Business

busi‧ness S1 W1 /ˈbɪznəs, ˈbɪznɪs/ noun
[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: busy]
1. BUYING OR SELLING GOODS OR SERVICES [uncountable] the activity of making money by producing or buying and selling goods, or providing services:
   • Students on the course learn about all aspects of business.
   • Carl began in the music business by running a recording studio.
   • We do business with a number of Italian companies.
   • He has a wide range of business interests.
2. COMPANY [countable] an organization such as a company, shop, or factory that produces or sells goods or provides a service:
   • She now has her own $25 million home-shopping business.
   • They don’t know how to run a business.
   • The company began as a small family business.
3. HOW MUCH WORK A COMPANY HAS [uncountable] the amount of work a company does or the amount of money it makes:
   • We’re now doing twice as much business as we did last year.
   • Exports account for 72% of overall business.
  business is good/bad/slow etc
   • Business is slow during the summer.
  drum up business (=try to get more work for you or your company)
   • Perot was in Europe, drumming up business for his new investment company.
4. FOR YOUR JOB [uncountable] work that you do as part of your job:
   • She’s in New York this week on business (=for her work).
   • Hi Maggie! Is this phone call business or pleasure?
  business trip/meeting etc
   • We discussed the idea over a business lunch.
   • useful business contacts
5. WHAT SOMEONE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN [uncountable]
   a) if something is not your business or none of your business, you should not be involved in it or ask about it:
   • It was not her business, she decided, to ask where the money came from.
   • It’s none of your business how much I weigh.
   • ‘Who’s that girl you were with?’ ‘Mind your own business (=Don’t ask questions about something that does not concern you)!’
   • ‘Are you going out with Kate tonight?’ ‘That’s my business’ (=it doesn’t concern you, so don’t ask me questions about it).
   b) if it is someone’s business to do something, it is their duty or responsibility to do it
  it is the business of somebody to do something
   • It is the business of government to listen to the various groups within society.
6. THINGS TO BE DEALT WITH [uncountable] things that need to be done or discussed:
   • Okay, let’s get down to business (=start doing or discussing something).
   • ‘Is there any other business?’ the chairman asked.
7. MATTER [singular] a situation or activity, especially one that you have a particular opinion about or attitude towards
  a serious/strange/funny etc business
   • Leon regards keeping fit as a serious business.
   • Tanya found the whole business ridiculous.
8. be in business
   a) to be involved in business activities:
   • The company has been in business for over 30 years.
   b) spoken to have all that you need to start doing something:
   • I’ve just got to buy the paint and then we’re in business.
9. (go) out of business if a company goes out of business, or something puts it out of business, it stops operating, especially because of financial problems:
   • Higher interest rates will drive small firms out of business.
10. be back in business to be working or operating in a normal way again:
   • The band are back in business after a long break.
11. somebody was (just) minding their own business spoken used to say that someone was not doing anything unusual or wrong at the time when something unfair or bad happened to them:
   • I was driving along, minding my own business, when the police stopped my car.
12. go about your business to do the things that you normally do:
   • The street was full of ordinary people going about their business.
13. make it your business to do something to make a special effort to do something:
   • Ruth made it her business to get to know the customers.
14. mean business informal to be serious about doing something even if it involves harming someone:
   • The border is guarded by troops who mean business.
15. unfinished business something you need to discuss further with someone or a situation that has not yet reached a satisfactory solution:
   • The sudden death of a loved one can often leave the bereaved with an agonising sense of unfinished business.
16. business is business spoken used to say that profit is the most important thing to consider:
   • We can’t afford to employ someone who isn’t good at the job – business is business.
17. business as usual when someone or something is still working or operating normally when you think they might not be:
   • Despite last night’s scare, it was business as usual in the White House today.
18. have no business doing something/have no business to do something to do something you should not be doing:
   • He was drunk and had no business driving.
19. not be in the business of doing something to not be intending to do something because you think it is a bad idea:
   • I’m not in the business of selling my best players.
20. and all that business spoken informal and other things of the same general kind:
   • She handles the publicity and all that business.
21. (it’s) the business British English informal used to say that something is very good or works well:
   • Have you seen David’s new car? It’s the business!
22. do the business British English informal
   a) to do what you are expected to do or what people want you to do:
   • Come on, then, and do the business.
   b) to have sex
⇨ big business, ⇨ funny business at funny(3), ⇨ like nobody’s business at nobody1(2), ⇨ monkey business at monkey1(3), ⇨ show business
     • • •

