1
a
: a compactly settled area usually larger than a village but smaller than a city
b
: a compactly settled area as distinguished from surrounding rural territory
c
: a large densely populated urban area : city
d
: an English village having a periodic fair or market
2
: a particular town or city under consideration
the circus came to town
3
: the city or urban life as contrasted with the country
4
a
: the inhabitants of a city or town
practically the whole town turned out for the parade
b
: the townspeople of a college or university town as distinct from the academic community
relations between town and gown
5
: a New England territorial and political unit usually containing under a single town government both rural areas and urban areas not having their own charter of incorporation
also
: a New England community governed by a town meeting
6
dialectal, England
: a cluster or aggregation of houses recognized as a distinct place with a place-name : hamlet
7
: a group of prairie dog burrows
town
adjective
see also:
Examples of town in a Sentence
the town of Jackson, Florida
The nearest shopping mall is two towns away.
The town plans to increase property taxes.
We're heading to town later on.
Recent Examples on the Web
There are Pierre Frey fabrics, black rotary dial phones, and some of the most enticing minibars in town (2014 Napa Valley Mt Brave, Diplomatico rum, You + I kombucha, Charbonnel et Walker truffles).
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
Lots of cooks in the kitchen The Falcons’ offensive coaching staff is probably fortunate that most of their families haven’t moved to town yet, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said, because many hours of meetings were required to put together a scheme from many different parts.
—Josh Kendall, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Ali had suggested that his sisters stay with him in his apartment in a Christian suburb north of Beirut, his wife’s home town.
—Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
After skipping school and setting his pet rodent free in the woods outside his town of Lisieux, Normandy, Otto jumps from a high bridge into the river below.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for town
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
Lots of cooks in the kitchen The Falcons’ offensive coaching staff is probably fortunate that most of their families haven’t moved to town yet, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said, because many hours of meetings were required to put together a scheme from many different parts.
—Josh Kendall, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Ali had suggested that his sisters stay with him in his apartment in a Christian suburb north of Beirut, his wife’s home town.
—Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
After skipping school and setting his pet rodent free in the woods outside his town of Lisieux, Normandy, Otto jumps from a high bridge into the river below.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for town
Cite this Entry
“Town.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/town. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
town
noun1
a
: a compactly settled area that is usually larger than a village but smaller than a city
b
2
: the people of a town
town
adjective
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