Meaning & use
motels
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“motels” is a form of “motel”.
Meaning
nounplural
Hotels designed for people traveling by car, usually with parking spaces directly outside the rooms and often beside a main road.
Grammar: This is the plural form of 'motel'. Use it with plural verbs: 'The motels are full.' For one building, use 'a motel'.
Patterns
- stay at motels
- motels along the highway
- book a room in motels
We stayed at cheap motels all the way across the country.
Many motels along the highway offer free breakfast and Wi-Fi.
The town has several motels, but they fill up quickly in summer.
Word forms
| singular | motel |
|---|
Common combinations
- stay at a motel
- We stayed at a motel near the airport before our early flight.
- motel room
- The motel room was small but clean.
- roadside motel
- They pulled into a roadside motel after driving all night.
- motel chain
- That motel chain is known for its low prices.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hotel
- A hotel is a more general word for a place to stay and often has more services; a motel is usually simpler and built for car travelers.
- inn
- An inn is often a small, old-fashioned place to stay, sometimes with a restaurant; a motel is modern and practical, with parking by the door.
- motor lodge
- A motor lodge is a slightly older or more formal American term for a motel.
Word family
- motel noun
- The singular form: one such place to stay.
Commonly confused: motels or hostel?
motels vs hostel
A hostel usually offers cheap shared rooms, often for young travelers; a motel offers private rooms and parking for drivers.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'motels' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Motels are known for having parking spaces directly outside the rooms. Option 1 describes hostels, option 2 describes luxury hotels, and option 3 describes campsites.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “motels”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.