Nara

American

[nah-rah] / nɑˈrɑ /

noun

a city on S Honshu, in central Japan: chief Buddhist center of ancient Japan; first capital of Japan a.d. 710–84.
a period of Japanese history, a.d. 710–784, characterized by the adoption of Chinese culture and forms of government.

Nara British

/ ˈnɑːrə /

noun

a city in central Japan, on S Honshu: the first permanent capital of Japan (710–784). Pop: 364 411 (2002 est)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ref x Nara is “nostalgic, theatrical, and a little impractical, all made from scratch,” according to the brand.

From Salon • Nov. 9, 2025

Nara Lokesh, a minister in the state government, said that some four million people may be affected.

From Barron's • Oct. 28, 2025

Jason Eng, who works in business development and partnerships for Kametani Tea in Nara, Japan, said buyers are asking to sign annual contracts to secure matcha for the following year.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

The woodcutter claims he had found a samurai’s body in the forest near Nara.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

Kaede followed Sister Nara through the circular antechamber to the inner redwood doors.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023