Basic Details
Word: Hierarchy
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A system in which people or things are arranged according to their importance or rank.
Synonyms: Order, ranking, structure
Antonyms: Anarchy, disorder
Idioms and Phrases
- Top of the hierarchy: Refers to the most important or powerful person or position in a system. Example: "As the CEO, she is at the top of the hierarchy in the company."
- Fall through the ranks: To lose status, position, or power within a hierarchy. Example: "After the changes in management, he seemed to fall through the ranks and was no longer in charge."
Usage Examples
Example 1: In the animal kingdom, there is a clear hierarchy where lions are often seen as the top predators.
Example 2: The school has a hierarchy that includes the principal, teachers, and then the students.
Example 3: Understanding the hierarchy within an organisation can help employees know who to approach for different issues.
Fun Fact
The word "hierarchy" comes from the Greek words hierarkhs which means sacred ruler. It was originally used to describe the order of angels in Christian theology before being applied to other systems of authority.
Famous Quote
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." Lord Acton
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "hierarchy" mean?
a) A group of friends
b) A system of arrangement based on importance
c) A type of fruit
d) A kind of animal
Answer: b) A system of arrangement based on importance
2. Which of these is a synonym of "hierarchy"?
a) Chaos
b) Ranking
c) Freedom
d) Variety
Answer: b) Ranking
3. What is an antonym of "hierarchy"?
a) Order
b) Anarchy
c) Command
d) Control
Answer: b) Anarchy
4. Which sentence uses "hierarchy" correctly?
a) The hierarchy of the restaurant was very busy last night.
b) The hierarchy of animals shows how they relate to each other in the wild.
c) She used hierarchy to measure how tall she is.
d) The hierarchy was delicious to eat.
Answer: b) The hierarchy of animals shows how they relate to each other in the wild.
5. What does "top of the hierarchy" mean?
a) The bottom position in a group
b) The least important person
c) The most important position in a group
d) A type of food
Answer: c) The most important position in a group
