English Reference
noun

mode

n.
US /ˈmoʊd/ UK /mˈəʊd/ mode UK spelling modes

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    a particular way or method of doing something.

    a specific way in which something is done or experienced.

    Simple

    Rail is often the most efficient mode of transport for heavy goods.

    In context

    The switch to a digital mode of communication has fundamentally altered how the department handles internal queries.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    a setting on a machine or computer that changes how it works.

    a specific operating condition or status of a device or software system.

    Simple

    I always put my phone on airplane mode before the flight takes off.

    In context

    The system automatically enters power-saving mode when the battery level drops below fifteen percent to preserve essential functions.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a particular way of behaving or feeling at a certain time.

    a particular state of being or a specific frame of mind.

    Simple

    Once the music started, she went into full performance mode.

    In context

    After the deadline was announced, the entire office shifted into crisis mode to ensure the project was completed on time.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced AcademicTechnical Math

    the number that appears most often in a set of data.

    the value that occurs with the greatest frequency in a given data set or probability distribution.

    Simple

    In this survey, the mode for family size was two children.

    In context

    While the mean income is skewed by high earners, the mode provides a clearer picture of what the typical employee actually earns.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency Technical Music

    a type of musical scale that creates a specific mood.

    a specific arrangement of intervals within an octave, such as the Dorian or Phrygian scales.

    Simple

    The song is written in a minor mode, which gives it a sad feeling.

    In context

    The composer utilised the Lydian mode to evoke a sense of ethereal wonder throughout the second movement of the symphony.

  6. 06 C2 Proficiency LiteraryFormal

    the current fashion or popular style.

    a prevailing fashion, custom, or style of a particular time.

    Simple

    Short hair was the mode for women in the 1920s.

    In context

    The architect sought to move beyond the modernist mode that had dominated the city's skyline for decades.

Usage different mode · dominant mode · mode of

A traveler deciding whether to fly or drive between two cities can compare the two modes over the same trip or distance.

The Conversation· 3 Sept 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated