commune

1 of 2

verb

com·​mune kə-ˈmyün How to pronounce commune (audio)
communed; communing

transitive verb

obsolete : talk over, discuss
have more to communeWilliam Shakespeare

intransitive verb

1
: to receive Communion
The people who had communed returned to their pews using the side aisles.
2
: to communicate intimately
commune with nature
… he stands communing with his soul on a bridge …Richard Alleva

commune

2 of 2

noun

com·​mune ˈkäm-ˌyün How to pronounce commune (audio)
kə-ˈmyün,
kä-
1
: the smallest administrative district of many countries especially in Europe
2
3
: community: such as
a
: a medieval usually municipal corporation
b(1)
: mir
(2)
: an often rural community organized on a communal basis

Examples of commune in a Sentence

Verb a psychic who communes with the dead after a week in the wilderness, the scouts were really starting to commune with nature Noun He's living in a religious commune.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Social plans are canceled and action is off the table until you’re finished communing with the shadows. Jennifer Culp, Them, 27 Sep. 2024 After three years of work, the little house is now ready to welcome the public drawn by both its charming comforts and its enviable location that allows guests to commune with nature. Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 10 Aug. 2024
Noun
Haunted houses, the Arts in the Dark parade, theater that communes with the spirit world and a chance to shoot zombies from a monster truck. Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2024 Palladino is another outstanding producer from Serralunga d'Alba, arguably the finest commune for classic Barolo with substantial aging potential. Tom Hyland, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for commune 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commune.' 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

Verb

Middle English, to share, receive Communion, from Anglo-French communer, cummunier, from Late Latin communicare, from Latin — see communicate

Noun

French, alteration of Middle French comugne, from Medieval Latin communia, from Latin, neuter plural of communis

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of commune was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near commune

Cite this Entry

“Commune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commune. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

commune

1 of 2 verb
com·​mune kə-ˈmyün How to pronounce commune (audio)
communed; communing
1
: to receive Communion
2
: to be in close communication with someone or something
commune with nature

commune

2 of 2 noun
com·​mune ˈkäm-ˌyün How to pronounce commune (audio)
kə-ˈmyün
1
: the smallest administrative district of many countries especially in Europe
2
: a small group of people that live together and share property and duties

More from Merriam-Webster on commune

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