English Collocations Words List! A collocation is two or more words that often go together. They just sound “right” when you say them. Here are some examples of common English collocations:
– Verb + noun: make a decision, take action, have an effect, give advice
– Noun + noun: coffee break, toothpaste tube, haircut styles
– Adjective + noun: strong wind, heavy rain, deep sleep
– Verb + adverb: work hard, drive slowly, think deeply
Learning collocations will help you to sound more natural in English.
1000 English Collocations
Here are Some common English collocations with definitions and example sentences:
- afraid of – to be frightened of someone or something; to have a fear of something
I’m afraid of dogs. (noun)
I’m afraid of making mistakes. (gerund)
Are you afraid of heights? (adjective)
- ahead of – in front of someone or something; before someone or something in time, order, or rank
She walked ahead of me. (preposition)
I finished the work ahead of schedule. (adverb)
He’s ahead of me in the race. (adverb)
- along with – together with someone or something else; as well as someone or something else
I brought along my laptop just in case. (preposition)
Along with studying, he also works part-time. (conjunction)
- angry at/about – feeling annoyed or upset because of what someone has done
I’m angry at him for being so rude. (preposition)
She was angry about the situation. (adjective)
- answer to – to be responsible to someone for what you do; to have someone as your superior in rank or position
The manager is the person you need to answer to regarding that issue. (preposition) Who do I need to answer to for this project? (verb phrase)
- arrange for – to make arrangements for something to happen, especially by arranging for people to be available at a particular time Can you arrange for a meeting with our boss tomorrow? (verb phrase) Have you arranged for a babysitter yet? (verb phrase)
- arrive at/in – to reach a place after traveling there What time will we arrive in New York? (verb phrase) When she arrived at her friend’s house, she found that she had the wrong address. (verb phase)
- ask around – to try to obtain information by asking several people Have you asked around about that new restaurant? (verb phrase) I asked around, but no one has seen your cat. (verb phrase Even if you can’t find information online, you can always ask around about it.)
- attached to – having an emotional connection with someone or something She’s very attached to her cats. (adjective) He’s been attached to his company for over 20 years now. verb phrase
- base on/upon – use something as a foundation or starting point Most decisions in business are based on profit. (verb phrase We can’t base our relationship on sex.)
- benefit from – receive an advantage or good result from something He’s benefiting from therapy. (verb phrase the company will benefit greatly from your experience.)
- bound up in – be involved in something so much that it controls your thoughts and feelings Her entire identity is bound up in her job. (adjective My happiness is not entirely bound up in my career success.)
- burst into – enter a place suddenly, often because you are angry the teacher burst into the room screaming. (verb phrase She burst into tears when she saw the evidence of his affair.)
- call off – cancel an event that has been planned My mom called off her party because she was sick. (verb phrase We might have to call off the wedding if we can’t afford it.)
- carry out- do something that has been planned I carried out my threat and left him. (verb phrase He carried out an experiment to test his theory.)
Collocation Words List
Collocations with Break
| Break the mold | Break a window | Break a bone/ your arm |
| Break even | Break a leg | Break the ice |
| Break a habit | Break one’s fall | Break a code |
| Break free | Break a promise | Break someone’s heart |
| Break news | Break the news to someone | Break the silence |
| Break a law | Break wind | Break the spell |
| Break loose | Break the rules | Break the bank |
| Break ground | Break a record | Break new ground |
Collocations with Go
| go abroad | go ahead | go to bed |
| go blind | go by | go crazy |
| go fishing | go for a walk | go on |
| go out |
Collocations with Get
| get a chance | get a job | get a message |
| get a reputation | get along | get angry |
| get an education | get back | get excited |
| get in the way |
Collocations with Catch
| Catch someone’s attention | Catch a ball | Catch a whiff |
| Catch a chill | Catch your breath | Catch (on) fire |
| Catch a glimpse | Catch a cold | Catch a cold |
| Catch someone’s eye | Catch a bus/ a train | Catch a thief |
| Catch the flu | Catch you Later! | Catch sight of |
Collocations with Get
| Get a splitting headache | Give an answer | Get a tan |
| Get tired | Get a shock | Give permission |
| Get a letter (receive) | Give priority | Get worried |
