room
room
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "room" is /ruːm/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
roo: /ruː/ - This syllable consists of the consonant /r/ followed by the long vowel sound /uː/.
m: /m/ - This is the final consonant sound. "Room" is a one-syllable word, so the /m/ sound is part of that syllable.
Word Form Variations
room: (singular noun) - A space within a building, enclosed by walls, floor, and ceiling. Example: I went into the room.
rooms: (plural noun) - More than one room. Example: The hotel has many rooms.
room (verb): To provide lodging or accommodation. Less common usage. Example: They roomed with the travelers for the night.
rooming (present participle/gerund): The act of providing lodging or accommodation. Example: The family is rooming exchange students.
roomed (past tense/past participle): Provided lodging or accommodation. Example: They roomed in a small inn.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: A space within a building or other structure, typically enclosed by walls, a floor, and a ceiling, and used for a specific purpose.
Synonyms: chamber, compartment, cubicle, cell, office, study, den, suite, apartment (in the context of a set of rooms).
Antonyms: outside, outdoors, open air, exterior, wilderness.
Definition: The amount of space that something occupies or that is available.
Synonyms: space, area, capacity, volume, extent, scope, margin.
Antonyms: lack of space, constraint, tightness, congestion.
Verb:
Definition: To provide lodging or accommodation for someone. (Less common usage)
Synonyms: house, accommodate, lodge, board, shelter, put up.
Antonyms: evict, displace, turn away, reject.
Definition: To occupy a room; to reside in a room. (Less common usage)
Synonyms: reside, dwell, stay, lodge, inhabit.
Antonyms: depart, leave, vacate, move out.
Adjective: (Rarely used as a standalone adjective)
While "roomy" is a common adjective related to "room," "room" itself is rarely used as a standalone adjective. You might see it used attributively, like "room temperature" or "room service," where it modifies the following noun. In these cases, it doesn't have direct synonyms or antonyms in the same way a descriptive adjective would. The meaning is related to the noun form of "room."
Adverb: (Not typically used as an adverb)
"Room" is not typically used as an adverb. You might use phrases like "in the room" or "from room to room," but these are prepositional phrases, not adverbial uses of "room" itself.
Examples of Use
Books:
"The little room was very still." (From A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett). This uses "room" in its classic sense as a defined space.
"He needed room to breathe." (This is a hypothetical example, but demonstrates the use of "room" to mean space, not necessarily a physical room).
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"Rising rents squeeze families, forcing them to share rooms." (Hypothetical news headline). This uses "rooms" in the plural, referring to multiple living spaces.
"The gallery has several rooms dedicated to contemporary art." (Hypothetical from an art review). "Room" is used to describe a dedicated space within a larger building.
"There's no room for error in this surgery." (Hypothetical from a medical article). This uses "room" figuratively, meaning space or margin.
Entertainment Mediums/Platforms:
"This room is too small!" (Dialogue from a movie or TV show). This is a common use of "room" in everyday conversation, often expressing dissatisfaction with the size of a space.
"Room and Board included." (Common phrase in advertisements for accommodation). This uses "room" in the context of providing lodging.
"The band played to a packed room." (Common expression in music journalism or reviews). "Room" here refers to the audience space at a venue.
General Public Discourse:
"Excuse me, is this room 204?" (Common question when navigating a building). This is a very practical use of "room" to identify a specific location.
"There's always room for improvement." (Common idiom). This uses "room" figuratively, meaning opportunity or scope.
"I need more room in my suitcase." (Everyday complaint when packing). "Room" refers to the available space.
"Can I have a room with a view?" (Common request at a hotel). This is a standard usage when making reservations.
10 Famous Quotes Using Room
"There’s always room at the top." — Daniel Webster
"A room without books is like a body without a soul." — Marcus Tullius Cicero
"The most important room in the world is the room for improvement." — Helmut Schmidt (paraphrased)
"You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with — even in a crowded room." — Wayne Dyer
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent, not even in a room full of critics." — Eleanor Roosevelt (extended interpretation)
"If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room." — Confucius (often paraphrased)
"The artist must create a spark before he can make a fire and before art is born, the artist must be ready to be consumed by the fire in his own room." — Auguste Rodin
"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library — a quiet room with endless wonder." — Jorge Luis Borges
"There is no room for hate in a heart full of love." — Martin Luther King Jr. (in tone and spirit)
"Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tiptoe if you must, but leave the room." — Naeem Callaway
Etymology
The word "room" comes from Old English, specifically the word rūm. This Old English word meant "space, extent, or scope." Think of it like the amount of area something takes up or the area available for something. It could even refer to the space inside a person, like their "room" for feelings or thoughts.
This Old English word rūm is related to other words in different languages, showing a common ancestor way back. For example, it's connected to the Latin word rumor which means "noise" or "rumor." It might seem strange to connect a "room" to a "rumor," but the underlying idea is about something spreading or occupying space – a rumor spreads through the air, and a room occupies space in a building.
The first recorded use of "room" in English (in its Old English form rūm) dates back to around the 8th century. In those early days, it had a broader meaning than just a space in a building. It could refer to any kind of space, whether it was a physical enclosure or a more abstract concept of area or extent.
Over time, the meaning of "room" gradually narrowed to primarily refer to a specific enclosed space within a building. This more specific meaning became the dominant one we use today. So, while its original meaning was more general, it evolved to primarily mean a chamber or compartment in a house or other building.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Room
Phrases and Idioms using "room":
Room and board: This classic phrase refers to lodging and meals provided, often in a boarding house or similar setting.
Room for improvement: This common idiom means there's always a possibility to get better.
Make room for: This phrase means to create space for something, either physically or metaphorically. "Make room for new ideas," for example.
No room for error: This signifies that mistakes are unacceptable; there's no margin for error.
Packed room/Standing room only: These phrases describe a place filled to capacity, often with people standing because there are no seats left.
A room with a view: This phrase, often used in travel contexts, suggests a room that offers a pleasant or scenic outlook.
Why "room" isn't as idiom-rich:
"Room" is a fairly concrete word. It primarily refers to a physical space. Many idioms are based on more abstract concepts or actions. While "room" can be used metaphorically, it's not its primary function. That's why we don't see a huge number of common idioms built around it.
Expanding the concept (using synonyms and related ideas):
Since "room" often implies space, opportunity, or capacity, we can look at idioms and phrases that capture those related ideas:
Breathing room: This refers to having enough space or time to relax and function.
Elbow room: Similar to "breathing room," this emphasizes having enough physical space to move comfortably.
Margin for error: This is a synonym for "room for error," emphasizing the lack of leeway.
Scope for: This phrase highlights the extent or range of something, similar to the idea of "room" for something. "Scope for improvement," for example.
Plenty of space: This literal phrase emphasizes the availability of ample room.
Wiggle room: This idiom refers to flexibility or leeway, similar to having room to maneuver.
Space to grow: This phrase captures the idea of having room for development and progress.
Room to maneuver: This suggests having enough space or freedom to take action.
By looking at synonyms and related concepts, we can find a wider range of phrases and idioms that capture the different shades of meaning associated with "room," even if they don't use the word itself.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of room from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
