ADJ

two-letter, three-letter, etc.
monosyllabic, disyllabic
two-syllable, three-syllable, etc.
big, long
He uses big words to impress people
compound
native
borrowed, loan
When a new fruit is first imported, its name is usually also imported as a loan word
foreign
content, function
exact, precise, very
His exact words were, ' There's nothing we can do about it. ' Those were her very words
clear, plain
ambiguous
abstract, concrete
everyday
I find even everyday words difficult to spell
archaic, obsolete
key
He wrote down a few key words to help him remember what to say
right, wrong
You can't always find the right word when you're translating
dirty, four-letter, naughty, obscene, rude, taboo
The play is full of four-letter words. Work is a dirty word to Frank
famous, household, immortal
His name has become a household word since he first appeared in the series. the immortal words of Neil Armstrong as he stepped onto the moon
code
The police use code words for their major operations
buzz (also buzzword), vogue
E-marketing is the current buzzword
spoken, written
She combines visual images and the spoken word to great effect in her presentations

VERB + WORD

have
Spanish has no word for 'understatement'
say, speak, use, utter
He uses lots of long words. Every word he utters is treated as sacred text
pronounce
How is this word pronounced?
mispronounce
spell
misspell
'Necessary' is one of the most commonly misspelt words in English
write
hear, read
mishear, misread
I misheard the word 'sick' as 'thick'
know, understand
look up
She looked the word up in the dictionary
find
coin
The word 'e-commerce' was coined to refer to business done over the Internet
cross out, erase, rub out

WORD + VERB

mean sth
refer to sth, relate to sth
convey sth, describe sth, express sth
words describing body parts Words can't express how happy I am
imply sth
denote sth
Bold words denote chapter headings
carry sth, have sth
The same word can carry numerous meanings. The word has two meanings
be derived from sth, come/derive from sth
The word derives from a Norse word meaning 'eye of the wind'
begin (with sth), end (in/with sth)
What's a word beginning with 'c' that means 'a small wood' ?
fail sb
Words fail me (= I cannot express how I feel)

WORD + NOUN

game

PREP

in sb's ~s
The students had to retell the story in their own words
~ for
What's the French word for 'snail' ?

PHRASES

in all senses of the word
She was a true friend in all senses of the word
in other words
They're letting me go?in other words, I've been sacked
in so many words
They told me in so many words (= directly) that I was no longer needed
in the true sense of the word
People who overeat are not addicts in the true sense of the word
in words of one syllable
(= using very simple language) Could you say that again in words of one syllable?
word for word
(= exactly) He repeated word for word what the boy had said to him

ADJ

quick
quiet
The manager had a quiet word with Alison, and she gave him no more problems
good, friendly, kind
He hasn't a good word to say for anybody
bad, unkind
angry, bitter, blunt, choice (ironic) , cross, cruel, hard, harsh, heated, hurtful, strong
polite
No polite words of gratitude came
flattering, honeyed
empty, fine (ironic) , meaningless
Despite all their fine words, the council have never done anything to improve road safety
weasel
The government's promises on nurses' pay turned out to be weasel words (= deliberately unclear)
bold, brave
Despite his brave words, I don't believe he can save the factory from closure
wise
well-chosen
He ruined her self-confidence with a few well-chosen words
cautionary
A few cautionary words are necessary regarding driving abroad
soft, whispered
They exchanged whispered words of love
unspoken
The look in her eyes filled in the unspoken words in her sentence
dying, last
Her last words were for her children
final, last
The Chairman always has the last word (= the final decision) on financial decisions
fateful
Seconds after uttering the fateful words 'this is easy' , he crashed
prophetic
magic

VERB + WORD

have
I've had a few words with John, and he's quite happy for you to stay. She had some harsh words to say about her colleagues
put in, say, speak, utter
If you run into the boss, put in a good word for me! Before we begin, I'd like to say a few words about who I am. Nobody's uttered a word to me about it
give, say
Just say the word and I'll go
mumble, mutter
slur
I knew he'd been drinking because he was slurring his words
spit (out)
She was so furious, she almost spat the words out: 'You idiot!'
bandy, exchange, have
I usually exchange a few words with my neighbour when I see him. Words were exchanged (= there was an argument)
find
He couldn't find the words to thank her enough
choose, pick
He chose his words carefully when commenting on her work
quote
distort, twist
She felt angry at how the journalist had twisted her words
hang on
The journalists hung on his every word as he spoke of his ordeal
eat, take back
When he told her she would fail, she swore she would make him eat his words
not mince
He doesn't mince his words when he talks about his ex-boss
not breathe
Don't breathe a word to anyone about what I've told you!

WORD + VERB

conjure sth up, evoke sth
Her words conjured up a strange picture in her mind
burst from sb, come (out), emerge, fall, pour (out), slip (out), spill (out), tumble out
He was nervous, and his words came out in a rush. His words fell into the silence like stones
stick in your throat
He wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but the words stuck in his throat
float, hang in the air
I let my words hang in the air. Maggie was no fool: she must realize I meant it
echo, ring
Her teacher's words echoed in her ears
fade (away), tail away/off, trail away/off
His words faded to silence as he saw she didn't believe him
hit/strike home, strike/touch a chord
sink in
She could feel her temper boiling as his words sank in

PREP

in a ~
'Would you like to help us?' 'In a word (= briefly) , no.'
without a ~
She left without a word
~ about
We never heard anyone say an unkind word about her
~ from
And now a word from our sponsors …
~ of
a word of advice/warning
~ with
Can I have a quick word with you?

PHRASES

get a word in (edgeways)
I wanted to tell you that she'd phoned, but you were talking so much I couldn't get a word in edgeways
a man/woman of few words (= a person who speaks very little), sb never spoke a truer word/never was a truer word spoken
You said we were about to make a big mistake, and never was a truer word spoken! (= you were right),
not a (single) word
Remember? not a word to (= don't tell) Peter about any of this. We didn't say a single word to each other all day
put words into sb's mouth
He felt after the interview that the police officers had been trying to put words into his mouth in (= to make him say what they wanted him to say)
take the words out of sb's mouth
I was about to say we should cancel the trip, but she took the words right out of my mouth (= she said it before me)
a word in sb's ear
Can I have a word in your ear about tomorrow's presentation?
(by) word of mouth
The restaurant does not advertise, but relies on word of mouth for custom

ADJ

solemn
She gave him her solemn word that she would give up drugs

VERB + WORD

give sb
be as good as, be true to, keep
He promised to help and was as good as his word. True to her word, she returned next day
break, go back on
Once he has made a promise, he never goes back on his word

PHRASES

have sb's word for sth
We only have her word for it that the cheque is in the post
a man/woman of his/her word
You needn't worry about him not paying you back?he's a man of his word
take sb at their word
He said I could stay at his house any time, so I took him at his word
take sb's word for sth
I haven't seen his work, but I'll take his word for it that it's finished
your word against sb's
If it's your word against the police officer's, the jury are going to believe him
sb's word is their bond, word of honour
He gave me his word of honour that he wouldn't tell anyone

VERB + WORD

bring, get, send
He sent word to his family that his captors were treating him well
get
We didn't get word of her arrest until the next day
spread

WORD + VERB

get out
If word gets out about the affair, he will have to resign
be, have it
The word is they've split up. Word has it that she's leaving

PREP

~ about
Health workers spread the word about the benefits of immunization