carpet

noun

car·​pet ˈkär-pət How to pronounce carpet (audio)
Synonyms of carpetnext
1
: a heavy often tufted fabric used as a floor covering
also : a floor covering made of this fabric
2
: a surface or layer resembling or suggesting a carpet
carpet verb
see also:
on the carpet

Examples of carpet in a Sentence

We bought a new carpet for the bedroom. Which brand of carpet did you choose? The ground was covered by a carpet of leaves.
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.
Inside, the three-story mansion has a state dining room lined with an antique Persian carpet, a foyer crowned by an 18th-century French chandelier, and a formal living room with an Irish grandfather clock dating to 1770. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026 More fertilizer will likely bring about a higher quality lawn, but along with that carpet-like appearance comes higher water demands, more mowing, and in some cases, a greater susceptibility to pests and diseases. — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2026 Sprinkle a dry carpet cleaning powder specifically made for natural fibers or baking soda across the surface of the rug. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 1 Sep. 2026 Eight handwoven silk carpets, each inscribed with Quranic verses, hang like royal tapestries. — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for carpet

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French carpite, from Old Italian carpita, from carpire to pluck, modification of Latin carpere to pluck — more at harvest

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carpet was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing carpet

Browse Nearby Words

carper
carpet
carpetbag
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

carpet

noun
car·​pet ˈkär-pət How to pronounce carpet (audio)
1
: a heavy fabric used especially as a floor covering
2
: a covering like a carpet
carpet verb

More from Merriam-Webster on carpet

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for carpet

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carpet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All