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• place
  place

  noun

  a particular portion of space, whether of definite or indefinite extent.
• Place
  Place

  noun

  Francis. 1771–1854, British radical, who campaigned for the repeal (1824) of the Combination Acts, which forbade the forming of trade unions, and for parliamentary reform

place

American  

[plays] / pleɪs /

noun

• places
  plural

1. a particular portion of space, whether of definite or indefinite extent.

   Synonyms:

   site, locality, locale, location

2. space in general.

   time and place.

3. the specific portion of space normally occupied by anything.

   Every item on the shelf had its place.

4. any part or spot in a body or surface.

   a decayed place in a tree.

5. a particular passage in a book or writing.

   to find the place where one left off reading.

6. a space or seat for a person, as in a theater, train, etc..

   Please save a place for me.

7. position, situation, or circumstances.

   I would complain if I were in your place.

8. a proper or appropriate location or position.

   A restaurant is not the place for an argument.

9. a job, post, or office.

   persons in high places.

   Synonyms:

   employment, rank

10. a function or duty.

    It is not your place to offer criticism.

    Synonyms:

    responsibility, charge

11. proper sequence or relationship, as of ideas, details, etc..

    My thoughts began to fall into place.

12. high position or rank.

    aristocrats of power and place.

13. a region or area.

    to travel to distant places.

    Synonyms:

    sector, section

14. an open space, or square, as in a city or town.

15. a short street, a court, etc.

16. a portion of space used for habitation, as a city, town, or village.

    After decades of neglect and decay, those places are making a comeback thanks to urban renewal.

17. a building, space, location, etc., set apart or used for a specific purpose: You are encouraged to dress modestly in places of worship.

    A nightclub is a place of entertainment.

    You are encouraged to dress modestly in places of worship.

18. a part of a building.

    The kitchen is the sunniest place in the house.

19. a residence, dwelling, or house.

    Please come and have dinner at my place.

20. lieu; substitution (usually followed byof ).

    Use yogurt in place of sour cream.

21. a step or point in order of proceeding.

    in the first place.

22. a fitting or promising opportunity.

    There's a place in this town for a man of his talents.

23. a reasonable ground or occasion.

    This is no place for such an outburst.

24. a mental or emotional state.

    I’m not in a good place right now.

25. Arithmetic.

    1. the position of a figure in a series, as in decimal notation.

    2. Usually places. the figures of the series.

26. Drama. one of the three unities.

27. Sports.

    1. a position among the leading competitors, usually the first, second, or third at the finish line.

    2. the position of the competitor who comes in second in a horse race, harness race, etc.

28. Theater. places, a call summoning performers for the beginning of a performance or an act.

29. room or space for entry or passage.

    to make place for the crowds.

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verb (used with object)

• places,
  present (3rd person singular)
• placed,
  past participle,  past
• placing
  present participle

1. to put in the proper position or order; arrange; dispose.

   Place the silverware on the table for dinner.

   Synonyms:

   station, situate

2. to put or set in a particular place, position, situation, or relation.

3. to put in a suitable place for some purpose.

   to place an advertisement in the newspaper.

   Synonyms:

   seat, lay, deposit, set, locate

4. to put into particular or proper hands.

   to place some incriminating evidence with the district attorney.

5. to give (an order or the like) to a supplier.

   She placed the order for the pizza an hour ago.

6. to appoint (a person) to a post or office.

   The president placed him in the Department of Agriculture.

   Synonyms:

   hire

7. to find a place, situation, etc., for (a person).

   The agency had no trouble placing him with a good firm.

8. to determine or indicate the place or value of.

   to place health among the greatest gifts in life.

9. to assign a certain position or rank to.

   The army placed him in the infantry.

10. to succeed in attaining a position for in an athletic or other contest.

    to place players on the all-American team; to place students in the finals of the interscholastic chess tournament.

11. to identify by connecting with the proper place, circumstances, etc..

    to be unable to place a person; to place a face; to place an accent.

12. to employ (the voice) for singing or speaking with consciousness of the bodily point of emphasis of resonance of each tone or register.

verb (used without object)

• places,
  present (3rd person singular)
• placed,
  past participle,  past
• placing
  present participle

1. Sports.

   1. to finish among the first three competitors in a race.

   2. to finish second in a horse race, harness race, etc.

2. to earn a specified standing with relation to others, as in an examination, competition, etc..

   He placed fifth in a graduation class of 90.

idioms

1. go places, to succeed or advance in one's career.

   He'll never go places if he stays in his hometown.

