host

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈhōst How to pronounce host (audio)
plural hosts
Synonyms of hostnext
1
a
: a person who receives or entertains guests socially, commercially, or officially
Ourself will mingle with society / And play the humble host.—William Shakespeare
… another blog disclosed that he [John Edwards] had been the host of an off-the-record dinner with several bloggers at his house in Washington.—Time
On Thursday night, [Dawn] Staley will be the host at a black tie fundraising dinner for her foundation in suburban Philadelphia.—The New York Times
… the Inn at Little Washington has become one of America's premier dining destinations, a cozy world of casual luxury and terrific American food created by chef Patrick O'Connell and host Reinhardt Lynch.—Thomas Matthews
b
: a place or organization that provides facilities and services for an event or function
The night before he scored 18 points and got 18 rebounds to help Winthrop beat host UNC-Asheville 75-62.—Seth Davis
For the pleasure of visitors who like to combine running and jumping with more intellectual pursuits, Olympic hosts have traditionally set forth a generous display of cultural events. Seoul came up to snuff.—E. J. Kahn, Jr.
c
: a country, government, etc. that agrees to allow an outside business, organization, group of people, etc. to operate, function, or live within its boundaries, jurisdiction, or population
—often used before another noun
In short, the problem is that the interests of a large multinational company may not be coincident with the development interests of the host countries.—E. S. Simpson
… when a United States service member commits an offense within a foreign country, should the accused be tried in a court-martial or in a court of the host country?—Charles A. Shanor and Timothy P. Terrell
Although the guest workers were distinct—in the sense that they were initially expected to go home and not be absorbed into the host society—in practice, many have stayed and thereby contributed to the ethnic diversity of Europe.—Michael Chisholm
2
a
biology : a living organism on or in which a parasite lives
… a single-celled protozoan parasite that is able to sexually reproduce in only one host—cats.—Erin Tomb
… the parasite larvae develop inside each bee, rapidly consuming their host from the inside out.—Paul Schmid-Hempel
Cryptosporidium is an enteric parasite of emerging importance in normal and immunocompromised hosts.—Peter S. Millard et al.
… there is a wide array of mechanisms by which the parasite evades or modulates host immunological attack.—Rick M. Maizel et al.
see also definitive host, host cell, intermediate host
b
biology : the larger, stronger, or dominant member of a commensal or symbiotic pair
When one species, known as the symbiont, lives within the body of the other, known as the host, the relation is called endosymbiotic.—James J. Childress et al.
In a number of natural associations, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes, the host organism receives a significant benefit, but the symbiont partner gets little in return.—Physics Today
c
biology : an individual into which a tissue, part, or embryo is transplanted from another
Allogeneic transplantation is more complicated than syngeneic or autologous transplantation because of immunologic differences between donor and host.—Frederick R. Appelbaum
This suggests that functional connections develop between the transplanted neural tissue and the host brain.—Gary W. Arendash et al.
see also graft-versus-host disease
3
: a person who talks to guests on a program (such as a radio or television show or a podcast)
As chairman of Harpo Entertainment Group, as well as host, star, and supervising producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Winfrey is the most successful woman ever to enter the field of television.—Harry Allen
Not only was he confident, with a malleable voice that was equal parts game show host and morning-radio DJ, but his jokes were seemingly fully formed.—Peter Rubin
As [Randi] Rhodes demonstrates every afternoon drive, a liberal talk radio host can be just as bombastic, hyperbolic, and plain old nasty as a conservative one.—Jason Zengerle
The YouTuber and podcast host has gained millions of subscribers with her opinionated brand of energy and excitement.—Vanessa Jackson
Even though some YouTube hosts are iconic for rarely showing their faces …, it's typically a good idea to know some basics about hosting a video and honing your online personality.—Shelby Brown
see also cohost
4
: a mineral or rock that is older than the minerals or rocks in it
also : a substance that contains a usually small amount of another substance incorporated in its structure
Concretions … are discrete bodies—often spheroidal, ellipsoidal, or disk-shaped—with a composition similar to that of the host rock except for the mineral cement, which is frequently calcite, silica, or iron oxide. —Alan M. Cvancara
5
: a computer that controls communications in a network or that administers a database
But the malware attached to the fake Air Force e-mail has a more devious—and worrisome—capability … it gives the attacker control over the "host" PC, capturing screen shots and perusing files.—Brian Grow et al.
also : server sense 6

