columns

plural of column
1
as in rows
a series of persons or things arranged one behind another a column of ants stretched between the fallen hot dog and the ant hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in pilasters
an upright shaft that supports an overhead structure engraved columns supported the arch on either side

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 columns All told, there were 17 stories and columns about the 9/11 attacks in the issue. Todd Spangler, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026 The work’s top levels depict human and mythological figures arranged between rows of columns; below them is a detailed rendering of a port city. Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 2026 Out front, a striking carport canopy dramatically curves over the angled driveway, suspended by slender steel support columns. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2026 The columns of the National Gallery’s portico provide a dramatic yet sturdy backdrop to London’s busiest open space, Trafalgar Square. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026 This is the first in a series of columns about the decline of shame in the age of social media. Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026 The Executive Mansion’s front columns had been covered since July. Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 From a Kansas City soul food import to a 50-year-old barbecue time capsule, Bud Kennedy’s August Eats Beat columns tracked new openings and enduring favorites around Fort Worth. Star-Telegram Staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026 The president had ordered repairs to the iconic, and Ionic, columns outside the White House entrance. Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for columns
Noun
  • But now, the walkway beyond it guides visitors past rows of photographs.
    Amir Vahdat, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Richard Olenick and Juan Mejia were more than halfway through the flight when a man two rows behind them in the first-class section started to become belligerent, Olenick said.
    Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The small saints on side pilasters were sold off on the antiques market.
    Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Even now, its fins and pilasters adorn plenty of new construction, and in real-estate-speak, the phrase is code for high class.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • At 34, frustrated by the lack of a decent salary and deteriorating living conditions, including declining healthcare and long lines for gasoline, De La Cruz began to think about leaving Cuba.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • For me, the most important aspects of this game for the Vikings are the performances of the offensive and defensive lines.
    Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The pillars of the village are gradually being deconstructed.
    Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Footwear is a key part of the strategy within several pillars outlined by Joseph Alkire, Kontoor’s president and chief financial officer.
    Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • And as more people handle their errands online, physical lines at stores, clinics and government offices shrink, creating shorter queues for people who still need to visit in person.
    Andrea Hetling, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The attention has gone to agents that go and do things, releasing payments, working collections queues, closing the books.
    David Zwick, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Clean up the files, clarify the instructions, or suggest who should handle what next.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Release the unredacted files that implicate Saudi Arabia while what's left of the victims' families are still alive to see it.
    Miles J. Herszenhorn, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • There are only so many tennis players who care about what kind of strings a coach and player might prefer.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • If that were true, and there were actually no strings attached, Centene would even get a charitable deduction.
    Darryll K. Jones, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Just as interstate highways need to be wider and smoother than typical country roads, railroad tracks that handle faster trains require more robust engineering and safety features than those that handle slow-moving freight.
    Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Diesel fuels the trucks, trains and ships that bring goods to market.
    Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Columns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/columns. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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