league
league — noun
1. An organised set of sports clubs that compete against each other during a fixed
An organised set of sports clubs that compete against each other during a fixed season to decide on the champion.
Our school basketball team finished at the top of the league this year.
collocation: top of the league
The baseball league has twelve teams from different cities across the country.
Aoi scored the winning goal in the final match of the league season.
Élise checked the league table every week to see her team's position.
- division
refers to a subgroup within a larger league, often by skill level
- conference
used mainly in North American sports for a regional group of teams
- association
a broader term; an association may organise a league but is not the competition itself
文法句型
the + league
league + noun
用法筆記
Common before nouns such as 'championship', 'title', 'season', 'table', and 'match'. The phrase 'top of the league' is a frequent collocation.
常見錯誤
2. Any organisation of people, nations, or businesses that combine their efforts to
Any organisation of people, nations, or businesses that combine their efforts to pursue a common aim, for instance protecting shared interests or reaching an agreed objective.
Several countries formed a league to protect the shared ocean waters.
pattern: league + to-infinitive (goal)
The league of local businesses worked together to improve the town centre.
collocation: league of [group]
Adina joined a league of volunteers who teach children to read after school.
An international league of scientists shared their research on climate change.
- alliance
more common for formal agreements between countries or political groups
- union
suggests a closer or more permanent joining, often with a formal structure
- coalition
a temporary alliance, often political, formed for a specific purpose
- confederation
a formal union of states or organisations that keep most of their independence
文法句型
league of + noun
league + to-infinitive
常見錯誤
3. A particular level of quality, skill, or achievement that shows how good someone
A particular level of quality, skill, or achievement that shows how good someone or something is when compared to others.
Brian's guitar playing is in a different league from most beginners.
phrase: in a different league from
This luxury hotel is in the same league as the best hotels in Paris.
phrase: in the same league as
When it comes to running speed, Sahil is in a league of his own.
The new smartphone offers features that put it in a league above its competitors.
- class
similar meaning, used in 'in a class of its own'; slightly more formal
- tier
common in structured rankings (e.g. first-tier, second-tier)
- category
a more neutral word for a group defined by shared features, not quality
- level
the most general word; 'level' can be measured, while 'league' is only comparative
文法句型
in the same league as
in a different league
in a league of one's own
用法筆記
Nearly always appears in fixed comparative phrases: 'in a different league', 'in the same league', and 'in a league of one's own'. The 'league' here does NOT refer to sports; it is a metaphor for a category or tier.
常見錯誤
4. An old way of measuring how far something is, roughly three miles or five kilome
An old way of measuring how far something is, roughly three miles or five kilometres, found mainly in historical texts and traditional tales of sea travel or long journeys on land.
The sailors travelled twenty leagues across the open sea in three days.
pattern: number + leagues
In the old story, the knight walked a hundred leagues to rescue the princess.
The naval map showed the distance between the ports as fifteen leagues.
Eighteenth-century ships measured long ocean journeys in leagues, not miles.
文法句型
number + league(s)
用法筆記
This historical measure is no longer used in modern navigation or everyday life. Learners will most often encounter it in classic novels, historical texts, and old maps.
league — verb
1. To join with others to form a group that works together for a shared aim, often
To join with others to form a group that works together for a shared aim, often to gain more power or influence.
The small software firms leagued together to compete against the industry leaders.
pattern: league together
Several community groups leagued to raise money for the local library.
Local farmers leagued with restaurant owners to create a weekend food market.
Heloísa leagued with other students to ask for longer library opening hours.
- ally
more common in modern English; 'ally with' is used for political or military joining
- unite
broader meaning; does not suggest a formal or long-term structure like 'league' does
- join forces
a common phrasal expression; less formal than 'league'
文法句型
league with [someone]
be leagued with [someone]
league together
用法筆記
This verb is much less common than the noun. In modern English, 'ally' or 'join forces with' is more frequent. 'League' as a verb often appears in formal or historical contexts.