cabinet
gb/kˈæbənət/ us/kˈæbənət/
A2
English
~ 1500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Storage furniture with doors or shelves
A piece of furniture with shelves or small spaces to keep things, often with doors.
Usage pattern:
a [cabinet] for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cabinet' with 'closet', but 'cabinet' is usually smaller and used for storing items like dishes, files, or medicines.
Synonyms
cupboard (Common in British English; usually refers to a smaller storage space, often in kitchens.)
Antonyms
open shelf (An opposite in that it is storage without doors or enclosure.)
Collocations
kitchen cabinet
|filing cabinet
|medicine cabinet
|display cabinet
Themes
daily life
|home
|furniture
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She kept the plates in the kitchen cabinet.
- The medicine cabinet is above the sink.
- He opened the filing cabinet to look for the report.
- They bought a glass display cabinet for their souvenirs.
Learner examples
- The cups are in the cabinet.
- I put the books in the cabinet.
- The cabinet is full of food.
- The keys are in the small cabinet.
Noun
B1
entity
2
High-level government advisory group
A group of top government leaders who help and advise the president or prime minister.
Usage pattern:
the [country] cabinet
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'cabinet' (government group) with 'parliament' or 'congress', which are legislative bodies.
Synonyms
executive council (A more formal or regional term for a similar governing body.)
Antonyms
opposition party (The political group opposing the current government's leadership.)
Collocations
Cabinet meeting
|Cabinet minister
|Cabinet reshuffle
|Cabinet member
Themes
politics
|government
|law
Examples
- The prime minister announced changes to her cabinet.
- He was appointed to the cabinet as foreign minister.
- The cabinet met to discuss the economic crisis.
- A cabinet reshuffle is expected next month.
Learner examples
- The president spoke to his cabinet.
- She is a member of the cabinet.
- The cabinet will meet today.
- He joined the cabinet last year.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Case enclosing equipment parts
A box or case that holds and protects machines or parts inside it.
Usage pattern:
[equipment] cabinet
Synonyms
enclosure (General term for something that surrounds and protects equipment.)
Antonyms
exposed frame (Equipment without any protective covering.)
Collocations
server cabinet
|control cabinet
|speaker cabinet
Themes
technology
|engineering
|science
|work
Examples
- The server is stored in a locked cabinet.
- He removed the panel from the speaker cabinet.
- The control cabinet houses all the switches.
Learner examples
- The computer is in a small cabinet.
- We keep the tools in a metal cabinet.
- The speaker cabinet is heavy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cabinet
IPA
GB/kˈæbənət/
US/kˈæbənət/
Syllables & stress
cab - in - et (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cab)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cabinet
- Plural: cabinet, cabinets
Word family
Forms
cabinets
noun
Related words
cabinetry
noun
cabinetmaker
noun
Expressions
Cabinet meeting
1/kˈæbənət mˈitɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Meeting of government ministers
A meeting where top government leaders talk about and decide on important matters.
Examples
- The prime minister called an emergency cabinet meeting.
- Cabinet meetings are usually held once a week.
Cabinet reshuffle
1/kˈæbənət ɹiʃˈʌfəl/
fixed phrase
Reorganization of government ministers
When jobs in a group of top government leaders are changed around.
Examples
- A major cabinet reshuffle was announced today.
- The reshuffle brought in three new ministers.
Medicine cabinet
1/mˈɛdɪsən kˈæbənət/
fixed phrase
Small cupboard for storing medicines
A small box or cupboard where you keep medicine, often in the bathroom.
Examples
- She reached into the medicine cabinet for some aspirin.
- The bathroom has a mirror over the medicine cabinet.