Collocations for "theory"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "theory" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
theory
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- a [scientific, conspiracy, political] theory
- the theory of [evolution, gravity]
- [Darwin's, Einstein's] theory
- according to the theories of [Einstein]
- the theory of [relativity, quantum mechanics]
- the theory is supported by [evidence, experiments]
- [test, validate] the theory
- a [complicated, straightforward] theory
- [teach, study, learn] [music, economic, political] theory
- take [a test, an exam] on music theory
- a past theory
- bring the theory to practice
- put the theory into practice
- it's just a theory, but
- is my working theory
- is my theory as to [why, where, how]
- what's your theory on [why] ...?
- do you have any theories as to [why] ...?
- is the [police's, investigator's] theory as to [why]
- are many theories as to [why]
- a theory to explain
- (generally) accepted theories
- is just one of the (possible) theories
- came up with a new theory (about)
- (have) [rejected, dismissed, ruled out] the theory
- it [works, makes sense] in theory
- yes, but only in theory
'theory' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
abstract
- accepted
- advance
- application
- attack
- broadly
- buy
- chaos
- construct
- contrary
- convey
- cornerstone
- correct
- describe
- develop
- difficulty
- disbelief
- dismiss
- dream
- exam
- experiment
- explore
- fairly
- fit
- flesh
- form
- gain
- grasp
- grounded
- home
- largely
- law
- ludicrous
- meaningless
- model
- motion
- motive
- new
- outline
- pattern
- perfect
- pick
- plausible
- practical
- practice
- present
- prevailing
- proceed
- prove
- queer