graduate
/ˈɡrædʒuət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡrædʒuət/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgra-jə-ˌwāt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɡrædʒ.u.eɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡrædʒ.u.eɪt/ (ame, ipa)
graduate — noun
- graduatesingular
- graduatesplural
1. Someone who finishes a first-level university programme and receives a qualifica
Someone who finishes a first-level university programme and receives a qualification such as a bachelor's degree.
Mira, a recent law graduate, found a job at a small firm in Taipei.
noun in apposition: 'a recent law graduate'
The chemistry department published a list of this year's graduates and their thesis titles.
Baraka, a graduate of the University of Cape Town, often speaks at student career events.
The scholarship is for graduates who earned their degree within the last three years.
Graduates from the engineering programme now work at companies in over fifteen countries.
- alumnus
more formal; implies membership in the institution's alumni network, not just degree completion
- degree holder
more technical; less common in everyday speech
- undergraduate
a student who is studying for a first degree, not yet a graduate
- dropout
someone who left school or university before completing their studies
文法句型
graduate + of + institution
graduate + from + institution
用法筆記
Often paired with 'of' (graduate of Harvard) or 'from' (graduate from Harvard). In American English, 'graduate' can refer to someone who finished high school; in British English, it typically refers only to university degree holders.
常見錯誤
2. Someone who finishes studying at a school or vocational college and moves on to
Someone who finishes studying at a school or vocational college and moves on to the next stage of life.
Many high school graduates spend the summer travelling before starting university.
high school graduate
The apprenticeship programme helps school graduates learn skills such as plumbing and electrical work.
Apinya was the first graduate from her village to attend a national university in Thailand.
Local companies offer internships to recent graduates of the technical college across the street.
Graduates of the vocational programme often find jobs in hotels and restaurants within months.
- school leaver
more common in British English; neutral with respect to qualification level
- alumnus
formal; used for private schools and universities, not typically for public high schools
- beginner
someone just starting at the school
- first-year
a student in their first year, not yet a graduate
文法句型
graduate + of + school
用法筆記
In American English, this is the default meaning for a high school context. In British English, 'school leaver' is more common than 'graduate' for someone finishing secondary school.
graduate — verb
- graduatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- graduates3rd person singular
- graduating-ing form
- graduatedpast simple
1. To finish a programme of study at a university and be awarded a first degree suc
To finish a programme of study at a university and be awarded a first degree such as a BA or BSc.
Élise graduated from the University of Lyon with a degree in biology.
graduate from [institution] with [degree]
After six years of part-time study, Darius finally graduated last spring.
Most students on the four-year programme graduate within five years of starting.
Baraka graduated in 2021 and immediately started a small business in Nairobi.
The university expects students to complete all coursework before they can graduate.
- complete one's degree
more formal; focuses on finishing the programme rather than the ceremony
- finish university
informal; common in everyday speech
- drop out
to leave university before finishing the degree
文法句型
graduate + from + institution
graduate + in + year
graduate + in + subject
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'from' to name the institution (graduate from Oxford) and 'in' to name the year (graduate in 2020) or field (graduate in chemistry). The passive form ('be graduated from') is old-fashioned in modern English.
常見錯誤
2. To finish an educational programme at a high school, college, or other school an
To finish an educational programme at a high school, college, or other school and leave that institution.
Lakan graduated from Tokyo International High School in 2023.
graduate from [high school]
Students must pass all final exams before they can graduate from the programme.
More than ninety percent of the senior class graduated on time last June in Seoul.
Sari graduated from cooking school last year and works at a hotel in Chiang Mai.
Young people who graduate from vocational colleges often find skilled jobs more quickly.
- finish school
informal; used in both British and American English
- leave school
common in British English; can also mean dropping out, so context matters
- drop out
to leave school before completing the programme
文法句型
graduate + from + school
用法筆記
In American English, this is the usual sense for high school. In British English, 'leave school' is more common for secondary education; 'graduate' for school is rarer and usually refers to finishing a course at a college.
常見錯誤
3. To move from one stage to a more advanced or different stage, especially in skil
To move from one stage to a more advanced or different stage, especially in skill level, responsibility, or appearance.
Sari graduated from beginner piano lessons to advanced classes within two years.
graduate from [level A] to [level B]
The sky gradually graduated from bright blue to a warm orange glow over the hills.
New employees start in entry-level roles and graduate to supervisory positions after training.
The painting's colours graduate from deep purple at the top to a pale pink below.
After three years in customer service, Christopher graduated to a management role at the bank.
- progress
broader meaning; does not imply completion of stages
- advance
similar; often implies deliberate improvement
- transition
more formal; neutral about improvement
文法句型
graduate + from + [level X] + to + [level Y]
用法筆記
This sense uses 'graduate' as a verb of gradual transition. The structure is 'graduate from X to Y', where X is the starting stage and Y is the next stage. Common in two contexts: career progression (graduate to a senior role) and gradual visual change (colours graduating).
常見錯誤
graduate — adjective
- graduatepositive
- more graduatecomparative
- most graduatesuperlative
1. Connected with studies at a level above the first university degree, for example
Connected with studies at a level above the first university degree, for example master's or PhD level work.
Quinn is applying to several graduate programmes in environmental science this autumn.
graduate programme
The university library has a separate floor for graduate research and quiet study.
Isabela received a full scholarship for her graduate studies in public health at Oxford.
The graduate seminar on climate policy meets every Tuesday in the conference room.
Many graduate courses require students to submit a research proposal by the third week.
- postgraduate
standard in British English; interchangeable with 'graduate' in this sense
- advanced
broader; can apply to any level beyond basic instruction
- undergraduate
relating to bachelor's level studies, the level before graduate studies
文法句型
graduate + noun
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). In British English, 'postgraduate' is more common than 'graduate' for this sense. In American English, 'graduate' is standard (graduate school, graduate student).
常見錯誤
2. Having completed a degree or diploma programme, typically used before a job titl
Having completed a degree or diploma programme, typically used before a job title to describe someone qualified by formal education.
The hospital requires all graduate nurses to pass a national licensing exam.
graduate nurse
A graduate teacher must complete two years of supervised classroom experience.
The firm offers a higher starting salary to graduate engineers than to trainees.
Only graduate members of the professional institute can vote in the annual election.
The programme pairs graduate chemists with experienced researchers in the lab.
- trainee
someone still learning the profession, not yet qualified
文法句型
graduate + noun (profession)
用法筆記
Always used before a noun that names a profession or role (graduate nurse, graduate engineer). This sense describes the person's qualification level, not the type of study they are doing.
常見錯誤
❌ 'She is a graduate.' (correct but vague) — Be more specific: 'She is a graduate nurse.' or 'She is a nursing graduate.'