1
as in hotels
a place that provides rooms and usually a public dining room for overnight guests
took lodging at a public house that had recently been completely renovated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in pubs
chiefly British
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises
visited a public house in London that has been welcoming customers since the time of Charles Dickens
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 public houses
This provoked what became known as the Aston Riot, with nearby public houses wrecked and violent brawls ensuing.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2026
The Lone Goat This English pub, which draws inspiration from public houses and taverns of London, is on the ground floor of the historic Metropolitan Building in downtown Detroit.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2026
The Lone Goat This English pub, which draws inspiration from public houses and taverns of London, is on the ground floor of the historic Metropolitan Building in downtown Detroit.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public houses
Noun
-
Living Room Luxury hotels always nail the little details, and coffee table books are one of the easiest ways to recreate that layered, curated feel at home.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
25 May 2026
-
Loyalty program affiliation Wyndham Rewards Features Wingate by Wyndham hotels often have free breakfast and WiFi.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
The proximity of so many good pubs close to the stadium, good public transport, a place behind the Gallowgate to watch away games.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Beneath are the roofs and cobbled streets of the medieval Old Town, where ancient pubs stand among jewelers specializing in local jet.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
In terms of budget-friendly options, one of Chicago’s hostels is just steps away from the Lollapalooza festivities.—
Aimee Long,
Travel + Leisure,
20 May 2026
-
Choose from more than 20 affordable hostels.—
Essence,
Essence,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
As the vessel toured Baja California, Diana Sanders of Vacaville sampled tequila shots — 14 or 15 in total — from six ship taverns, tequileras and pubs, according to court documents.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Soon after, the area became a hub with saloons, butchers, bakeries and department stores.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Locals are happy to regale you with tales of family squabbles and fishing exploits at any of the seaside watering holes.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
2 May 2026
-
Nowadays, old-school residents bemoan the neighborhood’s evolution from grungy to grandiose; what was once a warren of hedonism has become a breeding ground for characterless watering holes whose lack of personality is bested only by the exorbitance of their beer prices.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The area has since transformed into a contemporary cultural hub, home to the University of Tasmania’s Art School and countless galleries lined with cafés, restaurants, and bars.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
-
His law bars blocking highways within one mile of a service or approaching someone to hand them a flier within 100 feet of a place of worship.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
At the time of the killing, there had been at least five shootings so far this year inside city nightclubs and lounges in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens that left eight people wounded and two dead.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
13 May 2026
-
Cabins under nightclubs or late-night bars can pick up bass vibrations that continue into the early hours.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Public houses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public%20houses. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
