in league with

Idioms

Also, in cahoots with. In close cooperation or in partnership with, often secretly or in a conspiracy. For example, “For anybody on the road might be a robber, or in league with robbers” (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859), or We suspect that the mayor is in cahoots with the construction industry. The first term dates from the mid-1500s. The variant, a colloquialism dating from the early 1800s, may come from the French cahute, “a small hut or cabin,” and may allude to the close quarters in such a dwelling.

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.

Ms. Ware has cited Donna Summer and Chaka Khan as inspirations, and her voice’s combination of power and warmth puts her in league with such legends.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

"They suspect them of being in league with the Malian army, which is why there were these reprisals," added the other man, dressed in a green boubou robe and traditional turban.

From Barron's • Nov. 10, 2025

On Thursday night, Harvard-Westlake improved to 2-0 in league with a 67-56 home victory over Crespi, which played without its injured standout, Peyton White.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2025

The endorsement puts Swift in league with other pop stars like Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, and Olivia Rodrigo, as well as a grip of elected Republicans.

From Salon • Sep. 20, 2024

Was she testing me, looking for a sign that I was in league with Hamlet?

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023