- Do you “make” a contract or “draw up” a contract when starting a business deal?
- Have you ever wondered why native speakers say they “contracted an illness” instead of just “getting” one?
- Are you confused about whether a contract is “strong,” “solid,” or “binding”?
Mastering contract collocations is essential for anyone using English in professional, legal, or medical contexts. Using the right word combinations—known as collocations—ensures your English sounds natural, authoritative, and precise, helping you move beyond basic translation to true fluency.
Essential Collocations using CONTRACT as a Noun
In most professional settings, “contract” is used as a noun to describe a formal, legal agreement. Here is how to use it correctly with various verbs and adjectives.
Verbs for Creating and Signing Contracts
These verbs describe the lifecycle of an agreement, from the first draft to the final signature.
- Draw up a contract: To prepare a draft or a formal document. (e.g., “Our legal team is drawing up a contract for the new partnership.”)
- Sign a contract: To officially agree to the terms by writing your signature. (e.g., “We are ready to sign the contract tomorrow morning.”)
- Enter into a contract: A formal way to say you are starting a legal agreement. (e.g., “The two companies entered into a contract last July.”)
- Renew a contract: To extend an existing agreement for a longer period. (e.g., “I hope the team decides to renew my contract next season.”)
Verbs for Breaking or Ending Contracts
When an agreement stops or is violated, use these specific terms.
- Breach a contract: To break the terms of the agreement. (e.g., “If you fail to deliver the goods, you will breach the contract.”)
- Terminate a contract: To end a contract before its planned finish date. (e.g., “The employer has the right to terminate the contract with one month’s notice.”)
- Void a contract: To make a contract legally invalid. (e.g., “The discovery of fraud will void the contract immediately.”)
Adjectives used with Contract
These words describe the nature or strength of the agreement.
- Binding contract: An agreement that is legally enforceable. (e.g., “Even an email can sometimes be considered a binding contract.”)
- Fixed-term contract: An agreement that lasts for a specific, set amount of time. (e.g., “I am currently working on a fixed-term contract for six months.”)
- Lucrative contract: An agreement that results in a lot of money/profit. (e.g., “The athlete signed a lucrative contract with a major sponsor.”)
- Verbal contract: An agreement made through spoken words rather than writing. (e.g., “In many jurisdictions, a verbal contract is difficult to prove in court.”)
Common Collocations with CONTRACT as a Verb
When used as a verb, “contract” has several distinct meanings depending on the context. Note that the stress shifts to the second syllable (con-TRACT) when used as a verb.
Medical and Health Contexts
In formal or medical English, “contract” is used instead of “catch” or “get” for illnesses.
- Contract a virus: To become infected with a viral illness. (e.g., “He contracted a virus while traveling overseas.”)
- Contract a disease: To develop a serious medical condition. (e.g., “Researchers are studying how people contract the disease.”)
- Contract an infection: To get an infection in a wound or organ. (e.g., “Patients must keep the area clean so they don’t contract an infection.”)
Physical Science and Movement
In science or anatomy, “contract” means to become smaller or tighter.
- Muscles contract: When muscle fibers tighten to create movement. (e.g., “The heart muscles contract to pump blood through the body.”)
- Metals contract: When materials become smaller due to cold temperatures. (e.g., “Most metals contract when they cool down.”)
- Pupils contract: When the dark part of the eye becomes smaller in bright light. (e.g., “Your pupils contract naturally when you step into the sunlight.”)
Business Outsourcing
This is often used with the preposition “out” to describe hiring external help.
- Contract out work: To hire an outside person or company to do a job. (e.g., “We contract out our IT support to a local firm.”)
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Draw up a contract | Noun Phrase | To write/prepare an agreement |
| Breach of contract | Noun Phrase | A failure to follow the rules of a deal |
| Contract a virus | Verb Phrase | To catch an illness (formal) |
| Binding contract | Adjective + Noun | A legal deal you must follow |
| Contract out | Phrasal Verb | To give work to an external party |
| Muscles contract | Noun + Verb | Tissues tightening/shortening |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid literal translations from your native language by following these standard English pairings.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Make a contract | Draw up or Draft a contract |
| Break a contract (Informal) | Breach a contract (Professional) |
| Take a disease | Contract a disease |
| The contract finished | The contract expired |
| Strong contract | Binding or Solid contract |
“After weeks of negotiation, we finally managed to draw up a contract that satisfied both parties. Before we could sign the contract, however, our lawyer insisted on adding a clause regarding what happens if either side should breach the contract. Once we were under contract, we decided to contract out the marketing phase to a specialized agency.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Contract Collocations
What is the difference between “sign a contract” and “execute a contract”?
