post

1 of 8

noun (1)

1
: a piece (as of timber or metal) fixed firmly in an upright position especially as a stay or support : pillar, column
2
: a pole or stake set up to mark or indicate something
especially : a pole that marks the starting or finishing point of a horse race
3
a
b
: a football passing play in which the receiver runs downfield before turning towards the middle of the field
4
: the metal stem of a pierced earring
5
: a metallic fitting attached to an electrical device (such as a storage battery) for convenience in making connections

post

2 of 8

verb (1)

posted; posting; posts

transitive verb

1
: to affix to a usual place (such as a wall) for public notices : placard
2
a
: to publish, announce, or advertise by or as if by use of a placard
b
: to denounce by public notice
c
: to enter on a public listing
d
: to forbid (property) to trespassers under penalty of legal prosecution by notices placed along the boundaries
e
: score
posted a 70 in the final round
3
: to publish (something, such as a message) in an online forum (such as a social media site)

post

3 of 8

noun (2)

1
: something (such as a message) that is published online
2
chiefly British
a
: a nation's organization for handling mail
also : the mail handled
b(1)
: a single dispatch of mail
d
3
archaic
a
: one of a series of stations for keeping horses for relays
b
: the distance between any two such consecutive stations : stage
4
obsolete : courier

post

4 of 8

verb (2)

posted; posting; posts

transitive verb

1
: to make familiar with a subject : inform
kept her posted on the latest gossip
2
: mail
post a letter
3
a
: to transfer or carry from a book of original entry to a ledger
b
: to make transfer entries in
4
archaic : to dispatch in haste

intransitive verb

1
: to rise from the saddle and return to it in rhythm with a horse's trot
2
: to ride or travel with haste : hurry
3
: to travel with post-horses

post

5 of 8

adverb

: with post-horses : express

post

6 of 8

noun (3)

1
a
: the place at which a soldier is stationed
especially : a sentry's beat or station
b
: a station or task to which one is assigned
c
: the place at which a body of troops is stationed : camp
d
: a local subdivision of a veterans' organization
e
: one of two bugle calls sounded (as in the British army) at tattoo
2
a
: an office or position to which a person is appointed
b
: an area on a basketball court that is located just outside the free throw lane usually near the basket
also : the offensive position of a player occupying the post
3
b
: a trading station on the floor of a stock exchange

post

7 of 8

verb (3)

posted; posting; posts

transitive verb

1
a
: to station in a given place
guards were posted at the doors
b
: to carry ceremoniously to a position
posting the colors
2
chiefly British : to assign to a unit, position, or location (as in the military or civil service)
3
: to put up
O'Brien claims city cops roughed him up and refused to let him post bond.Jeffrey Ressner

post-

8 of 8

prefix

1
a
: after : subsequent : later
postdate
b
: behind : posterior : following after
postlude
postconsonantal
2
a
: subsequent to : later than
postoperative
b
: posterior to
postorbital

Examples of post in a Sentence

Noun (1) hung the hammock between a tree and a post in the fence Verb (1) the student organizations generally post their announcements on the campus bulletin board posted the students' grades Noun (2) the post always comes at tea time Verb (2) be sure to post the letter this afternoon Noun (3) selling lemonade was my post at the church fair he wisely stayed at his post during the emergency she's held a number of teaching posts at local colleges Verb (3) the police are planning to post an officer outside the hospital room of the witness
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
However, one of the key positives of employee content creation is the engaging nature of authentic posts by your people. Bradley Keenan, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 Maybe physical posters in the hallway announcing events instead of Instagram posts could help. CNN, 8 Oct. 2024
Verb
In 2015, a dance camp where Goebel was a guest instructor posted a video of her dancing, and the clip went viral, with fans commenting on her formidable control. Coralie Kraft, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2024 Not everything has to be captured on video or posted on TikTok in order to hold a permanent place in your heart. Kara Nesvig, Parents, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for post 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'post.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin postis; probably akin to Latin por- forward and to Latin stare to stand — more at portend, stand

Noun (2)

Middle French poste relay station, courier, from Old Italian posta relay station, from feminine of posto, past participle of porre to place, from Latin ponere — more at position

Noun (3)

Middle French poste, from Old Italian posto, from past participle of porre to place

Prefix

Middle English, from Latin, from post; akin to Lithuanian pas at, Greek apo away from — more at of

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb (1)

circa 1640, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun (2)

1507, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb (2)

1533, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Adverb

1549, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb (3)

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Dictionary Entries Near post

Cite this Entry

“Post.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/post. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

post

1 of 7 noun
1
: a piece of timber or metal fixed upright especially as a support : pillar
2
: a pole or stake set up as a marker
the starting post
3
: a metallic fixture attached to an electrical device (as a battery) for making connections

post

2 of 7 verb
1
a
: to fix notices to or on a suitable place (as a bulletin board)
b
: to publish or announce by or as if by a notice
posted the students' grades
2
: to forbid persons from entering or using by putting up warning notices
post a trout stream
3
: score entry 2 sense 1a
posted a 72 for the round
4
: to publish (as a message) in an online forum

post

3 of 7 noun
1
chiefly British : postal service
2
chiefly British : the mail handled by the post
3
chiefly British : a single shipment of mail
4
: something (as a message) that is posted online

post

4 of 7 verb
1
: to ride or travel with haste : hurry
2
3
: to transfer a bookkeeping item from a book of original entry to an account book
4
: to make familiar with a subject : inform

post

5 of 7 noun
1
a
: the place at which a soldier or guard is stationed
b
: a station or task to which a person is assigned
c
: a place to which troops are assigned : camp
2
: an office or position to which a person is appointed
3

post

6 of 7 verb
1
: to station in a given place
post a guard
2
: to give as a guarantee of payment
post a bond

post-

7 of 7 prefix
1
a
: after : later
postdate
b
: behind
2
: following : later than
postscript
Etymology

Noun

Old English post "an upright timber for support, pillar," from Latin postis (same meaning)

Noun

from early French poste "a relay station, one who carries messages," from early Italian posta "relay station," derived from porre (verb) "to place," from Latin ponere "to place" — related to post entry 5

Noun

from early French poste "place where soldiers are stationed," from early Italian posto (same meaning), derived from porre (verb) "to place," from Latin ponere "to place" — related to post entry 3

Prefix

derived from Latin post "after, later"

Legal Definition

post

transitive verb
: to put up (as bond)
post bail

Biographical Definition

Post

biographical name

Emily 1872–1960 née Price American columnist and writer

More from Merriam-Webster on post

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