business - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
business Word Meanings
- activities related to the buying and selling of goods or services
- a person's profession or work
- a particular commercial enterprise
business Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
business Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈbɪz.nɪs/
US
/ˈbɪz.nəs/
business Word Etymology
business = busy + -ness (state or quality of being busy). Origin: Old English bisig + -ness → Middle English → Modern English. Memory image: Imagine a bustling marketplace filled with busy people buying and selling goods.
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 set a notebook on the counter and push aside a stack of receipts. I move the pens and price tags, turning toward the register as orders come in. I adjust my plan, keep track of receipts, and decide what to offer next. In this rhythm of give and take, I sense what business feels like—a small enterprise built from work, decisions, and people.
Real Context
Business is a broad term that covers activities involved in buying and selling goods or services, as well as the people and organizations that carry them out. It can refer to the field of commerce in general, a specific company, or a person’s profession. The word appears in phrases like business hours, go into business, or run a business. Learners should note that business can be singular or plural in different senses, as in the notion of one business versus many businesses, and some collocations use an adjective rather than a noun, such as business purposes or business strategy. Understanding the distinctions between everyday use and formal terms helps avoid awkward phrasing.
Usage Reminders
- - Use business to mean trade or commerce.
- - For a company, you can say a business or the business.
- - When talking about work, prefer profession or job in many cases.
- - Plural form is businesses; business is the general idea.
- - Common collocations: business hours, start a business, do business with someone.
Common Misconceptions
- Business always means a company
- Business and career are the same thing
- Business only refers to money making
- Do business means do a business
- Business cannot refer to a job or profession
Thinking Differences
Think of business as both a field and a set of activities. English uses a mass noun for the concept and a countable noun for individual enterprises, which can confuse learners who translate it as company or job. Focus on collocations like hours, start, run, and do business to sound natural.
Learning Tips
- Learn the general sense of commerce and trade.
- Practice the main collocations: hours, start a business, do business with someone.
- Differentiate business as activity from business as a company.
- Note the plural: businesses; the general idea is singular when talking broadly.
- Explore phrases with adjectives like small business and large business.
- Use examples that contrast business with work or profession.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'business'?
A.Sleeping all day
B.Running fast
C.Eating ice cream
D.Activity of making money
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is the word 'business' used correctly?
A.My father owns a business.
B.She was busy playing with her toys.
C.I like to take a break from school work.
D.The cat is chasing the mouse.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which of the following words is most similar to 'business'?
A.Trade
B.Play
C.Relax
D.Study
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'business'?
A.Leisure
B.Knowledge
C.Travel
D.Technology
Step 5: Mastery
Can you provide a real-life context in which the word 'business' would be used?
A.Sleeping in on weekends
B.Working at a company to earn money
C.Playing video games all day
D.Walking in the park
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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