1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

guide word

noun

Definition of guide wordnext
as in title
either one of the words that are at the top of a page in a dictionary or similar book and that show the first and last words on the page It is easiest to use the guide words to find the page for the word you are looking up.

Related 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 guide word The Standing Rock movement’s guiding words, Mni Wiconi (water is life) meant more than clean water advocacy. — Natasha Lennard, Esquire, 19 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guide word
  1. title
  2. banner
Noun
  • The bookshelf in our king-bedroom suite featured a variety of titles - from coffee table books chronicling early twentieth-century Miami to art history books to beachy novels.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • In the meantime, 12 of MLB’s 30 teams will play for a World Series title.
    — Molly Geary, Sportico.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of title
Noun
  • Edward Berger, the filmmaker behind All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave, is producing via his Nine Hours banner with partner Luke Rivett.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Debnam spoke on what Whitner has taught Jordan Brand about having community and retail presence in multiple places, saying that The Whitaker Group shows up authentically across its banners.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of banner

Browse Nearby Words

guides
guide word
guide words
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Guide word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guide%20word. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
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 heterodox

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
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
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All