"Gauge" came into English through French hundreds of years ago. It first referred to a specific standard of measurement, like the thickness of a sheet of iron, or the size of a barrel of fish.

Over time, the meaning of "gauge" expanded to describe standard measurements in new technologies, like railways; and to describe abstract, figurative kinds of measurements.

So, today, a gauge is a tool or instrument for measuring levels or amounts of things, like how much fuel is in a tank, or how much pressure is in the atmosphere, or how hot the water is in a tank. A gauge is also any method of testing or measuring someone or something's quality.

And, to gauge something (like to gauge someone's interest or willingness) is to try to get an idea of how much there is, as if you're trying to measure it with a precise tool or instrument.

Part of speech:

Often a noun, the countable kind: "I check the fuel gauge;" "He glances at the pressure gauge;" "In a round dial cockpit, the six-pack of gauges — attitude, airspeed indicator, altimeter, turn coordinator, heading indicator and vertical speed indicator — are the core flight instruments" (Mid-Continent Instruments & Avionics).

And often a verb, the transitive kind: "Let's gauge their interest;" "I try to gauge her mood."

Other forms: 

Here are the common ones: gauges, gauged, and gauging.

And a rare but useful one: gaugeable.

how to use it:

When you're describing someone's attempt to read, measure, or understand some person or situation, and when you'd like a short, powerful word with a precise, scientific, or mechanical flavor, pick "gauge."

You can be literal and talk about someone gauging the weather, gauging the speed of a roller coaster, gauging how much daylight is left, gauging the weight of a cantaloupe, etc.

Or, be figurative, and talk about someone gauging a situation, gauging someone else's mood, gauging someone's reaction, etc.

examples:

"His pope hat tilted sideways on his head like a gas gauge dropping toward empty."
   — Rick Riordan, The Mark of Athena, 2012

"He did not know how long he had been there; some hours, at any rate; with no clocks and no daylight it was hard to gauge the time."
   — George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, 1949

"Three other guys stand nearby, laughing and talking. One of them has a denim jacket... His shoulders turn inward with shyness and he watches the others carefully, as if he's gauging what his own response should be."
   — Deb Caletti, A Heart in a Body in the World, 2018

has this page helped you understand "gauge"?

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

study it:

Explain the meaning of "gauge" without saying "assess" or "quantify."

try it out:

Here are two fictional gauges I like!

First, the Caring Meter, from The Care Bears. It gauges the general sentiment of people on Earth. I think.

Next, the Weasley family clock, from Harry Potter. It gauges the location or general state of each member of the Weasley family:

"Home," "school," and "work" were there, but there was also "traveling," "lost," "hospital," "prison," and, in the position where the number twelve would be on a normal clock, "mortal peril." 

With these fictional gauges in mind as examples, talk about another fictional gauge you'd love to invent or have.

Or, if your imagination is a little rusty, talk about an actual gauge that you find useful.

If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.)

before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game this month is "Name that Sketchplanation!"

Check out the sketch below, created by Jono Hey at Sketchplanations.com.

Focus on the title, and see if you can come up with the word or phrase that belongs in the blurry spot. It'll be one we've studied before.

See the answer on the original Sketchplanation!

And if you like, review the word here.

review this word:

1. Near-opposites of GAUGE include

A. TIDY and ADJUST.
B. IGNORE and DISREGARD.
C. DISCOUNT and UNDERCHARGE.

2. In her diary, Anne Frank wrote, "From our position here in Fort Annex, it's difficult to gauge _____."

A. mold from beans
B. the mood of the Dutch
C. another birthday, so now I'm fifteen

Answers to the review questions: 1. B 2. B

a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog: On vocabulary...       36 ways to study words.       Why we forget words, & how to remember them.       How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. On writing...       How to improve any sentence.       How to motivate our kids to write.       How to stop procrastinating and start writing.       How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count. From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.