tavern

noun

tav·​ern ˈta-vərn How to pronounce tavern (audio)
Synonyms of tavernnext
1
: an establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold to be drunk on the premises
2
: inn

Synonyms of tavern

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Examples of tavern in a Sentence

a seedy section of the city's waterfront that was rife with cheap taverns, tattoo parlors, and run-down flophouses a colonial-era tavern that has been serving weary travelers for two and a half centuries
Recent Examples on the Web
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What to do nearby A stone’s throw away is the Water Street Market, a complex of shops that includes an antiques mall, the Grazery café, and a neighborhood tavern called Parish. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026 The restaurant carries the fantasy theme into its food and atmosphere, designed to feel like a tavern straight out of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. — Beret Leone, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 Downstairs, there’s a cozy tavern and riverside restaurant overlooking Rondout Creek. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2026 The attacks in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban struck a restaurant, tavern and house party, and police have not announced motives in the latest cases. — Majd Al-Waheidi, NPR, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tavern

Word History

Etymology

Middle English taverne, from Anglo-French, from Latin taberna hut, shop

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tavern was in the 14th century

Rhymes for tavern

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Browse Nearby Words

taver
tavern
taverna
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Cite this Entry

“Tavern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tavern. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tavern

noun
tav·​ern ˈtav-ərn How to pronounce tavern (audio)
1
: an establishment where alcoholic liquors are sold to be drunk on the premises
2
: inn

More from Merriam-Webster on tavern

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tavern

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