system

system — noun

1. A group of interrelated parts, pieces, or devices designed to function together

1.nounB1
Definition

A group of interrelated parts, pieces, or devices designed to function together as a single whole.

Example

The city's transportation system links every neighborhood with buses, trains, and ferries.

collocation: transportation system / heating system / solar system

Eliska learned that the solar system contains eight planets orbiting the sun.

system + of: system of planets

Common collocations
  • transportation system
  • heating system
  • solar system
  • sound system
  • public transport system
Synonyms
  • network

    focuses on the connections between parts rather than the parts themselves

  • setup

    more informal, often refers to a specific arrangement rather than a permanent structure

Grammar Patterns

system + of + noun phrase

2. A combination of computer hardware and software that works together to perform t

2.nounB1
Definition

A combination of computer hardware and software that works together to perform tasks or run applications.

Example

Walid installed a new operating system on his laptop to protect against viruses.

collocation: operating system

The hospital's booking system crashed when hundreds of patients tried to register at once.

Common collocations
  • operating system
  • computer system
  • booking system
  • payment system
  • alarm system
Synonyms
  • platform

    broader term that includes the environment for running software, not just the hardware-software combination

Grammar Patterns

operating system

computer system

noun + system

Usage Note

Common in compound nouns: operating system, booking system, alarm system, payment system. Subject is often an organization or institution that owns the hardware.

3. A group of organs in a living body that work together to perform a vital functio

3.nounB2
Definition

A group of organs in a living body that work together to perform a vital function, such as breathing, digesting food, or circulating blood.

Example

Padma's biology teacher asked the class to label every part of the human nervous system on a diagram.

collocation: nervous system / immune system / digestive system

Regular exercise strengthens your circulatory system and helps your heart pump blood more efficiently.

Common collocations
  • nervous system
  • immune system
  • digestive system
  • circulatory system
  • respiratory system

Grammar Patterns

adjective + system

Usage Note

Almost always preceded by an adjective naming the function (nervous, digestive, immune, circulatory, respiratory). The word system alone does not refer to a body part.

Common Mistakes

I have a problem with my nervous' (missing 'system').
I have a problem with my nervous system.
the adjective alone cannot stand for the noun.

4. The way a person's body functions, especially in relation to digesting food, pro

4.nounB2
Definition

The way a person's body functions, especially in relation to digesting food, processing substances, and removing waste.

Example

Apinya felt that months of stress had affected her system, so she started doing yoga every morning.

collocation: affect / upset + possessive + system

Eating very spicy food late at night can upset your system and keep you awake.

Common collocations
  • upset your system
  • flush out of your system
  • affect your system

Grammar Patterns

possessive + system

upset + possessive + system

Usage Note

Usually singular and preceded by a possessive (my system, your system, her system). Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 names a specific organ group, while sense 4 refers to general bodily functioning, especially digestion and elimination.

5. A fixed, organized set of rules, methods, or procedures designed to achieve a pa

5.nounB1
Definition

A fixed, organized set of rules, methods, or procedures designed to achieve a particular goal or run an organization.

Example

The country's legal system is built on laws that protect the basic rights of every citizen.

collocation: legal system / education system / political system

Andrés created a color-coded filing system for all his tax documents and receipts.

Common collocations
  • legal system
  • education system
  • political system
  • filing system
  • value system
Synonyms
  • method

    simpler and less formal; method focuses on a single procedure, while system suggests a broader framework

  • procedure

    more specific — a procedure is one step within a system

Grammar Patterns

adjective + system

system + of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Subject is typically a society, organization, or institution. When referring to government or society-wide rules, this sense borders on sense 8, but the focus here is on structure and procedure, not unfairness.

6. A particular set of standardized units used for counting, measuring distance, we

6.nounB2
Definition

A particular set of standardized units used for counting, measuring distance, weight, or classifying things.

Example

Mira had to convert the recipe from the imperial system to the metric system before baking.

collocation: metric system / imperial system

Most countries use the metric system, which measures distance in meters and weight in kilograms.