COLLOCATIONS(for Meaning 1)■ verbs

   ▪ do business • A lot of firms are keen to do business in Japan.
   ▪ conduct business formal (=do business) • It is not a sensible way to conduct business.
   ▪ go into business (=start working in business) • A lot of university graduates want to go into business.
   ▪ set up/start up in business • The bank gave me a loan to help me set up in business.
   ▪ stay in business (=continue operating and not become bankrupt) • Some stores are finding it hard to stay in business.
   ▪ go out of business (=stop doing business because of financial problems) • In a recession smaller firms often go out of business.

■ NOUN + business

▪ the music/entertainment/computer etc business • He started out working in the computer business.

■ business + NOUN

   ▪ a business deal (=an occasion when you buy or sell something) • Negotiation is the most important part of a business deal.
   ▪ business activities • His wife refused to get involved in his business activities.
   ▪ business interests (=business activities, or shares in companies) • Both companies have substantial business interests in Indonesia.
   ▪ the business community (=people who work in business) • There was pressure on the government from the business community.
   ▪ the business world • You need to be flexible in today’s highly competitive business world.
   ▪ business studies (=a course of study about business) • She did business studies at college.

■ COMMON ERRORS

► Do not say 'make business'. Say do business.
• • •

COLLOCATIONS(for Meaning 2)■ verbs

   ▪ have/own a business • Nick owned a software business in Boston.
   ▪ run a business (=manage it) • There’s plenty of advice available on how to run your own business.
   ▪ start/set up a business • When you’re starting a business, you have to work longer hours.
   ▪ take over a business (=buy it or start running it) • When my father retired, I took over the business.
   ▪ build (up)/develop a business • He spent years trying to build a business in Antigua.
   ▪ establish a business • She overcame many financial difficulties to establish her business.
   ▪ a business succeeds • Making a business succeed is not simple.
   ▪ a business collapses/fails (=stops operating) • 35% of small businesses fail in the first year of operation.

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + business

   ▪ a small business (=that employs only a few people) • Many small businesses have been badly hit by the recession.
   ▪ a medium-sized business • They offer services to small and medium-sized businesses.
   ▪ a software/catering/construction etc business • His girlfriend runs a catering business.
   ▪ a family business (=owned and controlled by one family) • For many years the hotel was a family business.
   ▪ an import/export business • Kingwell had an export business in New Zealand.
   ▪ a successful/profitable/thriving business • Within a few years she had established a thriving business in London.
   ▪ a viable business (=one that is likely to be successful) • It soon became clear that the restaurant was not a viable business.

■ business + NOUN

   ▪ a business partner (=someone who shares a business with you) • Margie was his wife and also his business partner.
   ▪ a business manager • We need to take on a business manager to deal with some of the admin.
   ▪ a business customer/client • We’re providing our business customers with reliable, proven Internet technology.
     • • •

THESAURUS

   ▪ business the activity of making money by producing, buying, or selling goods, or providing services: • Business in Europe has been badly affected by economic conditions in the US. | • He works in the advertising business.
   ▪ trade the buying and selling of goods and services, especially between countries: • Trade between European countries became easier after the introduction of the Euro. | • a trade agreement
   ▪ commerce the buying and selling of goods and services. Commerce is more formal than business, and is used when talking about business activities in general: • One of the roles of the federal government is to regulate commerce. | • London became a great centre of commerce. | • the local chamber of commerce (=an organization which the companies and shops in an area belong to)
   ▪ e-commerce the buying and selling of goods and services on the Internet: • E-commerce is a fast-growing part of the US economy.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

business

busi·ness [business businesses] [ˈbɪznəs] [ˈbɪznəs] noun

TRADE

1. uncountable the activity of making, buying, selling or supplying goods or services for money

Syn: commerce, Syn: trade

• business contacts/affairs/interests

• a business investment

• It's been a pleasure to do business with you.