2. put someone in his / her place, to lower someone's self-esteem; humble, especially an arrogant person.

   She put me in my place by reminding me who was boss.

3. give place to,

   1. to give precedence or priority to.

      Any local ordinance must give place to federal law.

   2. to be succeeded or replaced by.

      Travel by trains has given place to travel by airplanes.

4. know / keep one's place, to recognize one's position or rank, especially if inferior, and behave or act accordingly.

   They treated their servants well but expected them always to know their place.

5. take place, to happen; occur.

   The commencement exercises will take place outdoors unless it rains.

6. in place,

   1. in the correct or usual position or order.

      Dinner is ready and everything is in place.

   2. in the same spot, without advancing or retreating.

      Stand by your desk and jog in place for a few minutes of exercise.

   3. in the place or building that one already occupies: Ninety percent of older adults would prefer to age in place, in their own homes and communities.

      Residents were asked to shelter in place during the storm—evacuation was deemed too risky.

      Ninety percent of older adults would prefer to age in place, in their own homes and communities.

7. out of place,

   1. not in the correct or usual position or order.

      The library books are all out of place.

   2. unsuitable to the circumstances or surroundings; inappropriate.

      He had always felt out of place in an academic environment. A green suit was out of place at the funeral.

place ¹ British  

/ pleɪs /

noun

1. a particular point or part of space or of a surface, esp that occupied by a person or thing

2. a geographical point, such as a town, city, etc

3. a position or rank in a sequence or order

4. 1. an open square lined with houses of a similar type in a city or town

   2. ( capital when part of a street name )

      Grosvenor Place

5. space or room

6. a house or living quarters

7. a country house with grounds

8. any building or area set aside for a specific purpose

9. a passage in a book, play, film, etc

   to lose one's place

10. proper or appropriate position or time

    he still thinks a woman's place is in the home

11. right or original position

    put it back in its place

12. suitable, appropriate, or customary surroundings (esp in the phrases out of place, in place )

13. right, prerogative, or duty

    it is your place to give a speech

14. appointment, position, or job

    a place at college

15. position, condition, or state

    if I were in your place

16. 1. a space or seat, as at a dining table

    2. ( as modifier )

       place mat

17. maths the relative position of a digit in a number See also decimal place

18. any of the best times in a race

19. horse racing

    1. the first, second, or third position at the finish

    2. the first or usually the second position at the finish

    3. ( as modifier )

       a place bet

20. theatre one of the three unities See unity

21. archaic an important position, rank, or role

22. in disorder or disarray

23. parliamentary procedure

    1. (in the House of Commons) the House of Lords

    2. (in the House of Lords) the House of Commons

24. to make room for or be superseded by someone

25. informal

    1. to travel

    2. to become successful

26. 1. instead of; in lieu of

       go in place of my sister

    2. in exchange for

       he gave her it in place of her ring

27. to be aware of one's inferior position

28. the highest or foremost position

29. to humble someone who is arrogant, conceited, forward, etc

30. to take up one's usual or specified position

31. to be a substitute for

32. to happen or occur

33. facetious

    1. (at Oxford University) Cambridge University

    2. (at Cambridge University) Oxford University

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verb

1. to put or set in a particular or appropriate place

2. to find or indicate the place of

3. to identify or classify by linking with an appropriate context

   to place a face

4. to regard or view as being

   to place prosperity above sincerity

5. to make (an order, a bet, etc)

6. to find a home or job for (someone)

7. to appoint to an office or position

8. (often foll by with) to put under the care (of)

9. to direct or aim carefully

10. (passive) to cause (a racehorse, greyhound, athlete, etc) to arrive in first, second, third, or sometimes fourth place

11. (intr) (of a racehorse, greyhound, etc) to finish among the first three in a contest, esp in second position

12. to invest (funds)

13. to sing (a note) with accuracy of pitch

14. to insert (an advertisement) in a newspaper, journal, etc

Place ² British  

/ pleɪs /

noun

1. Francis. 1771–1854, British radical, who campaigned for the repeal (1824) of the Combination Acts, which forbade the forming of trade unions, and for parliamentary reform

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place More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing place

• all over the place
• between a rock and a hard place
• fall in place
• friend in court (high places)
• go places
• have one's heart in the right place
• in place
• in someone's shoes (place)
• in the first place
• instead (in place) of
• jumping-off place
• know one's place
• out of place
• pride of place
• put someone in his or her place
• run in place
• take place
• take someone's place

