Business meetings are a big part of professional life, and knowing the right English phrases can help you feel more confident and make a good impression. Whether you’re leading a meeting, giving an update, or simply participating, having key expressions ready will make communication smoother. This guide introduces essential English phrases for business meetings, with practical examples so you can learn and remember them easily.
Starting a meeting
When beginning a meeting, it’s important to set the tone and get everyone focused.
Useful phrases:
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Let’s get started.
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Thank you all for coming.
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The purpose of today’s meeting is…
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Before we begin, does everyone have the agenda?
Example:
“Thank you all for coming. The purpose of today’s meeting is to review last quarter’s sales results and plan for the next quarter.”
Introducing the agenda
Agendas help keep meetings organized. Use these phrases to guide others through the topics.
Useful phrases:
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First, we’ll look at…
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Next on the agenda is…
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After that, we’ll discuss…
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Finally, we’ll cover…
Example:
“First, we’ll look at the current project updates. Next on the agenda is the budget review.”
Giving your opinion
Meetings often involve sharing ideas or viewpoints.
Useful phrases:
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In my opinion…
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I believe that…
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From my perspective…
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It seems to me that…
Example:
“In my opinion, we should focus more on customer feedback before launching the new product.”
Agreeing and disagreeing politely
Professional meetings require clear but respectful communication.
Useful phrases (agreeing):
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I completely agree with you.
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That’s a good point.
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I think you’re right.
Useful phrases (disagreeing politely):
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I see your point, but…
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I’m not sure I agree with that.
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That might be true, however…
Example:
“I see your point, but I think we should also consider the costs involved.”
Asking for clarification
If something isn’t clear, it’s better to ask.
Useful phrases:
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Could you explain that in more detail?
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What exactly do you mean by…?
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I’m not sure I understand. Could you repeat that?
Example:
“Could you explain that in more detail? I want to make sure I understand the process correctly.”
Making suggestions
Suggestions move meetings forward and show initiative.
Useful phrases:
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How about…?
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What if we…?
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I suggest that we…
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Maybe we could…
Example:
“I suggest that we run a small pilot project before rolling this out to all departments.”
Closing a meeting
Ending a meeting professionally ensures everyone leaves with clarity.
Useful phrases:
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To summarize, we’ve agreed on…
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Let’s review the action points.
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Thank you for your contributions today.
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That concludes our meeting.
Example:
“To summarize, we’ve agreed on the new deadlines and assigned tasks. Thank you for your contributions today.”
Tips to remember these phrases long term
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Practice role-playing – Simulate meetings with a friend or colleague.
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Write your own examples – Use the phrases with your real work topics.
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Review after real meetings – Note which phrases you used or could have used.
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Create flashcards – Keep short expressions handy for quick revision.
Mastering these phrases will make you more confident and effective in business meetings. With regular practice, they’ll become a natural part of your professional English.
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