Varanasi

American

[vuh-rah-nuh-see] / vəˈrɑ nə si /

noun

a city in southeastern Uttar Pradesh, in northeastern India, on the Ganges River: Hindu holy city.

Varanasi British

/ vəˈrɑːnəsɪ /

noun

Former names: Benares. Banaras. a city in NE India, in SE Uttar Pradesh on the River Ganges: probably dates from the 13th century _bc ; an early centre of Aryan philosophy and religion; a major place of pilgrimage for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists, with many ghats along the Ganges; seat of the Banaras Hindu University (1916), India's leading university, and the Sanskrit University (1957). Pop: 1 100 748 (2001)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

PM Modi is seeking a third term as an MP from Varanasi, popularly known as Benaras or "the world’s oldest living city".

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2024

During a videotaped interview with an Indian news agency at the Ganges River in Varanasi, Mr. Singh praised the powerful prime minister, Narendra Modi, for celebrating “our rich cultural heritage.”

From New York Times • Jun. 1, 2024

Varanasi is one of the world’s oldest cities and it’s often called India’s spiritual capital.

From BBC • May 29, 2024

The constituency of Varanasi, with around 1.7 million voters, will go to the polls on June 1.

From Seattle Times • May 14, 2024

They were being taken to Varanasi so they could be scattered over the Ganges.

From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023