team

[ teem ]

noun

1. a number of persons forming one of the sides in a game or contest:

   a football team.

2. a number of persons associated in some joint action:

   a team of advisers.

3. two or more horses, oxen, or other animals harnessed together to draw a vehicle, plow, or the like.
4. one or more draft animals together with the harness and vehicle drawn.
5. a family of young animals, especially ducks or pigs.
6. Obsolete. offspring or progeny; lineage or stock.

verb (used with object)

1. to join together in a team.
2. Chiefly Northern U.S. Older Use. to convey or transport by means of a team; haul.

verb (used without object)

1. to drive a team.
2. to gather or join in a team, a band, or a cooperative effort (usually followed by up, together, etc.).

   Synonyms: merge, ally, unite, combine

adjective

1. of, relating to, or performed by a team:

   a team sport; team effort.

team

/ tiːm /

noun

1. a group of people organized to work together
2. a group of players forming one of the sides in a sporting contest
3. two or more animals working together to pull a vehicle or agricultural implement
4. such animals and the vehicle

   the coachman riding his team

5. dialect.
   a flock, herd, or brood
6. obsolete.
   ancestry

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by up to make or cause to make a team

   he teamed George with Robert

2. tr to drag or transport in or by a team
3. intr to drive a team

Grammar Note

See collective noun.

Other Words From

• inter·team adjective
• under·teamed adjective
• un·teamed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of team¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English teme (noun), Old English tēam “child-bearing, brood, offspring, set of draft beasts”; cognate with Dutch toom “bridle, reins,” German Zaum, Old Norse taumr

Word History and Origins

Origin of team¹

Old English team offspring; related to Old Frisian tām bridle, Old Norse taumr chain yoking animals together, Old High German zoum bridle

Example Sentences

His transition team also hasn't met with counterparts at any of the federal agencies in Washington.

From Salon

They now employ a production team of more than 100 people who help create the videos and generate ideas, Vik said.

From BBC

Before Knecht could make these shots, the team had to pick him.

From Los Angeles Times

It's clear that the tag team of Stephen Miller and Tom Homan are prepared to initiate Trump's mass deportation program immediately upon taking office.

From Salon

Her team decided to try low-dose sodium oxybate, after some patients told them their symptoms improved after a few alcoholic drinks.

From BBC

Related Words

• club
• company
• lineup
• organization
• party
• side
• squad
• unit

More About Team

What does team mean?

A team is a group of people who work together in a joint action, as in Our Academic Decathlon team was made up of some of the smartest kids in our school.

A team is also a group of people on one side of a contest or game, such as a soccer team or a trivia team.

A team is also two or more draft animals, such as horses, harnessed together to pull something, like a plow or a cart.

To team up is to form a group to work together, as in Miles and Lex teamed up to study for the big science test next month.

Example: My team is working hard on these software solutions for streaming platforms.

Where does team come from?

The first records of the term team come from before the 900s. It comes from the Old English tēam, meaning “a set of animals used to pull a load.” As time went on, the term for a group of animals was eventually expanded to also mean a group of people.

The most common use of team describes one side of a competition or sport, such as a football team or soccer team. Similarly, team can be used as an adjective as in team sport or team project.

When referring to draft animals, to team means to harness the animals together or drive them, as in When her tractor broke down, the farmer teamed her two horses to pull an old-fashioned plow in order to get the work done.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to team? 

• interteam (adjective)
• underteamed (adjective)
• unteamed (adjective)
• teamer (noun)

What are some synonyms for team?

• crew
• club
• group
• organization
• squad

What are some words that share a root or word element with team? 

• teammate
• team player
• team spirit

What are some words that often get used in discussing team?

• sport
• up
• work

How is team used in real life?

Team is a commonly used word to describe two or more people who are working together or playing on the same side of a game.

In team vote, vast majority of Nationals players voted against going to Miami for three-game series this weekend, sources tell The Athletic. Decision will rest with MLB.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2020

2K Community 🗣

Although many of the issues seen after launch have been fixed, we know there are still others we need to resolve. Our Dev team is working around the clock to prepare an upcoming patch that will address other significant issues

Thanks for your patience 🙏

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) September 11, 2019

Ya’ll are my support team and I love you so much for being there. Thank you.

— Stephen Ford (@StephenSeanFord) April 22, 2020

Try using team!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for team?

A. squad
B. group
C. individual
D. crew