English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Common

lineup

LYN-uhp

Lineup (noun) means a group of suspects presented together so a witness can try to identify one of them. Example: “The witness picked the suspect out of the police lineup.”

noun
1
A group of suspects presented together so a witness can try to identify one of them.
"The witness picked the suspect out of the police lineup."
2
The set of players chosen to take part in a team's game.
"The coach announced the starting lineup an hour before kickoff."
3
The list of acts scheduled to perform at a concert or festival.
"This year's festival lineup includes several headline acts."

How to Use Lineup

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA selected list or arrangement — of suspects, players, or performers.

Common pairings
starting lineup police lineup festival lineup

Word Forms

lineups plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “lineup” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The witness picked the suspect out of the police _____.

Etymology

A noun formed from the phrasal verb line up.

Related Words

Rhymes for lineup

See all rhymes for lineup →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “lineup” mean?

The word “lineup” means a group of suspects presented together so a witness can try to identify one of them. In plain terms, a selected list or arrangement — of suspects, players, or performers.

How do you pronounce “lineup”?

“Lineup” is pronounced LYN-uhp (/ˈlaɪn.ʌp/ in IPA).

How do you use “lineup” in a sentence?

Here is “lineup” used in a sentence: “The witness picked the suspect out of the police lineup.”

What is another word for “lineup”?

Words with a similar meaning to “lineup” include identity parade.

What part of speech is “lineup”?

“Lineup” is a noun.

Is “lineup” a common word?

“Lineup” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “lineup” have?

“Lineup” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of suspects presented together so a witness can try to identify one of them.

Is it lineup, line-up, or line up?

As a noun, American English generally writes lineup as one word, while British English often hyphenates it as line-up. The two-word form line up is the verb: 'The fans line up early.'

What is the difference between a lineup and a roster?

A roster is the full list of players on a team, while a lineup is the set of players actually chosen to take part in a particular game. A player can be on the roster but left out of the day's lineup.

What do the British call a police lineup?

In British English, a police lineup is usually called an identity parade. Both terms describe a group of suspects presented together so that a witness can try to identify one of them.

What is a festival lineup?

A festival lineup is the list of acts scheduled to perform at a concert or festival, often displayed with the headliners at the top of the poster. Announcing the lineup is typically the moment fans decide whether to buy tickets.

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial