field

1 of 3

noun

ˈfēld 

1

a(1)

: an open land area free of woods and buildings

(2)

: an area of land marked by the presence of particular objects or features

dune fields

b(1)

: an area of cleared enclosed land used for cultivation or pasture

a field of wheat

(2)

: land containing a natural resource

oil fields

(3)

: airfield

c

: the place where a battle is fought

also : battle

d

: a large unbroken expanse (as of ice)

2

a

: an area or division of an activity, subject, or profession

the field of microbiology

b

: the sphere of practical operation outside a base (such as a laboratory, office, or factory)

geologists working in the field

c

: an area for military exercises or maneuvers

d(1)

: an area constructed, equipped, or marked for sports

a football field

(2)

: the portion of an indoor or outdoor sports area enclosed by the running track and on which field events are conducted

(3)

: any of the three sections of a baseball outfield

hits to all fields

3

: a space on which something is drawn or projected: such as

a

: the space on the surface of a coin, medal, or seal that does not contain the design

b

: the ground of each division in a flag

c

: the whole surface of an escutcheon (see escutcheon sense 1)

4

: the individuals that make up all or part of the participants in a contest

The election attracted a large field of candidates.

especially : all participants with the exception of the favorite or the winner in a contest where more than two are entered

5

: the area visible through the lens of an optical instrument

6

a

: a region or space in which a given effect (such as magnetism) exists

a magnetic field

a gravitational field

b

: a region of embryonic tissue capable of a particular type of differentiation (see differentiation sense 3)

a morphogenetic field

7

: a set of mathematical elements that is subject to two binary operations the second of which is distributive (see distributive sense 3) relative to the first and that constitutes a commutative (see commutative sense 2) group under the first operation and also under the second if the zero or unit element under the first is omitted

8

: a complex of forces that serve as causative agents in human behavior

9

: a series of drain tiles and an absorption area for septic-tank outflow

10

: a particular area (as of a record in a database) in which the same type of information is regularly recorded

field

2 of 3

adjective

: of or relating to a field: such as

a

: growing in or inhabiting the fields or open country

b

: made, conducted, or used in the field

c

: operating or active in the field

field

3 of 3

verb

fielded; fielding; fields

transitive verb

1

a

: to catch or pick up (something, such as a batted ball) and usually throw to a teammate

Practice fielding ground balls as much as you can. Work on keeping the ball in front of you.

—Michael Goldman

b

: to take care of or respond to (something, such as a telephone call or a request)

She has been fielding offers from potential buyers.

c

: to give an impromptu answer or solution to

the senator fielded the reporters' questions

2

: to put into the field

field an army

field a team

also : to enter in competition

intransitive verb

: to play as a defensive player stationed in the field

Phrases

from the field

: in field goals as opposed to free throws

made 40 percent of his shots from the field

Synonyms

Noun

• clearing
• ground
• lot
• parcel
• plat
• plot
• tract

Verb

• address
• contend (with)
• cope (with)
• grapple (with)
• hack
• handle
• manage
• maneuver
• manipulate
• negotiate
• play
• swing
• take
• treat

Examples of field in a Sentence

Noun

He gazed out across the fields.

She hopes to find work in the health field.

She is a pioneer in the field of genetic research.

a lawyer who is eminent in his field

working in his chosen field

a fascinating field of endeavor

Verb

The shortstop fielded the ground ball.

a shortstop who fields his position flawlessly

Last week she fielded two offers on her house.

His secretary will field requests for more information.

The senator fielded the reporters' questions.

They expect to field a strong team this year.

the greatest fighting force that any nation has ever fielded

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Samantha Olsen, Rockvale High School The senior Lieutenant Colonel leads a program of over 100 cadets and is on the cross-country team, track and field team and Raider team while carrying a 4.0 grade point average. —Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

Jimmy was captain of the 1952 team that went to the Cotton Bowl and has the practice football field named after him in Knoxville. —Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 20 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Irving jumped to an early lead in the third minute as a sharp cross-field pass from the right side by Milton Lopez intended for Centeno was knocked in by an Allen defender for an own goal. —Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 31 Mar. 2023

Fullerton put Allen ahead in the fifth minute, chipping in a goal off a precise cross-field pass from the right side by Sam Sheffield. —Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 24 Mar. 2023

Verb

The Pac-12 Conference applied for trademarks this month that attempt to cover various contingencies if the league—which currently has two members, with commitments to add six more in 2026—ends up eventually fielding nine, 10, 11, 13 or 14 schools. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 22 Dec. 2024

At a news conference earlier in the day, at Mar-a-Lago, Trump fielded some questions about Kennedy and polio vaccines, acting as something of a shepherd from afar. —Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English, from Old English feld; akin to Old High German feld field, Old English flōr floor — more at floor

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1798, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing field

• ball field
• broken-field
• center field
• color-field
• come out of left field
• dark field
• dark-field microscope
• depth of field
• electric field
• elysian field
• field artillery
• field bed
• field corn
• field crop
• field day
• field-effect transistor
• field event
• field glass
• field goal
• field grade
• field guide
• field hand
• field hockey
• field house
• field judge
• field lens
• field magnet
• field marshal
• field mouse
• field mushroom
• field of battle
• field officer
• field of force
• field of honor
• field of play
• field of view
• field of vision
• field pea
• field spaniel
• field-test
• field theory
• field trial
• field trip
• field winding
• force field
• have a field day
• hay field
• Higgs field
• home field
• ice field
• killing field
• landing field
• lead the pack/field
• left field
• level playing field
• level the playing field
• magnetic field
• near field communication
• oil field
• out in left field
• playing field
• play the field
• potter's field
• quantum field theory
• reverse field
• reverse one's field
• right field
• stay/keep ahead of the field
• take the field
• track-and-field
• vector field
• visual field

Kids Definition

field

1 of 3 noun

ˈfē(ə)ld 

1

a

: an open land area free of woods and buildings

b

: an area of cleared land used especially for planting crops

c

: a piece of land put to some special use or yielding some special product

an athletic field

a gas field

d

: a place in which military operations are carried on

e

: an open space

a field of ice

2

a

: an area of activity or influence

the field of science

b

: the area of practical activity outside a laboratory, office, or factory

earth scientists working in the field

3

: a background on which something is drawn, painted, or mounted

painted white stars on a blue field

4

: the individuals that make up all or part of a contest

a race with a large field of runners

5

: a region or space in which an effect (as gravity, electricity, or magnetism) exists

6

: the area visible through the lens of an optical instrument

7

: a particular area (as of a record in a database) in which some type of information is regularly recorded

field

2 of 3 verb

: to catch or stop and throw a ball to a teammate

the shortstop fielded the ground ball

field

3 of 3 adjective

: of or relating to a field

Medical Definition

field

noun

ˈfē(ə)ld 

1

: an area or division of an activity

a doctor eminent in her field

2

: a complex of forces that serve as causative agents in human behavior

3

a

: a region of embryonic tissue potentially capable of a particular type of differentiation

a morphogenetic field

b

: a region or space in which a given effect (as magnetism) exists

4

a

: an area that is perceived or under observation

especially : the area visible through the lens of an optical instrument see visual field

b

: the site of a surgical operation

Biographical Definition

Field 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

ˈfēld 

Cyrus West 1819–1892 American financier

Field

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

Eugene 1850–1895 American poet and journalist

Field

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

Marshall 1834–1906 American merchant