Meaning & use

line

noun·Everyday

A long, thin mark, or a sequence of people, words, or things arranged in order.

See it in a sentence

He drew a straight line across the page to divide the two columns.

We waited in line for nearly an hour to buy tickets.

A note on using this word

Line has dozens of specialized senses, from a company's product range ('a new line of shoes') to a spoken part in a play.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A single row of words in a poem, song, or script.

Critics praised the opening line of the poem for its striking imagery.

3. verb

To mark or cover a surface with a line, or to form a row along something.

Tall oak trees line both sides of the quiet street.

Make it your own

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