bank - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
bank Word Meanings
- a financial institution for receiving, keeping, and lending money
- the land alongside a river or a body of water
- to rely on something
bank Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
bank Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/bæŋk/
US
/bæŋk/
bank Word Etymology
Root: bank (from Italian 'banca', meaning 'bench'). Historical origin: Italian → Middle French → English. Memory image: Imagine a sturdy bench where money is traded, representing the financial stability a bank provides.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I reach for my wallet and push open the bank door. Inside, the line moves and shifts like a crowd by the river, and I try a small move in my head to speed up just a touch. I work to keep my focus, adjust my grip, and place the receipt and notes on the counter. Walking out, money, trust, and plans feel like something I can rely on, and I learn to bank on them in everyday life.
Real Context
Bank is a word with several related but distinct meanings. Most often it refers to a financial institution that handles deposits, loans, and payment services. It can also describe the land along the edge of a river or other body of water, known as the riverbank. As a verb, to bank means to rely on or count on something, or to tilt an aircraft or vehicle in a turn. Learners should watch for collocations like bank account, savings bank, and river bank, as well as the phrasal verb bank on. Context will usually make clear which sense is intended.
Usage Reminders
- Bank has three main senses: financial institution, river edge, and the verb to rely on.
- Common collocations include bank account, river bank, and to bank on something.
- Remember that 'bank on' means 'to rely on' and is not a physical action.
- Pronunciation stays the same across meanings.
- Use context to decide which sense is meant; when in doubt, substitute a synonym like 'bank' or 'edge' to test meaning.
Common Misconceptions
- Bank only means a financial institution; it can also be a river edge.
- To bank on something is not about physically banking; it means relying on it.
- River bank and bank account often need context cues to distinguish.
- Bench and bank are not interchangeable; one is a physical seat, the other is financial or edge.
- Some languages translate bank differently; watch for false friends.
Thinking Differences
English uses bank as a true polyseme; context decides meaning (finance, river edge, or rely on). Beginners often confuse river bank with a bank as a place to keep money, so learn through collocations.
Learning Tips
- Link each sense to a mental image (bank building, river bank, rely on).
- Note collocations: bank account, river bank, bank on.
- Test meaning by substituting synonyms in your sentences.
- Practice phrasal usage and avoid literal translations.
- Pay attention to context to decode the sense.
- Review false friends in your language to dodge errors.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'bank'?
A.A type of dance
B.A piece of furniture
C.A financial institution
D.A method of cooking
Step 2: Usage
How is the word 'bank' used in a sentence?
A.She sat on the bank of the river
B.Let's go to the bank to withdraw money
C.I need to buy a new bank for my living room
D.He banked the ball off the wall
Step 3: Similar Words
What is a similar word to 'bank'?
A.Hospital
B.Library
C.Restaurant
D.Credit union
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is an opposite word to 'bank'?
A.Withdrawal
B.Savings
C.Deposit
D.Cashier
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would you find the word 'bank'?
A.Airport
B.School
C.Supermarket
D.Shopping mall
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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