courtyard

noun

ˈkȯrt-ˌyärd How to pronounce courtyard (audio)
Definition of courtyardnext
as in patio
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) a series of lunchtime concerts in the museum's open-air courtyard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 courtyard The property’s cold-weather setup—with igloos and seasonal programming, like holiday light trails and courtyard bonfires—offers a slower side of Montauk that most summer visitors never see. — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026 Across the courtyard, a collection of mews buildings contains guest and staff cottages, garages, and additional storage. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 July 2026 Today, its large courtyard terrace offers a stylish summer escape, with modern British dishes and cocktails. — Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Biergarten transports guests to a moonlit Oktoberfest set in a Bavarian village, where communal wooden tables line the courtyard and a German oompah band takes the stage each hour. — Jacqueline Dole, Southern Living, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for courtyard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courtyard
  1. patio
  2. quadrangle
  3. enclosure
  4. yard
Noun
  • The set up is fairly basic but perfectly presentable and for families, the functionality will be much more welcome than fancy tech, especially the small balcony/patio, dining table and kitchenette in the slightly larger rooms.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
  • The more than 3,700 square-foot space will also have a patio.
    — Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
Definition of patio
Noun
  • The students are lined up in their hundreds− across the student center mezzanine, down the stairs and out into the hot Florida Spring of the quadrangle.
    — Will Carless, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • This spring, across the nation’s auditoriums and quadrangles, members of the class of 2026 took their seats to receive remarks from distinguished guests.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Definition of quadrangle
Noun
  • On March 14, 2026, the house reopened to the public with all the project scaffolding and enclosure covers removed.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026
  • The four orphaned bobcat kittens will be monitored and cared for in special remote enclosures among the trees over the next few months.
    — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 12 July 2026
Definition of enclosure
Noun
  • Two 2x2x8 pieces of lumber for a recent yard project fit length-wise on a recent home, but extended to the edge of the dashboard.
    — James Raia, Mercury News, 19 July 2026
  • Another foul about two minutes after play resumed gave Lamine Yamal a chance to win it from about 22 yards out on a free kick.
    — TIM REYNOLDS, Arkansas Online, 19 July 2026
Definition of yard

Browse Nearby Words

courts of law
courtyard
courtyards
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Courtyard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courtyard. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on courtyard

Nglish: Translation of courtyard for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dog days

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All