suburbia
gb/səbˈɚbiə/ us/səbˈɚbiə/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
the suburbs as a whole
the areas with houses outside a city, where many people live
Usage pattern:
in [suburbia]; out in [suburbia]; [country/region] suburbia
Common mistake:
Learners may treat it as countable (*a suburbia*), but it is normally uncountable in this sense.
Synonyms
the suburbs (More common and more direct; less abstract in tone.)
|
suburban area (More formal and descriptive.)
Antonyms
downtown (The central business/entertainment area of a city, not the outskirts.)
|
inner city (Urban areas closer to the center, often contrasted with suburbs.)
Collocations
life in suburbia
|out in suburbia
|quiet suburbia
|leafy suburbia
|endless suburbia
|American suburbia
|move to suburbia
|live in suburbia
|the edge of suburbia
|suburbia sprawls
Themes
geography
|housing
|daily_life
|cities
|urban_planning
Examples
- They bought a house in suburbia and commute into the city every day.
- New roads have made it easier to get from suburbia to downtown.
- The storm caused widespread power cuts across suburbia.
Learner examples
- I live in suburbia, outside the city.
- She moved to suburbia after she had a baby.
Noun
C1
abstract
2
suburban lifestyle and culture
the typical life and culture of people who live in the suburbs
Usage pattern:
[criticize/idealize/escape] suburbia; the [comfort/monotony] of suburbia
Common mistake:
Learners may miss the implied attitude: in some contexts it is neutral, but it can also sound critical or ironic.
Synonyms
suburban life (More literal; less likely to carry stereotype or criticism.)
|
suburban lifestyle (Focuses on habits and daily routines rather than place.)
Antonyms
city life (Urban lifestyle contrasted with suburban routines and space.)
|
urban culture (Cultural life associated with cities rather than suburbs.)
Collocations
the comforts of suburbia
|the monotony of suburbia
|middle-class suburbia
|cookie-cutter suburbia
|a portrait of suburbia
|a satire of suburbia
|escape suburbia
|suburbia dream
|a symbol of suburbia
|the image of suburbia
Themes
society
|culture
|daily_life
|housing
Examples
- The novel is a sharp comedy about the anxieties of suburbia.
- For them, suburbia represented safety, space, and good schools.
- He felt trapped by the routines of suburbia and wanted something different.
Learner examples
- Some people love suburbia because it is quiet.
- The movie shows family life in suburbia.
Grammar
Dictionary form
suburbia
IPA
GB/səbˈɚbiə/
US/səbˈɚbiə/
Syllables & stress
sub - ur - bia (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: suburbia
- Plural: suburbia
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.