# NBA

/ˈɛnˌbiˈeɪ/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. basketball league

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

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

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

- Many young players dream of playing in the NBA when they grow up.
- The NBA has expanded its global reach significantly over the last decade, attracting elite talent from every continent to its North American franchises.

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.

## 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.

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