- Do you ever wonder if you’re using the right verb with “meeting”? (e.g., “make a meeting” vs. “have a meeting”)
- Are you unsure which adjectives naturally describe a “meeting”? (e.g., “a strong meeting” vs. “a productive meeting”)
- Do you struggle to express ideas like “fulfilling criteria” or “encountering someone” without sounding unnatural?
Welcome to Translateen! Mastering collocations is a cornerstone of achieving fluency in English. Instead of thinking word-for-word, collocations teach you natural word partnerships, helping you sound more like a native speaker. This guide will unlock the essential collocations with ‘meeting’, whether you’re discussing a professional gathering or the act of encountering something or someone. Let’s make your English more precise and confident!
Common Collocations with MEETING as a Noun
When ‘meeting’ functions as a noun, it refers to an assembly, a formal gathering, or an appointment. Understanding how to use it correctly with various verbs, adjectives, and prepositions will significantly enhance your professional and everyday English.
Verbs Used with ‘Meeting’ (Noun)
These verbs describe actions related to organizing, attending, or concluding a meeting.
- Call/Convene a meeting: To officially arrange for a meeting to happen.
Example: The board decided to call a special meeting to discuss the merger.
- Schedule/Arrange a meeting: To plan a time and place for a meeting.
Example: Please schedule a meeting with the new client for next Tuesday.
- Hold/Have a meeting: To conduct a meeting.
Example: We will hold a meeting to finalize the project details tomorrow morning.
- Attend a meeting: To be present at a meeting.
Example: All department heads are expected to attend the weekly meeting.
- Chair/Preside over a meeting: To be in charge of a meeting.
Example: The CEO will chair the meeting, so be prepared.
- Open/Start a meeting: To begin a meeting.
Example: Let’s open the meeting by reviewing last week’s action items.
- Close/Adjourn a meeting: To end a meeting.
Example: The team managed to close the meeting on time, having covered all points.
- Cancel/Postpone a meeting: To decide that a planned meeting will not take place or will take place later.
Example: Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to cancel the meeting at the last minute.
- Miss a meeting: To fail to attend a meeting.
Example: I’m afraid I’ll have to miss the meeting as I have a conflicting appointment.
Adjectives Describing ‘Meeting’ (Noun)
These adjectives help to specify the type, purpose, or atmosphere of a meeting.
- Brief/Short meeting: A meeting that doesn’t last long.
Example: Let’s have a brief meeting to go over the immediate tasks.
- Productive/Fruitful meeting: A meeting that achieves good results.
Example: We had a very productive meeting and made significant progress.
- Unproductive/Pointless meeting: A meeting that does not achieve good results or is a waste of time.
Example: It felt like an unproductive meeting; we didn’t resolve anything.
- Formal/Informal meeting: Describes the level of formality.
Example: This will be a formal meeting, so please dress appropriately.
- Emergency/Urgent meeting: A meeting called quickly due to a critical situation.
Example: The crisis demanded an emergency meeting of the entire team.
- Board meeting: A regular meeting of the directors of a company.
Example: The next board meeting is scheduled for the first Monday of the month.
- Progress meeting: A meeting to discuss the status of a project.
Example: We have a progress meeting every Friday to ensure everyone is on track.
Essential Collocations using MEETING (from the Verb ‘to Meet’)
While the word ‘meeting’ itself is a noun referring to a gathering, its root verb ‘to meet’ is crucial for understanding a different set of collocations related to encountering, satisfying, or fulfilling. Here, ‘meeting’ can appear as a gerund or present participle, often implying an ongoing action or a requirement.
Collocations Related to Fulfilling Requirements or Standards
These phrases are common in professional and academic contexts.
- Meet a deadline: To complete something by the required time.
Example: It’s crucial that we meet the deadline for the project proposal.
- Meet expectations: To be as good as or better than someone expects.
Example: The new software has certainly met our expectations for efficiency.
- Meet requirements/criteria: To satisfy the necessary conditions.
Example: Your application must meet all the requirements listed in the job description.
- Meet a challenge: To successfully deal with a difficult situation.
Example: The team is ready to meet the challenge of expanding into new markets.
- Meet the demand: To provide enough of what is needed or wanted.
Example: The company is struggling to meet the high demand for its new product.
- Meet the target: To achieve a specific goal or objective.
Example: Sales representatives are working hard to meet their quarterly targets.
Collocations Related to Encounters and Introductions
These phrases describe the act of seeing or getting to know someone, or encountering something.
- Meet someone’s eye/gaze: To look directly at someone who is also looking at you.
Example: She tried to avoid meeting his gaze, feeling nervous.
- Meet face-to-face: To physically see and speak to someone.
Example: It’s always better to meet face-to-face for important discussions, if possible.
- Meet with approval: To be received positively.
Example: The new policy was announced and seemed to meet with widespread approval.
- Meet and greet: An event where people can meet and talk informally with a public figure.
Example: The author will be hosting a meet and greet after the book signing.
