plural tables
often attributive
1
a
: a piece of furniture consisting of a smooth flat slab fixed on legs
b(1)
: a group of people assembled at or as if at a table
(2)
: a legislative or negotiating session
the bargaining table
c(1)
: a supply or source of food
(2)
: an act or instance of assembling to eat : meal
sit down to table
2
a
: a systematic arrangement of data usually in rows and columns for ready reference
b
: a condensed enumeration : list
a table of contents
3
4
a
b
: one of the two leaves of a backgammon board or either half of a leaf
5
6
: something that resembles a table especially in having a plane surface: such as
a
: the upper flat surface of a cut precious stone see brilliant illustration
b(1)
(2)
: a horizontal stratum
tabled; tabling
ˈtā-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to remove (something, such as a parliamentary motion) from consideration indefinitely
b
British
: to place on the agenda
c
: to put on a table
2
: to enter in a table
1
: suitable for a table or for use at a table
a table lamp
2
: suitable for serving at a table
table grapes
3
: proper for conduct at a table
table manners
Synonyms
Examples of table in a Sentence
Noun
They were sitting at the dining table.
She reserved a table for two at the restaurant.
He had the attention of the entire table.
The table shows the salary of each employee.
Verb
The committee tabled the issue until the next meeting.
She plans to table a motion for debate in Parliament.
Recent Examples on the Web
Liz Goodwin, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Some drank iced teas, some beers, and some kept bottles of wine sitting on the edge of their tables at the ready.
—The Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024
Back-to-Back in Eurasia No other power can bring as much to China’s table as Russia, particularly right now.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024
Horn is an excellent player when healthy, but his story in the NFL has largely involved trips to the trainer’s table.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2024
Bricks and refuse had been shoved aside, fluorescent tube lights installed, salvaged chairs and tables arrayed.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Harry remembers going to lunch with his birth mother at the Socialist Bund when Max Pila, a waiter who recognized Rose from before the war, flirted with her and brought extra desserts to their table.
—Hollace Ava Weiner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2024
When making a reservation at the bar or the restaurant, be sure to request a table by the window.
—Stacey Wreathall, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
The pair allegedly brought mattresses and luxury items, including a massage table and a flat screen television, according to the Daily Mail.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 6 Apr. 2024
Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara, a conservative, urged the board to table the discussion for a week in light of Cronister’s letter.
—Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
In the end, both resolutions were tabled to April 2.
—Stacy Ryburn, arkansasonline.com, 20 Mar. 2024
Hancock said last week that format discussions among the management committee, comprised of Bowl Subdivision conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director, have been tabled for now.
—Ralph D. Russo, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024
Lawmakers at that hearing decided to table CBI’s $7.5 million funding request until the agency could give a better estimate of its immediate expenses in the upcoming fiscal year, rather than the longer-term, multi-year costs to remedy the anomalies.
—Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2024
These stone crocks go from oven to table with handles for easy carrying.
—Jené Luciani Sena, Fox News, 24 Jan. 2024
The agreement was first brought to the trustees during a meeting last month but was tabled pending more information.
—Ryan Anderson, arkansasonline.com, 16 Dec. 2023
But the board tabled a vote on buying land that's key to the package.
—Al Gaspeny, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2024
Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 1 Aug. 2023
But catching mid-table Girona, buoyed by arguably this year’s shrewdest signing, is a better way to go.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes, 1 Apr. 2023
This represents another fade of a negative road regression candidate against a decent mid-table home team.
—Nick Hennion, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2023
Potted plants such as rosemary and holly bush double as take-home gifts for guests and are the perfect height for cross-table conversations.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 14 Dec. 2022
In letting those leads slip, Dallas dropped six points in the standings and fell into a mid-table melee.
—Jonathan Check, Dallas News, 15 July 2022
While Leeds climbed out of the relegation zone following its first win since August, Liverpool remained marooned in mid-table and eight points from the top four.
—Mattias KarÉn, ajc, 29 Oct. 2022
The sweet photo showed father and son deeply engaged in a game of Frogger, being played on a table-style arcade cabinet.
—Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2022
The sweet photo shows father and son deeply engaged in a game of Frogger, being played on a table-style arcade cabinet.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 17 Oct. 2022
Noun
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) — who is expected to move to table or dismiss the articles — said Tuesday that regardless of the delay, Democrats will stick with their original plan.
—Liz Goodwin, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Some drank iced teas, some beers, and some kept bottles of wine sitting on the edge of their tables at the ready.
—The Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024
Back-to-Back in Eurasia No other power can bring as much to China’s table as Russia, particularly right now.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024
Horn is an excellent player when healthy, but his story in the NFL has largely involved trips to the trainer’s table.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2024
Bricks and refuse had been shoved aside, fluorescent tube lights installed, salvaged chairs and tables arrayed.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Harry remembers going to lunch with his birth mother at the Socialist Bund when Max Pila, a waiter who recognized Rose from before the war, flirted with her and brought extra desserts to their table.
—Hollace Ava Weiner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2024
When making a reservation at the bar or the restaurant, be sure to request a table by the window.
—Stacey Wreathall, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
The pair allegedly brought mattresses and luxury items, including a massage table and a flat screen television, according to the Daily Mail.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 6 Apr. 2024
Verb
The council also tabled a discussion on amending the city’s ethics code, which hasn’t been updated since 2008.
—Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara, a conservative, urged the board to table the discussion for a week in light of Cronister’s letter.
—Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
In the end, both resolutions were tabled to April 2.
—Stacy Ryburn, arkansasonline.com, 20 Mar. 2024
Hancock said last week that format discussions among the management committee, comprised of Bowl Subdivision conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director, have been tabled for now.
—Ralph D. Russo, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024
Lawmakers at that hearing decided to table CBI’s $7.5 million funding request until the agency could give a better estimate of its immediate expenses in the upcoming fiscal year, rather than the longer-term, multi-year costs to remedy the anomalies.
—Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2024
These stone crocks go from oven to table with handles for easy carrying.
—Jené Luciani Sena, Fox News, 24 Jan. 2024
The agreement was first brought to the trustees during a meeting last month but was tabled pending more information.
—Ryan Anderson, arkansasonline.com, 16 Dec. 2023
But the board tabled a vote on buying land that's key to the package.
—Al Gaspeny, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2024
Adjective
How to Do It: Start on your hands and knees in a table top position.
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 1 Aug. 2023
But catching mid-table Girona, buoyed by arguably this year’s shrewdest signing, is a better way to go.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes, 1 Apr. 2023
This represents another fade of a negative road regression candidate against a decent mid-table home team.
—Nick Hennion, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2023
Potted plants such as rosemary and holly bush double as take-home gifts for guests and are the perfect height for cross-table conversations.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 14 Dec. 2022
In letting those leads slip, Dallas dropped six points in the standings and fell into a mid-table melee.
—Jonathan Check, Dallas News, 15 July 2022
While Leeds climbed out of the relegation zone following its first win since August, Liverpool remained marooned in mid-table and eight points from the top four.
—Mattias KarÉn, ajc, 29 Oct. 2022
The sweet photo showed father and son deeply engaged in a game of Frogger, being played on a table-style arcade cabinet.
—Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2022
The sweet photo shows father and son deeply engaged in a game of Frogger, being played on a table-style arcade cabinet.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 17 Oct. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'table.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near table
Cite this Entry
“Table.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/table. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
table
1 of 2 noun
ta·ble
ˈtā-bəl
1
2
a
: a piece of furniture with a smooth flat top fixed on legs
b
: food served at a meal
c
: a group of people assembled at a table
3
a
: an orderly arrangement of facts or figures in rows or columns for quick reference
a table of weights
the multiplication table
b
: a short list
the table of contents
4
Medical Definition
table
noun
ta·ble
ˈtā-bəl
1
: a piece of furniture consisting of a smooth flat slab fixed on legs
especially
: one used for examining or operating
2
: either of the two layers of compact bone of the skull which are separated by cancellous diploe
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