table

1 of 3

noun

ta·​ble ˈtā-bəl How to pronounce table (audio)
plural tables
often attributive
1
a
: a piece of furniture consisting of a smooth flat slab fixed on legs
b(1)
: a group of people assembled at or as if at a table
(2)
: a legislative or negotiating session
the bargaining table
c(1)
: a supply or source of food
(2)
: an act or instance of assembling to eat : meal
sit down to table
2
a
: a systematic arrangement of data usually in rows and columns for ready reference
b
: a condensed enumeration : list
a table of contents
3
4
a
tables plural : backgammon
b
: one of the two leaves of a backgammon board or either half of a leaf
5
6
: something that resembles a table especially in having a plane surface: such as
a
: the upper flat surface of a cut precious stone see brilliant illustration
b(1)
(2)
: a horizontal stratum

table

2 of 3

verb

tabled; tabling ˈtā-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce table (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to remove (something, such as a parliamentary motion) from consideration indefinitely
b
British : to place on the agenda
c
: to put on a table
2
: to enter in a table

table

3 of 3

adjective

1
: suitable for a table or for use at a table
a table lamp
2
: suitable for serving at a table
table grapes
3
: proper for conduct at a table
table manners
Phrases
off the table
: not up for consideration or negotiation
That option is now off the table.
on the table
: up for consideration or negotiation
the subject is not on the table
under the table
1
: into a stupor
can drink you under the table
2
: in a covert manner
took money under the table

Examples of table in a Sentence

Noun They were sitting at the dining table. She reserved a table for two at the restaurant. He had the attention of the entire table. The table shows the salary of each employee. Verb The committee tabled the issue until the next meeting. She plans to table a motion for debate in Parliament.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Last summer, Polina and her friend Olha were relaxing at a table outside the village store when Olha’s dad called and asked her to buy something for him there. Serhiy Morgunov, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 In 2021, workers from four Kellogg’s cereal plants went on strike for three months after benefits and pay disputes were not resolved at the bargaining table. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024 Today, each meal at my table is a testament to Palestinian perseverance in the face of such tragedies. Reem Kassis, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2024 A lot of management and record companies and people in that world don’t want to leave money on the table. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024 At the table closest to me was a family with three kids, probably between 8 and 12 years old. Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 Nick and Danielle, Season 2 Nick and Danielle seemed perfect for one another — after becoming the first couple to get engaged in season two, Danielle accepted the fact that Nick made his own toothpaste, while Nick accepted the fact that Danielle enjoyed wearing costumes and breaking tables. Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2024 The employee came over the speaker and said to open the box to find your last clue and take it over to the table. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 14 Mar. 2024 The aft is home to a giant dining table and circular sofa that can both seat 10, while the bridge deck sports a wet bar with BBQ. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024
Verb
These stone crocks go from oven to table with handles for easy carrying. Jené Luciani Sena, Fox News, 24 Jan. 2024 The agreement was first brought to the trustees during a meeting last month but was tabled pending more information. Ryan Anderson, arkansasonline.com, 16 Dec. 2023 But the board tabled a vote on buying land that's key to the package. Al Gaspeny, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2024 The report was expected to be presented at the TAM board meeting on Jan. 25, but it was tabled because Kevin Carroll, the board member who requested the discussion, was absent. Adrian Rodriguez, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2024 With an end-of-year deadline looming, the team and state finalized a 30-year lease on Dec. 18, but plans to develop areas around Camden Yards were at least temporarily tabled; the club has an out clause after 15 years if the team does not receive state approval to develop areas around the stadium. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024 But these current actions — with the RNC chair already calling for the party to unite behind Trump and with a discussion (albeit tabled for now) about moving to rhetorically dispatch with the nominating contest — risk going well beyond what happened in 2016. Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2024 The pair went their separate ways and tabled their relationship issues before Debbie moving to Canada. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024 The three secretaries urged Johnson to table the impeachment and work with the Senate to advance a bipartisan border security bill. Jacqueline Alemany, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024
Adjective
How to Do It: Start on your hands and knees in a table top position. Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 1 Aug. 2023 But catching mid-table Girona, buoyed by arguably this year’s shrewdest signing, is a better way to go. Henry Flynn, Forbes, 1 Apr. 2023 This represents another fade of a negative road regression candidate against a decent mid-table home team. Nick Hennion, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2023 Potted plants such as rosemary and holly bush double as take-home gifts for guests and are the perfect height for cross-table conversations. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 14 Dec. 2022 In letting those leads slip, Dallas dropped six points in the standings and fell into a mid-table melee. Jonathan Check, Dallas News, 15 July 2022 While Leeds climbed out of the relegation zone following its first win since August, Liverpool remained marooned in mid-table and eight points from the top four. Mattias KarÉn, ajc, 29 Oct. 2022 The sweet photo showed father and son deeply engaged in a game of Frogger, being played on a table-style arcade cabinet. Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2022 The sweet photo shows father and son deeply engaged in a game of Frogger, being played on a table-style arcade cabinet. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 17 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'table.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English tabule & Anglo-French table; both from Latin tabula board, tablet, list

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of table was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near table

Cite this Entry

“Table.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/table. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

table

1 of 2 noun
ta·​ble ˈtā-bəl How to pronounce table (audio)
1
2
a
: a piece of furniture with a smooth flat top fixed on legs
b
: food served at a meal
c
: a group of people assembled at a table
3
a
: an orderly arrangement of facts or figures in rows or columns for quick reference
a table of weights
the multiplication table
b
: a short list
the table of contents
4

table

2 of 2 verb
tabled; tabling -b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce table (audio)
1
2
: to remove a parliamentary motion from consideration for an unspecified period of time
3
: to put on a table

Medical Definition

table

noun
ta·​ble ˈtā-bəl How to pronounce table (audio)
1
: a piece of furniture consisting of a smooth flat slab fixed on legs
especially : one used for examining or operating
2
: either of the two layers of compact bone of the skull which are separated by cancellous diploe

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