English Collocations: The Complete Guide
Collocations are the secret to sounding truly natural in English. Native speakers do not "do a decision" — they "make a decision". They do not "say a speech" — they "give a speech". This guide covers 48 essential collocations across six core types, complete with clear definitions and authentic example sentences to help you use each one with confidence.
48 collocations · 6 types
"make a decision"
To decide something after thinking about it carefully.
"She had to make a difficult decision about whether to accept the job offer abroad."
"take action"
To do something in response to a situation or problem.
"The government promised to take action on rising energy prices by the end of the month."
"do research"
To investigate a topic systematically to find information.
"The scientists did research into the long-term effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive function."
"give advice"
To offer suggestions or recommendations to someone.
"The financial consultant gave advice on how to invest savings effectively for retirement."
"pay attention"
To listen or watch carefully and with concentration.
"Students who pay attention in class consistently perform better on their final examinations."
"have a conversation"
To talk with someone in an informal or formal exchange.
"We need to have a conversation about the new project timeline before the client meeting."
"reach a conclusion"
To arrive at a judgement or decision after considering evidence.
"After reviewing all the data, the committee reached a conclusion that more funding was needed."
"hold a meeting"
To organise and conduct a formal gathering of people to discuss matters.
"The team holds a weekly meeting every Monday morning to review priorities and progress."
"strong argument"
A convincing and well-supported point or case.
"The lawyer presented a strong argument that persuaded the jury within the first hour of the trial."
"heavy traffic"
A large volume of vehicles causing slow movement on roads.
"She left home early to avoid the heavy traffic that builds up on the motorway during rush hour."
"sharp increase"
A sudden and large rise in a number or level.
"There was a sharp increase in online shopping during the first months of the pandemic."
"deep concern"
A serious feeling of worry or anxiety about something.
"Doctors expressed deep concern about the rapid spread of the new respiratory virus in the region."
"broad knowledge"
An extensive and wide-ranging understanding of many subjects.
"Her broad knowledge of international law made her the ideal candidate for the senior legal position."
"golden opportunity"
An exceptionally good chance that should not be missed.
"Studying abroad is a golden opportunity to improve language skills and experience a new culture."
"close relationship"
A deep, intimate connection between people or things.
"The two countries maintained a close relationship built on decades of trade and cultural exchange."
"bitter disappointment"
A strong, painful feeling of not achieving what was expected.
"Finishing second in the championship was a bitter disappointment after training for more than two years."
"deeply concerned"
Very seriously worried about something.
"The health authorities are deeply concerned about the declining vaccination rates among young adults."
"highly unlikely"
Very improbable; with very little chance of happening.
"It is highly unlikely that the project will be completed on schedule given the current staffing issues."
"fully aware"
Completely and thoroughly informed or conscious of something.
"The manager was fully aware of the risks before she approved the ambitious expansion strategy."
"widely recognised"
Acknowledged or accepted by many people across different groups.
"She is widely recognised as one of the most influential scientists of the twentieth century."
"bitterly disappointed"
Feeling very strong and painful disappointment.
"He was bitterly disappointed when his application for the scholarship was rejected at the final stage."
"perfectly clear"
Completely easy to understand; without any ambiguity.
"The instructions must be perfectly clear before any participant begins the experimental procedure."
"strongly opposed"
Very firmly against something; holding a clear objection.
"Several council members were strongly opposed to the proposal to build a new road through the park."
"barely visible"
Almost impossible to see; only slightly noticeable.
"The footprints were barely visible after the overnight snowfall had covered the woodland path."
"speak fluently"
To talk in a language smoothly and without hesitation.
"After living in Paris for three years, he could speak French fluently in both formal and casual settings."
"think clearly"
To reason in a focused and logical way without confusion.
"It is hard to think clearly when you are under extreme pressure or lacking adequate sleep."
"listen carefully"
To pay close and attentive attention to what is being said.
"Please listen carefully to the safety briefing before the flight departs, as it contains vital information."
"respond quickly"
To react or reply to something in a short amount of time.
"Emergency services must respond quickly to calls to minimise harm and save lives effectively."
"argue convincingly"
To make a case in a persuasive and credible way.
"The candidate argued convincingly for environmental reform during the televised debate last night."
"fail miserably"
To be completely unsuccessful in a very obvious way.
"The product launch failed miserably because the team had not properly researched the target market."
"work tirelessly"
To put in great effort continuously without giving up or resting.
