arcade

noun

ar·​cade är-ˈkād How to pronounce arcade (audio)
plural arcades
1
: a long arched building or gallery
2
a
: an arched covered passageway or avenue (as between shops)
b
chiefly British : a building that includes many shops
A job fair … today will introduce locals to the details of the 250 jobs that a new shopping arcade will bring when its doors open this autumn.The Journal (Newcastle, England)
3
: a series of arches with their columns or piers
4
: an amusement center having coin-operated games

Examples of arcade in a Sentence

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.
In clips posted to AMP’s official X account, the streamers can be seen exploring the former San Antonio Spurs star’s mansion, which features an arcade, basketball courts, a swimming pool, and more. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 July 2025 Other activities include miniature golf and an arcade, among others. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 Despite introducing the modern world to Nintendo games with 1981’s arcade classic, the great ape was quickly sidelined in favor of making Mario a star. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025 The first Tron had played out as a series of face-offs featuring glowing figures against a black background, replicating the blank environment of an arcade screen. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for arcade

Word History

Etymology

French, from Italian arcata, from arco arch, from Latin arcus

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arcade was in 1685

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Cite this Entry

“Arcade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arcade. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

arcade

noun
ar·​cade är-ˈkād How to pronounce arcade (audio)
1
: a row of arches with the columns that support them
2
: an arched or covered passageway (as between shops)
3
: a place with many games to be played by putting coins or tokens in them

Medical Definition

arcade

noun
ar·​cade är-ˈkād How to pronounce arcade (audio)
1
: an anatomical structure comprising a series of arches
2

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