master 1 of 3

noun

ˈma-stər How to pronounce master (audio)
Definition of masternext
1
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field a master at chess

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2
as in winner
one that defeats an enemy or opponent little did the tennis pro know that his new student would someday become his master

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3
as in leader
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do I'm the master of this operation, and you'll do what I say

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master

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in main
coming before all others in importance thought of themselves as belonging to humanity's master race

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2
as in skilled
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor a master craftsman who makes fine wood furniture of his own designs

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master

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over finally mastered her longtime opponent at chess

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2
as in to learn
to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in I think I've mastered algebra at last

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of master
Noun
He was born in Hialeah and went to the University of Miami and later received masters degrees in criminal justice and public administration from Florida International University. — Gray Rohrer, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 With a master’s in public administration from FIU, Avila is a college dean who earned $62,000 last year at a small online school, Doral College, a job that aligns him closely with the growing charter school movement. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The new board will comprise 11 master sommeliers, plus four non-master sommelier members. — Esther Mobley, SFChronicle.com, 12 Nov. 2020 The interior features high ceilings, custom millwork, and walnut floors and paneling, and the master suite has his-and-her baths and closets, a sitting area, and a balcony. — TheWeek, 27 June 2020
Verb
But for a novice, relying on AI before mastering the fundamentals creates a technical debt that leads to a lack of depth. — Jason Corso, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 But the practical race in 2026 is won by mastering both contests at once with absolute capability and radical efficiency, closed excellence and open diffusion, the biggest reliable compute and the smartest use of it. — Mark Minevich, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for master
Recent Examples of Synonyms for master
  1. expert
  2. winner
  3. leader
  4. main
  5. skilled
  6. defeat
  7. learn
  8. scholar
Noun
  • These experts assign ratings after analyzing a company's financials and ability to consistently pay dividends while also seeking capital appreciation.
    — TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Leading the way in court There are dozens of cases across the country surrounding the legal status of prediction sites, and experts believe the matter will eventually be decided by the Supreme Court.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of expert
Noun
  • Excelling with Reichard, paired with his punting upside as the former Ray Guy Award winner at Georgia, pushed him over the hump.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The winners of the competition received passes to attend the Worldcon and spent some time at the IEEE booth.
    — Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of winner
Noun
  • Fans, artists, and leaders across all industries are mourning the star whose relentless optimism, grace, and resilience was a shining light.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Burch, who wasn't known for being particularly close with her neighbors before, emerged as vocal leader—and a lightning rod for deal proponents.
    — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of leader
Adjective
  • The fourth-year pro with blazing speed had an impressive training camp and appeared to be one of the team’s main kick returners.
    — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Its main instrument, known as the Wide Field Instrument (WFI), will take extremely wide images of the universe, capturing ultra-high definition views across broad swaths of the sky.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • There are economic repercussions; sure, robots could build houses, but what happens to all the skilled carpenters?
    — Jeff Haden, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Heather McKenzie, who works in labor relations in Lincoln, said putting more data centers in Nebraska can slow an exodus of skilled young people leaving the state.
    — Will Weissert, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of skilled
Verb
  • Taylor pitched a career-high 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings and was credited with the win as the Sox defeated the Twins 7-4 in front of 28,140.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Senate Leadership Fund, a political committee controlled by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, has committed to spending $44 million in Georgia in hopes of defeating Ossoff.
    — Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of defeat
Verb
  • The sixth-year forward is an athletic rebounder and has learned to fill the gaps created by defenses focusing on Wilson in the frontcourt.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • From the moment Billie learns about Sophie-Rose, the teenager who inherited her legendary fake ID after it was already passed down to multiple other Gen-Z blondes, she’s obsessed.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of learn
Noun
  • Pamela Herd and Donald Moynihan, two of the foremost scholars of American public administration, have identified three key types of administrative costs the government imposes on citizens.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
  • However, some scholars have noted that the author, speaker, historical circumstances, and date of composition are difficult to determine since the psalm lacks references to any historical events in ancient Israel.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of scholar

Phrases Containing master

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master
mastered
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Cite this Entry

“Master.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/master. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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