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 3457–3552 of 7341 phrases
Adjective + noun(48)
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human ecology
the study of human populations and their relationships with their surroundings
human genome
the complete set of genetic information characteristic of humans
human nature
the feelings, tendencies, and mental characteristics commonly attributed to people
human sacrifice
the ritual killing of a person as an offering to a deity
hybrid vigor
the tendency of offspring from crossbreeding to show stronger qualities than either parent
hydraulic ram
a pump that uses flowing water to lift part of that water to a higher level
hydrochloric acid
a strongly acidic solution of hydrogen chloride in water
hyperbolic geometry
a non-Euclidean geometry in which a point outside a line lies on multiple lines that never meet that line
hypnotic trance
a trance brought about through hypnosis
hypodermic needle
a hollow needle used to introduce substances beneath the skin
hypothetical imperative
a principle specifying what action is necessary to achieve a chosen goal
ideal gas
a theoretical gas whose particles have negligible size and no mutual forces
ideological barrier
an obstacle to cooperation caused by conflicting systems of belief
idiomatic expression
a fixed expression whose meaning differs from the combined literal meanings of its words
idle wheel
a wheel or pulley that guides a belt or keeps it under tension
igneous rock
rock formed when molten material cools and becomes solid
ill repute
a bad reputation or unfavorable public opinion
illegal immigrant
a person who enters or remains in a country without the required legal permission
illusory promise
an apparent assurance or prospect that is misleading or unlikely to be fulfilled
imaginary part
the real-number coefficient of i in a complex number written as a + bi
immediate payment
payment made at once without an agreed delay
immortal soul
a person's spiritual being believed to continue living after bodily death
immune system
the body's network of defenses against infection and other harmful agents
imperial gallon
the gallon used in the British imperial system of volume measurement
improper fraction
a fraction whose numerator is at least as large as its denominator
inaugural address
a formal speech given when someone begins an important office
inborn reflex
an automatic response present without being learned through experience
incandescent lamp
a lamp that produces light from an electrically heated filament
incendiary bomb
a bomb designed primarily to start fires
inclined plane
a sloping flat surface used to raise or lower a load
indefinite pronoun
a pronoun that refers to an unspecified person or thing
indelible ink
ink that leaves a mark which is very difficult to remove
indentured servant
a person bound by a contract to work for a specified period
indigenous language
a language originating among the people of a particular place
indirect discourse
reported speech expressed through another speaker's wording rather than direct quotation
indirect lighting
lighting that illuminates a space by reflecting light from a ceiling, wall, or other surface
indolent ulcer
an ulcer that persists and heals slowly, often causing little pain
indoor garden
a planted area arranged inside a building
inductive reasoning
reasoning that moves from particular observations toward a general conclusion
industrial espionage
secretly obtaining a company's confidential information to benefit a competitor
inert gas
a gas that does not readily take part in chemical reactions
inertial navigation
determining position by measuring a vehicle's motion through onboard instruments
inevitable accident
an accident that reasonable precautions could not have prevented
infectious disease
a disease caused by an infectious agent such as a bacterium or virus
infinite sequence
an ordered succession of elements that has no final element
inflammatory response
the body's reaction to injury or infection that produces inflammation
influential person
someone whose opinions or actions strongly affect others or events
infrared spectrum
the range or recorded distribution of infrared radiation
Noun + noun(26)
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household appliance
a device used to carry out a practical task in the home
housing project
a publicly funded and managed housing development for low-income residents
hunger strike
a protest in which someone deliberately refuses food
hunting expedition
an organized journey undertaken to hunt animals
hurricane lamp
an oil lamp with a glass enclosure that shields its flame from wind
hydrogen electrode
an electrode that uses hydrogen gas in contact with platinum
hypertext system
a system organizing text as interconnected items joined by links
ice cube
a small block of ice used to chill a drink
ice floe
a flat floating piece of ice on the sea
ice fog
fog made up of tiny suspended ice particles
iceberg lettuce
a lettuce with crisp pale leaves packed into a firm round head
identity theft
the fraudulent use of another person's personal information without permission
idler pulley
a pulley used to guide or maintain tension in a belt
idol worship
religious devotion directed toward physical images or objects treated as gods
ignition switch
a switch that activates the electrical system used to start an engine
imitation leather
a manufactured material designed to resemble animal leather
impact printer
a printer that forms characters by striking an inked ribbon against paper
incentive program
an organized scheme that offers rewards to encourage particular behavior
incidence angle
the angle between an incoming ray and a line perpendicular to a surface
inclusion body
a small distinct structure contained within a cell
incubation period
the time between acquiring an infection and developing its symptoms
index finger
the finger immediately next to the thumb
inferiority complex
a persistent sense of being less capable or valuable than other people
inflation rate
the speed at which the general level of prices rises
ingot iron
a highly pure form of iron produced as solid cast blocks
inheritance tax
a tax connected with property or money passed on after someone's death
Verb + adverb(1)
Adverb + adjective(2)
Verb + preposition/particle(2)
Preposition + noun(17)
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in addition
as a further point or extra piece of information
in collaboration
by working jointly with other people or organizations
in comparison
when considered alongside something else to judge similarities or differences
in concert
together in a coordinated way to achieve a shared aim
in conclusion
as the final point in a speech or piece of writing
in contrast
when showing a clear difference between two things
in depth
with thorough attention to a subject's details and complexity
in detail
with close attention to individual facts or features
in earnest
with serious effort or intention
in essence
when considering only the central nature or main point
in haste
quickly because of urgency, often without enough care
in opposition
in disagreement with or resistance to something
in perpetuity
for an unlimited length of time
in reality
in the actual situation, regardless of appearances or expectations
in retrospect
when thinking back about a past situation with later knowledge
in unison
together at the same time, especially making the same sound
in vogue
currently fashionable or widely admired