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B2 verb #1,800 le plus courant 8 min de lecture

degree

Top 1,800

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces degree en 30 secondes

Explication degree in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should know 'degree' mainly in the context of weather and temperature. When you talk about how hot or cold it is, you use 'degrees'. For example, 'It is 20 degrees today.' You might also see it in very simple math when talking about shapes, like a '90-degree angle'. At this stage, you don't need to worry about the academic or abstract meanings. Just remember that it is a word for measuring things like heat and corners. It is almost always used with a number before it. You should also know that 'degrees' is the plural form. If it is only 1, you say 'one degree', but for 0 or any other number, you say 'degrees'. This is a very common word you will hear in daily life, especially when checking your phone for the weather or listening to a news report about the climate.

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At the A2 level, you begin to use 'degree' to talk about education. You might say 'I want to get a degree' or 'She has a university degree'. This means a person finished their studies at a college or university. You also use it more confidently with temperature and basic geometry. You understand that 'degree' is a unit of measurement. You might also encounter simple phrases like 'to a certain degree', which means 'a little bit' or 'partly'. For example, 'I agree with you to a certain degree.' This shows you are starting to use the word for more than just physical measurements. You should practice using it with the verb 'earn' or 'get' when talking about school. Remember that in many countries, a degree takes three or four years to finish.

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At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'degree' in all its common forms. You can specify the type of degree, such as a 'Bachelor's degree' or a 'Master's degree'. You know that you have a 'degree in' a subject (like 'a degree in Economics'). You also use 'degree' to describe the intensity of feelings or situations. For example, 'There was a high degree of excitement in the room.' You understand more idiomatic expressions like 'by degrees', which means gradually. You are also aware of the different scales of measurement, such as Celsius and Fahrenheit, and can use 'degrees' to compare temperatures. Your vocabulary is growing to include the abstract use of the word to qualify your statements, allowing you to be more precise in your communication.

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At the B2 level, you use 'degree' with precision and variety. You are familiar with collocations like 'a significant degree of', 'a varying degree of', and 'to a large degree'. You can discuss academic qualifications in detail, including 'undergraduate' and 'postgraduate' degrees. You understand technical uses, such as 'degrees of freedom' in statistics or 'degrees of burns' in medicine. You can use the word to express complex ideas about extent and proportion. For instance, you might argue that 'the success of the project depends to a great degree on international cooperation.' You also recognize the word in legal contexts, such as 'first-degree' or 'second-degree' crimes. Your usage is natural, and you rarely make mistakes with prepositions like 'in' versus 'of'. You can also use the word 'degree' to discuss the nuance of meaning in other words.

At the C1 level, you have a sophisticated command of 'degree'. You use it in academic writing to quantify qualitative data, such as 'the degree to which social media influences political discourse'. You are comfortable with idiomatic and metaphorical uses, such as 'the third degree' (intense questioning) or 'six degrees of separation'. You can distinguish between 'degree', 'extent', and 'magnitude' in formal contexts. You use 'degree' to add nuance to your arguments, often employing it in the structure 'to such a degree that...'. Your understanding of the word's etymology (from Latin 'degradus' meaning 'a step') helps you appreciate its use in describing stages or steps in a process. You can use the word effectively in professional, academic, and legal registers without hesitation.

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At the C2 level, 'degree' is a tool for ultimate precision. You use it to navigate the finest nuances of intensity and classification. You might use it in philosophical discussions about the 'degree of truth' or in scientific contexts regarding 'degrees of thermal expansion'. You are fully aware of its rare verbal usage, though you likely choose more modern alternatives. You can use the word in highly specialized fields, from advanced mathematics to complex legal theory, with absolute accuracy. Your ability to use 'degree' in complex sentence structures—such as 'The policy was flawed to a degree hitherto unrecognized by the administration'—demonstrates a native-like mastery. You appreciate the word's versatility and use it to craft elegant, precise, and authoritative prose.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

degree en 30 secondes

An academic qualification awarded by universities (e.g., Bachelor's).
A unit for measuring temperature (Celsius, Fahrenheit).
A unit for measuring angles in geometry (e.g., 90 degrees).
The extent or intensity of a quality or condition.

