A1noun1K

College

UK /["/ˈkɒlɪdʒ/"]/US /["/ˈkɑːlɪdʒ/"]/

Definition

(in the UK) a place where students go to study or to receive training after they have left school

In simple words: A school or place for higher education after high school.

Examples

  • After finishing high school, she decided to go to college.
  • He lives in a dormitory near his college.
  • Many students are excited to start college this fall.
  • The college offers a variety of courses.
  • I met my best friends in college.

Usage notes

Use 'college' when referring to institutions offering undergraduate degrees. It's not typically used for technical schools or community colleges. Avoid using it in very formal contexts where 'university' might be more appropriate.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'college' like a 'knowledge' factory — a place where you go to get more knowledge.

Collocations

  • community
  • local
  • private
  • attend
  • go to
  • enter
  • offer something
  • run something
  • attract somebody
  • administrator
  • faculty
  • lecturer
  • at college
  • in college
  • to college
  • community
  • local
  • private
  • attend
  • go to
  • enter
  • offer something
  • run something
  • attract somebody
  • administrator
  • faculty
  • lecturer
  • at college
  • in college
  • to college
  • community
  • local
  • private
  • attend
  • go to
  • enter
  • offer something
  • run something
  • attract somebody
  • administrator
  • faculty
  • lecturer
  • at college
  • in college
  • to college

Synonyms

  • university
  • academy
  • institute
  • school
  • seminary

Antonyms

  • high school

Common mistakes

  • 'College' can refer to both 2-year and 4-year institutions, but some learners confuse it with only 4-year universities.
  • Mispronouncing 'college' as 'collage', which refers to a type of art.
  • Confusing 'college' with 'campus', which refers to the physical grounds of the institution.