Place — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈplās/

Meaning & Definition of Place

Place (noun)

  1. physical environment, space
  2. a way for admission or transit
  3. physical surroundings, atmosphere

Place (verb)

  1. to put in or as if in a particular place or position, set
  2. to present for consideration
  3. to put in a particular state

Place (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the area or space occupied by or intended for something

    "the place chosen for the picnic"

    "there's the place where I left my umbrella"

    similar: emplacement, locale, locality, location, locus, point, position, site, spot, venue, where
    related: scene, precinct, region, section, sector, here, there

  2. a building, room, or suite of rooms occupied by a service business

    "we're going to our favorite place to eat"

    similar: establishment, joint, parlor, salon
    related: spot, station, facility, installation, club, house, den, dive, hole

  3. an assignment at which one regularly works for pay

    "a friend got her a place in a department store's clothing department"

    similar: appointment, berth, billet, capacity, connection, function, job, position, post, situation
    related: business, employ, employment, occupation, profession, work, office, spot, calling, pursuit, trade, vocation, line, racket, engagement, gig, livelihood, living, career, lifework, practice, duty, mission, posting, service, task
    near: avocation, joblessness, unemployment

  4. an extent or area available for or used up by some activity or thing

    "let's make a place around our campfire for the newest member of our group"

    similar: elbow room, room, space, way
    related: capacity, compass, range, scope, berth, clearance, freedom, latitude, leeway, play

  5. the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists

    "knew his place in the organization"

    similar: business, capacity, function, job, part, position, purpose, role, task, work
    related: affair, concern, hand, involvement, participation, niche, office, post, situation, calling, occupation, pursuit, vocation, activity, assignment, charge, commission, duty, employ, mission, responsibility, service, use

  6. the place where one lives

    "they have a nice little place in the country"

    similar: abode, diggings, domicile, dwelling, fireside, habitation, hearth, hearthstone, home, house, lodging, pad, quarters, residence, roof
    related: accommodations, housing, nest, residency, shelter, bungalow, cabin, casita, chalet, cottage, duplex, ranch, ranch house, saltbox, semi (chiefly British), split level, townhome, town house, tract house, triplex, apartment, apartment house, condo, condominium, flat, tenement, tenement house, walk-up, penthouse, salon, suite, barracks, billet, boardinghouse, dorm, dormitory, flophouse, lodging house, lodgment, room(s), rooming house, castle, château, countryseat, estate, hall, manor, manor house, mansion, McMansion, palace, villa, farmhouse, grange, hacienda, homestead, double-wide, houseboat, house trailer, mobile home, motor home, recreational vehicle, RV, trailer, hermitage, manse, parsonage, rectory, vicarage, hooch (slang), hovel, hut, hutch, shack, shanty

  7. the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement

    "came in fourth place in the marathon"

    similar: degree, echelon, footing, level, position, rank, ranking, reach(es), rung, situation, standing, station, status, stratum
    related: condition, estate, order, walk, capacity, function, rating

  8. a situation or activity for which a person or thing is best suited

    "with skills largely limited to those honed from endless hours of video games, he was having a hard time finding a place in the business world"

    similar: groove, niche, slot
    related: appointment, berth, billet, capacity, function, job, position, post, rank, standing, station, status, forte, long suit, métier, speciality, specialty, strong suit, thing

  9. an individual part of a process, series, or ranking

    "well, in the first place, you shouldn't even be here"

    similar: chapter, cut, degree, grade, inch, notch, peg, phase, point, stage, step
    related: angle, aspect, facet, side, amount, measure, plane, decrement, increment

Place (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to arrange something in a certain spot or position

    "he carefully placed the flowers in a vase"

    similar: depose, deposit, dispose, emplace, fix, lay, position, put, set, set up, situate, stick
    related: move, rearrange, reorder, shift, orient, establish, locate, plant, settle, clap, flop, plank, plop, plump, plunk, plunk down, slap, ensconce, niche, assemble, collect, carry, berth, park, affix, anchor, lock, lodge, wedge, array, lay out, line up, queue, rank, set down
    near: relocate, remove, take, banish, dislodge, displace, replace, supersede, supplant