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Synonym Usage

See position. See put.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preplace
  verb (used with object)
• placeable
  adjective
• placeless
  adjective
• unplaced
  adjective
• well-placed
  adjective
• placelessly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• places
  plural

Participles

• placing
  present
• placed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• place
  simple
• places
  simple
• have placed
  perfect
• has placed
  perfect
• am placing
  progressive
• are placing
  progressive
• is placing
  progressive
• have been placing
  perfect progressive
• has been placing
  perfect progressive

Past

• placed
  simple
• had placed
  perfect
• was placing
  progressive
• were placing
  progressive
• had been placing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will place
  simple
• will have placed
  perfect
• will be placing
  progressive
• will have been placing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of place

First recorded before 950; Middle English noun plaas, plas, a conflation of Old English plæce, plætse and Middle French place, plasse “space, available space,” from Medieval Latin placea, from Vulgar Latin plattea, from Latin platea, platēa “wide street, courtyard, area,” from Greek plateîa (hodós) “wide (street),” noun use of feminine of platýs “wide, broad, level”; verb derivative of the noun; see flat ¹, plate ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

A place is a position, an area, a spot, or a space. Texas is a place in the United States, and your seat at dinner is your place at the table. In the old saying "A woman's place is in the home," place means both an "appropriate location" as well as "proper social situation." Thankfully, Bella Abzug updated that notion by saying "A woman's place is in the House... the House of Representatives." Place can also be a verb: you can place, or set down, books on a table. If you can't place the person to whom you've just been introduced, you are having trouble identifying that person.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

place Place places placed placing

Dozens of homes were evacuated in the nearby village of Whelford and a large cordon was put in place around the site.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

The requirements make the yard an expensive place to build.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

The operation is expected to take place at Rome's Gemelli hospital, which has a dedicated papal suite.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

However, it is understood Pope has taken the decision to withdraw from the draft taking place later this month independently of Key's view on the competition.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Phineas is "always finding something which did not suit him in every place he tried," says his mother.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

In Long Beach, with less than two hours before high tide, workers on the Peninsula raced early Sunday morning to build a sand berm stretching westward from 62nd Place.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026

The city closed the Peninsula to nonresident traffic, with more street closures starting at 62nd Place.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

Crowds of teenagers marched from the Place de la République in Paris, calling for more resources for schools, and what they called less repression from police.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Aboard the popemobile, the smiling pontiff blessed several babies and waved to worshippers, as he made his way from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde, where a giant white canopy was installed.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

“The roof of Ashton Place seems to have sprung a leak,” she thought, still in a deep doze.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Using computer simulations and electrochemical measurements, they developed a reactor design that places the electrodes closer together while allowing the electrolyte, the electrically conductive liquid carrying the reaction ingredients, to flow between them.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

His old side, despite snatching a draw at Manchester United a few hours after Lankshear's latest winner, remain in the Premier League relegation zone while Boro sit in the Championship's automatic promotion places.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

"Visakhapatnam is one of the few places where all of these come together."

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026

“We had to go into these dangerous places and look for food, because we were hungry.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

“I’ll buy you a coffee, I’ll take the blame—anything, just switch places with me for today’s shift. Please.”

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

An administrative official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the chief minister had been placed in "protective custody" in his official residence but later moved to another location, which he did not disclose.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

Zverev has done exactly that to record the greatest season of a career which had threatened to fall short of the lofty expectations placed on him since he emerged as a teenage prodigy.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources climate scientist Daniel Swain also placed blame on a months-long marine heatwave preceding El Niño, as well as human-caused climate change.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

Since a deadlocked jury forced a mistrial in early September, more than $500,000 in additional bets have been placed on whether the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her children will eventually be convicted.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

I drew nearer to the desk and placed my hands on the back of one of the chairs.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Cristian Mungiu’s ‘Fjord’ follows a Romanian-Norwegian couple accused of abusing their children, placing clashing cultural values at the center of a courtroom drama.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Christian Wilson, from Bromsgrove, has verbal dyspraxia - a difficulty in placing muscles in the correct position to produce speech.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

Informa’s largest institutional shareholder plans to take part in the placing on a pro rata basis, the group said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

The core idea behind these strategies is simultaneously placing two bets, one betting on a big up move and the other betting on a big move downward.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

“Are we placing her in detention or sending her to summer camp?” asked the prosecutor.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

• apartment
• area
• berth
• city
• community
• corner
• country
• district
• field
• hole
• home
• house
• neighborhood
• part
• point
• position
• region
• residence
• room
• seat