26984 words

places

48 definitions • 82 examples
1
an area, town, building, etc.:

Examples:

Her garden was a cool pleasant place to sit.
What was the name of that place we drove through on the way to New York?
They decided to go to a pizza place.
place of interest There are several places of interest to visit in the area.
place of work It's important to feel comfortable in your place of work.
2
a home:

Examples:

I'm looking for a place to live.
We'll have the meeting at my place.
3

Examples:

place for University is a great place for making new friends.
[ + to infinitive ] This meeting isn't the place to discuss your problems, I'm afraid.
4
a position in relation to other things or people:

Examples:

His leg was broken in two places.
in something's place When you've finished, put the book back in its place on the shelf.
This plant needs a warm, sunny place.
keep someone's place I got my sister to keep my place (= allow me to come back to the same position).
keep someone's place in something Will you keep my place in the queue?
lose your place She spoke to me and I lost my place in the book (= I forgot where I had been reading).
5
the seat you will sit in on a particular occasion, or the seat where you usually sit, in the theatre, a class, a train, etc.:

Examples:

My ticket says 6G but there's someone sitting in my place.
The children collected their prizes and then went back to their places.
save someone a place Save me a place (= keep a seat for me until I arrive) near the front.
6
the space at a table where one person will sit and eat, usually with a plate and knives, forks, and spoons arranged on it:

Examples:

The waiter showed us to our places and gave us each a menu.
lay a place He laid six places at the table.
7

Examples:

place at UK She's got a place at university
place on UK She's got a place on a fine-arts course.
place in US She's got a place in a fine-arts course.
in first, second, etc. place Our team finished in second place.
take first, second, etc. place He took third place (= was the third to finish) in the marathon last year.
8
used after words such as "any" and "some" as a different way of saying "anywhere", "somewhere", etc.:

Examples:

I know I left that book some place - now, where was it?
That bar was like no place I'd ever been before.
9
to happen:

Examples:

The concert takes place next Thursday.
10
in the wrong place or looking wrong:

Examples:

The boy looked uncomfortable and out of place among the adults.
11
If something is in place, it is in its usual or correct position:

Examples:

The chairs are all in place.
12

Examples:

The arrangements are all in place for the concert next Thursday.
13
(of running or jumping) in one place without moving forward or backward at all:

Examples:

She looked like she was running in place as six women flew past her.
14
without making any progress :

Examples:

While Maryland has been standing in place or going backward, a number of states have courted filmmakers aggressively.
15
instead of someone or something:

Examples:

You can use margarine in place of butter in some recipes.
16
to be used instead of someone or something:

Examples:

These portable machines can take the place of your desktop PC.
17
what a person should do or is allowed to do, especially according to the rules of society:

Examples:

[ + to infinitive ] It's not your place to tell me what to do.
know your place I'm not going to criticize his decision - I know my place (= I know that I am of lower rank or have less authority).
18
to put something in a particular position:

Examples:

She placed the letter in front of me.
She placed her name on the list of volunteers.
I'd place him among the ten most brilliant scientists of his age.
19
to arrange to have an advertisement, bet, order, etc.:

Examples:

We placed the order for the furniture six weeks ago.
20
to give something emphasis, importance, etc.:

Examples:

She placed the emphasis on the word "soon" in order to make sure she was understood.
21
to find someone a job:

Examples:

be placed in The students are placed in companies for a period of work experience.
place someone with someone The scheme places unemployed people with employers who help them to learn new skills.
22
to recognize someone or remember where you have seen someone and how you know them:

Examples:

She looks familiar but I can't place her - did she use to work here?
23
to achieve a particular place in a competition, race, election, etc.:

Examples:

He placed second in the World Championships.
The only female candidate in the race placed fifth.
Your tournament rating is determined by where you placed in your most recent competition games.
24
to be among the first three horses to finish a race, usually in second position :

Examples:

His six horses won several classes and placed in several more.
25
to achieve a particular place in a competition, race, election, etc.:

Examples:

At 18, he was placed fifth in the Olympic high-jump final.
The horse was placed third in its first race.
He said he was elated after being placed first.
26
to be among the first three horses to finish a race:

Examples:

They have to choose which horse they think will win or be placed.
27
an area, a building, or a city, town, or village:

Examples:

Airports are usually busy places.
Larchmont is a nice place to live.
28
Your place is your home:

Examples:

We can meet at my place.
29
A place is also an area or building used for a specific purpose:

Examples:

a place of worship
30

Examples:

That’s the best place for the piano.
The librarian put the book back in its place (= in the right position).
31
A place is also a space for a person, as in a theater, at a table, or in a line:

Examples:

Will you hold my place in line for a minute?
32
If plans are in place, they have been made:

Examples:

I think everything’s in place for the wedding.
33
In place can also be used to talk about something that is being used now:

Examples:

The new building code will replace the rules that are currently in place.
34
the rank someone or something has:

Examples:

Our team finished in second place.
35
a job, or a position in an organization, at a school, etc.:

Examples:

Ann just got a place at Yale.
36
a person’s duty or position of authority:

Examples:

[ + to infinitive ] It’s not your place to tell me what to do.
37
to recognize someone or something because of memory or past experience:

Examples:

She looks familiar, but I can’t place her.
38
to put someone in a situation:

Examples:

They placed him in a nursing home.
She was placed under arrest.
39
to invest or risk money:

Examples:

40
to arrange to get something by telling someone who will supply it:

Examples:

I placed an order for three CDs.
41
to do the things necessary to make something happen:

Examples:

place an advertisement/order Orders can be placed by phone or via the website.
42
to find buyers for shares when they are made available for sale:

Examples:

place sth with sth Brokers BZW place shares in the company with various institutional investors.
43
to find a job for someone to do for a short period so that they can get some work experience:

Examples:

The college placed him with a software firm for a month.
44
an area, building, room, etc. that is used for a particular purpose:

Examples:

Trade fairs and exhibitions remain a common meeting place for retail buyers and suppliers.
He qualified for redundancy on the basis that the new hours and place of work would be a change to his terms and conditions.
45
done and ready to be used:

Examples:

The details of the deal aren't in place yet.
46
instead of someone else:

Examples:

When her manager fell ill, she was asked to attend the sales conference in his place.
47
to behave or work in a way that shows you will soon become successful:

Examples:

Although it was a young company, it was obvious that it was going places.
48
to happen:

Examples:

The handover to the new owners will take place in July.
The historic meeting took place in New York.

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