beverly hills: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Most common in general and cultural discourse; neutral to informal in extended use.
Quick answer
What does “beverly hills” mean?
A specific city in Los Angeles County, California, USA, known for its wealth and luxury.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific city in Los Angeles County, California, USA, known for its wealth and luxury.
Used as a metonym for extreme affluence, celebrity culture, and an opulent lifestyle. Can also refer to the aesthetic or aspirational ideal associated with that area.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a place name, it is identical. In extended/metonymic use, it is more frequent and culturally immediate in American English.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes wealth, glamour, and sometimes superficiality. In the UK, it may carry a stronger connotation of 'American-style' excess.
Frequency
High frequency in AmE due to domestic cultural reference. Lower but still significant in BrE due to global media exposure.
Grammar
How to Use “beverly hills” in a Sentence
[live/be/shop] in Beverly Hills[aspire to/emulate] Beverly Hills[the] Beverly Hills [lifestyle/aesthetic/address]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beverly hills” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- She has a very Beverly Hills attitude towards spending.
- The hotel's decor was decidedly Beverly Hills.
American English
- That's a Beverly Hills price tag for sure.
- They're going for a Beverly Hills look with the renovation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In marketing: 'targeting the Beverly Hills demographic'.
Academic
In cultural studies: 'Beverly Hills as a signifier in media representations of class'.
Everyday
'They live in a house that's like something out of Beverly Hills.'
Technical
Rare; possibly in urban planning or sociology discussing wealth concentration.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “beverly hills”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “beverly hills”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beverly hills”
- Misspelling as 'Beverley Hills'.
- Using it as a countable noun: 'There are many Beverly Hills in the world.' (Use 'places like Beverly Hills').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is an incorporated city within Los Angeles County, surrounded by the city of Los Angeles.
It is the primary zip code for Beverly Hills and was the title of a popular 1990s television series about teenagers living there.
Yes, in informal contexts, you can say something is 'the Beverly Hills of [country/region]' to imply it is the wealthiest area.
Yes, as it is a proper noun. In adjectival use (e.g., a Beverly Hills mansion), it is also capitalized.
A specific city in Los Angeles County, California, USA, known for its wealth and luxury.
Beverly hills is usually most common in general and cultural discourse; neutral to informal in extended use. in register.
Beverly hills: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɛvəli hɪlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɛvərli hɪlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(a) Beverly Hills lifestyle”
- “not exactly Beverly Hills”
- “the Beverly Hills of [another region]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BEVERLY' as containing 'BE VERY' rich, and 'HILLS' where the rich houses are.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS A GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION (Beverly Hills).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Beverly Hills' most commonly used to represent in extended language?