town

noun

ˈtau̇n 

1

a

: a compactly settled area usually larger than a village but smaller than a city

b

: a compactly settled area as distinguished from surrounding rural territory

c

: a large densely populated urban area : city

d

: an English village having a periodic fair or market

2

: a particular town or city under consideration

the circus came to town

3

: the city or urban life as contrasted with the country

4

a

: the inhabitants of a city or town

practically the whole town turned out for the parade

b

: the townspeople of a college or university town as distinct from the academic community

relations between town and gown

5

: a New England territorial and political unit usually containing under a single town government both rural areas and urban areas not having their own charter of incorporation

also : a New England community governed by a town meeting

6

dialectal, England : a cluster or aggregation of houses recognized as a distinct place with a place-name : hamlet

7

: a group of prairie dog burrows

town adjective

Phrases

on the town

: in usually carefree pursuit of entertainment or amusement (such as city nightlife) especially as a relief from routine

Synonyms

• asphalt jungle
• burg
• city
• cosmopolis
• megacity
• megalopolis
• metropolis
• municipality

Examples of town in a Sentence

the town of Jackson, Florida

The nearest shopping mall is two towns away.

The town plans to increase property taxes.

We're heading to town later on.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Ravel makes several stops in idyllic medieval towns along the Rhône, including Avignon, Viviers, and Arles – the lovely Roman town where Vincent van Gogh created some of his most memorable work. —James Rampton, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024

Dixville Notch — a tiny New Hampshire town located near the Canadian border — announced that Kamala Harris and Donald Trump tied in their local race, hours before polling places opened around the rest of the country. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

While early votes show an increase in women and young voters in college towns, one of the groups that was once solidly Democratic is no longer true blue: union members. —Ashley Schwartz-Lavares, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024

Meander around the small coastal pueblos, or towns, and allow time for spontaneous discovery. —Zachary Rabinor, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English tūn enclosure, village, town; akin to Old High German zūn enclosure, Old Irish dún fortress

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Phrases Containing town

• blow town
• company town
• county town
• cow town
• dormitory town
• ghost town
• go to town
• hit the town
• in town
• man-about-town
• market town
• new town
• out of town
• paint the town (red)
• shire town
• small-town
• steel town
• sundown town
• tank town
• the only game in town
• the talk of the town
• the town
• toast of the town
• town car
• town centre
• town clerk
• town crier
• town hall
• town house
• town manager
• town meeting
• twin town

Kids Definition

town

noun

ˈtau̇n 

1

a

: a compactly settled area that is usually larger than a village but smaller than a city

b

: city sense 1

2

: the people of a town

town adjective