Collocations
Collocations
Explore English words that belong together, with meanings, examples, and sentence practice. Browse by CEFR level or pattern, and add collocations to your deck for regular review.
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Showing 481–576 of 1669 phrases
Verb + noun(96)
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attend church
To go to religious services at a church regularly
attend school
to go to school regularly (more formal than 'go to school')
attract attention
naturally cause people to look or focus on something
avoid a question
to deliberately not answer a question
avoid an accident
to successfully prevent an unexpected harmful event from occurring
avoid jail
To escape a prison sentence, usually through legal means or a deal
avoid trouble
to keep away from situations that could lead to problems or conflict
become a victim
to enter the state of being harmed or wronged by someone or something
block a road
to obstruct traffic flow on a road
bow your head
to lower your head as a sign of respect, prayer, or sorrow
break ground
to begin digging a site; to start a new construction project
bring honor
to cause respect or glory to come to someone or something
bring shame
to cause someone or a group to suffer disgrace through one's actions
bring to a stop
to cause something or someone to cease moving or operating
build a business
to develop and grow a company over time through sustained effort
build a relationship
To develop a connection or bond with someone through sustained effort over time
build a team
to create and develop a group of people to work effectively together
build trust
to develop trust in a relationship through consistent, reliable behaviour
bury one's face
to press one's face into something such as one's hands or a pillow, usually in distress
buy shares
To purchase units of ownership in a company on the stock market
call a meeting
arrange for a meeting to take place
cancel a visit
To call off a visit that had been planned
cancel an order
to withdraw a purchase request before it is fulfilled
capture a moment
to preserve a specific point in time in memory, a photograph, or a recording
capture beauty
to record or represent the beauty of something in art or photography
carry a weapon
to have a weapon on one's person
carry out a search
perform a systematic search
carve stone
to cut and shape stone into a sculpture or decorative design
catch the wind
to capture or be propelled by the wind, especially in sailing
cause a drop
to bring about a decrease in a quantity, price, or level
cause pain
produce a feeling of physical or emotional hurt
change sides
to switch one's support to the opposing group or position
change the bed
to remove and replace the sheets and pillowcases on a bed
charge your cell
To recharge the battery of a mobile phone
check the facts
to verify whether information is accurate before acting on it
clean up a mess
To restore order or cleanliness after disorder has occurred
clear a jump
jump successfully over an obstacle
clear land
to remove trees, vegetation, or obstacles from an area of land
close a case
to officially end an investigation or legal matter
close a deal
finalize an agreement successfully
collect thoughts
To settle and organise one's thinking, especially after distraction or stress.
come to an end
to finish or conclude
complete a course
finish all the requirements of a course
compose a piece
to create an original musical composition
compose music
to write and create original musical pieces
conduct a search
carry out an organized attempt to find something or someone
construct a building
build or erect a structure
consult a doctor
seek professional medical advice from a doctor before acting
consult a lawyer
To seek professional legal advice from a lawyer
control the situation
keep a situation under management so it does not get worse
correct a fault
to fix or remedy a defect or error
crane one's neck
to stretch the neck upward or forward to see something
create a mess
To cause a state of disorder or confusion
create art
make or produce artistic works
create space
make more room available, physically or figuratively
crown a king
to formally make someone king in a ceremony
crown a queen
officially invest someone with the title of queen in a ceremony
cut a key
to shape a new key by cutting metal
damage health
to cause harm to one's physical condition
damage the brain
to cause harm to brain function or tissue
darken the sky
to cause the sky to become dark, usually through clouds or smoke
declare war
to formally announce that a state of war exists with another country
deliver a blow
to strike someone or something with force
deliver a talk
to give a prepared presentation
deliver the news
to communicate important information to someone, typically formally or carefully
demolish a building
tear down a building completely
deserve a mention
to be worthy of being noted or acknowledged
design a system
to plan and create a system from scratch
detect a smell
To identify or sense a smell, especially a faint or subtle one
develop a relationship
To allow a connection between people to grow and deepen
develop a sense
gradually build an awareness or perception of something
develop an idea
to work on and expand a concept further
develop land
to build on or improve land for commercial or residential use
direct a film
to be in charge of the creative and technical production of a film
discipline a kid
teach a child to behave correctly through consistent rules and consequences
discover the truth
to find out the real facts about something
discuss the matter
to talk about an issue in detail
do your part
contribute your own share of effort or responsibility toward a shared goal
donate blood
to give blood to a blood bank as a medical donation
draw a gun
to take a gun out of its holster quickly, ready to use
draw attention
cause people to notice something
draw blood
to take a blood sample from a person's vein for testing
drop a weapon
to let a weapon fall to the ground, typically as an act of surrender
dump a girlfriend
To abruptly end a romantic relationship
earn applause
to deserve and receive clapping through a strong performance
earn marks
to accumulate points or grades through effort and performance
earn respect
to gain the respect of others through one's behaviour or achievements
earn trust
to gain someone's trust through one's actions and reliability
ease pain
reduce the severity of pain
elect a government
to choose a government through a democratic vote
elect a president
to choose a president by voting
end a marriage
bring a marriage to its conclusion through separation or divorce
end a relationship
To bring a personal or professional connection to a deliberate close
enforce a law
to ensure a law is obeyed and to punish those who break it
enforce a rule
to ensure that a rule is obeyed and applied consistently
ensure security
to make certain that adequate security is maintained