Band — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈband/

Meaning & Definition of Band

Band (noun)

  1. a strip serving to join or hold things together
  2. belt
  3. a cord or strip across the back of a book to which the sections are sewn
  4. a group of persons, animals, or things; especially, a group of musicians organized for ensemble playing

Band (verb)

  1. to affix a band to or tie up with a band
  2. to finish or decorate with a band
  3. to gather together, unite

Band (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a circular strip

    "a band of cloth tied around his wrist"

    similar: circle, eye, hoop, loop, ring, round
    related: belt, cincture, collar, girdle, wreath, annulet, becket, coil, curl, furl, hank, spiral, spire, twirl, whorl

  2. something that physically prevents free movement

    "numerous bands of plastic held the toy securely in the box"

    similar: bind, bond, bracelet, chain, cuff(s), fetter, handcuff(s), irons, ligature, manacle(s), shackle
    related: captivity, confinement, constraint, curb, enchainment, enslavement, hindrance, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, restraint, restriction, entanglement, net, trammel, trap, collar, straitjacket, fastener, hobble, hold, hold-down, holding, tie

  3. a line or long narrow section differing in color from the background

    "skunks have a band of white down their backs"

    similar: bar, streak, stripe
    related: blaze, crossbar, pinstripe

  4. a usually large group of musicians playing together

    "that band is looking for a new singer"

    similar: orchestra, philharmonic, symphony, symphony orchestra
    related: brass band, chamber orchestra, sinfonietta, brasses, strings, woodwinds, combo, ensemble, group, company, troupe, duo, octet, quartet, quintet, septet, sextet, trio

  5. a group of people working together on a task

    "a band of volunteer searchers found the lost child"

    similar: army, brigade, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, platoon, squad, team
    related: battalion, corps, troop, force, host, posse, stable, troupe, administration, department, help, personnel, staff

  6. a usually small number of persons considered as a unit

    "a band of explorers"

    similar: array, batch, battery, body, boodle, bunch, cluster, clutch, consort, constellation, crop, group, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, parcel, party, passel, the whole kit and caboodle
    related: assembly, collective, congregation, gathering, muster, organization, circle, clan, clique, coterie, fellowship, gang, ring, round, set, faction, guild, order, school, sect, brigade, crew, outfit, phalanx, platoon, posse, task force, team, alliance, bloc, coalition, confederacy, confederation, federation, league, union, battalion, squadron, bevy, brood, covey
    near: individual, single

  7. a number of things considered as a unit

    "a band of songbirds"

    similar: array, assemblage, bank, batch, battery, block, bunch, clot, clump, cluster, clutch, collection, constellation, group, grouping, huddle, knot, lot, muster, package, parcel, passel, set, suite, the whole kit and caboodle
    related: accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomeration, agglomeration, assortment, hodgepodge, jumble, miscellany, mixture, odds and ends, sundries, variety, cycle, run, series, suit
    near: entity, item, single, unit

Band (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt

    "banded the waist of the dress with a matching belt"

    similar: begird, belt, engird (archaic), engirdle, enwind, gird, girdle, girt, girth, wrap
    related: tie up, truss, circle, enwreathe, loop, wind, wreathe, bandage, enswathe, swathe, chain, cord, enchain, lash, rope, shackle, tape, wire
    opposite: ungird, unwrap
    near: unbind, unlash, unshackle, untie, unwind

  2. to gather into a tight mass by means of a line or cord

    "banded the newspapers together for delivery"

    similar: bind, tie, truss
    related: cinch, cord, rope, strap, thread, wire, gird, girt, lash, leash, tether, interlace, intertwine, interweave, lace, entangle, knot, snarl, tangle, twist, coil, wind
    opposite: unbind, untie
    near: undo, unfasten, unlace, unlash, unloose, unloosen, unstrap, unstring, unthread, unleash, untether, disentangle, unravel, unsnarl, untangle, untwine, untwist, uncoil, unspool, unwind

  3. to make stripes on

    "banded the sleeves of the robe with strips of contrasting material"

    similar: bar, streak, stripe
    related: blaze

Related Entry: Band (together) (verb)

Band (together) is a different word from Band. The synonyms below are for band (together), not for band.

