business
Americannoun
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businesses
plural
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an occupation, profession, or trade.
His business is poultry farming.
- Synonyms:
- employment, vocation, calling
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the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit.
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a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service; profit-seeking enterprise or concern.
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volume of trade; patronage.
Most of the store's business comes from local families.
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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.
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that with which a person is principally and seriously concerned.
Words are a writer's business.
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something with which a person is rightfully concerned.
What they are doing is none of my business.
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affair; project.
We were exasperated by the whole business.
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an assignment or task; chore.
It's your business to wash the dishes now.
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Also called stage business. Also called piece of 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.
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excrement: used as a euphemism.
adjective
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of, noting, or pertaining to business, its organization, or its procedures.
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containing, suitable for, or welcoming business or commerce.
New York is a good business town.
idioms
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business is business, profit has precedence over personal considerations.
He is reluctant to fire his friend, but business is business.
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have no business, to have no right.
You have no business coming into this house.
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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.
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do one's business, (usually of an animal or child) to defecate or urinate.
housebreaking a puppy to do his business outdoors.
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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.
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get down to business, to apply oneself to serious matters; concentrate on work.
They finally got down to business and signed the contract.
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give someone the business,
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to make difficulties for someone; treat harshly.
Instead of a straight answer they give him the business with a needless run-around.
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to scold severely; give a tongue-lashing to.
The passengers will give the bus driver the business if he keeps driving so recklessly.
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noun
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a trade or profession
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an industrial, commercial, or professional operation; purchase and sale of goods and services
the tailoring business
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a commercial or industrial establishment, such as a firm or factory
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commercial activity; dealings (esp in the phrase do business )
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volume or quantity of commercial activity
business is poor today
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commercial policy or procedure
overcharging is bad business
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proper or rightful concern or responsibility (often in the phrase mind one's own business )
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a special task; assignment
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a matter or matters to be attended to
the business of the meeting
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an affair; matter
a queer business
I'm tired of the whole business
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serious work or activity
get down to business
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a complicated affair; rigmarole
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informal a vaguely defined collection or area
jets, fast cars, and all that business
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Also called: stage business. theatre an incidental action, such as lighting a pipe, performed by an actor for dramatic effect
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a group of ferrets
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euphemistic defecation (esp in the phrase do one's business )
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slang prostitution
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informal extremely well or fast
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to be in earnest
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informal to achieve what is required
it tastes vile, but it does the business
Pronunciation
See isn't.
Usage
What does business mean? Business is the sale of goods or services to try to make a profit, as in Restaurants are a tough business, with many restaurants closing in the first few years. Business is also used to refer to any person or group of people that operate with the purpose of making money, as in Yen and Tao went into business walking the dogs in their neighborhood. Business is also used to refer to the sales and money brought in by a business, as in Even though we had a lot of visitors to the store, business was slow over the weekend. Business has many other senses related to work and trade, but it can also refer to someone’s personal concern or interest. Your feelings, for example, are your own business. Business can also be used as an adjective to describe anything related to the workings of a profession or exchange of money, as in The business office is closed on weekends, but the store is usually open. Example: Some small businesses make more money in this town than the chains do.
Synonym Usage
See occupation.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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overbusinessnoun
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antibusinessadjective
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interbusinessadjective
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multibusinessadjective
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nonbusinessadjective
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probusinessadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of business
First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English bisignes; busy + -ness
Explanation
If you are in Hong Kong to do work, then you’re away on business. The word business can refer to the activities you perform for your job. The word business often refers to an occupation (like "she owns her own business") or a particular trade, like show business. Business can also describe an enterprise's financial goal, as in, a store that uses advertising to attract business, or its activity — like a store that does most of its business on weekends. It isn't always easy to run a business. In fact, it comes from the Old English word bisignis, which meant “anxiety."
Vocabulary lists containing business
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 5
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Words Whose Pronunciation Has Changed Over Time
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"Dragon, Dragon"
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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.
See Examples For:
Even as Tesla continues to promote robotics, AI and autonomy as the future of its business, its grip on the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
“I’ve been doing this for 13 or 14 years. It’s not a good business any more,” Drolma says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
It was billed as a 20-minute address to Irish and Irish American business leaders, but was about twice that and strayed largely into domestic US matters.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
I’m self-employed, running a small consulting business through my own LLC.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 12, 2026
“No skin off my tail. I’ll quit mushrooms and find some other business and you can just abandon Deadwood.”
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
While Healey recently spoke about the need to support businesses, families will have to wait until the budget at the end of next month to see if there will be any help for them.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
In 2023, they brought in $2.65 billion, according to the government, often sold in deals struck by the state with businesses that invest in Laos's infrastructure.
From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026
The Timber fire also led to the closure of businesses such as the Big Sur River Inn and the popular scenic restaurant Nepenthe, which claimed it was losing more than $70,000 per day while closed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
Economists think that tariffs might have put some upward pressure on prices in 2026, as some businesses such as clothing retailers waited until the new year to pass on higher costs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Maybe he’s been trying to start all these businesses over the years to make some money doing something he’s good at.
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
