English Reference

Word

partner

Phoneticspart·ner, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈpɑɹtnɝ/

UK/pˈɑːtnɐ/

Definitions

01romantic relationship

A1 · Beginner Countable noun

n. the person you are in a long-term relationship or marriage with.

n. a person with whom one is in a committed romantic or domestic relationship. Often used as a gender-neutral alternative to 'husband', 'wife', 'boyfriend', or 'girlfriend'.

“My partner and I have lived in this apartment for five years.”

“The invitation was extended to each employee and their partner, ensuring that domestic companions were included in the formal gala.”

02business/work

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. someone you own a business with or work closely with on a project.

n. an associate in a professional venture or ownership structure, especially in law, accounting, or medicine.

“She became a senior partner at the law firm after ten years of hard work.”

“The two tech companies acted as strategic partners to develop the new software, sharing both the development costs and the eventual profits.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

03sports/dancing

A2 · Elementary Countable noun Sports

n. the person you play with on the same team or dance with.

n. one of two people who dance together or play together on a side in a game.

“You need to find a partner for the next dance.”

“In professional ballroom competitions, the rapport between partners is judged as strictly as their individual technical execution.”

04to pair up

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to join with another person or group to do something together.

v. to associate as partners; to join with another person or entity for a specific collaborative purpose.

“The school partnered with a local library to encourage children to read more.”

“The non-profit organisation partnered with several private donors to ensure the community centre remained operational during the winter months.”

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'with'.

Synonyms

Antonyms

05ship framework

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical

n. a piece of wood used to strengthen the deck of a ship around a mast.

n. a framework of timber fitted around a hole in a ship's deck to support a mast, capstan, or pump.

“The carpenter repaired the partners to make sure the mast was secure.”

“Heavy seas had strained the deck, necessitating a full inspection of the partners where the mainmast passed through to the lower hold.”

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “partner” in context.

01. partner brother 02. partner reported 03. partner at the time

Etymology

From Middle English partener, partiner, alteration (due to Middle English part) of Middle English parcener, from Old French parçonier, parçonneour (“joint heir”) from parçon (“partition”), from Latin partītiōnem, singular accusative of partītiō (“portion”). The word may also represent Old French part tenour (“part holder”). Compare also Middle English partifere (“partner”), partifelewe (“partner”). Doublet of parcener.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

partner(A1)

Idioms

Domain

Nautical

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Very common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

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English Reference