• She has set up in business as a hairdresser.

• When he left school, he went into business with his brother.

• She works in the computer business.

• They were both in the same line of business.

see also agribusiness, big business, show business

WORK

2. uncountable work that is part of your job

• Is the trip to Rome business or pleasure?

• a business lunch

• He's away on business.

3. uncountable the amount of work done by a company, etc; the rate or quality of this work

• Business was bad.

• Business was booming.

• Her job was to drum up (= increase) business.

• How's business?

• If we close down for repairs, we'll lose business.

COMPANY

4. countable a commercial organization such as a company, shop/store or factory

• to have/start/run a business

• business premises

• She works in the family business.

• They've got a small catering business.

• He wanted to expand the export side of the business.

RESPONSIBILITY

5. uncountable something that concerns a particular person or organization

• It is the business of the police to protect the community.

• I shall make it my business to find out who is responsible.

• My private life is none of your business (= does not concern you).

• It's no business of yours who I invite to the party.

IMPORTANT MATTERS

6. uncountable important matters that need to be dealt with or discussed

• the main business of the meeting

• He has some unfinished business to deal with.

EVENT

7. singular (usually with an adjective) a matter, an event or a situation

• That plane crash was a terrible business.

• I found the whole business very depressing.

• The business of the missing tickets hasn't been sorted out.

BEING A CUSTOMER

8. (especially NAmE) (also BrE formal cus·tom) uncountable the fact of a person or people buying goods or services at a shop/store or business

• We're grateful for your business.

more at mean business at mean v., mind your own business at mind v., ply for hire/trade/business at ply v.

Idioms: any other business ▪ business as usual ▪ business is business ▪ get down to business ▪ go about your business ▪ have no business doing something ▪ have no business to do something ▪ in business ▪ like nobody's business ▪ not be in the business of doing something ▪ out of business ▪ the business

See also: custom

Word Origin:

Old English bisignis ‘anxiety’ (see busy, -ness); the sense ‘state of being busy’ was used from Middle English down to the 18th cent., but is now differentiated as busyness. The use ‘appointed task’ dates from late Middle English, and from it all the other current senses have developed.

Culture:

the City

The business and financial centre of London is called the City or the City of London. It covers an area in east central London north of the River Thames, between Blackfriars Bridge and Tower Bridge. It is only about one square mile/2.5 square kilometres in size and is often referred to as the Square Mile.

Many financial institutions have their head offices in the City, including the Bank of England in Threadneedle Street, the London Stock Exchange in Old Broad Street and Lloyd's of London in Lime Street. Many banks, insurance companies and stockbrokers (= companies that buy and sell shares for others) have been in the City many years. When journalists talk about ‘the City’ they are usually not referring to the place but to the people involved in business and commerce, as in: The City had been expecting poor results from the company. (

Compare Wall Street

)

In the City old and new buildings stand next to each other. The most famous older buildings include St Paul's Cathedral, the Guildhall and the Mansion House, where the Lord Mayor of London lives. Tower 42, which is 600 feet/183 metres high, and the Swiss Re Tower, nicknamed ‘the Gherkin’, are two of the City’s more recent landmarks. The Barbican Centre includes an art gallery, a theatre and a concert hall, as well as flats/apartments.

