area

noun

ˈer-ē-ə How to pronounce area (audio)
Definition of areanext
1
as in zone
a part or portion having no fixed boundaries I last saw your dog over in that general area

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in field
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence a top researcher in the area of human genetics

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 area Now, authorities say a man is responsible for starting one of those fires — and has admitted to igniting multiple previous blazes in the same area dating back to last year, according to prosecutors. — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 Both Craig and Flanagan spent the weekend traversing the Twin Cities metro area. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 Effect Was Limited To Cities One of the study’s most striking discoveries was that the phenomenon only occurred in urban areas that experienced complete totality. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Many in the Atlanta area don’t know Pinnacle Financial Partners or recognize its logo. — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for area
Recent Examples of Synonyms for area
  1. zone
  2. field
  3. region
  4. realm
  5. corner
  6. element
  7. department
  8. domain
Noun
  • Someone caught selling outside that zone is supposed to receive a warning and be directed back to the legal area.
    — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
  • But from orbit, their radar is unable to see the first few feet of material just below the planet's surface — a zone where scientists expect to find shallow ice deposits mixed in with the rocks and dust.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of zone
Noun
  • Binface, a serial candidate who has challenged prime ministers past and present, became the default challenger in a field of 34 candidates after the major parties boycotted the campaign as a political stunt by Farage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Arctic dreams Russian President Vladimir Putin has long envisioned the 3,500-mile route along Russia’s jagged Arctic coastline becoming a major artery for trade – and a driver of investment in Russian ports and oil and gas fields.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of field
Noun
  • Aubergine from Relais & Châteaux grand chef Justin Cogley features an eight-course tasting menu that changes daily and showcases the local region’s bounty with an elevated French flare.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Both teams went 5-5 in the regular season last year and will compete in difficult regions again this season.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of region
Noun
  • All of them are concerned with legacy, particularly among fathers and daughters (Shakespeare had two and lost his only son), and all of them touch a realm beyond the mundane — a place of gods and dreams, oracles and enchantment.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The fantastical realm is filled with the same zombie-like enemies from the first demo.
    — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of realm
Noun
  • Perez reached safely on the play to put runners on the corners, and two pitches later, Isaac Collins gave the Royals the lead on an RBI double.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, cornerback Keisean Nixon struggled notably in one-on-one drills, giving up multiple scores and dropping an interception, raising questions about his role as the team's top corner.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of corner
Noun
  • These elements are produced alongside californium-252 and need to be separated during processing.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Scandium is considered a highly strategic rare earth element because of its unique properties.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of element
Noun
  • Malte Krueger, a PhD who leads the sports science department at Bayer Leverkusen, heard about Biolyz’s trials at Dortmund and knew a couple of guys working as consultants with the startup.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than install a conventional luxury department-store anchor, Fontainebleau chose a retailer built around ease and joyful discovery.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of department
Noun
  • Then the criminals set up malicious websites on the fake domains.
    — David Berreby, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Identify one high-frequency, high-stakes domain where sales, AP, AR or Treasury currently optimize independently.
    — Carsten Polenz, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of domain

Browse Nearby Words

arduously
area
areas
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Area.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/area. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on area

Nglish: Translation of area for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about area

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All