English Reference

Word

introduce

Phoneticsin·tro·duce, stress on the third syllable

US/ˌɪntɹəˈdus/

UK/ˌɪntɹədjˈuːs/

Definitions

01presenting people

A1 · Beginner

v. to tell two people each other's names when they meet for the first time.

v. to make people known to one another by name, typically in a social or professional context. Transitive; usually takes 'to'.

“I would like to introduce you to my colleague, Sarah.”

“The host took a moment to introduce the guest speaker to the board members before the formal dinner began.”

Usage

Takes a direct object followed by 'to'.

Pitfall

I introduced him with my sister.

I introduced him to my sister.

Use the preposition 'to' when introducing one person to another.

Synonyms

presentacquaint

02starting something new

B1 · Intermediate

v. to bring a new idea, product, or law into a place for the first time.

v. to bring something into use, practice, or existence for the first time within a specific environment.

“The company plans to introduce a new smartphone model next month.”

“The government decided to introduce stricter environmental regulations to combat the rising levels of industrial pollution in the region.”

Antonyms

03opening a topic

B1 · Intermediate

v. to provide the first part of a book, speech, or piece of music.

v. to present or announce a topic, person, or work to an audience as an opening.

“The author uses the first chapter to introduce the main characters.”

“The moderator will introduce the debate topic by providing a brief historical overview of the conflict.”

Antonyms

04inserting a substance

B2 · Upper Intermediate Science Technical

v. to put something into a system, mixture, or body.

v. to insert or add a substance or element into a closed system or medium.

“The doctor had to introduce a small tube into the patient's vein.”

“The researchers introduced a specific catalyst into the chemical mixture to observe how it would accelerate the reaction.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “introduce” in context.

01. introduce bias 02. introduce concept 03. introduce mechanism 04. introduce notion 05. introduce principle 06. introduce scheme 07. introduce technique

Etymology

From Middle English introducen, from Old French introduire, from Latin intrōdūcō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁énteros (“inner, what is inside”) and dewk-.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

VERB

introduce(A1)

This entry

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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

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