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Meaning & use

mode

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/məʊd/
US/moʊd/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A particular way or method of doing something.

    Grammar: Often used with 'of': 'a mode of transport'.

    Patterns

    • mode of something
    • in ... mode
    • a mode of transport

    Walking is a healthy mode of transport.

    The app has a dark mode for night use.

    They discussed the best mode of communication for the project.

  2. nouncountabletechnical

    In statistics, the number that appears most often in a set of data.

    Grammar: Usually singular: 'The mode is 7.'

    Patterns

    • the mode of a set
    • find the mode

    In the data set 2, 3, 3, 5, the mode is 3.

    The teacher asked us to calculate the mode of the numbers.

Word forms

pluralmodes

Common combinations

mode of transport
Bicycles are a common mode of transport in many cities.
dark mode
I switched to dark mode to reduce eye strain.
flight mode
Please put your phone in flight mode during takeoff.
mode of operation
The machine has two modes of operation: manual and automatic.

Synonyms and how they differ

method
More specific to a planned way of doing something; 'mode' is broader and often formal.
manner
Focuses on the way something is done, often with an adjective; 'mode' is more neutral.
way
The most general term; 'mode' is slightly more formal.

Word family

modal adjective
Relating to mode or manner.

Commonly confused: mode or mood? mode or code?

mode vs mood

Mood is a feeling or state of mind; mode is a way or method.

mode vs code

Code is a system of rules or symbols; mode is a way of doing something.

Practice

What is the mode of the numbers 4, 5, 5, 6, 7?

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