name
Very common
America
uh-MAIR-rih-kuh
America (name) means a continent or supercontinent of the Western Hemisphere, or informally the United States of America; also used as a female given name. Example: “They immigrated to America in search of a better life.”
name
1
A continent or supercontinent of the Western Hemisphere, or informally the United States of America; also used as a female given name.
"They immigrated to America in search of a better life."
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Word forms
- Plural
- Americas
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They immigrated to _____ in search of a better life.
Etymology
From New Latin America, a Latinized feminine form of the first name of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
Synonyms
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the United States
the U.S.
the USA
the States
the Americas
the New World
Rhymes for America
See all rhymes for America →Frequently asked questions
What does “America” mean?
The word “America” means a continent or supercontinent of the Western Hemisphere, or informally the United States of America; also used as a female given name.
How do you pronounce “America”?
“America” is pronounced uh-MAIR-rih-kuh (/əˈmɛɹ.ɪ.kə/ in IPA).
How do you use “America” in a sentence?
Here is “America” used in a sentence: “They immigrated to America in search of a better life.”
What part of speech is “America”?
“America” is a name.
Where does the word “America” come from?
The word “America” comes from New Latin. From New Latin America, a Latinized feminine form of the first name of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
Is “America” a common word?
“America” is a very common word in modern English.
Does 'America' mean the United States or the continent?
Both, depending on context. Informally — especially in English — "America" usually means the United States. Geographically, it refers to the landmasses of the Western Hemisphere, North and South America, together called the Americas. Which sense is meant is usually clear from the setting, though the single-country meaning dominates casual speech.
What is the difference between America and the United States?
The United States is one specific country in North America. "America," used loosely, often names that same country, but strictly it can mean the whole continental expanse of the Western Hemisphere. So "the United States" is precise, while "America" is broader and can point either to the nation or the continents.
What are the Americas?
"The Americas" is the collective name for the two continents of the Western Hemisphere — North America and South America — often including Central America and the Caribbean. The plural form makes clear you mean the whole landmass rather than a single country, spanning from Canada in the north to Chile in the south.
Is America used as a first name?
Yes. "America" is given as a female first name in several cultures, valued for its bright, hopeful associations. It appears in the Spanish-speaking world as "América" and has been carried by actors and public figures. Used this way, it's a personal name rather than a reference to a country or continent.
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