Meaning & use
area
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A particular part of a town, country or other larger space.
Grammar: Countable: in this area, several areas; it can refer to places of any size.
Patterns
- in the area
- the area around something
- in the area of something
They live in a quiet area on the edge of town.
The area around the lake is full of walking paths.
Heavy snow is expected in mountain areas tonight.
nouncountable
A space set aside for a particular use.
Grammar: Often follows a noun that tells the use: picnic area, parking area.
Patterns
- a play area
- a dining area
Guests can wait in the seating area near the entrance.
The park has a fenced play area for toddlers.
Please keep the kitchen area clear.
nouncountable
A subject, topic or field of activity or knowledge.
Grammar: Often used with of or in: an area of interest, in the area of finance.
Patterns
- an area of something
- in the area of something
Math is her strongest area at school.
The team works in several areas, including design and sales.
Safety is an area of real concern for the company.
nouncountable or uncountablemathematics
The size of a flat surface, measured in square units.
Grammar: Measured in square units: the area of a room is length times width.
Patterns
- the area of something
- an area of five square meters
Calculate the area of the rectangle by multiplying its sides.
The garden has an area of about fifty square meters.
The country has a large area but a small population.
Word forms
| plural | areas |
|---|
Common combinations
- surrounding area
- The hotel and the surrounding area were flooded.
- residential area
- The school is in a quiet residential area.
- area of expertise
- Cooking is not my area of expertise.
- disaster area
- The region was declared a disaster area.
- calculate the area
- Students calculated the area of the playground.
- grey area
- The rules leave a grey area about working from home.
Synonyms and how they differ
- region
- Region usually means a larger area with shared features, such as a cultural or geographic zone.
- zone
- Zone suggests an area marked off for a specific purpose or with clear limits.
- field
- Field, for subjects, suggests a branch of knowledge or work, while area can be narrower and more casual.
- district
- District is a named part of a town or country, often used for official or administrative divisions.
Word family
Commonly confused: area or perimeter? area or aria?
area vs perimeter
The perimeter is the distance around the edge of a shape, while area is the space inside it.
area vs aria
Aria sounds like the last syllable and is a solo song in an opera.
Practice
A rectangle is 4 meters long and 3 meters wide. What is its ______?
Choose one answer.
Area is length times width, so 12 square meters. Perimeter is the distance around the edge and would be 14 meters, and it is not measured in square units.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “area”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.