team

1 of 3

noun

1
: a number of persons associated together in work or activity: such as
a
: a group on one side (as in football or a debate)
b
: crew, gang
2
a
: two or more draft animals harnessed to the same vehicle or implement
also : these with their harness and attached vehicle
b
: a draft animal often with harness and vehicle
3
: a group of animals: such as
a
: a brood especially of young pigs or ducks
b
: a matched group of animals for exhibition
4
obsolete : lineage, race

team

2 of 3

adjective

: of or performed by a team
a team effort
also : marked by devotion to teamwork rather than individual achievement
a team player

team

3 of 3

verb

teamed; teaming; teams

transitive verb

1
: to yoke or join in a team
also : to put together in a coordinated ensemble
2
: to convey or haul with a team

intransitive verb

1
: to form a team or association : join forces or efforts
often used with up
2
: to drive a team or motortruck

Did you know?

What is the difference between the verbs teem and team?

If you want to describe an overflowing abundance of something, the word you are looking for is teem. We often see reference to "the teeming masses," "streets teeming with activity," or "forests teeming with life." You want the word team if you are trying to describe pairing two or more things in a coordinated ensemble ("she teamed the oxen together"), or forming some kind of partnership or association ("we are teaming with another organization this year").

Examples of team in a Sentence

Noun a doubles team in tennis He is the best player on his team. They are the worst team in baseball. To get the job done more quickly, we split up into teams. We worked as a team to put out the fire. The company hired a team of lawyers to advise them. a search and rescue team A dog team pulled the sled. Verb a show that teams two of television's funniest comedians
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Lee Celano/WireImage Attorney Alan Dershowitz, who worked as a legal adviser on Simpson's criminal defense team, acknowledged to NBC News in a separate statement that the 1994 murder trial and eventual acquittal is a large part of Simpson's legacy. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024 The team carefully monitors the fetus's heart rate, blood pressure and other vital signs. Rob Stein, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024 As part of their analysis, the team adjusted for other key heart failure risk factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and a high body mass index. Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 12 Apr. 2024 Knox was suspended from the SMU football team after authorities in Dallas announced the charges, according to media reports. Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024 But when Ohtani’s team inquired about the bank account containing his MLB salary, the complaint said, Mizuhara told them that Ohtani wanted the account kept private. Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024 On the 2024 campaign trail, Biden has ignored Kennedy but behind the scenes, the Democratic National Committee recently hired a team of attorneys to monitor Kennedy's efforts to get his name on ballots of key battleground states before upcoming spring and summer qualifying deadlines. USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024 When his team traveled to Maryland, Connecticut and New York for summer competition, Hicks learned important lessons. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024 When asked about the run after the game, Huskies head coach Dan Hurley was complimentary of his team. Jacob Lev, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Crowder ended up there in a multi-team trade after being part of the blockbuster Durant deal. Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 25 Feb. 2023 This week, Southwest unveiled a three-part plan to boost operations, which includes changes in winter operations, operational investments and cross-team collaborations. Alexandra Skores, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023 Schools are allowed to play in the same multi-team event, as the NCAA calls nonconference tournaments in November and December, only once every four years. San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2023 Goodman also reported Sunday that the Miami RedHawks are scheduled to play in the Indiana Hoosiers' multi-team event. Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 6 June 2022 There are strict guidelines for inter-team competition. Eric Sondheimer Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2021 Multi-team initiatives are also an opportunity to demonstrate that not all innovations need to be pan-enterprise and that even the smallest contribution can have the most immediate impact or snowball into an even bigger one. Quartz Creative For Baker Tilly, Quartz, 29 Nov. 2022 Indiana traded Oladipo to the Houston Rockets in a multi-team deal that brought Caris LeVert to the Pacers. Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Nov. 2022 This will be the fourth multi-team event (MTE) that Alabama has participated in since Oats became coach, and the Tide’s previous three trips all began with a loss. Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 23 Nov. 2022
Verb
MacNeil and Lehrer first teamed to cover the Senate Watergate hearings in 1973, and their live coverage earned them an Emmy. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024 The service planned to team him with another former NBC News journalist, Sander Vanocur, to cover the 1972 presidential campaign. Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024 The effort lifted the 6-foot-5 junior from St. Augustine High School to team highs in batting average (.344) and home runs (11) and second in RBIs (30). Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024 On Wednesday, April 10, the pair also attended a red carpet for a screening of his latest film, The Long Game, with Savoie, 30, teaming a pair of classic white pants with a one-shoulder black top featuring a cutout on her midriff. Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024 That breadth of insight and analysis extends from the on-court Xs and Os to team dynamics and development. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2024 At least teaming with Dell allowed Seth to finally crack a smile for the first time in a while. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2024 Chisholm, who had been elected to the House in 1968 and served through 1982, teamed with Tucker, a former Pennsylvania secretary of the commonwealth, to form what was then called the National Black Women’s Political Caucus. Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024 Now, Clark has teamed with many of today’s top country hitmakers to reimagine her catalog of hits on Terri Clark: Take Two, out May 31 via Mercury Nashville/UMe. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'team.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English teme, from Old English tēam offspring, lineage, group of draft animals; akin to Old High German zoum rein, Old English tēon to draw, pull — more at tow entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1552, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of team was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near team

Cite this Entry

“Team.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/team. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

team

1 of 2 noun
1
: two or more animals used to pull the same vehicle or piece of machinery
also : these animals with their harness and attached vehicle
2
: a number of persons associated together in work or activity

team

2 of 2 verb
1
: to join in a team
2
: to haul with or drive a team
3
: to form a team

More from Merriam-Webster on team

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!