pub
Pub (noun) means a public house that serves drinks, especially beer, and often food, common in Britain and Ireland. Example: “We grabbed a pint at the local pub after work.”
How to use pub
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bar, especially the traditional British/Irish kind that also serves food and has a social, neighborhood feel.
"Pub" is the standard everyday word in the UK and Ireland; Americans more often say "bar."
Word forms
pubbed past tense, pubbed past tense, pubs plural, pubs plural, pubs singular, pubs singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We grabbed a pint at the local _____ after work.
Etymology
Shortened from "public house."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “pub” mean?
The word “pub” means a public house that serves drinks, especially beer, and often food, common in Britain and Ireland. In plain terms, a bar, especially the traditional British/Irish kind that also serves food and has a social, neighborhood feel.
How do you pronounce “pub”?
“Pub” is pronounced puhb (/pʌb/ in IPA).
How do you use “pub” in a sentence?
Here is “pub” used in a sentence: “We grabbed a pint at the local pub after work.”
What is another word for “pub”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pub” include alehouse, boozer, boozing ken, bousing ken, drinker and drinkery.
What part of speech is “pub”?
Depending on how it is used, “pub” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “pub” a common word?
“Pub” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “pub” have?
“Pub” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a public house that serves drinks, especially beer, and often food, common in Britain and Ireland.
What is the difference between a "pub" and a "bar"?
A "pub," short for public house, is a traditional British and Irish establishment serving drinks, especially beer, and often food, usually with a cosy, social atmosphere. A "bar" is a more general term used worldwide and tends to focus more on drinks than on food or community feel.
Where is the word "pub" most commonly used?
"Pub" is especially common in Britain and Ireland, where public houses are a longstanding part of social life. In other English-speaking countries the word bar is often preferred.
Can "pub" be used as a verb?
Yes. As a verb, to "pub" means to go out drinking at pubs, and it appears in phrases like "pubbing" or "go pub-crawling." This usage is informal.
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