pair
gb/pˈɛɹ/ us/pˈɛɹ/
A1
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Two matching things
Two things that are the same or go together.
Usage pattern:
a pair of [plural noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'pairs' incorrectly for single items, e.g., 'a pairs of shoes' instead of 'a pair of shoes'.
Synonyms
couple (Often used for people or things, but can imply a looser connection than 'pair'.)
Antonyms
single (Refers to one item rather than two together.)
Collocations
a pair of shoes
|a pair of socks
|a pair of jeans
|a pair of gloves
|a pair of earrings
Themes
daily life
|shopping
|clothing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I bought a new pair of running shoes.
- She wore a beautiful pair of diamond earrings.
- These scissors don't work well without the other half of the pair.
- You need a matching pair of socks for the interview.
- The museum displayed a rare pair of antique vases.
Learner examples
- I have a pair of blue shoes.
- He bought a pair of black gloves.
- She wears a pair of jeans every day.
- This is my favorite pair of socks.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Two people or animals together
Two people or animals who are together.
Usage pattern:
a pair of [plural noun]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'pair' with 'couple' when talking about romantic relationships; 'couple' often suggests romance, while 'pair' is neutral.
Synonyms
duo (Often used for entertainers or performers working together.)
Antonyms
individuals (Refers to separate persons rather than a connected two.)
Collocations
a married pair
|a dancing pair
|a breeding pair
|a comedy pair
Themes
relationships
|sports
|animals
Examples
- The tennis match was between two skilled pairs.
- They make a great comedy pair on stage.
- A breeding pair of eagles was spotted in the forest.
- The dancing pair won first place in the competition.
Learner examples
- The two boys are a good football pair.
- They are a famous singing pair.
- We saw a pair of lions at the zoo.
Verb
B1
action
3
To match two things together
To put two things together because they go well together.
Usage pattern:
to pair [something] with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes omit 'with' in the phrase 'pair [something] with [something]'.
Synonyms
match (Suggests choosing things that go well together, not necessarily forming a fixed set.)
Antonyms
separate (Means to keep things apart rather than putting them together.)
Collocations
pair wine with food
|pair socks together
|pair students for a project
Themes
daily life
|fashion
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Pair this shirt with dark jeans for a stylish look.
- The teacher paired me with another student for the assignment.
- You should pair these cables correctly to make the device work.
- They paired each guest with a host for the evening.
Learner examples
- I will pair this skirt with my red shirt.
- She paired me with Tom in the game.
- Please pair the socks before putting them in the drawer.
Verb
B1
action
4
To link electronic devices wirelessly
To make two electronic devices connect and work together.
Usage pattern:
to pair [device] with [device]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'pair' in this context with 'connect by cable', but here it means wireless connection.
Synonyms
link (More general; can refer to any type of connection, not just pairing devices.)
Antonyms
unpair (Specific to disconnecting previously paired devices.)
Collocations
pair your phone with the car
|pair headphones with laptop
Themes
technology
|communication
Examples
- You need to pair your phone with the speaker before playing music.
- The smartwatch quickly paired with my phone.
- Make sure Bluetooth is on before you try to pair the devices.
Learner examples
- I will pair my phone with the TV.
- Please pair the headphones with your computer.
- Can you help me pair my watch with my phone?
Grammar
Dictionary form
pair
IPA
GB/pˈɛɹ/
US/pˈɛɹ/
Syllables & stress
pair (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (pair)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pair
- Plural: pair, pairs
Verb
- Base: pair
- 3rd Person Singular: pairs
- Present Participle: pairing
- Past: paired
Word family
Forms
pairs
noun
pairing
verb
paired
verb
Negative and opposite forms
unpaired
adjective
Advanced or less common
pairwise
adjective
Expressions
in pairs
1/ˈɪn pˈɛɹz/
fixed phrase
Arranged in twos
In groups of two people or things.
Examples
- The students walked into the hall in pairs.
- Please arrange the chairs in pairs for the discussion.
pair off
1/pˈɛɹ ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
Form couples or twos
To join people or things into twos.
Examples
- The teacher asked us to pair off for the activity.
- At the dance, people quickly paired off and started moving to the music.
pair up
1/pˈɛɹ ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Join with a partner
To join with another person or thing as a partner.
Examples
- Let's pair up for the science project.
- The coach told us to pair up for the drills.