The word degree is a multifaceted term that primarily functions as a noun, though your query specifies it as a verb. In the rare verbal sense, to 'degree' someone means to confer an academic rank upon them, though this is almost exclusively replaced by the phrase 'to award a degree.' In its most common usage, a degree is a qualification awarded by a university or college after a student has successfully completed a specific course of study. This represents a significant milestone in one's educational journey, signaling expertise in a particular field. Beyond the academic sphere, the term is ubiquitous in science and mathematics. It serves as a fundamental unit of measurement for angles—where a full circle consists of 360 degrees—and for temperature, using scales like Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kelvin. Furthermore, 'degree' is used abstractly to describe the extent, intensity, or scope of a condition or action. For instance, one might agree with a statement to a certain degree, indicating partial but not total concurrence. This versatility makes it one of the most essential words in the English language for expressing precision in measurement, achievement, and relative intensity.

Academic Qualification: A formal recognition of completion of studies, such as a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate.

After four years of hard work, she finally received her degree in computer science.

Unit of Measurement: Used for temperature (e.g., 20 degrees Celsius) or angles (e.g., a 90-degree angle).

Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.

Extent or Intensity: The amount or level to which something happens or exists.

There is a high degree of uncertainty regarding the new policy.

The triangle has three 60-degree angles.

Success depends to a large degree on your attitude.

Using the word degree correctly requires understanding its context, as it shifts between academic, scientific, and abstract meanings. In academic settings, 'degree' is usually preceded by a specific field of study using the preposition 'in'. For example, you have a 'degree in Engineering' or a 'degree in Fine Arts'. It is also common to specify the level of the degree, such as an 'Associate degree', 'Bachelor's degree', or 'Master's degree'. Note that 'Bachelor's' and 'Master's' typically use a possessive 's', while 'Associate' does not. When discussing temperature or geometry, 'degree' is a countable noun. You would say 'it is 30 degrees outside' or 'draw a 45-degree angle'. In these cases, the symbol ° is often used in writing (e.g., 30°C). When using 'degree' to describe the extent of something, it often appears in phrases like 'to a certain degree', 'to some degree', or 'a high degree of'. These phrases act as qualifiers, helping to specify the intensity of a noun or the truth of a statement. For instance, 'to what degree do you agree?' is a formal way of asking 'how much do you agree?'.

Collocation: Academic: Common verbs: earn, receive, obtain, hold, pursue.

He is currently pursuing a degree in law at Oxford.

Collocation: Measurement: Common adjectives: boiling, freezing, sharp, obtuse.

The oven should be preheated to 200 degrees.

Collocation: Extent: Common phrases: to a great degree, to a lesser degree, varying degrees of.

The project was successful to a large degree.

The temperature dropped by several degrees overnight.

You will encounter the word degree in a wide variety of environments, ranging from casual conversations to highly technical professional settings. In everyday life, the most frequent usage occurs during weather forecasts, where meteorologists report the daily high and low temperatures in degrees. Similarly, in a kitchen, recipes often specify the temperature for baking or roasting in degrees. In professional and social circles, 'degree' is the standard term used when discussing education and career qualifications. Job postings frequently list a 'Bachelor’s degree' as a minimum requirement, and colleagues might discuss their 'advanced degrees' during networking events. In academic and scientific literature, 'degree' is used to quantify results, such as the 'degree of correlation' between two variables or the 'degree of tilt' in a planetary axis. Legal and medical fields also utilize the term specifically; for example, doctors classify burns by 'degree' (first, second, or third) to indicate severity, and the legal system uses it to categorize the seriousness of certain crimes. Understanding these contexts is crucial for interpreting the word's intended meaning accurately.

Weather & Science: Reporting atmospheric temperature or measuring angles in physics and geometry.

The weather app says it will be 95 degrees today—stay hydrated!

Professional Environment: Discussing job requirements, educational background, and certifications.

Most entry-level positions require at least a four-year degree.

Medical & Legal: Classifying the severity of injuries or the gravity of criminal offenses.

The victim suffered second-degree burns from the hot liquid.

He was charged with second-degree burglary.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with degree is confusing it with related but distinct terms like 'diploma' or 'career'. A 'degree' is the qualification itself (the rank), while a 'diploma' is the physical document you receive at graduation. You 'earn a degree' but you 'receive a diploma'. Another common error involves the use of possessives in academic titles. It is correct to say 'Bachelor's degree' and 'Master's degree' with an apostrophe-s, but many students omit this, saying 'Bachelor degree', which is technically incorrect in formal English. Furthermore, learners often struggle with the preposition that follows 'degree'. You have a 'degree in' a subject, not a 'degree of' a subject (e.g., 'a degree in Biology', not 'a degree of Biology'). However, you use 'of' when talking about the extent of something, such as 'a high degree of skill'. Confusing these two prepositions can lead to awkward phrasing. In the context of temperature, remember that 'degree' is a countable noun; you must use the plural 'degrees' for any number other than one or negative one (e.g., 'zero degrees', 'five degrees'). Finally, avoid using 'degree' when you mean 'grade' or 'mark' in a specific test; a degree is the final result of years of study, not a single exam score.

