office
gb/ˈɔfɪs/ us/ˈɔfɪs/
A1
English
~ 400
iroda, tisztség, hivatal
NOUN
A1
1
iroda
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone] works in an office
She works in an office downtown.
Egy belvárosi irodában dolgozik.
The new office has large windows and modern furniture.
Az új irodában nagy ablakok és modern bútorok vannak.
Please leave the documents on my office desk.
Many companies now allow employees to have a home office.
The office closes at 6 p.m. every day.
Learner examples
I work in an office.
Irodában dolgozom.
My office is near the train station.
Az irodám a vasútállomás közelében van.
He is at the office now.
The office is small but bright.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'office' with 'company'. 'Office' is the physical place, while 'company' is the organization.
Meaning
Place where people work indoors
Collocations
open-plan office
|home office
|office building
|office space
|office worker
Synonyms
workplace (General term for any place where people work, not only indoors.)
|
bureau (Used especially in government contexts; more formal.)
Antonyms
field (Refers to working outdoors rather than inside an office.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|work
|housing
Definition
A room or rooms where people work for a company or group.
A room or set of rooms used as a workplace by people in a business, government, or other organization.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
hold [an] office
He was elected to the highest office in the land.
Az ország legmagasabb tisztségébe választották.
She has held public office for over ten years.
Több mint tíz éve tölt be köztisztséget.
The mayor's term of office ends next year.
He resigned from office after the scandal.
Learner examples
She wants to win public office.
Szeretne köztisztséget elnyerni.
He will leave office in June.
Júniusban távozik hivatalából.
He was in office for two years.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'office' here with the physical place; this sense refers to the role, not the location.
Meaning
Position of authority or duty
Collocations
hold office
|seek office
|public office
|term of office
Synonyms
post (Neutral; often used for jobs or positions in organizations.)
|
position (General term for a role or job.)
Antonyms
unemployment (State of not having a job or position.)
Themes
politics
|business
|work
Definition
An important job or role in a group, especially in government.
An official position of responsibility, trust, or authority within an organization or government.
NOUN
A2
3
Usage pattern:
[the] [type] office
You can get the forms from the tax office.
Az adóhivatalban beszerezheti a nyomtatványokat.
The tourist office gives free maps to visitors.
A turisztikai információs iroda ingyenes térképeket ad a látogatóknak.
She works at the regional education office.
Learner examples
I went to the post office.
Elmentem a postára.
The tourist office is near the station.
A turistainformációs iroda az állomás közelében van.
He called the tax office for help.
Meaning
Department providing a service
Collocations
tourist office
|post office
|tax office
Synonyms
department (More general term for a division within an organization.)
|
agency (Often used for government bodies with specific functions.)
Themes
business
|government
|politics
|work
Definition
A part of a company or government that does one type of work.
A department, agency, or division that provides a specific service within an organization or government.
Grammar
Dictionary form
office
IPA
GB/ˈɔfɪs/
US/ˈɔfɪs/
Syllables & stress
of - fice (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (of)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: office
- Plural: office, offices
Word family
Forms
offices
noun
Related words
officially
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
unofficial
adjective B2
unofficially
adverb
Advanced or less common
officiate
verb
Expressions
hold office
1/hˈoʊld ˈɔfɪs/
fixed phrase
Be in an official position
To have an important job in government or another group.
Examples
- She will hold office until the end of her term.
- Several presidents have held this office before him.
in office
1/ˈɪn ˈɔfɪs/
fixed phrase
Currently holding a position of authority
To be doing your job as an elected leader or official now.
Examples
- The president has been in office for two years.
- While she was in office, several reforms were made.
run for office
1/ɹˈʌn fɚ ˈɔfɪs/
fixed phrase
Try to get elected to a position
To try to get an important job by being chosen in an election.
Examples
- He decided to run for office after years of community service.
- She decided to run for office after years of community service.
- He decided to run for office in the next election.
- She decided to run for office in the next election.
- She plans to run for office next year.
- Many young people are now running for office.
- He ran for office but lost in the final vote.
- She ran for office but lost by a small margin.
- He’s running for mayor this year.
- Many young people are encouraged to run for office.