  1. to participate or assist in a joint effort to accomplish an end

    "we're banding together to oppose the construction of one of those big-box stores in our town"

    similar: collaborate, concert, concur, conjoin, conspire, cooperate, join, league, team (up), unite, make common cause, play ball, pull together
    related: connive, affiliate, ally, associate, combine, confederate, hang together, interface

  2. to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members

    "small farmers banded together to oppose the interests of the agricultural giants"

    similar: ally, associate, club, coalesce, cohere, confederate, conjoin, cooperate, federate, league, unite, close ranks, pull together
    related: cabal, collaborate, gang up, hang together, team (up), incorporate, organize, unionize, affiliate, amalgamate, combine, conglomerate, consolidate, converge, group, join, merge, knot, link, tie, wed
    opposite: break up, disband
    near: detach, disengage, dissolve, disunite, divorce, part, segregate, separate, sever, split, sunder, alienate, estrange, fall out

Related Entry: To beat the band (phrase)

To beat the band is a different word from Band. The synonyms below are for to beat the band, not for band.

  1. in a vigorous and forceful manner

    "He was hammering to beat the band and woke up the neighbors."

    similar: dynamically, energetically, explosively, firmly, forcefully, forcibly, hard, mightily, muscularly, powerfully, roundly, stiffly, stoutly, strenuously, strongly, sturdily, vigorously, like gangbusters, with a vengeance, with might and main
    related: fiercely, hammer and tongs, robustly, roughshod, sharply, vehemently, violently, actively, animatedly, briskly, crisply, eagerly, gamely, heartily, lustily, snappily, spiritedly, spunkily, vivaciously, decidedly, determinedly, directly, emphatically, fast, fixedly, intensively, intently, purposefully, resolutely, rigidly, smartly, solidly, soundly, squarely, steadfastly, steadily, sturdily, surely, aggressively, assertively, manfully, potently
    opposite: feebly, gently, softly, weakly
    near: delicately, faintly, frailly, shakily, bloodlessly, halfheartedly, languidly, lazily, listlessly, spiritlessly, impotently, ineffectively, ineffectually, lamely, nervelessly, spinelessly, uncertainly

Related Entry: Brass band (noun)

Brass band is a different word from Band. The synonyms below are for brass band, not for band.

  1. as in chamber orchestra, sinfonietta

    similar: chamber orchestra, sinfonietta, band, orchestra, philharmonic, symphony, symphony orchestra, brasses, strings, woodwinds, combo, ensemble, group, company, troupe, duo, octet, quartet, quintet, septet, sextet, trio

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Band

The most common words with a similar meaning to Band:

Archaic: engird
circle, eye, hoop, loop, ring, round, bind, bond, bracelet, chain, cuff(s), fetter, handcuff(s), irons, ligature, manacle(s), shackle, bar, streak, stripe, orchestra, philharmonic, symphony, symphony orchestra, army, brigade, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, platoon, squad, team, array, batch, battery, body, boodle, bunch

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Band

Words with the opposite meaning of Band:

ungird, unwrap, unbind, untie

Related Words for Band

cincture, collar, wreath, annulet, becket, coil, curl, furl, hank, spiral, spire, twirl, whorl, captivity, confinement, constraint, curb, enchainment, enslavement, hindrance, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, restraint, restriction, entanglement, net, trammel, trap, straitjacket

Near Antonyms of Band

individual, single, entity, item, unit, unlash, unshackle, unwind, undo, unfasten, unlace, unloose, unloosen, unstrap, unstring, unthread, unleash, untether, disentangle, unravel, unsnarl, untangle, untwine, untwist, uncoil, unspool

Word Forms of Band

Inflections: banded, banding, bands

Derived words: bander (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Band

in senses 6 & 7, from Middle English band, bond something that constricts, from Old Norse band; akin to Old English bindan to bind; in other senses, from Middle English bande strip, from Middle French, from Vulgar Latin *binda, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German binta fillet; akin to Old English bindan to bind, bend fetter bind

First known use: 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Band

Words & Phrases Containing Band

Band-Aid, band-pass filter, band saw, band shell, band together, absorption band

Frequently Asked Questions about Band

What does "Band" mean?

"Band" means a strip serving to join or hold things together. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a strip serving to join or hold things together. It has 10 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Band"?

Other words for "Band" include circle, eye, hoop, loop, ring, round, bind and bond. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Band" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Band"?

There are 212 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Band". Common alternatives include circle, eye, hoop, loop, ring, round, bind, bond, bracelet and chain.

What is the opposite of "Band"?

Antonyms of "Band" include ungird, unwrap, unbind and untie. Near antonyms include individual, single, entity and item.

How do you use "Band" in a sentence?

Examples of "Band" in a sentence: "a band of cloth tied around his wrist"; "numerous bands of plastic held the toy securely in the box"; "skunks have a band of white down their backs".

Is "Band" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Band" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Band" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Band" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Band"?

"Band" is pronounced /ˈband/.