often attributive
1
a
: a place usually away from urban areas where tents or simple buildings (such as cabins) are erected for shelter or for temporary residence (as for laborers, prisoners, or vacationers)
migrant labor camp
b
: a group of tents, cabins, or huts
fishing camps along the river
c
: a settlement newly sprung up in a lumbering or mining region
d
: a place usually in the country for recreation or instruction often during the summer
goes to camp every July
also
: a program offering access to recreational or educational facilities for a limited period of time
computer camp
a resort offering boating and hiking camps
e
: a preseason training session for athletes
the star pitcher injured in camp this spring
2
a
: a body of persons encamped
b(1)
: a group of persons
especially
: a group engaged in promoting or defending a theory, doctrine, position, or person
(2)
: an ideological position
3
: military service or life
camped; camping; camps
1
: to make camp or occupy a camp
2
: to live temporarily in a camp or outdoors
—often used with out
3
: to take up one's quarters : lodge
4
: to take up one's position : settle down
—often used with out
camp out in the library for the afternoon
: to put into a camp
also
: accommodate
1
a
: something so outrageously artificial, affected, inappropriate, or out-of-date as to be considered amusing
This version of the play is camp: outrageous in concept and wild in its execution with double entendres flying every which way.
b
: a style or mode of personal or creative expression that is absurdly exaggerated and often fuses elements of high and popular culture
a movie that celebrates camp
2
: exaggerated effeminate mannerisms (as of speech or gesture)
camped; camping; camps
: to engage in camp : exhibit the qualities of camp
he … was camping, hands on hips, with a quick eye to notice every man who passed by—
R. M. McAlmon
R. M. McAlmonSynonyms
Examples of camp in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebTom Segev, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
In San Jose and Oakland, judges halted efforts to remove hundreds of people from massive encampments near the San Jose Mineta International Airport and along Wood Street in West Oakland until city officials could provide shelter for those living in the camps.
—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
Biden made the announcements in a shady spot in Prince William Forest Park, which was established in 1936 as a summer camp for underprivileged youth from Washington.
—Associated Press, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
It was established in 1936 as a summer camp for underprivileged youth from Washington, part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps to help create jobs during the Great Depression.
—Alexa St. John, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024
School breaks and summers during my childhood were packed with enrichment programs, summer camps, day trips to museums or beaches, amusement park visits, and heading up North to spend time with extended family.
—Ronny Maye, Essence, 22 Apr. 2024
The unique nail-biter takes place in the shadows of L.A.’s homeless camps, run-down motels and dark alleys, following women who have turned — for various reasons — to a life of crime.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Almost immediately, there were two camps: One said true fans would wait until the album’s official release, at midnight on Friday.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
The tiny home village was dreamed up by Jorgenson and other volunteers who spent time working in the camps around the Kansas City metro.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024
Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
Most visitors were respectful, but some trashed the area, camped illegally or partied with drugs.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
At the time, some in the Justice Department were pushing for the chance to look at ties between pro-Trump rioters who assaulted the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, his allies who had camped out at the Willard Hotel, and possibly Mr. Trump himself.
—Adam Goldman, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Bring a picnic, blanket, swim goggles, and games, and set up a tent or canopy where everyone can camp throughout the day.
—Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
Authorities found three girls — between the ages of 11 and 14 — in the trailer, which had a makeshift toilet, a sofa, camping chairs and no ventilation.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024
According to a Chicago Tribune report last month, Johnson's office announced there were no more migrants camped out at the airports.
—Jamie Joseph, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2024
On average, Quiñones would traverse 21 to 27 miles per day depending on the next town – sometimes camping in the desert or along the shore, but mostly sleeping in restaurants.
—Ana Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
The fugitive accused of killing a Charlotte mom and her two children was camping in a notorious off-the-grid desert community when captured near the Mexico border, according to an incident report.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
In Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, authorities did not allow Palestinian refugees to be integrated into their new countries of residence, forcing them instead to live in temporary camps, where they were encouraged to nurture the idea of return.
—Tom Segev, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
In San Jose and Oakland, judges halted efforts to remove hundreds of people from massive encampments near the San Jose Mineta International Airport and along Wood Street in West Oakland until city officials could provide shelter for those living in the camps.
—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
Biden made the announcements in a shady spot in Prince William Forest Park, which was established in 1936 as a summer camp for underprivileged youth from Washington.
—Associated Press, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
It was established in 1936 as a summer camp for underprivileged youth from Washington, part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps to help create jobs during the Great Depression.
—Alexa St. John, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024
School breaks and summers during my childhood were packed with enrichment programs, summer camps, day trips to museums or beaches, amusement park visits, and heading up North to spend time with extended family.
—Ronny Maye, Essence, 22 Apr. 2024
The unique nail-biter takes place in the shadows of L.A.’s homeless camps, run-down motels and dark alleys, following women who have turned — for various reasons — to a life of crime.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Almost immediately, there were two camps: One said true fans would wait until the album’s official release, at midnight on Friday.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
The tiny home village was dreamed up by Jorgenson and other volunteers who spent time working in the camps around the Kansas City metro.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024
Verb
More than 10,000 customers flocked to the store at 3881 East Commerce Way on opening day, including Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and folks who camped overnight to take advantage of deals.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
Most visitors were respectful, but some trashed the area, camped illegally or partied with drugs.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
At the time, some in the Justice Department were pushing for the chance to look at ties between pro-Trump rioters who assaulted the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, his allies who had camped out at the Willard Hotel, and possibly Mr. Trump himself.
—Adam Goldman, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Bring a picnic, blanket, swim goggles, and games, and set up a tent or canopy where everyone can camp throughout the day.
—Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
Authorities found three girls — between the ages of 11 and 14 — in the trailer, which had a makeshift toilet, a sofa, camping chairs and no ventilation.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024
According to a Chicago Tribune report last month, Johnson's office announced there were no more migrants camped out at the airports.
—Jamie Joseph, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2024
On average, Quiñones would traverse 21 to 27 miles per day depending on the next town – sometimes camping in the desert or along the shore, but mostly sleeping in restaurants.
—Ana Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
The fugitive accused of killing a Charlotte mom and her two children was camping in a notorious off-the-grid desert community when captured near the Mexico border, according to an incident report.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'camp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near camp
Cite this Entry
“Camp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camp. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
camp
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a place usually away from cities where tents or buildings are erected for shelter or for living in temporarily
b
: a group of tents, cabins, or huts
c
: a tent or cabin to be lived in temporarily (as during vacation)
d
: a place usually in the country for recreation or instruction often during the summer
summer camp
also
: a program offering access to recreational or educational facilities for a limited period of time
a resort offering boating and hiking camps
computer camp
2
: a body of persons in a camp
camp
2 of 2 verb1
: to make or occupy a camp
2
: to live in a camp or outdoors
camp out overnight
Biographical Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share