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 2209–2304 of 7341 phrases
Verb + noun(32)
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request a hearing
to formally ask for a legal or official proceeding to take place
resist change
oppose or fight against modifications to the existing way of doing things
rev an engine
to increase the speed of an engine, especially while the vehicle is stationary
reverse a decision
to change a decision that was previously made
run a bank
to manage and operate a bank as its leader
seize power
to take authority by force or sudden decisive action
serve a cause
to work in dedication to a particular aim or purpose
serve a client
to attend to and meet the needs of a client
shape someone's thinking
influence and form the way a person develops their opinions over time
soothe one's throat
to relieve irritation or pain in the throat
stage an escape
arrange and deliberately carry out an escape
stand trial
to appear in court as a defendant in a criminal case
stimulate the brain
to actively engage mental processes and keep the mind alert
strain one's voice
put excessive stress on the vocal cords
strike a deal
reach a mutually agreed arrangement, especially after negotiation
strip the bed
to remove all the linen from a bed
support a cause
to back or advocate for a social, political, or moral aim
suppress a cry
hold back or prevent a cry from escaping
survive a shooting
to remain alive after being shot
take a decision
to make a formal or considered choice
take a stand
to declare and maintain a firm position on an issue
take up arms
begin to fight, especially by picking up weapons
tighten security
to make security measures stricter and more thorough
verify someone's age
confirm that a person is old enough for a product or service
wage war
to carry on armed conflict or a sustained campaign against someone
withstand wear
to endure prolonged use without deteriorating significantly
witness a shooting
to see a shooting incident happen directly
brandish a weapon
to wave or display a weapon in a threatening or aggressive manner
herald the beginning
To announce or proclaim the arrival of a new phase, often with grandeur
retain a client
to keep a client continuing to use a service over time
stifle a cry
muffle or choke back a cry
venture a guess
to offer a tentative or cautious answer
Verb + reflexive pronoun(1)
Adjective + noun(37)
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agonizing wait
a wait that causes great psychological distress because the outcome matters so much
compelling evidence
evidence that is highly persuasive and very difficult to ignore
consensual sex
sex that both parties have freely and clearly agreed to
conventional arms
non-nuclear weapons such as guns, artillery, and tanks
doting husband
a husband who is excessively attentive and affectionate
premarital sex
sex between people who are not married to each other
underlying cause
the less obvious, deeper reason behind a problem or behaviour
filial piety
respect, care, and a sense of duty toward parents and ancestors, especially in Confucian traditions
flaccid paralysis
a syndrome involving sudden weakness or paralysis with reduced muscle tone
flaccid penis
a penis that is soft and not erect
flaccid muscles
muscles with little tone that feel limp rather than firm
flaccid skin
skin that is soft, loose, or lacking firmness
abandoned infant
a baby left without the care of its parents or guardians
abdominal aorta
the section of the body's main artery that passes through the abdomen
able seaman
a trained sailor qualified to carry out skilled work on a merchant ship
abnormal psychology
the study of unusual patterns of thought and behavior, including mental disorders
absolute magnitude
a measure of how bright a star would appear from a standard distance of ten parsecs
absolute monarch
a ruler whose governing power is not limited by a constitution or parliament
absorbent material
a substance that can take in and retain liquid or another substance
abstract concept
an idea about a quality or relationship rather than a physical object
academic robe
a formal gown worn for university ceremonies or other academic occasions
accidental injury
physical harm caused unintentionally by an unexpected event
acidic hydrogen
a hydrogen atom in a substance that can be released as a positive ion
acrobatic feat
a difficult physical achievement involving balance, agility, or gymnastic skill
active ingredient
the component of a product that produces its intended effect
actual eviction
the physical removal of a tenant from rented property
actual possession
direct physical control of property rather than a right to control it
acute accent
the slanting mark positioned above a letter, as in é
acute appendicitis
inflammation of the appendix that develops suddenly
acute leukemia
a form of leukemia that develops and progresses quickly
adjoining room
a room immediately beside another room and sharing a wall with it
adjustable wrench
a tool with a movable jaw that can grip nuts of different sizes
administrative body
an organization or committee responsible for managing official business
adrenal medulla
the inner part of an adrenal gland, which releases adrenaline
adult male
a fully grown male person
adverse selection
a market problem in which unequal information affects who buys or sells a product
advisory board
a group appointed to give guidance to an organization or its leaders
Noun + noun(16)
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form factor
the physical size, shape, and arrangement of a device or hardware component, especially when these follow a standard
abductor muscle
a muscle that moves a body part away from the body's central line
absentee ballot
a vote submitted by someone who cannot attend the polling place
acceptance speech
a speech given when receiving an award or accepting a position
access time
the delay between requesting stored computer data and receiving it
accommodation ladder
a portable ladder hung beside a ship to let people board from smaller boats
achievement test
an assessment of knowledge or skills that someone has already learned
acquisition agreement
a contract setting the terms for one company to acquire another
acre inch
a volume equal to water covering one acre to a depth of one inch
activation energy
the energy needed to start a physical or chemical process
adhesion contract
a contract whose standard terms strongly favor the party that supplies it
admiralty law
the area of law concerned with ships, navigation, and maritime affairs
admission charge
the amount paid to enter a place or event
adventure story
a story built around exciting journeys, dangers, or unusual experiences
advertising campaign
a planned series of advertisements promoting a product, service, or idea
advocacy group
an organization that works to influence decisions on behalf of a cause or interest
Verb + adverb(1)
Verb + preposition/particle(7)
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sit for
to take a formal examination, or to pose while an artist paints or photographs you
sit in on
to attend a meeting or class as a silent observer rather than an active participant
understand by
to interpret or take a particular meaning from a word, phrase, or action
bask in
to relax while enjoying warmth or sunlight
abound in
to be present in great numbers or amounts in a place
adapt to
to adjust to new conditions or demands
adhere to
to follow a rule, principle, or agreed requirement