Business | Mean of business in English Dictionary

/ˈbɪznəs/

• Noun
• the activity of making, buying, or selling goods or providing services in exchange for money
1. The store will be open for business next week. [=the store will be ready for customers next week]
2. The store has lost a significant amount of business since the factory closed.
3. Allowing customers to leave your store unsatisfied is bad (for) business.
4. The new Web site has been good for (attracting) business.
5. What line of business [=work] are you in?
6. She works in the publishing business.
7. the fashion/music/restaurant business
8. We do business with [=sell to or buy from] companies overseas.
9. David has decided to go into business with his brother.
10. Remember that your customers can take their business elsewhere. [=your customers can go to another place to do business]
11. Their publishing company is the best in the business.
12. a place of business [=a place, such as a store, bank, etc., where business is done]
13. business opportunities/contacts/interests
14. The business world is responding to changes in technology. [=businesses are responding to changes in technology]
15. Someone will be available to answer your call during regular business hours. [=the hours that the office is open to do business]
16. a business meeting [=a meeting at which matters of business are discussed]
• work that is part of a job
1. Is your trip to Miami (for) business or pleasure?
2. I have to go to New York City on/for business next week.
3. a business trip [=a trip that is made in order to do business]
4. 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.
• the amount of activity that is done by a store, company, factory, etc.
1. Business has been slow/bad lately. [=there have been few customers, sales, etc., lately]
2. Business was good/booming.
3. They advertised to increase business.
4. How is business?

• an organization (such as a store, company, or factory) that makes, buys, or sells goods or provides services in exchange for money
1. He has the skills necessary to run/operate/start a business.
2. The town is trying to attract new businesses.
3. local businesses
4. She joined the family business [=the business owned or operated by her family] after graduating from college.
5. I had lunch with some business associates.
6. In addition to being married, the two are also business partners.
7. The restaurant is in the business district. [=the part of a city or town where there are many businesses]
8. the business community [=people involved in the upper levels of businesses]
• something that concerns a particular person, group, etc.
1. Do we have any other business we need to discuss?
2. Air quality is a serious business. [=air quality is something people should think about seriously]
3. What's this business [=news] I hear about you moving away?
4. Educating students is the business [=responsibility] of schools.
5. No, I didn't ask him what he wanted the car for. That's his business.
6. I won't answer that question. Who I choose to vote for is my business.
7. He's decided to make it his business [=make it his goal] to bring more affordable housing to the city.
8. “Who did you vote for?” “That's none of your business.” [=that's private information that you should not be asking about]
9. It's no business of yours who I voted for.
10. Mind your own business and let them talk alone.
11. I was walking down the street, minding my own business, when all of a sudden some man started yelling at me.
12. It's nobody's business what we were talking about.
13. You have no business telling me what I can and cannot wear! I'll wear whatever I like!
• something that must be done
1. I have some business in town Friday afternoon. [=I have to do something in town Friday afternoon]
2. He had to leave the meeting early because he had to attend to some unfinished business. [=something not done that needs to be done]
3. Now that we've all introduced ourselves, let's get down to business. [=start doing what needs to be done, start working]
4. I was just going about my business [=doing what I usually do], when I heard a big crash.
5. 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.
6. The church has hired someone to take care of the bills and all that business. [=everything else that needs to be done]
7. A public library is in the business of providing information to the public. [=the job/purpose of a public library is to provide information]
8. I'm not in the business of lending money to people I hardly know. [=I don't lend money to people I hardly know]
• a matter, event, or situation
1. Divorce can be such a messy business. [=affair]
2. The earthquake was a terrible business.
3. Predicting how people will react to something is a tricky business.
4. Investing all your money in one stock is (a) very risky business.
5. “How long did the ceremony take?” “Oh, the whole business was over in less than an hour.”
6. Let's just forget about that business of me being unhappy with my job.
• operating as a business
1. The hotel has been in business for over 150 years.
2. Customer satisfaction is important if you want to stay in business.
• ready to begin doing or using something
1. Just plug in the computer and you're in business! [=you will be able to use the computer]
2. All the musicians have finally arrived, so we're in business!
3. He quickly changed the tire, and was back in business [=ready to drive again] in 10 minutes.
• very well or quickly or in very large amounts
1. She can design computer programs like nobody's business.
2. It's been raining like nobody's business.
• to be serious about doing something
1. We thought he was joking at first, but then we saw that he really meant business.
• closed down
1. My favorite flower shop is out of business.
2. 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]
3. The store has gone out of business. [=has closed]
• a very good or impressive person or thing
1. Since he's won the tournament, he thinks he's the business. [=the best]
2. You should see their new flat. It's the business.