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
see also:
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 victim, who hails from the same town as Wick, had also come to see the show and was hanging out with the rapper beforehand at a party in Wick’s nearby rental, the affidavit said.
—
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
Athena’s body was found two days after she was reported missing from her home in the rural town of Paradise, near Fort Worth.
—Jamie Stengle, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Dean was born in a small town in South Dakota, educated in a one-room schoolhouse, and through grit and determination built a small garbage business into Waste Management — a global company serving multiple continents with over $9 billion in revenue by his retirement.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
In 2019, a town in her district discovered its drinking water was contaminated.
—Dylan Jackson, ABC News, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for town
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Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
Athena’s body was found two days after she was reported missing from her home in the rural town of Paradise, near Fort Worth.
—Jamie Stengle, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Dean was born in a small town in South Dakota, educated in a one-room schoolhouse, and through grit and determination built a small garbage business into Waste Management — a global company serving multiple continents with over $9 billion in revenue by his retirement.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
In 2019, a town in her district discovered its drinking water was contaminated.
—Dylan Jackson, ABC News, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for town
Cite this Entry
“Town.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/town. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
town
noun1
a
: a compactly settled area that is usually larger than a village but smaller than a city
b
2
: the people of a town
town
adjective
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