medium
gb/mˈidiəm/ us/mˈidiəm/
A2
English
~ 1700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
state
1
Middle point or degree
A level that is in the middle between high and low, big and small, etc.
Usage pattern:
[something] is medium
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'medium' with 'median', which is a statistical term for the middle value in a set.
Synonyms
average (Slightly more statistical or mathematical in tone; 'medium' is more general and descriptive.)
Antonyms
extreme (Represents the far ends of a scale rather than the middle.)
Collocations
medium size
|medium level
|medium speed
|medium length
Themes
measurement
|description
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She ordered a medium coffee instead of a large.
- The risk of injury is medium for this sport.
- He prefers his steak cooked to a medium level.
Learner examples
- I want a medium pizza.
- The room is medium size.
- Please make the heat medium.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Means of communication or expression
A way to share information or ideas, like TV, books, or the internet.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a medium for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'medium' (singular) with 'media' (plural).
Synonyms
channel (Often used for television or online platforms; 'medium' is broader and includes art forms.)
Antonyms
barrier (Prevents communication rather than enabling it.)
Collocations
mass medium
|artistic medium
|communication medium
Themes
communication
|art
|media
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- Television is still an influential medium for advertising.
- Oil paint is her favorite artistic medium.
- The internet has become the primary medium for news.
Learner examples
- TV is a medium for news.
- Painting is an art medium.
- The internet is a popular medium.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Substance that carries something
A material that lets something pass through it or live in it.
Synonyms
carrier (Emphasizes the role of holding or transporting something; 'medium' can be more scientific.)
Antonyms
vacuum (An absence of any transmitting substance.)
Collocations
liquid medium
|growth medium
|recording medium
Themes
science
|technology
Examples
- Water is the medium through which sound travels underwater.
- The scientist used a special growth medium for the bacteria.
- Air is the medium for most sound waves.
Learner examples
- Air is a medium for sound.
- We use water as a medium for plants.
- Blood is a medium in the body.
Noun
B1
entity
4
Person who talks to spirits
Someone who says they can talk to dead people.
Synonyms
clairvoyant (Broader term for someone who claims supernatural perception; not limited to contacting spirits.)
Antonyms
skeptic (Someone who doubts or rejects claims about supernatural communication.)
Collocations
spiritual medium
|psychic medium
Themes
spirituality
|supernatural
|religion
Examples
- The medium claimed to have spoken with her late grandmother.
- They invited a psychic medium to the séance.
- As a child, she was fascinated by stories about famous mediums.
Learner examples
- The medium says she can talk to ghosts.
- We saw a medium in a movie.
- A medium told him about his past.
adjective
A2
property
5
Of middle size or degree
Not big and not small; in between.
Usage pattern:
[something] is medium [size/height/etc.]
Synonyms
moderate ('Moderate' often sounds slightly more formal and evaluative than 'medium'.)
Antonyms
extreme (Far from the middle on a scale.)
Collocations
medium height
|medium weight
|medium temperature
Themes
measurement
|description
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He has a medium build and brown hair.
- Cook the chicken over a medium heat.
- She wore a dress of medium length.
Learner examples
- She is medium height.
- This shirt is medium size.
- The soup is medium hot.
Grammar
Dictionary form
medium
IPA
GB/mˈidiəm/
US/mˈidiəm/
Syllables & stress
me - di - um (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (me)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: medium
Noun
- Base: medium
- Plural: media, mediums
Word family
Expressions
by all means
1/bˈaɪ ˈɔl mˈinz/
fixed phrase
Certainly; go ahead
Used to say 'yes' or give permission to do something.
Examples
- "Can I borrow your book?" "By all means."
- By all means, join us for dinner.
by no means
1/bˈaɪ nˈoʊ mˈinz/
fixed phrase
formal
not at all; in no way
Not at all; in no way.
Examples
- It is by no means certain that we will win.
- This is by no means an easy task.
by no means
2/bˈaɪ nˈoʊ mˈinz/
fixed phrase
Definitely not; not at all
Used to say that something is not true at all.
Examples
- This job is by no means easy.
- He is by no means ready for the exam.