load

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The amount of something, especially cargo or weight, that is carried or supported at one time.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with 'a' or numbers: a heavy load, two loads of laundry.

   Patterns

   • a load of something
   • carry a load
   • support a load

   The truck was carrying a heavy load of bricks.

   She put another load of laundry in the washing machine.

   The bridge collapsed under the load of the traffic.

2. 2verbtransitive

   To put a large quantity of something into or onto a vehicle, container, or device.

   Grammar: Takes an object: load the car (with something).

   Patterns

   • load something with something
   • load something into something
   • load something onto something

   They loaded the van with boxes.

   He loaded the groceries into the car.

   Load the data onto the computer before you start.

3. 3nouncountablefigurative

   The amount of work or responsibility that someone has to deal with.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in phrases like 'a heavy load' or 'share the load'.

   Patterns

   • a load of work
   • carry a load
   • share the load

   Teachers have a heavy load of marking to do.

   She took on a bigger load of responsibility at work.

   We need to share the load if we want to finish on time.

4. 4nounsingularinformal

   A large amount of something, often used informally.

   Grammar: Usually singular with 'a' and followed by 'of': a load of people.

   Patterns

   • a load of something
   • loads of something

   There were a load of people at the party.

   We've had loads of rain this month.

   She has loads of friends at school.

Word forms

Common combinations

heavy load

The donkey carried a heavy load up the mountain.

load a truck

They loaded the truck with furniture.

a load of laundry

I need to do a load of laundry today.

load the dishwasher

Please load the dishwasher before you go to bed.

workload

Her workload has increased since the new project started.

Synonyms and how they differ

cargo

Cargo refers to goods carried by ship, plane, or truck; load is a more general term for anything carried.

burden

Burden often suggests a heavy or difficult load, especially a figurative one.

consignment

Consignment is a batch of goods sent for sale; load is more general.

Word family

loader noun

A machine or person that loads things.

loading noun

The act of putting things into or onto something.

loaded adjective

Carrying a load; also informal for 'rich' or 'drunk'.

Commonly confused: load or lode?

Practice

Make it your own

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

Explore more words