ENGLISH
REFERENCE

place

n. · v.
US //ˈpɫeɪs// UK //plˈeɪs// place
  1. 1 a location (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a particular area, building, or spot.

    a particular portion of space, whether a specific point, a building, or a geographic area.

    Example

    This is a great place for a picnic because there is plenty of shade.

    Example

    The city council is looking for a suitable place to build the new community centre that is accessible by public transport.
  2. 2 a home (n.)
    A2 Elementary Informal

    the house or apartment where someone lives.

    a person's residence or dwelling.

    Example

    We are having a small party at my place on Saturday night.

    Example

    Since his apartment was being renovated, he invited us over to his parents' place in the countryside instead.
Show 5 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 rank or position (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    your position in a race or a list of people.

    a person's rank or ordinal position in a sequence, competition, or hierarchy.

    Example

    She was disappointed to finish the race in fourth place.

    Example

    The athlete secured a second-place finish, narrowly missing the gold medal by only a fraction of a second.
  2. 4 social duty (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    your role or duty in a situation.

    the appropriate or customary role, function, or duty of a person.

    Example

    It is not my place to tell you how to raise your children.

    Example

    The junior clerk felt it was not his place to contradict the manager during the board meeting.
  3. 5 to put somewhere (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to put something in a specific position or spot.

    to put or arrange someone or something in a particular place or position.

    Example

    Please place the glasses carefully on the top shelf.

    Example

    The curator placed the fragile vase inside the glass display case, ensuring the lighting highlighted its intricate patterns.
  4. 6 to identify (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to remember exactly who someone is or where you met them.

    to identify someone or something by connecting them with a particular context or memory.

    Example

    I know her face, but I just can't place where we met before.

    Example

    The witness struggled to place the suspect's accent, though she was certain she had heard it during the incident.
  5. 7 to finish in a rank (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    to finish a race in a certain position, like first or second.

    to achieve a specific ranking or ordinal position in a competition.

    Example

    He worked hard and managed to place third in the national competition.

    Example

    Despite the challenging weather conditions, the local team managed to place in the top five for the third year running.
Etymology 1

From Middle English place, conflation of Old English plæċe (“place, an open space, street”) and Old French place (“place, an open space”), both from Latin platēa (“plaza, wide street”), from Ancient Greek πλατεῖα (plateîa), shortening of πλατεῖα ὁδός (plateîa hodós, “broad way”), from Proto-Indo-European pleth₂- (“to spread”), extended form of pleh₂- (“flat”). Displaced native Old English stōw, stede (partially), and -ern. Compare also English pleck (“plot of ground”), West Frisian plak (“place, spot, location”), Dutch plek (“place, spot, patch”). Doublet of piatza, piazza, and plaza. In the etymological chain from Latin platēa, note Old French place, which has multiple descendants — including German Platz, itself with many descendants (e.g., Russian плац (plac)). Also note a more distant chain node Ancient Greek πλατύς (platús), whence English Plato and English plate (via Latin).

Etymology 2

From Middle English placen, from the noun (see above).

Word family
Idioms13 entries

© 2026 English Reference