business
15 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
businesses
plural
businesses
Britannica Dictionary definition of BUSINESS
1
[noncount]
a
:
the activity of making, buying, or selling goods or providing services in exchange for money
— often used before another noun
—
see also agribusiness, big business, in business (below), out of business (below), show business
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The store will be open for business next week. [=the store will be ready for customers next week]
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The store has lost a significant amount of business since the factory closed.
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Allowing customers to leave your store unsatisfied is bad (for) business.
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The new Web site has been good for (attracting) business.
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What line of business [=work] are you in?
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She works in the publishing business.
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the fashion/music/restaurant business
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We do business with [=sell to or buy from] companies overseas.
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David has decided to go into business with his brother.
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Remember that your customers can take their business elsewhere. [=your customers can go to another place to do business]
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Their publishing company is the best in the business.
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a place of business [=a place, such as a store, bank, etc., where business is done]
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business opportunities/contacts/interests
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The business world is responding to changes in technology. [=businesses are responding to changes in technology]
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Someone will be available to answer your call during regular business hours. [=the hours that the office is open to do business]
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a business meeting [=a meeting at which matters of business are discussed]
b
:
work that is part of a job
— sometimes used before another noun
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Is your trip to Miami (for) business or pleasure?
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I have to go to New York City on/for business next week.
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a business trip [=a trip that is made in order to do business]
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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.
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Business has been slow/bad lately. [=there have been few customers, sales, etc., lately]
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Business was good/booming.
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They advertised to increase business.
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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
— sometimes used before another noun
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He has the skills necessary to run/operate/start a business.
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The town is trying to attract new businesses.
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local businesses
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She joined the family business [=the business owned or operated by her family] after graduating from college.
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I had lunch with some business associates.
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In addition to being married, the two are also business partners.
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The restaurant is in the business district. [=the part of a city or town where there are many businesses]
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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
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Do we have any other business we need to discuss?
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Air quality is a serious business. [=air quality is something people should think about seriously]
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What's this business [=news] I hear about you moving away?
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Educating students is the business [=responsibility] of schools.
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No, I didn't ask him what he wanted the car for. That's his business.
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I won't answer that question. Who I choose to vote for is my business.
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He's decided to make it his business [=make it his goal] to bring more affordable housing to the city.
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“Who did you vote for?” “That's none of your business.” [=that's private information that you should not be asking about]
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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.
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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.
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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.
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It's nobody's business what we were talking about.
◊ Someone who has no business doing something has no right to do it.
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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
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I have some business in town Friday afternoon. [=I have to do something in town Friday afternoon]
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He had to leave the meeting early because he had to attend to some unfinished business. [=something not done that needs to be done]
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Now that we've all introduced ourselves, let's get down to business. [=start doing what needs to be done, start working]
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I was just going about my business [=doing what I usually do], when I heard a big crash.
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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.
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The church has hired someone to take care of the bills and all that business. [=everything else that needs to be done]
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A public library is in the business of providing information to the public. [=the job/purpose of a public library is to provide information]
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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
—
see also monkey business
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Divorce can be such a messy business. [=affair]
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The earthquake was a terrible business.
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Predicting how people will react to something is a tricky business.
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Investing all your money in one stock is (a) very risky business.
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“How long did the ceremony take?” “Oh, the whole business was over in less than an hour.”
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Let's just forget about that business of me being unhappy with my job.
business as usual
— used to say that something is working or continuing in the normal or usual way
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Much of the town lost electricity in the storm, but for people with generators it was business as usual.
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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
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I'm sorry I have to let you go, but understand that business is business.
in business
1
:
operating as a business
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The hotel has been in business for over 150 years.
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Customer satisfaction is important if you want to stay in business.
2
informal
:
ready to begin doing or using something
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Just plug in the computer and you're in business! [=you will be able to use the computer]
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All the musicians have finally arrived, so we're in business!
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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.
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It's been raining like nobody's business.
mean business
:
to be serious about doing something
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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
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My favorite flower shop is out of business.
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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]
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The store has gone out of business. [=has closed]
the business
British slang
:
a very good or impressive person or thing
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Since he's won the tournament, he thinks he's the business. [=the best]
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You should see their new flat. It's the business.
