B2 vocabulary
Words for argument and detail. At B2 you can hold a fluent discussion and explain a point of view with its advantages and drawbacks.
What this list covers
B2 vocabulary is where precision starts to matter more than coverage. The words on this page are mostly not new concepts — they are sharper versions of things you can already say. A B1 learner says make better; a B2 learner says improve, refine or enhance, and chooses between them.
These 1275 words are the B2 entries in this site's learner layer. The list is shorter than the A1, A2 and B1 lists, and that is honest rather than tidy: the learner layer was built from the bottom up, so the higher bands are thinner. It is being extended. What is here is written to the same standard as the rest.
Evidence on this page (checked 24 August 2026): ✓✓ 333 well supported — two or more published references agree · ✓ 377 matching the one reference that covers the word · ≠ 384 placed in different bands by different references — usually neighbouring ones, so read those as approximate · ✓* 0 reviewed by the editor · ⚠ 181 draft, covered by none yet. Check any ≠ or ⚠ word against a published list before it goes into an official document or a test. How levels are checked →
The word list
Grouped by topic, then alphabetically. Every entry carries the same things: the word, its syllable break, its pronunciation, its part of speech, a plain meaning, an example sentence and the family it belongs to. Use the filters to narrow the list; the topic groups hide and reappear as you type.
describing195 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| abandoned ✓a·ban·doned/əˈbændənd/ | adj. | left empty or alone and no longer used or cared forfamily: abandon, abandons, abandoning, abandonment | The children found an abandoned bicycle behind the old factory. |
| absurd ≠ab·surd/əbˈsɝd/ | adj. | so silly or unreasonable that it is hard to believefamily: absurdity, absurdly | It seems absurd to pay so much for one small coffee. |
| actively ✓ac·tive·ly/ˈæktɪvli/ | adv. | in a busy and energetic way, doing things rather than waitingfamily: active, act, action, activity, activities, inactive | Students who actively take part in class usually remember more. |
| actual ✓✓ac·tu·al/ˈæktʃəwəl/ | adj. | real and true, not just imagined or expectedfamily: actually, actuality | The actual cost of the trip was higher than we planned. |
| acute ≠a·cute/əˈkjut/ | adj. | very serious or severe, and often suddenfamily: acutely, acuteness | There is an acute shortage of nurses in rural hospitals. |
| addicted ✓ad·dict·ed/əˈdɪktɪd/ | adj. | unable to stop doing or using something that is bad for youfamily: addict, addicts, addiction, addictions, addictive | He admits he is addicted to checking his phone every minute. |
| adequate ✓✓ad·e·quate/ˈædəkwət/ | adj. | enough or good enough for a particular needfamily: adequately, adequacy, inadequate | The small room was adequate for a meeting of six people. |
| adequately ✓✓ad·e·quate·ly/ˈædəkwətli/ | adv. | well enough for what is neededfamily: adequate, adequacy, inadequate, inadequately | The report explains the problem adequately, but it needs more examples. |
| adverse ≠ad·verse/ædˈvɝs/ | adj. | having a harmful or negative effectfamily: adversely, adversity | Heavy rain had an adverse effect on the harvest this year. |
| agile ≠ag·ile/ˈædʒəl/ | adj. | able to move quickly and easilyfamily: agility | The agile cat cleared the fence. |
| alongside ✓✓a·long·side/əˌlɔŋˈsaɪd/ | prep. | next to something, or together with it | She worked alongside two engineers on the project. |
| amazingly ✓a·maz·ing·ly/əˈmeɪzɪŋli/ | adv. | in a way that is very surprisingfamily: amaze, amazed, amazing, amazement | Amazingly, nobody was late for the eight o'clock lecture. |
| ambiguous ✓am·big·u·ous/æmˈbɪɡjuəs/ | adj. | having more than one possible meaning, so not clearfamily: ambiguity, ambiguously | The instructions were ambiguous, so half the class did the wrong exercise. |
