lounge
Word family
- loungernounC1
- loungingadjectiveB2
- loungedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All four terms refer to the room in a home where people relax and socialise, but region and register set them apart. Lounge is the standard everyday word in British English — it is the room with the sofa and television where the family gathers. Living room is the dominant American English term, though it is also used in British English in more formal or neutral contexts. Sitting room sounds more old-fashioned and formal in British English; it often appears in descriptions of larger, more traditional houses where the sitting room is used for entertaining guests rather than for everyday television watching. Family room, common in American English, suggests a casual, less formal space — often with a television and comfortable furniture — separate from a more formal living room. In everyday use, a British speaker might say 'Let's go to the lounge', while an American speaker would probably say 'Let's go to the living room' or 'the family room'.
Common collocations
Etymology
Lounge entered English in the 16th century as a verb meaning 'to walk lazily or idly', borrowed from the French phrase s'allonger, meaning 'to lie down at full length'. This French verb traces back to the Latin word longus, meaning 'long'. The noun sense — a room where one can lounge — developed in the late 19th century, first appearing in the context of hotels and clubs before extending to domestic use.