English Reference

Word

NBA

Phoneticsnba

/ˈɛnˌbiˈeɪ/

Definition

n. Stands for National Basketball Association. This is the top professional basketball league in the United States and Canada.

n. Abbreviation for National Basketball Association. It refers to the major professional basketball league in North America, consisting of 30 teams.

Examples

“He dreams of playing in the NBA one day.”

“The NBA season culminates in a best-of-seven playoff series to determine the world champion.”

“While the NBA is based in North America, its aggressive international marketing and diverse roster of global stars have cemented its status as a dominant cultural export.”

Examples

simple

“He dreams of playing in the NBA one day.”

contextual

“The NBA season culminates in a best-of-seven playoff series to determine the world champion.”

complex

“While the NBA is based in North America, its aggressive international marketing and diverse roster of global stars have cemented its status as a dominant cultural export.”

Usage

Usually used with the definite article 'the'.

Teaching tip

While it technically stands for a specific association, in common speech it is used to refer to the league itself.

Domain

Sports

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Updated
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American English

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English Reference