post

1 of 8

noun (1)

1
: a piece (as of timber or metal) fixed firmly in an upright position especially as a stay or support : pillar, column
2
: a pole or stake set up to mark or indicate something
especially : a pole that marks the starting or finishing point of a horse race
3
a
b
: a football passing play in which the receiver runs downfield before turning towards the middle of the field
4
: the metal stem of a pierced earring
5
: a metallic fitting attached to an electrical device (such as a storage battery) for convenience in making connections

post

2 of 8

verb (1)

posted; posting; posts

transitive verb

1
: to affix to a usual place (such as a wall) for public notices : placard
2
a
: to publish, announce, or advertise by or as if by use of a placard
b
: to denounce by public notice
c
: to enter on a public listing
d
: to forbid (property) to trespassers under penalty of legal prosecution by notices placed along the boundaries
e
: score
posted a 70 in the final round
3
: to publish (something, such as a message) in an online forum (such as an electronic message board)

post

3 of 8

noun (2)

1
: something (such as a message) that is published online
2
chiefly British
a
: a nation's organization for handling mail
also : the mail handled
b(1)
: a single dispatch of mail
d
3
archaic
a
: one of a series of stations for keeping horses for relays
b
: the distance between any two such consecutive stations : stage
4
obsolete : courier

post

4 of 8

verb (2)

posted; posting; posts

transitive verb

1
: to make familiar with a subject : inform
kept her posted on the latest gossip
2
: mail
post a letter
3
a
: to transfer or carry from a book of original entry to a ledger
b
: to make transfer entries in
4
archaic : to dispatch in haste

intransitive verb

1
: to rise from the saddle and return to it in rhythm with a horse's trot
2
: to ride or travel with haste : hurry
3
: to travel with post-horses

post

5 of 8

adverb

: with post-horses : express

post

6 of 8

noun (3)

1
a
: the place at which a soldier is stationed
especially : a sentry's beat or station
b
: a station or task to which one is assigned
c
: the place at which a body of troops is stationed : camp
d
: a local subdivision of a veterans' organization
e
: one of two bugle calls sounded (as in the British army) at tattoo
2
a
: an office or position to which a person is appointed
b
: an area on a basketball court that is located just outside the free throw lane usually near the basket
also : the offensive position of a player occupying the post
3
b
: a trading station on the floor of a stock exchange

post

7 of 8

verb (3)

posted; posting; posts

transitive verb

1
a
: to station in a given place
guards were posted at the doors
b
: to carry ceremoniously to a position
posting the colors
2
chiefly British : to assign to a unit, position, or location (as in the military or civil service)
3
: to put up
O'Brien claims city cops roughed him up and refused to let him post bond.Jeffrey Ressner

post-

8 of 8

prefix

1
a
: after : subsequent : later
postdate
b
: behind : posterior : following after
postlude
postconsonantal
2
a
: subsequent to : later than
postoperative
b
: posterior to
postorbital

