businesses

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Organizations that make, buy or sell goods or services to earn money.

   Grammar: Plural of business: small businesses need support.

   Patterns

   • businesses in a place

   Local businesses closed early for the holiday.

   Many small businesses rely on online sales.

   The city offers loans to new businesses.

2. 2nounpluralrare

   Matters or affairs that concern someone, as in minding one's own business.

   Grammar: Rare plural; mostly the uncountable singular is used.

   Messy family businesses are not for outsiders.

   They kept their private businesses quiet.

   He had several side businesses to manage.

Word forms

Common combinations

small businesses

Small businesses employ many locals.

local businesses

Local businesses sponsor the festival.

family businesses

Family businesses pass between generations.

run businesses

She runs two businesses.

start businesses

Young people start businesses online.

Synonyms and how they differ

companies

Companies are legally formed organizations, whereas businesses can be any trading operation, even one person.

firms

Firms often suggests professional services, like law firms, so it is narrower.

enterprises

Enterprises sounds formal and may suggest bigger or bolder projects.

ventures

Ventures stresses risk and newness, so it fits start-ups.

Opposites

Word family

business noun

a commercial organization or trade

businessman noun

a man who works in business

businesslike adjective

efficient and serious

businesslike adverb

in an efficient and serious way

Commonly confused: businesses or busyness?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “businesses”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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