a thickly populated area, usually smaller than a city and larger than a village, having fixed boundaries and certain local powers of government.
a densely populated area of considerable size, as a city or borough.
(especially in New England) a municipal corporation with less elaborate organization and powers than a city.
(in most U.S. states except those of New England) a township.
any urban area, as contrasted with its surrounding countryside.
the inhabitants of a town; townspeople; citizenry.
the particular town or city in mind or referred to.
living on the outskirts of town; to be out of town.
a nearby or neighboring city; the chief town or city in a district.
I am staying at a friend's apartment in town.
the main business or shopping area in a town or city; downtown.
British.
a village or hamlet in which a periodic market or fair is held.
any village or hamlet.
Scot. a farmstead.
go to town,
to be successful.
to do well, efficiently, or speedily.
The engineers really went to town on those plans.
to lose restraint or inhibition; overindulge.
paint the town. paint.
on the town,
Informal. in quest of entertainment in a city's nightclubs, bars, etc.; out to have a good time.
a bunch of college kids out on the town.
supported by the public charity of the state or community; on relief.
a densely populated urban area, typically smaller than a city and larger than a village, having some local powers of government and a fixed boundary
( as modifier )
town life
a city, borough, or other urban area
(in the US) a territorial unit of local government that is smaller than a county; township
the nearest town or commercial district
London or the chief city of an area
the inhabitants of a town
the permanent residents of a university town as opposed to the university staff and students Compare gown
to make a supreme or unrestricted effort; go all out
informal to lose one's temper
seeking out entertainments and amusements
See community.
First recorded before 900; Middle English toun, tun, Old English tūn “walled or fenced place, courtyard, farmstead, village”; cognate with Old Norse tūn “homefield,” German Zaun “fence”; akin to Old Irish dún “citadel, fortress” ( see down 3 ( def. ))
A town is an area where people live that's bigger than a village and smaller than a city. A town has a specific boundary, a name, and (usually) its own government. A town is essentially a small city. It's got a smaller population and usually has fewer big apartment buildings and more single-family homes. When something or someone is in town, they are visiting your town: "I'm so excited that the circus is in town!" And if you go out on the town, you take advantage of the nightlife in a town or city.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When he bought his first home in Zug 25 years ago, it was a typical small town and affordable for a young family, Zimmermann said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
The soundtrack ebulliently features John Mellencamp’s “Small Town,” which fittingly notes, “Yeah, I can be myself in this here small town / And people let me be just what I want to be.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
Prediction markets like Polymarket will be the only game in town for local bettors.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
This is a town that has seen significant change in recent years and this part of town more than most.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
He squints, scanning the slow-trotting horsemen, bow-legged ranchers, and farmers’ families shopping in our small town.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
