Sports / B2

uh-REEN-uh/əˈriːnə/

An arena is a place for sports or public events, or — more useful at B2 — an area of activity and competition: the political arena, a tough arena. Stadium is the everyday sports cousin; field and sphere are close for the figurative sense. In speech, world of or scene is often enough. Do not use arena for a quiet seminar unless you mean it is a contest.

Meaning

A place for sports or public events, or an area of activity and competition.

Examples

• “Politics is a tough arena.”
• “She entered the political arena after ten years in teaching.”
• “The indoor arena holds six thousand, but tonight it felt half empty.”

Good to know

Stadium, or a field of activity (the political arena). Everyday: stadium / the world of. Figurative: a competitive space.

Near in meaning

stadium

Topics

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