table

American  

[tay-buhl] / ˈteɪ bəl /

noun

• tables
  plural

1. an article of furniture consisting of a flat, slablike top supported on one or more legs or other supports.

   a kitchen table;

   an operating table;

   a pool table.

2. such a piece of furniture specifically used for serving food to those seated at it.

3. the food placed on a table to be eaten.

   She sets a good table.

4. a group of persons at a table, as for a meal, game, or business transaction.

5. a gaming table.

6. a flat or plane surface; a level area.

7. a tableland or plateau.

8. a concise list or guide.

   The table of contents in the front of the book includes chapter names and page numbers.

9. an arrangement of words, numbers, or signs, or combinations of them, as in parallel columns, to exhibit a set of facts or relations in a definite, compact, and comprehensive form; a synopsis or scheme.

10. Astronomy. Table, the constellation Mensa.

11. a flat and relatively thin piece of wood, stone, metal, or other hard substance, especially one artificially shaped for a particular purpose.

12. Architecture.

    1. a course or band, especially of masonry, having a distinctive form or position.

    2. a distinctively treated surface on a wall.

13. a smooth, flat board or slab on which inscriptions may be put.

14. tables,

    1. the tablets on which certain collections of laws were anciently inscribed.

       the tables of the Decalogue.

    2. the laws themselves.

15. Anatomy. the inner or outer hard layer or any of the flat bones of the skull.

16. Music. a sounding board.

17. Jewelry.

    1. the upper horizontal surface of a faceted gem.

    2. a gem with such a surface.

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verb (used with object)

• tables,
  present (3rd person singular)
• tabled,
  past participle,  past
• tabling
  present participle

1. to place (a card, money, etc.) on a table.

2. to enter in or form into a table or list.

3. Parliamentary Procedure.

   1. Chiefly U.S. to lay aside (a proposal, resolution, etc.) for future discussion, usually with a view to postponing or shelving the matter indefinitely.

   2. British. to present (a proposal, resolution, etc.) for discussion.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or for use on a table.

   a table lamp.

2. suitable for serving at a table or for eating or drinking.

   table grapes.

idioms

1. wait (on) table, to work as a waiter or waitress: Also wait tables.

   He worked his way through college by waiting table.

2. on the table,

   1. U.S. postponed.

   2. British. submitted for consideration.

3. turn the tables, to cause a reversal of an existing situation, especially with regard to gaining the upper hand over a competitor, rival, antagonist, etc.: We turned the tables on them and undersold them by 50 percent.

   Fortune turned the tables and we won.

   We turned the tables on them and undersold them by 50 percent.

4. under the table,

   1. drunk.

   2. as a bribe; secretly.

      She gave money under the table to get the apartment.

table British  

/ ˈteɪbəl /

noun

1. a flat horizontal slab or board, usually supported by one or more legs, on which objects may be placed

2. 1. such a slab or board on which food is served

      we were six at table

   2. ( as modifier )

      table linen

   3. ( in combination )

      a tablecloth

3. food as served in a particular household or restaurant

   a good table

4. such a piece of furniture specially designed for any of various purposes

   a backgammon table

   bird table

5. 1. a company of persons assembled for a meal, game, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      table talk

6. any flat or level area, such as a plateau

7. a rectangular panel set below or above the face of a wall

8. architect another name for cordon

9. an upper horizontal facet of a cut gem

10. music the sounding board of a violin, guitar, or similar stringed instrument

11. 1. an arrangement of words, numbers, or signs, usually in parallel columns, to display data or relations

       a table of contents

    2. See multiplication table

12. a tablet on which laws were inscribed by the ancient Romans, the Hebrews, etc

13. palmistry an area of the palm's surface bounded by four lines

14. printing a slab of smooth metal on which ink is rolled to its proper consistency

15. 1. either of the two bony plates that form the inner and outer parts of the flat bones of the cranium

    2. any thin flat plate, esp of bone

16. put forward for discussion and acceptance

    we currently have our final offer on the table

17. to cause a complete reversal of circumstances, esp to defeat or get the better of someone who was previously in a stronger position