Few people live in the City and at night the population is about 7 000. During the day it rises to about half a million, as business people commute to the City by car, bus and train. In the past the traditional image of the City gent was of a businessman in a dark suit and bowler hat, carrying a briefcase and a newspaper or an umbrella. The expression She’s something in the City means ‘She has an important job with a bank or firm of stockbrokers ’, and suggests wealth and high social status.

Thesaurus:

business noun

1. U

• It's a pleasure to do business with you.

trade • • trading • • commerce • • enterprise • • dealing • • operation • • market • • marketplace •

business/trade/trading/commerce/enterprise/dealing between people/countries

business/trade/trading/commerce/dealing with sb/a country

encourage/promote business/trade/commerce/enterprise

business/trade/the market grows/is booming/picks up/declines

Business or trade? Trade is used slightly more to talk about buying and selling goods rather than services. Business is used when sb is trying to emphasize the more personal aspects, such as discussing things and working together to provide goods or services.

2. C

• He works in the oil business.

industry • • trade • • service •

the book/tourist/car/catering/hotel/construction business/industry/trade

the energy/oil/food/computer/advertising/insurance/music business/industry

work in/be in a particular business/industry/trade/service

3. U

• She's away on business.

work • • job • • assignment • • duty • • duties • • mission • • task •

Opp: pleasure

(a) routine business/work/job/assignment/duties/mission/task

do business/your work/a job/an assignment/a task

be on business/a job/a mission

4. C

• start your own business

company • • firm • • operation • • corporation • • partnership • • practice • • cooperative • • syndicate • • house • |informal outfit • |business group • • conglomerate • • consortium • |business, journalism enterprise •

a multinational business/company/firm/operation/corporation/group/conglomerate/consortium/enterprise

a family business/company/firm/operation/partnership/practice/… house/enterprise

set up a/an business/company/firm/operation/corporation/partnership/practice/cooperative/syndicate/…house/outfit/consortium/enterprise

run a/an business/company/firm/operation/corporation/cooperative/syndicate/…house/group/conglomerate/consortium/enterprise

5.

• It's my business who I invite to the party.

affair • • preserve • |formal concern •

a private/personal business/affair/concern

sth is sb's own business/affair/concern

be none of sb's business/affair/concern

Business or concern? You can only use business, not concern, in the phrases make it your business to do sth and sth is the business of sth:

• I shall make it my business to find out who is responsible.

¤ I shall make it my concern to find out who is responsible.:

• It is the business of the police to protect the community.

¤ It is the concern of the police to protect the community.

Collocations:

Business

Running a business

buy/acquire/own/sell a company/firm/franchise

set up/establish/ start/start up/launch a business/company

run/operate a business/company/franchise

head/run a firm/department/team

make/secure/win/block a deal

expand/grow/build the business

boost/increase investment/spending/sales/turnover/earnings/exports/trade

increase/expand production/output/sales

boost/maximize production/productivity/efficiency/income/revenue/profit/profitability

achieve/maintain/sustain growth/profitability

cut/reduce/bring down/lower/slash costs/prices

announce/impose/make cuts/cutbacks

Sales and marketing

break into/enter/capture/dominate the market

gain/grab/take/win/boost/lose market share

find/build/create a market for sth

start/launch an advertising/a marketing campaign

develop/launch/promote a product/website

create/generate demand for your product

attract/get/retain/help customers/clients

drive/generate/boost/increase demand/sales

beat/keep ahead of/out-think/outperform the competition

meet/reach/exceed/miss sales targets

Finance

draw up/set/present/agree/approve a budget

keep to/balance/cut/reduce/slash the budget

be/come in below/under/over/within budget

generate income/revenue/profit/funds/business

fund/finance a campaign/a venture/an expansion/spending/a deficit

provide/raise/allocate capital/funds

attract/encourage investment/investors

recover/recoup costs/losses/an investment

get/obtain/offer sb/grant sb credit/a loan

apply for/raise/secure/arrange/provide finance

Failure

lose business/trade/customers/sales/revenue

accumulate/accrue/incur/run up debts

suffer/sustain enormous/heavy/serious losses

face cuts/a deficit/redundancy/bankruptcy

file for/ (NAmE) enter/avoid/escape bankruptcy

(BrE) go into administration/liquidation

liquidate/wind up a company

survive/weather a recession/downturn

propose/seek/block/oppose a merger

launch/make/accept/defeat a takeover bid

Example Bank:

• After a slack period business is now picking up.