| Get wet | Give advice | Give sb a chance |
| Get the impression | Get a clue | Get upset |
| Get a job | Get a ticket | Get married |
| Give birth | Give a ride | Give an example |
| Give an idea | Get angry | Give credit |
| Get frightened | Give rise to | Get started |
| Give notice | Give evidence | Get a chance |
| Get to sleep | Give a hug or kiss | Get nowhere |
| Get hungry | Get dark | Get a joke |
| Give a call (a ring, a buzz) | Get the sack | Get out of breath |
| Get together | Get into trouble | Get the ticket (buy) |
| Get enthusiastic | Give a chance | Get permission |
| Give an opinion | Get stuck in a traffic jam | Get the message |
| Get lost | Give sb a call | Get fired |
| Get pregnant | Get dressed/ undressed | Give sth a go |
| Give a choice | Get a/the right | Give a hand |
| Get a call | Get divorced | Give the impression |
| Give way | Get hot (ter) | Get a cold |
| Get old | Give a headache | Give a damn |
| Get ready for | Get one’s hair cut | Give sb a lift |
| Get drunk | Get cool | Get getting dark |
| Get changed (change clothes) |
Collocations with Give
| Give thought (to) | Get home (arrive) | Get sleep |
| Give up |
Collocations with Have
| Have trouble | Have a conversation/chat | Have an appointment with |
| Have a hard time | Have a confrontation | Have a shower |
| Have a rest | Have a bad temper | Have a swim |
| Have something to eat | Have a touch | Have a doubt |
| Have an exam | Have a shave | Have a snooze |
| Have a day off | Have a laugh | Have a meal |
| Have a career/a goal | Havea drink | Have a party/concert |
| Have a talk | Have a word | Have a backache |
| Have difficulty | Have a sandwich | Have a nap |
| Have work | Have self-esteem | Have a night mare |
| Have a quarrel | Have a limp | Have a go |
| Have a moment | Have room | Have access (to) |
| Have a run | Have skills | Have soul |
| Have a drill | Have a ride | Have sympathy |
| Have an opportunity | Have success | Have a massage |
| Have a taste | Have a fit | Have a safe journey |
| Have an event | Have a lecture | Have a right |
| Have rest | Have a great weekend | Have a feeling |
| Have a cup of tea/ coffee | Have a glass of wine | Have a walk |
| Have a jog | Have a problem | Have a baby |
| Have a chance | Have an argument | Have an effect (on) |
| Have no fear | Have a temperature | Have a listen |
| Have a snack | Have a good time | Have a headache |
| Have a lisp | Have a fight | Have an interview |
| Have a stroke | Have a depression/etc | Have a chat |
| Have faith | Have no education | Have patience |
| Have a salad | Have a wish | Have a bad fall |
| Have fun/a good time | Have a wash | Have a busy day |
| Have a haircut | Have a relationship | Have time |
| Have an energy bar | Have a try | Have a holiday |
| Have a scrub | Have an ice-cream | Have an excuse |
| Have a smell | Have an accident | Have the chance (to) |
| Have a birthday | Have a bite | Have a good/nice/etc day! |
| Have a meeting | Have a passion for | Have a business trip |
| Have a dance | Have an experience | Have a lesson |
| Have a dispute | Have a jacuzzi | Have a dream |
| Have a discussion | Have an idea | Have a lie down |
| Have a goal | Have a think | Have a workout |
| Have a break | Have sex | Have a plan |
| Have a competition | Have breakfast/lunch/dinner | Have a stretch |
| Have food | Have a bath | Have some sugar/ milk |
| Have a look | Have a game | Have a cold |
Collocations with Keep
| Keep the change | Keep calm | Keep quiet |
| Keep an appointment | Keep someone’s place | Keep in touch |
| Keep a promise | Keep a secret | Keep a diary |
| Keep control | Keep score | Keep your balance |
| Keep records |
Collocations with Take
| take a break | take a chance | take a class |
| take a look | take a nap | take a seat |
| take action | take advantage | take care |
| take effect | take hold | take in |
| take off | take on | take over |
| take place | take pride | take root |
| take shape | take side | take steps |
| take the lead | take up |
Collocations with Do
| do a good job | do business | do damage |
| do exercise | do homework | do research |
| do well |
Collocations with Make
| make a change | make a difference | make a living |
| make an effort | make an impact | make an impression |
| make a point | make a profit | make progress |
| make sense |
Collocations with Give
| give a speech | give an example | give directions |
| give birth | give blood | give evidence |
| give in | give off | give up |
| give thanks | give way |
Collocations with Put
| put a lot of effort into something | put a stop to something |
| put an end to something | put forward a proposal |
| put it into perspective | put pressure on someone |
| put somebody/something to the test | put together a team/an event |
Collocations with Ask
| ask around | ask for |
| ask somebody out | ask a favor |
