# eleven

/ˈiɫɛvən/ (US) · /ɪlˈɛvən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eleven
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the number 11

numeral · CEFR A1

the number that comes after ten and before twelve.

For teachers: the cardinal number occurring between ten and twelve.

- There are eleven players on each side during a soccer match.
- The clock struck eleven just as the final guests were departing from the evening gala.

### 2. a sports team

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a team in sports like cricket or football that has eleven players.

For teachers: a collective noun for a sports team consisting of eleven members, particularly in cricket or association football.

- He was proud to be selected for the school's first eleven.
- The manager struggled to name a consistent starting eleven due to a series of unfortunate injuries during the pre-season tour.

### 3. extreme or off the charts

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

something that is even better or more intense than a ten on a scale of one to ten.

For teachers: an informal reference to a level of intensity or quality that exceeds the standard maximum on a scale of one to ten.

- The energy at the concert was an eleven from the very first song.
- The marketing department decided to turn the hype up to eleven for the product launch, saturating every social media platform with advertisements.

Usage: often used in the phrase 'turn it up to eleven'

## Examples

- There are eleven players on a soccer team.
- The meeting is scheduled for eleven o'clock in the morning.
- The clock struck eleven just as the last guest departed, leaving the house in a sudden, heavy silence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.