garage
GA-rihj
Garage (noun) means a building, or part of one, used to store a car or other vehicle. Example: “There is barely room for the car in our narrow garage.”
noun
1
A building, or part of one, used to store a car or other vehicle.
"There is barely room for the car in our narrow garage."
"He parked his motorbike in the garage overnight."
"They converted the garage into a home gym."
2
A business that repairs and services vehicles, or (in British English) a fuel station.
"The mechanic at the garage said the exhaust needed replacing."
"We stopped at a garage to fill the tank before the long motorway drive."
"I took the car to the garage after the brakes started squealing."
3
A genre of electronic dance music, or a raw style of rock played by amateur bands.
"He grew up listening to garage on pirate radio stations."
"A noisy garage band practised every weekend in the neighbours' shed."
"The club night played classic UK garage all evening."
verb
1
To put or keep a vehicle in a garage.
"We garage our van at night because the street is not safe."
"If it snows, I will garage the car and take the train."
"Remember to garage the car before the storm hits."
How to use garage
Learner’s notes
UK vs US
In British English, "garage" can also mean a fuel/petrol station — a sense rarely used in American English.
Common pairings
double garage
garage door
garage sale
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Word forms
- Plural
- garages
- Third person singular
- garages
- Past tense
- garaged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There is barely room for the car in our narrow _____.
Etymology
From French garage, "shelter, keeping under cover," from garer, "to keep safe, dock" — ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to defend or protect."
Synonyms
View more →
lock-up
service station
repair shop
filling station
petrol station
Related words
Rhymes for garage
See all rhymes for garage →Frequently asked questions
What does “garage” mean?
The word “garage” means a building, or part of one, used to store a car or other vehicle.
How do you pronounce “garage”?
“Garage” is pronounced GA-rihj (/ɡəˈɹɑʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “garage” in a sentence?
Here is “garage” used in a sentence: “He parked his motorbike in the garage overnight.”
What part of speech is “garage”?
Depending on how it is used, “garage” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “garage” come from?
The word “garage” comes from French. From French garage, "shelter, keeping under cover," from garer, "to keep safe, dock" — ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to defend or protect.".
Is “garage” a common word?
“Garage” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “garage” have?
“Garage” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a building, or part of one, used to store a car or other vehicle.
What is the difference between a "garage" and a "carport"?
A garage is a fully enclosed building, or part of one, used to store a car or other vehicle. A carport is only a roofed shelter, open on one or more sides, so it lacks the walls and door of a garage. A garage offers more protection and security.
Is a "garage" the same as a workshop?
Not exactly. A garage primarily stores vehicles, though a garage business also repairs and services them. A workshop is a space equipped for making or fixing things in general, which may or may not involve vehicles.
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