enemy
gb/ˈɛnəmi/ us/ˈɛnəmi/
A2
English
~ 2000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A hostile person or group
A person or group who wants to harm or fight you.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s enemy
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'enemy' with 'opponent'. 'Opponent' can be neutral and only about competition, while 'enemy' implies hostility or harm.
Synonyms
opponent (Often used for someone you compete against, not always hostile.)
|
adversary (Formal term for an opponent, especially in conflict or competition.)
Antonyms
ally (Someone who supports and helps you, often in opposition to a common enemy.)
|
friend (A person with whom you have a positive and supportive relationship.)
Collocations
sworn enemy
|make enemies
|former enemy
|enemy forces
|enemy territory
Themes
conflict
|relationships
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The two countries have been enemies for decades.
- She considered her rival at work to be her enemy.
- The soldiers prepared to face the enemy on the battlefield.
- He vowed never to forgive his enemy.
- The spy was caught by enemy agents.
Learner examples
- That man is my enemy.
- The two men are enemies.
- We must fight the enemy.
- The enemy is coming.
- She has many enemies.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Something harmful or destructive
Something that hurts or makes a situation worse for someone.
Usage pattern:
[something] is the enemy of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is a figurative use and try to interpret it literally.
Synonyms
threat (Something likely to cause damage or danger.)
|
danger (A situation or thing that could cause harm.)
Antonyms
benefit (Something that helps or improves a situation.)
|
friend (In figurative use, something friendly or helpful.)
Collocations
public enemy
|enemy of progress
|enemy of health
Themes
conflict
|health
|metaphor
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Laziness is the enemy of success.
- Pollution is the enemy of clean air.
- Fear can be your greatest enemy.
- Debt became his lifelong enemy.
- Ignorance is the enemy of progress.
Learner examples
- Sugar is the enemy of good health.
- Cold weather is the enemy of plants.
- Fear is my enemy.
- Noise is the enemy of sleep.
- Smoke is the enemy of clean air.
Grammar
Dictionary form
enemy
IPA
GB/ˈɛnəmi/
US/ˈɛnəmi/
Syllables & stress
en - emy (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (en)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: enemy
- Plural: enemies
Word family
Expressions
make enemies
1/mˈeɪk ˈɛnəmiz/
fixed phrase
Cause people to dislike you strongly
To do things that make people dislike or hate you.
Examples
- If you speak too harshly, you'll make enemies quickly.
- He made enemies by refusing to compromise.
public enemy number one
1/pˈʌblɪk ˈɛnəmi nˈʌmbɚ wˈʌn/
fixed phrase
Most dangerous criminal or threat
The most dangerous person or thing at a certain time.
Examples
- During the 1930s, he was public enemy number one.
- Inflation has become public enemy number one for the government.
sleep is the enemy
1/slˈip ˈɪz ðə ˈɛnəmi/
fixed phrase
informal
Belief that sleep wastes time
A joking way to say you want to stay awake and do more things instead of sleeping.
Examples
- During exam week, she said sleep is the enemy.
- Gamers often joke that sleep is the enemy.
the enemy within
1/ðə ˈɛnəmi wɪðˈɪn/
fixed phrase
Harmful force inside a group
A person or thing inside a group that causes harm to it.
Examples
- Corruption is the enemy within our organization.
- They fear the enemy within more than outside threats.