arena

noun

are·​na ə-ˈrē-nə How to pronounce arena (audio)
Synonyms of arena
1
: an area in a Roman amphitheater for gladiatorial combats
2
a
: an enclosed area used for public entertainment
b
: a building containing an arena
3
a
: a sphere of interest, activity, or competition
the political arena
b
: a place or situation for controversy
in the public arena

Synonyms of arena

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Examples of arena in a Sentence

Congress became an arena of opposing views. the toughest political arena in the world The economic arena has been dominated by that country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
New York City just got a little more sparkly, as Harry Styles kicked off the 30-date residency of his global Together, Together tour at Madison Square Garden, turning the Manhattan arena into the ultimate dance club for the next two months. — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026 And then there’s the logistics of turning a big arena into something that can house lot of people, a lot of networks, and all the equipment and machinery that the crew and camera operators need. — Daniel Strauss, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026 Like a lot of places where rock ‘n’ roll memories are made, the Fort Worth Convention Center arena doesn’t look like much in the cold light of day. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026 The Florida Atlantic Univesity grad, who used to model in Miami, has experience in this arena. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arena

Word History

Etymology

Latin harena, arena sand, sandy place

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arena was in 1600

Phrases Containing arena

Rhymes for arena

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Arena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arena. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

arena

noun
are·​na ə-ˈrē-nə How to pronounce arena (audio)
1
: an enclosed area used for public entertainment
2
: a building containing an arena
3
: a field of activity
the political arena
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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