  2. to arrange or assign according to type

    "I'd place those cyclists in the advanced group for the training ride"

    similar: assort, break down, categorize, class, classify, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, digest, distinguish, distribute, grade, group, peg, range, rank, relegate, separate, sort, type
    related: array, dispose, draw up, marshal, order, organize, systematize, alphabetize, catalog, file, index, list, refer, pigeonhole, shelve, identify, recognize, cull, screen, set, sieve, sift, winnow, clump, cluster, colligate, recategorize, reclassify, regroup, subcategorize
    near: confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, mix (up), scramble, misclassify, missort, mistype

  3. to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement

    "I'd place that as roughly the third largest house in the neighborhood"

    similar: calculate, call, conjecture, estimate, figure, gauge, guess, judge, make, put, reckon, suppose
    related: conclude, deduce, extrapolate, gather, infer, reason, understand
    near: calibrate, measure, scale, compute, work out

  4. to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes

    "placed second in the competition"

    similar: be, grade, rank, rate, stand
    related: seed, count, categorize, class, classify, codify, compartmentalize, group, separate, set, sort, install, instate

  5. to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty

    "placed the recent college grad in the company's research and development division"

    similar: appoint, assign, attach, commission, constitute, designate, detail, name, nominate
    related: authorize, delegate, depute, deputize, anoint, consecrate, create, inaugurate, induct, install, instate, institute, invest, make, ordain, crown, enthrone, throne, choose, destine, draft, elect, handpick, select, single (out), vote (in)
    opposite: discharge, dismiss, expel, fire
    near: blackball, depose, dethrone, displace, eject, evict, oust, overthrow, remove, throw out, uncrown, unmake, unseat

  6. to present or bring forward for discussion

    "once again the issue of recurrent vandalism at the high school was placed before the town council"

    similar: bring up, broach, introduce, moot, raise
    related: allude (to), cite, mention, name, refer (to), offer, propose, suggest, air, express, speak (of), talk (about), vent, ventilate, interject, interrupt, debate, discuss, thrash (out or over)
    near: censor, hush (up), quiet, silence, suppress

  7. to provide with a paying job

    "most of the trainees at the TV station are placed in clerical positions"

    similar: assume, employ, engage, fee (chiefly Scottish), hire, lay on (chiefly British), pay, recruit, retain, sign (up or on), take on
    related: reemploy, reengage, rehire, apprentice, contract, job, partner, subcontract, enlist, advance, promote, upgrade, keep (on), headhunt, scout
    opposite: ax, can, discharge, dismiss, fire, sack
    near: furlough, lay off, lock out

Related Entry: Place setting (noun)

Place setting is a different word from Place. The synonyms below are for place setting, not for place.

  1. as in setting, setup

    similar: setting, setup, flatware, silver, silverware, tableware, silver plate, cutlery, chopstick, fork, knife, spoon, tablespoon, teaspoon

Related Entry: Place settings (noun)

Place settings is a different word from Place. The synonyms below are for place settings, not for place.

  1. as in settings, setups

    similar: settings, setups, flatware, silvers, silverwares, tablewares, silver plates, cutleries, chopsticks, forks, knives, spoons, tablespoons, teaspoons

Related Entry: Watering place (noun)

Watering place is a different word from Place. The synonyms below are for watering place, not for place.

  1. a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises

    "die-hard fans gathered at the local watering place to watch the Super Bowl"

    similar: bar, barroom, café, cantina (Southwest), dramshop, gin mill, grogshop (chiefly British), pub, public house (chiefly British), saloon, taproom, tavern, watering hole
    related: alehouse, barrelhouse, bistro, bottle club, brewpub, cabaret, dive, joint, nightclub, roadhouse, speakeasy, sports bar, wineshop, package store

Related Entry: All over the place (phrase)

All over the place is a different word from Place. The synonyms below are for all over the place, not for place.

  1. in every place or in all places

    "No one covered the garbage and there are flies all over the place."

    similar: all over, everyplace, everywhere, far and wide, high and low, throughout, far and near, in every corner, on all hands
    related: every which way, right and left
    opposite: nowhere

Related Entry: In place (phrase)

In place is a different word from Place. The synonyms below are for in place, not for place.

  1. fixed in a place or position

    "To test heart function, the patient was asked to jog in place for one minute."

    similar: immobile, nonmoving, standing, static, stationary
    related: immotile, immovable, irremovable, nonmotile, unmovable, frozen, motionless, moveless, stagnant, still, stuck, unbudging, wedged, fast, rooted, steadfast
    opposite: mobile, movable, moving, nonstationary
    near: motile, adjustable, flexible, modular, displaceable, portable, removable, transferable, transportable, unbalanced, unstable, unsteady

Related Entry: Out of place (phrase)

Out of place is a different word from Place. The synonyms below are for out of place, not for place.