Common collocations
  • metric system
  • imperial system
  • decimal system
  • binary system
  • classification system
Synonyms
  • scale

    a scale is a simpler sequence of units; a system is a broader framework that may include multiple scales

Grammar Patterns

the + adjective + system

Usage Note

Nearly always appears with an adjective (metric, imperial, decimal) or a descriptive modifier. Rarely used alone.

7. The quality of being well-organized and following a deliberate, orderly method r

7.nounB2
Definition

The quality of being well-organized and following a deliberate, orderly method rather than acting randomly.

Example

Hui admired the system with which the librarian had arranged thousands of books by topic and author.

collocation: with system

There was no system to how Lauren packed her suitcase — she simply threw everything inside.

collocation: no system to

Common collocations
  • with system
  • no system to
  • lack of system
  • work with system
Synonyms
  • order

    broader: order can be natural or imposed; system implies deliberate organization

  • method

    focuses on the way something is done, while system emphasizes the overall organization

Antonyms
  • chaos

    the opposite of deliberate order

Grammar Patterns

with + system

without + system

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense — you cannot say 'a system' to mean orderliness. Commonly appears in the phrases 'with system', 'no system to', or 'lack of system'. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 5 is a countable specific framework; sense 7 is an uncountable quality.

Common Mistakes

She has a good system in her work.' (vague — could imply sense 5).
She works with system and efficiency.
'with system' signals the uncountable orderliness sense.

8. The established rules, institutions, and authorities in a society, viewed as unf

8.nounB2
Definition

The established rules, institutions, and authorities in a society, viewed as unfair and resistant to change, often preventing people from improving their situation.

Example

Tanvi believes the system favors wealthy families while ignoring the needs of poor communities.

collocation: the system + favors / ignores

Many young people feel frustrated with a political system that seems to ignore their concerns.

Common collocations
  • the system
  • fight the system
  • beat the system
  • within the system
  • against the system
Synonyms
  • establishment

    more formal, refers specifically to the people in power rather than the rules

  • the powers that be

    informal idiom referring to the people who make decisions without consulting others

Grammar Patterns

the system

Usage Note

Often preceded by 'the' and carries a negative or critical tone. Common in phrases like 'fight the system', 'beat the system', 'work within the system', or 'the system is rigged'. Subject is typically people who feel powerless against large institutions.

Idioms

all systems go

idiom

Everything is working correctly and is ready for an activity to begin or proceed.

After weeks of preparation, it was all systems go for the science fair on Friday morning.

The project manager told the team it was all systems go once the funding was approved.

get something out of your system

idiom

To do something you have been wanting to do so that the strong desire or emotion no longer affects you.

Asher went skydiving just once to get it out of his system, and never felt the urge to jump again.

Ife cried for an hour to get all the sadness out of her system after hearing the bad news.

Word family

  • systematic
    adjectiveB2
  • systematically
    adverbB2
  • systemic
    adjectiveC1
  • systematize
    verbC1
  • systematization
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/5

System, method, procedure, and approach all refer to ways of doing things, but they differ in scope and structure. A system is the broadest of the four — it implies a complete framework of interconnected rules or parts designed to achieve a goal over time. For example, a country's legal system includes courts, judges, laws, and enforcement agencies working together. A method is a narrower, more specific way of completing a task, often one person's chosen technique: 'Sumin has her own method for memorizing vocabulary.' A procedure is a fixed sequence of steps that must be followed, often in professional or official settings: 'The hospital has a strict procedure for handling emergencies.' An approach is the most flexible — it describes a general attitude or strategy rather than fixed steps: 'The school takes a creative approach to teaching mathematics.' In short: system = broad framework; method = personal technique; procedure = mandatory steps; approach = general strategy.

system ↗method ↗procedure ↗approach ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • system design
  • system failure
  • system change
  • system administrator

Adverbs

  • systematically

Phrases

  • system of government
  • system of belief
  • system of values

Prepositions

  • in a system
  • within the system
  • outside the system

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'system' comes from the Greek 'sustēma', meaning 'a composite, organized whole made of parts placed together'. The Greek combines 'syn-' (together) and 'histanai' (to cause to stand or set up). Latin borrowed it as 'systema' for 'an arrangement or organized body', and French passed it into English in the early 1600s. The modern English range — from solar systems to operating systems to body systems — all retain the original idea of parts standing together as a functioning whole.