About collocations
Collocations are very common in English, and learning them is important. A collocation is two or more words that often go together, like “hard work” or “make a mistake”. Collocations sound “right” or “natural” to native speakers, so the more collocations you know and use, the more natural your English will sound.
You’ll find it much easier to understand native speakers if you learn collocations, and you can find hundreds of the most commonly used ones here. They’re clearly explained with example sentences and fun quiz questions to test your understanding. Click on one of the letters above to see all the collocations in our collection that begin with that letter.
Please note that this collection of collocations is not exhaustive. It does not contain all collocations or all meanings of them. It contains a good selection of the most commonly used collocations.
Collocations/A
above average
more than average, esp. in amount, age, height, weight, etc.
absolutely necessary
totally or completely necessary
abuse drugs
to use drugs in a way that’s harmful to yourself or others
abuse of power
the harmful or unethical use of power
accept (a) defeat
to accept the fact that you didn’t win a game, match, contest, election, etc.
accept a challenge
to agree to do something difficult or dangerous
accept an apology
to forgive someone who says they’re sorry
accept an invitation
to say “yes” after getting an invitation
accept responsibility
to take the blame when something goes wrong
aches and pains
mild pains that come and go, esp. from physical work or old age
achieve a goal
to do what you’d planned or hoped to do
act suspiciously
to behave in a way that makes people suspicious
action movie
a movie with lots of action and violence
active ingredient
the chemical in a drug, medicine or pesticide that makes it work
active volcano
a volcano that could erupt at any time
actively involved
playing an active role
admit defeat
to accept that you can’t win a competition or achieve a goal
all alone
completely alone, or without friends or people you know
all along
continuously from when something begins
all over
completely finished
almost certainly
almost definitely
alphabetical order
an order based on the letters of an alphabet, with “a” being the first and “z” being the last in English
alternative energy
power or electricity produced by using energy from the sun, wind, water, etc.
alternative medicine
medical treatments using natural substances and traditional knowledge instead of pharmaceutical drugs and modern surgery
answer a letter
to write back to someone who sent you a letter
answer a prayer
to respond to a prayer
answer a question
to reply with information or an opinion after being asked a question
answer an advertisement
to contact a person or company after seeing their advertisement
answer the door
to go to the door and open it after someone knocks or rings the doorbell
answer the phone
to pick up a phone that’s ringing and talk to whoever’s calling
any more (1)
more of something you’ve already had or got
any more (2)
any longer, or as in the past or previously
apply for a job
to ask to be considered for a job you’d like to get
arrive on time
to arrive exactly when expected or scheduled to
artificial limb
a prosthetic arm or leg that replaces one that’s been lost
ask a favour
to ask someone to do something for you because you need their help
ask a question
to ask somebody to tell you something
ask for advice
to ask someone what they think you should do
ask for directions
to ask someone to tell you the way to a place
ask permission
to ask your boss, teacher, parent, etc. if you can do something
attract attention
to create interest
attract sb’s attention
to do something to make someone notice you
awful lot
more than expected, usual, normal, etc.
