1
: containing or constituting a center
3
a
: situated at, in, or near the center
the central part of the state
b
: easily accessible from outlying districts
a central location for the new theater
4
a
: centrally placed and superseding separate scattered units
central heating
b
: controlling or directing local or branch activities
the central committee
5
: holding to a middle between extremes : moderate
6
: of, relating to, or comprising the brain and spinal cord
also
: originating within the central nervous system
central deafness
1
: a telephone exchange or operator
2
: a central office or bureau usually controlling others
weather central
3
: a center or hub for a specified activity or group
her house is party central
the family room becomes kid central
Synonyms
Examples of central in a Sentence
Adjective
The house has four rooms and a central chimney.
City planners are looking for a central location for the new hospital.
The evidence was central to the defense's case.
The country's schools are financed by both local and central governments.
The central authority of the company's board is being challenged.
Noun
Our family room becomes kid central on weekends.
a health club that has become dating central for singles in the area
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Recent Examples on the Web
Emma Ogao, ABC News, 22 Nov. 2023
Its falcon logo perches atop several of the high rises in central Abu Dhabi.
—Chico Harlan, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
Assistants pose by an artwork titled Love is the Bin by British street artist Banksy during a photocall at Sotheby's auction house in central London on Sept. 3, 2021.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2023
Or perhaps that outcome only further underlines the drama’s central point, about the way the system entraps us all.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023
Policy makers and traders are now contending with the reality of repo's fragility after a cyber attack on a non-U.S. bank disrupted the market that played a central role in the demise of Lehman Brothers and the market panic of March 2020.
—Eric Wallerstein, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023
Over the weekend, Israeli forces reportedly detained Abu Toha in central Gaza.
—The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
TikTok is playing an increasingly central role in the media diet of Americans and for understanding and discussing current events.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023
Here’s the central challenge of making a better vaccine.
—Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 10 Nov. 2023
John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, 28 July 2023
But some Fed officials have indicated in recent speeches and interviews that they’re not yet convinced that inflation is on a certain path toward the central’s banks 2% target, intensifying the debate over raising rates again or pausing.
—Bryan Mena, CNN, 23 May 2023
Utah experienced other small earthquakes that weren't felt, including a 2.9-magnitude one south central in Piute County.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 21 June 2023
The dream of reviving this historic dance hall wouldn’t have been realized if not for Frank Acevedo, who grew up poor in L.A.'s Rampart district, yearning for a place where low-income youths could find a community resource center, an education annex and a Latino party central — all rolled into one.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2022
In 2019, Islamic State central claimed its first attack on behalf of the group, and Baluku appeared in a video reaffirming the previously unpublicized alliance.
—Katharine Houreld, Washington Post, 5 June 2023
Before the Prada store opened catty-corner from Fanelli’s in 2001, kicking off the neighborhood’s transformation into a high-end retail destination, SoHo was quieter and grungier, art-gallery central.
—Ashley Fetters Maloy, Washington Post, 7 May 2023
First and foremost, there's the human aspect; how will immediate family members like Kendall, Shiv, Roman, Connor, and even Tom react and respond to losing such a central (and, yes, evil) figure in their lives?
—Evan Romano, Men's Health, 10 Apr. 2023
Fortune - Startup central.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2022
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Adjective
The central Mediterranean migration route – which stretches between North Africa and Italy – has accounted for half of irregular border crossings in 2023, according to European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex.
—Emma Ogao, ABC News, 22 Nov. 2023
Its falcon logo perches atop several of the high rises in central Abu Dhabi.
—Chico Harlan, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
Assistants pose by an artwork titled Love is the Bin by British street artist Banksy during a photocall at Sotheby's auction house in central London on Sept. 3, 2021.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2023
Or perhaps that outcome only further underlines the drama’s central point, about the way the system entraps us all.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023
Policy makers and traders are now contending with the reality of repo's fragility after a cyber attack on a non-U.S. bank disrupted the market that played a central role in the demise of Lehman Brothers and the market panic of March 2020.
—Eric Wallerstein, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023
Over the weekend, Israeli forces reportedly detained Abu Toha in central Gaza.
—The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
TikTok is playing an increasingly central role in the media diet of Americans and for understanding and discussing current events.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023
Here’s the central challenge of making a better vaccine.
—Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 10 Nov. 2023
Noun
But Fyffe, a town of 963 people in DeKalb County, which abuts the Georgia line and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s district, was weird-sighting central.
—John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, 28 July 2023
But some Fed officials have indicated in recent speeches and interviews that they’re not yet convinced that inflation is on a certain path toward the central’s banks 2% target, intensifying the debate over raising rates again or pausing.
—Bryan Mena, CNN, 23 May 2023
Utah experienced other small earthquakes that weren't felt, including a 2.9-magnitude one south central in Piute County.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 21 June 2023
The dream of reviving this historic dance hall wouldn’t have been realized if not for Frank Acevedo, who grew up poor in L.A.'s Rampart district, yearning for a place where low-income youths could find a community resource center, an education annex and a Latino party central — all rolled into one.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2022
In 2019, Islamic State central claimed its first attack on behalf of the group, and Baluku appeared in a video reaffirming the previously unpublicized alliance.
—Katharine Houreld, Washington Post, 5 June 2023
Before the Prada store opened catty-corner from Fanelli’s in 2001, kicking off the neighborhood’s transformation into a high-end retail destination, SoHo was quieter and grungier, art-gallery central.
—Ashley Fetters Maloy, Washington Post, 7 May 2023
First and foremost, there's the human aspect; how will immediate family members like Kendall, Shiv, Roman, Connor, and even Tom react and respond to losing such a central (and, yes, evil) figure in their lives?
—Evan Romano, Men's Health, 10 Apr. 2023
Fortune - Startup central.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'central.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
borrowed from Latin centrālis, from centrum center entry 1 + -ālis -al entry 1
Noun
derivative of central entry 1
Phrases Containing central
Dictionary Entries Near central
Cite this Entry
“Central.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/central. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
central
adjective
cen·tral
ˈsen-trəl
1
: containing or being a center
the central office
2
: chief entry 1 sense 2, principal
the central figure in a story
3
: situated at, in, or near the center
the store is in a central location
4
: of, relating to, or consisting of the brain and spinal cord
also
: originating within the central nervous system
centrality
noun
sen-ˈtral-ət-ē
centrally
adverb
ˈsen-trə-lē
Medical Definition
central
adjective
cen·tral
ˈsen-trəl 
1
: of or concerning the centrum of a vertebra
2
a
: of, relating to, or comprising the brain and spinal cord
b
: originating within the central nervous system : caused by factors originating in the central nervous system
central precocious puberty
3
: affecting or involving the trunk of the body and especially the abdomen
central adiposity
More from Merriam-Webster on central
Nglish: Translation of central for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of central for Arabic Speakers
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