Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pattern

/ˈpætɚn/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.56 in modern English

Syllables: pat-tern
IPA: /ˈpætɚn/

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Model, example.

noun

Model, example.

noun

Model, example.

Archaic

noun

Model, example.

noun

Model, example.

noun

Model, example.

American usage

noun

Model, example.

noun

Model, example.

Dated

Example Sentences

"The wallpaper had a floral pattern."
"There is no reason why all colleges and universities should be cut to the same pattern."
"Well! the King of France died pardoning & pitying all those who had tortured his Soul & Body, a great Pattern for us all."
"I write this to repeat most earnestly for myself all that she said to you and to let you know how sure I am that you will sooner or later find our cousin John a pattern of truth, sincerity, and goodness, when you will deeply, deeply grieve to have done him (without intending it) so much wrong."
"The Platonic Socrates was a pattern to subsequent philosophers for many ages."
"From this point those who became pupils went on to a further series of shops, usually commencing with the pattern shop. […] However, some of us did make quite reasonable patterns and had the satisfaction of seeing castings produced from them but, sad to say, many of these efforts were used as firewood after they had left the shop."

Etymology

From earlier patten, paterne, from Middle English patron (“patron; example”), from Old French patron, from Medieval Latin patrōnus (“patron”). Doublet of padrone, patron, Patronus, and patroon.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: patron, patrōnus

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈpætɚn/
British English: /ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/

Usage

Inflected Forms

patterns (plural) patterns (present, singular) patterning (participle, present) patterned (participle, past) patterned (past)

Derived Forms

beampattern biopattern depattern eigenpattern glycopattern hydropattern macropattern metapattern micropattern mispattern multipattern nanopattern

Phrases

abstract factory pattern adapter pattern Airy pattern anti-pattern architectural pattern behavioral pattern behavioural pattern be part of life's rich pattern

Synonyms

original stencil template tessellation 3 4 5 model categorize

Homonyms

paten patten Patton (non-rhotic)

Antonyms

antipattern

Rhymes With

saturn mattern matern slattern attern

Questions

How do you pronounce pattern?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpætɚn/.
What does pattern mean?: Model, example.
Where does pattern come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce pattern

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pattern”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpætɚn/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pattern”.
Repeat and practice — Say “pattern” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.