"The volunteers worked tirelessly to distribute food and medicine to the flood-affected communities."
"read widely"
To read many different types of texts from a variety of sources.
"Students who read widely develop stronger vocabulary and a more nuanced understanding of the world."
"research paper"
A written document presenting original academic research and its findings.
"She spent six months writing a research paper on the impact of social media on adolescent mental health."
"business opportunity"
A situation that makes it possible to start or expand a commercial venture.
"The trade fair presented several promising business opportunities for small manufacturers seeking export markets."
"information technology"
The use of computers and software systems to store, manage, and transmit data.
"The university requires all students to complete a foundation course in information technology in their first year."
"health care"
The organised provision of medical services and support for people.
"Access to quality health care remains unequal across urban and rural communities in many countries."
"climate change"
Long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, largely driven by human activity.
"Scientists warn that climate change will lead to more frequent and severe weather events in coming decades."
"market research"
The collection and analysis of data about consumer preferences and market conditions.
"Before launching the product, the company conducted thorough market research with focus groups."
"deadline pressure"
The stress caused by having to complete work within a set time limit.
"Many journalists perform their best work under deadline pressure when the stakes feel genuinely high."
"career development"
The ongoing process of managing and improving one's professional skills and growth.
"The firm offered mentoring programmes and training workshops to support employee career development."
"in conclusion"
A discourse marker used to introduce a final summary or closing statement.
"In conclusion, the evidence strongly supports the need for immediate reform of the current taxation system."
"on the other hand"
A phrase used to introduce a contrasting or opposing point of view.
"The new policy will reduce costs; on the other hand, it may negatively affect customer satisfaction scores."
"at first glance"
Based on an initial, quick look or impression before deeper examination.
"At first glance, the two proposals seemed identical, but closer inspection revealed important differences."
"beyond doubt"
Without any uncertainty; completely certain or proven.
"The DNA evidence proved beyond doubt that the defendant had not been present at the crime scene."
"under pressure"
Experiencing stress or urgency because of demands or difficult circumstances.
"Young doctors often have to make critical decisions under pressure with limited time and information."
"take for granted"
To fail to appreciate something or assume it will always be available.
"We tend to take clean drinking water for granted until we visit regions where it is genuinely scarce."
"in the long run"
Over a long period of time; eventually, when all effects are considered.
"Investing in renewable energy may be costly now, but it will save money in the long run for consumers."
"out of the question"
Completely impossible or not to be considered; not an option.
"Accepting payment in cash is out of the question for any transaction above a certain legal threshold."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a collocation in English?
A collocation is a pair or group of words that habitually appear together because native speakers have come to associate them. For example, "make a decision" is a collocation — while "do a decision" uses correct grammar, it sounds unnatural because native speakers simply never say it that way. Collocations exist across all word types: verb + noun, adjective + noun, adverb + adjective, and more.
Why are collocations important for English learners?
Vocabulary knowledge alone is not enough to sound natural. Knowing that "heavy" can mean "serious" helps, but you also need to know you say "heavy traffic" and "heavy rain" — not "strong rain" or "intense traffic". Collocations make your English sound fluent and idiomatic rather than translated, which is why they are a focus of Cambridge, IELTS, and TOEFL examiners.
What is the difference between a collocation and an idiom?
A collocation is a natural word pairing whose meaning is fairly transparent — "make a decision" means exactly what it says. An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning cannot be guessed from the individual words — "kick the bucket" means to die, not to literally kick a bucket. Collocations are far more numerous and are essential at every level; idioms add colour but are mostly optional.
How can I learn collocations effectively?
The most effective strategy is noticing: whenever you read or listen to English, highlight unusual word pairs rather than single words. Use a collocation dictionary such as the Oxford Collocations Dictionary to check whether a combination is natural. Keep a vocabulary notebook organised by keyword (e.g., all collocations with "time" or "money"). Regular exposure to native content — articles, podcasts, films — accelerates acquisition dramatically.
Which collocations are the most important to learn first?
Prioritise high-frequency verb + noun collocations using the most common English verbs: make, do, have, take, give, get, go, come, run, and keep. These verbs appear in thousands of natural combinations. After that, focus on adjective + noun collocations in your area of interest — whether business, academic writing, or everyday conversation.
The fastest way to absorb collocations is to encounter them repeatedly in real contexts — films, podcasts, and native-speaker conversations.
Practice with real English videos →