terrace
Americannoun
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a raised level with a vertical or sloping front or sides faced with masonry, turf, or the like, especially one of a series of levels rising one above another.
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the top of such a construction, used as a platform, garden, road, etc.
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a nearly level strip of land with a more or less abrupt descent along the margin of the sea, a lake, or a river.
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the flat roof of a house.
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an open, often paved area connected to a house or an apartment house and serving as an outdoor living area; deck.
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an open platform, as projecting from the outside wall of an apartment; a large balcony.
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a row of houses on or near the top of a slope.
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a residential street following the top of a slope.
verb (used with or without object)
noun
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a horizontal flat area of ground, often one of a series in a slope
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a row of houses, usually identical and having common dividing walls, or the street onto which they face
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( cap when part of a street name )
Grosvenor Terrace
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a paved area alongside a building, serving partly as a garden
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a balcony or patio
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the flat roof of a house built in a Spanish or Oriental style
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a flat area bounded by a short steep slope formed by the down-cutting of a river or by erosion
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(usually plural)
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unroofed tiers around a football pitch on which the spectators stand
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the spectators themselves
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verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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terracesimple
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terracessimple
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have terracedperfect
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has terracedperfect
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am terracingprogressive
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are terracingprogressive
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is terracingprogressive
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have been terracingperfect progressive
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has been terracingperfect progressive
Past
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terracedsimple
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had terracedperfect
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was terracingprogressive
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were terracingprogressive
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had been terracingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of terrace
1505–15; earlier terrasse < Middle French < Old Provençal terrassa < Vulgar Latin *terrācea, feminine of *terrāceus. See terra, -aceous
Explanation
A terrace is a paved or brick outdoor area right next to a house or apartment. You might have a nice dinner out on your terrace, enjoying the sunset. Terrace and patio are synonyms. Another meaning for terrace is "a block of row houses that are connected by shared walls and are built in a similar style." Terrace also refers to flat areas on a hillside where people farm or have built houses. That land has been terraced, meaning "made into shelves."
Vocabulary lists containing terrace
Learning Down The House: Parts of Your Home
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Elements of the Universe: Terr, Terra ("Earth")
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South America - Middle School
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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:
Even ongoing matches fail to stop them gathering on a nearby terrace to eye up what treats await below.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
As the exhibition text explains, “In ancient Egypt, the terrace before the temple functioned as an open meeting place between the deity and larger crowds.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
He was especially interested in thresholds: the moment you move from sidewalk to entry, street to courtyard, apartment to terrace; from solitude to community.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
The main bedroom offers a clean, contemporary aesthetic, with large glass doors that open to another terrace space, with its own private seating area—and steps that lead down to the main yard and pool space.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026
It was too late to warn Frith, the car itself came upon us standing on the terrace with cushions and papers under our arms.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
“A glass-and-timber gym, barrel sauna, outdoor soaking tub, multiple covered terraces, five-car garage, and parking for four additional vehicles complete the property,” reads the listing.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Although not written as a football song, Noel has spoken of the influence of his time spent on the terraces at the old Maine Road watching Manchester City on his songwriting, Robb recalls.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
In Turin, some restaurants have closed their terraces - elsewhere, including in Rome, giant outdoor fans and sprinklers are working overtime.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
Bar terraces are buzzing with activity into late evenings again as people try to soak in every bit of sun after the long winter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
In response to Clara’s imagination and the requirements of the moment, the noble, seignorial architecture began sprouting all sorts of extra little rooms, staircases, turrets, and terraces.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
Oren Brown, 27, usually works in a dedicated office room but says his terraced house in County Durham is "horribly stifling upstairs".
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
Filled with eccentric decorative touches that mirrored Simmons’ vibrant public persona, the property features everything from staircase cherubs and boldly patterned wallpaper to curved French doors, terraced gardens, and a key-shaped swimming pool.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 3, 2026
Many of the children in illegal children's homes are located in terraced or suburban housing in parts of northern England with cheaper rents.
From BBC ● May 20, 2026
Instead of viewing them solely as symbolic layers representing sin, Burbery argues they closely resemble the terraced rings seen in massive impact basins throughout the solar system.
From Science Daily ● May 11, 2026
Around her, masked and veiled men and women crowded onto the terraced ledges, stamping their feet as the action proceeded below.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
If you look through the history books, it is 30 years since Norwich won at Anfield - in the last game played in front of the Kop when it was still terracing.
From BBC ● Jan. 25, 2024
“We knew we’d have to do a bit of terracing and retaining, but California is what it is,” Tenney said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2023
In addition to constructing dams and irrigation systems, the people of this region collected water from flash floods and used terracing in hilly regions.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
The upper-tier will become outdoor terracing for new homes.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 5, 2022
The principal reason for its success was its innovative techniques of terracing and irrigation, the latter being used to implement the former.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
