garden

noun

gar·​den ˈgär-dᵊn How to pronounce garden (audio)
plural gardens
Synonyms of gardennext
1
a
: a plot of ground where herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables are cultivated
b
: a rich well-cultivated region
c
: a container (such as a window box) planted with usually a variety of small plants
2
a
: a public recreation area or park usually ornamented with plants and trees
a botanical garden
b
: an open-air eating or drinking place
c
: a large hall for public entertainment
gardenful noun

Examples of garden in a Sentence

We planted a small garden in our backyard. They were sitting out in the back garden.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Much of the organic produce served on the island is grown on-site in the permaculture gardens. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026 The memorial is made up of a garden with 50 granite steps leading to a massive tablet carved with a portion of his inauguration address from 1961. Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026 The late Victorian-era mansion, set in 66 acres of prime Hampshire parkland and gardens, certainly makes a statement. Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 2 June 2026 What began as a land of artisanal knowledge-makers cultivating gardens of wisdom became an industrial farming operation powered by social media platforms. David S. Bennahum, Fortune, 24 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for garden

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gardyn, borrowed from Anglo-French gardyn, gardeyn, jardin, from Old French jart, (Picard and French Flanders) gart "garden" (going back to Old Low Franconian *garda- "enclosure, fence" going back to Germanic *garđa-, whence Old Saxon gard "garden, dwelling, world," Old High German gart "enclosure," Old English geard "fence, enclosure") + -in, probably adjective suffix (going back to Latin -īnus -ine entry 1), originally in Gallo-Romance *hortus gardīnus "enclosed garden" — more at yard entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of garden was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Garden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/garden. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

garden

1 of 3 noun
gar·​den ˈgärd-ᵊn How to pronounce garden (audio)
1
: a plot of ground where herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables are grown
2
a
: a public recreation area or park usually ornamented with plants and trees
a botanical garden
b
: an open-air eating or drinking place

garden

2 of 3 verb
gardened; gardening ˈgärd-niŋ How to pronounce garden (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
1
: to lay out or work in a garden
2
: to make into a garden

garden

3 of 3 adjective
1
: of, relating to, used in, or frequenting gardens
2
: of a kind grown under cultivation especially in the open
garden plants

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