café

noun

ka-ˈfā How to pronounce café (audio)
variants also cafe
Definition of cafénext
1
as in cabaret
a bar or restaurant offering special nighttime entertainment (as music, dancing, or comedy acts) the café presents nationally known jazz performers in an intimate setting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in tavern
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises a speakeasy that became a fashionable café with the repeal of prohibition

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in restaurant
a public establishment where meals are served to paying customers for consumption on the premises they met at a little café in Paris

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of café This week in Atlanta, kick off Black Restaurant Week with a special dinner at Oreatha’s at the Point, enjoy an Italian wine dinner and celebrate the grand opening of a popular chai cafe. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Walking just a few streets away from the square reveals quieter courtyards, small cafes and shops that feel less staged. — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Residents were also encouraged to interact with the presentation by selecting their preferred architectural styles for the municipal and residential buildings, as well as for the shops, cafe, and open space. — Elizabeth Owens-Schiele, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 The Pleasant Hill location also will feature a separate counter for Lever Coffee, a version of the artisan cafe and bakery in Alamo that Heaps also owns. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for café
Recent Examples of Synonyms for café
  1. cabaret
  2. tavern
  3. restaurant
  4. nightclub
  5. saloon
  6. diner
  7. club
  8. pub
Noun
  • Every July, a few thousand devotees descend on Mosswood Park for a weekend that feels equal parts punk festival, comedy show and a John Waters cabaret extravaganza.
    — Julian Le Ballister, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Santoro was inspired to launch the project after following his friend Timothy Reif’s decade-long effort to locate artworks that had been stolen from his ancestor, a Jewish Austrian cabaret star.
    — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of cabaret
Noun
  • The Lantern tavern threw the first iteration of the block party in 2016 as a celebration for its 50th anniversary.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Customers are family as well, some even choosing the tavern as their final resting place.
    — Madeline Montgomery, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of tavern
Noun
  • After health officials traced the outbreak to lettuce from Taylor Farms’ central Mexico location, the company missed a federal deadline to recall lettuce that had been distributed to stores and restaurants, Bloomberg News reported.
    — Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • However, the bar and restaurant serves its cheesesteaks differently than most places in the Delaware Valley.
    — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of restaurant
Noun
  • Shimmy first made a name for himself with the gritty 2020 EP Zombie Land, which introduced him as a street-centric rapper whose music made more sense rattling from the trunk of a car than playing in a nightclub.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
  • After the birth of her children, and frustrated with the local nightclub scene, she was drawn to musical theater, mentored by the Free Street Theater’s founder, Patrick Henry.
    — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of nightclub
Noun
  • The saloon underwent construction over subsequent decades as the area grew; the joint has been called The Buffalo Rose since 1981.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 July 2026
  • The area was once home to Frontier City and Stagecoach Stop, roadside attractions that had a bank, blacksmith, general store, jailhouse, livery stable and saloon, all popular establishments featured in popular Western films.
    — JANELLE D. JAMES, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of saloon
Noun
  • The Wongs interacted with customers on Sunday during the eatery’s bittersweet final day, as diners were eager for one last plate of pancakes or country fried steak.
    — Daily News, Daily News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Crowds of dedicated diners braved the 90-degree heat to line up around the ’50s-style restaurant and took in the sights, sounds and smells of Heart’s for one last time.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of diner
Noun
  • Wedging herself between them, in second place, is North Carolina’s Sanchez, whose 11th goal came against her former club, Washington.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • For their day off, the crew is treated to a ride on a pirate ship and a day at a beach club.
    — Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of club
Noun
  • Happy Donuts closed in 2022 after 20 years, while the Elder Tree pub closed in 2024 after a dozen years.
    — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The Royal Oak pub, a true local favorite, is a four-minute walk down the lane.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of pub

Browse Nearby Words

caesuras
café
cafés
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Cite this Entry

“Café.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caf%C3%A9. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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