# mode

/ˈmoʊd/ (US) · /mˈəʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mode
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. way of doing something

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a particular way or method of doing something.

For teachers: a specific way in which something is done or experienced.

- Rail is often the most efficient mode of transport for heavy goods.
- The switch to a digital mode of communication has fundamentally altered how the department handles internal queries.

### 2. machine setting

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

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

For teachers: a specific operating condition or status of a device or software system.

- I always put my phone on airplane mode before the flight takes off.
- The system automatically enters power-saving mode when the battery level drops below fifteen percent to preserve essential functions.

### 3. state of mind

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

For teachers: a particular state of being or a specific frame of mind.

- Once the music started, she went into full performance mode.
- After the deadline was announced, the entire office shifted into crisis mode to ensure the project was completed on time.

### 4. most frequent value

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

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

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

- In this survey, the mode for family size was two children.
- While the mean income is skewed by high earners, the mode provides a clearer picture of what the typical employee actually earns.

### 5. musical scale

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of musical scale that creates a specific mood.

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

- The song is written in a minor mode, which gives it a sad feeling.
- The composer utilised the Lydian mode to evoke a sense of ethereal wonder throughout the second movement of the symphony.

### 6. fashion or style

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

the current fashion or popular style.

For teachers: a prevailing fashion, custom, or style of a particular time.

- Short hair was the mode for women in the 1920s.
- The architect sought to move beyond the modernist mode that had dominated the city's skyline for decades.

## Examples

- I always keep my phone in silent mode during meetings.
- The camera has a special mode for taking clear photos of moving objects at night.
- The aircraft's autopilot system can operate in several different modes depending on the altitude and the specific requirements of the flight path.

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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.