arcade

noun

ar·​cade är-ˈkād How to pronounce arcade (audio)
plural arcades
Synonyms of arcade
1
: a long arched building or gallery
2
a
: an arched covered passageway or avenue (as between shops)
b
chiefly British : a building that includes many shops
A job fair … today will introduce locals to the details of the 250 jobs that a new shopping arcade will bring when its doors open this autumn.—The Journal (Newcastle, England)
3
: a series of arches with their columns or piers
4
: an amusement center having coin-operated games

Examples of arcade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Prada Galleria now includes a new subterranean passage under the landmarked 19th-century shopping arcade that connects the women’s store with the men’s one, linking two sides of the central octagon. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026 Paying for playtime directly like this evokes images of old arcades, where players would invest a quarter or two (in 20th century dollars) often for just a few minutes of gameplay. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026 The Italian painter, one of his favorites, had drawn inspiration from the city’s vast squares, long arcades and unusual arrangements of light and shadow. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026 Rioters looted stores and smashed windows inside Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of Italy’s most famous 19th‑century arcades. — Tyler Speicher, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arcade

Word History

Etymology

French, from Italian arcata, from arco arch, from Latin arcus

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arcade was in 1685

Phrases Containing arcade

Rhymes for arcade

See All Rhymes for arcade

Browse Nearby Words

Arcacea
arcade
arcaded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Arcade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arcade. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

arcade

noun
ar·​cade är-ˈkād How to pronounce arcade (audio)
1
: a row of arches with the columns that support them
2
: an arched or covered passageway (as between shops)
3
: a place with many games to be played by putting coins or tokens in them

Medical Definition

arcade

noun
ar·​cade är-ˈkād How to pronounce arcade (audio)
1
: an anatomical structure comprising a series of arches
2
: dental arch

More from Merriam-Webster on arcade

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for arcade

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about arcade

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