Collocations with the word law

• Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

‘law‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

law noun

¹ official rule/rules

ADJ. administrative, case, civil, common, constitutional, contract, criminal, international, statute, etc. (see also martial law)

VERB + LAW become Parliament voted for the bill to become law. | enforce, uphold It’s the job of the police to enforce the law. | obey, observe | break, flout, violate | adopt, enact, pass | annul, repeal | interpret Judges interpret this law in different ways.

LAW + VERB allow sth, forbid sth, prohibit sth The law forbids gambling of any kind. | permit sth | require sth The wearing of a crash helmet is required by law. | govern sth the law governing school attendance

LAW + NOUN court | enforcement

PREP. above the ~ No one is above the law. | against the ~ What you did was clearly against the law. | by ~ By law, you are obliged to install smoke alarms in the factory. | within the ~ The company is operating entirely within the law. | ~ against a local law against keeping horses | ~ concerning the law concerning industrial action ballots | ~ on A law on hunting will cause a lot of disagreements. | ~ relating to the law relating to the sale of goods

PHRASES as the law stands As the law stands, you can get married while still too young to have a driving licence. | law and order Martial law was imposed to prevent the breakdown of law and order. | the letter of the law In spite of the difficulties it would cause her family, the judge stuck to the letter of the law and jailed her. | take the law into your own hands When police failed to arrest the suspect, local people took the law into their own hands and beat him up.

² subject of study/profession

VERB + LAW practise

LAW + NOUN firm > Note at SUBJECT(for more verbs and nouns)

Recommended textbook solutions

an official rule or system of rules that people must obey

Adjectives frequently used with law

strict: draconian, restrictive, strict, stringent, toughDue to strict libel laws in the UK, the scientist identified will not be named in this article.wrong or unfair: discriminatory, oppressive, repressive, unjustThe white regime had no intention of changing the unjust laws of apartheid.relating to a country, state etc: federal, international, national, stateAnyone possessing marijuana for medicinal purposes would be breaking federal law.types of law: civil, commercial, constitutional, criminal, electoral, environmental, humanitarian, matrimonialThere are a number of criminal and civil laws to protect ownership.The team deals with all aspects of matrimonial law with particular expertise in domestic violence.

Verbs frequently used with law

obey a law: obey, observe, respect, upholdWhen Crandall refused to obey the law she was arrested and imprisoned.

not obey a law: breach, break, contravene, disobey, flout, infringe, transgress, violateBreaching copyright law is an offence.make something become a law: adopt, enact, implement, impose, introduce, passThe government wants to introduce tougher laws on crime.change a law: alter, amend, change, reform, review, reviseThe Scottish Executive is committed to reforming the law as soon as reasonably practicable.make sure that people obey a law: administer, apply, enforceThese laws are rarely enforced for SUVs, however, since these vehicles are seen as passenger vehicles instead of commercial trucks.become a law: becomeWhen the Sunday Trading Act became law in 1994 there was protection for those who didn’t want to work on Sundays.get rid of a law: abolish, overturn, repealThe league was disbanded in 1846 when the laws were repealed.make a law stricter: strengthen, tightenThe government plans to tighten the law in order to protect the public from sex offenders.make a law less strict: liberalize, relaxBritain’s licensing laws have been relaxed..make a law clearer: clarify, interpretWhere there is no clear statute law, the courts have to interpret and clarify the law.make a law deal with more things: extendThere are plans to extend laws against inciting racial hatred to include religious hatred.publically disagree with a law and ask for it to be tested in a court: challengeThe two men successfully challenged laws which prevented workers over 65 claiming full employment rights.decide what a law will be: formulate, makeThe law was formulated before the advent of the internet.

Verbs that frequently follow law

control something: control, govern, regulateThe laws governing adoption in Wales are very similar to the laws in England.allow something: allow, authorize, permitCharity law currently allows charities to undertake some trading activity.not allow something: ban, forbid, prevent, prohibit, regulateSpain’s government introduced a law banning mistreatment of pets.say you must do something: dictate, force, oblige someone, prescribe, require (someone)All UK employers are required by law to register with a health and safety enforcing agency.say something: say, state, stipulateThe law states that the education and support of children and young people is primarily the responsibility of parents.limit something: limit, restrictThe law limits the number of pupils in an infant class with one qualified teacher to a maximum of 30.affect someone/something: affect, apply to, coverThe law applies to charities.accept something: recognizeThe law already recognizes that this sort of evidence can be relevant.change: changeThe law changed a few years ago and now part-time workers enjoy exactly the same rights.

Nouns frequently used after law

enforcement, enforcer, reformPolice and other law enforcers are under pressure to counter rising levels of violent gun crime.