uncountable the work of buying or selling products or services for money
representatives from business and politics
do business with someone:
I found them very easy to do business with.
go into business:
It was a mistake to go into business with my brother.
Synonyms and related words
General words for the activity of buying and selling
barter
beat someone to market
bring/take etc something to market
1a
only before nounconnected with business, or with people who work in business
our latest business venture
the business community (=all the people who work in business)
a business associate/partner
the business section of the Sunday paper
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe businesses and companies
accredited
agile
all-night
1b
used for talking about how well a company or industry is doing
We’re hoping that business will improve this year.
Cheapimports are damaging our business.
Business was booming (=doing very well).
A littlecontroversy will be good for business.
Synonyms and related words
To do business and relating to doing business
account
after hours
asset
1c
used for talking about how many customers or contracts a company or industry has
They’re trying to attract business by cuttingprices.
a potentialsource of new business
Companiesrisklosing business if they don’t accept the Euro.
Synonyms and related words
To do business and relating to doing business
account
after hours
asset
1d
a particular area of business
What business are you in?
the music/fashion/advertising etc business:
I have a few contacts in the music business.
Synonyms and related words
General types of business or company
account
acquisition
affiliate
1e
used for talking about business compared to things that you do when you are not working
Are you here for business or pleasure?
a business lunch/trip/meeting
on business:
Jonathan was away on business.
Synonyms and related words
General words relating to jobs and work
a good/smart/clever career move
appointment
background
See alsobig business
2
countable an organization that buys or sells products or services for money. This word often refers to a small organization that is owned and run by one person or a few people, while company can also refer to large organizations
a smallfamily business
Matthew’s littleshop has turned into a thriving business.
Many small businesses fold (=fail) in their first year.
run a business:
Sheryl’s parentsrun a smallclothing business.
start your own business:
After leavingschool, Bobstarted his own computer business.
Synonyms and related words
General types of business or company
account
acquisition
affiliate
3
singular/uncountable something that you have to deal with
Is there any other business to discuss?
unfinished business (=things that need to be dealt with):
We’ve still got some unfinished business to settle.
the business of (doing) something:
Nancy had left the business of looking after the dog to her brother.
Synonyms and related words
General words for situations and circumstances
situation
circumstance
conditions
4
uncountable something that affects or involves a particular person and no one else
It’s my business who I go out with.
Synonyms and related words
General words for actions and activities
action
measure
doings
5
singular something that has happened, especially something that has caused problems and has been continuing for a long time
This business about housework has to be resolved.
I’m fed up with the whole business.
Ever since that business with her boyfriend, Becky’s been reallydepressed.
Synonyms and related words
Something that is difficult or unpleasant to do or deal with
task
burden
necessity
6
do your business
informal
to urinate or excrete
A cat is doing its business in a litter box.
Submitted by: Caleb Judy from United States on 22/08/2015
7
business before pleasure
you should finish your work before starting to rest and have fun
I’d like to go swimming now, but I must do my homework first. Business before pleasure!
Submitted by: Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 25/02/2019
8
be nobody’s business
if you say that something is nobody’s business, they have no right to know about it because it is private
What I do in my spare time is nobody’s business.
Submitted by: Caleb Judy from United States on 14/01/2020
9
be/not be in the ... business
willing/unwilling to do the thing named
I am not in the prediction business and my opinion can change rather quickly.
Submitted from: United Kingdom on 20/03/2018
10
be none of someone’s business
if something is none of your business, you should not ask about or get involved in something that is private
“How old are you?” “None of your business.”
Submitted by: Caleb Judy from United States on 27/12/2016
phrases
be back in business
be the business
be in business
be in the business of doing something
business as usual
do the business
get down to business
go about your business
go out of business
have no business doing something
like nobody’s business
make it your business to do something
mind your own business
a risky/serious/tricky etc business
business
noun
US /ˈbɪznəs/
Other entries for this word
e-businessnoun
big businessnoun
business cardnoun
business daynoun
business lawnoun
business parknoun
business plannoun
business suitnoun
mean businessphrase
show businessnoun
be in businessphrase
business classnoun
business districtnoun
business hoursnoun
business loungenoun
business schoolnoun
business studiesnoun
business travelernoun
funny businessnoun
monkey businessnoun
more dictionary definitions
Word Forms
singular
business
plural
businesses
DEFINITIONS10
buying and selling
organization
something to deal with
of one particular person
event
phrases
1
uncountable the work of buying or selling products or services for money
representatives from business and politics
do business with someone:
I found them very easy to do business with.
go into business:
It was a mistake to go into business with my brother.