Degree vs. Diploma: The degree is the status/rank; the diploma is the piece of paper.

Incorrect: I am studying for my diploma in Physics. (Should be 'degree')

Preposition Errors: Use 'in' for subjects and 'of' for intensity or extent.

Correct: She has a degree in chemistry and a high degree of patience.

Pluralization: Always use 'degrees' for zero and plural numbers in temperature.

It's zero degrees today, so wear a coat.

Incorrect: He has a degree of history. (Should be 'in')

While degree is a specific term, it shares semantic space with several other words depending on the context. In the academic world, 'qualification' is a broader term that includes degrees, diplomas, and certificates. 'Credential' is another synonym often used in professional contexts to refer to one's educational background. When discussing measurement, 'level' and 'stage' are sometimes used interchangeably with 'degree' to indicate a point on a scale, though 'degree' implies a more precise unit. For example, you might reach a 'high level of proficiency' or a 'high degree of proficiency'. In terms of extent or intensity, 'extent', 'measure', and 'amount' are close synonyms. You could say 'to a great extent' or 'to a great degree'. However, 'degree' often carries a connotation of measurable intensity that 'extent' lacks. In geometry, 'angle' is the concept being measured, while 'degree' is the unit. Understanding these nuances helps in choosing the most precise word for your intended meaning.

Qualification vs. Degree: Qualification is the general category; degree is a specific high-level type.

A PhD is the highest academic degree one can earn.

Extent vs. Degree: 'Extent' refers to the range; 'degree' refers to the intensity or level.

The degree of damage was unexpected.

Level vs. Degree: 'Level' is often used for height or progress; 'degree' for temperature or angles.

The water level rose, but the degree of danger remained low.

He showed a high degree of professionalism.

How Formal Is It?

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Possessive nouns (Bachelor's/Master's)

Countable vs Uncountable nouns

Prepositional phrases

Compound adjectives (90-degree)

Pluralization of units

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Exemples par niveau

It is 25 degrees outside today.

Il fait 25 degrés dehors aujourd'hui.

Plural 'degrees' used with the number 25.

Water boils at 100 degrees.

L'eau bout à 100 degrés.

Standard scientific fact using 'degrees'.

The temperature is zero degrees.

La température est de zéro degré.

Note that 'zero' takes the plural 'degrees'.

A square has four 90-degree angles.

Un carré a quatre angles de 90 degrés.

Compound adjective '90-degree'.

Is it many degrees below zero?

Est-ce qu'il fait beaucoup de degrés en dessous de zéro ?

Using 'degrees' to quantify coldness.

The oven is at 180 degrees.

Le four est à 180 degrés.

Common usage in cooking.

It is only one degree today.

Il ne fait qu'un degré aujourd'hui.

Singular 'degree' used with the number one.

How many degrees is the water?

À combien de degrés est l'eau ?

Interrogative form using 'how many'.

She wants to get a university degree.

Elle veut obtenir un diplôme universitaire.

Common collocation 'get a degree'.

He has a degree in history.

Il a un diplôme en histoire.

Preposition 'in' used for the subject.

I agree with you to a certain degree.

Je suis d'accord avec vous jusqu'à un certain point.

Phrase 'to a certain degree' as a qualifier.

The temperature rose by ten degrees.

La température a augmenté de dix degrés.

Preposition 'by' used for change.

You need a degree to be a doctor.

Il faut un diplôme pour être médecin.

Using 'degree' as a requirement.

My brother is studying for his degree.

Mon frère étudie pour son diplôme.

Present continuous tense.

The angle is 45 degrees.

L'angle est de 45 degrés.

Countable noun usage.

It was a few degrees warmer yesterday.

Il faisait quelques degrés de plus hier.

Comparative structure.

He earned a Bachelor's degree in 2020.

Il a obtenu une licence en 2020.

Note the possessive 'Bachelor's'.

There is a high degree of risk involved.

