- 1[uncountable] the activity of making, buying, selling, or supplying goods or services for money synonym commerce synonym trade business contacts/affairs/interests a business investment It's been a pleasure to do business with you. She has started a business as a hairdresser. When he left school, he went into business with his brother. She works in the computer business. They were both in the same line of business. see agribusiness, big business, show business
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
work - 2[uncountable] work that is part of your job Is the trip to Rome business or pleasure? a business lunch He's away on business.
- 3[uncountable] the amount of work done by a company, etc.; the rate or quality of this work Business was bad. Business was booming. Her job was to drum up (= increase) business. How's business? If we close down for repairs, we'll lose business. company
- 4[countable] a commercial organization such as a company, store, or factory to have/start/run a business business premises She works in the family business. They have a small catering business. He wanted to expand the export side of the business. responsibility
- 5[uncountable] something that concerns a particular person or organization It is the business of the police to protect the community. I will make it my business to find out who is responsible. My private life is none of your business (= does not concern you). It's no business of yours who I invite to the party. important matters
- 6[uncountable] important matters that need to be dealt with or discussed the main business of the meeting He has some unfinished business to deal with. event
- 7[singular] (usually with an adjective) a matter, an event, or a situation That plane crash was a terrible business. I found the whole business very depressing. The business of the missing tickets hasn't been sorted out.
- 8[uncountable] the fact of a person or people buying goods or services at a store or business We're grateful for your business. Idioms
trade
the things that are discussed at the end of an official meeting that do not appear on the agenda I think we've finished item four. Now is there any other business?
to have everything that you need in order to be able to start something immediately All we need is a car and we'll be in business.
a way of saying that things will continue as normal despite a difficult situation
a way of saying that financial and commercial matters are the important things to consider and you should not be influenced by friendship, etc.
to do a lot of business and make a lot of money, usually in a short time Sellers of Yankees baseball paraphernalia did a land-office business when the team won the World Series.
to start dealing with the matter that needs to be dealt with , or doing the work that needs to be done Let's get down to business right away—we'll stop for coffee later.
to do the things that you normally do streets filled with people going about their daily business
to have no right to do something You have no business being here.
to be serious in your intentions He has the look of a man who means business.
to think about your own affairs and not ask questions about or try to get involved in other people's lives “What are you reading?” “Mind your own business!” I was just sitting there, minding my own business, when a man started shouting at me.
not intending to do something (which it would be surprising for you to do) I'm not in the business of getting other people to do my work for me.
having stopped operating as a business because there is no more money or work available The new regulations will put many small businesses out of business. Some travel companies will probably go out of business this summer.
- buy/acquire/own/sell a company/firm/franchise
- set up/establish/start/start up/launch a business/company
- run/operate a business/company/franchise
- head/run a firm/department/team
- make/secure/win/lose/block a deal
- expand/grow/build the business
- boost/increase investment/spending/sales/turnover/earnings/exports/trade
- increase/expand production/output/sales
- boost/maximize production/productivity/efficiency/income/revenue/profit/profitability
- achieve/maintain/sustain growth/profitability
- cut/reduce/bring down/lower/slash costs/prices
- announce/impose/make cuts/cutbacks
- break into/enter/capture/dominate a market
- capture/gain/grab/take/win/boost/lose market share
- identify/find/build/create a market for something
- start/launch an advertising/a marketing campaign
- develop/launch/promote a product/Web site
- estimate/assess/create/generate demand for your product
- attract/get/retain/keep/help customers/clients
- drive/generate/boost/increase demand/sales
- beat/keep ahead of/out-think/outperform/ (informal) stymie the competition
- meet/reach/exceed/miss sales targets
- draw up/set/present/propose/agree on/approve a budget
- keep to/balance/cut/reduce/slash the budget
- be/come in below/under/over/within budget
- generate income/revenue/profit(s)/funds/business
- fund/finance a campaign/a venture/an expansion/spending/a deficit
- provide/raise/allocate capital/funds
- attract/encourage investment/investors
- recover/recoup costs/losses/an investment/an outlay
- get/obtain/offer somebody/grant somebody credit/a loan
- apply for/raise/secure/arrange/provide financing
- lose business/trade/customers/sales/revenue
- accumulate/accrue/incur/run up debts
- suffer/sustain enormous/heavy/serious losses
- face cuts/a deficit/bankruptcy/a shortfall
- declare/file for/enter/avoid/escape bankruptcy
- liquidate a company/a business/assets
- survive/weather a recession/downturn
- propose/seek/block/oppose a merger
- launch/make/accept/contest/defeat a takeover bid
Check pronunciation: business