hall

noun

1
a
: the castle or house of a medieval king or noble
b
: the chief living room in such a structure
2
: the manor house of a landed proprietor
3
: a large usually imposing building for public or semipublic purposes
4
a(1)
: a building used by a college or university for some special purpose
(2)
b
: a college or a division of a college at some universities
c(1)
: the common dining room of an English college
(2)
: a meal served there
5
a
: the entrance room of a building : lobby
b
: a corridor or passage in a building
6
: a large room for assembly : auditorium
7
: a place used for public entertainment

Examples of hall in a Sentence

The bathroom is down the hall. Her office is at the end of the hall. I'll meet you in the front hall. The front door opens onto a large hall. We rented a hall for the wedding reception.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It’s located in the food hall at Urban District Market, less than a 10-minute drive from the ballet’s rehearsal studio. Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2025 The stark nine-year old video from L.A.’s InterContinental Hotel, which, CNN obtained and broadcast last spring, shows a half-naked Combs beating and kicking his then-girlfriend in the hall and dragging her back to their room. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 May 2025 Music echoed through the halls of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, prompting even the green room guests to pause and take it in. Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 May 2025 However, Manfred is not the one that would be placing Rose in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown, as ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser reminded all those fans on Tuesday. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hall

Word History

Etymology

Middle English halle, from Old English heall; akin to Old High German halla hall, Latin cella small room, celare to conceal — more at hell

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hall was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hall. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

hall

noun
1
a
: a large or impressive residence or public building
symphony hall
b
: one of the buildings of a college or university
Science Hall
residence halls
2
a
: the entrance room of a building : lobby
b
: a corridor or passage in a building
3
: a large room for assembly : auditorium
4
: a place used for public entertainment

Biographical Definition

Hall 1 of 6

biographical name (1)

Charles Francis 1821–1871 American arctic explorer

Hall

2 of 6

biographical name (2)

Charles Martin 1863–1914 American chemist and manufacturer

Hall

3 of 6

biographical name (3)

G(ranville) Stanley 1844–1924 American psychologist and educator

Hall

4 of 6

biographical name (4)

James Norman 1887–1951 American novelist

Hall

5 of 6

biographical name (5)

Jeffrey C(onnor) 1945–     American biologist

Hall

6 of 6

biographical name (6)

John L(ewis) 1934–     American physicist

More from Merriam-Webster on hall

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