1
a
: a compactly settled area usually larger than a village but smaller than a city
b
: a compactly settled area as distinguished from surrounding rural territory
c
: a large densely populated urban area : city
d
: an English village having a periodic fair or market
2
: a particular town or city under consideration
the circus came to town
3
: the city or urban life as contrasted with the country
4
a
: the inhabitants of a city or town
practically the whole town turned out for the parade
b
: the townspeople of a college or university town as distinct from the academic community
relations between town and gown
5
: a New England territorial and political unit usually containing under a single town government both rural areas and urban areas not having their own charter of incorporation
also
: a New England community governed by a town meeting
6
dialectal, England
: a cluster or aggregation of houses recognized as a distinct place with a place-name : hamlet
7
: a group of prairie dog burrows
town
adjective
see also:
Examples of town in a Sentence
the town of Jackson, Florida
The nearest shopping mall is two towns away.
The town plans to increase property taxes.
We're heading to town later on.
Recent Examples on the Web
Each chair is made with a rust-proof aluminum frame, so there’s no need to stress when a summer rainstorm rolls through town by surprise.
—
Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2026
Their paths cross again when Cory accidentally hits Donny’s bicycle with his car and, as penance, agrees to drive him around town for a week to do errands.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026
But what struck me most was that the model of a global city paired with a historic mountain town works.
—Robert Carroll, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Seeking to relocate him from a small town in Florida to get proper long-term medical care and treatment in Massachusetts, the family recently launched a GoFundMe seeking to raise $4,500.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for town
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Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2026
Their paths cross again when Cory accidentally hits Donny’s bicycle with his car and, as penance, agrees to drive him around town for a week to do errands.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026
But what struck me most was that the model of a global city paired with a historic mountain town works.
—Robert Carroll, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Seeking to relocate him from a small town in Florida to get proper long-term medical care and treatment in Massachusetts, the family recently launched a GoFundMe seeking to raise $4,500.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for town
Cite this Entry
“Town.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/town. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
town
noun1
a
: a compactly settled area that is usually larger than a village but smaller than a city
b
2
: the people of a town
town
adjective
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