Meaning & use
pliers
Last updated
UK/ˈplaɪəz/
US/ˈplaɪərz/
Meaning
nounplural
A hand tool with two hinged arms and a gripping end, used to hold, bend or cut small objects such as wire.
Grammar: Takes a plural verb: the pliers are in the drawer; count with a pair of pliers.
Patterns
- a pair of pliers
- grip something with pliers
- pull something out with pliers
He used pliers to pull the nail out of the board.
Hand me that pair of pliers, please.
She twisted the wire into a loop with needle-nose pliers.
Common combinations
- a pair of pliers
- Every toolbox needs a pair of pliers.
- needle-nose pliers
- Needle-nose pliers reach into tight spaces.
- grip with pliers
- Grip the bolt with pliers and turn it.
- adjustable pliers
- Adjustable pliers fit nuts of different sizes.
- cut with pliers
- He cut the wire with pliers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pincers
- Pincers are a similar tool with sharper jaws for pulling nails, and the word is more common in British English.
- tongs
- Tongs are for picking up hot or delicate items, such as food, not for gripping with force.
- wrench
- A wrench is for turning nuts and bolts, while pliers are for gripping and bending.
- tweezers
- Tweezers are much smaller and meant for very small, delicate items.
Word family
Commonly confused: pliers or players?
pliers vs players
Players sounds similar in speech, but pliers are tools and players are people who play.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
Pliers is plural-only, so we say a pair of pliers. A plier and a pliers are not standard, and cuts is the wrong verb form.
Make it your own
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