| amid ≠a·mid/əˈmɪd/ | prep. | in the middle of, or surrounded byfamily: amidst | He stayed calm amid the noise. |
| anonymous ≠a·non·y·mous/əˈnɑnəməs/ | adj. | with the name of the person not known or not givenfamily: anonymously, anonymity | The survey is anonymous, so please answer every question honestly. |
| anti ⚠an·ti/ˈæntaɪ/ | prep. | against; opposed to | He is anti any change to the timetable. |
| associated ✓as·so·ci·at·ed/əˈsoʊsiˌeɪtɪd/ | adj. | connected with something or happening together with itfamily: associate, association | Smoking and the associated health problems cost the country billions. |
| astonishing ✓✓as·ton·ish·ing/əˈstɑnɪʃɪŋ/ | adj. | so surprising that it is hard to believefamily: astonish, astonished, astonishment, astonishingly | She made astonishing progress in only three months of study. |
| backward ✓back·ward/ˈbækwɚd/ | adv. | another form of backwardsfamily: backwards | He stepped backward to let the others pass. |
| backwards ≠back·wards/ˈbækwɚdz/ | adv. | towards the direction that is behind youfamily: back, backward | He took two steps backwards to see the whole painting. |
| balanced ✓✓bal·anced/ˈbælənst/ | adj. | having all parts in the right proportion, or considering all sides fairlyfamily: balance, balances, balancing, unbalanced, imbalance | A balanced diet includes vegetables, fruit, rice and some protein. |
| beneficial ✓✓ben·e·fi·cial/ˌbɛnəˈfɪʃəl/ | adj. | having a good or helpful effectfamily: benefit, benefits, beneficially | Regular exercise is beneficial for both your body and your mind. |
| bias ✓bi·as/ˈbaɪəs/ | n. | unfairly favouring one sidefamily: biased | Mark the tests without bias. |
| bizarre ≠bi·zarre/bəˈzɑɹ/ | adj. | very strange and unusualfamily: bizarrely | The film has a bizarre ending that nobody in the cinema expected. |
| blur ⚠/blɝ/ | n. | something you cannot see clearlyfamily: blurred | Without glasses, the board is a blur. |
| boiling ✓boil·ing/ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/ | adj. | extremely hotfamily: boil, boiled | It was boiling in the classroom, so we opened every window. |
| breathtaking ✓breath·tak·ing/ˈbɹɛθˌteɪkɪŋ/ | adj. | so beautiful or surprising that it amazes youfamily: breathtakingly | The view from the mountain top was breathtaking. |
| broadly ✓✓broad·ly/ˈbɹɔdli/ | adv. | in a general way, without looking at small detailsfamily: broad, broaden | The two reports reached broadly the same conclusion. |
| charming ✓✓charm·ing/ˈtʃɑɹmɪŋ/ | adj. | very pleasant and easy to likefamily: charm, charmingly | The old town has charming narrow streets and friendly little shops. |
| comfortably ✓com·fort·a·bly/ˈkʌmfɚtəbli/ | adv. | in a relaxed way, without pain or worryfamily: comfort, comfortable, uncomfortable, uncomfortably | The new sofa is big enough for four people to sit comfortably. |
| compatible ✓com·pat·i·ble/kəmˈpætəbəl/ | adj. | able to work or exist together without problemsfamily: compatibility, compatibly, incompatible | This printer is not compatible with my old laptop. |
| competent ≠com·pe·tent/ˈkɑmpətɪnt/ | adj. | having the skill or knowledge needed to do something properlyfamily: competence, competency, competently, incompetent | After a year of training, she became a competent swimming instructor. |
| cons ⚠/kɑnz/ | n. | informal: the disadvantages, in pros and cons | Every plan has its cons. |
| considerably ✓✓con·sid·er·a·bly/kənˈsɪdɚəbli/ | adv. | by a large amountfamily: consider, considerable | The price of rice has risen considerably since last year. |
| consistent ✓✓con·sis·tent/kənˈsɪstənt/ | adj. | always behaving or happening in the same wayfamily: consist, consistently, consistency, inconsistent | Her marks have been consistent all year, always between eighty and ninety. |
| consistently ✓con·sis·tent·ly/kənˈsɪstəntli/ | adv. | in the same way every time, without changingfamily: consistent, consistency, inconsistent, consist | She has consistently scored the highest marks in the class. |
