# ties

/ˈtaɪz/ (US) · /tˈaɪz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. social or emotional connections

noun · CEFR B2

the connections or relationships between people, groups, or countries.

For teachers: social, emotional, or political connections that bind individuals or groups together.

- The two countries have strong economic ties that go back many years.
- Despite living abroad for decades, he maintained close emotional ties to his hometown through regular correspondence and annual visits.

### 2. clothing

noun · CEFR A2

long pieces of cloth worn around the neck under a collar.

For teachers: plural form of the necktie; a decorative band of fabric worn around the neck and tied in front.

- He had to wear a suit and one of his silk ties for the wedding.
- The dress code required all male employees to wear formal shirts and ties during client-facing hours.

### 3. equal scores

noun · CEFR B1

situations in a game where two teams have the same score.

For teachers: instances in a competition where two or more participants achieve the same score or position.

- There were three ties in the first round of the tournament.
- The sudden-death round was implemented specifically to resolve ties and ensure a clear winner emerged before the final.

## Examples

- The two countries have strong economic ties.
- After living abroad for a decade, she decided to return home to strengthen her family ties.
- The sudden collapse of the treaty threatened to sever the long-standing cultural ties that had united the two neighboring regions for centuries.

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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.