arcade

noun

ar·​cade är-ˈkād How to pronounce arcade (audio)
plural arcades
1
: a long arched building or gallery
2
a
: an arched covered passageway or avenue (as between shops)
b
chiefly British : a building that includes many shops
A job fair … today will introduce locals to the details of the 250 jobs that a new shopping arcade will bring when its doors open this autumn.The Journal (Newcastle, England)
3
: a series of arches with their columns or piers
4
: an amusement center having coin-operated games

Examples of arcade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Carolina Beach, North Carolina The Carolina Beach Boardwalk is a classic American promenade—with a pedestrian-only walkway that features bars, restaurants, arcades, bike and surfboard rental shops, and even an amusement park—that beach-goers have been enjoying since the late 1800s. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025 Lego fans can experience a nostalgic arcade setting filled with games and activities this weekend through a new pop-up experience coming to Orlando. Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025 Popularized first in arcades, then cemented at home during the Sega Genesis and SNES era, games like Golden Axe and Streets of Rage were a staple of cooperative action gameplay for a generation. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025 Over 800 years later, Bern remains (as does its bears) and its old town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, complete with charming arcades, Renaissance fountains, and an early 13th-century clock tower with a medieval puppet show happening every hour on the hour. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for arcade

Word History

Etymology

French, from Italian arcata, from arco arch, from Latin arcus

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arcade was in 1685

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Arcade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arcade. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

arcade

noun
ar·​cade är-ˈkād How to pronounce arcade (audio)
1
: a row of arches with the columns that support them
2
: an arched or covered passageway (as between shops)
3
: a place with many games to be played by putting coins or tokens in them

Medical Definition

arcade

noun
ar·​cade är-ˈkād How to pronounce arcade (audio)
1
: an anatomical structure comprising a series of arches
2

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