Definitions
01the art form
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a style of artistic dance that uses very graceful and controlled movements.
n. a classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement and by elaborate formal gestures, steps, and poses.
日本語:バレエ※
“She has been practicing ballet since she was five years old.”
“The curriculum focuses on the fundamentals of classical ballet, emphasizing correct posture and the development of core strength.”
Synonyms
02a performance
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Theater
n. a show or story told through this type of dancing, usually with music.
n. a theatrical representation of a story or theme performed to music by ballet dancers.
日本語:バレエ※
“We went to see a beautiful ballet at the national theater last night.”
“The choreographer reimagined the classic ballet with modern costumes and a minimalist stage design that highlighted the dancers' athleticism.”
Synonyms
03a dance company
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the group of professional dancers who work and perform together.
n. a company or troupe of people who perform ballet.
“He was invited to join the city's most famous ballet.”
“The national ballet embarked on an international tour, showcasing their technical mastery to audiences across three continents.”
04to move gracefully
C2 · Proficiency Literary
v. to move in a way that looks like a ballet dancer.
v. to move or perform an action in a manner reminiscent of ballet dancing.
“The birds seemed to ballet across the surface of the lake.”
“The autumn leaves balleted through the air, caught in a sudden gust of wind before settling on the damp pavement.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ballet” in context.
Verb
01. perform a ballet
“The company will perform a ballet based on the life of Frida Kahlo next season.”
verb + noun
02. study ballet
“She began to study ballet at the age of five to improve her posture and grace.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. classical ballet
“The dancers spent years mastering the rigorous techniques of classical ballet.”
adj + noun
04. contemporary ballet
“The choreographer is known for blending hip-hop elements with contemporary ballet.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. ballet company
“The national ballet company is touring Europe this summer.”
noun + noun
06. ballet dancer
“To become a professional ballet dancer, one must possess immense physical strength.”
noun + noun
07. ballet shoes
“She carefully tied the ribbons of her ballet shoes before stepping onto the stage.”
noun + noun
Preposition
08. in the ballet
“He played the role of the prince in the ballet 'Swan Lake'.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“After Peter’s death in 2002, Sheila continued to travel widely to see many ballet companies.” “But local farmers have also poured in to help battle the blaze, with a ballet of tractors pulling tankers of water drawn from a nearby lake.” Etymology
Borrowed from French ballet, from Italian balletto (“short dance, ballet”), diminutive form of ballo (“group dance”), from Late Latin ballō (“to dance”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ballet
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0