business
an occupation, profession, or trade: His business is poultry farming.
the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit.
a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service; profit-seeking enterprise or concern.
volume of trade; patronage: Most of the store's business comes from local families.
a building or site where commercial work is carried on, as a factory, store, or office; place of work: His business is on the corner of Broadway and Elm Street.
that with which a person is principally and seriously concerned: Words are a writer's business.
something with which a person is rightfully concerned: What they are doing is none of my business.
affair; project: We were exasperated by the whole business.
an assignment or task; chore: It's your business to wash the dishes now.
Also called piece of business, stage business. Theater. a movement or gesture, especially a minor one, used by an actor to give expressiveness, drama, detail, etc., to a scene or to help portray a character.
excrement: used as a euphemism.
of, noting, or pertaining to business, its organization, or its procedures.
containing, suitable for, or welcoming business or commerce: New York is a good business town.
Idioms about business
business is business, profit has precedence over personal considerations: He is reluctant to fire his friend, but business is business.
do one's business, (usually of an animal or child) to defecate or urinate: housebreaking a puppy to do his business outdoors.
get down to business, to apply oneself to serious matters; concentrate on work: They finally got down to business and signed the contract.
give someone the business, Informal.
to make difficulties for someone; treat harshly: Instead of a straight answer they give him the business with a needless run-around.
to scold severely; give a tongue-lashing to: The passengers will give the bus driver the business if he keeps driving so recklessly.
have no business, to have no right: You have no business coming into this house.
mean business, to propose to take action or be serious in intent; be in earnest: By the fire in his eye we knew that he meant business.
mind one's own business, to refrain from meddling in the affairs of others: When he inquired about the noise coming from the neighbor's apartment, he was told to mind his own business.
Origin of business
1synonym study For business
pronunciation note For business
Other words for business
Other words from business
- an·ti·busi·ness, adjective
- in·ter·busi·ness, adjective
- mul·ti·busi·ness, adjective
- non·busi·ness, adjective
- o·ver·bus·i·ness, noun
- pro·busi·ness, adjective
Words Nearby business
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use business in a sentence
It’s unconscionable to go home before the election without helping families and small businesses, and I think there’s a deep recognition that now, at this point, that it’s simply impossible to go home without getting something done.
Trump moves closer to Pelosi in economic aid talks, and House speaker must decide next move | Rachael Bade, Erica Werner | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostAnother idea circulating in the House is to pass individual bills, such as new business loans or unemployment help, just to show or remind Americans that House Democrats are trying to help.
Why House Democrats have good reason to be anxious about no coronavirus relief deal | Amber Phillips | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostThe full restrictions at issue have now eased, but a variety of limitations on businesses and gatherings remain in effect.
Courts may reconsider temporary coronavirus restrictions as pandemic drags on | Anne Gearan, Karin Brulliard | September 16, 2020 | Washington PostBefore the coronavirus pandemic shuttered businesses and sent unemployment soaring, the president could certainly brag about the state of the economy in his first three years as president.
Trump’s ABC News town hall: Four Pinocchios, over and over again | Glenn Kessler | September 16, 2020 | Washington PostThe plan calls for accelerating access to reconstruction funding, forgiving disaster relief loans to municipalities and bolstering local businesses.
Biden visits Florida as Democrats worry about his standing in the state | Sean Sullivan | September 15, 2020 | Washington Post
I was a little mystified at how benignly he responded to my questions about his business activities.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 | Vicky Ward | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThis reporter knocked at the Wilkins home on Tuesday morning but received neither an answer nor the business end of a shotgun.
The 7-Year-Old Plane Crash Survivor’s Brutal Journey Through the Woods | James Higdon | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST“Competition is there, of course, but I think there is enough business for everyone as long as the demand is there,” he says.
Last March they gave Airbus a huge piece of new business, ordering 169 A320s and 65 of the slightly larger A321.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501 | Clive Irving | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTTogether, they crossed over the International Bridges on foot into Juarez to conduct some business.
An Informant, a Missing American, and Juarez’s House of Death: Inside the 12-Year Cold Case of David Castro | Bill Conroy | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHe remembered something—the cherished pose of being a man plunged fathoms-deep in business.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniA letter from Fajardo to the king (December 10, 1621) concerns various matters of administration and business.
The father of Mr. Stacy Marks predestined him for the coach-building business.
That, and a range war that grew out of the killing, and some kind of a business deal just about broke them.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairBut he could not bear the reflection, and with fevered impatience, he hurried through the business of the morning.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter
British Dictionary definitions for business
/ (ˈbɪznɪs) /
a trade or profession
an industrial, commercial, or professional operation; purchase and sale of goods and services: the tailoring business
a commercial or industrial establishment, such as a firm or factory
commercial activity; dealings (esp in the phrase do business)
volume or quantity of commercial activity: business is poor today
commercial policy or procedure: overcharging is bad business
proper or rightful concern or responsibility (often in the phrase mind one's own business)
a special task; assignment
a matter or matters to be attended to: the business of the meeting
an affair; matter: a queer business; I'm tired of the whole business
serious work or activity: get down to business
a complicated affair; rigmarole
informal a vaguely defined collection or area: jets, fast cars, and all that business
Also called: stage business theatre an incidental action, such as lighting a pipe, performed by an actor for dramatic effect
a group of ferrets
euphemistic defecation (esp in the phrase do one's business)
slang prostitution
like nobody's business informal extremely well or fast
mean business to be in earnest
do the business informal to achieve what is required: it tastes vile, but it does the business
Origin of business
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with business
In addition to the idiom beginning with business
- business as usual
also see:
- funny business
- get down to (business)
- go about (one's business)
- have no business doing
- land-office business
- like mad (nobody's business)
- make it one's business
- mean business
- mind one's own business
- monkey business
- none of one's business
- out of business
- send someone about his or her business
- the business
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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