Word
root
US/ˈɹut/
UK/ɹˈuːt/
Definitions
01part of a plant
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Science
n. the part of a plant that grows under the ground to find water and keep the plant in place.
n. the subterranean organ of a vascular plant that functions in anchorage and nutrient absorption.
日本語:根※
“The tree has very deep roots that help it survive during dry summers.”
“The invasive species developed an extensive root system that eventually compromised the structural integrity of the nearby stone wall.”
Synonyms
02origin or cause
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. the basic cause or origin of something.
n. the fundamental source, origin, or primary cause of a situation or condition.
日本語:根源※
“Money was at the root of all their family arguments.”
“The investigation sought to uncover the root of the systemic corruption that had plagued the department for decades.”
03family origins
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun
n. your family's history or the place where you come from.
n. a person's familial, cultural, or ancestral origins.
“She moved back to Italy to rediscover her family roots.”
“Despite living abroad for thirty years, he maintained a strong connection to his Irish roots through music and literature.”
04computing/admin
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Computing Technical
n. the most powerful user account on a computer system, or the top folder.
n. the superuser account on Unix-like systems with full administrative privileges; also the top-level directory in a hierarchy.
“You need root access to install this specific software on the server.”
“The system administrator logged in as root to modify the core configuration files that were restricted to standard users.”
Synonyms
05linguistics
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical · Academic
n. the basic part of a word that carries the main meaning.
n. the primary lexical unit of a word which carries the most significant semantic content and cannot be reduced further.
“The English word 'friendship' comes from the root word 'friend'.”
“Etymologists traced the root of the verb back to a Proto-Indo-European term meaning to shine.”
06to cheer for
B1 · Intermediate Sports American English · Informal
v. to show support for a team or person and hope they win.
v. to express vocal support or encouragement for a contestant or team.
“I always root for the local team, even when they are losing.”
“The entire city was rooting for the underdog to pull off an upset in the championship final.”
Usage
usually takes the preposition 'for'
Antonyms
07to search through
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to look for something by moving things around or digging.
v. to rummage or search through items, often by moving them aside in a disorganized way.
“She was rooting through her bag looking for her car keys.”
“He spent the afternoon rooting around in the attic, hoping to find the old photo albums his mother had mentioned.”
Usage
often used with 'around' or 'through'
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “root” in context.
Verb
01. root for the home team
“The whole city gathered at the stadium to root for the home team during the finals.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
02. tackle the root of the problem
“We need to tackle the root of the problem rather than just fixing the symptoms.”
verb + noun + of + noun
03. take root in the soil
“The new seeds quickly took root in the soil after the heavy spring rain.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
04. deep-seated roots
“The conflict between the two families has deep-seated roots going back generations.”
adj + noun
05. the underlying root cause
“Investigators are trying to identify the underlying root cause of the engine failure.”
adj + noun + noun
Noun
06. a sense of roots
“Living in the same village for decades gave him a strong sense of roots.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
07. at the root of the issue
“A lack of communication is often at the root of the issue in failing relationships.”
prep + noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“She rose high from her East Tennessee roots and never forgot where she came from.” “Maybe I needed to be close to my roots, home.” “Yet the history of the Tricontinental had much deeper roots in Black political movements in the Americas.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
Domains
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0