  1. not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation

    "The string quartet seemed out of place for a toddler's birthday party."

    similar: amiss, graceless, improper, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, incorrect, indecorous, inept, infelicitous, malapropos, perverse, unapt, unbecoming, unfit, unhappy, unseemly, unsuitable, untoward, wrong, out of the way
    related: inopportune, unfortunate, unseasonable, untimely, extraneous, immaterial, inapplicable, irrelative, irrelevant, misbecoming, mismatched, incompatible, inconsistent, uncongenial, bad, naughty, sinful, blamable, blameworthy, censurable, banned, barred, disallowed, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, awkward, gauche, ungraceful, unacceptable, unsatisfactory
    opposite: appropriate, becoming, befitting, correct, decorous, felicitous, fit, fitting, genteel, happy, meet, proper, right, seemly, suitable
    near: fortunate, opportune, seasonable, timely, applicable, apposite, apropos, apt, germane, material, pat, pointed, relative, relevant, compatible, congenial, harmonious, allowed, authorized, permitted, approved, endorsed, kosher, licensed, sanctioned, abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported, acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, fine, OK, passable, respectable, satisfactory, tolerable, commendable, creditable, exemplary, blameless, irreproachable, balanced, companionate, congruous, consonant

Related Entry: Give (verb)

Give is a different word from Place. The synonyms below are for give, not for place.

  1. to make a present of

    "thanked all the tutors who generously gave their time to help students after school"

    similar: bestow, contribute, donate, give away, present, volunteer, give of
    related: chip in, kick in, pitch in, throw in, award, confer, endow, endue, render, afford, comp, furnish, provide, lavish, regale, aid, assist, benefit, help, administer, dish out, dispense, dole out, hand out, impart, issue, mete (out), extend, fork (over, out, or up), offer, pay, proffer, pungle (up), put up, tender, sacrifice
    near: hold, keep, pocket, retain, withhold, preserve, save, advance, lend, loan, sell

  2. to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

    "gave my camera to my father to hold while I went swimming"

    similar: commend, commit, confide, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust, give over, hand, hand over, leave, pass, recommend, repose, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest
    related: confer, grant, assign, deal (out), dispense, disperse, distribute, divide, hand in, release, relinquish, submit, surrender, turn in, yield, bequeath, hand down, hand on, will, advance, lend, loan, furnish, supply, recommit, redeliver, retransfer, retransmit
    opposite: hold, keep, retain
    near: detain, hold back, reserve, withhold, own, possess, accept, receive, take in, occupy, take, take over

  3. to bring before the public in performance or exhibition

    "the author will give a reading from her latest work at 7:00 p.m."

    similar: carry, mount, offer, present, stage, come out with
    related: display, exhibit, expose, parade, show, show off, unveil, preview, act, impersonate, perform, play, portray, depict, dramatize, enact, render, represent, extend, proffer, tender

  4. to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure

    "they loaded the shopping cart with so much food it gave under all the weight"

    similar: buckle, cave (in), collapse, crumple, founder, go, go out, implode, tumble, yield, give way
    related: deflate, flatten, melt, melt down, break, break down, conk (out), crash, die, fail, give out, stall, burst, shatter, smash, splinter, split, crack, crumble, pop, snap
    near: inflate, rise, swell

  5. to hand over or use up in payment

    "I wouldn't give a nickel for such a run-down car"

    similar: disburse, drop, expend, fork (over, out, or up), lay out, outlay, pay, shell out, spend
    related: lavish, rain, blow, dissipate, fritter (away), run through, squander, throw away, waste
    near: cache, hoard, lay up, save, acquire, earn, gain, garner, make, procure, realize, secure, win

  6. to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion)

    "she gave her opinion on the matter very firmly and unmistakably"

    similar: air, expound, express, look, raise, sound, state, vent, ventilate, voice, give air to, put forth
    related: advertise, announce, declare, enounce, enunciate, proclaim, say, broadcast, circulate, disseminate, publish, describe, write, write up, sound off, speak out, speak up, chime in, communicate, convey, put across, put over, offer, submit
    opposite: stifle, suppress
    near: censor, restrain, restrict

