load
B1Neutral (used across formal and informal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
To put a large or heavy amount of something onto or into something else, often a vehicle, container, or machine.
The quantity or weight carried; a burden or responsibility; the demand placed on a system or person; to insert data or ammunition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Noun sense can refer to a physical burden or an abstract one (e.g., workload). Verb sense can be literal or figurative (e.g., load a gun, load a webpage).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Loader' more common in US for certain vehicles (e.g., 'front-end loader'). The phrase 'get a load of [sth/sb]' (look at/notice) is more informal and American.
Connotations
Similar in both. In computing contexts ('download', 'upload') it is identical.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
load [object] onto/into [location]load [location] with [object]load [object] (up)load [data/file/program]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a load off one's mind”
- “get a load of this”
- “take a load off”
- “loads of (informal: a lot of)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to workload, debt load, or the capacity of a system.
Academic
Used in engineering (structural load), computing (computational load), and psychology (cognitive load).
Everyday
Loading shopping into the car, loading the washing machine, carrying a heavy load.
Technical
Electrical load, mechanical load, server load.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The lorry was carrying a full load of bricks.
- Her teaching load is very heavy this term.
- The washing machine can take a 10kg load.
American English
- The truck was carrying a full load of lumber.
- Her teaching load is very heavy this semester.
- The washer can handle a big load.
verb
British English
- Could you load the boot while I pay?
- The software takes ages to load.
- He loaded the shelves with tins.
American English
- Can you load the trunk while I pay?
- The program takes forever to load.
- She loaded the van with furniture.
adjective
British English
- This is a load-bearing wall.
- Check the load capacity before you board.
American English
- This is a load-bearing wall.
- Check the weight limit before you get on.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I helped him load the boxes into the car.
- The bus has a heavy load of passengers.
- We need to load the truck before it gets dark.
- The download will start when you click the link.
- The manager is under a tremendous load of administrative duties.
- The structure was designed to bear a dynamic load.
- Cognitive load theory examines how information is processed in working memory.
- The financial load of the debt restructuring was unsustainable.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LOAD of laundry - you have to LOAD it into the washing machine.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESPONSIBILITIES ARE BURDENS (e.g., 'She's carrying a heavy load at work'). INFORMATION/ DATA IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT (e.g., 'loading a webpage').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation for 'loads of' as 'грузы'. Use 'очень много' or 'куча'. Be careful with 'груз' (cargo) vs 'нагрузка' (burden/workload). 'Download' is 'скачивать', not '*загружать вниз'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'load' with 'unload'. Incorrect preposition: 'load the lorry *on' instead of 'load the lorry *with' or 'load boxes *onto' the lorry. Overusing informal 'loads of' in formal writing.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'load' used figuratively?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Load' generally means to put something into a container or system. 'Upload' specifically means to transfer data from a local computer to a remote server or system.
Yes, but primarily in compound adjectives or technical contexts, e.g., 'load-bearing wall', 'full-load current'.
'Loads of' is informal but grammatically acceptable in spoken and casual written English. In formal writing, use 'many', 'much', 'a great deal of', or 'a large number of'.
A common mistake is using the wrong preposition. The correct patterns are 'load [object] onto/into [vehicle]' OR 'load [vehicle] with [object]'. Avoid 'load the boxes on the van'.