The Master Summary Table
Here’s a quick reference for some of the most essential ‘meeting’ collocations you’ve learned.
| Collocation | Part of Speech (of ‘meeting’ in context) | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Call a meeting | Noun | To officially arrange a meeting |
| Attend a meeting | Noun | To be present at a meeting |
| Hold a meeting | Noun | To conduct a meeting |
| Cancel a meeting | Noun | To decide a meeting will not happen |
| Productive meeting | Noun | A meeting that achieves good results |
| Brief meeting | Noun | A short meeting |
| Meet a deadline | Verb (from ‘to meet’) | To finish by the due date |
| Meet expectations | Verb (from ‘to meet’) | To perform as well as hoped |
| Meet requirements | Verb (from ‘to meet’) | To satisfy necessary conditions |
| Meet a challenge | Verb (from ‘to meet’) | To successfully deal with a difficulty |
| Meet face-to-face | Verb (from ‘to meet’) | To see and talk in person |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common learner errors to sound more natural and fluent when using ‘meeting’ collocations.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| We made a meeting for next week. | We scheduled a meeting for next week. / We arranged a meeting for next week. |
| I want to meet a deadline. | I need to meet the deadline. (Use ‘the’ for specific deadlines). |
| The meeting was strong. | The meeting was productive. / The meeting was successful. |
| He missed to the meeting. | He missed the meeting. (No preposition after ‘miss’). |
| We must fulfil the requirements. | We must meet the requirements. |
| To take part in a meeting. | To attend a meeting. |
Yesterday was a whirlwind day! First, I had to call an emergency meeting with the design team because we realized we wouldn’t meet the deadline for the new app interface. It was a brief meeting, but very productive. We decided to schedule another meeting for early next week to ensure we fully meet all the requirements from the client. Later, I had a lovely opportunity to meet face-to-face with an old university friend I hadn’t seen in years – that was certainly a pleasant encounter after a day of challenging problem-solving!
Frequently Asked Questions about Meeting Collocations
What’s the difference between “hold a meeting” and “have a meeting”?
Both “hold a meeting” and “have a meeting” are grammatically correct and widely used. “Hold a meeting” often implies a more formal or official setting, suggesting the act of conducting or organizing it. “Have a meeting” is slightly more casual and focuses on the fact of the meeting taking place. In many contexts, they are interchangeable, but “hold” can emphasize the active role of the organizer.
Can I say “make a meeting”?
No, “make a meeting” is generally considered unnatural in standard English. Instead, you should use verbs like “schedule a meeting,” “arrange a meeting,” or “set up a meeting” if you mean to plan or organize one. If you are referring to participating, use “attend a meeting” or “go to a meeting.”
What preposition typically follows “meet” when referring to discussion?
When “meet” means to have a discussion or consultation, it’s most common to use “meet with someone.” For example, “I need to meet with my manager.” You can also “meet about something” or “meet to discuss something.” For instance, “We met about the new proposal” or “We met to discuss the budget.”
Is “a meeting point” a collocation?
Yes, “a meeting point” is a common collocation. It refers to a specific place where people arrange to meet, often in a public space. For example, “Let’s make the main entrance our meeting point.”
What’s a polite way to say you can’t attend a meeting?
Polite phrases include: “I’m afraid I can’t make the meeting,” “I regret I won’t be able to attend the meeting,” or “Unfortunately, I have a prior commitment and will have to miss the meeting.” Always offer apologies and, if appropriate, ask for the meeting minutes or a summary.
Fantastic job explaining something often overlooked by learners! This is truly practical advice for sounding more authentic.
I really appreciate this. It's hard to find good resources that break down these natural pairings. I'm a beginner, and this feels less intimidating than learning complicated grammar rules.
This article is very clear and useful. I've always wanted to improve my professional English, and collocations are key. Are there any specific phrases for *ending* a meeting?
Thank you, Hiroshi! For concluding a meeting, common collocations include 'adjourn a meeting' (often formal, to pause or end), 'close a meeting,' or 'wrap up a meeting' (more informal). You could also 'bring a meeting to a close.' Mastering these will definitely enhance your professional communication!
Is it correct to say 'drive a meeting' when someone is leading it?
That's an interesting one, Lena! While you might 'drive an initiative' or 'drive a project,' for a meeting, we typically say 'lead a meeting,' 'chair a meeting,' or 'facilitate a meeting.' 'Drive a meeting' isn't a standard collocation in this context, but it's great that you're experimenting with verb usage!
I'm still a bit confused about when to use 'at a meeting' versus 'in a meeting.' Is there a simple rule?
That's a classic preposition challenge, Omar! Generally, you use 'at a meeting' when referring to the location or attendance ('I saw him at the meeting'). You use 'in a meeting' when referring to being engaged or participating within the event ('She's in a meeting right now and can't take calls'). Both are correct but convey slightly different emphasis!
This article is a game-changer for me. I've been focusing on vocabulary lists, but realizing how words *combine* is truly eye-opening. What's the next common word you'll tackle?
We're thrilled to hear it's a game-changer for you, Renata! Focusing on collocations truly accelerates your journey to fluency. We have many more exciting topics planned, so keep an eye on Translateen.com for our next deep dive into common English words and their natural partners!
I work in HR, and we have countless meetings. I'm definitely going to try and incorporate 'convene' more often for our official board meetings. Thanks for the tip!
The concept of natural word partnerships is brilliant. It's like learning puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together. This blog post makes it much easier to understand!
Could you explain if there's a difference between 'set up a meeting' and 'arrange a meeting'? Both seem very similar to me.
That's a perceptive question, Jean-Luc! While 'set up a meeting' and 'arrange a meeting' are often interchangeable, 'set up' can sometimes imply more of the technical preparation or logistical details (e.g., setting up the room, equipment, or video conference link), whereas 'arrange' can be a broader term for coordinating the event. Both are perfectly natural!
I've been learning English for years, but collocations still trip me up. I always thought 'arrange a meeting' was the only option, good to know 'schedule' is also common!