judge

A person whose job is to decide a legal case or choose a winner in a competition.

• The judge listened to both sides.
• Three judges chose the winning cake.
• The judge sentenced him to two years in prison.

Similar words: adjudicator

Common phrases: court judge, competition judge, judge’s decision

A person who controls a court case and decides how the law applies.

• The judge listened to both lawyers.
• Two judges reviewed the case.
• The judge sentenced him to three years in prison.

Similar words: justice

Common phrases: court judge, judge and jury

A person who checks performances or actions in a competition and decides scores, winners, or whether rules were followed.

• The judge gave her ten points.
• Three judges chose the winning cake.
• One judge thought the boxer had broken a rule.

Similar words: adjudicator, referee

Common phrases: competition judge, judge at something

A person who led the people of ancient Israel before they had kings.

• Deborah was a judge in ancient Israel.
• The judge led the people into battle.
• Several judges ruled before Israel had kings.

Similar words: leader

Common phrases: biblical judge, judge of Israel

To decide how good or bad someone or something is.

• It is hard to judge the quality.
• She judged the singing competition last year.
• Please do not judge me before hearing my explanation.

How to use it: judge someone/something by something (Do not judge a person by their clothes.); judge someone/something on something (We judge each entry on its originality.)

Similar words: assess, evaluate, appraise

Common phrases: judge a competition, judge someone fairly

To work out an amount, distance, or other fact without measuring it exactly.

• Can you judge the distance?
• He judged her age to be about forty.
• She judged the speed of the approaching car.

How to use it: judge how… (It is difficult to judge how deep the water is.); judge that… (I judged that we were about two miles away.)

Similar words: estimate, gauge

Common phrases: judge the distance, judge the speed

To believe that someone or something has a particular quality or is in a particular state.

• We judged it safe to leave.
• The committee judged her suitable for the role.
• He judges further discussion unnecessary.

How to use it: judge someone/something + adjective (The doctor judged him fit to travel.); judge something to be something (They judged the plan to be a success.)

Similar words: consider, deem, think

Common phrases: judge something necessary, judge someone fit

To make an official decision in a court case.

• The court judged in favor of the family.
• She has judged many difficult cases.
• Who will judge this case?

How to use it: judge in favor of someone (The court judged in favor of the tenant.)

Similar words: rule, adjudicate

Common phrases: judge a case, judge in favor