line
28 synonyms for line, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A long, thin mark or stroke, straight or curved, on a surface.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
stroke
mark
rule
bar
business
course
job
air
blood
note
stock
draw
channel
argument
origin
describe
cable
contrast
occupation
tune
trace
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A long, thin mark or stroke, straight or curved, on a surface.
“He drew a line across the page to separate the two sections.”
How to use line
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
stand in line
draw a line
line the pockets
on the line
Etymology
From Old English line ("rope, row, series"), itself from a Germanic root connected to flax and linen — the oldest sense was literally "cord" or "thread", from which "row" and "mark" later developed.
Full origin of line →Frequently asked questions
What does “line” mean?
The word “line” means a long, thin mark or stroke, straight or curved, on a surface. In plain terms, a very flexible word covering marks, rows of people or things, telephone connections, and the fabric-covering sense (to line a jacket).
How do you pronounce “line”?
“Line” is pronounced lyn (/laɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “line” in a sentence?
Here is “line” used in a sentence: “He drew a line across the page to separate the two sections.”
What part of speech is “line”?
Depending on how it is used, “line” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “line” come from?
The word “line” comes from Old English. From Old English line ("rope, row, series"), itself from a Germanic root connected to flax and linen — the oldest sense was literally "cord" or "thread", from which "row" and "mark" later developed.
Is “line” a common word?
“Line” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “line” have?
“Line” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, thin mark or stroke, straight or curved, on a surface.
What are the main types of lines?
Common types include straight, curved, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and zigzag lines. Lines can also be described by style — solid, dotted, dashed, or wavy — or by relationship, such as parallel lines that never meet and perpendicular lines that cross at right angles.
What is the difference between a line and a line segment?
In geometry, a line extends infinitely in both directions and has no endpoints, usually drawn with arrows. A line segment is a finite piece of a line with two definite endpoints and a measurable length. Everyday marks on paper are really segments, though we call them lines.
What is the difference between a line and a ray?
A line stretches infinitely in both directions, while a ray has one fixed endpoint and extends infinitely in only one direction — like a beam of light from its source. A line segment, by contrast, has two endpoints. All three are basic building blocks of geometry.
