Urban places can be described in many different ways, with a wide range of synonyms available to describe the bustling centers of cities all around the world that are home to millions of people. Some common synonyms for urban places include cities, metropolises, megalopolises, concrete jungles, and urban landscapes. These words all paint a picture of modernization, development, and progress, but also conjure up images of traffic, noise pollution, and high-rise buildings. Other synonyms for urban places include downtowns, city centers, inner cities, and urban cores, which refer to the central areas of cities where the majority of business, commercial, and cultural activities take place, and where people gather to work and play.