place

noun

ˈplās 

plural places

1

a

: physical environment : space

b

: a way for admission or transit

c

: physical surroundings : atmosphere

2

a

: an indefinite region or expanse

all over the place

b

: a building or locality used for a special purpose

a place of learning

a fine eating place

c

archaic : the three-dimensional compass of a material object

3

a

: a particular region, center of population, or location

a nice place to visit

b

: a building, part of a building, or area occupied as a home

our summer place

4

: a particular part of a surface or body : spot

5

: relative position in a scale or series: such as

a

: position in a social scale

kept them in their place

b

: a step in a sequence

in the first place, it's none of your business

c

: a position at the conclusion of a competition

finished in last place

6

a

: a proper or designated niche or setting

the place of education in society

b

: an appropriate moment or point

This is not the place to discuss compensation …

—Robert Moses

c

: a distinct condition, position, or state of mind

… the postfeminist generation is in a different place.

—Betty Friedan

7

a

: an available seat or accommodation

needs a place to stay

b

: an empty or vacated position

new ones will take their place

8

: the position of a figure in relation to others of a row or series

especially : the position of a digit within a numeral

9

a

: remunerative employment : job

b

: prestige accorded to one of high rank : status

… an endless quest for preferment and place.

—Time

10

: a public square : plaza

11

: a small street or court

12

: second place at the finish (as of a horse race)

see also:

in place in place of out of place take place

Synonyms of place

• location
• venue
• site
• spot

Examples of place in a Sentence

New York City is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

I've heard it's a good place to raise children.

places like Africa and South America

the hottest place on earth

churches and other places of worship

You should plan to meet him in a public place.

You've come to the right place. I have just what you need.

They gave him a place to stay for the night.

We're going to need a bigger place once the baby is born.

He's looking to buy a place in the country.

Recent Examples on the Web

The food and travel personality explores the people, places and hidden stories behind iconic global destinations. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 7 June 2026

If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter. —Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 June 2026

The Fever's next game comes on the road against the Washington Mystics, with Indiana looking to avoid slipping to fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings. —Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026

But so is connecting with locals in a place that’s an all-night party. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, open space, from Latin platea broad street, from Greek plateia (hodos), from feminine of platys broad, flat; akin to Sanskrit pṛthu broad, Latin planta sole of the foot

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing place

• all over the place
• a place to call home
• between a rock and a hard place
• between the rock and the hard place
• blow into (a place)
• decimal place
• dwelling place
• fall into place
• final/last resting place
• give place to
• happy place
• heart is in the right place
• hiding place
• high place
• hundreds place
• in place
• in place of
• in the first place
• in the second place
• into place
• jumping-off place
• keep (someone) in his/her place
• lightning never strikes (the same place) twice
• like he owns the place
• like someone owns the place
• lose one's place
• make a place
• mise en place
• no place for
• not have a hair out of place
• ones place
• out of place
• parking place/space/spot
• place a high value on
• place heavy demands on
• place/house of worship
• place in the sun
• place/make a wager
• place mat
• place-name
• place of abode
• place of business
• place of honor
• place of origin
• place of refuge
• place/put little credence in
• place/put stock in
• place setting
• place value
• polling place
• pride of place
• put/place a premium on
• put/place someone at a disadvantage
• put/place (someone) on a pedestal
• put someone in his/her place
• resting place
• shelter-in-place
• take (a place) by storm
• take one's place
• take place
• take the place of (someone or something)
• tens place
• the place to be
• thousands place
• units place
• watering place

Rhymes for place

• ace
• base
• brace
• case
• chace
• dace
• face
• grace
• lace
• mace
• pace
• plaice

Kids Definition

place

1 of 2 noun

ˈplās 

1

: an available space : room

make a place for the newcomer

2

a

: a region not made clear in description

all over the place

b

: a building or spot set apart for a special purpose

a place of learning

3

a

: a certain region or center of population

a nice place to visit

b

: house entry 1 sense 1, dwelling

nice place you have here

our summer place

4

: a certain part of a surface or body : spot

a sore place on my shoulder

lost my place in the book

5

: relative position in a scale or series

kept them in their place

in the first place, you're wrong

finished in last place

6

a

: a proper position

the place of education in society

b

: a suitable moment or point

this is not the place to discuss that problem

7

a

: an available seat or accommodation

needs a place to stay

b

: usual space or use

paper towels take the place of linen

8

: the position of a digit in a numeral

the number 316 has three places

in 2.718 the digit 1 is two places after the decimal point

9

: job sense 3, position

10

: a public square

11

: a short street

12

: second position at the finish (as of a horse race)

place

2 of 2 verb

placed; placing

1

: to put or arrange in a certain place or position

2

a

: to appoint to a position

was placed in command

b

: to find a job or home for

place a child for adoption

3

a

: to assign to a position in a series or category : rank

b

: estimate entry 1 sense 1

placed the value of the ring too high

c

: to identify by association

couldn't quite place her face

4

: to give an order for

place a bet

5

: to come in second (as in a horse race)