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 5857–5952 of 7378 phrases
Adjective + noun(42)
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shocked silence
a lack of speech caused by sudden surprise or distress
short nap
a brief period of sleep, usually during the day
sick colleague
a person you work with who is unwell
significant episode
an event or section of a story that has an important effect
sincere friendship
a relationship based on genuine affection and honest goodwill
slight limp
a small unevenness in someone's walk caused by a problem with a leg or foot
soft palate
the flexible muscular area at the back of the roof of the mouth
solid scholarship
academic research that is careful, reliable, and well supported
sophisticated lifestyle
a way of living associated with refined tastes and cultural experience
sorry excuse
a very poor or unconvincing reason offered to justify something
sour cherry
a cherry with a sharp acidic taste, often used in cooking
southern magnolia
a large evergreen magnolia with glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers
spatial awareness
the ability to judge where objects and one's body are in relation to each other
speedy decline
a rapid fall in strength, condition, value, or success
spotted owl
a forest owl with pale spots on its brown feathers
statistical data
numerical information collected or organized for analysis
stoic courage
bravery shown through calm endurance without complaint
stoic patience
calm acceptance of discomfort or delay without complaining
stormy petrel
a small dark petrel with white markings found around the northern Atlantic and Mediterranean
strange particle
a subatomic particle assigned a nonzero value of the quantum property called strangeness
strategic importance
value because of a strong effect on a long-term plan or overall objective
stray bullet
a bullet that travels away from its intended target or path
stressed syllable
a syllable pronounced with greater emphasis than the others nearby
strict vegetarian
a person who consistently follows a diet excluding meat and fish
stuffed cabbage
cabbage filled with a mixture of other ingredients and cooked
substantial breakfast
a large breakfast that provides plenty to eat
successful negotiation
a discussion that achieves an agreement or another intended result
sudden anger
a strong feeling of annoyance or outrage that arises without warning
sunny smile
a bright, cheerful smile that expresses friendliness
suspicious stranger
an unfamiliar person whose behavior causes concern or mistrust
swift current
a flow of water moving at high speed
sympathetic companion
a person whose company feels agreeable because of shared tastes and temperament
systematic study
a careful examination carried out according to an organized method
technological society
a community whose work and everyday life depend heavily on technology
temporal adverbial
a word or phrase functioning as an adverb that states when an action occurs
tender age
a very young age, especially when someone is inexperienced or vulnerable
terrific thunderstorm
an extremely powerful thunderstorm
thankful smile
a smile that expresses gratitude
thoughtful essay
an essay that shows careful and serious consideration of its subject
threatening behavior
actions that suggest a risk of harm and make others feel unsafe
tidal wave
an overwhelming surge of an emotion, response, or activity
timely warning
a warning given early enough to be useful
Noun + noun(27)
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shin bone
the large bone at the front of the lower leg, called the tibia
shooting gallery
an enclosed place where people shoot at targets for practice or entertainment
shot putter
an athlete who competes by pushing a heavy ball from the shoulder for distance
skid road
a logging road along which cut timber is dragged
slam dunk
a basketball shot in which a player forcefully pushes the ball down through the hoop
slave trader
a person who buys and sells enslaved people
sled dog
a dog trained to pull a sled over snow or ice
sleeping tablet
a small solid medicine intended to help a person fall asleep
smash hit
a work or product that becomes extremely popular and successful
snowshoe rabbit
a North American hare with large furry feet and a coat that turns white in winter
south east
the direction halfway between south and east
sow bug
a small land-dwelling crustacean with an oval segmented body, also called a woodlouse
specialty store
a shop that concentrates on one particular kind of product
spelling bee
a competition in which contestants spell spoken words correctly
sperm whale
a large toothed whale whose head contains the waxy substance spermaceti
star fort
a fortification with pointed projecting defenses arranged in a star shape
stone curlew
a large-eyed, mainly nocturnal ground bird also known as a thick-knee
storm drain
a drain that carries rainwater away from streets or other surfaces
strawberry jam
a sweet fruit spread made by cooking strawberries with sugar
surface condenser
a heat exchanger that turns steam into liquid by cooling it against a surface
tartar sauce
a mayonnaise-based sauce with chopped pickles and sometimes capers or herbs, often served with fish
taxi rank
a designated place where taxis wait for passengers
television reporter
a journalist who presents news stories for television broadcasts
thumb index
a set of cut-out marks along a book's page edges that helps locate sections quickly
ticket office
an office or counter where tickets are sold
tiger salamander
a North American salamander with a dark body marked by yellowish blotches
toe box
the front part of a shoe that encloses and protects the toes
Verb + adverb(10)
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soaking up
taking liquid into a material so that it becomes absorbed
sort out
to resolve a problem or put a confusing situation in order
spell out
to explain something clearly and in full detail
spread rapidly
to move through an area or reach many people very quickly
stake out
to mark the boundaries or route of something with posts
stave off
to prevent or delay something harmful or unwanted
step forward
to volunteer or take action when help or responsibility is needed
stood alone
remained upright in a place without other things beside it
stub out
to put out a cigarette or cigar by pressing and crushing its burning end
swallow up
to surround or cover something completely so that it disappears from view
Adverb + adjective(15)
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simply incapable
unable, by one's character or disposition, to do a particular thing
slightly different
not exactly the same, but varying only a little
so glad
very pleased or relieved about something
so terrified
frightened to a very great degree
so unhappy
very sad or deeply dissatisfied
so worried
feeling a great deal of anxiety about something
socially unpopular
not well liked by the people in one's social circle
still blooming
continuing to produce flowers at the time being described
strikingly absent
missing in a way that is especially noticeable
strongly territorial
very protective of an area against intruders or rivals
surprisingly friendly
more kind and welcoming than expected
terribly afraid
extremely frightened or anxious about something
too clever
so calculating or crafty that it invites suspicion or undermines trust
too embarrassed
so ashamed or awkward that it prevents a particular action
too expensive
costing more money than someone can or wants to pay