of the testing and modeling work done at Goddard and by contractors at L3Harris and BAE Space and Mission Systems left only small corrections for us to make to bring everything into near-perfect alignment."
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
In the fund’s modeling, the bust could knock as much as 1.3 percentage points off global growth in 2028.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
There are water blasters, modeling clay, action figures, handballs, scratch-and-sniff erasers, and Legos.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
It said modelling cannot accurately predict exactly when and where nurdles will wash up and the complete recovery of every nurdle was not considered achievable.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
Swinney said it would "not be my intention" for people to travel further, with initial modelling showing the country divided into two east and west health boards.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
“Our modelling suggests eurozone headline inflation could rise above 3.5% later this year if current energy prices persist,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
The threat that rising temperatures fuelled by climate change pose to the health of older people has been dramatically underestimated, according to a US modelling study published Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
The jovilabe allowed the modelling of a highly complicated theoretical system without endless calculations or any loss of precision.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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