see also play host to

host

2 of 5

verb (1)

hosted; hosting; hosts

transitive verb

1
a
: to receive or entertain guests at or for (an event)
… comes with every utensil you'd ever need to successfully host a 12-person dinner party.—Jamie Rabinovitch
b
: to serve as host (see host entry 1 sense 1) to (a person or group)
hosting guests from out of town
… the Pelicans will host the Atlanta Hawks in a preseason game …—Chris Dodson
The agency commended Uganda for again welcoming people uprooted by violence. The country hosts more refugees than any other nation on the continent.—news.un.org
2
: emcee sense 1
hosts a late-night show
The event, hosted by Emmy Award-winning actress and producer Niecy Nash … will include 16 award categories … honoring standout achievements in Black filmmaking and television.—Audrey J. Bernard
3
computers : to provide and maintain (a host or server)
Those who want to take their online gameplay to the next level should host their own server instead, rather than relying on the free, shared servers provided by others.—Trevor Anderson
also : to serve as or provide a host or server for (a network, website, etc.)
… malware had infected the servers that host … electronic medical records … —Morgan Eichensehr
The data center, which will host a network of computer services … , will eventually employ 50 workers. —The Charlotte (North Carolina) Observer

host

3 of 5

noun (2)

variants or less commonly Host
plural hosts also Hosts
religion : the eucharistic bread

host

4 of 5

noun (3)

plural hosts
1
: a great number : multitude
a whole host of options
2
: army
… the destruction of Pharaoh's host in that sea …—W. L. Sperry

host

5 of 5

verb (2)

hosted; hosting; hosts

intransitive verb

: to assemble in an army usually for a hostile purpose

Synonyms

Noun (3)

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of host in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The radio host and television personality was joined by country and rock friends — including Jon Pardi, Megan Moroney and Sam Hunt — to help raise $215K for the hospital this year alone. —Sarah Michaud, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024 If Trump wins the 2024 presidential election, his administration could potentially go after those accusations, though the path opens up a host of procedural and legal questions. —USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024 The workplace shifts since the COVID-19 pandemic have created a host of new norms that wouldn’t have been conceivable in 2019. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 5 Apr. 2024 Continue reading … 'MOSTLY GARBAGE' – Popular Black radio host rips DEI efforts in workplace. —Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024 The subject of what are reasonable boundaries for guests could fill several books, if not a whole house, but Miss Manners takes as a general precept that both host and guest are seeking to avoid embarrassment all around. —Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024 Podcast hosts Chad Kultgen and Will Sasso agreed to take down the comedy special and never upload it again onto any platform, as Josh Schiller, a lawyer for Carlin’s estate, tells the Hollywood Reporter’s Winston Cho. —Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024 Editor’s picks Not even getting busted for speaking truth to power about the show’s estimable host, Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson, adding another name to her list of recent Distinguished, Steel-Belted IRL Women takes), can temper McAllister’s hustle and flow. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024 In addition to the adorable BDX units, Disney showcased a host of next-generation robotics that indicated the future of theme park attractions is one where figures can not only move like us, but potentially move among us. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
With rare exceptions, Eurovision is always hosted by the country that won the previous year's contest. —Chloe Veltman, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024 Even Burlington’s airport is getting in on the fun, hosting an eclipse viewing party featuring food, mini-golf, and music (presumably guests are allowed more than three ounces of liquids). —Melissa Locker, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024 Read on for more of her must-dos while hosting (or being hosted) in the Sweeney household. —Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2024 Once or twice a month, a local chef hosts a dinner party in the house, Brissman said. —Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024 The historic hotel — which recently reopened following a 12-year closure — has hosted famous folks like Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith, Andy Warhol, and Bob Dylan. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024 Diners line up to check in with a hosted and will be seated at a table. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024 Ida’s Idea, a women’s boutique shop near the White House, started hosting Facebook Live fashion shows every Thursday when the shop first closed during the pandemic, said owner Ida Polite. —Omari Daniels, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024 Zoe Feldman launch event On March 29, designer Zoe Feldman hosted an intimate dinner at Poppy’s in Brooklyn to celebrate the launch of her new lighting collection, with the support of friends Rachel Brosnahan and Beanie Feldstein. —Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'host.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English ost, host "person who receives guests, guest," borrowed from Anglo-French oste, hoste, going back to Latin hospit-, hospes "guest, visitor, person receiving guests," going back to dialectal Indo-European *ghosti-pot- (whence probably also Old Church Slavic gospodĭ "lord, master"), from *ghost-i- "outsider, guest" + *pot- "one in control, master" — more at guest entry 1, potent entry 1

