plural galleries
Synonyms of gallerynext
1
a
: a roofed promenade : colonnade
2
a
: an outdoor balcony
b
Southern US and Midland US : porch, veranda
c
: a platform at the quarters or stern of a ship
3
a
: a long and narrow passage, apartment, or corridor
b
: a subterranean passageway in a cave or military mining system
also : a working drift or level in mining
c
: a passage made in wood by an insect (such as a beetle)
4
a
: a room or building devoted to the exhibition of works of art
b
: an institution or business exhibiting or dealing in works of art
c
: collection, aggregation
… the rich gallery of characters in this novel …H. S. Canby
5
a
: a structure projecting from one or more interior walls (as of an auditorium or church) to accommodate additional people
especially : the highest balcony in a theater commonly having the cheapest seats
b
: the part of a theater audience seated in the top gallery
c
: the undiscriminating general public
d
: the spectators at a sporting event (such as a tennis or golf match)
6
: a small ornamental barrier or railing (as along the edge of a table or shelf)
7
: a photographer's studio
galleried adjective

Examples of gallery in a Sentence

She owns a gallery downtown. The movie features a gallery of weird characters.
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.
View gallery - 4 images For decades, the recipe for a premium folding bicycle has been to engineer a smart hinge mechanism, choose your metal and fire up the welding torch. New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026 Kusama’s large-scale sculptures and immersive installations break attendance records at museums and galleries around the world, and her works regularly set records at auction. Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 From the colorful wallpaper in the bathrooms to the record player with a thoughtful selection of vinyl and the gallery wall in the lobby lounge area, the space felt, well, cool. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 This was before the High Line became a top tourist attraction, before blue-chip galleries and billion-dollar towers transformed the neighborhood. Derek C. Blasberg, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gallery

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gallerie, borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin galeria, probably alteration (by dissimilation or suffix change) of galilea galilee

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gallery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gallery. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

plural galleries
1
: an outdoor balcony
2
a
: a long narrow room, hall, or passage
b
: an underground passageway (as in a mine or cave)
c
: a passage (as in earth or wood) made by an animal and especially an insect
3
a
: a room or building devoted to the exhibition of works of art
b
: a business dealing in works of art
4
: a balcony in an auditorium
especially : the highest balcony in a theater or the people who sit there
play to the gallery
5
: a photographer's studio

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