Synonyms and related words
General words for the activity of buying and selling
barter
beat someone to market
bring/take, etc. something to market
1a
used for talking about how well a company or industry is doing
Business was booming (=doing very well).
Cheapimports are damaging our business.
We’re hoping that business will improve this year.
A littlecontroversy will be good for business.
Synonyms and related words
To do business and relating to doing business
account
after hours
asset
1b
used for talking about how many customers or contracts a company or industry has
a potentialsource of new business
Companiesrisklosing business if they don’t develop some newproducts.
They’re trying to attract business by cuttingprices.
Synonyms and related words
To do business and relating to doing business
account
after hours
asset
1c
a particular area of business
What business are you in?
You don’t go into this business for the money.
the music/fashion/advertising etc. business:
I have a few contacts in the music business.
Ashley’s in the retail business.
Synonyms and related words
General types of business or company
account
acquisition
affiliate
1d
used for talking about business compared to things that you do when you are not working
Are you here for business or pleasure?
You can get reimbursed for all your business expenses.
a business lunch/trip/meeting
on business:
Jonathan was away on business.
Synonyms and related words
General words relating to jobs and work
a good/smart/clever career move
appointment
background
1e
only before nounconnected with business, or with people who work in business
our latest business venture
the business community (=all the people who work in business)
a business associate/partner
the business section of the Sunday paper
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe businesses and companies
accredited
agile
all-night
See alsobig business
2
countable an organization that buys or sells products or services for money. This word often refers to a small organization that is owned and run by one person or a few people, while company can also refer to large organizations
a smallfamily business
Matthew’s littlestore has turned into a thriving business.
Many small businesses fold (=fail) in their first year.
run a business:
Sheryl’s parentsrun a smallclothing business.
start your own business:
After leavingschool, Bobstarted his own computer business.
Synonyms and related words
General types of business or company
account
acquisition
affiliate
3
singular/uncountable something that you have to deal with
Is there any other business to discuss?
unfinished business (=things that need to be dealt with):
We’ve still got some unfinished business to settle.
the business of (doing) something:
Nancy had left the business of takingcare of the dog to her brother.
Synonyms and related words
General words for situations and circumstances
situation
circumstance
conditions
4
uncountable something that affects or involves a particular person and no one else
It’s my business who I go out with.
I’ll loanmoney to whoever I want to – it’s not your business.
Synonyms and related words
General words for actions and activities
action
thing
operation
5
singular something that has happened, especially something that has caused problems and has been continuing for a long time
This business about who’s going to do the housework has to be resolved.
I’m fed up with the whole business.
Ever since that business with her boyfriend, Becky’s been reallydepressed.
Synonyms and related words
Something that is difficult or unpleasant to do or deal with
task
burden
necessity
6
do your business
informal
to urinate or excrete
A cat is doing its business in a litter box.
Submitted by: Caleb Judy from United States on 22/08/2015
7
business before pleasure
you should finish your work before starting to rest and have fun
I’d like to go swimming now, but I must do my homework first. Business before pleasure!
Submitted by: Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 25/02/2019
8
be nobody’s business
if you say that something is nobody’s business, they have no right to know about it because it is private
What I do in my spare time is nobody’s business.
Submitted by: Caleb Judy from United States on 14/01/2020
9
be/not be in the ... business
willing/unwilling to do the thing named
I am not in the prediction business and my opinion can change rather quickly.
Submitted from: United Kingdom on 20/03/2018
10
be none of someone’s business
if something is none of your business, you should not ask about or get involved in something that is private
“How old are you?” “None of your business.”
Submitted by: Caleb Judy from United States on 27/12/2016