1
as in pubs
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
Relevance
2
as in hotels
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 taverns
Leavenworth With its Bavarian-style architecture, mountain views, and taverns doling out steins of German beer and traditional dishes like käsespätzle, this small town in central Washington evokes an Alpine village.
—
Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026
The child of alcoholics, Dreesen often referenced his rough-and-tumble upbringing in his comedy sets, telling tales of little Tommy shining shoes in the taverns of the South Side to feed his siblings.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
This is a spot where old gets its due (take a minute to check out all the black-and-white photos of classic Wisconsin taverns on the wall), but the vibe is entirely new-school cool.
—Midwest Living, 11 June 2026
And countless taverns, restaurants, schools and other gathering spots will host viewing parties and other activities.
—Kristy Hutchings, Daily News, 10 June 2026
Keep in mind that despite the significance of the date of July 4, 1776, royalists and republicans had been arguing in print, pamphlets, taverns and on town greens long before 1776.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
It's located among several other taverns and restaurants in the heart of Fells Point.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Plenty of food and drink options will be available, and 16 pubs and taverns will cater to the 21-and-up crowd.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
Immigrant families brought Old World recipes and a fierce commitment to hospitality to Iowa’s capital, opening humble groceries, taverns and corner cafés that gradually evolved into full‑service dining rooms.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026
The child of alcoholics, Dreesen often referenced his rough-and-tumble upbringing in his comedy sets, telling tales of little Tommy shining shoes in the taverns of the South Side to feed his siblings.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
This is a spot where old gets its due (take a minute to check out all the black-and-white photos of classic Wisconsin taverns on the wall), but the vibe is entirely new-school cool.
—Midwest Living, 11 June 2026
And countless taverns, restaurants, schools and other gathering spots will host viewing parties and other activities.
—Kristy Hutchings, Daily News, 10 June 2026
Keep in mind that despite the significance of the date of July 4, 1776, royalists and republicans had been arguing in print, pamphlets, taverns and on town greens long before 1776.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
It's located among several other taverns and restaurants in the heart of Fells Point.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Plenty of food and drink options will be available, and 16 pubs and taverns will cater to the 21-and-up crowd.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
Immigrant families brought Old World recipes and a fierce commitment to hospitality to Iowa’s capital, opening humble groceries, taverns and corner cafés that gradually evolved into full‑service dining rooms.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taverns
Noun
-
Like any village worth its weight in cobblestones, quirky characters, and quaint pubs, Three Pines’ titular Quebec town harbors its share of dark secrets.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
-
Bars and restaurants that serve craft beer have similarly been seeing less business, so taking Dad to a few of his favorite pubs, bars or taprooms would also be a recipe for a great day.—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Watch parties help drive business to bars, restaurants and hotels clustered around Station Square and Downtown.—
Gabby Sartori,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
-
For those not traveling by campervan, Lofoten’s traditional rorbu cabins, small hotels, guesthouses and rental apartments offer a more comfortable and locally beneficial way to stay.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
While here, visitors can still see its multiple saloons, general store, and boarding house, among other buildings.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2026
-
Beyond the cattle drives, the Stockyards are home to rodeos, Western saloons and live music venues.—
Taylor Haught,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Mother pleads for help finding son His mother asked community members to check hotels, hostels, capsule hotels, internet cafés, manga cafés, train stations, convenience stores, hiking areas, rivers, shrines and other places.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
As a result, many people living near Mavecure have gotten out of gold mining, which polluted the jungle rivers with mercury and sediment, to work as tour guides, operate restaurants and hostels, or sell arts and crafts.—
John Otis,
NPR,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Restaurants and bars in the neighborhood are reporting drastic drops in business after thousands of Angelenos sheltered in place under a constant plume of smoke.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
-
Benjamin Song, who shot an Alvarado Police Department officer in the neck during the July 4 incident at Prairieland Detention Center outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area, was sentenced to a century behind bars, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Noun
-
Both Payton and Smiley Martin, the brother of Dandrae Martin, were wounded in the gun barrage that killed the three women and shooters Sergio Harris, Joshua Hoye-Lucchessi and Turner in the seconds after K Street nightclubs closed on April 3, 2022.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
-
Hop on a bike in Berlin to explore the city's abundance of attractions, including museums, historical sites, cafés, nightclubs, and parks.—
Elizabeth Preske,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taverns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taverns. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
