inner ring

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A road or set of roads that forms a circle around the central part of a city.

   Grammar: Countable: say 'an inner ring' or 'the inner ring.'

   Patterns

   • the inner ring
   • an inner ring road
   • build an inner ring

   The city built an inner ring to keep heavy traffic out of the old center.

   Our hotel is just outside the inner ring, so it is easy to reach by car.

   Plans for the inner ring were delayed because of the cost.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A group of people at the center of power or influence within an organization.

   Grammar: Usually singular and often used with 'the': 'the inner ring around the leader.'

   Patterns

   • the inner ring around someone
   • join the inner ring
   • be part of the inner ring

   Only a small inner ring of advisers knew about the decision.

   She was never quite accepted into the inner ring of the party.

   The inner ring controls most of the money.

Word forms

Common combinations

inner ring road

The inner ring road takes you around the city center.

the inner ring around

A new inner ring around the capital is being planned.

build an inner ring

They want to build an inner ring to reduce congestion.

inside the inner ring

The museum is inside the inner ring, near the river.

Synonyms and how they differ

ring road

A general term for a road around a town; 'inner ring' is more specific and suggests a smaller circle close to the center.

beltway

Mainly American; it often refers to a large highway around a city, not necessarily the innermost one.

Opposites

Word family

ring road noun

A road that goes around a town or city.

ring noun

A circular shape or route.

Commonly confused: inner ring or ring road?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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