noun
Uncommon
billboard
BIHL-bord
Billboard (noun) means a large outdoor sign used to display advertising. Example: “A giant billboard for the new movie towered over the highway.”
noun
1
A large outdoor sign used to display advertising.
"The land refuses to change. The more he drives the more the region resembles the country around Mt. Judge. The same scruff on the embankments, the same weathered billboards for the same products you wondered anybody would ever want to buy."
— John Updike, 'Rabbit (1960)
"A giant billboard for the new movie towered over the highway."
"All America was on the verge of spring and the countryside was coming to glory, what we could see of the countryside through the smoke and billboards."
— Don DeLillo, Americana (1971)
"The bakery paid for a billboard beside the ring road to attract new customers."
"Someone had climbed up and pasted a joke over the old billboard."
"Bleak factory buildings and billboard-cluttered avenues look as beautiful, through the camera’s eye, as churches and pastoral landscapes."
— Susan Sontag, Melancholy Objects (1977)
How to use billboard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big advertising sign, usually seen along roads.
Common pairings
billboard advertisement
roadside billboard
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Word forms
- Plural
- billboards
- Third person singular
- billboards
- Past tense
- billboarded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A giant _____ for the new movie towered over the highway.
Etymology
From bill (a posted public notice) plus board.
Related words
Rhymes for billboard
board
hoard
aboard
onboard
keyboard
cupboard
outboard
seaboard
backboard
starboard
cardboard
surfboard
See all rhymes for billboard →
Frequently asked questions
What does “billboard” mean?
The word “billboard” means a large outdoor sign used to display advertising. In plain terms, a big advertising sign, usually seen along roads.
How do you pronounce “billboard”?
“Billboard” is pronounced BIHL-bord (/ˈbɪlˌboɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “billboard” in a sentence?
Here is “billboard” used in a sentence: “A giant billboard for the new movie towered over the highway.”
What part of speech is “billboard”?
“Billboard” is a noun.
Is “billboard” a common word?
“Billboard” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a billboard and a poster?
A billboard is a large outdoor sign used for advertising, typically mounted high beside roads or on buildings, while a poster is a smaller printed sheet displayed on walls, boards, or windows. Billboards are built for long-distance visibility, whereas posters are viewed up close.
What is the difference between a billboard and a hoarding?
They refer to the same thing in different varieties of English: "billboard" is the usual American term for a large outdoor advertising sign, while "hoarding" is the common British term. Both describe the same roadside advertising structure.
What words commonly go with "billboard"?
"Billboard" often appears in phrases such as "billboard advertising," "billboard campaign," "digital billboard," and "put up a billboard." It can also be used figuratively to describe anything that displays a message very conspicuously.
Where are billboards usually placed?
Billboards are large outdoor signs typically positioned along highways, busy roads, and in city centres where many people will see them. Their size and placement are designed to catch the attention of passing drivers and pedestrians.
