point

noun

OPAL WOPAL S

/pɔɪnt/

Idioms

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opinion/fact

[countable] a thing that somebody says or writes giving their opinion or stating a fact

She made several interesting points in the article.
I take your point (= understand and accept what you are saying).
He's just saying that to prove a point (= to show his idea is right).
OK, you've made your point!

main idea

[countable]

(usually the point)

the main or most important idea in something that is said or done

The point is you shouldn't have to wait so long to see a doctor.
I wish he would get to the point (= say it quickly).
I'll come straight to the point: we need more money.
Do you see my point (= understand)?
I think I missed the point (= did not understand).
You have a point (= your idea is right)—it would be better to wait till this evening.
‘There won’t be anywhere to park.’ ‘Oh, that’s a (good) point.’ (= I had not thought of that)
It just isn't true. That's the whole point (= the only important fact).
I thought the whole point was getting the same amount done with less effort.
‘He's been married before.’ ‘That's beside the point’ (= not important).
I know it won't cost very much but that's not the point (= not the important thing).
point behind something The point behind the film was to help people understand the motivations of the criminals.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

basic

verb + the point

come to
get to
get
…

preposition

beside the point
to the point

phrases

more to the point

See full entry

purpose

[uncountable, singular] the purpose or aim of something

What's the point of all this violence?
‘Why don't you try again?’ ‘What's the point?’
The point of the lesson is to compare the two countries.
point of doing something I don't see the point of doing it all again.
point in doing something There's no point in getting angry.

Synonyms purposepurpose

aim
intention
plan
point
idea

These are all words for talking about what somebody/something intends to do or achieve.

purpose
what something is supposed to achieve; what somebody is trying to achieve:
- Our campaign’s main purpose is to raise money.
aim
what somebody is trying to achieve; what something is supposed to achieve:
- She went to London with the aim of finding a job.
- Our main aim is to increase sales in Europe.

purpose or aim?Your purpose for doing something is your reason for doing it; your aim is what you want to achieve. Aim can suggest that you are only trying to achieve something; purpose gives a stronger sense of achievement being certain. Aim can be somebody’s aim or the aim of something. Purpose is more usually the purpose of something: you can talk about somebody’s purpose but that is more formal.

intention
what you intend to do:
- I have no intention of going to the wedding.
- She’s full of good intentions but they rarely work out.
plan
what you intend to do or achieve:
- There are no plans to build new offices.

intention or plan?Your intentions are what you want to do, especially in the near future; your plans are what you have decided or arranged to do, often, but not always, in the longer term.

point
(rather informal) the purpose or aim of something:
- What’s the point of all this violence?
- The point of the lesson is to compare the two countries.
idea
(rather informal) the purpose of something; somebody’s aim:
- The whole idea of going was so that we could meet her new boyfriend.
- What’s the idea behind this?

point or idea?Point is a more negative word than idea. If you say What’s the point…? you are suggesting that there is no point; if you say What’s the idea…? you are genuinely asking a question. Point, but not idea, is used to talk about things you feel annoyed or unhappy about: There’s no idea in… • I don’t see the idea of…. Patterns

with the purpose/aim/intention/idea of doing something
somebody’s intention/plan to do something
to have a(n) purpose/aim/intention/plan/point
to achieve/fulfil a(n) purpose/aim

Extra Examples

I didn't get the point of the story.
I don't see the point in arguing.
It doesn't have any point to it.
There's absolutely no point in complaining now.
What's the point of worrying?

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

whole

verb + point

have
see
get
…

preposition

point in
point of

See full entry

detail

[countable] a particular detail or fact

Can you explain that point again?
Summarize the main points of the argument.
I should like to highlight the key points.
An important point has been missed out.
You raise an interesting point.

quality

[countable] a particular quality or feature that somebody/something has

Tact is not one of her strong points.
Read the manual to learn the program's finer points (= small details).
Living in Scotland has its good points but the weather is not one of them.
One of the hotel's plus points (= good features) is that it is very central.
There is not a single weak point in his essay.

time

[countable] a particular time or stage of development

We had reached the point when there was no money left.
at/on the point of something The climber was at the point of death when they found him.
at one, some, this, etc. point At one point he looked like winning.
Many people suffer from mental illness at some point in their lives.
At this point in time we just have to wait.
At this point I don't care what you decide to do.
up to/until that point Up to that point we were living in London.

see also end point, high point, low point, midpoint, pain point, pinch point, saturation point, starting point, sticking point, tipping point, turning point

