train
gb/tɹˈeɪn/ us/tɹˈeɪn/
A1
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Connected railway vehicles
A group of connected railway cars that carry people or things.
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] train
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'train' with 'railway', which refers to the system, not the vehicle.
Synonyms
railway (Refers to the transport system as a whole, not just the vehicle.)
Antonyms
car (A separate vehicle that travels on roads, not tracks.)
Collocations
catch a train
|miss the train
|train station
|train ride
|high-speed train
Themes
transportation
|travel
|daily life
Examples
- We took the morning train to New York.
- The train was delayed by thirty minutes.
- A freight train passed through the town at night.
- She waved as the train pulled out of the station.
Learner examples
- I go to work by train.
- The train is late today.
- We are on the train now.
- The train stops at this station.
Verb
A2
action
2
Teach or prepare through practice
To help someone learn a skill by teaching and practice, or to learn a skill yourself.
Usage pattern:
to train [someone] to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'train' (to teach) with 'practice' (to do an activity repeatedly without formal teaching).
Synonyms
coach (Often used in sports contexts and implies ongoing personal guidance.)
Antonyms
neglect (To fail to give needed teaching or preparation.)
Collocations
train hard
|train staff
|train for a marathon
|train animals
Themes
education
|sports
|work
Examples
- She trains new employees on how to use the software.
- He is training for the Olympics.
- We need to train our dog to follow commands.
- The company trains staff in customer service skills.
Learner examples
- I train my dog every day.
- She trains to be a teacher.
- They train workers in safety rules.
- He trains for the race.
Verb
A2
action
3
Exercise to improve ability or fitness
To do exercise or practice often to get better at a sport or skill.
Usage pattern:
to train for [an event]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'train' with 'exercise', but 'train' often has a specific goal, like an event or skill improvement.
Synonyms
practice (Focuses on repeating an activity to improve skill, not necessarily physical fitness.)
Antonyms
rest (To stop physical activity for recovery.)
Collocations
train regularly
|train hard
|train for competition
Themes
sports
|health
Examples
- She trains every morning before work.
- They are training for the city marathon.
- I need to train more if I want to win.
Learner examples
- I train at the gym.
- He trains for football.
- We train three times a week.
Verb
B1
action
4
Aim something at target
To point something like a camera or gun at something.
Usage pattern:
to train [something] on [something]
Synonyms
aim (General term for pointing at a target; 'train' can imply sustained focus.)
Antonyms
avert (To turn away from a target.)
Collocations
train a camera on
|train a gun on
Themes
military
|photography
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The reporter trained his microphone on the speaker.
- Soldiers trained their rifles on the door.
- She trained her eyes on the horizon.
Learner examples
- He trains the camera on me.
- They train guns on the target.
- She trains her eyes on the road.
Noun
B2
entity
5
Sequence of connected things
A line of people, things, or events that come one after another.
Synonyms
series (More general term for things happening one after another.)
Antonyms
disarray (Lack of order or sequence.)
Collocations
a train of thought
|a wedding dress train
Themes
general
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A long train of cars followed the parade.
- His rude comment set off a train of complaints.
- The bride's dress had a long silk train.
Learner examples
- The bride has a long train on her dress.
- There is a train of cars behind the truck.
- He lost his train of thought.
Grammar
Dictionary form
train
IPA
GB/tɹˈeɪn/
US/tɹˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
train (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (train)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: train
- Plural: trains
Verb
- Base: train
- 3rd Person Singular: trains
- Present Participle: training
- Past: trained
Word family
Expressions
in training
1/ˈɪn tɹˈeɪnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Currently preparing for activity/job
Learning and practicing for a sport, job, or activity now.
Examples
- He is in training for the boxing match next month.
- All new staff are in training for two weeks.
train of thought
1/tɹˈeɪn əv θˈɔt/
fixed phrase
Connected sequence of ideas in mind
The line of ideas you are thinking about.
Examples
- I lost my train of thought when he interrupted me.
- She paused to gather her train of thought before continuing.
train of thought
1/tɹˈeɪn əv θˈɔt/
fixed phrase
connected series of ideas
The line of ideas you are following in your mind.
Examples
- I lost my train of thought when the phone rang.
- His speech was hard to follow because his train of thought kept shifting.
- Let me finish this train of thought before we change topics.
train on
1/tɹˈeɪn ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
Aim something at target and keep focus
To point something like a camera or weapon at something and keep it pointed there.
Examples
- The cameraman trained on the singer throughout the performance.
- Security guards trained their flashlights on the dark corner.
train up
1/tɹˈeɪn ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Teach skills until ready for task/job
To help someone learn all they need for a job or task over time.
Examples
- We need to train up more nurses for rural clinics.
- They trained her up to manage the store.