# team

/ˈtim/ (US) · /tˈiːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/team
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. group of people

noun · CEFR A1 · General-service

a group of people who work together to do a job or play a sport.

For teachers: a group of individuals associated in some joint action, especially in a competitive sport or a professional project.

- Our sales team met this morning to discuss the new project goals.
- The research team collaborated across three different continents to ensure the clinical trials met international safety standards.

Usage: Often takes a singular verb in American English and a plural verb in British English.

### 2. group of animals

noun · CEFR B2

two or more animals, like horses or oxen, that pull a vehicle together.

For teachers: two or more draft animals harnessed together to pull a vehicle or agricultural implement.

- The farmer used a team of horses to pull the heavy wagon.
- A team of oxen was traditionally employed to clear the rocky soil before the introduction of mechanical tractors.

### 3. side of a debate

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a group of people who support one side of an argument or a famous person.

For teachers: a collective of supporters or advocates for one side of a binary social or cultural debate.

- In the debate about the movie's ending, I am definitely on Team Sarah.
- Social media users quickly divided into Team Apple and Team Android, sparking a heated discussion about hardware longevity.

### 4. to join together

verb · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: to form a group or partnership for a specific purpose; frequently used with 'up'.

- I decided to team up with my classmate for the science project.
- The local charity teamed up with several corporate sponsors to fund the construction of the new community centre.

### 5. to match or harmonize

verb · CEFR B2

to put two things together because they look good or work well together.

For teachers: to coordinate or match items, typically clothing or accessories, for aesthetic harmony.

- You can team this blue jacket with a pair of grey trousers.
- The stylist suggested teaming the vintage silk scarf with a modern blazer to create a sophisticated contrast.

## Examples

- Our team wins the game every Saturday.
- The legal team spent the entire weekend preparing the documents for the upcoming trial.
- Effective leadership within a corporate team requires balancing individual ambitions with the collective objectives of the department to ensure long-term project success.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
