Meaning & use
metrics
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Meanings
nounpluralbusiness
Numbers or measurements used to judge how well something is performing, especially in business or computing.
Grammar: Plural in form and normally takes a plural verb: 'The metrics are improving.'
Patterns
- track metrics
- key metrics
- metrics for something
The marketing team tracks metrics such as clicks, sign-ups and sales.
Our key metrics improved after the website was redesigned.
Managers meet every Monday to review the metrics for each department.
noununcountabletechnicalliterary
The system or study of measurement, especially in poetry or music.
Grammar: Uncountable in this technical sense: 'the metrics of a poem'.
Patterns
- the metrics of a poem
- study metrics
In class we analyzed the metrics of several sonnets.
His research focuses on the metrics of ancient Greek verse.
nounpluraltechnical
A set of standard units used for measuring things.
Grammar: Usually plural and often used after 'the': 'the metric system'.
Patterns
- the metric system
- use metrics
Most countries use metric measurements in daily life.
The recipe gives both metric and imperial amounts.
Common combinations
- key metrics
- Customer satisfaction is one of our key metrics.
- track metrics
- We track metrics weekly to see what is working.
- performance metrics
- The report lists performance metrics for each store.
- business metrics
- Good business metrics help investors understand the company.
- metrics dashboard
- The metrics dashboard shows sales in real time.
Synonyms and how they differ
- measurements
- Broader and more everyday; 'metrics' suggests formal numbers used for judging performance.
- statistics
- Refers to collected numerical data in general, while metrics are chosen specifically to measure success.
- indicators
- Similar in business use, but indicators can be qualitative signs, not only numbers.
Word family
Commonly confused: metrics or matrix? metrics or statistic?
metrics vs matrix
A matrix is a grid of numbers or a situation in which something develops; metrics are measurements used to judge performance.
metrics vs statistic
A statistic is one piece of numerical data; a metric is a number chosen to measure how well something is doing.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'metrics' most naturally.
Choose one answer.
'Metrics' is a plural noun meaning performance measurements, so 'track the right metrics' fits. Option 0 uses a singular verb (it should be 'show'), option 2 wrongly uses it as a verb, and option 3 is nonsense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “metrics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.