Il y a un haut degré de risque impliqué.

Abstract use for intensity.

The situation improved by degrees.

La situation s'est améliorée progressivement.

Idiom 'by degrees' meaning gradually.

She has a Master's degree from Harvard.

Elle a un master de Harvard.

Possessive 'Master's'.

To what degree is this true?

Dans quelle mesure est-ce vrai ?

Formal interrogative structure.

The map shows the degrees of latitude.

La carte montre les degrés de latitude.

Geographical usage.

He lacks a certain degree of confidence.

Il lui manque un certain degré de confiance.

Using 'degree' to quantify a trait.

The metal was heated to 500 degrees.

Le métal a été chauffé à 500 degrés.

Passive voice construction.

The project was successful to a large degree.

Le projet a réussi dans une large mesure.

Adverbial phrase 'to a large degree'.

She holds an advanced degree in physics.

Elle détient un diplôme d'études supérieures en physique.

Verb 'hold' used for qualifications.

Varying degrees of success were reported.

Des degrés de réussite variables ont été signalés.

Adjective 'varying' modifying 'degrees'.

He was treated for second-degree burns.

Il a été soigné pour des brûlures au deuxième degré.

Medical classification.

The law distinguishes between degrees of murder.

La loi fait la distinction entre les degrés de meurtre.

Legal classification.

The results depend on the degree of accuracy.

Les résultats dépendent du degré de précision.

Noun phrase 'degree of accuracy'.

He is a first-degree relative of the victim.

Il est un parent au premier degré de la victime.

Genealogical usage.

The angle of the slope is 30 degrees.

L'angle de la pente est de 30 degrés.

Geometric application in a real-world context.

The policy was effective to such a degree that crime fell.

La politique a été efficace à tel point que la criminalité a chuté.

Result clause 'to such a degree that'.

There is a significant degree of overlap between the two theories.

Il existe un degré significatif de chevauchement entre les deux théories.

Academic collocation 'degree of overlap'.

The detective gave him the third degree.

Le détective lui a fait subir un interrogatoire serré.

Idiom 'the third degree'.

The degree of sophistication in the design is impressive.

Le degré de sophistication de la conception est impressionnant.

Abstract noun 'sophistication'.

Social status is, to some degree, inherited.

Le statut social est, dans une certaine mesure, hérité.

Parenthetical phrase 'to some degree'.

The experiment requires a high degree of precision.

L'expérience nécessite un haut degré de précision.

Formal requirement.

The two species are related to a lesser degree.

Les deux espèces sont apparentées à un moindre degré.

Comparative extent.

He has achieved a high degree of mastery in the art.

Il a atteint un haut degré de maîtrise dans cet art.

Collocation 'degree of mastery'.

The veracity of the claim is, to a degree, questionable.

La véracité de l'affirmation est, dans une certaine mesure, discutable.

Nuanced qualification.

The system exhibits several degrees of freedom.

Le système présente plusieurs degrés de liberté.

Technical scientific term.

The nuance of the argument escaped him to a degree.

La nuance de l'argument lui a échappé dans une certaine mesure.

Subtle use of 'to a degree'.

The city was destroyed to a degree hitherto unseen.

La ville a été détruite à un point jamais vu auparavant.

Advanced adverbial modification.

One must consider the degree of culpability.

Il faut considérer le degré de culpabilité.

Legal/Ethical terminology.

The climate changed by imperceptible degrees.

Le climat a changé par degrés imperceptibles.

Plural idiom with adjective.

The degree of thermal expansion was calculated.

Le degré de dilatation thermique a été calculé.

Specialized physics context.

He possesses a rare degree of insight.

Il possède un rare degré de perspicacité.

Elevated register.

Synonymes

extent level amount qualification grade intensity

Antonymes

totality whole

Collocations courantes

earn a degree

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

university degree

high degree of

varying degrees

boiling degree

90-degree angle

to a certain degree

by degrees

Phrases Courantes

to a large degree

to some degree

first-degree murder

third-degree burn

six degrees of separation

by degrees

the third degree

academic degree

degree of difficulty

degree of freedom

Souvent confondu avec

degree vs Diploma (the paper vs the rank)

degree vs Grade (a single score vs the final rank)

degree vs Career (the job vs the education)

Expressions idiomatiques

"the third degree"

"six degrees of separation"

"to a T (to a degree of perfection)"

"by degrees"

"to the nth degree"

"a degree of truth"

"not by a long shot (to no degree)"

"to a fault (to an extreme degree)"

"in the first degree"

"degree of latitude"

Facile à confondre

degree vs

Structures de phrases

Famille de mots

Apparenté

gradation, grade, gradual

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Comment l'utiliser

abstract

Used to quantify non-physical things like 'certainty' or 'risk'.

academic

Bachelor's and Master's are the most common.

measurement

Degrees are used for both temperature and angles.

