liter

noun

li·​ter ˈlē-tər 

variants or litre

: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see Metric System Table

Examples of liter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Germany’s annual per capita consumption of traditional beer has fallen about 40% since 1990 to 77 liters now — an alarming development for an industry whose origins reach back to the Middle Ages. — Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Instead of paying simply to manage or dispose of thousands of liters of salty whey, some of that material could become the feedstock for a useful fuel. — New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026

The association projects that diesel prices will breach the 2 pounds per liter milestone within days. — CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons per day; a recent study modelling water use in African data centers found that ChatGPT-4 used up to 60 liters of water — or a standard washing machine cycle — to produce a 10-page paper. — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French litre, from Medieval Latin litra, a measure, from Greek, a weight

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for liter

• beater
• cheater
• dieter
• eater
• heater
• litre
• meter
• metre
• neater
• praetor
• seater
• skeeter

Kids Definition

liter

noun

li·​ter

variants or litre

ˈlēt-ər

: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see metric system

Medical Definition

liter

noun

li·​ter

variants or chiefly British litre

ˈlēt-ər 

: a metric unit of capacity equal to the volume of one kilogram of water at 4°C (39°F) and at standard atmospheric pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury