phone
gb/fˈoʊn/ us/fˈoʊn/
A1
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Handheld device for calls and messages
A small device you use to talk to people or send messages.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s phone
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'phone' (device) with 'call' (the action). For example, 'I have a phone to my friend' is incorrect; it should be 'I called my friend.'
Synonyms
telephone (More formal or traditional term for the same device)
Antonyms
letter (A physical written communication method instead of electronic)
Collocations
mobile phone
|phone call
|phone number
|phone charger
|phone signal
Themes
technology
|daily life
|communication
|daily_life
Examples
- I left my phone at home this morning.
- Her phone battery died in the middle of the conversation.
- He bought a new phone with a better camera.
- Please put your phone on silent during the meeting.
Learner examples
- My phone is in my bag.
- I talk to my friend on the phone.
- This is my new phone.
- I use my phone every day.
Verb
A2
action
2
To call someone on the phone
To call someone using a phone.
Usage pattern:
to phone [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'call' and forget that 'phone' can be used as a verb in the same way.
Synonyms
call (Most common everyday synonym, slightly broader as it can refer to other calling methods)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately not contact or respond)
Collocations
phone call
|phone back
|phone number
Themes
communication
|daily life
|daily_life
Examples
- I’ll phone you when I get home.
- She phoned her mother to share the good news.
- Please phone me if you need help.
Learner examples
- I will phone you later.
- She phones her friend every day.
- Can you phone me now?
Noun
B1
event
3
An act of calling or being called
When you talk to someone on the phone.
Usage pattern:
to get/make/receive a phone [call]
Common mistake:
Learners often omit 'call' after 'phone' when referring to the event in formal contexts; 'a phone' can sound like the device, not the event.
Synonyms
call (Most common term for this event)
Antonyms
silence (The absence of calls or communication)
Collocations
make a phone call
|receive a phone call
|missed phone call
Themes
communication
|daily_life
Examples
- I just got a phone from my boss about the meeting.
- She made a quick phone before leaving the office.
- We missed an important phone last night.
Learner examples
- I got a phone from my friend.
- He made a phone before dinner.
- We missed a phone yesterday.
Grammar
Dictionary form
phone
IPA
GB/fˈoʊn/
US/fˈoʊn/
Syllables & stress
phone (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (phone)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: phone
- Plural: phones
Verb
- Base: phone
- 3rd Person Singular: phones
- Present Participle: phoning
- Past: phoned
Word family
Forms
phones
noun
phoning
verb
phoned
verb
Core family
telephone
noun A1
Related words
smartphone
noun B1
cellphone
noun
Advanced or less common
telephony
noun C1
Expressions
hang up the phone
1/hˈæŋ ˈʌp ðə fˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
End a telephone call
To stop talking on the phone and end the call.
Examples
- She hung up the phone without saying goodbye.
- Please hang up the phone before you leave.
pick up the phone
1/pˈɪk ˈʌp ðə fˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
Lift or activate phone for call
To take the phone in your hand to answer or make a call.
Examples
- I picked up the phone and called my sister.
- Nobody picked up the phone when I rang.
put someone on the phone
1/pˈʊt sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈɔn ðə fˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
Give another person the phone to talk
To give the telephone to someone else so they can talk to the caller.
Examples
- Can you put your dad on the phone? I need to ask him something.
- She put her friend on the phone so I could say hello.
answer the phone
1/ˈænsɚ ðə fˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
Pick up and speak on phone
To pick up the telephone when it rings and speak to the caller.
Examples
- Please answer the phone while I’m out.
- Can you answer the phone while I’m cooking?
- He answered the phone on the second ring.
- He didn’t answer the phone because he was asleep.