island

island — noun

1. an area of land that has water all around it and is not joined to the mainland

1.nounA1
Definition

an area of land that has water all around it and is not joined to the mainland

Example

Sana spent her summer vacation on a small island off the coast of Thailand.

collocation: small island / remote island

The ferry carries passengers and cars between the mainland and the island twice a day.

contrast: mainland vs island

Common collocations
  • desert island
  • remote island
  • small island
  • tropical island
  • on an island
  • off the coast of
Synonyms
  • isle

    used mostly in poetry or in place names (the Isle of Skye)

  • islet

    very small island, often with no permanent population

  • atoll

    ring-shaped coral island surrounding a lagoon

Antonyms
  • mainland

    the large continuous landmass of a continent or country, as opposed to offshore islands

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] island

the island of [name]

Common Mistakes

The island of Greenland is a country.
Greenland is a large island that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
not every island is an independent country.

2. a freestanding cabinet with a flat top for food preparation, positioned in a kit

2.nounB1
Definition

a freestanding cabinet with a flat top for food preparation, positioned in a kitchen so that you can approach it from any side.

Example

Élise set a fruit bowl on the kitchen island before her dinner guests arrived.

collocation: kitchen island

The island has drawers underneath for storing pots, pans, and kitchen towels.

parts of the island: drawers underneath / worktop above

Common collocations
  • kitchen island
  • granite island
  • island with a sink
  • island stools
  • around the island

Grammar Patterns

kitchen island

3. a raised or painted zone built into a roadway where someone crossing the street

3.nounB1
Definition

a raised or painted zone built into a roadway where someone crossing the street can pause safely until oncoming cars have gone past.

Example

Caleb waited on the traffic island while cars passed on both sides of the road.

collocation: traffic island

The city built a pedestrian island in the middle of the busy four-lane street.

pattern: [noun] island — pedestrian island / traffic island

Common collocations
  • traffic island
  • pedestrian island
  • on the island
  • wait on the island
  • crossing with an island
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

traffic island

pedestrian island

Usage Note

Also called a 'pedestrian island' or 'refuge island'. More common in British English than American English, where 'median strip' or 'center divider' is used for the central area of a road.

Common Mistakes

I stood on the middle island waiting to cross.
I stood on the traffic island waiting to cross.
use 'traffic island' or 'pedestrian island' to be clear.

4. a circular road junction where traffic moves in one direction around a central a

4.nounB2
Definition

a circular road junction where traffic moves in one direction around a central area, allowing vehicles from several roads to merge and exit safely.

Example

When you reach the island at the end of the high street, take the third exit towards the supermarket.

UK usage: island = roundabout

Liam slowed down at the island and checked for cars coming from his right.

Common collocations
  • at the island
  • approach the island
  • exit the island
  • centre of the island
Synonyms

Usage Note

This sense is primarily British English. In most other varieties, 'roundabout' is the standard term and 'island' is not used this way.

Common Mistakes

Turn left at the island' (in American English).
Turn left at the roundabout.
American speakers do not use 'island' to mean a roundabout.

5. a place, area, or situation that feels calm, safe, or different from the busier

5.nounB2
Definition

a place, area, or situation that feels calm, safe, or different from the busier or more difficult surroundings around it.

Example

The small park was an island of peace in the middle of the noisy city.

pattern: an island of [peace / calm / quiet]

The library became an island of quiet where students could escape the crowded hallways.

Common collocations
  • an island of peace
  • an island of calm
  • an island of quiet
  • an island of sanity
  • in an island of
Synonyms
  • haven

    emphasizes safety from danger or trouble rather than peace

  • sanctuary

    a place where you are protected from harm or disturbance

  • refuge

    a place where people can go for safety or comfort

Grammar Patterns

an island of [noun]

Usage Note

Always followed by 'of' and an abstract noun describing the positive quality (peace, calm, quiet, sanity, beauty). The surrounding context is typically negative or chaotic.

island — verb

Word family

  • islander
    nounB1
  • islet
    nounC1
  • peninsula
    nounB1
  • insular
    adjectiveC1
  • insularity
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to land surrounded by water, but they differ in size, register, and formation. 'Island' is the everyday word for any landmass smaller than a continent that is surrounded by water — from a small rocky outcrop to Australia (the world's largest island). 'Isle' is a more poetic or formal synonym, used mostly in literature or fixed place names such as the Isle of Skye or the Isle of Wight; you would not say 'we spent the weekend on an isle' in ordinary conversation. 'Islet' means a very small island, often too small for habitation, and is typically used in scientific or descriptive contexts. 'Atoll' is a specific geological term for a ring-shaped coral reef that encloses a lagoon, most common in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. For example: 'They sailed from the main island to a tiny islet where seabirds nested,' but 'The Maldives are a nation of atolls, not a single large island.'

island ↗isle ↗isletatoll

Common collocations

Nouns

  • island nation
  • island chain
  • island community
  • island life
  • island breeze

Phrases

  • desert island
  • tropical island
  • remote island
  • neighbouring island
  • the island of

Prepositions

  • on an island
  • off the island
  • across the island
  • around the island
  • to the island
  • from the island

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'island' comes from Old English 'īegland', which joined 'īeg' (meaning 'island' or 'watery land') with 'land'. The 'īeg' root goes back to Proto-Germanic *aujō ('thing on the water'), which came from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ekʷeh₂ ('water'). The modern spelling with an 's' appeared in the 15th century, influenced by the unrelated French word 'isle' (from Latin 'insula'), even though the 's' was never pronounced in the Old English tradition.