gates 1 of 2

Definition of gatesnext
plural of gate
1
as in doors
a barrier by which an entry is closed and opened be sure to latch the gate when you leave so the dog doesn't get out

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2
as in doorways
the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure passed through the gates of the walled city

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3
as in valves
a fixture for controlling the flow of a liquid opens the gate in the lock so the ships can get through the canal

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gates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of gate

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 gates
Noun
Minneapolis police and deputies with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office are still on the scene for crowd control measures, and metal gates have been set up to keep protesters at bay. Wcco Staff, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026 This week, operators at Oroville Dam, the tallest dam in the United States, which holds back California’s second-largest reservoir, opened the spillway gates and began releasing billions of gallons of water down the massive concrete spillway into the Feather River below. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026 While the city once had a number of gates, this 15th-century one is the only survivor. Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026 Set beyond gates on nearly half an acre in the Amestoy Estates neighborhood, the modern farmhouse-style digs have been repainted a rich chocolate hue. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2026 So whether whispered at the school gates or repeated at bedtime, mantras remind children (and parents) that growth is about kindness, not perfection. Hannah Silverman, Parents, 5 Jan. 2026 This museum is located on the waterfront in the state’s capital and has a variety of exhibits dedicated to train travel, as well as the lives of the workers and railroad barons who opened the gates to the West. Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026 Instead, we’re kept behind for 55 minutes, while angry locals lay siege to the exit gates. Andy Mitten, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026 Block off hazards such as stairs and pools using gates or fencing. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gates
Noun
  • January 20 – February 18 You’re allowed to close your doors — not forever, but for the moment.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The installments were supposed to be used for various projects, including a $30,000 payment for windows and doors.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Fit them in doorways, cabinets, closets, narrow cubbies, and shelving.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Janus is the Roman god of doorways, beginnings and endings, and transitions.
    Gwen Faulkenberry, Arkansas Online, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The work involved replacing huge concrete pipes that are 36 inches wide and replacing three large valves that can cost as much as $200,000 each.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2026
  • Spit valves full, chops spent, the band finished their set, and the patrons, ears ringing, set out into the night.
    Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gates. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.

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