place

1 of 2

noun

ˈplās

plural places

Synonyms of place next

: physical environment : space

: a way for admission or transit

: physical surroundings : atmosphere

: an indefinite region or expanse

all over the place

: a building or locality used for a special purpose

a place of learning

a fine eating place

archaic : the three-dimensional compass of a material object

: a particular region, center of population, or location

a nice place to visit

: a building, part of a building, or area occupied as a home

our summer place

: a particular part of a surface or body : spot

: relative position in a scale or series: such as

: position in a social scale

kept them in their place

: a step in a sequence

in the first place, it's none of your business

: a position at the conclusion of a competition

finished in last place

: a proper or designated niche or setting

the place of education in society

: an appropriate moment or point

this is not the place to discuss compensation—

Robert Moses

: a distinct condition, position, or state of mind

the postfeminist generation is in a different place—

Betty Friedan

: an available seat or accommodation

needs a place to stay

: an empty or vacated position

new ones will take their place

: the position of a figure in relation to others of a row or series

especially : the position of a digit within a numeral

: remunerative employment : job

: prestige accorded to one of high rank : status

an endless quest for preferment and place—

Time

: a public square : plaza

: a small street or court

: second place at the finish (as of a horse race)

verb

placed; placing

transitive verb

: to put in or as if in a particular place or position : set

: to present for consideration

a question placed before the group

: to put in a particular state

place a performer under contract

: to direct to a desired spot

: to cause (the voice) to produce free and well resonated singing or speaking tones

: to assign to a position in a series or category : rank

: estimate

placed the value of the estate too high

: to identify by connecting with an associated context

couldn't quite place her face

police placed them at the crime scene

: to distribute in an orderly manner : arrange

: to appoint to a position

: to find a place (such as a home or employment) for

: to give (an order) to a supplier

: to give an order for

place a bet

: to try to establish a connection for

place a telephone call

intransitive verb

: to earn a given spot in a competition

specifically : to come in second (as in a horse race)

placeable

ˈplā-sə-bəl

adjective

Phrases

in place

or less commonly into place

: in an original or proper position

: established, instituted, or operational

systems in place

: in the same spot without forward or backward movement

run in place

in place of

: as a substitute or replacement for : instead of

out of place

: not in the proper or usual location

: improper, inappropriate

Example Sentences

Noun New York City is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. I've heard it's a good place to raise children. places like Africa and South America the hottest place on earth churches and other places of worship You should plan to meet him in a public place. You've come to the right place. I have just what you need. They gave him a place to stay for the night. We're going to need a bigger place once the baby is born. He's looking to buy a place in the country. Verb The box was placed at the center of the room. You can really see the similarities when you place the two pictures side by side. Her name was placed on the list. The husbands and wives were placed in separate groups. They were placed next to each other in line. Working with sick people places him at risk for infection. By not accepting the prosecutor's deal, he places his future in the hands of the jury. We're placing you under arrest. He was released from jail and placed on probation. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Steve Mulroy, the district attorney, explained in an online statement that the investigation is ongoing and there is nothing in place that can prevent his department from adding more charges. —

Greg Wehner, Fox News, 31 Jan. 2023 Everything is in place and getting ready to go now, Gjaja said. —

Phoebe Wall Howard, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2023 Staff within the council also hacked their way around not having their regular systems in place. —

Matt Burgess, WIRED, 30 Jan. 2023 Heavy rain and flash flooding concerns rise in eastern Texas by Tuesday, with a slight risk of excessive rainfall in place from eastern Texas to northwest Louisiana Wednesday. —

Rob Shackelford, CNN, 30 Jan. 2023 There’s no plan in place for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games. —

Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2023 There’s boning detail to help hold everything in place, and the thick and stretchy fabric helps flatter any figure. —

Jill Schildhouse, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2023 The two evoke the toxic patriarchal systems in place in both the Piper household and the one Materia grew up in under her strict Lebanese father, Mr. Mahmoud (Antoine Yared). —

Glenn Sumi, Variety, 30 Jan. 2023 The letter additionally asked what safeguards are in place to avoid bias and discrimination. —

Marco Marcelline, PCMAG, 29 Jan. 2023

Verb

In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, place the chicken breasts, skin side down. —

Sally Pasley Vargas, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Jan. 2023 The suspects then place the victim's body in the car and drove it to Ingolstadt, where it was found that evening. —

Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2023 Simply place the wager to start earning rewards through Caesars. —

Chris Ilenstine, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2023 Next, simply place the opener over your wine bottle and press the button. —

Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Jan. 2023 That will place particular focus on Mr. Powell’s postmeeting news conference. —

Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2023 Meanwhile, Emma, which sat atop the heap from 2014 through 2018, should again place strongly this year. —

Jill Gleeson, Country Living, 30 Jan. 2023 Click our links to activate the code CLEVELANDCOM, then place up to a grand on any upcoming NBA game, Chiefs-Eagles, or another eligible betting market. —

cleveland, 30 Jan. 2023 Then, place a bet on any NBA or NFL game this weekend. —

al, 28 Jan. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'place.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, open space, from Latin platea broad street, from Greek plateia (hodos), from feminine of platys broad, flat; akin to Sanskrit pṛthu broad, Latin planta sole of the foot

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of place was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century