Latest Video

ringo starr word icons drum
Ringo Starr & 'Drum'

Legendary figures and the words that define them

shaquille oneal word icons dominant
Shaquille O'Neal & 'Dominant'

Legendary figures and the words that define them

katy perry word icons firework
Katy Perry & 'Firework'

Legendary figures and the words that define them

how to use a dictionary
How to Use a Dictionary

Dictionaries are overflowing with interesting information! Here's how to get the most out of your dictionary.

deniz burnham word icons astronaut
Deniz Burnham & 'Astronaut'

Legendary figures and the words that define them

word icons
Word Icons

Legendary figures and the words that define them

peyton manning word icons omaha
Peyton Manning & 'Omaha'

Legendary figures and the words that define them

issa rae word icons insecure
Issa Rae & 'Insecure'

Legendary figures and the words that define them

cookie monster word icons cookie
Cookie Monster & 'Cookie'

Legendary figures and the words that define them

coco gauff word icons love
Coco Gauff & 'Love'

Legendary figures and the words that define them

jason alexander word icons serenity
Jason Alexander & 'Serenity'

Legendary figures and the words that define them

ken jennings word icons jeopardy
Ken Jennings & 'Jeopardy'

Legendary figures and the words that define them

novelist gabrielle zevin with her book tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Gabrielle Zevin

Novelist

silhouette of cartoonist emily flake with one of her new yorker cartoons showing a lion working at an office desk
Emily Flake

New Yorker Cartoonist

novelist celest ng with her book our missing heart
Celeste Ng

Novelist

eli cemet video game writer and producer cuphead
Eli Cymet

Video Game Writer/Producer, Cuphead

emma straub novelist and childrens book writer with her book very good hats
Emma Straub

Novelist and Children’s Book Author

stand up comedian ophira eisenberg stands up in front of a neon sign that says stand up comedy
Ophira Eisenberg

Stand-Up Comic

word choices promotional image
Word Choices: A New Video Series from Merriam-Webster

Celebrated writers share their quest to find the right words

illustrated notebook that says everyday vs every day
'Everyday' vs. 'Every Day'

A simple trick to keep them separate

semantic bleaching text on white background
What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'?

Or, how 'literally' can mean "figuratively"

serenity carr next to an illustration of a refrigerator with the letter d in it
Why is there a 'd' in 'fridge' but not in 'refrigerator'?

Thawing one of the mysteries of English

person studying illustration
'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'?

We're intent on clearing it up

woman and dog illustration
'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

We're gonna stop you right there

emily brewster and one and the same text graphic
'One in the same' or 'One and the same'?

Is it all the same anyway?

page 1 of 4

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of paroxysm

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Fashionable Words

  • dog-sunglasses-scarf
  • Which of these items is named for a deadly weapon?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Pick the best words!

PLAY