| constant ✓✓con·stant/ˈkɑnstənt/ | adj. | happening all the time or never changingfamily: constantly | The constant noise from the road made it hard to study. |
| contemporary ✓✓con·tem·po·rar·y/kənˈtɛmpɚˌɛɹi/ | adj. | belonging to the present time, not the pastfamily: contemporaries | The gallery shows contemporary art by young artists from across Asia. |
| conveniently ✓con·ve·nient·ly/kənˈvinjəntli/ | adv. | in a way that is easy and saves time or effortfamily: convenient, convenience, inconvenient, inconvenience | The hotel is conveniently located next to the train station. |
| conventional ✓✓con·ven·tion·al/kənˈvɛnʃənəl/ | adj. | following the usual or accepted ways of doing thingsfamily: convention, conventions, conventionally, unconventional | He prefers conventional teaching methods to online lessons. |
| convinced ✓✓con·vinced/kənˈvɪnst/ | adj. | completely sure that something is truefamily: convince, convincing, unconvinced | I am convinced that the new timetable will work well. |
| convincing ✓con·vinc·ing/kənˈvɪnsɪŋ/ | adj. | making you believe that something is true or rightfamily: convince, convinced, convincingly, unconvincing, unconvinced | Her explanation was so convincing that everyone agreed to the plan. |
| cooperative ≠co·op·er·a·tive/koʊˈɑpɚˌeɪtɪv/ | adj. | willing to help and work with other peoplefamily: cooperate, cooperation, cooperatively | The new staff member is friendly and very cooperative. |
| creepy ✓creep·y/ˈkɹipi/ | adj. | making you feel slightly afraid or uneasyfamily: creep, creeps, crept, creeping, creepier, creepily | The empty house looked creepy in the fog. |
| crucial ✓✓cru·cial/ˈkɹuʃəl/ | adj. | extremely important for success or for what happens nextfamily: crucially | Sleep is crucial for students the night before an exam. |
| curved ✓/kɝvd/ | adj. | bending smoothly, without any straight linesfamily: curve, curves, curving | The new library has a long curved wall of glass. |
| dated ✓dat·ed/ˈdeɪtɪd/ | adj. | old-fashioned and no longer in stylefamily: date, dates, outdated | The textbook looks dated, so we ordered a newer edition. |
| decent ✓✓de·cent/ˈdisənt/ | adj. | good enough in quality, or honest and fairfamily: decency, decently | The hotel was cheap but the rooms were decent. |
| decisive ≠de·ci·sive/dɪˈsaɪsɪv/ | adj. | able to make choices quickly and firmlyfamily: decide, decision, decisively, decisiveness, indecisive | A good leader must be decisive when the team faces a problem. |
| deep ≠/dip/ | adj. | going far down from the topfamily: depth, deeply | The well is deep. |
| deliberate ✓✓de·lib·er·ate/dɪˈlɪbɚət/ | adj. | done on purpose, not by accidentfamily: deliberately, deliberation | Leaving the window open was a deliberate choice, not a mistake. |
| deliberately ✓✓de·lib·er·ate·ly/dɪˈlɪbɚətli/ | adv. | on purpose, knowing exactly what you are doingfamily: deliberate, deliberation | He deliberately left his phone at home to avoid distractions. |
| dense ≠/dɛns/ | adj. | closely packed together; thickfamily: density | The fog was dense at dawn. |
| desirable ≠de·sir·a·ble/dɪˈzaɪɹəbəl/ | adj. | worth having because it is good or usefulfamily: desire, desirably, undesirable | A quiet flat near the university is very desirable for students. |
| detailed ✓✓de·tailed/dɪˈteɪld/ | adj. | giving many small facts and pieces of informationfamily: detail, details | The report gives a detailed description of each experiment. |
| ding ⚠/dɪŋ/ | n. | a light ringing sound; a small dent | The bell gave a soft ding. |
| distinct ✓dis·tinct/dɪˈstɪŋkt/ | adj. | clearly different from other things of the same kindfamily: distinction, distinctive, distinctly, distinguish | The library has three distinct areas for reading, study and group work. |
| domestic ✓✓do·mes·tic/dəˈmɛstɪk/ | adj. | relating to the home and family, or to your own countryfamily: domestically, domesticate, domesticated | Domestic flights are usually cheaper than international ones. |