  7. to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention

    "totally gave himself to his studies in the hopes of winning a scholarship for next year"

    similar: address, apply, bend, buckle, devote, get cracking, get one's act together, get with it, turn one's hand
    related: readdress, reapply, knuckle down, set (to), settle (down), busy, commit, concern, engage, involve, exert, exhaust, put out, spend, strain, stress, tax, trouble, wear out, carry on, pitch in, plunge (in), grind, hump, hustle, peg (away), plod, plow, plug (away), work
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool around, idle, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

  8. to produce as revenue

    "a company that consistently gives $30 million in profits to the owner"

    similar: bear, pay, return, yield
    related: bring in, net, afford, furnish, provide, supply, pay off

  9. to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption

    "gave him my e-mail address"

    similar: deliver, feed, furnish, hand, hand over, provide, supply
    related: ply (with), administer, allocate, apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, mete (out), parcel (out), portion, prorate, assign, cede, deed, make over, transfer
    opposite: hold (back), keep (back), reserve, retain, withhold
    near: conserve, keep up, maintain, preserve, save

  10. to put before another for acceptance or consideration

    "she gave the committee her grant proposal"

    similar: extend, offer, proffer, tender, trot out, run by
    related: pose, propose, hold out, give in, submit, volunteer
    near: accept, receive, take, accredit, approbate, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, finalize, formalize, homologate, OK, ratify, sanction, warrant, decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto, rebuff, rebut, refuse, spurn, retract, withdraw, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook

  11. to cause (something) to pass from one to another

    "she gave her cold to me, and now I'm so sick that I can barely get out of bed"

    similar: communicate, conduct, convey, impart, spread, transfer, transfuse, transmit
    related: deliver, hand over, surrender, turn over, broadcast, diffuse, disseminate, propagate, hand down, hand on, contaminate, infect, poison
    near: catch, come down (with), contract

Related Entry: Rock (noun)

Rock is a different word from Place. The synonyms below are for rock, not for place.

  1. a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament

    "a trophy wife with enough rocks to open her own jewelry store"

    similar: brilliant, gem, gemstone, jewel
    related: bauble, bijou, trinket, birthstone, baguette, cabochon, cameo, scarab, solitaire, teardrop, paste, rhinestone, zircon, crown jewels, jewelry
    near: rough

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Place

The most common words with a similar meaning to Place:

Chiefly Scottish: fee
Chiefly British: lay on
emplacement, locale, locality, location, locus, point, position, site, spot, venue, where, establishment, joint, parlor, salon, appointment, berth, billet, capacity, connection, function, job, post, situation, elbow room, room, space, way, business, part, purpose, role, task, work, abode, diggings, domicile, dwelling, fireside, habitation

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Place

Words with the opposite meaning of Place:

discharge, dismiss, expel, fire, ax, can, sack

Related Words for Place

scene, precinct, region, section, sector, here, there, facility, installation, club, den, dive, hole, employment, occupation, profession, office, calling, pursuit, trade, vocation, line, racket, engagement, gig, livelihood, living, career, lifework, practice

Near Antonyms of Place

avocation, joblessness, unemployment, relocate, remove, take, banish, dislodge, displace, replace, supersede, supplant, confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, mix (up), scramble, misclassify, missort, mistype, calibrate, measure, scale, compute, work out, blackball, depose, dethrone, eject

Word Forms of Place

Inflections: places, placed, placing

Derived words: placeable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Place

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: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Place

Words & Phrases Containing Place

place mat, place-name, place setting, place value, place aux dames, place a high value on, place heavy demands on, place in the sun

Frequently Asked Questions about Place

What does "Place" mean?

"Place" means physical environment, space. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: physical environment, space. It has 16 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Place"?

Other words for "Place" include emplacement, locale, locality, location, locus, point, position and site. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Place" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Place"?

There are 408 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Place". Common alternatives include emplacement, locale, locality, location, locus, point, position, site, spot and venue.

What is the opposite of "Place"?

Antonyms of "Place" include discharge, dismiss, expel, fire, ax, can and sack. Near antonyms include avocation, joblessness, unemployment and relocate.

How do you use "Place" in a sentence?

Examples of "Place" in a sentence: "the place chosen for the picnic"; "there's the place where I left my umbrella"; "we're going to our favorite place to eat".

Is "Place" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Place" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Place" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Place" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Place"?

"Place" is pronounced /ˈplās/.