collocation · neutral

city centre

UK/ˈsɪti ˈsɛntə/US/ˈsɪti ˈsɛntər/CIT·y CEN·tre

Band 4-5speakingtask2

The central area of a city where shops and businesses are concentrated.

Examples

Many tourists visit the city centre to see the historic buildings.

Rent in the city centre is usually higher than in suburbs.

There are several theatres and museums in the city centre.

Band 8 sentence

While many small businesses have left the city centre due to rising rents, targeted subsidies could revitalise the high street.

Collocations

  • in the city centre
  • city-centre shops

Word family

downtown noun/adverb (AmE)centre noun

Common mistakes

in the city centerin the city centre / city centre

on the city centrein the city centre

citycentrecity centre

Say it for a higher band

5downtown / center6urban centre7+city centre

Synonyms

downtown

urban centre

Easily confused

downtown

He works downtown and commutes by subway every day.

suburbs

They moved to the suburbs to get a bigger garden.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In City & Urban life

Learn it with its set