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campaign

n. · v.
US //kæmˈpeɪn// UK //kæmpˈeɪn// cam·paign
  1. 1 planned goal (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a series of planned activities intended to achieve a specific social, commercial, or political result.

    a systematic course of activities aimed at a specific goal, such as an election, a marketing drive, or a social movement.

    Example

    The charity launched a new campaign to raise money for the local hospital.

    Example

    The marketing department initiated an aggressive digital campaign to capture a younger demographic before the holiday shopping season began.

  2. 2 sporting season (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    the efforts and matches of a team or player over a whole season.

    the collective performance and series of matches undertaken by an athlete or team during a competitive season.

    Example

    The team's campaign ended in disappointment when they lost the final match.

    Example

    After a grueling European campaign, the squad returned home to focus on their domestic league standings.

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  1. 3 gaming story (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

    a series of connected games or missions that tell a long story.

    a series of connected play sessions or missions within a tabletop or video game that form a continuous narrative arc.

    Example

    It took us six months to finish the entire Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

    Example

    The latest expansion adds a ten-hour single-player campaign that explores the backstory of the game's primary antagonist.

  2. 4 to take part in (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to lead or take part in a series of activities to achieve a goal.

    to engage in a series of operations or activities to achieve a political, social, or commercial objective. Intransitive use.

    Example

    She spent the whole summer campaigning for better parks in her city.

    Example

    The candidate campaigned tirelessly across the rural districts, focusing on agricultural subsidies and infrastructure development.

Origin

From French campagne, from Italian campagna (“field, military operation”), from Late Latin campānia (“open country, battlefield”), from Latin campus (“field”). Doublet of campania, campagna, and champagne.

Word family
Idioms3 entries

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