Definition of burialnext
1
as in funeral
the act or ceremony of putting a dead body in its final resting place the children wanted to give the dead bird a proper burial in the backyard

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2
as in tomb
a final resting place for a dead person archaeologically significant artifacts, such as stone tools, have been discovered in Neanderthal burials

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of burial With her years of research and immersion, Grant notes that burials and grave markers have become so much more personal over the course of time. — Jessi Roti, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 Grace Episcopal Church says its centuries-old cemetery has room for only 14 more burials. — Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Pomeroy and her colleagues excavated the remains from inside Shanidar Cave, an archaeological site in Iraqi Kurdistan famous for containing evidence of ritualistic Neanderthal burials. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026 Family and friends recently gathered in Yaounde for the burial of Achiah, who had just married her husband in July. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for burial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burial
Noun
  • The attack struck the Greek Orthodox Church during a funeral in Karak, about 55 miles south of the capital, Amman, on Friday.
    — Omar Akour, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • On Sunday, Jordan’s Queen Rania and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah attended a funeral held for the victims while Jordan’s King Abdullah II visited the injured in the hospital earlier.
    — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • This incredible necropolis is home to the tombs of the pharaohs and is a testament to the advanced engineering and architectural skills of the ancient Egyptians.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The historic Winter Palace hotel, where Howard Carter announced the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, is due to reopen in July as the Mandarin Oriental Winter Palace.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The price for a grave and interment are in addition to the funeral costs.
    — Mimi Hanaoka, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Parker separately ordered city flags to remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of Seiber's interment.
    — James Cirrone , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Mary’s grave is in the back, in the historic section of the cemetery, near the Winthrop Avenue fence.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
  • At last year’s São Paulo Grand Prix, Antonelli visited Senna’s grave twice and sat nearby, reading a biography of his hero.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The snow eventually hardens like a concrete entombment.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
  • City and county governments set local rules covering burials, inurnments, entombments and the upkeep of cemeteries, mausoleums and columbariums, according to state law.
    — Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Israelis bombed the cemetery where her friends were buried, leaving body parts and bones scattered for relatives to collect like a puzzle.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The series focuses on a 13-year-old named Sophie, who mourns her grandfather Thomas every day in a Milan cemetery.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • One such detail is the prospect of a Gallagher-brothers-style burying of the hatchet for Harry and Prince William.
    — Jamie Timson, TheWeek, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Eaton wildfire survivors’ anger about Southern California Edison’s burying of electric wires in Altadena boiled over Tuesday with residents calling on government officials to temporarily halt the work.
    — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Burial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burial. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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