• After leaving school she entered the family business.

• After six months the business really took off.

• Business has slowed considerably in recent months.

• Business is booming for estate agents in the south as the property market hots up.

• Business is booming for the big pharmaceutical companies.

• Business was brisk and they had sold out by midday.

• Changing your life can be a risky business.

• Cheap imports are hurting business for domestic producers.

• Having fun is a serious business.

• He argues that tax cuts will help business.

• He left the department to start his own business.

• He needs time and space to get on with the real business of writing.

• He owns a management consulting business based in Santa Barbara.

• He says he's going to make changes, and I think he means business.

• He spent his whole life in the insurance business.

• He wore a business suit.

• He works in the family business.

• He's someone I can do business with.

• I shall make it my business to find out who is responsible.

• I think we've finished item four. Now, is there any other business?

• I was just sitting there, minding my own business, when a man started shouting at me.

• I'll be glad when the whole business is over and done with.

• I'm going to Paris on business.

• I'm just glad to be out of the whole dirty business.

• I'm not going to talk business tonight.

• Is the trip to Rome business or pleasure?

• It was a bad business— he couldn't work for months.

• It was always my dream to run my own business.

• It was purely a business decision.

• It's business as usual at the factory, even while investigators sift through the bomb wreckage.

• It's good business practice to listen to your customers.

• It's time to focus on the company's core business.

• Jack and I finished our business early, so we went to lunch.

• Keep your nose out of my business!

• Meals are considered a business expense.

• My private life is none of your business.

• Nobody understands the music business better than him.

• OK, let's get down to business.

• Our repeat business is 50% or higher.

• Retail is a tough business.

• She had her own hairdressing business.

• She runs a successful online business.

• She's in Europe drumming up business for her new company.

• Supermarkets are doing more online business.

• The business is expanding fast.

• The company went out of business during the recession.

• The company's offices are located in the new business park out of town.

• The family owns a booming construction business.

• The new regulations will put many small companies out of business.

• These laws make life more difficult for legitimate businesses.

• They decided to start their own business.

• They developed a lasting business relationship.

• They're doing good business in Asia.

• They've cut their rates to attract new business.

• This isn't a social call— I've come on official business.

• Traditional businesses are having to compete with the Internet.

• We are looking to grow the business over the next couple of years.

• We built up the business from nothing.

• We have some unfinished business to discuss.

• We took on temporary staff to handle the extra business.

• We're losing business to our main rivals.

• We're not trying to educate— we're in the entertainment business.

• What business are you in?

• When I travel abroad I like to mix business with pleasure.

• You can call the helpline during normal business hours.

• You have no business= no right being here.

• a business model for using electronic commerce

• a company that has ceased to carry on business

• a conference of women business leaders

• insurance salesmen touting for business

• loans for people to start new businesses

• market traders going about their daily business

• protecting business secrets

• the city's main business district

• to protect business secrets

• Almost all businesses will be closed on Christmas Day.

• Falling prices are wreaking havoc in the oil business.

• Going to trade fairs is a good way of developing business contacts.

• Her job was to drum up business.

• How's business?

• I've decided to start my own business.

• If we close down for repairs, we'll lose business.

• It was not his habit to discuss his business affairs with strangers.

• It's been a pleasure to do business with you.

• It's no business of yours who I invite to the party.

• She has business interests all over the world.

• She's away on business.

• Stores are doing brisk business in wizard accessories and vampire kits.

