Collocations for authority - noun
1. sth with the power to give orders
ADJ.
district, local, regional | government, public | education, health, military, planning, tax
The government is urging education authorities to spend less money.
The government is urging education authorities to spend less money.
competent, lawful, relevant, statutory
AUTHORITY + VERB
agree sth, claim sth, decide sth, deny sth, promise sth
The local health authority denied negligence.
The local health authority denied negligence.
allow (sb) sth, give (sb) sth, grant (sb) sth
The local authority has not granted planning permission.
The local authority has not granted planning permission.
2. power/right to give orders
ADJ.
absolute, complete, full, supreme | governmental, judicial, legal, ministerial, parental, presidential
VERB + AUTHORITY
have
Parents have the authority to discipline their children.
Parents have the authority to discipline their children.
assume
He assumed full authority as tsar in 1689.
He assumed full authority as tsar in 1689.
give sb | assert, demonstrate, establish, exercise, exert, show, use, wield
The new manager obviously felt the need to demonstrate her authority.
The new manager obviously felt the need to demonstrate her authority.
delegate | give up, relinquish | abuse | challenge, defy, deny, rebel against, reject, undermine
She had challenged my authority once too often.
She had challenged my authority once too often.
usurp
AUTHORITY + NOUN
figure
adult authority figures such as parents and teachers
adult authority figures such as parents and teachers
PREP.
in ~
I need to talk to someone in authority.
I need to talk to someone in authority.
under the ~ of
This can only be done under the authority of the government minister.
This can only be done under the authority of the government minister.
without ~
He took the car without authority.
He took the car without authority.
~ over
Central government has extensive authority over teachers.
Central government has extensive authority over teachers.
PHRASES
an air of authority
He bore an air of authority.
He bore an air of authority.
position of authority
She holds a position of authority in the local church.
She holds a position of authority in the local church.
3. person with special knowledge
ADJ.
leading, respected, world | unimpeachable, unquestioned
VERB + AUTHORITY
cite, invoke
Copernicus justified his innovation by citing respected authorities.
Copernicus justified his innovation by citing respected authorities.
PREP.
~ on
She''s a leading authority on genetics.
She''s a leading authority on genetics.