plural curbs
1
a
or British kerb
: an edging (as of concrete) built along a street to form part of a gutter
They sat on the curb eating their ice cream.
see also kick to the curb
b
[from the fact that it originally transacted its business on the street]
: a market for trading in securities not listed on a stock exchange
c
: a raised edge or margin to strengthen or confine
d
: an enclosing frame, border, or edging
2
b
: a bit that exerts severe pressure on a horse's jaws
also
: the chain or strap attached to it see bit illustration
curbed; curbing; curbs
1
: to furnish with a curb
2
: to check or control with or as if with a curb
trying to curb her curiosity
3
: to lead (a dog) to a suitable place (such as a gutter) for defecation
Synonyms
Examples of curb in a Sentence
Noun
We sat on the curb eating our ice cream.
these international regulations act as a curb on the plundering of a nation's archaeological treasures
Verb
The legislation is intended to curb price and wage increases.
pills designed to curb your appetite
Recent Examples on the Web
Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
Caught in the dragnet are influencers and politicians on the political right who call his actions partisan and a curb on freedom of expression.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
New Yorkers often go to great lengths to illegally dump items that could legally be left out on a curb, like mattresses.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
In one of the first scenes of her new TV show, Carrie Preston stands on a Manhattan curb as a taxi drives through a puddle and splashes her with a not-small amount of dirty street water.
—Emily Yahr, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
As he was being photographed outside the clothing company, a white minivan pulled up to the curb.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Last October, a driverless Cruise vehicle dragged a pedestrian over 20 feet to the curb on a street in San Francisco, spurring regulators to suspend the company’s operations permit.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 28 Mar. 2024
Bella Swan may have been unconditionally and irrevocably in love with Edward Cullen, but Kristen Stewart would’ve kicked him to the curb.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Roll them to the curb on garbage day, and off go your pop cans, cardboard, cereal boxes and plastic bottles to the recycling center.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Her trip to South Korea came after Russia rejected the annual renewal of the multinational panel of experts that has over the past 15 years monitored the implementation of U.N. sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
—Reuters, NBC News, 17 Apr. 2024
But making more shares available for purchase could curb the value of existing shareholders' stake in the company, that meant the already volatile stock saw another big swing yesterday.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
On Monday evening, a group of residents, family, friends and advocates came to celebrate Kourtney’s life in front of her home and spoke about the need to curb violence in the community.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
The acetic acid content in apple cider vinegar is said to promote gut health, curb hunger, and more.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2024
Federal agencies are targeting cartel leadership and focusing resources on Arizona's southern border in the fight to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
The Fed has hiked its rate 11 times since March 2022 in its battle to curb inflation.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024
While at the state hospital, SVPs can take part in treatment programs aimed at curbing their criminal urges.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
The southwest corners of the intersections will be reconstructed with new curbs, curb ramps and signal equipment.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
Caught in the dragnet are influencers and politicians on the political right who call his actions partisan and a curb on freedom of expression.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
New Yorkers often go to great lengths to illegally dump items that could legally be left out on a curb, like mattresses.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
In one of the first scenes of her new TV show, Carrie Preston stands on a Manhattan curb as a taxi drives through a puddle and splashes her with a not-small amount of dirty street water.
—Emily Yahr, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
As he was being photographed outside the clothing company, a white minivan pulled up to the curb.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Last October, a driverless Cruise vehicle dragged a pedestrian over 20 feet to the curb on a street in San Francisco, spurring regulators to suspend the company’s operations permit.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 28 Mar. 2024
Bella Swan may have been unconditionally and irrevocably in love with Edward Cullen, but Kristen Stewart would’ve kicked him to the curb.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Roll them to the curb on garbage day, and off go your pop cans, cardboard, cereal boxes and plastic bottles to the recycling center.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
California Can California curb retail theft without changing Prop. 47?
—Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Her trip to South Korea came after Russia rejected the annual renewal of the multinational panel of experts that has over the past 15 years monitored the implementation of U.N. sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
—Reuters, NBC News, 17 Apr. 2024
But making more shares available for purchase could curb the value of existing shareholders' stake in the company, that meant the already volatile stock saw another big swing yesterday.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
On Monday evening, a group of residents, family, friends and advocates came to celebrate Kourtney’s life in front of her home and spoke about the need to curb violence in the community.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
The acetic acid content in apple cider vinegar is said to promote gut health, curb hunger, and more.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2024
Federal agencies are targeting cartel leadership and focusing resources on Arizona's southern border in the fight to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
The Fed has hiked its rate 11 times since March 2022 in its battle to curb inflation.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024
While at the state hospital, SVPs can take part in treatment programs aimed at curbing their criminal urges.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'curb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near curb
Cite this Entry
“Curb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curb. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
curb
1 of 2 noun1
: a chain or strap on a horse's bit used to control the horse by pressing against the lower jaw
2
: check entry 1 sense 3
price curbs
3
: an enclosing border (as of stone or concrete) often along the edge of a street
curb
2 of 2 verb1
: to control by or furnish with or as if with a curb
legislation to curb price and wage increases
curb your appetite
2
: to lead (a dog) to a suitable place (as a gutter) for defecation
Medical Definition
curb
noun
: a swelling on the back of the hind leg of a horse just behind the lowest part of the hock joint that is due to strain or rupture of the ligament and generally causes lameness
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