public
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.describes something that anyone can use or visit, often paid for by the government.
adj.open to all members of a community; specifically, provided by national or local authorities and supported by taxation.
Simple“The city built a new public library where anyone can borrow books for free.”
In context“The administration argued that public infrastructure projects should be prioritised over private developments to ensure equitable access for all citizens.”
Antonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.happening where people can see it, or known by many people.
adj.happening without concealment; open to general view or known by the community at large.
Simple“The company made a public apology after their mistake was reported in the news.”
In context“The CEO's public statement was carefully drafted to reassure shareholders without admitting legal liability for the recent data breach.”
Antonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.related to a person's job or official life, rather than their private life.
adj.pertaining to a person in their formal or official capacity as opposed to their personal life.
Simple“The minister tried to keep his family life separate from his public duties.”
In context“Maintaining a distinction between one's public persona and private identity is increasingly difficult in the era of constant social media surveillance.”
Synonyms - 04 A2 Elementary
n.the people of a country or community in general.
n.the members of the community or the people in general, regardless of membership in specific groups.
Simple“The museum is now open to the public every day of the week.”
In context“The government must balance the need for national security with the public's right to access information regarding environmental safety.”
UsageUsually preceded by the definite article 'the'.
Synonyms - 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a group of people who follow or watch a particular artist, writer, or performer.
n.a specific demographic or group of people who support or follow a particular individual or creative work.
Simple“The young singer has a very loyal public that buys all her albums.”
In context“The author struggled to satisfy his public while simultaneously experimenting with a radical new narrative style that alienated long-time readers.”
UsageOften used with a possessive determiner like 'his', 'her', or 'their'.
Synonyms - 06 B1 Intermediate
n.a place or situation where other people can see or hear you.
n.the state of being in the presence of spectators or the general population.
Simple“It is considered rude to shout at your friends in public.”
In context“The celebrity rarely appeared in public without a security detail to manage the inevitable crowds of photographers.”
UsageAlmost exclusively used in the fixed phrase 'in public'.
- 07 C1 Advanced
adj.describes a part of a computer program that can be used by any other part.
adj.denotes an object or variable accessible to the program in general, rather than being restricted to a specific class.
Simple“You should make this variable public so other classes can access the data.”
In context“The developer decided to change the method from private to public to allow for better integration with the third-party API.”
Synonyms
Usage public comments · public health · public inquiry