1
: containing or constituting a center
3
a
: situated at, in, or near the center
the central part of the state
b
: easily accessible from outlying districts
a central location for the new theater
4
a
: centrally placed and superseding separate scattered units
central heating
b
: controlling or directing local or branch activities
the central committee
5
: holding to a middle between extremes : moderate
6
: of, relating to, or comprising the brain and spinal cord
also
: originating within the central nervous system
central deafness
1
: a telephone exchange or operator
2
: a central office or bureau usually controlling others
weather central
3
: a center or hub for a specified activity or group
her house is party central
the family room becomes kid central
Synonyms
Examples of central in a Sentence
Adjective
The house has four rooms and a central chimney.
City planners are looking for a central location for the new hospital.
The evidence was central to the defense's case.
The country's schools are financed by both local and central governments.
The central authority of the company's board is being challenged.
Noun
Our family room becomes kid central on weekends.
a health club that has become dating central for singles in the area
Recent Examples on the Web
Hanna Ziady, CNN, 19 June 2024
Other places experiencing price declines are the central L.A. neighborhoods of Arlington Heights, downtown and the area surrounding MacArthur Park, where apartment blocks are overcrowded and crime is high.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2024
Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 16 June 2024
In addition to reinforcing its affiliates throughout the globe, al Qaeda central appears to be focused on leveraging an increasingly permissive environment in Afghanistan, where its long-standing ally the Afghan Taliban could gain political power.
—Asfandyar Mir, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2020
See all Example Sentences for central 
Adjective
The consumer price data published Wednesday means the United Kingdom is now ahead of most other G7 economies in bringing inflation back to the level central bankers try to maintain to help households and businesses.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN, 19 June 2024
Other places experiencing price declines are the central L.A. neighborhoods of Arlington Heights, downtown and the area surrounding MacArthur Park, where apartment blocks are overcrowded and crime is high.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2024
Noun
McLaren chose supercar central for our drive in the Artura Spider, and the car certainly turned heads in the principality.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 16 June 2024
In addition to reinforcing its affiliates throughout the globe, al Qaeda central appears to be focused on leveraging an increasingly permissive environment in Afghanistan, where its long-standing ally the Afghan Taliban could gain political power.
—Asfandyar Mir, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2020
See all Example Sentences for central
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'central.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near central
Cite this Entry
“Central.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/central. Accessed 27 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
central
adjective
cen·tral
ˈsen-trəl 
1
: of or concerning the centrum of a vertebra
2
a
: of, relating to, or comprising the brain and spinal cord
b
: originating within the central nervous system : caused by factors originating in the central nervous system
central precocious puberty
3
: affecting or involving the trunk of the body and especially the abdomen
central adiposity
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