linear

linear — adjective

1. having the form, look, or measurement of a line; based on straight or elongated

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having the form, look, or measurement of a line; based on straight or elongated shapes, or relating to how long something is.

Example

The building's linear design gives it a sleek, modern look.

attributive use: linear design

Nala used a ruler to draw clean linear patterns across the page.

collocation: linear pattern

Common collocations
  • linear design
  • linear pattern
  • linear measurement
  • linear distance
  • linear shape
  • linear form
  • linear dimension
Synonyms
  • straight

    more general and common; 'straight' does not carry the technical sense of line-based design

  • rectilinear

    more formal and technical, used mainly in geometry and architecture

Antonyms
  • curved

    describes a rounded or bending shape rather than a straight line

Grammar Patterns

linear + noun

be + linear

Common Mistakes

The garden path is linear, winding around the trees.
The garden path is winding, curving around the trees.
'linear' describes a straight-line path, not a curved one.
She drew a linear circle on the paper.
She drew a circle on the paper.
a circle is curved, not linear; 'linear' refers to lines, not round shapes.

2. moving through a fixed series of steps where each new stage directly follows the

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

moving through a fixed series of steps where each new stage directly follows the previous one, without skipping anything or going backwards.

Example

Gabriel prefers a linear approach to problem-solving, addressing each issue one at a time.

collocation: linear approach

Mizuki reminded the class that human memory is not always linear and sequential.

contrast: not always linear

Common collocations
  • linear thinking
  • linear approach
  • linear narrative
  • linear progression
  • linear process
  • linear career path
  • linear order
Synonyms
  • sequential

    nearly identical; 'sequential' emphasises the ordering of events, while 'linear' emphasises the straight line of progression

  • chronological

    specifically about time order; 'linear' can apply to non-temporal sequences as well

  • step-by-step

    more informal and concrete; often used for instructions or procedures

Antonyms
  • non-linear

    the direct opposite; describes processes that do not follow a single ordered sequence

  • random

    implies no order or pattern at all, which is a stronger contrast than non-linear

Grammar Patterns

linear + noun

be + linear

Usage Note

Commonly contrasted with 'non-linear' (non-sequential). Often used when discussing storytelling, thought processes, career paths, and learning systems.

Common Mistakes

She used a linear method, jumping from topic to topic without order.
She used a non-linear method, jumping from topic to topic.
'linear' means following a strict sequence, not skipping around.

3. describing a case where two linked variables change together in step, so that do

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing a case where two linked variables change together in step, so that doubling the first produces a doubling of the second.

Example

Tanvi found a linear relationship between the hours she studied and her test scores.

collocation: linear relationship

The company expects linear growth in sales as more customers join each month.

collocation: linear growth

Common collocations
  • linear relationship
  • linear growth
  • linear correlation
  • linear change
  • linear increase
  • linear progression
Synonyms
  • proportional

    more general; all linear relationships are proportional, but 'proportional' is less technical

  • directly proportional

    more precise in mathematics; a directly proportional relationship is a specific type of linear relationship passing through zero

Antonyms
  • exponential

    describes growth that accelerates over time, the opposite of steady linear growth

  • inverse

    describes a relationship where one variable goes up as the other goes down

Grammar Patterns

linear + noun

be + linear

linear relationship between X and Y

Usage Note

Common in scientific and economic writing. The phrase 'linear relationship' is a standard term in statistics and data analysis.

Common Mistakes

The cost is linear to the number of items.
The cost is proportional to the number of items.
'linear' describes a type of relationship; 'proportional' is the everyday word for things changing at the same rate.

4. relating to equations, functions, or expressions in which each variable is raise

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

relating to equations, functions, or expressions in which each variable is raised only to the first power (no squares or higher exponents), forming a straight line when plotted on a graph.

