partner
- 01 A1 Beginner
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'.
Simple“My partner and I have lived in this apartment for five years.”
In context“The invitation was extended to each employee and their partner, ensuring that domestic companions were included in the formal gala.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
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.
Simple“She became a senior partner at the law firm after ten years of hard work.”
In context“The two tech companies acted as strategic partners to develop the new software, sharing both the development costs and the eventual profits.”
Antonyms - 03 A2 Elementary
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.
Simple“You need to find a partner for the next dance.”
In context“In professional ballroom competitions, the rapport between partners is judged as strictly as their individual technical execution.”
- 04 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.
Simple“The school partnered with a local library to encourage children to read more.”
In context“The non-profit organisation partnered with several private donors to ensure the community centre remained operational during the winter months.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'with'.
Synonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“The carpenter repaired the partners to make sure the mast was secure.”
In context“Heavy seas had strained the deck, necessitating a full inspection of the partners where the mainmast passed through to the lower hold.”
Usage partner brother · partner reported · partner at the time
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.