| dominant ≠dom·i·nant/ˈdɑmənənt/ | adj. | more powerful or important than all the othersfamily: dominance, dominate, dominated, dominating, domination, dominantly | English is the dominant language of international science. |
| dramatically ✓✓dra·mat·i·cal·ly/dɹəˈmætɪkli/ | adv. | in a sudden and very noticeable wayfamily: drama, dramatic | House prices in the city have risen dramatically this year. |
| dumb ≠/dʌm/ | adj. | not clever, or showing a lack of thought (informal)family: dumber, dumbest, dumbly, dumbness | Leaving my keys inside the car was a really dumb mistake. |
| dynamic ✓✓dy·nam·ic/daɪˈnæmɪk/ | adj. | full of energy and always changing or developingfamily: dynamics, dynamically | The new team leader is dynamic and full of fresh ideas. |
| ease ≠/iz/ | n. | lack of difficultyfamily: easy, easily | She solved it with ease. |
| effectively ≠ef·fec·tive·ly/ɪˈfɛktɪvli/ | adv. | in a way that produces the result you wantfamily: effective, effect, effectiveness, ineffective | The new app helps students manage their time more effectively. |
| efficiently ✓ef·fi·cient·ly/ɪˈfɪʃəntli/ | adv. | in a way that works well without wasting time or effortfamily: efficient, efficiency, inefficient | The new software lets staff answer customer emails more efficiently. |
| elegant ✓✓el·e·gant/ˈɛləɡənt/ | adj. | attractive in a simple, graceful and stylish wayfamily: elegance, elegantly | She wore an elegant black dress to the awards dinner. |
| entertaining ✓✓en·ter·tain·ing/ˌɛntɚˈteɪnɪŋ/ | adj. | interesting and enjoyable to watch, read or listen tofamily: entertain, entertainment, entertainer | Her talk was so entertaining that nobody looked at their phones. |
| evil ✓✓e·vil/ˈivəl/ | adj. | deeply bad or cruel | The tale has one evil giant. |
| exceptional ≠ex·cep·tion·al/ɪkˈsɛpʃənəl/ | adj. | much better than most other people or thingsfamily: exception, exceptionally | She won a scholarship because her exam results were exceptional. |
| excessive ✓✓ex·ces·sive/ɪkˈsɛsɪv/ | adj. | much more than is necessary or reasonablefamily: excess, excessively, exceed | The hotel charged an excessive price for a small bottle of water. |
| exclusively ≠ex·clu·sive·ly/ɪksˈklusɪvli/ | adv. | only, and not shared with anyone or anything elsefamily: exclusive, exclude, exclusion | This car park is exclusively for staff of the hospital. |
| existing ✓ex·ist·ing/ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ/ | adj. | present or in use now, not newfamily: exist, existence, existed, exists | The company decided to improve its existing software instead of buying new. |
| exotic ≠ex·ot·ic/ɪɡˈzɑtɪk/ | adj. | unusual and exciting because it comes from a distant countryfamily: exotically, exoticism | The market sells exotic fruits that most visitors have never tasted. |
| expected ≠ex·pect·ed/ɪkˈspɛktəd/ | adj. | that people believe will happen or arrivefamily: expect, expectation, unexpected, expecting, expectedly | The expected arrival time of the flight is half past six. |
| expressive ✓ex·pres·sive/ɪkˈspɹɛsɪv/ | adj. | showing thoughts or feelings clearlyfamily: express, expression, expressed, expressions, expressively | The dancer's expressive face told the whole story without words. |
| extensive ✓✓ex·ten·sive/ɪkˈstɛnsɪv/ | adj. | covering a large area or including a lot of thingsfamily: extend, extension, extent, extensively | The library has an extensive collection of books on Thai history. |
| external ✓✓ex·ter·nal/ɪkˈstɝnəl/ | adj. | on, from or connected with the outside of somethingfamily: externally | The external walls of the building need a new coat of paint. |
| fabulous ✓✓fab·u·lous/ˈfæbjələs/ | adj. | extremely good or wonderfulfamily: fabulously | We had a fabulous view of the sea from our room. |
| failed ✓/feɪld/ | adj. | that was tried but did not succeedfamily: fail, failure, failing | After several failed attempts, she finally started the old motorbike. |
| fate ≠/feɪt/ | n. | what will happen to someone, seen as decided already | The old bridge's fate is settled. |
