room
Americannoun
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rooms
plural
-
a portion of space within a building or other structure, separated by walls or partitions from other parts.
a dining room.
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rooms, lodgings or quarters, as in a house or building.
-
the persons present in a room.
The whole room laughed.
-
space or extent of space occupied by or available for something.
The desk takes up too much room.
-
opportunity or scope for something.
room for improvement; room for doubt.
-
status or a station in life considered as a place.
He fought for room at the top.
-
capacity.
Her brain had no room for trivia.
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Mining. a working area cut between pillars.
verb (used without object)
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rooms,
present (3rd person singular)
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roomed,
past participle, past
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rooming
present participle
noun
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space or extent, esp unoccupied or unobstructed space for a particular purpose
is there room to pass?
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an area within a building enclosed by a floor, a ceiling, and walls or partitions
sitting room
dining room
-
(functioning as singular or plural) the people present in a room
the whole room was laughing
-
(foll by for) opportunity or scope
room for manoeuvre
-
(plural) a part of a house, hotel, etc, that is rented out as separate accommodation; lodgings
she got rooms in town
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a euphemistic word for lavatory
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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roomsimple
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roomssimple
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have roomedperfect
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has roomedperfect
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am roomingprogressive
-
are roomingprogressive
-
is roomingprogressive
-
have been roomingperfect progressive
-
has been roomingperfect progressive
Past
-
roomedsimple
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had roomedperfect
-
was roomingprogressive
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were roomingprogressive
-
had been roomingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of room
First recorded before 900; Middle English roum(e), Old English rūm; cognate with Dutch ruim, German Raum
Explanation
A room is a space in a house or building that's usually enclosed with walls. Your favorite room in your house might be the den where the TV is, or the cozy kitchen. There's the physical area called a room, and then there's the concept of room, which can mean "space" or "opportunity." If you have room in your life for a puppy, it means you can make the time to walk it and feed it and play with it. If you have room in your bedroom for a puppy, it means you have the physical space you need for a dog bed.
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:
Pitts has battled through this crucial period following a bicep injury, and his determination and leadership are integral to the spirit within the dressing room.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
A room at the hotel cost me an extra $755 a night.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Alan Cumming is in his dressing room on the set of “The Traitors,” where a rack of flamboyant costumes hangs behind him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
The latter seemingly bought into some of the era’s storylines and ringside magic, believing that a rousing speech to the wrestlers in the locker room would convince them to strike.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
“It’s okay, babe. We’re glad you’re here,” Dad says, placing his hand on her lower back to guide her to the dining room.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
He voiced his frustration at his school's facilities in an interview with news agency AFP, saying some rooms had leaks and that there were not enough toilets.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
In addition to seven bedrooms and 20 bathrooms, the stately interiors include multiple dining rooms, lounges and a walnut-paneled library.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
Winterich conducted an experiment with college students moving out of dorm rooms.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
When the two teams went into their locker rooms at halftime, officials made sure they left the field in stages, to avoid a fight in the tunnel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
‘You stay, too, Mila. Boys, go and play in your rooms, please. We need to talk to Hannie and Mila.’
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
All seven members roomed in a single dorm room until 2016.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026
"I roomed with 'Thommo' for years, and I've seen him and spent time with him since, and he's genuinely struggling," says Moody.
From BBC ● Mar. 2, 2026
Malabuyo roomed with the freshman during the last three meets and considers McGowan one of her closest teammates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2025
While working on the reboot, I roomed with the associate producer, Marcy Carriker, who married Tom in 1990.
From New York Times ● Dec. 28, 2023
Settling in Berlin, she roomed with an elderly couple who spoke only German, devoted herself to an intensive study of the language, and began vocal studies with Kurt Johnen, one of the city’s best-known teachers.
From "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman
Four months later, co-chairing the February 2020 National Prayer Breakfast, Suozzi and Moolenaar referred to rooming together.
From Salon ● May 29, 2026
Moreover, it’s not just young people fresh out of school who are rooming with others to keep their housing costs low.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2025
Chisom is rooming with running back Anthony Frias II and has a connecting door attached to the room of linebacker Ben Perry and running back Troy Leigber, providing ample opportunities to learn about new teammates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2025
She lived in the same run-down area of seedy rooming houses as Raffo, whom she had befriended on the streets.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 30, 2023
As Macon and Freddie approached the yard, the women from the rooming house were hollering answers to Porter’s plea.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
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.
