bandwidth
gb/bˈændwɪtθ/ us/bˈændwɪtθ/
B2
Anglais
~ 5100
Sens
0 sens
Nom
technical
B2
quantity
1
capacity of a network connection
The amount of data that can move through an internet or network connection in one second.
Schéma d’usage :
the bandwidth of [a connection/device/service]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'bandwidth' with 'speed'. Bandwidth is the capacity (how much data per second), while 'latency' describes how long data takes to travel. In everyday use, people mix them, but technically they are different.
Synonymes
throughput (More technical; often refers specifically to the actual rate achieved rather than the maximum possible.)
|
data capacity (Informal and less precise; emphasizes how much data a connection can handle rather than the technical rate.)
Antonymes
low bandwidth (Describes a connection that can only handle a small amount of data per second, the practical opposite of high bandwidth.)
Collocations
high bandwidth
|low bandwidth
|bandwidth limit
|bandwidth usage
|bandwidth constraints
|increase bandwidth
Thèmes
technology
|internet
|communication
Exemples
- Our office upgraded to a plan with higher bandwidth so video calls are smoother.
- Streaming 4K video uses a lot of bandwidth.
- The conference Wi‑Fi didn’t have enough bandwidth for hundreds of people to connect at once.
- You should run a test to see what bandwidth your internet provider is actually giving you.
- Online games require stable bandwidth, not just a fast advertised speed.
Exemples pédagogiques
- My home internet has enough bandwidth for two people to watch movies.
- Video calls use more bandwidth than email.
- The company pays for extra bandwidth during big online events.
- If many people download files, the bandwidth may not be enough.
- We need more bandwidth to support all the new users.
Nom
informal
C1
quantity
2
time or mental capacity available
The time and mental energy that someone has to do things or think about problems.
Schéma d’usage :
have (enough) bandwidth to [do something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes think this meaning is still technical. In this informal sense, 'bandwidth' is a metaphor for personal time and mental energy, not internet speed or data. It is not used for physical space or money.
Synonymes
capacity (Very general; can refer to many kinds of ability or space, not just time and attention.)
|
headspace (Informal; focuses more on emotional and mental room rather than time and workload.)
Antonymes
overload (Describes a state where a person already has too many tasks or too much stress, so they effectively have no bandwidth left.)
Collocations
have the bandwidth
|not have the bandwidth
|limited bandwidth
|mental bandwidth
|emotional bandwidth
|free up bandwidth
Thèmes
work
|daily life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- I’d love to help, but I just don’t have the bandwidth this week.
- Our team doesn’t have enough bandwidth to take on another project right now.
- She said she doesn’t have the emotional bandwidth for a serious relationship at the moment.
- Let’s automate these reports to free up some bandwidth for more important work.
- He has a lot on his plate and no mental bandwidth left for side jobs.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Sorry, I don’t have the bandwidth to join another meeting today.
- Our team does not have enough bandwidth for a new project.
- She has no emotional bandwidth to deal with drama right now.
- I want to study Spanish, but I don’t have the bandwidth this year.
- We cut two tasks to create more bandwidth for planning.
Nom
technical
C1
quantity
3
range of frequencies of a signal
The group of frequencies that a signal or device uses or can work with.
Schéma d’usage :
the bandwidth of [a signal/channel/system]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse this with data-transfer bandwidth. Both relate to capacity, but in this sense it is specifically the range of frequencies, not the amount of data per second.
Synonymes
frequency range (More descriptive and slightly less technical; directly states that it refers to a set of frequencies.)
Antonymes
narrow bandwidth (Refers to a small frequency range, in contrast with a wide bandwidth that covers a larger range of frequencies.)
Collocations
wide bandwidth
|narrow bandwidth
|frequency bandwidth
|bandwidth allocation
|bandwidth requirements
|signal bandwidth
Thèmes
science
|technology
|engineering
Exemples
- This filter has a very narrow bandwidth centered at 1 kHz.
- The antenna needs enough bandwidth to handle multiple communication channels.
- Audio quality improves when the system has a wider bandwidth.
- Engineers measured the bandwidth of the new radio link in the lab.
- The service cannot operate outside the allocated bandwidth.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The radio uses a certain bandwidth for its signal.
- A wide bandwidth can carry more information in the signal.
- The engineer checked the bandwidth of the new device.
- This filter only lets a small bandwidth of sound go through.
- We must stay inside the allowed bandwidth for this system.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
bandwidth
API
GB/bˈændwɪtθ/
US/bˈændwɪtθ/
Syllabes et accentuation
band - width (2 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (band)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: bandwidth
- Plural: bandwidth, bandwidths
Famille de mots
Expressions
emotional bandwidth
1/ɪmˈoʊʃənəl bˈændwɪtθ/
fixed phrase
available emotional energy
The amount of emotional energy someone has free to deal with other people’s feelings or difficult situations.
Exemples
- I care about you, but I don’t have the emotional bandwidth for that conversation tonight.
- He has very little emotional bandwidth after caring for his sick parents.
- Teachers need emotional bandwidth to support their students effectively.
have the bandwidth
1/hˈæv ðə bˈændwɪtθ/
fixed phrase
informal
have enough time/energy
To have enough time and mental energy to do something.
Exemples
- I’d love to mentor you, but I don’t have the bandwidth right now.
- Do we actually have the bandwidth to start another project this quarter?
- She finally has the bandwidth to focus on her own health.
mental bandwidth
1/mˈɛntəl bˈændwɪtθ/
fixed phrase
available thinking capacity
The amount of thinking power or attention someone has free for tasks or problems.
Exemples
- After the long meeting, I had no mental bandwidth left for creative work.
- This course takes a lot of mental bandwidth, so don’t take too many other classes.
- She didn’t have the mental bandwidth to learn a new system during the busy season.
not have the bandwidth
1/nˈɑt hˈæv ðə bˈændwɪtθ/
fixed phrase
informal
lack time or mental capacity
To not have enough time or mental energy to do something.
Exemples
- I’m sorry, I just don’t have the bandwidth to join another committee.
- We don’t have the bandwidth to support that feature this year.
- He doesn’t have the bandwidth to handle more clients at the moment.