Extra Examples

I've reached the point (= in a book, etc.) where his father is dying.
There comes a point in most people's lives when they want to settle down.
by the time the movie has reached its halfway point
We worked all night to the point of collapse.
to fill a bag to bursting point
well below its financial break-even point
At that point in time, I didn't have children, so was free to travel.
This is definitely a critical point in my life right now.
One in eight American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life.
I shall save some money each month from this point onwards.
At some point, the children are going to be hungry.
Let me know if you want to talk at any point.
Beyond a certain point, personal wealth should be used to make a difference to society.
Up until that point, he had never left the village.
I understand her feelings up to a certain point.
When it came to the point where they were not satisfied, they left.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

high
low
halfway
…

verb + point

get to
reach

point + verb

come

preposition

at a/the point
on the point of
to the point of
…

phrases

a point in time
the point of no return

See full entry

place

[countable] a particular place or area

I'll wait for you at the meeting point in the arrivals hall.
the point at which the river divides
Draw a line from point A to point B.
No parking beyond this point.

Synonyms placeplace

site
area
position
point
location
scene
spot
venue

These are all words for a particular area or part of an area, especially one used for a particular purpose or where somebody/something is situated or happens.

place
a particular point, area, city, town, building, etc., especially one used for a particular purpose or where a particular thing happens:
- This would be a good place for a picnic.
site
the place where something, especially a building, is or will be located; a place where something happened or that is used for a particular purpose:
- They’ve chosen a site for the new school.
area
a part of a room, building or particular space that is used for a special purpose; a particular place on an object:
- the hotel reception area
- Move the cursor to a blank area on the screen.
position
the place where a person or thing is located; the place where somebody/something is meant to be:
- From his position at the top of the hill, he could see the harbour.
The position of somebody/something is often temporary: the place where somebody/something is at a particular time.
point
a particular place within an area, where something happens or is supposed to happen:
- the point at which the river divides
location
a place where something happens or exists, especially a place that is not named or not known:
- The company is moving to a new location.
scene
a place where something happens, especially something unpleasant:
- the scene of the accident
spot
a particular point or area, especially one that has a particular character or where something particular happens:
- The lake is one of the local beauty spots.
venue the place where people meet for an organized event such as a performance or sports event.

Patterns

at a place/site/position/point/location/scene/spot/venue
in a(n) place/area/position/location/venue
the place/site/point/location/spot/venue where…
the right place/site/position/location/spot/venue
a central site/position/location/venue
the/somebody’s/something’s exact/precise place/site/position/point/location/spot

see also entry point, focal point, jumping-off point, pressure point, rallying point, three-point turn, touch point, trig point, vanishing point, vantage point

Extra Examples

This website is an excellent beginning point for any pianist.
Baja California is the crossing point for most illegal immigrants to the US.
a convenient midway point between Memphis and St. Louis
an excellent entrance point into Glacier National Park
one stopping point on their tour of the shrines
pressures points on the foot
the starting and ending point for most safaris
We were past the halfway point of the race.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

central
focal
fixed
…

verb + point

arrive at
reach
provide
…

phrases

a point of contact
a point of reference

See full entry

direction

[countable] one of the marks of direction around a compass

the points of the compass (= N, S, E, W, etc.)

in competition

[countable]

(abbreviation pt)

an individual unit that adds to a score in a game or sports competition

to win/lose a point
Australia finished 20 points ahead.
point for (doing) something Players score points for finding words not found by any other player.
You get bonus points for answering the mystery question.
on points They won on points (= by scoring more points rather than by completely defeating their opponents).

see also break point, brownie point, experience points, game point, match point, penalty point, set point

Extra Examples

I'm deducting a point from the total score.
It's set point to Zverev.
Name the film and, for a bonus point, name the actress.
Points are awarded to the winner of each round.
She's averaged 19 points per game in her last seven games.
a personal tally of 28 points
Last season he scored 27 goals and 24 points.
You get 20 points every time you collect a set of cards.
The team won with a two point lead 8-6.

