Collocations for father - noun
ADJECTIVE
lone (esp. BrE),
single
As a single father, he found it a struggle bringing up three children.
As a single father, he found it a struggle bringing up three children.
married,
unmarried
a married father of two
a married father of two
divorced
widowed
absent, absentee, estranged
long-lost
Ryan has gone looking for his long-lost father.
widowed
absent, absentee, estranged
long-lost
Ryan has gone looking for his long-lost father.
biological,
natural,
real,
true
adoptive, foster
second, surrogate
I always thought of you as a second father.
Elena's brother was a surrogate father to her kids after her husband died.
adoptive, foster
second, surrogate
I always thought of you as a second father.
Elena's brother was a surrogate father to her kids after her husband died.
expectant
He paced like an expectant father.
He paced like an expectant father.
new
Meet your new father.
The new father took his son into his arms.
Meet your new father.
The new father took his son into his arms.
doting,
proud
He has just become the proud father of a baby girl.
He has just become the proud father of a baby girl.
young
ageing/aging, elderly, old
ailing, dying, sick
He has an ailing father and two younger brothers to support.
ageing/aging, elderly, old
ailing, dying, sick
He has an ailing father and two younger brothers to support.
dead,
deceased,
late
grieving
the grieving father of two children lost at sea
grieving
the grieving father of two children lost at sea
caring,
devoted,
good,
great,
loving,
responsible,
wonderful
He is very good with children and would make a devoted father.
He was a wonderful father to her.
He is very good with children and would make a devoted father.
He was a wonderful father to her.
beloved,
dear
She kept the books that had belonged to her beloved father.
She kept the books that had belonged to her beloved father.
bad
He was both a bad husband and a bad father.
He was both a bad husband and a bad father.
distant
He had a domineering mother and a cold, distant father.
He had a domineering mother and a cold, distant father.
domineering,
overbearing,
overprotective,
strict
abusive, alcoholic, drunken, violent
famous
He followed the footsteps of his famous father into the film industry.
abusive, alcoholic, drunken, violent
famous
He followed the footsteps of his famous father into the film industry.
doctor,
engineer,
immigrant,
etc.
Their musician father encouraged their love of music.
Their musician father encouraged their love of music.
VERB + father
resemble,
take after
The two boys were like their mother in character, but Louise took after her father.
The two boys were like their mother in character, but Louise took after her father.
follow,
succeed
She followed her father into the legal profession.
He succeeded his father as Professor of Botany.
She followed her father into the legal profession.
He succeeded his father as Professor of Botany.
inherit sth from
She inherited the urge to travel from her father.
She inherited the urge to travel from her father.
honour/honor,
love,
obey,
respect
Try your best to honor your father.
Try your best to honor your father.
lose
I lost my father when I was nine.
I lost my father when I was nine.
bury
I buried my father, and mourned his death.
I buried my father, and mourned his death.
PHRASES
a father of two, etc.
Smith, a father of two, was arrested on charges of theft.
Smith, a father of two, was arrested on charges of theft.
father to sb
Jesse is now married and father to a young son.
Jesse is now married and father to a young son.
follow in your father's footsteps
He followed in his father's footsteps and became a motor mechanic.
He followed in his father's footsteps and became a motor mechanic.
from father to son
The land passes on from father to son.
The land passes on from father to son.
the death of your father,
the loss of your father