table

noun, often attributive

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ta·ble | \ ˈtā-bəl

plural tables

Definition of table

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : a piece of furniture consisting of a smooth flat slab fixed on legs

b(1) : a group of people assembled at or as if at a table

(2) : a legislative or negotiating session the bargaining table

c(1) : a supply or source of food

(2) : an act or instance of assembling to eat : meal sit down to table

2a : a systematic arrangement of data usually in rows and columns for ready reference

b : a condensed enumeration : list a table of contents

3 : tablet sense 1a

4a tables plural : backgammon

b : one of the two leaves of a backgammon board or either half of a leaf

5 : stringcourse

6 : something that resembles a table especially in having a plane surface: such as

a : the upper flat surface of a cut precious stone — see brilliant illustration

b(1) : tableland

(2) : a horizontal stratum

off the table

: not up for consideration or negotiation That option is now off the table.

on the table

: up for consideration or negotiation the subject is not on the table

under the table

1 : into a stupor can drink you under the table

2 : in a covert manner took money under the table

table

verb

tabled; tabling\ ˈtā-b(ə-)liŋ

Definition of table (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to remove (something, such as a parliamentary motion) from consideration indefinitely

b British : to place on the agenda

c : to put on a table

2 : to enter in a table

table

adjective

Definition of table (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : suitable for a table or for use at a table a table lamp

2 : suitable for serving at a table table grapes

3 : proper for conduct at a table table manners

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing table Learn More About table

Examples of table in a Sentence

Noun They were sitting at the dining table. She reserved a table for two at the restaurant. He had the attention of the entire table. The table shows the salary of each employee. Verb The committee tabled the issue until the next meeting. She plans to table a motion for debate in Parliament. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun It’s also in Jimmy and Kim’s apartment, on Jimmy’s bedside table. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 Aug. 2022 Private suites feature heated floors and robes, and room/table temperature adjustment for total comfort. — Aniesia Williams, Essence, 15 Aug. 2022 Inflation is strangling kitchen-table budgets across the United States. — Hamza Shaban, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2022 Many Kenyans are concerned about kitchen-table issues such as the high prices of corn meal and gasoline, driven upward in part by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. — Michael M. Phillips, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 Wife Lily Kwong posted a photo of the birthday boy looking happy beside a table full of cakes, cookies and other treats from Milk Bar. — People Staff, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2022 The side seat has its own table, seatbelt, and even its own footrest. — Christopher Muther, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2022 Two dishwashers, a central table, and a floor-to-ceiling wall of pantry cabinets accommodate grazing. — Amanda Sims Clifford, House Beautiful, 4 Aug. 2022 This may require putting down a protective plastic covering on table, desk, chair or floor. — Jamie Gold, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Slovakia native and owner Barbora Shneydman spent weeks preparing to table at the vegan festival Bluegrass VegFest earlier this month. — Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, 13 July 2022 At a special meeting Wednesday (June 29), council voted unanimously to table the ordinance to opt out of the bill so that it can be vetted by the committee, which is slated to meet at 6 p.m. July 12. — cleveland, 29 June 2022 After a lengthy discussion, the board voted to table the subject of vaccine mandates, while staff looked into the issue. — Ryan Kost, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 May 2022 All members of the commission, except one, voted to table the request. — Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2022 After some discussion, the commissioners voted to table the issue until next month, ending the meeting before any public hearing. — Margaret Kates | Mkates@al.com, al, 8 July 2022 More than quadrupling Barca's numbers, the Reds are said to be willing to table €9mn ($9.6mn) for Gavi to switch allegiances. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 9 June 2022 But commissioners Calvert and Marialyn Barnard wanted to table the issue to study it further. — Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 3 May 2022 Eric Haugaard, said that lawyers advised the commission to table the request and not make an official decision, citing an ongoing lawsuit. — Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The deli itself has a 50s-era, sepia-toned interior, with tchotchkes and bric-a-brac on every non-table surface. — Nathan Englander, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2022 Buendía can bring to the table huge experience in creating hit shows. — John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Jan. 2022 That conversation between Issa and Nathan changed, and the moment with Issa and Lawrence at the Blocc office did not exist pre-table read. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2021 However, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund aren’t getting involved with a Premier League club to achieve mid-table security. — Graham Ruthven, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2021 Police and federal agencies have spent weeks on training exercise, including a table-top study of how forces will be deployed, according to Sean Gallagher, Capitol Police acting assistant chief for uniformed operations. — Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY, 17 Sep. 2021 Wallace sits mid-table, in 21st place, and can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Daytona. — Andy Frye, Forbes, 28 Aug. 2021 While the series has always been plagued, if not defined in the larger cultural imagination, by the feuds among its co-hosts, the McCain years have seen cross-table conflict treated more like a feature than a bug. — Washington Post, 6 Aug. 2021 Going into Friday's final match of the season at home to mid-table Dijon, PSG only need to match Lyon's result to secure the D1 Arkema title for the first time in their history. — Asif Burhan, Forbes, 3 June 2021 See More

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