BOOKS Synonyms: 172 Similar and Opposite Words

books 1 of 2

noun

plural of book

as in paperbacks

a set of printed sheets of paper bound together between covers and forming a work of fiction or nonfiction I bought another new book yesterday, and I can't wait to read it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in periodicals

a publication that appears at regular intervals older people in these parts still tend to call a magazine a book

Synonyms & Similar Words

books

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of book

as in reserves

to arrange to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's future use we booked a conference room for the meeting next week

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in moves

slang to leave a place often for another I'm running late, so I've got to book

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 books

Noun

It's filled with witchy icons that every spell-caster has to have in their home—broomsticks, spell books, potions, and more. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2026 And a woman who comes into the library is looking for books on history. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 On summer breaks during college, Pughsley got a gig selling books door-to-door in rural Iowa. — Keith O’Brien, New Yorker, 25 June 2026 The two outlets have ordered a pilot for a live-action series based on the best-selling books by Max Brallier. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026 Barrett and Jackson each reported the most extensive travel of court justices promoting their books in 2025. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 June 2026 The Legislature’s independent fiscal analysts have also raised concerns that the state’s books remain vulnerable to the specter of a deep drop-off in the stock market. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026 The series will include two additional books; Yarros is currently drafting the fourth volume and finalizing the plot for the fifth and concluding installment. — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 Some books make the New York Times best seller list, while others quietly reshape how a generation thinks about power, incentives, and human behavior. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Verb

Plates slide, glassware jumps, and books tumble. — Mitchell Owens, Architectural Digest, 10 June 2026 And, of course, all those Judith Michael books. — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026 Katie Wright, who books sports events for Anaheim’s tourism bureau, said there would be a market if her city built a sports park. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026 The high-speed internet works perfectly and covers up to four devices for free for anyone who books online and creates a profile. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 The retailer took into account which books readers continuously bought, rated, recommended and returned to over a period of time. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 Salustri books a cottage at one of the last remaining mom-and-pop stays in Islamorada, White Gate Court, a pet-friendly collection of cottages with its own private beach. — Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 3 June 2026 With SummerSlam looming, how WWE books the finish will shape both challengers' momentum heading into August. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 Bilt also released Neighborhood Concierge, an AI service that books restaurants, fitness classes, and travel through Bilt’s existing merchant pipes. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 29 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for books

Noun

Indeed, when people began to travel by train in the 19th century, publishers began selling romance and thriller paperbacks across London’s railway stations.

— Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
On the other, are lower-cost paperbacks and print-on-demand books aimed at maintaining accessibility.

— Josh Rivera, USA Today, 14 June 2026

Definition of paperbacks

Noun

The center’s resources—all free—include more than a million books and periodicals, with 400 terminals and 75 staff members available to help dig through them.

— Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Galaxy, Analog, and Amazing Stories, those three periodicals – and our bathroom was piled high.

— Ben Mankiewicz, CBS News, 7 June 2026

Definition of periodicals

Verb

Wimbledon reserves a handful of tickets for same-day purchase, with some fans camping out the night before in Wimbledon Park in a bid to get their hands on a pass.

— Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 2 July 2026
The Catholic Church reserves the priesthood for men, and women have long complained of a second-class status despite carrying out the lion’s share of the church’s work running schools, hospitals and passing the faith onto younger generations.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026

Definition of reserves

Verb

The moody Moon moves through your 7th House of Partnership as the Sun energizes your 11th House of Friends and Community, aligning cooperation with a larger purpose.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
Trainer Robert Ndungu moves between them, occasionally kneeling to demonstrate the correct technique.

— Christopher Clark, NPR, 5 July 2026

Definition of moves

Noun

The platform has consistently managed volumes over $1 billion daily since the football tournament began on June 11.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 6 July 2026
But between increasingly stiff anti-smoking legislation and very real declines in volumes for years, some investors have given up the industry—and Altria—for dead.

— Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of volumes

Noun

It was widely observed and discussed in journals of the era and later became part of Revolutionary War Lore.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 4 July 2026
This was so common that most American brewing journals were printed in both English and German until the start of World War I in 1914.

— Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Definition of journals

Verb

Christoph Waltz voices Max, the film director who hires the Minions to act in his films during the 1920s.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 July 2026
Exposing city taxpayers to potential liability when CVI hires return to their past ways, which is known to happen, is extraordinarily misguided.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026

Definition of hires

Browse Nearby Words

bookmen

books

bookseller

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Style

“Books.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/books. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of books

noun

verb

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