a thickly populated area, usually smaller than a city and larger than a village, having fixed boundaries and certain local powers of government.
a densely populated area of considerable size, as a city or borough.
(especially in New England) a municipal corporation with less elaborate organization and powers than a city.
(in most U.S. states except those of New England) a township.
any urban area, as contrasted with its surrounding countryside.
the inhabitants of a town; townspeople; citizenry.
the particular town or city in mind or referred to.
living on the outskirts of town; to be out of town.
a nearby or neighboring city; the chief town or city in a district.
I am staying at a friend's apartment in town.
the main business or shopping area in a town or city; downtown.
British.
a village or hamlet in which a periodic market or fair is held.
any village or hamlet.
Scot. a farmstead.
go to town,
to be successful.
to do well, efficiently, or speedily.
The engineers really went to town on those plans.
to lose restraint or inhibition; overindulge.
paint the town. paint.
on the town,
Informal. in quest of entertainment in a city's nightclubs, bars, etc.; out to have a good time.
a bunch of college kids out on the town.
supported by the public charity of the state or community; on relief.
a densely populated urban area, typically smaller than a city and larger than a village, having some local powers of government and a fixed boundary
( as modifier )
town life
a city, borough, or other urban area
(in the US) a territorial unit of local government that is smaller than a county; township
the nearest town or commercial district
London or the chief city of an area
the inhabitants of a town
the permanent residents of a university town as opposed to the university staff and students Compare gown
to make a supreme or unrestricted effort; go all out
informal to lose one's temper
seeking out entertainments and amusements
See community.
First recorded before 900; Middle English toun, tun, Old English tūn “walled or fenced place, courtyard, farmstead, village”; cognate with Old Norse tūn “homefield,” German Zaun “fence”; akin to Old Irish dún “citadel, fortress” ( see down 3 ( def. ))
A town is an area where people live that's bigger than a village and smaller than a city. A town has a specific boundary, a name, and (usually) its own government. A town is essentially a small city. It's got a smaller population and usually has fewer big apartment buildings and more single-family homes. When something or someone is in town, they are visiting your town: "I'm so excited that the circus is in town!" And if you go out on the town, you take advantage of the nightlife in a town or city.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Moussa's town, where many residents rely on agriculture as a source of income, water covered vast areas of farmland, while farmers stood in their fields assessing their losses.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
In photographs from the era, de la Espriella sits in a small town where the leaders of the group had gathered to fight extradition efforts and get government benefits in exchange for disarming.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
In Achharaund village, 20km from Banda town, the struggle is less about temperature than water.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
Given that you’ll be traveling from out of town, I am recommending spots that you can visit in a single day, if you’d like.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026
Aside from Grandma telling Mr. Archer about various town festivals, the loudest sounds were the pop and crackle of burning wood.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
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.
