Meaning & use
patio
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Meaning
nouncountable
A flat outdoor area next to a house, usually covered with stone or concrete, where people sit, eat, or relax.
Grammar: Countable: use 'a patio' or 'patios' for more than one.
Patterns
- on the patio
- have a patio
- patio doors
We had breakfast on the patio this morning.
Their new house has a large patio with a table and chairs.
The children are playing on the patio while we cook dinner.
Word forms
| plural | patios |
|---|
Common combinations
- patio doors
- The patio doors open onto the garden.
- on the patio
- We sat on the patio and watched the sunset.
- paved patio
- They laid a paved patio last summer.
- patio furniture
- We bought new patio furniture for the summer.
- shady patio
- The shady patio is perfect for hot afternoons.
Synonyms and how they differ
- terrace
- A terrace is often larger and may be raised or have a view; a patio is usually at ground level right next to the house.
- deck
- A deck is typically made of wood and raised above the ground, while a patio is paved and at ground level.
- courtyard
- A courtyard is enclosed by walls or buildings and may not be attached to a house; a patio is directly outside a house.
Commonly confused: patio or deck? patio or porch?
patio vs deck
A deck is a raised wooden platform, but a patio is a flat paved area at ground level.
patio vs porch
A porch is a covered area at the entrance of a house, often with a roof, while a patio is usually open and at the back or side.
Practice
We like to have dinner ___ the patio when the weather is nice.
Choose one answer.
We use 'on' for surfaces like a patio. 'In' would suggest being inside something, 'at' is less specific, and 'by' means near, not on the patio itself.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “patio”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.