{
    "term": "theory",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "academic": true,
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a formal set of ideas that is intended to explain why something happens or exists",
            "sensetop": "theory of somethingtheory about somethingtheory on somethingtheory behind somethingaccording to a theory",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the theory of evolution/relativity",
                    "contextForm": "theory of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "scientific/economic theory"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The theories were tested on a sample of the population."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He **developed a** new **theory** about the cause of stomach ulcers.",
                    "contextForm": "theory about something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "theories on human behaviour",
                    "contextForm": "theory on something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has written a book explaining the theory behind her art.",
                    "contextForm": "theory behind something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "According to the theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than light.",
                    "contextForm": "according to a theory"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The debate is centred around two conflicting theories."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Current feminist theory consists of several different trends."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His comments are just abstract theory and show little understanding of the realities of the situation."
                },
                {
                    "text": "the dominant strand of postmodern theory"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the existence of a grand unified theory that determines everything in the universe"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Further experiments seemed to confirm this theory."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He wrote a number of books on political theory."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is a theory that cannot be proved or disproved."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Marx's theories of history raise one or two major questions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The theory was first advanced back in the 16th century."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is all theory so far…you'll need to back it up with facts."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Scientific research"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["complete", "unified", "general"],
                "… of theories": ["set"],
                "verb + theory": ["have", "hold", "advance"],
                "theory + verb": [
                    "hold something",
                    "suggest something",
                    "explain something"
                ],
                "preposition": ["in theory", "theory about"],
                "phrases": ["put (the) theory into practice", "theory and practice"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "the principles on which a particular subject is based",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the **theory and practice** of language teaching"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is your chance to **put theory into practice **."
                },
                {
                    "text": "literary theory"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["complete", "unified", "general"],
                "… of theories": ["set"],
                "verb + theory": ["have", "hold", "advance"],
                "theory + verb": [
                    "hold something",
                    "suggest something",
                    "explain something"
                ],
                "preposition": ["in theory", "theory about"],
                "phrases": ["put (the) theory into practice", "theory and practice"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "an opinion or idea that somebody believes is true but that is not proved",
            "sensetop": "theory about somethingtheory on somethingtheory that…",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "**Theories abound** *(= people have lots of different ideas)* about what happened.",
                    "contextForm": "theory about something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Here's my theory on how the story's going to end.",
                    "contextForm": "theory on something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I don't **subscribe to the theory** that all Hollywood audiences want a happy ending.",
                    "contextForm": "theory that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Police are working on the theory that the murderer was known to the family."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I have this theory that most people prefer being at work to being at home."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has a theory about why dogs walk in circles before going to sleep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If the theory is correct, any child can be taught to be a musical genius."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a conspiracy theory about the princess's death"
                },
                {
                    "text": "One of her pet theories is that people who restrict their calorie intake live longer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She doesn't agree with the theory that rich people work harder than poor people."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["complete", "unified", "general"],
                "… of theories": ["set"],
                "verb + theory": ["have", "hold", "advance"],
                "theory + verb": [
                    "hold something",
                    "suggest something",
                    "explain something"
                ],
                "preposition": ["in theory", "theory about"],
                "phrases": ["put (the) theory into practice", "theory and practice"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that a particular statement is supposed to be true but may in fact be wrong",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "In theory, these machines should last for ten years or more."
                },
                {
                    "text": "That sounds fine in theory, but have you really thought it through?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Aren’t you supposed to be retired?’ ‘Yes, in theory.’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "In theory, all children get an equal chance at school."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈθɪəri/",
                "audio": "th/theory/theory__gb_3.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈθiːəri//ˈθɪri/",
                "audio": "th/theory/theory__us_2_rr.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late 16th cent. (denoting a mental scheme of something to be done): via late Latin from Greek theōria ‘contemplation, speculation’, from theōros ‘spectator’."
}