gym
gb/d͡ʒˈɪm/ us/d͡ʒˈɪm/
A2
English
~ 6300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
place with equipment for exercise
A place with machines and space where people go to exercise and get fit.
Usage pattern:
go to the gym; at the gym
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "gym" with "gymnastics" and say *"I do gym"* when they mean *"I go to the gym"* or *"I work out"*. Use "go to the gym" for the place and "work out" or "exercise" for the activity.
Synonyms
fitness center (More formal and descriptive; often used in marketing and signage.)
|
health club (Suggests a gym with extra services like a pool, spa, or classes.)
Antonyms
outdoors (Contrasts indoor, equipment-based exercise with exercising outside in open spaces.)
Collocations
go to the gym
|join a gym
|at the gym
|gym membership
|gym equipment
|24-hour gym
Themes
health
|sports
|daily life
|daily_life
Examples
- I go to the gym three times a week before work.
- She finally canceled her gym membership because she never used it.
- This new apartment building even has a small gym in the basement.
- Most gyms get very crowded right after New Year’s.
- He spends more time at the gym than at home these days.
Learner examples
- I joined a new gym near my house.
- He is at the gym right now.
- We go to the gym after school.
- This gym has many running machines.
- She likes a quiet gym in the morning.
Noun
A2
entity
2
school sports hall or room
A big room in a school where students play sports or have physical activities.
Usage pattern:
in the gym; school gym
Common mistake:
Some learners think "gym" only means a public fitness center and do not realize it can also mean the big indoor sports room in a school. Context like "school gym" or "in the gym at school" clarifies this sense.
Synonyms
gymnasium (Full form; slightly more formal and common in written or official contexts.)
Antonyms
classroom (Contrasts a space for physical activity with a space for seated academic lessons.)
Collocations
school gym
|high school gym
|in the gym
|gym floor
|school assembly in the gym
Themes
education
|sports
Examples
- The graduation ceremony will be held in the school gym.
- When it rains, we have soccer practice in the gym instead of outside.
- Students were setting up chairs in the gym for the concert.
- The high school gym was packed with cheering fans.
- Please meet your coach in the gym after last period.
Learner examples
- We play basketball in the school gym.
- The exams are in the gym this year.
- All the students sat in the gym for the show.
- Our gym is very old and dark.
- The gym is next to the cafeteria.
Noun
informal
B1
entity
3
school subject physical education
In American English, an informal word for a physical education class at school.
Usage pattern:
have gym; gym class
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"I have a gym"* instead of *"I have gym" or "I have gym class" when talking about this school subject. Also, outside North America, people more often say "PE" or "sports" than "gym" for the class.
Synonyms
PE (Short, neutral abbreviation of "physical education"; used in both speech and writing.)
Antonyms
study hall (Contrasts an active, physical class with a quiet period for study or homework.)
Collocations
gym class
|have gym
|gym teacher
|skip gym
|after gym
Themes
education
|sports
|daily life
Examples
- We have gym right after lunch on Mondays.
- I forgot my sneakers and had to sit out during gym.
- Gym is my favorite class because we play basketball.
- The school is adding a swimming unit to gym this year.
- Our gym teacher makes us run a mile every week.
Learner examples
- Today we have gym in the afternoon.
- I like gym more than math.
- She hurt her leg in gym last week.
- He always forgets his clothes for gym.
- Our gym teacher is very strict.
Noun
informal
C1
entity
4
sport of gymnastics (abbreviation)
A short, informal way to say "gymnastics", the sport with exercises on bars, rings, beams, and floor.
Usage pattern:
do gym; train in gym
Common mistake:
Outside of gymnastics circles, many people hear "gym" and think only of a fitness center. If you say *"I do gym"* without context, listeners may be unsure whether you mean gymnastics or just going to a fitness center.
Synonyms
gymnastics (Full, standard name of the sport; neutral in all contexts.)
Antonyms
rest (Contrasts active training in gymnastics with not doing physical activity.)
Collocations
artistic gym
|rhythmic gym
|men's gym
|women's gym
|train in gym
Themes
sports
Examples
- She started gym at the age of five and now competes nationally.
- How many hours of gym do you have each week at the club?
- He does men’s artistic gym, not trampoline.
- Their daughter switched from ballet to gym last year.
- The coach thinks she has real talent in gym.
Learner examples
- My sister does gym three times a week.
- He loves gym more than any other sport.
- She started gym when she was very young.
- They train for gym after school.
- Our city has a very good gym club.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gym
IPA
GB/d͡ʒˈɪm/
US/d͡ʒˈɪm/
Syllables & stress
gym (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gym)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gym
- Plural: gym, gyms
Word family
Expressions
go to the gym
1/ɡˈoʊ tə ðə d͡ʒˈɪm/
fixed phrase
visit a gym to exercise
To go to a place with exercise machines so you can work out.
Examples
- I usually go to the gym before work instead of after.
- She goes to the gym every Sunday morning with her friend.
- If you want to build muscle, you should go to the gym regularly.
gym bunny
1/d͡ʒˈɪm bˈʌni/
idiom
slang
appearance-focused frequent gym-goer
A person, often young and fashionable, who goes to the gym a lot, usually to look good and sometimes to socialize.
Examples
- She used to be a real gym bunny, always posting workout selfies.
- The place is full of gym bunnies before summer starts.
- He joked that he had turned into a gym bunny after buying new workout clothes.
gym class
1/d͡ʒˈɪm klˈæs/
fixed phrase
school physical education lesson
A school class where students do exercise and play sports.
Examples
- We have gym class first period on Fridays.
- He forgot his shorts and had to sit out during gym class.
- Gym class is required for all first-year students.
gym clothes
1/d͡ʒˈɪm klˈoʊðz/
fixed phrase
clothes for exercise or gym
Comfortable clothes, like T-shirts and shorts, that you wear when you exercise or have gym.
Examples
- Don’t forget to pack your gym clothes for school tomorrow.
- She bought new gym clothes to feel more confident working out.
- My gym clothes are still wet from yesterday’s workout.
gym membership
1/d͡ʒˈɪm mˈɛmbɚʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
paid subscription for a gym
An agreement where you pay money so you can use a gym for a certain time.
Examples
- I canceled my gym membership because I wasn’t going enough.
- Their gym membership includes access to all branches in the city.
- A one-year gym membership is cheaper than paying per visit.
gym rat
1/d͡ʒˈɪm ɹˈæt/
idiom
slang
person who lives at the gym
Someone who spends a lot of time in the gym and really loves working out.
Examples
- He used to hate sports, but now he’s a total gym rat.
- You’re such a gym rat—you’re there every single day.
- The gym rats are always waiting outside before the doors open.
hit the gym
1/hˈɪt ðə d͡ʒˈɪm/
idiom
informal
go exercise at the gym
To go to the gym to exercise, said in an informal way.
Examples
- After work I’m going to hit the gym for an hour.
- He decided to hit the gym instead of watching TV all evening.
- You look tired; maybe don’t hit the gym today and just rest.