sentence
Americannoun
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Grammar. a grammatical unit of one or more words that expresses an independent statement, question, request, command, exclamation, etc., and that typically has a subject as well as a predicate, as in John is here. or Is John here? In print or writing, a sentence typically begins with a capital letter and ends with appropriate punctuation; in speech it displays recognizable, communicative intonation patterns and is often marked by preceding and following pauses.
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Law.
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an authoritative decision; a judicial judgment or decree, especially the judicial determination of the punishment to be inflicted on a convicted criminal.
Knowledgeable sources say that the judge will announce the sentence early next week.
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the punishment itself; term.
a three-year sentence.
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Music. a complete idea, usually consisting of eight to sixteen measures; period.
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Archaic. a saying, apothegm, or maxim.
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Obsolete. an opinion given on a particular question.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a sequence of words capable of standing alone to make an assertion, ask a question, or give a command, usually consisting of a subject and a predicate containing a finite verb
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the judgment formally pronounced upon a person convicted in criminal proceedings, esp the decision as to what punishment is to be imposed
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an opinion, judgment, or decision
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music another word for period
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any short passage of scripture employed in liturgical use
the funeral sentences
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logic a well-formed expression, without variables
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archaic a proverb, maxim, or aphorism
verb
Grammar
A sentence is the largest grammatical unit in language. It communicates a complete thought—an assertion, question, command, or exclamation. In general, assertions and questions—the overwhelming majority of sentences—require a subject and a verb, put together in a way that can stand alone, resulting in what is called an independent clause ( main clause ): He kicked the ball is a sentence. After he kicked the ball is not a sentence; instead it is a dependent clause ( subordinate clause ). Even though it has a subject and a verb, it needs to be connected to something in order to complete the assertion: After he kicked the ball, he fell down; or He fell down after he kicked the ball. In the case of commands, the subject need not be written because “you” is understood: Go home! means You go home! And exclamations clearly express excitement, alarm, anger, or the like with no need for either a subject or a verb: Wow! Gadzooks! Ouch! In everyday speech we routinely use phrases or clauses that would not make a complete sentence—so-called sentence fragments —because the conversation or the circumstances make the meaning clear. For example, we might answer a question like “Where did you go?” with “To the store,” or “Why can’t I stay out till midnight?” with “Because I say so,” or “What are you doing?” with “Trying to fix this toaster,” instead of “I went to the store,” “You can't stay out that late because I say so,” or “I am trying to fix this toaster.” In written dialogue sentence fragments are perfectly acceptable. They would generally be regarded as sentences simply because they begin with a capital letter and end with a suitable punctuation mark. But they are not sentences in a strict grammatical sense. And as a rule, sentence fragments are frowned upon in formal or expository writing. They can be useful—indeed, powerful—but in such writing they are effective only if used sparingly, in order to achieve a deliberate special effect: We will not give up fighting for this cause. Not now. Not ever.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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resentencenoun
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sentencernoun
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presentenceverb (used with object)
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sententialadjective
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unsentencedadjective
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sententiallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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sentencesimple
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sentencessimple
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have sentencedperfect
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has sentencedperfect
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am sentencingprogressive
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are sentencingprogressive
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is sentencingprogressive
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have been sentencingperfect progressive
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has been sentencingperfect progressive
Past
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sentencedsimple
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had sentencedperfect
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was sentencingprogressive
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were sentencingprogressive
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had been sentencingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sentence
First recorded in 1175–1225; (noun) Middle English, from Old French, frpm Latin sententia “opinion, decision,” equivalent to sent- (base of sentīre “to feel”) + -entia -ence; (verb) Middle English: “to pass judgment, decide judicially,” from Old French sentencier, derivative of sentence
Explanation
A sentence can be a group of words that communicate a complete thought, or it can be the punishment in a criminal case. Did your pen pal in prison write a sentence or two about the length of his sentence? Actually, both meanings of sentence — words and punishment — are linked, coming from the Latin sententia, meaning "thought or judgment," derived from the verb sentire, "to feel or perceive." If you put some words before a period, you should give some thought to your sentence. If you receive a lengthy prison sentence, you will certainly feel it.
Vocabulary lists containing sentence
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Language and Grammar - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm said the sentence was unusual for a juvenile but found Gray calculated and unrepentant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Lower house MP Aye Chan confirmed to AFP that the death sentence remained in the approved version of the law.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
Talley said he found Trujillo’s testimony to be “compelling and truthful,” unlike his statement from 2014 when he was hoping to get a reduced sentence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Critics of the sentence have described it as "inhumane and degrading".
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Oh yeah, and he has this habit of beginning every sentence with the word dutchdeefuddy.
From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen
She represented defendants who argued that their convictions or their sentences were unconstitutional.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
In a court filing ahead of the sentencing, Boelter’s attorneys said his plea and request for multiple life sentences was an effort in showing remorse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
It is not retrospective, meaning PC Harper's killers cannot have their sentences extended.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Watkins is very good at making a humorous turn at the end of thoughts, sentences, books.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
It is easy to read past sentences like these, because we now swim in a sea of facts and think that they are merely a recitation of the obvious.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
In 2018, Lula was sentenced to 12 years in prison over a massive corruption and bribery scandal, but was released after serving a little over 18 months.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Last month a Saudi psychiatrist and anti-Islam activist, Taleb Jawad al-Abdulmohsen, was sentenced to life in prison for that attack.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
The 44-year-old Chico man faces 25 years to life and is scheduled to be sentenced Oct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Supreme Court lawyer and SCOTUSblog co-founder Thomas Goldstein was sentenced to six years in prison for tax evasion and mortgage fraud.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
After implicating Joe, McCants was sentenced as an adult to four-and-one-half years and served just six months.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
The victim's family, who were in court for the sentencing, shouted "that's ridiculous" when the OLR was handed down.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The sentencing hearing is to hear statements from over 100 victims.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
“Why couldn’t she just say no? She’s an evil person,” Lopez wrote in a statement presented at Carlos’ sentencing hearing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
After Gray pleaded guilty to 55 charges, the hearing moved to the sentencing phase, during which Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm will determine the penalty.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
The rapid conviction, sentencing, and execution of the Lincoln assassination conspirators concluded the trial that had lasted through May and June.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
