partners
partners — noun
1. people, groups, or countries that work closely with another side for a shared pu
people, groups, or countries that work closely with another side for a shared purpose.
Taiwan and Palau remain close trade partners across several shipping routes.
trade partners
The clinic's local partners delivered medicine after the bridge collapsed.
local partners
Our research partners checked every water sample before the report was printed.
Maeve thanked the school's overseas partners for sending thirty science kits.
- allies
often stresses support toward the same goal
- associates
broader and can sound more formal or less cooperative
- collaborators
focuses on doing a task or project together
- rivals
people or groups competing against the same side instead of helping it
文法句型
trade partners
partners in a project
local partners
用法筆記
Often modified by words such as trade, research, local, or overseas. This sense can refer to organizations or countries, not only individual people.
常見錯誤
2. people who share ownership of a business and divide its profits, risks, and deci
people who share ownership of a business and divide its profits, risks, and decisions.
The firm's partners voted to open a second office in Taichung.
partners in a firm
After lunch, the partners met their lawyer to review the new lease.
Two senior partners called the clients before the public announcement.
At year-end, all partners share the bakery's profit and losses.
- co-owners
a close match that directly stresses shared ownership
- joint owners
plain and slightly legal in tone
- principals
used in some professional firms for leading owners
- employees
people who work for the business without owning it
文法句型
partners in a firm
senior partners
managing partners
用法筆記
Common in legal, accounting, consulting, and family-business contexts. It refers to shared ownership, not simply working in the same office.
常見錯誤
3. people in a close romantic or sexual relationship, including spouses and couples
people in a close romantic or sexual relationship, including spouses and couples who live together.
The invitation asks whether partners may bring children to the ceremony.
partners as a couple unit
Many older partners keep separate bank accounts after moving in together.
At the workshop, partners talked quietly about saving for a new home.
The program offers counseling for partners after a long hospital stay.
- spouses
used when the two people are legally married
- companions
broader and less clearly romantic
- lovers
more strongly focused on intimacy or sexual relationship
- ex-partners
people who were once in the relationship but are not now
文法句型
long-term partners
partners who live together
partners in a relationship
用法筆記
Often chosen because it is gender-neutral and does not focus on whether the couple is married. Distinguish from sense 4, which is about doing an activity together.
常見錯誤
4. the two people in a pair who dance, play a sport, or do another activity togethe
the two people in a pair who dance, play a sport, or do another activity together.
The dance teacher changed partners after every song in the warm-up.
dance partners
In doubles practice, both partners moved closer to the net.
both partners in a pair
The game gives each pair two minutes to question their partners.
Before the recital, the young partners bowed together to the audience.
- teammates
broader and can refer to a whole team, not only a pair
- pairmates
rare but transparent for being in the same pair
- doubles players
specific to two-person sports such as tennis or badminton
- opponents
the people on the other side rather than in the same pair
文法句型
dance partners
tennis partners
partners in a game
用法筆記
Usually refers to two people linked inside the same dance, sport, class, or game. It is narrower than sense 1, which can describe a broader working relationship.
常見錯誤
partners — verb
1. to do a dance, game, sport, or similar activity as the other half of someone's p
to do a dance, game, sport, or similar activity as the other half of someone's pair.
Luca partners Mei in the final rehearsal before the school show.
partner someone in a dance or game
On Fridays, each beginner partners with an older dancer for practice.
partner with + person
During summer camp, our son partners with Ben for canoe races.
For the last dance, Haruto partners the tallest student in his row.
- pair with
the most direct expression for forming a pair
- team up with
more informal and broader than dance or sport pairs
- match up with
often stresses that the two people are put together
- compete against
to face the other person rather than work in the same pair
文法句型
partner someone in a dance or game
partner with + person
partner in + activity
用法筆記
Used when someone actually forms the pair and takes part in the activity. Distinguish from sense 3, which is about arranging another person's partner for them.
常見錯誤
2. to work together with a company, group, or individual on a business or public pr
to work together with a company, group, or individual on a business or public project.
The museum partners with local shops to print cheaper tickets.
partner with + organization
Our startup partners with two farms on the school lunch project.
partner on + project
This bank partners with village clinics to reach remote patients.
Each spring, the charity partners with schools for its book drive.
- collaborate
a broad verb for working together on a task or project
- join forces
stresses combining effort toward one goal
- team up
more informal and less specifically business-focused
- compete
to work against another side instead of with it
文法句型
partner with + organization
partner on + project
partner to + shared aim
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'with' before the other side. It is broader than simply being a pair in an activity and often involves a shared project or service.
常見錯誤
3. to provide someone with a partner by placing them together for an activity or ta
to provide someone with a partner by placing them together for an activity or task.
The coach partners each goalkeeper with a taller defender in drills.
partner someone with + person
At the camp, the leader partners new swimmers with confident older teens.
The guide partners new hikers with local volunteers for the night walk.
For reading time, Ms. Cheng partners quiet children with patient classmates.
- separate
to keep people apart instead of placing them together
文法句型
partner someone with + person
partner each person with + role
partner children with classmates
用法筆記
This sense describes the act of assigning the pair, usually by a teacher, coach, or organizer. Unlike sense 1, the subject may not take part in the activity personally.