Court

/kɔːt/ name, noun, verb

name, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.
  • Grammar: court is listed as name, noun, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: tribunal, access, act up to, address.
  • Useful contrasts: anarchy, deter, dispute resolution body.
  • Usage evidence: Prosecutors in court have to substantiate their claims in order to prove a suspect is guilty.

How to use "court"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "court" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "court" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "court" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "court" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "court" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "tribunal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "court", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.

    "The girls were playing in the court."

  2. 2
    respectful deference wordnet
  3. 3
    An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.; A street with no outlet, a cul-de-sac. Australia, US
  4. 4
    an area wholly or partly surrounded by walls or buildings wordnet
  5. 5
    An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.; A housing estate under the Home Ownership Scheme. Hong-Kong
Show 21 more definitions
  1. 6
    a specially marked horizontal area within which a game is played wordnet
  2. 7
    An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.; An apartment building, or a small development of several apartment buildings. Hong-Kong
  3. 8
    a room in which a law court sits wordnet
  4. 9
    Royal society.; The residence of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or other dignitary; a palace.

    "The noblemen visited the queen in her court."

  5. 10
    the residence of a sovereign or nobleman wordnet
  6. 11
    Royal society.; The collective body of persons composing the retinue of a sovereign or person high in authority; all the surroundings of a sovereign in his regal state.

    "Meronym: royal household"

  7. 12
    a hotel for motorists; provides direct access from rooms to parking area wordnet
  8. 13
    Royal society.; Any formal assembling of the retinue of a sovereign.

    "The princesses[…] held their court within the fortress."

  9. 14
    the sovereign and their advisers who are the governing power of a state wordnet
  10. 15
    Attention directed to a person in power; behaviour designed to gain favor; politeness of manner; civility towards someone.

    "No solace could her paramour entreat / Her once to show, ne court, nor dalliance."

  11. 16
    the family and retinue of a sovereign or prince wordnet
  12. 17
    The administration of law.; The hall, chamber, or place, where justice is administered.

    "Many famous criminals have been put on trial in this court."

  13. 18
    an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business wordnet
  14. 19
    The administration of law.; The persons officially assembled under authority of law, at the appropriate time and place, for the administration of justice; an official assembly, legally met together for the transaction of judicial business; a judge or judges sitting for the hearing or trial of cases.

    "The court started proceedings at 11 o'clock."

  15. 20
    The administration of law.; An organization for the administration of law, consisting of a body of judges with a certain jurisdiction along with its administrative apparatus.

    "Each province in Canada has three courts: a provincial court, a superior court, and a court of appeals."

  16. 21
    The administration of law.; The judge or judges or other judicial officer presiding in a particular matter, particularly as distinguished from the counsel or jury, or both. capitalized, often

    "A case conference in person was convened.... To emphasize that it was a Court proceeding the Court was gowned."

  17. 22
    The administration of law.; The session of a judicial assembly.

    "The court is now in session."

  18. 23
    The administration of law.; Any jurisdiction, civil, military, or ecclesiastical.
  19. 24
    A place arranged for playing the games of tennis, basketball, handball, badminton, volleyball, squash and some other games

    "The local sports club has six tennis courts and two squash courts."

  20. 25
    A place arranged for playing the games of tennis, basketball, handball, badminton, volleyball, squash and some other games; one of the two divisions of a tennis, badminton or volleyball court, in which the player or players of each team play

    "The photograph at left captures a great serve by Dr. Sadowsky, who will never forget one of Bobby Riggs's serves, which had such a great spin that it landed in his court and bounced back to the other side of the net before he had a chance to return it."

  21. 26
    A space prepared and decorated by certain bird species in which to advertise themselves for a mate.

    "The male Wilson's bird of paradise clears an area of rainforest to create a court in which to perform an elaborate mating dance."

Verb
  1. 1
    To seek to achieve or win (a prize). transitive

    "He was courting big new accounts that previous salesmen had not attempted."

  2. 2
    make amorous advances towards wordnet
  3. 3
    To risk (a consequence, usually negative). transitive

    "She courted controversy with her frank speeches."

  4. 4
    engage in social activities leading to marriage wordnet
  5. 5
    To try to win a commitment to marry from. transitive

    "If either of you both love Katharina […] / Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure."

Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    seek someone's favor wordnet
  2. 7
    To engage in behavior conducive to mating with. transitive

    "The bird was courting a potential mate by performing an elaborate dance."

  3. 8
    To attempt to attract; to invite by attractions; to allure. transitive

    "[…] a well-worn pathway courted us / To one green wicket in a privet hedge […]"

  4. 9
    To attempt to gain alliance with. transitive
  5. 10
    To engage in activities intended to win affections. intransitive

    "She's had a few beaus come courting."

  6. 11
    To engage in courtship behavior. intransitive

    "At this time of year, you can see many animals courting."

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname from Middle English for someone who worked or lived in a court.
  2. 2
    A municipality in Bern canton, Switzerland.

Synonyms

All synonyms
tribunalaccessact up toaddressaddressesadvisory body

Antonyms

anarchydeterdispute resolution bodyignore

Example

"Prosecutors in court have to substantiate their claims in order to prove a suspect is guilty."

Common questions

What does "court" mean?

An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.

What is a synonym for "court"?

Common synonyms include: tribunal, access, act up to, address, addresses, advisory body.

How do you use "court" in a sentence?

Prosecutors in court have to substantiate their claims in order to prove a suspect is guilty.

How do you pronounce "court"?

Pronounced /kɔːt/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English court, from Old French cort, curt, from Late Latin cōrs, contracted from Latin cohors. Doublet of cohort. A court (noun sense 4.2) assembled to hear the testimony of Charles Lindbergh. The room is also a court (noun sense 4.1). Professional tennis players playing on a tennis court (noun sense 5) in New Delhi, India

Etymology 2

* As an English and French surname, from the noun court. Also from the French adjective court (“short”). * As an Irish surname, reduced from McCourt.

More for "court"

Synonyms

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