Topics Sports: ball and racket sportsa2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

match
set
bonus
…

… of point

tally

verb + point

accumulate
earn
gain
…

phrases

beat somebody on points
win on points

See full entry

measurement

[countable] a mark or unit on a scale of measurement

The party's share of the vote fell by ten percentage points.

see also boiling point, freezing point, grade point average, melting point, price point

Extra Examples

His popularity rose by 18 points in public opinion polls.
The Nikkei index rose 710 points to 14894.
The index was down only 4.6 points at the close.
The product sold at about a $100 price point.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

basis
percentage

verb + point

be up
go up
improve
…

phrases

about five, ten, etc. points
around five, ten, etc. points
only five, ten, etc. points
…

See full entry

[countable] a unit of credit towards an award or benefit

Applicants are awarded points on criteria such as education, skills and knowledge of English.
Let children trade their earned points for privileges, like extra playtime.

sharp end

enlarge image

[countable] the sharp, thin end of something

the point of a pencil/knife/pin

see also ballpoint, gunpoint, knifepoint

Extra Examples

She pressed so hard that the point of the pencil made a hole in the paper.
Use the point of a knife to remove the seeds.
They are so small that several of them could easily fit on the point of a pin.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

fine
sharp

See full entry

land

[countable]

(also Point)

a narrow piece of land that stretches into the sea

The ship sailed around the point.
Pagoda Point

punctuation

[countable] a small round mark used in writing, especially the mark that separates a whole number from the part that comes after it

two point six (2.6)
a decimal point
We broadcast on ninety-five point nine (95.9) FM.

see also bullet point, full stopTopics Languageb1, Maths and measurementb1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

decimal
exclamation
bullet
…

See full entry

of light/colour

[countable] a very small dot of light or colour

The stars were points of light in the sky.

for electricity

[countable] (British English) a place in a wall, etc. where a piece of equipment can be connected to electricity

a power/shaver/telephone point

in ballet

points

(also pointes)

[plural]

(also pointe [uncountable])

the hard tops of the toes of a kind of shoe that a ballet dancer balances on

on railway track

points

[plural] (British English)

(North American English switch [countable])

a piece of track at a place where a railway line divides that can be moved to allow a train to change tracksTopics Transport by bus and trainc2

size of letters

[uncountable] a unit of measurement for the size of letters in printing or on a computer screen, etc.

Change the text to 10 point.

Word OriginMiddle English: the noun partly from Old French point, from Latin punctum ‘something that is pricked’, giving rise to the senses ‘unit, mark, point in space or time’; partly from Old French pointe, from Latin puncta ‘pricking’, giving rise to the senses ‘sharp tip, promontory’. The verb is from Old French pointer, and in some senses from the English noun.

Idioms

belabour the point

(formal) to repeat an idea, argument, etc. many times to emphasize it, especially when it has already been mentioned or understood
- I don’t want to belabour the point, but it’s vital you understand how important this is.
Topics Opinion and argumentc2

a case in point

a clear example of the problem, situation, etc. that is being discussed
- Many professions feel they deserve higher pay, and nurses are a case in point.

the finer points of something

the more complicated or detailed aspects of something
- She seems at ease discussing the finer points of foreign policy.
- He learnt the finer points of cricket during a trip to London.

if/when it comes to the point

used when you have to decide something or say what you really think
- When it comes to the point, he always changes his mind.

in point of fact

used to say what is true in a situation
- In point of fact, she is their adopted daughter.

labour the point

to continue to repeat or explain something that has already been said and understood
- I understand what you’re saying—there’s no need to labour the point.

make a point of doing something

to be or make sure you do something because it is important or necessary
- I made a point of closing all the windows before leaving the house.

a moot point/question

(British English, North American English) a matter about which there may be difference of opinion or a lack of understanding
- Whether this should be enforced by law or not is a moot point.
Topics Opinion and argumentc2

more to the point

used to say that something is more important than something else
- I couldn't do the job—I've never been to Spain and, more to the point, I don't speak Spanish.
- More to the point, did they get away?

not to put too fine a point on it

used to emphasize something that is expressed clearly and directly, especially a criticism
- Not to put too fine a point on it, I think you are lying.

on point (North American English)

appropriate or relevant to the situation
- The quotation was directly on point.
- Let's stay on point.
- None of the replies was on point.
(informal) perfect; exactly right for the occasion
- The music here is totally on point.

on the point of doing something

to be close to doing something; to be going to do something very soon synonym be about to do something
- I was just on the point of calling you.
- We were on the point of giving up.

point of contact

a place where you go or a person that you speak to when you are dealing with an organization
- The receptionist is the first point of contact most people have with the clinic.

a point of departure

a place where a journey starts
(formal) an idea, a theory or an event that is used to start a discussion, an activity, etc.
- The author takes Freud's dream theories as the point of departure for his essay.

a point of honour

a thing that somebody considers to be very important for their honour or reputation

the point of no return

the time when you must continue with what you have decided to do, because it is not possible to get back to an earlier situation
- We have passed the point of no return.

