Meaning & use

lineup or line-up

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈlaɪnʌp/
US/ˈlaɪnʌp/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A group of people or things arranged in a line, or the list of players in a team.

    Grammar: Often used with 'the' or a possessive: the starting lineup, our lineup.

    Patterns

    • the lineup for something
    • a lineup of something

    The coach announced the starting lineup for tonight's game.

    There was a long lineup outside the concert hall.

    The festival has a great lineup of bands this year.

  2. nouncountablelaw

    A group of suspects shown to a witness to identify a criminal.

    Grammar: Usually singular with 'a' or 'the': a police lineup.

    Patterns

    • in a lineup
    • police lineup

    The witness picked the suspect out of a lineup.

    He was asked to stand in a lineup at the police station.

Word forms

plurallineups

Common combinations

starting lineup
The team's starting lineup includes two new players.
announce the lineup
The organizers will announce the lineup next week.
a lineup of speakers
The conference has an impressive lineup of speakers.
police lineup
The suspect was identified in a police lineup.

Synonyms and how they differ

queue
Used mainly in British English for a line of people waiting; 'lineup' is more American and can also mean a list of players or performers.
roster
Refers to a list of members of a team or organization, often used in sports; 'lineup' focuses on the specific group playing in a game.

Word family

line up verb
To arrange people or things in a line, or to stand in a line.

Commonly confused: lineup or line-up or line up?

lineup or line-up vs line up

As a verb, it is two words: 'Please line up here.' The noun is one word or hyphenated: 'the lineup' or 'the line-up'.

Practice

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