Skip to main content
Washington Monument

Washington Monument

7 3.0
A tall stone obelisk in Washington, D.C. that honors George Washington
  • proper noun
  • /ˈwɔʃɪŋtən ˈmɒnəmənt/
translation icon : Monumento a Washington
  • The Washington Monument stands proudly in the National Mall, honoring George Washington.
  • Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial
  • the tall Washington Monument
  • the 555-foot Washington Monument

Examples

  • The Washington Monument is 555 feet, five and one-eighth inches tall.

  • Behind me, through the window, you can see the Washington Monument, visited each year by hundreds of thousands from around the world.

    Blog text (3)
  • Across the street from the Washington Monument.

  • - We're at the Washington Monument.

  • Think about the Washington Monument.

  • I actually have been to the Washington Monument, and let me tell you:

    Blog text (27)
  • There are 897 steps to the top of the Washington Monument.

  • Yes, the view from the top of the Washington Monument was breathtaking.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Tomorrow, I'm pleased to announce that the Washington Monument, as well as the entire federal government, will be open for business.

    Blog text (3)
  • That's the Washington Monument.

Synonyms

monument
vsWashington Monument
160 3.4

A large structure that honours a famous person or important event

is a famous specific example of that general type
national monument
vsWashington Monument
6 3.3

A place or building that a national government protects because it is important in history and people can visit

is not necessarily set aside or protected by the national government

Surface Forms

Morphology

Washington + monument

The meaning 'a monument commemorating George Washington' is directly and transparently derived from combining the proper name 'Washington' (the person being honored) with 'monument' (a structure built to commemorate). Naming a monument after a person is a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Washington Monument is a very tall stone tower built to honor Washington, the first president of the United States, and it is called a monument because it remembers him. Because you can see it from many places in the city, the name now means that famous 'memorial' in Washington, D.C..