1
: an establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold to be drunk on the premises
2
: inn
Examples of tavern in a Sentence
a seedy section of the city's waterfront that was rife with cheap taverns, tattoo parlors, and run-down flophouses
a colonial-era tavern that has been serving weary travelers for two and a half centuries
Recent Examples on the Web
The tavern was a main gathering point at the start of the Revolutionary War, and once held Nathaniel Hawthorne and Theodore Roosevelt.
—
Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This was the original use for Bar Keepers Friend, to polish brass rails at bars and taverns, often underfoot.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 27 Jan. 2026
The tavern crowd tells the story of that night.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
For that Hoosier to gamble over the internet from her home, office, or favorite tavern is not legally or practically different from wagering over the telephone.
—Daniel Wallach, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tavern
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This was the original use for Bar Keepers Friend, to polish brass rails at bars and taverns, often underfoot.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 27 Jan. 2026
The tavern crowd tells the story of that night.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
For that Hoosier to gamble over the internet from her home, office, or favorite tavern is not legally or practically different from wagering over the telephone.
—Daniel Wallach, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tavern
Cite this Entry
“Tavern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tavern. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
