café

noun, often attributive ca·fé \ ka-ˈfā , kə- \

variants: or less commonly cafe

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Examples: café in a Sentence

Definition of café

1 : a usually small and informal establishment serving various refreshments (such as coffee); broadly : restaurant

2 : barroom

3 : cabaret, nightclub

See café defined for English-language learners

See café defined for kids

Examples of café in a Sentence

the café presents nationally known jazz performers in an intimate setting
a speakeasy that became a fashionable café with the repeal of prohibition

Recent Examples of café from the Web

In one case, an employee of the country’s domestic intelligence agency was inside an internet cafe when the owner was gunned down, but claimed not to have seen or heard anything problematic.

— frank jordans, The Seattle Times, "As German neo-Nazi trial ends, families demand more answers," 10 July 2018
In one case, an employee of the country’s domestic intelligence agency was inside an internet cafe when the owner was gunned down, but claimed not to have seen or heard anything problematic.

— Washington Post, "As German neo-Nazi trial ends, families demand more answers," 10 July 2018
By October, cafe executives hope to launch stores near Yale and Amherst College.

— graham ambrose, BostonGlobe.com, "Free coffee — with a catch — is coming to Massachusetts," 14 July 2018
Polish dogs will be available at all Sam’s Club cafes starting July 23 for only $0.99!

— michelle gant, Fox News, "Sam's Club offering Polish dogs in response to Costco's news," 13 July 2018
At the cafe tables, guests tap on laptops next to empty cappuccino cups.

— maggie hoffman, SFChronicle.com, "Finding love at Orson’s Belly in the Richmond," 12 July 2018
TLA’s offices are located in Cleveland’s Waterloo Arts District, a bohemian downtown neighborhood with art galleries, boutique shops, and cafes.

— christopher johnston, The Christian Science Monitor, "Cleveland uses literature to empower youth, overcome social divides," 9 July 2018
Efforts to reach Israel’s ambassador to Sweden at the time of the cafe meeting, Gideon Ben Ami, and the North Korean envoy, Son Mu Sin, weren’t successful.

— andrew jeong, WSJ, "North Korean Ex-Diplomat Says Blackmail Is Part of Regime’s Playbook," 8 July 2018
Cyber cafes must install surveillance cameras, and all owners of electronic mobile devices, including phones, have to protect them with a password.

— shayera dark, The Verge, "Strict new internet laws in Tanzania are driving bloggers and content creators offline," 6 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'café.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of café

French café coffee, café, from Turkish kahve — more at coffee

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1802

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

café Synonyms

Synonyms

diner, eatery, grill, restaurant;

pizzeria;

coffeehouse, coffee shop, teahouse, tearoom;

bar, barroom, inn, tavern;

CAFE

abbreviation \ ka-ˈfā \

Definition of CAFE

corporate average fuel economy

Other Automotive Terms

articulated, block, choke, clutch, diesel, neutral, transmission

CAFÉ Defined for English Language Learners

café

noun

Definition of café for English Language Learners

: a small restaurant where you can get simple meals and drinks (such as coffee)

CAFÉ Defined for Kids

café

noun ca·fé

variants: also cafe \ka-ˈfā, kə-\

Definition of café for Students

: a small restaurant serving usually simple meals

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See words that rhyme with café Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for café Spanish Central: Translation of café

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café

Definition of café

Examples of café in a Sentence

Recent Examples of café from the Web

Origin and Etymology of café

café Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

CAFE

Definition of CAFE

Other Automotive Terms

CAFÉ Defined for English Language Learners

café

Definition of café for English Language Learners

CAFÉ Defined for Kids

café

Definition of café for Students

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