tavern

noun

ˈta-vərn How to pronounce tavern (audio)
Definition of tavernnext
1
as in pub
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises a seedy section of the city's waterfront that was rife with cheap taverns, tattoo parlors, and run-down flophouses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in hotel
a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests a colonial-era tavern that has been serving weary travelers for two and a half centuries

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 tavern An elegant conservatory, a beloved aquarium known for its shimmering jade green tiles reminiscent of an underwater tavern, and the small but excellent Dossin Great Lakes Museum are a few of the treasures found here. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 July 2026 Drinks and subpar nachos will be shared beneath the musty rafters of the tavern where the surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon once imbibed. — Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026 When the establishment was decided to be a restaurant and not a tavern by law, the team decided to get more creative. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026 Anecdotal evidence indicates the World Cup has been a boon for Arlington’s hospitality industry, with some restaurateurs and tavern owners saying revenue has exceeded their expectations. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tavern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tavern
  1. pub
  2. hotel
  3. saloon
  4. hostel
  5. bar
  6. inn
Noun
  • Thirsty visitors to Wrexham are well served by The Turf, once the location of the club’s dressing rooms and now one of the most recognisable football pubs in the country thanks to the Welcome to Wrexham documentary series.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, Farage's main opponent is Count Binface, a political satirist posing as a comic space alien, with a keen interest in earthly matters, including the positioning of a hand dryer in the men's toilet in a pub in west London.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of pub
Noun
  • In May 2019, San Jose police retrieved the suspects’ phones from the arresting agencies and found photos taken inside a San Jose hotel two days before Tran’s killing.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The Smith family have owned it ever since, and in 2006 Maggie turned it into the hotel that stands today.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of hotel
Noun
  • The saloon underwent construction over subsequent decades as the area grew; the joint has been called The Buffalo Rose since 1981.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 July 2026
  • The area was once home to Frontier City and Stagecoach Stop, roadside attractions that had a bank, blacksmith, general store, jailhouse, livery stable and saloon, all popular establishments featured in popular Western films.
    — JANELLE D. JAMES, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of saloon
Noun
  • Along the way, travelers will pass through many towns that offer sleeping accommodations, including guesthouses, lodgings, mountain huts, hotels, hostels, and campsites, according to Thru-Hiking, an online community for long-distance hikers.
    — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026
  • It will be charged to all overnight accommodation types, whether at a hotel, Airbnb, hostel or camping site.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 26 July 2026
Definition of hostel
Noun
  • Native to southeast Asia, the beetle has infested every continent bar Antarctica, according to a study published in the Journal of Pest Science in June, stowing away in wood products, live plants and packaging materials.
    — Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • City Hall bars saw an increase in spending of 166%, while watering holes in the greater downtown area saw an 86% spike.
    — Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of bar
Noun
  • Upstate New York has no shortage of escape routes—charming inns, boutique hotels, and endless Airbnb gems—and choosing one is always the hardest part.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Puerta del Lobo For years, the best places to stay in the Texas Hill Country were guest ranches or small inns near wineries.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of inn

Browse Nearby Words

tautology
tavern
taverner
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Cite this Entry

“Tavern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tavern. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tavern

Nglish: Translation of tavern for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tavern

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