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 1729–1824 of 7341 phrases
Verb + noun(96)
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hire a teacher
employ someone as a teacher
hold a conversation
to sustain a coherent spoken exchange
hold a position
keep or maintain a job, role, or stance
hold a record
to currently possess or be the holder of a record
hold a wake
organize a gathering to mourn and remember a deceased person
hold attention
keep someone focused and interested over time
hold office
to occupy an official position or post, especially a political one
hold power
to possess and exercise authority over a country or organization
hold the line
to wait on a telephone connection without hanging up
host a show
present or compere a television or live show
hunt a killer
to actively search for a murderer who has not yet been caught
identify a killer
to determine who is responsible for a murder
improve security
to make security measures more effective
increase the number
make a quantity larger
inform the public
to provide ordinary people with facts or news they need to know
inspire wonder
to cause a feeling of admiration and amazement in someone
involve the police
to bring the police into a situation to deal with it
issue a pass
officially provide someone with a permit or access ticket
keep a date
to honor a previously arranged appointment
keep a record
to maintain a written or stored log of information over time
keep count
to track a running total of something
keep hold
to maintain a grip on something
keep one's place
maintain one's position in a queue or one's position in a text
keep the beat
to maintain a steady rhythm while playing or performing
lack experience
to not have enough practical knowledge or skill in an area
lack grace
to be without elegance or dignified tact
launch a drive
to begin an organized campaign or effort toward a particular goal
launch a search
officially begin a search operation
lead a life
to live in a particular way
lead a team
to be in charge of and guide a group of people
leave a mark
to create a visible stain, impression, or trace on a surface
leave jail
To be released from or walk out of prison
leave office
to end one's term or tenure in an official position
leave prison
to be released from prison after serving a sentence
leave the church
To cease being a member of a church or religious denomination
limit the number
set a maximum on a quantity
line a street
be arranged in a row along both sides of a street
load a gun
to put ammunition into a gun so it is ready to fire
lose a bet
to fail in a wager
lose one's father
To experience the death of one's father
lose one's voice
be unable to speak due to illness or overuse of the vocal cords
lose power
to cease to have authority or control
lose respect
to forfeit the esteem others previously held for you
lose trust
to no longer be trusted, usually due to an action that damages credibility
lower one's voice
speak more quietly
maintain contact
To keep in regular communication with someone
maintain control
to keep authority or command over a situation despite pressure or challenges
maintain health
to keep one's health in good condition over time
make a bet
to agree to a wager with someone
make a date
to arrange to meet someone at a specific time
make a decision
to choose between options and commit to a course of action
make a difference
to have a significant effect or produce a noticeable change
make a move
to take an action or step toward achieving something
make a save
to stop a ball from entering the goal, as a goalkeeper
make a start
to begin a task or activity
make a trip
to carry out a journey to a particular place, often a practical or purposeful one
make an arrest
officially detain a person suspected of a crime
manage a team
to organize and direct the work of a group over time
mark the beginning
To signify or officially represent the start of something
mark the end
to represent or signify the conclusion of something
need care
To require assistance, attention, or medical support.
notice a difference
to become aware that something has changed or that two things are not the same
obey the law
to act in accordance with the law
offer a course
make a course available for students to enroll in
offer a service
to make a service available to potential customers
offer support
to make help or assistance available to someone
offer thanks
to present one's gratitude to someone
open a case
to officially begin an investigation or legal proceeding
operate a machine
work or control a machine
operate a system
to run or manage a system on a day-to-day basis
overcome a fear
gradually stop being afraid of something through effort
own a bar
to possess and be the proprietor of a bar
own land
to possess land as property
own shares
To hold units of ownership in a company as an asset
pass a bill
officially approve a piece of legislation
pass a law
to formally approve and put into force a new piece of legislation
patrol a street
walk up and down a street in order to guard or monitor it
pay a visit
To go to see someone or a place, often in a somewhat formal or deliberate way
perform a dance
carry out a dance in front of an audience
perform a piece
to give a formal public performance of a musical or artistic work
perform in a play
to act as a cast member in a theatrical production
perform magic
to carry out magic tricks or illusions as a performance
pick up speed
to begin moving noticeably faster; to accelerate
place a bet
to wager money on an outcome
place an order
to formally request goods or services from a seller
polish the floor
buff the floor surface to make it smooth and shiny
pollute the air
to contaminate the air with harmful or unpleasant substances
predict rain
to forecast that rain will occur
present evidence
to formally show or submit evidence to an audience or authority
prevent an attack
stop an attack from happening
prevent crime
take steps to stop illegal acts from happening
prevent death
stop someone from dying, especially through medical or safety intervention
propose marriage
formally ask someone to marry you
protect animals
to keep animals safe from harm or exploitation
protect health
to prevent harm to one's physical wellbeing
prove a point
demonstrate that something is true, often to settle a dispute