“Sign a contract” is the common phrase used in everyday business. “Execute a contract” is the more formal, legal term used to describe the process of making the document legally valid by signing it.
Can I say “get a contract”?
<pYes, you can "get a contract" in an informal sense (e.g., "I got a new contract today"). However, in professional writing, use "secure a contract" or "be awarded a contract" to sound more competent.
Which preposition follows contract: “contract with” or “contract to”?
It depends on the meaning. You “have a contract with” a person or company. You can be “contracted to” do a specific job or “contracted to” a specific organization for a period of time.
What does “under contract” mean?
If a person or a property is “under contract,” it means they are currently bound by a legal agreement. For example, “The house is already under contract,” means someone has already agreed to buy it.
Is “contracting a cold” too formal?
Yes, for everyday conversation. In a casual setting, just say “I’m catching a cold” or “I have a cold.” Use “contract” for more serious medical discussions or formal reports.
This article is fantastic! It's so useful for my upcoming job interviews where I expect to talk about terms and agreements. Feeling much more prepared now.
I used to say 'make a sickness' instead of 'contract an illness.' This article cleared that up perfectly. Thanks!
Thank you for this! Sometimes I struggle with the pronunciation of 'contract' as a noun versus a verb. Are there any general rules to follow?
Great question, Mei Lin, as this is a common challenge with English! For 'contract' as a noun (e.g., 'a written contract'), the stress is usually on the first syllable: CON-tract. When it's used as a verb (e.g., 'to contract an illness,' or 'muscles contract'), the stress shifts to the second syllable: con-TRACT. This pattern (first syllable stress for nouns, second for verbs) applies to many two-syllable words in English! We hope this helps!
Is there any difference in these collocations between US and UK English? Sometimes legal terms can vary quite a bit.
That's a very perceptive question, Sara! For the core collocations like 'draw up a contract,' 'sign a contract,' and 'enter into a contract,' there is very little difference between US and UK English. These are standard in legal and business English globally. Minor variations might appear in very specific legal jargon, but the ones discussed in the article are universally understood. Good thinking!
The article mentioned verbs for creating and signing. Could you give a brief list of common verbs used when a contract ends or is broken? Like 'terminate' or 'breach'?
Absolutely, Oliver! Beyond 'terminate' (to formally end it) and 'breach' (to violate its terms), other key verbs include 'cancel a contract' (often implying mutual agreement or a specific clause), 'void a contract' (to declare it invalid from the beginning), and 'renew a contract' (to extend it). Mastering these will give you a comprehensive vocabulary for the full lifecycle of an agreement! Great question!
I once used 'make a contract' in a business meeting and got a few strange looks. Now I know why! Wish I had this article sooner. It's helping me avoid awkward mistakes.
What about 'amend a contract'? Is that also a common collocation for making changes to an existing agreement?
Fantastic point, Jian Li! 'Amend a contract' is indeed a very common and essential collocation. It means to make formal changes or additions to an existing contract without terminating the original agreement. This is crucial in legal and business contexts when circumstances change but the core agreement remains. Thanks for bringing that up!
This is exactly what I needed! My goal is to sound more natural and authoritative, and these collocations are key. The distinction between 'draw up' and 'sign' is so clear now.
I'm still a bit confused about the past tense of 'contract' when talking about illness. Is it always 'contracted' or can you say 'contracted an illnessed'?
Thanks for asking, Marcus! It's always 'contracted an illness' – the word 'illness' is the noun, and 'contracted' is the past tense verb. You wouldn't say 'illnessed.' Just like you would say 'he signed the paper,' not 'he signed the papered.' 'Contracted' is the correct past tense form. Keep practicing, and it will become easier!
Are there similar collocations for 'agreement' that might overlap with 'contract'? For example, can you 'draw up an agreement'?
That's a very insightful question, Isabella! Yes, many collocations for 'contract' also apply to 'agreement,' especially 'draw up an agreement,' 'sign an agreement,' and 'enter into an agreement.' 'Agreement' is a broader term, often referring to a less formal understanding or a non-binding arrangement, while 'contract' specifically denotes a legally binding document. Understanding the distinction helps you choose the right word! Well done!