Meaning & use
hypotenuse
The longest side of a right triangle, located opposite the right angle.
See it in a sentence
By the Pythagorean theorem, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
She measured the hypotenuse of the ramp to calculate its exact length.
A note on using this word
The hypotenuse exists only in a right triangle; the term does not apply to triangles without a 90-degree angle.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hypotenuse”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.