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 6049–6144 of 7378 phrases
Verb + noun(2)
Adjective + noun(66)
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advanced outpost
a small military position placed farther forward than the main force
affable smile
a friendly smile that makes others feel welcome and at ease
agile mind
an ability to think quickly and move easily between ideas
allegorical painting
a picture whose figures and objects represent deeper ideas or moral themes
alluring prospect
a possible future event or opportunity that seems especially tempting
aloof dignity
a reserved and self-respecting manner that keeps others at a distance
american history
the study or account of past events in the United States
amicable agreement
an arrangement reached in a friendly way without continuing hostility
analogical use
application of an idea or expression through comparison with something else
ancestral home
a family dwelling passed down from earlier generations
ancient manuscript
a handwritten document surviving from a very distant period of history
ancient temple
a building for worship dating from a very remote historical period
ancillary support
additional assistance that supplements the main work or service
antarctic expedition
an organized journey to explore or work in the region around the South Pole
anthropocentric view
an interpretation that places human beings and their interests at the center
apparent dominance
control or superiority that seems evident but may not reflect the full situation
apt pupil
a learner who understands quickly and shows a natural ability to improve
arcane science
a specialized field of knowledge understood by very few people
arduous work
a task requiring sustained concentration and considerable mental effort or skill
arid climate
weather conditions characterized by very little rainfall or available moisture
aristocratic sentiment
an attitude favoring the values, privileges, or authority of hereditary elites
arithmetic progression
a number sequence with the same difference between each pair of neighboring terms
assiduous research
careful investigation pursued with steady attention and persistent effort
austere expression
a stern facial appearance showing little warmth or emotion
awkward predicament
an uncomfortable or embarrassing difficulty that is hard to escape
baronial mansion
a large residence with the imposing grandeur associated with a noble household
benighted country
a nation described disparagingly as ignorant or culturally unenlightened
black bombazine
dark twilled cloth traditionally used to make mourning garments
blatant disregard
an open and obvious refusal to pay attention to a rule or concern
bloodless coup
a seizure of political power carried out without bloodshed
bloodstained shirt
a shirt marked or soaked with blood
boisterous crowd
a gathering of people who are noisy, energetic, and poorly restrained
bony framework
the supporting structure formed by the bones of a body
bourgeois mentality
a way of thinking associated with middle-class conventions and material security
boyish grin
a wide smile with the youthful playfulness associated with a boy
brackish lagoon
a coastal body of water containing a mixture of fresh water and seawater
british english
the forms of English conventionally used in the United Kingdom
broad hint
an indirect suggestion that is nevertheless easy to understand
bureaucratic nightmare
a situation made extremely difficult by complicated official rules and procedures
burgeoning population
a number of inhabitants that is increasing rapidly
burly frame
a person's large, muscular body build
calamitous defeat
a loss that causes disastrous consequences
calculable risk
a danger whose likelihood or possible consequences can be reasonably estimated
callous indifference
a hardened lack of concern for other people's suffering
capitalistic exploitation
unfair use of people's work or circumstances for private economic gain
careless elegance
an attractive style that appears effortless rather than deliberately arranged
cataleptic state
a trance-like condition with loss of voluntary movement and response to outside stimuli
categorical denial
an absolute statement that something is untrue, without qualifications or exceptions
certain cachet
a distinctive measure of prestige or fashionable appeal
chronic indigestion
digestive discomfort that continues for a long time or repeatedly returns
clammy skin
skin that feels unpleasantly cool and damp
clayey soil
ground containing much fine clay, making it dense and slow to drain
clear indication
an unmistakable sign that something is true or happening
clinical depression
a serious depressive illness involving persistent low mood or loss of interest
close supervision
careful and continuous oversight of a person or activity
cloudless sky
the sky when no clouds are visible
cogitative faculty
the mental power to think, reflect, and reason
collaborative research
an investigation carried out jointly by people or organizations
comatose state
a condition of deep and prolonged unconsciousness
communal breeding
reproduction by animals that live or nest together in a group
complimentary remark
a comment that expresses praise or admiration
concise explanation
an account that makes something clear using few words
connubial bliss
deep happiness within a marriage
considerable reliance
substantial dependence on a person or source believed to be reliable
constitutional inability
an inability regarded as part of someone's basic physical or mental nature
constrained smile
a forced smile that lacks ease or genuine spontaneity
Noun + noun(7)
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alligator clip
a small spring-loaded fastener with metal jaws that grip an object
balance sheet
a financial statement showing assets, liabilities, and ownership equity at a particular date
barrel cactus
a rounded, strongly ribbed cactus with the shape of a barrel and numerous spines
beech tree
a broad-crowned deciduous tree with smooth gray bark and small triangular nuts
birch tree
a deciduous tree known for its thin bark that peels away in layers
castor sugar
white sugar ground into small crystals that dissolve readily
chant notation
a written system of signs showing the notes of Gregorian chant
Verb + adverb(5)
-
assimilate quickly
to become integrated into a surrounding culture or group within a short time
broadcast nationwide
to transmit a program so that audiences across an entire country can receive it
brought forth
produced or presented something for others to see or consider
bum around
to spend time idly without doing useful work
conform outwardly
to follow expected rules in public without necessarily agreeing privately
Adverb + adjective(14)
-
acutely aware
strongly conscious of something, often a difficulty or risk
almost inaccessible
extremely difficult to obtain or consult
almost mythic
so remarkable that it approaches the character of legend
always underfoot
continually in someone's way or close enough to hinder movement
analytically prior
logically more basic or needing to be established first within an analysis
austerely simple
plain and restrained, with very little decoration or comfort
badly shaken
deeply shocked or emotionally disturbed by an event
blithely unconcerned
carelessly unworried about something that deserves attention
busily engaged
actively occupied with a task that requires attention
chronologically older
having an earlier birth or origin date, regardless of other signs of age
coldly intellectual
focused on abstract thought while showing little emotional warmth
completely inappropriate
entirely unsuitable or improper for the situation
conspicuously absent
missing in a way that attracts attention or seems significant
contractually responsible
required by an agreement to carry out a duty or accept responsibility