• The average business trip lasts 2.5 days.

• The business of the missing tickets hasn't been sorted out.

• The restaurant is every executive's favourite place for a business lunch.

• There are strong links between politics and big business.

• They've got a small catering business.

• This legislation will hurt small businesses.

• We're looking for new business premises.

• When he left school he went into business with his brother.

• a business trip/lunch

• the catering/hotel/entertainment/advertising/insurance business.

• the energy/oil/food business.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

business

business (THINGS YOU DO) /ˈbɪz.nɪs/
noun [U]
the things that you do or the matters which relate only to you:
I got on with the business of filling in the form.
What she does with her life is her business.

business (MATTER) /ˈbɪz.nɪs/
noun [S or U]
a situation or activity, often one that you are giving your opinion about:
Arranging a trip abroad is a time-consuming business.
These killings are a dreadful business.
I make it my business (= I feel it is my particular duty) to check the monthly accounts.
We've got some unfinished business to discuss (= We still have something important to discuss).

the business noun [S] UK SLANG
extremely good:
That new defender is the business!

business (SELLING) /ˈbɪz.nɪs/
noun [C or U]
the activity of buying and selling goods and services, or a particular company that does this, or work you do to earn money:
My brother's in business.
He's in the frozen food business.
The two brothers established/set up/started up a clothes retailing business.
Our firm does a lot of business with overseas customers.
Eventually they found a consultant they felt they could do business with (= with whom they could work well).
Currently, there are fewer firms in business (= operating) in the area than ever before.
This new tax will put a lot of small firms out of business (= they will stop operating).
She set up in business (= started her own company) as a management consultant.
How is business (= Are you selling much) at the moment?
Business is good/brisk/booming/flourishing (= I'm selling a lot).
Business is bad/slack/quiet (= I'm not selling much).
I'm in Baltimore on business.
a business appointment

business-to-business /ˌbɪz.nɪs.təˈbɪz.nɪs/
adjective [before noun] (ABBREVIATION B2B)
describing or involving arrangements or trade between different businesses, rather than between businesses and the general public

business-to-consumer /ˌbɪz.nɪs.tə.kənˈsjuː.məʳ/ US /-ˈsuː.mɚ/
adjective [before noun] (ABBREVIATION B2C)
describing or involving the sale of goods or services to individual customers for their own use, rather than to businesses

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

business

/bɪznɪs/
(businesses)

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

1.
Business is work relating to the production, buying, and selling of goods or services.
...young people seeking a career in business...
Jennifer has an impressive academic and business background.
...Harvard Business School.
N-UNCOUNT

2.
Business is used when talking about how many products or services a company is able to sell. If business is good, a lot of products or services are being sold and if business is bad, few of them are being sold.
They worried that German companies would lose business...
Business is booming.
N-UNCOUNT

3.
A business is an organization which produces and sells goods or which provides a service.
The company was a family business...
The majority of small businesses go broke within the first twenty-four months...
He was short of cash after the collapse of his business.
= company, firm
N-COUNT

4.
Business is work or some other activity that you do as part of your job and not for pleasure.
I’m here on business...
You can’t mix business with pleasure.
...business trips.
N-UNCOUNT: oft on N

5.
You can use business to refer to a particular area of work or activity in which the aim is to make a profit.
May I ask you what business you’re in?
...the music business.
N-SING: oft supp N

6.
You can use business to refer to something that you are doing or concerning yourself with.
...recording Ben as he goes about his business...
There was nothing left for the teams to do but get on with the business of racing.
N-SING: with supp

7.
You can use business to refer to important matters that you have to deal with.
The most important business was left to the last...
I’ve got some unfinished business to attend to.
N-UNCOUNT

8.
If you say that something is your business, you mean that it concerns you personally and that other people have no right to ask questions about it or disagree with it.
My sex life is my business...
If she doesn’t want the police involved, that’s her business...
It’s not our business.
= affair, concern
N-UNCOUNT: with poss

