bandwidth
gb/bˈændwɪtθ/ us/bˈændwɪtθ/
B2
English
~ 5100
sávszélesség, kapacitás
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
1
sávszélesség
B2
Usage pattern:
the bandwidth of [a connection/device/service]
Our office upgraded to a plan with higher bandwidth so video calls are smoother.
Az irodánk nagyobb sávszélességű csomagra váltott, így gördülékenyebbek a videóhívások.
Streaming 4K video uses a lot of bandwidth.
A 4K-s videók streamelése nagy sávszélességet igényel.
The conference Wi‑Fi didn’t have enough bandwidth for hundreds of people to connect at once.
You should run a test to see what bandwidth your internet provider is actually giving you.
Online games require stable bandwidth, not just a fast advertised speed.
Learner examples
My home internet has enough bandwidth for two people to watch movies.
Az otthoni internetemnek elég nagy a sávszélessége ahhoz, hogy ketten is filmet nézzünk.
Video calls use more bandwidth than email.
A videóhívások több sávszélességet igényelnek, mint az e-mail.
The company pays for extra bandwidth during big online events.
If many people download files, the bandwidth may not be enough.
We need more bandwidth to support all the new users.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bandwidth' with 'speed'. Bandwidth is the capacity (how much data per second), while 'latency' describes how long data takes to travel. In everyday use, people mix them, but technically they are different.
Meaning
capacity of a network connection
Collocations
high bandwidth
|low bandwidth
|bandwidth limit
|bandwidth usage
|bandwidth constraints
|increase bandwidth
Synonyms
throughput (More technical; often refers specifically to the actual rate achieved rather than the maximum possible.)
|
data capacity (Informal and less precise; emphasizes how much data a connection can handle rather than the technical rate.)
Antonyms
low bandwidth (Describes a connection that can only handle a small amount of data per second, the practical opposite of high bandwidth.)
Themes
technology
|internet
|communication
Definition
The amount of data that can move through an internet or network connection in one second.
The maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over a network connection or communication channel in a given amount of time.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
2
kapacitás
B2
Usage pattern:
have (enough) bandwidth to [do something]
I’d love to help, but I just don’t have the bandwidth this week.
Szívesen segítenék, de ezen a héten egyszerűen nincs rá kapacitásom.
Our team doesn’t have enough bandwidth to take on another project right now.
A csapatunknak most nincs elég kapacitása ahhoz, hogy újabb projektet vállaljon.
She said she doesn’t have the emotional bandwidth for a serious relationship at the moment.
Let’s automate these reports to free up some bandwidth for more important work.
He has a lot on his plate and no mental bandwidth left for side jobs.
Learner examples
Sorry, I don’t have the bandwidth to join another meeting today.
Bocs, ma nincs kapacitásom még egy megbeszélésre.
Our team does not have enough bandwidth for a new project.
A csapatunknak nincs elég kapacitása egy új projektre.
She has no emotional bandwidth to deal with drama right now.
I want to study Spanish, but I don’t have the bandwidth this year.
We cut two tasks to create more bandwidth for planning.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning is still technical. In this informal sense, 'bandwidth' is a metaphor for personal time and mental energy, not internet speed or data. It is not used for physical space or money.
Meaning
time or mental capacity available
Collocations
have the bandwidth
|not have the bandwidth
|limited bandwidth
|mental bandwidth
|emotional bandwidth
|free up bandwidth
Synonyms
capacity (Very general; can refer to many kinds of ability or space, not just time and attention.)
|
headspace (Informal; focuses more on emotional and mental room rather than time and workload.)
Antonyms
overload (Describes a state where a person already has too many tasks or too much stress, so they effectively have no bandwidth left.)
Themes
work
|daily life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The time and mental energy that someone has to do things or think about problems.
The time, attention, or mental energy that a person or group has available to deal with tasks or problems.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
sávszélesség
C1
Usage pattern:
the bandwidth of [a signal/channel/system]
This filter has a very narrow bandwidth centered at 1 kHz.
Ennek a szűrőnek 1 kHz középfrekvencia körül nagyon keskeny a sávszélessége.
The antenna needs enough bandwidth to handle multiple communication channels.
Az antennának elegendő sávszélességre van szüksége ahhoz, hogy több kommunikációs csatornát is kezelni tudjon.
Audio quality improves when the system has a wider bandwidth.
Engineers measured the bandwidth of the new radio link in the lab.
The service cannot operate outside the allocated bandwidth.
Learner examples
The radio uses a certain bandwidth for its signal.
A rádió a jeléhez meghatározott sávszélességet használ.
A wide bandwidth can carry more information in the signal.
A nagyobb sávszélesség több információ továbbítását teszi lehetővé a jelben.
The engineer checked the bandwidth of the new device.
This filter only lets a small bandwidth of sound go through.
We must stay inside the allowed bandwidth for this system.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with data-transfer bandwidth. Both relate to capacity, but in this sense it is specifically the range of frequencies, not the amount of data per second.
Meaning
range of frequencies of a signal
Collocations
wide bandwidth
|narrow bandwidth
|frequency bandwidth
|bandwidth allocation
|bandwidth requirements
|signal bandwidth
Synonyms
frequency range (More descriptive and slightly less technical; directly states that it refers to a set of frequencies.)
Antonyms
narrow bandwidth (Refers to a small frequency range, in contrast with a wide bandwidth that covers a larger range of frequencies.)
Themes
science
|technology
|engineering
Definition
The group of frequencies that a signal or device uses or can work with.
The range of frequencies within which a signal is transmitted, or that a device, channel, or system can effectively process.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bandwidth
IPA
GB/bˈændwɪtθ/
US/bˈændwɪtθ/
Syllables & stress
band - width (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (band)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: bandwidth
- Plural: bandwidth, bandwidths
Word family
Expressions
emotional bandwidth
1/ɪmˈoʊʃənəl bˈændwɪtθ/
fixed phrase
available emotional energy
The amount of emotional energy someone has free to deal with other people’s feelings or difficult situations.
Examples
- I care about you, but I don’t have the emotional bandwidth for that conversation tonight.
- He has very little emotional bandwidth after caring for his sick parents.
- Teachers need emotional bandwidth to support their students effectively.
have the bandwidth
1/hˈæv ðə bˈændwɪtθ/
fixed phrase
informal
have enough time/energy
To have enough time and mental energy to do something.
Examples
- I’d love to mentor you, but I don’t have the bandwidth right now.
- Do we actually have the bandwidth to start another project this quarter?
- She finally has the bandwidth to focus on her own health.
mental bandwidth
1/mˈɛntəl bˈændwɪtθ/
fixed phrase
available thinking capacity
The amount of thinking power or attention someone has free for tasks or problems.
Examples
- After the long meeting, I had no mental bandwidth left for creative work.
- This course takes a lot of mental bandwidth, so don’t take too many other classes.
- She didn’t have the mental bandwidth to learn a new system during the busy season.
not have the bandwidth
1/nˈɑt hˈæv ðə bˈændwɪtθ/
fixed phrase
informal
lack time or mental capacity
To not have enough time or mental energy to do something.
Examples
- I’m sorry, I just don’t have the bandwidth to join another committee.
- We don’t have the bandwidth to support that feature this year.
- He doesn’t have the bandwidth to handle more clients at the moment.