style
gb/stˈaɪl/ us/stˈaɪl/
A2
English
~ 900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A way of doing or presenting
The special way something is made, done, or shown.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s style of [doing something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'style' with 'trend'; 'trend' means what is popular now, while 'style' is the characteristic way something is done or looks.
Synonyms
manner (More general and neutral; applies to any way of doing something.)
Antonyms
formlessness (Lacking any consistent or recognizable manner or design.)
Collocations
personal style
|writing style
|fashion style
|teaching style
|artistic style
Themes
art
|fashion
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her writing style is clear and engaging.
- The restaurant has a modern style of decoration.
- He has developed his own style of painting.
- The teacher's style helps students stay interested.
- This brand is known for its unique style.
Learner examples
- I like your style of clothes.
- My teacher has a kind style.
- His style is very different from mine.
- This book has a simple style.
- That house is built in an old style.
Noun
A2
property
2
Fashionable look or manner
A way of looking or acting that people think is cool or beautiful.
Usage pattern:
in style / out of style
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'in trend' instead of 'in style'. The correct phrase is 'in style'.
Synonyms
elegance (Suggests refined beauty and grace.)
Antonyms
tastelessness (Lacking attractiveness or good fashion sense.)
Collocations
dress in style
|go out of style
|have style
|in style
Themes
fashion
|daily life
|daily_life
|clothing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She always dresses with style.
- That hairstyle went out of style years ago.
- He walks with a lot of style and confidence.
- The car's design is all about style over function.
- They redecorated their home in a retro style.
Learner examples
- She dresses in style.
- That bag is in style now.
- His shoes are out of style.
- I like her hair style.
- This shirt will never go out of style.
Noun
technical
B1
entity
3
Form or type in the arts
A special type or way of art, writing, or music.
Usage pattern:
[style] of [art/music/literature]
Synonyms
genre (Refers to a category defined by shared conventions; broader in scope than 'style'.)
Antonyms
amalgam (A mixture without distinct artistic classification.)
Collocations
literary style
|musical style
|artistic style
|architectural style
Themes
art
|culture
|arts_entertainment
|education
Examples
- Impressionism is a famous style of painting.
- Her novels are written in a minimalist style.
- Jazz is a musical style with African American roots.
- The building was designed in the Gothic style.
- He experiments with different styles in his artwork.
Learner examples
- I like the rock music style.
- This book has a simple writing style.
- That painting is in the old style.
- He works in the modern art style.
- My favorite style is jazz music.
Verb
B1
action
4
Arrange or design appearance
To make something look nice by arranging it in a certain way.
Usage pattern:
to style [something] [adjective/with something]
Synonyms
arrange (More general; not limited to appearance.)
Antonyms
mess up (To make untidy or spoil the arrangement.)
Collocations
style hair
|style an outfit
|style a room
Themes
fashion
|daily life
|daily_life
|clothing
|housing
Examples
- She styled her hair for the wedding.
- The designer styled the model in bright colors.
- He styled his living room with vintage furniture.
- They styled the set to look like a 1950s diner.
Learner examples
- I styled my hair today.
- She styled the table for dinner.
- He styled his room with new chairs.
- We styled the shop for Christmas.
Grammar
Dictionary form
style
IPA
GB/stˈaɪl/
US/stˈaɪl/
Syllables & stress
style (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (style)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: style
- Plural: style, styles
Verb
- Base: style
- 3rd Person Singular: styles
- Present Participle: styling
- Past: styled
Word family
Forms
styles
noun
styling
verb
styled
verb
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unstylish
adjective
Advanced or less common
Expressions
cramp someone's style
1/kɹˈæmp sˈʌmwˌʌnz stˈaɪl/
idiom
informal
Restrict someone's usual behavior
To stop someone from behaving freely or doing what they want to do easily.
Examples
- I don't want my parents at the party—they'd just cramp my style.
- His injury has really cramped his style at work.
in style
1/ˈɪn stˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
Fashionable right now
Wearing clothes or having things that are popular now.
Examples
- Those shoes are really in style this season.
- She always keeps her outfits in style.
out of style
1/ˈaʊt əv stˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
Not fashionable now
Wearing clothes or having things that are not popular now.
Examples
- Bell-bottom pants went out of style decades ago.
- That type of hat is completely out of style.
with style
1/wˈɪθ stˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
In an impressive way
Doing something in a way that looks good and confident.
Examples
- She finished the race with style.
- He handled the problem with style and grace.