Erreurs courantes

Saying 'Bachelor degree' instead of 'Bachelor's degree'.
Using 'degree of' for a study subject (e.g., 'degree of History').
Confusing 'degree' with 'diploma' (the document).
Using 'degree' to mean a test score.
Saying 'one degrees' instead of 'one degree'.

Astuces

Possessive S

Always remember the 's' in Bachelor's and Master's degrees. It is a common mistake to omit it in formal writing.

Prepositions

Use 'in' for the subject of study (e.g., degree in Law) and 'from' for the institution (e.g., degree from Yale).

Plural Units

Units like 'degrees' are plural for zero and any number other than one. 'It is 0 degrees' but 'It is 1 degree'.

The Third Degree

Use this idiom when someone is asking you too many intense questions. It adds a native touch to your English.

Formal Qualifiers

Instead of saying 'somewhat', try using 'to a certain degree' to sound more professional in your essays.

Pronunciation

The stress is on the second syllable. Practice saying 'de-GREE' with a clear 'ee' sound at the end.

Degree Levels

Learn the hierarchy: Associate -> Bachelor's -> Master's -> Doctorate (PhD). This is useful for resumes.

Angles

In geometry, always specify 'degrees' to distinguish from 'radians', though in daily life, 'degrees' is the default.

Temperature Scales

Be aware that Americans use Fahrenheit. 32 degrees Fahrenheit is the same as 0 degrees Celsius.

Precision

Use 'a high degree of' instead of 'a lot of' when describing qualities like 'skill' or 'accuracy'.

Mémorise-le

Origine du mot

Middle English, from Old French 'degre', from Latin 'degradus'.

Contexte culturel

Degrees of crimes (1st, 2nd) are common in US legal dramas.

A degree is often a status symbol in many societies.

US: College degree. UK: University degree.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"What is your degree in?"

"Do you think a degree is necessary for success?"

"How many degrees is it in your city right now?"

"To what degree do you agree with the new law?"

"Have you ever heard of the six degrees of separation?"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe the degree of effort you put into your last project.

How would your life change if you earned a new degree?

Discuss a time you agreed with someone only to a certain degree.

What degree of importance do you place on physical fitness?

Write about a day when the temperature was too many degrees for comfort.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

The correct formal term is 'Bachelor's degree' with an apostrophe and an 's'. This indicates it is the degree of a Bachelor. The same applies to 'Master's degree'. In casual speech, people sometimes drop the 's', but it is better to include it in writing.

Use 'degree in' for academic subjects, such as 'a degree in Biology'. Use 'degree of' for intensity or extent, such as 'a degree of difficulty' or 'a degree of success'. Mixing them up is a common mistake for English learners.

It means 'partly' or 'up to a point'. If you agree with someone to a certain degree, it means you don't agree with everything they said, but you agree with some of it. It is a way to be more precise about your level of agreement.

Technically, yes, but it is extremely rare and archaic. It would mean to confer a degree upon someone. In modern English, we always use 'award a degree' or 'confer a degree' instead. You should treat it primarily as a noun.

Yes, in English, zero is treated as plural for units of measurement. Therefore, you must say 'zero degrees', not 'zero degree'. This is a common point of confusion for many students.

This is an idiom that refers to long and intensive questioning, often by the police. If someone says 'My parents gave me the third degree about where I was last night,' it means they asked many difficult questions.

A first-degree burn is the mildest type of burn, affecting only the outer layer of skin (like a sunburn). Second-degree and third-degree burns are more serious and affect deeper layers of tissue.

There are 360 degrees in a full circle. A half-circle is 180 degrees, and a right angle (like the corner of a square) is 90 degrees. This is a standard unit in geometry.

It is the idea that all people are six or fewer social connections away from each other. As a result, a chain of 'a friend of a friend' statements can connect any two people in a maximum of six steps.

No, you should use 'grade' or 'mark' for a specific test or exam score. A 'degree' is the final qualification you get after finishing your entire university program, which usually takes several years.

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