businesses - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
businesses Word Meanings
- activities related to the buying and selling of goods or services
- a person's profession or work
- a particular commercial enterprise
businesses Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
businesses Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈbɪz.nɪs/
US
/ˈbɪz.nəs/
businesses 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 'businesses'?
A.A person's occupation or profession
B.Entities involved in commerce or trade
C.An activity engaged in for pleasure
D.A process of creating art
Step 2: Usage
Choose the sentence that uses 'businesses' correctly.
A.The cat jumped over the businesses.
B.He loves to paint landscapes and businesses.
C.There are many restaurants and shops among the local businesses.
D.She reads multiple businesses every week.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'businesses'?
A.Enterprises
B.Flights
C.Hobbies
D.Locations
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'businesses'?
A.Trade
B.Work
C.Leisure
D.Commerce
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life context where 'businesses' are crucial?
A.Many people enjoy hiking on trails.
B.Cooking requires fresh ingredients.
C.A community thrives when nearby businesses support local events.
D.Traveling can broaden your perspective.
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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