league

A group of sports teams that compete against each other throughout a season.

• Our team joined a new league.
• They finished first in the league last season.
• Which league does your club play in?

Common phrases: football league, league champions, league table, join a league

A level of quality or ability used to compare people or things.

• These two phones are in the same league.
• As a singer, she is in a different league.
• Their service is in a league of its own.

How to use it: in the same league as someone/something (Her latest book is in the same league as her best work.)

Similar words: class, category

Common phrases: same league as, different league, league of its own

Your range of ability; something outside it is too difficult for you.

• This job is out of my league.
• We were out of our league against the national champions.
• Is that course out of your league?

How to use it: out of someone's league (I tried the advanced class, but I was out of my league.)

Common phrases: out of someone's league, out of my league

An organization of people or groups who work together for a shared aim.

• They formed a league to protect local forests.
• The league campaigns for equal voting rights.
• Several towns joined the league last year.

Similar words: association, alliance

Common phrases: a peace league, join a league, league members

If you are in this relationship with someone, you work together secretly, often to do something wrong.

• The two criminals were in league.
• She suspected that her rivals were in league with each other.
• Was the official in league with the smugglers?

How to use it: in league with someone (The guards were in league with the thieves.)

Similar words: collusion, alliance

Common phrases: in league with someone, in league together

An old measure of distance equal to several kilometres, with different lengths on land and at sea.

• The village lay one league away.
• They sailed twenty leagues before reaching the island.
• The old map measured distances in leagues.

Common phrases: one league away, a league inland, one league inland