league
gb/lˈiɡ/ us/lˈiɡ/
A2
English
~ 1300
liga, bajnokság, szövetség, kategória, egy ligában játszik, szint, mérföld
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[team] plays in the [league]
Our team moved up to the premier league this year.
A csapatunk idén feljutott az első osztályú bajnokságba.
The baseball league starts its season in April.
A baseball-liga áprilisban kezdi meg az idényét.
She joined a local amateur football league to stay active.
The league announced new rules for the upcoming season.
Several teams were added to the league this year.
Learner examples
The team plays in the city league.
A csapat a városi bajnokságban játszik.
I watch games from the national league.
A nemzeti liga meccseit nézem.
He joined the basketball league.
The league has ten teams.
Our league starts next month.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'league' with 'match' or 'game'; a league is an organization or season-long competition, not a single event.
Meaning
Group of competing sports teams
Collocations
major league
|football league
|basketball league
|join a league
|league championship
Synonyms
division (Often used for a smaller grouping within a league, especially in American sports.)
Antonyms
tournament (A short-term competition rather than a long-term organized series of matches.)
Themes
sports
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A group of sports teams that play games against each other over a season.
An association of sports teams that compete among themselves in a planned schedule.
NOUN
B1
2
szövetség
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] forms a league with [someone/something]
Several small nations formed a league to protect their trade routes.
Több kis ország szövetséget hozott létre a kereskedelmi útvonalak védelmére.
The environmental groups created a league to fight pollution.
A környezetvédő csoportok szövetséget hoztak létre a szennyezés elleni küzdelemre.
Historically, city-states often joined in leagues for defense.
They are part of an international league promoting human rights.
The league dissolved after internal disagreements.
Learner examples
The countries made a league to help each other.
Az országok szövetséget kötöttek, hogy segítsék egymást.
They formed a league to fight disease.
Szövetséget hoztak létre a betegségek leküzdésére.
The towns joined in a league for safety.
We are in a league with other clubs.
The league works to protect animals.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'league' here with 'union'; while similar, 'union' often implies merging into one entity, whereas 'league' retains separate members.
Meaning
Group united for common purpose
Collocations
political league
|form a league
|trade league
|league of nations
Synonyms
alliance (Generally interchangeable; 'league' can suggest a more organized or formal association.)
Antonyms
rivalry (A state of competition or opposition instead of cooperation.)
Themes
politics
|history
|business
|relationships
Definition
A group of people or countries who work together for the same reason.
A formal or informal alliance between people, countries, or organizations for mutual benefit or to achieve a shared goal.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
in the same/different [league] as [something/someone]
Their restaurant is in a different league from the others in town.
Az éttermük egészen más kategória, mint a város többi étterme.
When it comes to chess, he's not in my league.
Ha sakkról van szó, nincs egy szinten velem.
This new phone is in the same league as the top models.
Learner examples
Her cooking is in another league.
A főztje egészen más kategória.
He is not in my league at tennis.
Teniszben nincs egy szinten velem.
That car is in the same league as mine.
Common mistake:
Learners may misinterpret 'out of someone's league' literally; it is usually figurative for being much better or more attractive than someone.
Meaning
Level of quality or ability
Collocations
in the same league
|out of your league
|different league
Synonyms
class ('Class' can be used similarly but may also refer to social status.)
Antonyms
category (Not strictly an antonym but can indicate a different grouping without implying higher/lower quality.)
Themes
comparison
|evaluation
|communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A level that shows how good, important, or skilled someone or something is compared to others.
A category or standard used to compare quality, ability, or importance, often in expressions like 'in the same league'.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
mérföld
B2
The village was two leagues away from the castle.
A falu két régi mérföldnyire volt a vártól.
Explorers claimed they traveled twenty leagues along the coast.
A felfedezők azt állították, hogy húsz régi mérföldet tettek meg a part mentén.
In old maps, distances were sometimes marked in leagues.
Learner examples
The town was one league away.
A város egy régi mérföldnyire volt.
They walked many leagues through the forest.
Sok régi mérföldet gyalogoltak az erdőn át.
A league is about three miles.
Meaning
Old distance unit (~3 miles)
Collocations
ten leagues away
Synonyms
mile (historical) (A different but related unit of length; 'league' is longer than a mile.)
Themes
measurement
|history
|time
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An old way to measure distance, about three miles or almost five kilometers.
An old measurement of distance, approximately three miles or 4.8 kilometers, now largely obsolete except in historical contexts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
league
IPA
GB/lˈiɡ/
US/lˈiɡ/
Syllables & stress
league (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (league)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: league
- Plural: leagues
Word family
Forms
leagues
noun
Advanced or less common
leaguer
noun
Expressions
in the same league as
1/ˈɪn ðə sˈeɪm lˈiɡ ˈæz/
fixed phrase
Comparable in quality or ability
When two things are similar in quality, skill, or importance.
Examples
- His writing is in the same league as the best authors in the country.
- This phone is not in the same league as that one.
minor league
1/mˈaɪnɚ lˈiɡ/
fixed phrase
Lower professional sports level
A lower level of professional sports competition below the top one.
Examples
- She spent three years playing in the minor leagues before getting promoted.
- Minor leagues are where many players develop their skills.
out of someone's league
1/ˈaʊt əv sˈʌmwˌʌnz lˈiɡ/
idiom
informal
Too good for someone (informal)
When someone is much better than another person in looks, skill, or social position.
Examples
- He's nice, but I think she's out of his league.
- That job might be out of your league right now.
major league
1/mˈeɪd͡ʒɚ lˈiɡ/
fixed phrase
Highest professional sports level
The top level of professional sports competition.
Examples
- He was drafted into the major leagues last year.
- Making it to the major leagues is every young player's dream.
major league
2/mˈeɪd͡ʒɚ lˈiɡ/
fixed phrase
informal
Highest level of competition or performance
At the top level of competition or skill, especially in sports or business.
Examples
- He's playing in the baseball major leagues now.
- This new product puts them into the business major league.