place

verb

placed; placing

transitive verb

1

a

: to put in or as if in a particular place or position : set

b

: to present for consideration

a question placed before the group

c

: to put in a particular state

place a performer under contract

d

: to direct to a desired spot

e

: to cause (the voice) to produce free and well resonated singing or speaking tones

2

a

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

b

: estimate

placed the value of the estate too high

c

: to identify by connecting with an associated context

couldn't quite place her face

police placed them at the crime scene

3

: to distribute in an orderly manner : arrange

4

: to appoint to a position

5

: to find a place (such as a home or employment) for

6

a

: to give (an order) to a supplier

b

: to give an order for

place a bet

c

: to try to establish a connection for

place a telephone call

intransitive verb

: to earn a given spot in a competition

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

placeable

ˈplā-sə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of place

• put
• situate
• position
• locate

Examples of place in a Sentence

The box was placed at the center of the room.

You can really see the similarities when you place the two pictures side by side.

Her name was placed on the list.

The husbands and wives were placed in separate groups.

They were placed next to each other in line.

Working with sick people places him at risk for infection.

By not accepting the prosecutor's deal, he places his future in the hands of the jury.

We're placing you under arrest.

He was released from jail and placed on probation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Other top finishers at the event included JJ Da Lion, who placed second with 151 Oreos, and Stef2hungry, who finished third after eating 126 cookies. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026

The federal study looked at the possibility of placing a field 11 rock groins up to 900 feet long spaced out along the beach from North Coast Village south to about Wisconsin Avenue. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026

The Colorado Department Of Corrections has disclosed no other details, but has placed the facility on lockdown and suspended visitation at all Colorado state prisons until further notice. —Logan Smith, CBS News, 7 June 2026

Push the blocking sled back, move the cushions mimicking an offensive linemen to the left and place your head and body on the outside of its left shoulder to ensure that the edge is set. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 7 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive 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)