point taken

used to say that you accept that somebody else is right when they have disagreed with you or criticized you
- Point taken. Let's drop the subject.
Topics Opinion and argumentc2

score a point/points (off/against/over somebody)

to show that you are better than somebody, especially by making clever remarks, for example in an argument
- He was always trying to score points off his teachers.
Topics Opinion and argumentc2

a sore point

a subject that makes you feel angry or upset when it is mentioned
- It's a sore point with Sue's parents that the children have not been baptized yet.

stretch a point

to allow or do something that is not usually acceptable, especially because of a particular situation
- I was hoping they would stretch a point and let me stay on for a while.

to the point

expressed in a simple, clear way without any extra information or feelings synonym pertinent
- The letter was short and to the point.
Extra Examples
- His remarks were brief and to the point.

to the point of (doing) something

to a degree that can be described as something
- He was rude to the point of being aggressive.

up to a (certain) point

to some extent; to some degree but not completely
- I agree with you up to a point.

point

verb

OPAL S

/pɔɪnt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they point	/pɔɪnt/ /pɔɪnt/
he / she / it points	/pɔɪnts/ /pɔɪnts/
past simple pointed	/ˈpɔɪntɪd/ /ˈpɔɪntɪd/
past participle pointed	/ˈpɔɪntɪd/ /ˈpɔɪntɪd/
-ing form pointing	/ˈpɔɪntɪŋ/ /ˈpɔɪntɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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show with finger

[intransitive, transitive, no passive] to stretch out your finger or something held in your hand towards somebody/something in order to show somebody where a person or thing is

point at somebody/something ‘What's your name?’ he asked, pointing at the child with his pen.
‘That's my mother,’ she said, pointing at a photo on the wall.
point to somebody/something He pointed to the spot where the house used to stand.
She shook her head and pointed to him again.
point towards somebody/something He said my name and pointed towards me.
point (+ adv./prep.) She pointed in my direction.
It's rude to point!
point something (+ adv./prep.) She pointed her finger in my direction.
point with something (+ adv./prep.) She pointed with her finger at the map.

Extra Examples

Lee pointed accusingly at Tyler.
The toddler pointed to the toy he wanted.
He pointed in the direction of the beach.
She pointed her stick at them.
He felt that all the children in the school were pointing and laughing at him.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

accusingly
downwards/downward
upwards/upward
…

preposition

at
in the direction of
to
…

phrases

point straight at somebody/something
point the way

adverb

correctly
rightly
helpfully
…

verb + point out

must
should
try to
…

preposition

adverb

clearly
directly

verb + point to

seem to

See full entry

aim

[transitive] to aim something at somebody/something

point something at somebody/something He pointed the gun at her head.
A hundred camera lenses were being pointed at her.
point something He simply points the camera and shoots with simplicity and realism.

face direction

[intransitive] + adv./prep. to face in or be directed towards a particular direction

The telescope was pointing in the wrong direction.
The signpost pointed straight ahead.
A compass needle points north.
The gun was pointing straight at me.
The sign pointed right.

Extra Examples

Hold your palms together with the fingers pointing down.
There were signs pointing to the church.
Her feet were hip-width apart with the toes pointing forward.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

accusingly
downwards/downward
upwards/upward
…

preposition

at
in the direction of
to
…

phrases

point straight at somebody/something
point the way

adverb

correctly
rightly
helpfully
…

verb + point out

must
should
try to
…

preposition

adverb

clearly
directly

verb + point to

seem to

See full entry

on a computer

[intransitive, transitive] to direct your cursor at a particular point on the screen; to link to a particular web page

Shopping on the Web is pretty simple—you just point and click and wait.
point something at/to something Point your browser to www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com.

lead to

[intransitive, transitive] to lead to or suggest a particular development or logical argument

+ adv./prep. The evidence seems to point in that direction.
point the way + adv./prep. The fans are looking to the new players to point the way to victory.

Extra Examples

Fragments of woven cloth at the site clearly point to the production of textiles.
The symptoms point directly to appendicitis.

Topics Opinion and argumentc1

show the way

[transitive] to show somebody which way to go

point somebody + adv./prep. I wonder if you could point me in the right direction for the bus station.
point the way (+ adv./prep.) A series of yellow arrows pointed the way to reception.
‘You must cross that field,’ she said, pointing the way.

toes

[transitive] point something to stretch your toes and foot so that they form a straight line with your leg

Reach up with your arms and point your toes.

wall

[transitive] point something to put mortar (= a mixture of sand, water, etc that becomes hard when dry) between the bricks, stones, etc. used to build a wall

The house needs pointing before winter.

Idioms

point a/the finger (at somebody)

to accuse somebody of doing something
- The article points an accusing finger at the authorities.
related noun finger-pointing