plural homes
1
2
: the social unit formed by a family living together
trying to make a good home for their children
comes from a loving home
3
a
: a familiar or usual setting : congenial environment
also
: the focus of one's domestic attention
home is where the heart is
b
: habitat
the home of the kangaroo
The island is home to many species of birds.
4
a
: a place of origin
salmon returning to their home to spawn
also
: one's own country
having troubles at home and abroad
b
: headquarters sense 2
home of the dance company
5
: an establishment providing residence and care for people with special needs
homes for the elderly
6
: the objective in various games
especially
: home plate
1
: to or at one's place of residence or home (see home entry 1 sense 1a)
told the dog to go home
stayed home all day
2
a
: to a final, closed, or ultimate position
drive a nail home
b
: to or at an ultimate objective (such as a goal or finish line)
fired the puck home
3
: to a vital sensitive core
the truth struck home
1
: of, relating to, or being a place of residence, place of origin, or base of operations
the company's home office
2
: prepared, done, or designed for use in a home (see home entry 1)
home remedies
home cooking
a home entertainment system
3
: operating or occurring in an area that is a headquarters or base of operations
the home team
home games
homed; homing
1
: to go or return to one's place of residence or origin : to go or return home (see home entry 1)
let us home
2
of an animal
: to return accurately to one's native area of place of birth or origin from a distance : to return home
The salmon will home to spawn.
3
: to move to or toward an objective by following a signal or landmark
—usually used with on or in
missiles homing in on a target
mariners … sought the dark spires of Oakland's redwoods to home on—
J. W. Noble
J. W. Noble4
: to proceed or direct attention toward an objective
science is homing in on the mysterious human process—Sam Glucksberg
Sam Glucksberg
: to send to or provide with a home
hidden pools and much wider creeks each of which homed its cranes—I. L. Idriess
I. L. IdriessExamples of home in a Sentence
Noun
Right now his home is a small apartment.
People are concerned about protecting their homes.
They have a second home on the lake.
There's no place like home.
I must have left my notes at home.
She made a good home for her husband and children.
The islands are home to many species of birds.
Can you find homes for these files in your office?
Adverb
She called home to say she would be late for dinner.
He's sending money home from a job overseas.
She is on her way home.
It's great to be back home.
I can't wait to come home.
He used a hammer to drive the nail home.
Adjective
She has a happy home life.
Please give us your home phone number.
What is your home address?
The team opens its home season in just two weeks.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Bressan, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
The 19th century house was originally located about a mile north of Concord, Massachusetts, in a community historically composed of African Americans and indigenous people that is now the home of a waste treatment plant, according to Jen Turner, the museum’s executive director.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 20 June 2025
Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2025
The ball never reached Rosario, and Betts hustled home from second base without a throw.
—Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Macon said people were mostly home when the late-night tornado came through, downing huge trees, dozens of electric poles and power lines, but there had not been reports of injuries or fatalities.
—Hannah Fingerhut, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Samantha Leal, StyleCaster, 25 Apr. 2025
The output rotates continuously, requires no calibration or homing on boot-up, and contains a thru-bore for easy daisy-chaining of wiring.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 12 July 2019
See All Example Sentences for home
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
During an eruption in November 2024, nine people were killed when hot ash ignited their homes.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
The 19th century house was originally located about a mile north of Concord, Massachusetts, in a community historically composed of African Americans and indigenous people that is now the home of a waste treatment plant, according to Jen Turner, the museum’s executive director.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 20 June 2025
Adverb
He was cleared by Yankees doctors to fly home with the team Thursday night and underwent a series of medical tests Friday.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2025
The ball never reached Rosario, and Betts hustled home from second base without a throw.
—Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
Adjective
These islands are home to many species of birds and animals that are found nowhere else in the world, and are well-known for their giant tortoises, which comprise 15 subspecies (13 extant and 2 extinct).
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Macon said people were mostly home when the late-night tornado came through, downing huge trees, dozens of electric poles and power lines, but there had not been reports of injuries or fatalities.
—Hannah Fingerhut, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
From Italy to France to Bali to Puerto Rico Mexico to home in California, these sandals have provided great support while still working for a ton of different destinations and experiences.
—Samantha Leal, StyleCaster, 25 Apr. 2025
The output rotates continuously, requires no calibration or homing on boot-up, and contains a thru-bore for easy daisy-chaining of wiring.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 12 July 2019
See All Example Sentences for home
Cite this Entry
“Home.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/home. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
home
1 of 4 noun1
a
: the house in which a person or family lives
2
: a family living together in one dwelling
3
: the place where something is usually or naturally found : habitat
the home of the elephant
4
a
: a place of origin
salmon returning to their home to spawn
b
: the country or place where one lives or where one's ancestors lived
5
: a place for the care of persons unable to care for themselves
old people's home
6
: the goal in some games
especially
: home plate
homelike
adjective
-ˌlīk
home
2 of 4 adverb1
: to or at home
went home
2
: to a final, closed, or standard position
drive a nail home
3
: deeply and meaningfully
the truth struck home
home
3 of 4 adjective1
: of, relating to, or being a home
2
: prepared, done, or designed for use in a home
home cooking
3
: happening or operating in a home area
the home team
home
4 of 4 verb
homed; homing
1
: to go or return home
2
: to send to or provide with a home
Etymology
Noun
Middle English hom, from Old English hām "village, home"
Biographical Definition
Home 1 of 2
biographical name (1)
ˈhyüm 
ˈhōm
Sir Alec Douglas- 1903–1995 British prime minister (1963–64)
Home
2 of 2biographical name (2)
William Douglas- 1912–1992 brother of Alec Douglas-Home British dramatist
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