- the woman that somebody is married to; a married woman
- I met my wife at university.
- He wants a divorce from his estranged wife.
- He is survived by his wife Anne.
- She has a wife and two children.
- He left his wife for a younger woman.
- wife of somebody the wife of the Italian ambassador
- She's his second wife.
- his former/future wife
- his wife of 25 years
- The actress was photographed on the red carpet with her wife, Ellen.
- Many of the players brought their wives or girlfriends along for the trip.
- He is still struggling with the death of his wife.
- Steve lives here with his wife and children.
Collocations Marriage and divorceMarriage and divorceRomancesee also fishwife, housewife, midwife, trophy wife- fall/be (madly/deeply/hopelessly) in love (with somebody)
- be/believe in/fall in love at first sight
- be/find true love/the love of your life
- suffer (from) (the pains/pangs of) unrequited love
- have/feel/show/express great/deep/genuine affection for somebody/something
- meet/marry your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
- have/go on a (blind) date
- be going out with/(especially North American English) dating a guy/girl/boy/man/woman
- move in with/live with your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner
- get/be engaged/married/divorced
- arrange/plan a wedding
- have a big wedding/a honeymoon/a happy marriage
- have/enter into an arranged marriage
- call off/cancel/postpone your wedding
- invite somebody to/go to/attend a wedding/a wedding ceremony/a wedding reception
- conduct/perform a wedding ceremony
- exchange rings/wedding vows/marriage vows
- congratulate/toast/raise a glass to the happy couple
- be/go on honeymoon (with your wife/husband)
- celebrate your first (wedding) anniversary
- be unfaithful to/(informal) cheat on your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
- have an affair (with somebody)
- break off/end an engagement/a relationship
- break up with/split up with/ (informal) dump your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner
- separate from/be separated from/leave/divorce your husband/wife/partner
- annul/dissolve a marriage
- apply for/ask for/go through/get a divorce
- get/gain/be awarded/have/lose custody of the children
- pay alimony/child support (to your ex-wife/husband/partner)
Extra ExamplesTopics Family and relationshipsa1- Aisha met her wife at college.
- This is my wife, Julie.
- His wife has just given birth to a son.
- His wife divorced him after fifteen years of marriage.
- His parents were always trying to find him a wife.
- Mr Thomas is survived by his wife, Muriel.
- The general was accompanied by his wife.
- the vicar's wife
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- new
- future
- former
- …
- meet
- marry
- live with
- …
- give birth
Word OriginOld English wīf ‘woman’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wijf and German Weib.Definitions on the go
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Idioms
See wife in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee wife in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishhusband and wife
- a man and woman who are married to each other
- They lived together as husband and wife (= as if they were married) for years.
- a husband-and-wife team
an old wives’ tale
- (disapproving) an old idea or belief that people now know is not correct
(all) the world and his wife
- (British English, old-fashioned, informal, humorous) everyone; a large number of people
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wife