office
An office is a room, set of rooms, or a building where people work at desks and perform administrative tasks. It is typically the central location for a business or professional organization to conduct its daily operations.
Examples
3 of 5I usually get to the office at 9:00 AM.
I usually get to the office at 9:00 AM.
Please submit your formal request to the administrative office.
Please submit your formal request to the administrative office.
I'm heading to the office, catch you later!
I'm heading to the office, catch you later!
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the 'OFF' in 'OFFice'—it's the place where you turn OFF your home life to focus on work tasks.
Quick Quiz
Sarah isn't home right now; she is working at the ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: office
Examples
I usually get to the office at 9:00 AM.
everydayI usually get to the office at 9:00 AM.
Please submit your formal request to the administrative office.
formalPlease submit your formal request to the administrative office.
I'm heading to the office, catch you later!
informalI'm heading to the office, catch you later!
The study examines the impact of office layout on employee productivity.
academicThe study examines the impact of office layout on employee productivity.
Our head office is moving to a larger building next month.
businessOur head office is moving to a larger building next month.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
out of the office
out of the office
post office
post office
box office
box office
Often Confused With
An office is a place where you work, while an officer is a person with a position of authority (like a police officer).
Usage Notes
The word 'office' can refer to a specific room or the entire organization/building. In the UK, 'surgery' is often used instead of 'office' for a doctor's place of work.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes say 'I go to work' and 'I go to the office' interchangeably, which is mostly correct, but 'office' specifically refers to the physical location of white-collar work.
Memory Tip
Think of the 'OFF' in 'OFFice'—it's the place where you turn OFF your home life to focus on work tasks.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin word 'officium', which means 'service', 'duty', or 'ceremony'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The '9-to-5' office job is a standard symbol of corporate professional life in many Western cultures.
Quick Quiz
Sarah isn't home right now; she is working at the ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: office
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
More work words
burn the midnight oil
B2To work or study late into the night, typically to complete a specific task or meet a deadline. It implies a high level of effort or necessity during hours when most people are asleep.
colleague
B1A colleague is a person with whom you work, typically in a professional or office-based environment. The term usually refers to someone of a similar status or rank within the same organization or profession.
meeting
A2A meeting is an event where a group of people come together to talk about specific topics or make important decisions. It can happen in person or online, and is common in work, school, and social life.
deadline
B1A deadline is a specific point in time or a date by which a particular task, project, or assignment must be finished. It is used to manage schedules and ensure that work is completed within a required timeframe.
salary
B1A fixed amount of money that an employee receives at regular intervals, such as monthly or annually, for professional or office work. It is usually agreed upon in a contract and does not change based on the specific number of hours worked each week.
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