soldier
gb/sˈoʊld͡ʒɚ/ us/sˈoʊld͡ʒɚ/
A2
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A member of the armed forces
A person who works in the army.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a soldier
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'soldier' with 'warrior'. A 'warrior' is often used for fighters from historical or tribal contexts, not modern armies.
Synonyms
trooper (Often used for soldiers in certain units, such as cavalry or state police.)
|
serviceman (A more formal or gender-specific term for a person in the armed forces.)
Antonyms
civilian (A person not serving in the military.)
Collocations
professional soldier
|soldier in uniform
|brave soldier
|wounded soldier
|retired soldier
Themes
military
|war
|occupation
|law
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The soldier stood guard at the base entrance.
- Several soldiers were sent to help with disaster relief.
- He served as a soldier for ten years before retiring.
- The young soldier wrote letters home every week.
Learner examples
- The soldier walks to the camp.
- A soldier stands by the door.
- I see a soldier in the park.
- That man is a soldier.
Verb
B2
action
2
Continue in spite of hardship
To keep doing something even when it is hard.
Usage pattern:
to soldier on with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this verb always relates to the military. In this sense, it means to continue despite problems and is often metaphorical.
Synonyms
persevere (More formal and general; not tied to military imagery.)
|
persist (Neutral and general; can apply to any context.)
Antonyms
give up (To stop trying because it is too difficult.)
Collocations
soldier on
|soldier through
Themes
perseverance
|life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She decided to soldier on despite the pain in her leg.
- Even after losing two key players, the team soldiered on.
- We must soldier on until the work is finished.
Learner examples
- He will soldier on with his job.
- They soldier on after the storm.
- I will soldier on until I finish.
Grammar
Dictionary form
soldier
IPA
GB/sˈoʊld͡ʒɚ/
US/sˈoʊld͡ʒɚ/
Syllables & stress
sol - dier (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sol)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: soldier
- Plural: soldiers
Verb
- Base: soldier
- 3rd Person Singular: soldiers
- Present Participle: soldiering
- Past: soldiered
Word family
Expressions
good soldier
1/ɡˈʊd sˈoʊld͡ʒɚ/
fixed phrase
Obedient and loyal person
Someone who does what they are told without complaining, especially in an organization.
Examples
- He’s a good soldier who never questions orders.
- She played the role of a good soldier and followed the plan exactly.
old soldier
1/ˈoʊld sˈoʊld͡ʒɚ/
fixed phrase
Experienced military person
A person who has been in the army for many years, often now retired.
Examples
- The old soldier told stories of past battles.
- Old soldiers often gather at the memorial each year.
soldier on
1/sˈoʊld͡ʒɚ ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
Continue doing something despite hardship
To keep doing something even when it is hard or unpleasant.
Examples
- Even though he was tired, he soldiered on until the project was done.
- We just have to soldier on and hope for the best.