Note: The dual meanings "host"/"guest" of Latin hospes and its progeny are due to customs of reciprocity: a person serving as guest on one occasion would act—and be expected to act—as host on another occasion to a visiting former host. Both Latin hospes and Slavic gospodĭ have undergone a considerable degree of phonetic reduction from their putative etymons—in particular in the Slavic case, where Latin unstressed syllable reduction and syncope were not at play—leading some to question the correctness of the etymologies. Parallel compounds with the same second element are Greek despótēs "master, lord" (going back to *dems-pot- "master of the house"; see despot), Sanskrit dámpatiḥ "householder, lord of the house," Avestan də̄ṇg paitiš; Sanskrit viśpátiḥ "chief of a settlement/tribe," Avestan vīspaitiš, Lithuanian viẽšpats "lord" (with outcomes of Indo-European *u̯iḱ-, *u̯oiḱ- "house, community"; see vicinity).

Verb (1)

Middle English hosten, osten, derivative of ost, host host entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English hoste, oste "sacrificial offering, bread consecrated in the Eucharist," borrowed from Anglo-French hoste, hoiste, going back to Late Latin hostia "Eucharist," going back to Latin, "sacrificial animal," derivative from the base of hostīre "to recompense, requite," hostis "foreigner, stranger, enemy" — more at guest entry 1

Noun (3)

Middle English ost, host "army, detachment, body of attendants, multitude, throng," borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Late Latin hostis "archenemy, the Devil, army," going back to Latin, "foreigner, stranger" (in early use), "enemy," going back to dialectal Indo-European *ghost-i- "outsider, guest" — more at guest entry 1

Note: The use of hostis to mean "army," evident in 6th-century Latin (Gregory the Great, Gregory of Tours), is apparently via the sense shift "enemy" > "enemy army" > "any armed force." For details on the earlier semantic history of Latin hostis see note at guest entry 1.

Verb (2)

derivative of host entry 4

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of host was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing host

Dictionary Entries Near host

hoss

host

hosta

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Host.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/host. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

host

1 of 4 noun
ˈhōst How to pronounce host (audio)
1
: army sense 1a
2
: a great number

host

2 of 4 noun
1
: one who receives or entertains guests socially or as a business
2
: a living animal or plant on or in which a parasite lives

host

3 of 4 verb
1
: to serve as host to, for, or at
host friends
hosting a dinner
2
: to serve as master of ceremonies for
hosted the awards show

host

4 of 4 noun
often capitalized
: a round thin piece of bread used in the Eucharist
Etymology

Noun

Middle English host "army," from early French ost (same meaning), from Late Latin hostis (same meaning), from earlier hostis "stranger, enemy" — related to hospital, hostile

Noun

Middle English hoste "host, guest," from early French hoste (same meaning), from Latin hospit-, hospes "host, stranger, guest" — related to hospital, hospitality

Medical Definition

host

noun
ˈhōst How to pronounce host (audio)
1
: a living organism on or in which a parasite lives see definitive host, host cell, intermediate host
2
: the larger, stronger, or dominant one of a commensal or symbiotic pair
3
a
: an individual into which a tissue or part is transplanted from another
b
: an individual in whom an abnormal growth (as a cancer) is proliferating

More from Merriam-Webster on host

Nglish: Translation of host for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of host for Arabic Speakers

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