plural tons also ton
Synonyms of tonnext
1
: any of various units of weight:
2
: a great quantity : lot
ate tons of cookies
has tons of money
a ton of work to do
3
a
: a unit of internal capacity for ships equal to 100 cubic feet

called also register ton

b
: a unit approximately equal to the volume of a long ton weight of seawater used in reckoning the displacement of ships and equal to 35 cubic feet
c
: a unit of volume for cargo freight usually reckoned at 40 cubic feet

called also measurement ton

1
: the prevailing fashion : vogue
2
: the quality or state of being smart or fashionable

Examples of ton in a Sentence

Noun (1) I received a ton of advice on the problem—all of it unsolicited Noun (2) granite countertops became all the ton in kitchen decor
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Together, these components add up to approximately 4,817 US tons (4,370 metric tons). — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026 Jake Johnson has been making a ton of moves lately in his acting career, segueing from one high profile project to the next. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026 The seemingly never-ending saga in the 600 block of Martel Avenue, just south of Melrose Avenue, came to a head in April 2024, when city crews removed seven tons of trash and debris that attracted rodents and a host of insects. — CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 But there are actually tons of ways ground beef can fit into nutritious meals. — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ton

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English tunne unit of weight or capacity — more at tun

Noun (2)

borrowed from French, "pitch, tone, manner, style," going back to Old French, "sound of voices, voice quality," going back to Latin tonus "strain, tension, musical pitch, note" — more at tone entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Noun (2)

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ton was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ton. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

ton

noun
ˈtən
plural tons also ton
1
2
3

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