noun phrase

noun, often capitalized N&P

Definition of noun phrase

: a phrase formed by a noun and all its modifiers and determiners broadly : any syntactic element (such as a clause, clitic, pronoun, or zero element) with a noun's function (such as the subject of a verb or the object of a verb or preposition) —abbreviation NP

Examples of noun phrase in a Sentence

In the sentence “I found the owner of the dog,” “the owner of the dog” is a noun phrase.

Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, a two-year-old child tested alongside Kanzi quickly intuits that two nouns can make up a noun phrase, tucked as a direct object into a verb phrase, which in turn is part of a sentence. — The Economist, "A new book spells out the magic of language," 22 Aug. 2019

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

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Cite this Entry

“Noun phrase.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noun%20phrase. Accessed 28 January 2020.

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