measure up
Pass the test
To measure up is to meet a standard or expectation, often used in the negative: He worried he wouldn't measure up.
The phrase implies comparison—being tall enough, good enough, or capable enough when evaluated against some benchmark: Does the sequel measure up to the original?
Meeting minimum requirements
- adequateBarely meeting standards
- enoughMeeting the requirement
- satisfactoryMeeting minimum requirements
- acceptableMeeting minimum standards
passable · competent · capable · qualified · fit · suitable · appropriate · decent
Standard for comparison
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- yardstickThirty-six-inch ruler
- gaugeStandard of measurement
- scaleMeasure of relative size
parity · disparity · contrast · differentiate · distinguish · stack up · compare · match
Judge worth or quality
- appraiseDetermine value of
- judgeOne who decides
- gaugeStandard of measurement
- rateMeasured speed or charge
scrutinize · examine · analyze · weigh · critique · review · audit · score
Surpass all others
- succeedAchieve a desired aim
- accomplishComplete successfully
- attainReach through effort
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
master · proficiency · competence · distinction · merit · qualify · prove oneself · deliver
Level of quality accepted
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
- criteriaStandards for judgment
- goalDesired end result
- targetObject of pursuit
objective · aspiration · ideal · threshold · bar · requirement · demand · specification
Close, careful examination
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- performance anxietyFear of public execution
competition · peer pressure · perfectionism · self-doubt · insecurity · overwhelm · strive · proving ground
sufficient
Meeting minimum requirements
- adequateBarely meeting standards
- enoughMeeting the requirement
- satisfactoryMeeting minimum requirements
acceptable · passable · competent · capable · qualified · fit · suitable · appropriate · decent · tolerable
benchmark
Standard for comparison
scale · parity · disparity · contrast · differentiate · distinguish · stack up · compare · match · rival
assess
Judge worth or quality
rate · scrutinize · examine · analyze · weigh · critique · review · audit · score · determine
excel
Surpass all others
- succeedAchieve a desired aim
- accomplishComplete successfully
- attainReach through effort
triumph · master · proficiency · competence · distinction · merit · qualify · prove oneself · deliver · perform
standard
Level of quality accepted
target · objective · aspiration · ideal · threshold · bar · requirement · demand · specification · expectation
scrutiny
Close, careful examination
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
performance anxiety · competition · peer pressure · perfectionism · self-doubt · insecurity · overwhelm · strive · proving ground · test
- measurement idiomsinch by inch, give an inch, whole nine yards, by a mile, go the extra mile
- cut itmake it, hack it, pass muster, cut the mustard, make the grade
- Standards & Benchmarksbenchmark, yardstick, gold standard, litmus test, acid test
- comparison verbscompare, contrast, differentiate, distinguish, juxtapose
measure upfall short
Fail to reach standard
come up short · fail · miss the mark · disappoint · underperform
measure uppale in comparison
Seem inferior when contrasted
lag behind · fall behind · underwhelm · trail
measure, measured, measuring, measures, measurement, measurable, immeasurable, metrics, metric