team
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for team, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A group of people working or playing together toward a shared goal.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
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.
How to use team
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English team, originally meaning offspring or a set of animals harnessed together to pull something — the sense of "a group working together" grew out of that image of animals pulling as one.
Full origin of team →Frequently asked questions
What does “team” mean?
The word “team” means a group of people working or playing together toward a shared goal. In plain terms, a group of people (or the act of joining together) working toward a common goal.
How do you pronounce “team”?
“Team” is pronounced TEEM (/ˈtiːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “team” in a sentence?
Here is “team” used in a sentence: “The sales team hit its target three months early.”
What part of speech is “team”?
Depending on how it is used, “team” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “team” come from?
The word “team” comes from Old English. From Old English team, originally meaning offspring or a set of animals harnessed together to pull something — the sense of "a group working together" grew out of that image of animals pulling as one.
Is “team” a common word?
“Team” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “team” have?
“Team” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of people working or playing together toward a shared goal.
What is the difference between a team and a group?
A group is simply a number of people gathered together, who may share nothing beyond that. A team is a group united by a common goal, with members who coordinate and depend on one another to reach it. Every team is a group, but not every group is a team.
What are the types of teams?
Teams take many forms: sports teams competing in a game, work or project teams in a business, cross-functional teams combining different specialists, and virtual teams working remotely. What unites them all is shared purpose — members contributing distinct roles toward one common objective rather than working alone.
Why is teamwork important?
Teamwork lets people combine different skills, share the workload, and achieve more than any individual could alone. It brings varied perspectives to problem-solving, spreads responsibility, and can boost motivation. Strong teams rely on trust, clear communication, and a genuinely shared goal in order to succeed.
What makes a good team?
A good team shares a clear goal, communicates openly, and trusts its members to play their roles. It balances complementary skills, handles disagreement constructively, and holds itself accountable. Good leadership and mutual respect help members pull in the same direction rather than competing against one another.