hamlet

play

noun ham·let \ ˈham-lət \

Definition of hamlet

:a small village

See hamlet defined for English-language learners

See hamlet defined for kids

Examples of hamlet in a Sentence

she always longed to return to the quiet hamlet where she had been born

Recent Examples of hamlet from the Web

Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer grew up in Frankville, a rural hamlet in southwest Alabama.

— mary colurso | mcolurso@al.com, AL.com, "Alabama's Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer: 2 music roads paved with tragedy and triumph," 25 Aug. 2017
One place that will see maximum time of totality, according to data complied on the website Eclipse-chasers.com, is the old railroad hamlet of Makanda, in southern Illinois.

— michael e. ruane, Washington Post, "For one day, a fractured country will be united by sun, moon and history," 15 Aug. 2017
Getting health care is a common problem for the residents of Hillsboro, a tiny hamlet in the middle of Appalachia with a population of just under 250 residents.

— vickie connor, Kaiser Health News, "Health Gap Widens Between Appalachia And Rest Of The U.S.," 7 Aug. 2017
Privatization would transform a government service that requires equal standards across a vast territory — from large cities to tiny hamlets — into a private operation seeking maximum returns to investors.

— kirk johnson, The Seattle Times, "Columbia River power struggle: Trump privatization proposal generates new energy debate," 28 July 2017
Or, certainly, some part of Hamlet: snippets from the seven famous soliloquies, a brooding man holding a skull, Reviving Ophelia.

— richard lawson, HWD, "As Hamlet, Oscar Isaac Proves He’s the Best Actor of His Generation," 14 July 2017
Except back then radar hadn't been perfected, so the 19 residents of this Tippecanoe County hamlet (pronounced KAY-ro) and their neighbors thought it best to personally eyeball their airspace.

— will higgins, Indianapolis Star, "That time Hoosiers built a tower to spot Soviet bombers," 10 July 2017
The nearby hamlet has two combination general stores and restaurants.

— michael virtanen, Detroit Free Press, "West Virginia peaks draw experienced climbers, novices," 8 July 2017
Johnsonville brat: Made in Johnsonville (an incorporated hamlet in the town of Sheboygan Falls), world famous for its sausage with the local Johnsonville Fire Department hosting an annual Sausage Fest fundraiser every July.

— jennifer rude klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "All-American spread: Set your Fourth of July table with an edible map," 2 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of hamlet

Middle English, from Anglo-French hamelet, diminutive of ham village, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English hām village, home

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

hamlet Synonyms

Synonyms

bourg, village, townlet, vill, whistle-stop

Related Words

cow town, Podunk; outpost

Hamlet

play

noun Ham·let \ ˈham-lət \

Definition of Hamlet

:a legendary Danish prince and hero of Shakespeare's play Hamlet

Recent Examples of hamlet from the Web

Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer grew up in Frankville, a rural hamlet in southwest Alabama.

— mary colurso | mcolurso@al.com, AL.com, "Alabama's Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer: 2 music roads paved with tragedy and triumph," 25 Aug. 2017
One place that will see maximum time of totality, according to data complied on the website Eclipse-chasers.com, is the old railroad hamlet of Makanda, in southern Illinois.

— michael e. ruane, Washington Post, "For one day, a fractured country will be united by sun, moon and history," 15 Aug. 2017
Getting health care is a common problem for the residents of Hillsboro, a tiny hamlet in the middle of Appalachia with a population of just under 250 residents.

— vickie connor, Kaiser Health News, "Health Gap Widens Between Appalachia And Rest Of The U.S.," 7 Aug. 2017
Privatization would transform a government service that requires equal standards across a vast territory — from large cities to tiny hamlets — into a private operation seeking maximum returns to investors.

— kirk johnson, The Seattle Times, "Columbia River power struggle: Trump privatization proposal generates new energy debate," 28 July 2017
Or, certainly, some part of Hamlet: snippets from the seven famous soliloquies, a brooding man holding a skull, Reviving Ophelia.

— richard lawson, HWD, "As Hamlet, Oscar Isaac Proves He’s the Best Actor of His Generation," 14 July 2017
Except back then radar hadn't been perfected, so the 19 residents of this Tippecanoe County hamlet (pronounced KAY-ro) and their neighbors thought it best to personally eyeball their airspace.

— will higgins, Indianapolis Star, "That time Hoosiers built a tower to spot Soviet bombers," 10 July 2017
The nearby hamlet has two combination general stores and restaurants.

— michael virtanen, Detroit Free Press, "West Virginia peaks draw experienced climbers, novices," 8 July 2017
Johnsonville brat: Made in Johnsonville (an incorporated hamlet in the town of Sheboygan Falls), world famous for its sausage with the local Johnsonville Fire Department hosting an annual Sausage Fest fundraiser every July.

— jennifer rude klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "All-American spread: Set your Fourth of July table with an edible map," 2 July 2017

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