Meaning & use
rapport
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Meaning
nounsingular
A close, harmonious relationship in which people understand each other's feelings and communicate easily.
Grammar: Usually singular and uncountable-like: build rapport, not a rapport in everyday use, though a good rapport occurs.
Patterns
- build rapport with someone
- establish/develop rapport
- a good rapport between people
The new teacher quickly built rapport with her class.
Good nurses establish rapport while keeping professional boundaries.
There was an easy rapport between the interviewer and the guest.
Common combinations
- build rapport
- Sales staff build rapport by listening before recommending products.
- establish rapport
- The counselor established rapport during the first session.
- develop rapport
- They developed rapport while working on the same team.
- easy rapport
- The co-hosts have an easy rapport that makes the show relaxing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- connection
- Connection is broader for any link or bond; rapport specifically suggests smooth mutual understanding.
- affinity
- Affinity is a natural liking or similarity; rapport is the working relationship that can grow from it.
- chemistry
- Chemistry is informal and emphasizes spark or attraction; rapport is warmer and steadier, common in professional contexts.
Opposites
Commonly confused: rapport or report? rapport or rapporteur?
rapport vs report
Report means an account or statement, or to give information; rapport means a harmonious relationship.
rapport vs rapporteur
A rapporteur is a person appointed to report on a topic for an organization, not the same as rapport.
Practice
Which collocation is most natural with rapport?
Choose one answer.
The standard verb is build rapport with someone. Do, make, and say rapport do not fit this meaning or pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rapport”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.