pawn 1 of 3

Definition of pawnnext
as in tool
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another though he liked to play up his influence with city hall, he was really just another pawn of the political bosses

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pawn

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in pledge
something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise offered her license as a pawn that she would bring back the rental canoe

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pawn

3 of 3

verb

as in to deposit
to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan he pawned his antique watch in order to pay off his gambling debt

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pawn
Noun
Authorities raided the pawn shop on Monday. Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026 Lee is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, June 11, for a double murder during a pawn shop robbery in 1998. Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Verb
Burglarizing the homes of those in his social circle and pawning the items just to stay afloat. Ryan Brennan april 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026 Testimony established that Garcia pawned the rings at a Cash America Pawn Shop and received $300. Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawn
Noun
  • Under them, a chatbot must not be able to interact with someone under 18 unless it is programmed against encouraging self-destructive behavior and provides parents with tools to manage the child’s use.
    Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
  • Miller-Green previously spent time in the Chicago White Sox organization and attracted national attention because of his remarkable background and rare physical tools.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • Various countries are deploying rescue teams to Venezuela and pledges of foreign aid are pouring in after twin earthquakes destroyed neighborhoods and devastated communities.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • The administration's pledge has already run into a competing account from Tehran.
    Luke Fountain, CNBC, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • According to prosecutors, Eidleh deposited more than $5 million in fraud proceeds, kickbacks and bribes into accounts associated with shell companies in an effort to conceal the source of the money.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
  • The best answer for the future of Social Security is to establish personal accounts with proper regulations for younger people into which part of their payroll taxes would be deposited.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • The world premiere on Sunday – in the presence of Illumination boss Chris Meledandri and director Pierre Coffin, who is also the origin of the minions’ unintelligible chatter – kicks off one of the biggest Annecy Film Festival’s yet.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 June 2026
  • The two key attractions include the Bello Bay Cruise river rapids ride where yellow minions face off against purple minions and the Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby teacups ride.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Restore notes prices vary by studio, so that figure is an example, not a guarantee.
    Allison Palmer Updated June 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026
  • Still, the formula should be viewed as a guide rather than a guarantee.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • One borrower who manages a large hedge fund hocked his wife’s eight-carat diamond ring—worth upwards of $600,000—after receiving a large margin call (the loan was eventually repaid and the ring was returned.
    Sergei Klebnikov, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2026
  • The page gave a deep snort, hocking a chartreuse wad against the root of the nightingale’s birch.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Medics rushed the victim to a local hospital for treatment.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
  • Witnesses told police that the victim had called and reported that O’Neal had assaulted her, the witnesses told police.
    Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • Turns out, a kid brought in with gunshot wounds died in that room the same night, and a final look at the security footage shows a mysterious third man — clearly hiding his face from all cameras under a label-less baseball cap — entering the same room around the same time as Ji.
    Andy Andersen, Vulture, 27 June 2026
  • More than $800 billion tracks the index, including the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), which is one of the most popular securities traded each day and is seen as a barometer for the artificial intelligence bull market.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 27 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawn. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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