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
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.
The lore says the building operated as a brothel in its early years, with a tavern then as now on the ground floor. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 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 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 1 Nov. 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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