mile
- 01 A1 Beginner
a unit for measuring distance used in the US and UK, equal to 1,760 yards or about 1.6 kilometres.
a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems, precisely equal to 1.609344 kilometres.
Simple“The nearest petrol station is about five miles down this road.”
In context“The marathon course was marked every mile to help the professional runners pace their final sprint toward the finish line.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a very long distance, often used when you are exaggerating.
a figurative or hyperbolic reference to a great distance or a significant margin.
Simple“I'm not walking to the shops in this rain; it's miles away.”
In context“The quality of the prototype was miles ahead of the competition, leaving the other manufacturers scrambling to catch up.”
Synonymslong waydistance - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a race that is one mile long.
a middle-distance track and field event covering the distance of one mile.
Simple“He trained for months to run the mile in under five minutes.”
In context“Breaking the four-minute barrier in the mile remains one of the most iconic achievements in the history of middle-distance running.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
points you collect when you fly with an airline, which you can use for free flights later.
a unit of credit in a frequent flyer programme, typically based on the distance flown.
Simple“I have enough miles saved up to fly to Japan for free this summer.”
In context“Business travellers often choose their carriers based on which loyalty programme allows them to accrue the most miles for international upgrades.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
a unit of distance used in Sweden and Norway equal to 10 kilometres.
a unit of length used in Norway and Sweden, standardised as exactly 10 kilometres.
Simple“In Sweden, people often say 'one mile' to mean ten kilometres.”
In context“The Scandinavian mile, or mil, was redefined in the nineteenth century to align with the metric system while retaining its traditional name.”
Usage miles away · miles east · miles per hour