columns

Definition of columnsnext
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 The new triangular gable, which was first seen in renderings shared in July by the White House, sat atop six columns. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026 His columns, exclusive to the Tribune, now appear the first week of every month. Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026 In early demonstrations, the team assembled multiple cubes into beams and columns whose bending and vibration behavior changed based solely on which internal cells were liquified. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Feb. 2026 His columns appear on Wednesdays. Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2026 This is Part 3 in a series of columns about the place of the church in modern politics. Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2026 In a more humorous vein, Flann O’Brien, best known for his experimental comic novels At Swim-Two-Birds (1939) and The Third Policeman (1940), frequently alluded to Proust in his newspaper columns for The Irish Times. Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026 In the basement of the headquarters, amid columns wrapped with green vines and yellow flowers, center director Martha Arevalo spoke about the hardships her organization has faced. Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026 As mentioned in previous columns, no one can be forced to be an executor. Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for columns
Noun
  • At her Sicily wedding, bride Luisa Beccaria had her curly hair tied back with two rows of braids that came together with another braid down her back.
    Shelby Wax, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Set at an elevation of over 1,706 feet, the farm's undulating hills were lined with what seemed like endless rows of verdant tea bushes.
    Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In the end, Laffrey, whose Broadway credits include Maybe Happy Ending and Parade, settled for using an iPhone app to record the size of pilasters and mullioned mirrors.
    Carey Purcell, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2025
  • With pilasters, a limestone facade, and classic symmetrical design, the three-story building exemplifies the Beaux-Arts style popular at the turn of the 20th century, grand but not ostentatious.
    Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Ephesus, Turkey — The security lines at the entrance move with airport-like efficiency.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Even seemingly outlandish and incomprehensible claims called in to tip lines were examined.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • As of last year, more than 140 countries had, in theory, agreed to the pillars.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Rich magenta hues fill the sky as distinct pillars also start to take form.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Any Londoner or New Yorker knows the queues all too well.
    Lela London, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Before the final Champions League group phase game against Qarabag on Wednesday evening, Liverpool have made changes to their management of queues outside of Anfield’s Main Stand.
    Andy Jones, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Jason Palant said in an email Wednesday that detectives found files on Jhaveri’s cellphone during their initial investigation that met the criteria for child pornography, but Palant did not provide further details.
    Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
  • That same weekend, more damaging and disturbing news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor appeared in the latest batch of Epstein files.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The same company makes racket strings for sports such as tennis, racquetball, badminton and, of course, squash.
    Kathleen Hill, The Providence Journal, 7 Feb. 2026
  • And then there are the Heat, who also possess their own draft pick this June, with no strings attached, positioned to gain a lottery seed either through losing now or being eliminated in the play-in round.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Just like the trains themselves, these glamorous culinary experiences are reminiscent of the golden era of travel, with gracious table-settings, intricate confections, and a leisurely, unhurried pace.
    Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
  • American Express travel data show bookings to Japan among Gen Z and millennials have surged 1,300% since 2019, turning the country into an idealized escape where trains are on time, streets are spotless, and strangers are unfailingly polite.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Columns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/columns. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.

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