Examples of post in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Philadelphia Eagles center retired from the NFL on Monday, and Kylie, 31, publicly celebrated her husband's accomplishments in a Thursday Instagram post. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Rowling responded in a series of posts on social media. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 Day 1 of testimony in the dad's case, however, included the same allegations, the same journal entries, gun photos, videos and social media posts used in the mom's case and two of the same witnesses who helped convict Jennifer Crumbley. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024 Magnesium’s time to shine The once humble and almost anonymous mineral supplement found on store shelves has taken the wellness community by storm in the last year, becoming the star of thousands of TikTok posts singing the metal’s praises. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 That led to a deluge of phone calls to offices on Capitol Hill, per the New York Times, citing social-media posts. Todd Spangler, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Among many social media posts reviewed by community members searching for information about the Goons was a picture of Jacob Meisner posing with what appears to be a gun. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 It was disposed of in an unspecified area of town, according to a Facebook post from Needham police. Nic F. Anderson, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 To reply to other posts, simply include ‘re:’ or ‘to’ the topic in the subject line of your post. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
Verb
Elias Munoz, also on a tourist visa, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and posted $50,000 bail. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 While there are suggestions that Lake is running a more professional campaign focused on taking down Gallego, on Wednesday Lake posted an insulting social media message noting Nikki Haley’s departure from the Republican presidential race. The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 According to a notice posted on COVID.gov, an official website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ordering free COVID tests from the website will be suspended after March 8. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2024 Clock is ticking for Trump to post bonds worth half a billion dollars Trump is closing in on another Republican presidential nomination and a rematch with President Biden. Mark Berman, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Some of the most popular creators on TikTok — Like Vidya Gopalan and Mackenzie Ziegler— posted dozens of videos opening massive boxes of free merchandise, flying on private planes, and partying poolside. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2024 Riverdale Ridge has built on its halftime lead thanks to Crittendon finding her groove on both ends of the floor, posting nine points, a steal and a block in the frame. Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2024 In his order Thursday, Kaplan noted that Trump’s lawyers waited 25 days to seek to delay when a bond must be posted. Larry Neumeister, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Keep those tickets handy, once the Powerball releases the results, all winners will be posted here. USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Brimming with midcentury character, the 3,700-square-foot home features post-and-beam construction, tongue-and-groove ceilings and walls of glass. Spencer Elliott, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023 Both appeared energetic in media interviews post-landing, although detailed medical results were not disclosed. Elizabeth Howell, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'post.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin postis; probably akin to Latin por- forward and to Latin stare to stand — more at portend, stand

Noun (2)

Middle French poste relay station, courier, from Old Italian posta relay station, from feminine of posto, past participle of porre to place, from Latin ponere — more at position

Noun (3)

Middle French poste, from Old Italian posto, from past participle of porre to place

Prefix

Middle English, from Latin, from post; akin to Lithuanian pas at, Greek apo away from — more at of

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

circa 1640, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun (2)

1507, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb (2)

1533, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Adverb

1549, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb (3)

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of post was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near post

Cite this Entry

“Post.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/post. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

post

1 of 7 noun
1
: a piece of timber or metal fixed upright especially as a support : pillar
2
: a pole or stake set up as a marker
the starting post
3
: a metallic fixture attached to an electrical device (as a battery) for making connections

post

2 of 7 verb
1
a
: to fix notices to or on a suitable place (as a bulletin board)
b
: to publish or announce by or as if by a notice
posted the students' grades
2
: to forbid persons from entering or using by putting up warning notices
post a trout stream
3
: score entry 2 sense 1a
posted a 72 for the round
4
: to publish (as a message) in an online forum

post

3 of 7 noun
1
chiefly British : postal service
2
chiefly British : the mail handled by the post
3
chiefly British : a single shipment of mail
4
: something (as a message) that is posted online

post

4 of 7 verb
1
: to ride or travel with haste : hurry
2
3
: to transfer a bookkeeping item from a book of original entry to an account book
4
: to make familiar with a subject : inform

post

5 of 7 noun
1
a
: the place at which a soldier or guard is stationed
b
: a station or task to which a person is assigned
c
: a place to which troops are assigned : camp
2
: an office or position to which a person is appointed
3

post

6 of 7 verb
1
: to station in a given place
post a guard
2
: to give as a guarantee of payment
post a bond

post-

7 of 7 prefix
1
a
: after : later
postdate
b
: behind
2
: following : later than
postscript
Etymology

Noun

Old English post "an upright timber for support, pillar," from Latin postis (same meaning)

Noun

from early French poste "a relay station, one who carries messages," from early Italian posta "relay station," derived from porre (verb) "to place," from Latin ponere "to place" — related to post entry 5

Noun

from early French poste "place where soldiers are stationed," from early Italian posto (same meaning), derived from porre (verb) "to place," from Latin ponere "to place" — related to post entry 3

Prefix

derived from Latin post "after, later"

Legal Definition

post

transitive verb
: to put up (as bond)
post bail

Biographical Definition

Post

biographical name

Emily 1872–1960 née Price American columnist and writer

More from Merriam-Webster on post

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