the burbs
plural noun
US, informal
: the area around a city in which many people live : the suburbs
They bought a house in the burbs.
Examples of the burbs in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Just a little kid in the burbs, my neighbor’s kitchen on a Friday night.
—
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2025
The pic takes place at a mansion in the burbs during the winter.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
Leases for millions of square feet of office space in Philly's central business and the burbs are due to expire this year, allowing those companies to adjust to current needs, per the outlet.
—Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
The Philadelphia region's high-end housing market thrived last year, with most top sales in the burbs.
—Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025
Many voters in the burbs are still split over who to vote for following the presidential debate.
—Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 13 Sep. 2024
Milwaukee used to have a rapid-transit train between downtown and the burbs.
—Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 25 June 2024
The county has been among the nation’s fastest-growing for decades — its population has shot up sevenfold since 1980 to more than 430,000 — and preservationists see the plan as a last-ditch effort to save the vanishing vestiges of rustic life from being swallowed by the burbs.
—Jayne Orenstein, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024
Mortgage rates driving lower housing supply, slowing market 04:38
New construction hasn't finished yet
Americans began their shift to the burbs at a time when the nation had a severe shortage of available rental units.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2023
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Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2025
The pic takes place at a mansion in the burbs during the winter.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
Leases for millions of square feet of office space in Philly's central business and the burbs are due to expire this year, allowing those companies to adjust to current needs, per the outlet.
—Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
The Philadelphia region's high-end housing market thrived last year, with most top sales in the burbs.
—Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025
Many voters in the burbs are still split over who to vote for following the presidential debate.
—Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 13 Sep. 2024
Milwaukee used to have a rapid-transit train between downtown and the burbs.
—Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 25 June 2024
The county has been among the nation’s fastest-growing for decades — its population has shot up sevenfold since 1980 to more than 430,000 — and preservationists see the plan as a last-ditch effort to save the vanishing vestiges of rustic life from being swallowed by the burbs.
—Jayne Orenstein, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024
Mortgage rates driving lower housing supply, slowing market 04:38
New construction hasn't finished yet
Americans began their shift to the burbs at a time when the nation had a severe shortage of available rental units.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2023
Cite this Entry
“The burbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20burbs. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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