English Reference
noun · verb

warehouse

n. · v.
US /ˈwɛɹˌhaʊs/ UK /wˈeəhaʊs/ ware·house UK spelling warehouses

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    n.a large building where a company keeps its products before they are sent to customers or shops.

    n.a large commercial building used for the storage of goods, typically by manufacturers, wholesalers, or transport businesses.

    Simple

    The online shop keeps all its stock in a massive warehouse near the airport.

    In context

    The logistics company expanded its operations by leasing a temperature-controlled warehouse to accommodate the seasonal influx of perishable goods.

    depotstorehousestockroom
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical

    v.to put or keep things in a large storage building.

    v.to deposit or store goods in a warehouse. Transitive — requires a direct object.

    Simple

    The company decided to warehouse the extra inventory until the holiday season began.

    In context

    By choosing to warehouse the raw materials locally, the manufacturer mitigated the risks associated with international shipping delays.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Formal

    v.to keep people in a large, often cold institution for a long time instead of giving them proper care.

    v.to confine individuals to a large, impersonal institution for an extended period, often implying a lack of individualised care.

    Simple

    Critics argued that the government should not warehouse elderly patients in large hospitals.

    In context

    The report condemned the practice of warehousing vulnerable citizens in overcrowded facilities without adequate psychological support or social integration programmes.

A firefighting helicopter drops water over a food warehouse damaged during Russian drone strikes near Kyiv, 12 August 2026.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

First, you pass through the biennale’s colossal central exhibition, housed in a sequence of cavernous medieval warehouses.

The Guardian· 11 Aug 2026

From ware + house.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated