Meaning & use
proportions
Last updated
“proportions” is a form of “proportion”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
The relative sizes of parts of something, especially when they seem large or important.
Grammar: Used in the plural to talk about size and scale, often after 'of': a problem of enormous proportions.
Patterns
- of ... proportions
- reach ... proportions
- take on ... proportions
The flood was a disaster of enormous proportions.
By summer the argument had taken on serious proportions.
They live in a house of modest proportions near the river.
nounplural
Correct or balanced relationship in size, amount, or importance between things.
Grammar: Common in the fixed phrases 'in proportion to' and 'out of proportion'; the plural carries the idea of balance.
Patterns
- in proportion to something
- out of proportion to something
- keep something in proportion
Her reaction was out of proportion to what actually happened.
Try to keep the problem in proportion.
Salaries here are low in proportion to the cost of living.
nouncountablemathematics
A number or amount compared with the whole, often written as a fraction or percentage.
Grammar: Countable here; singular 'proportion' is usual for one figure, plural for several: a large proportion of students.
Patterns
- a proportion of something
- in the proportion of ... to ...
- the proportion of something to something
A large proportion of the class passed the exam.
Mix the paint in the proportion of two parts blue to one part white.
The proportion of women in senior jobs has risen.
Word forms
| singular | proportion |
|---|---|
| plural | proportions |
Common combinations
- of enormous proportions
- The storm grew into a crisis of enormous proportions.
- out of proportion
- The media blew the story out of all proportion.
- in proportion to
- You get paid in proportion to how much you work.
- take on proportions
- The small protest soon took on national proportions.
- a large proportion of
- A large proportion of the budget goes on housing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- size
- 'Size' simply states how big something is, while 'proportions' stresses how the parts relate to each other or to expectations.
- scale
- 'Scale' is close for large events, but 'proportions' often hints that something has grown beyond what was expected.
- ratio
- 'Ratio' is a precise mathematical comparison of two amounts; 'proportion' can also mean a part of a whole.
Word family
- proportion noun
- The singular form, meaning a part or share, or a balanced relationship.
- proportional adjective
- Changing at the same rate as something else, as in 'proportional pay'.
- proportionally adverb
- In a way that matches the size or amount of something else.
- proportionate adjective
- Matching something in size or degree, often in the phrase 'proportionate response'.
Commonly confused: proportions or portion?
proportions vs portion
'Portion' means a share or a serving of food, not the relationship between sizes. 'A portion of rice' is an amount; 'proportions' is about relative size or balance.
Practice
The media blew the scandal completely out of ______.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'out of proportion', meaning more extreme than is reasonable. 'Proportions' is wrong because this idiom uses the singular, and 'portion' means a share, not balance.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “proportions”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.