business

/ˈbɪznəs/

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Type

Noun

Meaning

  1. The work of making, buying, and selling goods or services.

    • He wants to go into business after college.

  2. A company, store, or other organization that sells goods or services.

    • She runs a small business that makes candles.

  3. The amount of work or the number of customers a company has.

    • Business is always slow in January.

  4. Work that is part of your job, rather than for fun.

    • I'm in Chicago on business this week.

  5. Something that is your concern or responsibility.

    • Where I go on the weekend is my business.

How it's used

When this means “start working, or continue working, as a company”

  • go into business / be in business

They've been in business for twenty years.

When this means “buy and sell with someone”

  • do business with + person/company

We do business with suppliers in many countries.

When this means “traveling or doing something for work”

  • on business

He's away on business until Friday.

When this means “a direct way of saying that something is private”

  • none of your business

How much I paid is none of your business.

Collocations

  • do business
  • business hours
  • run a business
  • start a business
  • small business
  • family business
  • business is good
  • lose business
  • business trip
  • business meeting

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • pleasure

Idioms

  • mind your own business

    used to tell someone not to ask about or get involved in something private

    I told him to mind his own business.

  • get down to business

    to start working on the important part of a task

    Let's get down to business and plan the event.