9.
You can use business to refer in a general way to an event, situation, or activity. For example, you can say something is ‘a wretched business’ or you can refer to ‘this assassination business’.
We have sorted out this wretched business at last...
This whole business is very puzzling.
= affair
N-SING: supp N

10.
You can use business when describing a task that is unpleasant in some way. For example, if you say that doing something is a costly business, you mean that it costs a lot. (INFORMAL)
Coastal defence is a costly business...
Parenting can be a stressful business.
= affair
N-SING: supp N

11.
see also big business, show business

12.
If two people or companies do business with each other, one sells goods or services to the other.
I was fascinated by the different people who did business with me.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR with n, pl-n PHR

13.
If you say that someone has no business to be in a place or to do something, you mean that they have no right to be there or to do it.
Really I had no business to be there at all.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR to-inf, PHR -ing

14.
A company that is in business is operating and trading.
You can’t stay in business without cash.
PHRASE: v-link PHR

15.
If you say you are in business, you mean you have everything you need to start something immediately. (INFORMAL, SPOKEN)
All you need is a microphone, and you’re in business.
PHRASE: V inflects, v-link PHR

16.
If you say that someone means business, you mean they are serious and determined about what they are doing. (INFORMAL)
Now people are starting to realise that he means business.
PHRASE: V inflects

17.
If you say to someone ‘mind your own business’ or ‘it’s none of your business’, you are rudely telling them not to ask about something that does not concern them. (INFORMAL)
I asked Laura what was wrong and she told me to mind my own business.
PHRASE

18.
If a shop or company goes out of business or is put out of business, it has to stop trading because it is not making enough money.
Thousands of firms could go out of business.
PHRASE: PHR after v

19.
In a difficult situation, if you say it is business as usual, you mean that people will continue doing what they normally do.
The Queen was determined to show it was business as usual.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

