Meaning & use
Durham
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproperBritish
A historic cathedral city in north-east England, known for its castle, cathedral and university.
Grammar: No article: she studied at Durham.
Patterns
- in Durham
- at Durham
We visited the cathedral in Durham on our way to Scotland.
My sister studies history at Durham.
Durham sits on a steep hill above a loop in the River Wear.
proper nounproperBritish
The county in north-east England that contains the city, officially County Durham.
Grammar: Usually written County Durham.
Patterns
- County Durham
Much of County Durham was once known for coal mining.
He grew up in a village in Durham.
The Durham Miners' Gala draws large crowds each summer.
proper nounproperAmerican
A city in North Carolina in the United States, known for Duke University and its research industries.
Grammar: Usually clarified as Durham, North Carolina.
Patterns
- Durham, North Carolina
She works at a technology company in Durham, North Carolina.
Durham is part of the Research Triangle.
The baseball team in Durham is called the Bulls.
Common combinations
- Durham Cathedral
- Durham Cathedral is a World Heritage Site.
- Durham University
- He applied to Durham University.
- County Durham
- They live in County Durham.
- Durham Castle
- Students live inside Durham Castle.
Word family
- Dunelm proper noun
- the Latin-based short form used for Durham in titles
- Wearside proper noun
- area around the River Wear
Commonly confused: Durham or Dunham?
Durham vs Dunham
Dunham is a common surname and place name spelled with n; Durham has a r.
Practice
Durham is a historic university city in the north of ___.
Choose one answer.
Durham is in north-east England. It is not in Wales, Ireland or Spain.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Durham”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.