Sports Vocabulary: Key Terms & Phrases

Sports Vocabulary

Key Terms

Competition & Rules

Opponent: The person on the opposing team you are competing against.

Runner-up: The competitor who finishes in second place.

Round: One stage in a competition.

Beat: To defeat someone in a game or competition.

Athlete: A person who competes in sports.

Win: To be the most successful in a game or competition.

Foul: An action that is against the rules in a game or sport.

Final: The last game or match in a competition, where the winner is decided.

Doping Offense: A situation in which an athlete has taken drugs to improve their performance.

Championship: A competition to find the best player or team.

Sponsorship Deal: An agreement in which a company agrees to give money to a sportsperson in return for advertising their products.

Compete: To take part in a sport or competition.

Banned: Not allowed to take part in a sport or competition because you have broken the rules.

Get Through: To reach the next stage in a competition.

Qualify: To be of a high enough standard to enter a competition.

Disqualified: Not allowed to continue in a competition because you have broken the rules.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Disgrace: Shame, dishonor # Bad Luck: Misfortune

Deception: Trickery, deceit # Disappointment: Sadness, frustration

Anticipate: Predict, expect # Bring Forward: Move to an earlier time

Phrasal Verbs

Work Out: Do physical exercise to get fit.

Cut Something Down: Stop eating something completely.

Get Round To: Do something you've intended to do for a long time.

Put On: Gain weight.

Stick To: Continue with something although it's hard.

Fitness & Nutrition

Strenuous physical exercise: Very hard exercise

Push Yourself: Self-motivation

Overdo It: Exceed a healthy limit

Not to Be Into sport: Not be keen on sports

To Stay In Shape: To keep fit

Sedentary Life: A lifestyle with little to no physical activity

Junk Food: Unhealthy food

Balanced Diet: A diet consisting of the proper quantities and proportions of foods needed to maintain health or growth.

Nutrients: A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.

Not to Skip breakfast: To eat breakfast regularly

Avoid Crash Diets: Avoid aggressive, restrictive diets

Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure of body fat based on height and weight

Set Goals: Establish objectives

Useful Verbs