business

busi·ness /ˈbɪznəs/ noun, pl -ness·es
1 [noncount]
a : the activity of making, buying, or selling goods or providing services in exchange for money
• The store will be open for business next week. [=the store will be ready for customers next week]
• The store has lost a significant amount of business since the factory closed.
• Allowing customers to leave your store unsatisfied is bad (for) business.
• The new Web site has been good for (attracting) business.
• What line of business [=work] are you in?
• She works in the publishing business.
• the fashion/music/restaurant business
• We do business with [=sell to or buy from] companies overseas.
• David has decided to go into business with his brother.
• Remember that your customers can take their business elsewhere. [=your customers can go to another place to do business]
• Their publishing company is the best in the business.
• a place of business [=a place, such as a store, bank, etc., where business is done]
- often used before another noun
• business opportunities/contacts/interests
• The business world is responding to changes in technology. [=businesses are responding to changes in technology]
• Someone will be available to answer your call during regular business hours. [=the hours that the office is open to do business]
• a business meeting [=a meeting at which matters of business are discussed]
- see also agribusiness, big business, in business (below), out of business (below), show business
b : work that is part of a job
• Is your trip to Miami (for) business or pleasure?
• I have to go to New York City on/for business next week.
- sometimes used before another noun
• a business trip [=a trip that is made in order to do business]
• I am flying business class [=in a seating section of an airplane that is more expensive than the main section but less expensive than first class] from Tokyo to New York.
c : the amount of activity that is done by a store, company, factory, etc.
• Business has been slow/bad lately. [=there have been few customers, sales, etc., lately]
• Business was good/booming.
• They advertised to increase business.
• How is business?
2 [count] : an organization (such as a store, company, or factory) that makes, buys, or sells goods or provides services in exchange for money
• He has the skills necessary to run/operate/start a business.
• The town is trying to attract new businesses.
• local businesses
• She joined the family business [=the business owned or operated by her family] after graduating from college.
- sometimes used before another noun
• I had lunch with some business associates.
• In addition to being married, the two are also business partners.
• The restaurant is in the business district. [=the part of a city or town where there are many businesses]
• the business community [=people involved in the upper levels of businesses]
3 [singular] : something that concerns a particular person, group, etc. : something that needs to be considered or dealt with
• Do we have any other business we need to discuss?
• Air quality is a serious business. [=air quality is something people should think about seriously]
• What's this business [=news] I hear about you moving away?
• Educating students is the business [=responsibility] of schools.
• No, I didn't ask him what he wanted the car for. That's his business.
• I won't answer that question. Who I choose to vote for is my business.
• He's decided to make it his business [=make it his goal] to bring more affordable housing to the city.
• “Who did you vote for?” “That's none of your business.” [=that's private information that you should not be asking about]
• It's no business of yours who I voted for.
✦The phrase mind your own business is used as an informal and often somewhat impolite way to tell someone to stop watching or asking about something that is private.
• Mind your own business and let them talk alone.
✦To say that you were minding your own business when something happened means that you were doing what you normally do and were not bothering anyone.
• I was walking down the street, minding my own business, when all of a sudden some man started yelling at me.
✦If you say something is nobody's business, you mean that it is private and other people do not need to know about it.
• It's nobody's business what we were talking about.
✦Someone who has no business doing something has no right to do it.
• You have no business telling me what I can and cannot wear! I'll wear whatever I like!
4 [noncount] : something that must be done
• I have some business in town Friday afternoon. [=I have to do something in town Friday afternoon]
• He had to leave the meeting early because he had to attend to some unfinished business. [=something not done that needs to be done]
• Now that we've all introduced ourselves, let's get down to business. [=start doing what needs to be done, start working]
• I was just going about my business [=doing what I usually do], when I heard a big crash.
• Sarah is good at taking care of business [=doing what needs to be done], so she's been put in charge of organizing the event.
• The church has hired someone to take care of the bills and all that business. [=everything else that needs to be done]
• A public library is in the business of providing information to the public. [=the job/purpose of a public library is to provide information]
• I'm not in the business of lending money to people I hardly know. [=I don't lend money to people I hardly know]
5 [singular] : a matter, event, or situation - usually used after an adjective
• Divorce can be such a messy business. [=affair]
• The earthquake was a terrible business.
• Predicting how people will react to something is a tricky business.
• Investing all your money in one stock is (a) very risky business.
• “How long did the ceremony take?” “Oh, the whole business was over in less than an hour.”
• Let's just forget about that business of me being unhappy with my job.
- see also monkey business
business as usual
- used to say that something is working or continuing in the normal or usual way
• Much of the town lost electricity in the storm, but for people with generators it was business as usual.
• As the election nears, both political parties continue to blame each other for all the city's problems. In other words, it's business as usual.
business is business
- used to say that in order for a business to be successful it is necessary to do things that may hurt or upset people
• I'm sorry I have to let you go, but understand that business is business.
in business
1 : operating as a business
• The hotel has been in business for over 150 years.
• Customer satisfaction is important if you want to stay in business.
2 informal : ready to begin doing or using something
• Just plug in the computer and you're in business! [=you will be able to use the computer]
• All the musicians have finally arrived, so we're in business!
• He quickly changed the tire, and was back in business [=ready to drive again] in 10 minutes.
like nobody's business informal : very well or quickly or in very large amounts
• She can design computer programs like nobody's business.
• It's been raining like nobody's business.
mean business : to be serious about doing something
• We thought he was joking at first, but then we saw that he really meant business.
out of business : closed down : no longer in business
• My favorite flower shop is out of business.
• Small grocery stores are being driven/forced/put out of business by large stores. [=small grocery stores cannot compete with large stores and so are closing permanently]
• The store has gone out of business. [=has closed]
the business Brit slang : a very good or impressive person or thing
• Since he's won the tournament, he thinks he's the business. [=the best]
• You should see their new flat. It's the business.