conference
conference — noun
1. a large gathering, often lasting several days, where people who share a professi
a large gathering, often lasting several days, where people who share a profession or interest attend talks, workshops, and discussions focused on a chosen theme
Christopher flew to Singapore for a three-day conference on renewable energy.
conference + on + topic
The hospital sent two nurses to a medical conference in Taipei last month.
Indra registered for the annual education conference to book a room near the venue.
Over four hundred researchers attended the international climate conference in Nairobi.
Hyun took detailed notes during the morning sessions of the tech conference.
- convention
larger, often annual gathering of an organisation or industry
- symposium
more academic and research-focused, typically smaller
- summit
high-level meeting of leaders, usually in politics or business
- seminar
shorter teaching-oriented session rather than a multi-day event
文法句型
conference + on/about + topic
用法筆記
This sense usually refers to a multi-day event, not a short office meeting. Common verbs are 'hold', 'attend', 'organise', and 'go to'. The preposition 'on' introduces the topic ('a conference on climate change').
常見錯誤
2. a formal meeting in which two or more people discuss important matters; the acti
a formal meeting in which two or more people discuss important matters; the activity of being in such a discussion — for example, managers conferring about budgets, or lawyers negotiating a deal
Noor is in conference with the school principal and will call you back later.
in conference (with) — fixed expression
The lawyers held a conference with the client before the trial began.
hold a conference with [person]
Imran and his co-author had several conferences to finalise the structure of their paper.
Please do not disturb the director while she is in conference.
The union representatives requested a conference with management to discuss working conditions.
- consultation
implies seeking advice or expert opinion
- discussion
less formal and covers any exchange of views
- deliberation
suggests careful, lengthy consideration
文法句型
in conference (with)
have/hold a conference (with)
用法筆記
The uncountable use ('in conference') is fixed: no article is used. The countable use ('a conference with someone') often refers to a specific discussion meeting. This sense is more formal than the everyday word 'meeting'.
常見錯誤
3. one of the groups into which a large sports league divides its teams for organis
one of the groups into which a large sports league divides its teams for organised competition — for example, the Eastern and Western conferences in the NBA
Théo's team finished at the top of the Eastern Conference this season.
Conference capitalised as part of a proper name
The Southeastern Conference has produced some of the strongest college football teams in the country.
Megan follows the Western Conference games more closely than the Eastern ones.
Two conferences in the basketball league each send their best team to the finals.
Anya won the conference championship title two years in a row with her volleyball team.
文法句型
the + [adjective] + Conference
Conference + [noun]
用法筆記
In US professional sports, teams are divided into conferences (e.g. Eastern / Western) that are further split into divisions. The word is capitalised when it is part of a proper name (e.g. 'the Pacific Conference'). In British English, the term 'division' is more common.