mutual

Everyday

1. Mutual means felt or done by each of two or more people towards the other: mutual respect, mutual help. tree →
2. Mutual means shared by two or more people: a mutual friend, a mutual interest. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life: «We met through a mutual friend.» In ethics: mutual respect, mutual trust. In business and money: a mutual agreement. Phrase: «The feeling is mutual» means I feel the same about you.

Examples

• The two teams showed mutual respect. tree →
• Jack and Ella met through a mutual friend. tree →
• Their friendship was based on mutual trust. tree →
• We have a mutual love of football. tree →
• «I like you.» «The feeling is mutual!» tree →
• The decision was by mutual agreement. tree →
• And they made this mutual agreement. tree →

Note

«Mutual» means two-way. Trap: some say «common friend», but «mutual friend» (a friend of both people) is the usual phrase. Adverb: mutually (mutually helpful).