Example

The equation y = 3x + 2 is a simple linear function with a straight-line graph.

canonical example: y = mx + c form

Dahlia solved the linear equation by subtracting five from both sides.

collocation: linear equation

Common collocations
  • linear equation
  • linear function
  • linear algebra
  • linear regression
  • linear expression
  • linear transformation
  • linear model
Synonyms
  • first-degree

    technical synonym referring to the highest power of a variable being 1

Antonyms
  • non-linear

    describes equations or functions with variables raised to powers other than 1

  • quadratic

    specifically describes equations with a squared variable

Grammar Patterns

linear + noun

be + linear

Usage Note

The core mathematical sense. A linear equation can be written in the form y = mx + b. Linear functions have a constant rate of change, which appears as a straight line on a graph.

Common Mistakes

A quadratic equation like y = x² is a type of linear equation.
A quadratic equation like y = x² is non-linear because the variable is squared.
Linear equations have variables only to the first power (no exponents).

5. describing traditional television, radio, or other media in which content is bro

5.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing traditional television, radio, or other media in which content is broadcast at scheduled times on specific channels, rather than being available whenever the viewer chooses.

Example

Élise still watches linear television, but her son only streams shows online.

contrast: linear TV vs streaming

On weeknights at nine, Jun watches her favourite drama on channel five through linear broadcasting.

collocation: linear broadcasting

Common collocations
  • linear television
  • linear TV
  • linear broadcasting
  • linear channel
  • linear schedule
  • linear programming
  • linear platform
Synonyms
  • scheduled

    less technical but captures the same idea of programs airing at fixed times

  • broadcast

    overlapping but broader; 'broadcast' can refer to any transmission, linear or on-demand in some contexts

Antonyms
  • on-demand

    content available whenever the user chooses to access it

  • streaming

    digital delivery that typically allows user control over timing

Grammar Patterns

linear + noun

Usage Note

Used in contrast with 'on-demand', 'streaming', or 'digital' media. Common in industry reports and media analysis. Often used as 'linear TV' or 'linear broadcasting'.

6. describing a technique for editing video or audio files in which the editor proc

6.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing a technique for editing video or audio files in which the editor processes the material from start to finish, without being able to jump directly to a chosen point.

Example

Early video editors used linear editing, splicing tape from start to finish.

collocation: linear editing

Linear editing requires the editor to plan the entire sequence before cutting the tape.

grammar pattern: [noun] + requires + [person] + to

Common collocations
  • linear editing
  • linear workflow
  • linear system
  • linear video editing
Synonyms
  • tape-based

    historical synonym referring to the physical medium used in linear editing

Antonyms
  • non-linear

    modern digital editing that allows random access to any point in the material

Grammar Patterns

linear + noun

Usage Note

Mainly used in professional video and audio production contexts. Most modern editing is non-linear (NLE), where editors can access any part of the material instantly.

Word family

  • linearly
    adverbB2
  • linearity
    nounC1
  • non-linear
    adjectiveB2
  • linearize
    verbC1
  • collinear
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

While all four words describe order, they highlight different aspects. 'Sequential' is the closest synonym to 'linear' (sense 2), focusing on one item following another in a series — a recipe is sequential. 'Chronological' is tied specifically to time order, as in a timeline of historical events. 'Step-by-step' is more concrete and instructional, describing a method where each action follows the previous one, like assembling furniture. 'Straightforward' shifts the focus to ease of understanding rather than strict ordering — a straightforward explanation is easy to follow but may not follow a rigid sequence. Example: 'The instructions were sequential (numbered steps), but they were not straightforward (some steps were confusing).' For teaching clarity, 'step-by-step' works best; for historical accounts, use 'chronological'; for logical arguments, 'linear' or 'sequential' fit equally well.

sequentialchronological ↗step-by-step ↗straightforward ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • strictly linear
  • roughly linear
  • approximately linear
  • purely linear

Prepositions

  • linear in
  • linear with

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'linear' entered English in the mid-1600s from French 'linéaire', which came from Latin 'linearis' meaning 'belonging to a line'. The Latin root 'linea' originally meant 'linen thread' — since threads were used to mark straight lines — and later came to mean 'line' in the geometric sense. The mathematical use (sense 4) developed in the 1700s, and the media and editing senses (senses 5 and 6) emerged in the late 1900s with the rise of television and digital technology.