Webster

/ˈwɛbstɚ/ name, noun

name, noun ·Moderate ·College level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A weaver (originally, specifically female).
  • Grammar: webster is listed as name, noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: dictionary, dictionary editor, family name, lexicographer.
  • Useful contrasts: fiction, forename, given name.
  • Usage evidence: Mr. and Mrs. William Webster had come all the way from Woodford to Concord, leaving three babies at home, to assist their old friends at the Inaugural Ball. You must have guessed that Mollie O'Neill, as Mrs. William Webster, would have grown plumper and prettier during the busy, happy years of married life with her husband and children on their large farm. For Mollie now had a small daughter "Polly," named for her beloved twin sister, and a pair of twin sons, Dan and Billy. She was more than ever in love with her husband and, many people believed, entirely under his thumb. Yet there were times when Mollie could and would assert herself in a surprising fashion just as she had in former days with her girl friends.

How to use "webster"

  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 "webster" 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 "webster" 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 "webster" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "webster" 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 "webster" is acting as name, noun 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 "dictionary" 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 "webster", 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
    A weaver (originally, specifically female). historical

    "A Derbyshire webster who proposed to cure a lunatic with a paper charm in the reign of Charles I demanded £3 down, and £3 more when the patient was cured."

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    An English surname originating as an occupation for someone who was a weaver. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    Any of various dictionaries published under the name Webster. countable, uncountable
  3. 3
    Nickname for a person who is a walking dictionary. countable, humorous, uncountable
  4. 4
    A placename; A locality in the County of Grande Prairie, No. 1, north-west Alberta, Canada. countable, uncountable
  5. 5
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A neighbourhood of San Diego, California. countable, uncountable
Show 26 more definitions
  1. 6
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Yolo County, California. countable, uncountable
  2. 7
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A minor city in Sumter County, Florida. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Hancock County, Illinois. countable, uncountable
  4. 9
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A township and unincorporated community therein, in Wayne County, Indiana. countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A minor city in Keokuk County, Iowa. countable, uncountable
  6. 11
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Madison County, Iowa. countable, uncountable
  7. 12
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Breckinridge County, Kentucky. countable, uncountable
  8. 13
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; Former name of Sabattus: a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States; renamed in 1971. countable, uncountable
  9. 14
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A town and census-designated place therein, in Worcester County, Massachusetts. countable, uncountable
  10. 15
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A township and unincorporated community therein, in Rice County, Minnesota. countable, uncountable
  11. 16
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Dodge County, Nebraska. countable, uncountable
  12. 17
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. countable, uncountable
  13. 18
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A town and village therein, in Monroe County, New York. countable, uncountable
  14. 19
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A town in Jackson County, North Carolina. countable, uncountable
  15. 20
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Ramsey County, North Dakota. countable, uncountable
  16. 21
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Darke County, Ohio. countable, uncountable
  17. 22
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A ghost town in Putnam County, Ohio. countable, uncountable
  18. 23
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A small city, the county seat of Day County, South Dakota. countable, uncountable
  19. 24
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A city in Harris County, Texas. countable, uncountable
  20. 25
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Botetourt County, Virginia. countable, uncountable
  21. 26
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Taylor County, West Virginia. countable, uncountable
  22. 27
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A village in Burnett County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
  23. 28
    A placename; A number of places in the United States:; A town in Vernon County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
  24. 29
    A placename; Ellipsis of Webster City. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
  25. 30
    A placename; Ellipsis of Webster County. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
  26. 31
    A placename; Ellipsis of Webster Parish. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms
dictionarydictionary editorfamily namelexicographerlexiconreference book

Antonyms

fictionforenamegiven namelayperson

Example

"Mr. and Mrs. William Webster had come all the way from Woodford to Concord, leaving three babies at home, to assist their old friends at the Inaugural Ball. You must have guessed that Mollie O'Neill, as Mrs. William Webster, would have grown plumper and prettier during the busy, happy years of married life with her husband and children on their large farm. For Mollie now had a small daughter "Polly," named for her beloved twin sister, and a pair of twin sons, Dan and Billy. She was more than ever in love with her husband and, many people believed, entirely under his thumb. Yet there were times when Mollie could and would assert herself in a surprising fashion just as she had in former days with her girl friends."

Common questions

What does "webster" mean?

A weaver (originally, specifically female).

What is a synonym for "webster"?

Common synonyms include: dictionary, dictionary editor, family name, lexicographer, lexicon, reference book.

How do you use "webster" in a sentence?

Mr. and Mrs. William Webster had come all the way from Woodford to Concord, leaving three babies at home, to assist their old friends at the Inaugural Ball. You must have guessed that Mollie O'Neill, as Mrs. William Webster, would have grown plumper and prettier during the busy, happy years of married life with her husband and children on their large farm. For Mollie now had a small daughter "Polly," named for her beloved twin sister, and a pair of twin sons, Dan and Billy. She was more than ever in love with her husband and, many people believed, entirely under his thumb. Yet there were times when Mollie could and would assert herself in a surprising fashion just as she had in former days with her girl friends.

How do you pronounce "webster"?

Pronounced /ˈwɛbstɚ/.

Etymology

From Middle English webbestere, webster, from Old English webbestre, feminine form of webba (“weaver”). Compare web, weave, and -ster.

More for "webster"

Synonyms

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