place

1 of 2

noun

ˈplās 

plural places

1

a

: physical environment : space

b

: a way for admission or transit

c

: physical surroundings : atmosphere

2

a

: an indefinite region or expanse

all over the place

b

: a building or locality used for a special purpose

a place of learning

a fine eating place

c

archaic : the three-dimensional compass of a material object

3

a

: a particular region, center of population, or location

a nice place to visit

b

: a building, part of a building, or area occupied as a home

our summer place

4

: a particular part of a surface or body : spot

5

: relative position in a scale or series: such as

a

: position in a social scale

kept them in their place

b

: a step in a sequence

in the first place, it's none of your business

c

: a position at the conclusion of a competition

finished in last place

6

a

: a proper or designated niche or setting

the place of education in society

b

: an appropriate moment or point

this is not the place to discuss compensation

—Robert Moses

c

: a distinct condition, position, or state of mind

the postfeminist generation is in a different place

—Betty Friedan

7

a

: an available seat or accommodation

needs a place to stay

b

: an empty or vacated position

new ones will take their place

8

: the position of a figure in relation to others of a row or series

especially : the position of a digit within a numeral

9

a

: remunerative employment : job

b

: prestige accorded to one of high rank : status

an endless quest for preferment and place

—Time

10

: a public square : plaza

11

: a small street or court

12

: second place at the finish (as of a horse race)

see also take place

place

2 of 2

verb

placed; placing

transitive verb

1

a

: to put in or as if in a particular place or position : set

b

: to present for consideration

a question placed before the group

c

: to put in a particular state

place a performer under contract

d

: to direct to a desired spot

e

: to cause (the voice) to produce free and well resonated singing or speaking tones

2

a

: to assign to a position in a series or category : rank

b

: estimate

placed the value of the estate too high

c

: to identify by connecting with an associated context

couldn't quite place her face

police placed them at the crime scene

3

: to distribute in an orderly manner : arrange

4

: to appoint to a position

5

: to find a place (such as a home or employment) for

6

a

: to give (an order) to a supplier

b

: to give an order for

place a bet

c

: to try to establish a connection for

place a telephone call

intransitive verb

: to earn a given spot in a competition

specifically : to come in second (as in a horse race)

placeable

ˈplā-sə-bəl 

adjective

Phrases

in place

1

or less commonly into place

a

: in an original or proper position

b

: established, instituted, or operational

systems in place

2

: in the same spot without forward or backward movement

run in place

in place of

: as a substitute or replacement for : instead of

out of place

1

: not in the proper or usual location

2

: improper, inappropriate

Synonyms

Noun

• emplacement
• locale
• locality
• location
• locus
• point
• position
• site
• spot
• venue
• where

Verb

• depose
• deposit
• dispose
• emplace
• fix
• lay
• position
• put
• set
• set up
• situate
• stick

Examples of place in a Sentence

Noun

New York City is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

I've heard it's a good place to raise children.

places like Africa and South America

the hottest place on earth

churches and other places of worship

You should plan to meet him in a public place.

You've come to the right place. I have just what you need.

They gave him a place to stay for the night.

We're going to need a bigger place once the baby is born.

He's looking to buy a place in the country.

Verb

The box was placed at the center of the room.

You can really see the similarities when you place the two pictures side by side.

Her name was placed on the list.

The husbands and wives were placed in separate groups.

They were placed next to each other in line.

Working with sick people places him at risk for infection.

By not accepting the prosecutor's deal, he places his future in the hands of the jury.

We're placing you under arrest.

He was released from jail and placed on probation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Francona was known to ride a scooter from his place in Cleveland to the stadium and has put out feelers to get a new scooter in Cincinnati. —C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, 10 Dec. 2024

Van Gisbergen holds profound admiration and pride for his fellow countryman, Liam Lawson, who took Daniel Ricciardo's place at VCARB and is aiming for a seat with Red Bull in 2025. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Verb

Engaging with posts from peers or industry figures not only demonstrates your support but also places your name on their posts, increasing reach. —Justin Nassiri, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

To verify these findings, the team next conducted three online surveys in which participants—who identified explicitly as Democrat or Republican—were first placed in either a highly politically polarized or a low-polarization scenario. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, open space, from Latin platea broad street, from Greek plateia (hodos), from feminine of platys broad, flat; akin to Sanskrit pṛthu broad, Latin planta sole of the foot

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing place

• all over the place
• a place to call home
• between a rock and a hard place
• between the rock and the hard place
• blow into (a place)
• decimal place
• dwelling place
• fall into place
• final/last resting place
• give place to
• heart is in the right place
• hiding place
• high place
• hundreds place
• in the first place
• in the second place
• jumping-off place
• keep (someone) in his/her place
• lightning never strikes (the same place) twice
• like someone owns the place
• lose one's place
• make a place
• mise en place
• no place for
• not have a hair out of place
• ones place
• parking place/space/spot
• place a high value on
• place heavy demands on
• place/house of worship
• place in the sun
• place/make a wager
• place mat
• place-name
• place of abode
• place of business
• place of honor
• place of origin
• place of refuge
• place/put little credence in
• place/put one's trust in
• place/put stock in
• place setting
• place value
• polling place
• pride of place
• put/place a premium on
• put/place someone at a disadvantage
• put/place (someone) on a pedestal
• put someone in his/her place
• resting place
• shelter in place
• take (a place) by storm
• take one's place
• take place
• take the place of (someone or something)
• tens place
• the place to be
• thousands place
• units place
• watering place

Kids Definition

place

1 of 2 noun

ˈplās 

1

: an available space : room

make a place for the newcomer

2

a

: a region not made clear in description

all over the place

b

: a building or spot set apart for a special purpose

a place of learning

3

a

: a certain region or center of population

a nice place to visit

b

: house entry 1 sense 1, dwelling

nice place you have here

our summer place

4

: a certain part of a surface or body : spot

a sore place on my shoulder

lost my place in the book

5

: relative position in a scale or series

kept them in their place

in the first place, you're wrong

finished in last place

6

a

: a proper position

the place of education in society

b

: a suitable moment or point

this is not the place to discuss that problem

7

a

: an available seat or accommodation

needs a place to stay

b

: usual space or use

paper towels take the place of linen

8

: the position of a digit in a numeral

the number 316 has three places

in 2.718 the digit 1 is two places after the decimal point

9

: job sense 3, position

10

: a public square

11

: a short street

12

: second position at the finish (as of a horse race)

place

2 of 2 verb

placed; placing

1

: to put or arrange in a certain place or position

2

a

: to appoint to a position

was placed in command

b

: to find a job or home for

place a child for adoption

3

a

: to assign to a position in a series or category : rank

b

: estimate entry 1 sense 1

placed the value of the ring too high

c

: to identify by association

couldn't quite place her face

4

: to give an order for

place a bet

5

: to come in second (as in a horse race)