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verb

1. to place on a table

2. to submit (a bill, etc) for consideration by a legislative body

3. to suspend discussion of (a bill, etc) indefinitely or for some time

4. to enter in or form into a list; tabulate

table More Idioms  

1. see clear out (the table); lay one's cards on the table; on the table; set the table; turn the tables; under the table; wait at table.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• tableful
  noun
• tableless
  adjective
• untabled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tables
  plural

Participles

• tabling
  present
• tabled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• table
  simple
• tables
  simple
• have tabled
  perfect
• has tabled
  perfect
• am tabling
  progressive
• are tabling
  progressive
• is tabling
  progressive
• have been tabling
  perfect progressive
• has been tabling
  perfect progressive

Past

• tabled
  simple
• had tabled
  perfect
• was tabling
  progressive
• were tabling
  progressive
• had been tabling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will table
  simple
• will have tabled
  perfect
• will be tabling
  progressive
• will have been tabling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of table

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English tabule, variant of tabula, from Latin: “plank, tablet”; (verb) late Middle English: “to record on a table, entertain at table,” derivative of the noun

Explanation

The flat surface people sit around when they eat together is a table. A table can also be a chart full of information. When doing your taxes, you might use a tax table to determine how much you owe. Table is a very common noun, but it can also be used as a verb. In American English, the verb table means to set a matter aside indefinitely. For example, if state senators can't come to a compromise about new zoning laws, they might simply decide to table the issue. Confusingly, British English uses the verb table in precisely the opposite way: If members of the English Parliament table a piece of legislation, they formally submit it for discussion or debate.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

table tables tabled tabling

The hosts finished with 83 golds, a distant second in the medals table behind China with 169.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

We sat at a round table about a third of the way back in a room with roughly 300 others.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

But perhaps they could just give a really good sense of what is being discussed around that table, and what a good family fight at the Fed looks like these days.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 4, 2026

Maybe he was just in a hurry to get to his next destination, which was recording a podcast, or maybe he thought there would be table service, but he left his trash on the table.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

Only steps from my grandparents’ picnic table, it was duck-hunting Ethan of my failed first-ever date, wearing basketball shorts and a shirt that read Chickasaw Pride.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

The room had been fitted out with six poker tables, a large prize wheel, seating areas, and fridges stocked with drinks and snacks.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

When the tables are turned, he said, FedEx demands payments within a few weeks and threatens to close his business accounts: “It’s ironic given how much they pursue payments from us.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

The inmates allegedly paid rent for the accommodation complete with couches, large beds, TVs, fridges -- even dining tables.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

Here are five charts and tables demonstrating rising prices influenced Americans’ budgets:

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

They do not explain how people like Reverend Hammond experienced sliding tables, unrolling window shades, and moving cabinet drawers.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

The last effort to change the law was supported by MPs but stalled in the House of Lords earlier this year after peers tabled more than 1,200 amendments.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

Privately-held Stripe and Advent tabled an offer to buy PayPal for $60.50 a share earlier this month, Reuters and the Financial Times reported, citing unnamed sources.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

The legislation, first tabled two-and-a-half years ago, seeks to regulate so-called "ultra-fast fashion" companies, known for selling large volumes of lower quality clothing at rock-bottom price.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

The council’s five-member rules committee tabled those ideas, saying they need more study.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

A number of scythes applauded, but several rose up and shouted their grievous discontent at the issue being tabled.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

But it did not clear all its stages in the Lords, with peers tabling more than 1,200 amendments.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

Roberts said he hoped tabling throwing, at least for now, could help Ohtani’s offensive production.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

The event will highlight Indigenous identity, art, dance and history and include performances, art workshops, educational videos and tabling by student and community organizations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2025

Ineos and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani both made offers, tabling bids of around £5bn.

From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2023

The meeting ended with Eisenhower tabling Stassen’s plan, ostensibly for the moment.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• bar
• bench
• board
• buffet
• counter
• desk
• dinner table
• stand