Meaning & use
partner
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Meanings
nouncountablebusiness
A person you share an activity, business or project with.
Grammar: Often a business term: a partner in a law firm.
Patterns
- a partner in something
- a partner of someone
She became a partner in the law firm last year.
My lab partner and I finished the experiment early.
The company is looking for a partner in the Asian market.
nouncountable
One of two people in a romantic or married relationship.
Grammar: Neutral and gender-free: bring your partner.
Patterns
- your partner
You may bring your partner to the party.
She has lived with her partner for ten years.
Both partners share the household work.
nouncountablesport
A person you dance, play or compete with as a pair.
Grammar: Used in sport and games: a tennis partner.
Patterns
- a partner in something
Choose a partner for the dance.
He is her doubles partner in tennis.
My bridge partner played an excellent hand.
verbintransitive
To join with another person or organization to work together.
Grammar: Followed by with: partner with a charity.
Patterns
- partner with someone
- partner someone
The school partnered with a local museum.
They partnered to build the app.
I was partnered with a quiet but clever student.
Word forms
| plural | partners |
|---|---|
| third person singular | partners |
| past tense | partnered |
| past participle | partnered |
| -ing form | partnering |
Common combinations
- business partner
- My business partner handles the accounts.
- partner with
- The brand partnered with a local farm.
- dance partner
- She found a new dance partner.
- senior partner
- The senior partner signed the contract.
- partner in crime
- My brother was my partner in crime as a child.
- trading partner
- Canada is a major trading partner.
Synonyms and how they differ
- associate
- Suggests a looser business tie than a partner, who shares ownership or risk.
- colleague
- Means someone you work with, without implying a shared stake.
- companion
- Means a person who spends time with you, with no business sense.
- ally
- Describes support against others, often in politics or conflict.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: partner or patner?
partner vs patner
A common misspelling; the correct spelling is partner, with a r.
Practice
The tech firm has ____ with a university to develop the new software.
Choose one answer.
Partnered with means joined forces with. Parted with means gave up, and participated and portrayed do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “partner”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.