Collocations for "principle"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "principle" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
principle
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- a [design, teaching, farming] principle
- [a universal, a working, an overriding, an established, a central] principle
- [run, managed] on [traditional, modern] principles
- try to [explain, understand] the principle [of, behind]
- a [simple, complex, confusing] principle
- the principle behind
- a fundamental principle of [physics, motion]
- is one of the fundamental principles of
- there are [four] main principles of
- would be against my principles (to)
- I have principles, you know!
- his moral principles
- don't you have (any) principles?
- decided to stick to his principles
- [refused, declined] (based) on principle
- it's the principle of the thing!
- is a [woman, man, person] of principle
- in principle it should (not) work
- in principle [it] [can't, won't, shouldn't, will, can]
- we [accept, approve, agree], in principle
'principle' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
agree
- amount
- disagree
- experiment
- induction
- made
- motion
- motive
- overarching
- pleasure
- safety
- uncertainty
- underlying