Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

lines

British  
/ laɪnz /

plural noun

  1. general appearance or outline

    a car with fine lines

  2. a plan of procedure or construction

    built on traditional lines

    1. the spoken words of a theatrical presentation

    2. the words of a particular role

      he forgot his lines

  3. informal a marriage certificate

    marriage lines

  4. luck, fate, or fortune (esp in the phrase hard lines )

    1. rows of tents, buildings, temporary stabling, etc, in a military camp

      transport lines

    2. a defensive position, row of trenches, or other fortification

      we broke through the enemy lines

    1. a school punishment of writing the same sentence or phrase out a specified number of times

    2. the phrases or sentences so written out

      a hundred lines

  5. to understand or find an implicit meaning in addition to the obvious one

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If that is the case, Iran may be attempting to establish a new regional reality: one in which it negotiates from a position of strength while actively enforcing its own red lines.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

After Walker’s time at the private office ended, she kept lines to Gates open.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

I wish the internet looked like Matt Damon, or like lines of light written by an invisible hand in the night sky.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026

Five current commissioners — William Muniz, Michael Ruff, Rosalind Sargent-Burns, Mary Thornton and Jack Weiss — were reconfirmed June 1 in votes that fell along party lines.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

He points out the phrases he likes best, the lines that surprised him or made him want to know more.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "lines" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com