guest list

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A written list of the people who have been invited to an event such as a party or wedding.

   Grammar: Takes an article and plural: a guest list, two guest lists.

   Patterns

   • on the guest list
   • draw up a guest list

   We are still working on the wedding guest list.

   Please check your name is on the guest list at the door.

   She cut three cousins from the guest list to save money.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   A list kept at an entrance of the names of people allowed in, such as at a club, so that others can be turned away.

   Grammar: Often used with on or off: he was not on the guest list.

   Patterns

   • get on the guest list
   • be on the guest list

   The bouncer checked every name against the guest list.

   My friend put me on the guest list for the gallery opening.

Word forms

Common combinations

on the guest list

Are you on the guest list for tonight?

draw up a guest list

They drew up a guest list a month before the party.

cut the guest list

We had to cut the guest list because the room was small.

extend the guest list

She decided to extend the guest list to include coworkers.

final guest list

The final guest list has fifty people on it.

Synonyms and how they differ

invitation list

Invitation list focuses on people you invite, while guest list also covers those allowed to enter.

attendee list

Attendee list is more formal and usually names people who actually come, rather than those invited.

roster

Roster usually names members of a team or staff, not the guests at an event.

Opposites

Word family

guest noun

a person invited to an event or staying with someone

list noun

a series of names or items written down

guesthouse noun

a small hotel or separate house for visitors

Commonly confused: guest list or waiting list?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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