| feat ≠/fit/ | n. | an act needing skill, strength or courage | Finishing early was quite a feat. |
| fictional ✓fic·tion·al/ˈfɪkʃənəl/ | adj. | invented for a story, not realfamily: fiction, fictionally, non-fiction | The film is set in a fictional town on the coast. |
| fierce ≠/fɪɹs/ | adj. | showing very strong force, anger or energyfamily: fiercely, fierceness, fiercer | The two teams faced fierce competition for the championship. |
| fixed ≠/fɪkst/ | adj. | staying the same, not able to be changedfamily: fix, fixedly | The rent is fixed at the same price for two years. |
| flexible ✓✓flex·i·ble/ˈflɛksəbəl/ | adj. | able to change or bend easily to suit different situationsfamily: flex, flexibility, flexibly, inflexible | My working hours are flexible, so I can start late on Mondays. |
| foul ✓/faʊl/ | adj. | very unpleasant; against the rules in sport | A foul smell came from the drain. |
| functional ≠func·tion·al/ˈfʌŋkʃənəl/ | adj. | working properly and able to be usedfamily: function, functionally, functionality, functions | After the repair, the old printer is fully functional again. |
| gem ≠/dʒɛm/ | n. | a valuable stone used in jewellery | The ring held a small gem. |
| gently ✓gen·tly/ˈdʒɛntli/ | adv. | in a soft and careful way that does not hurt or harmfamily: gentle, gentleness | She gently placed the baby in the cot. |
| genuine ✓✓gen·u·ine/ˈdʒɛnjəwən/ | adj. | real and true, not false or pretendedfamily: genuinely, genuineness | The shop only sells genuine leather bags, never cheap copies. |
| genuinely ✓✓gen·u·ine·ly/ˈdʒɛnjəwənli/ | adv. | in a real and honest way, not pretendingfamily: genuine, genuineness | She was genuinely surprised when her friends remembered her birthday. |
| gradual ✓grad·u·al/ˈɡɹædʒuəl/ | adj. | happening slowly over a long periodfamily: gradually, gradualness | There has been a gradual rise in prices this year. |
| grand ✓✓/ɡɹænd/ | adj. | very large, beautiful and impressivefamily: grander, grandest, grandly, grandeur | The old railway station has a grand entrance with tall columns. |
| growing ✓grow·ing/ˈɡɹoʊɪŋ/ | adj. | becoming larger or more commonfamily: grow, grew, grown, growth, grower | There is a growing number of students who study online. |
| hairy ✓hair·y/ˈhɛɹi/ | adj. | covered with a thick layer of fur or similar soft threadsfamily: hair, hairier, hairiness | A hairy spider climbed slowly across the garden wall. |
| harm ✓✓/hɑɹm/ | n. | damage or hurtfamily: harmful, harmless | No harm was done to the books. |
| harmless ✓harm·less/ˈhɑɹmləs/ | adj. | not able to hurt or damage anyone or anythingfamily: harm, harmful, harmlessly, harmlessness | Do not worry, this small green snake is completely harmless. |
| hilarious ✓✓hi·lar·i·ous/hɪˈlɛɹiəs/ | adj. | extremely funny, making people laugh a lotfamily: hilariously, hilarity | Everyone laughed for minutes because the joke was so hilarious. |
| hollow ✓✓hol·low/ˈhɑloʊ/ | adj. | having an empty space insidefamily: hollows, hollowed, hollowing, hollowness | The old tree trunk was hollow, so birds nested inside it. |
| humane ✓hu·mane/hjuˈmeɪn/ | adj. | kind and causing as little suffering as possiblefamily: humanely, human, humanity, inhumane | The shelter treats every animal in a humane way. |
| identical ✓✓i·den·ti·cal/aɪˈdɛntɪkəl/ | adj. | exactly the same in every wayfamily: identically | The twins wore identical shirts, so nobody could tell them apart. |
| ignorant ✓ig·no·rant/ˈɪɡnɚənt/ | adj. | not knowing facts or information that you should knowfamily: ignorance, ignorantly | I was ignorant of the new rules until my friend explained them. |
| improved ✓im·proved/ɪmˈpɹuvd/ | adj. | better than it was beforefamily: improve, improvement, improving, improves | The improved version of the app runs much faster. |
| inadequate ≠in·ad·e·quate/ɪˈnædəkwət/ | adj. | not enough, or not good enoughfamily: adequate, adequately, adequacy, inadequately | The classroom has inadequate light for reading small print. |
| influential ≠in·flu·en·tial/ˌɪnfluˈɛnʃəl/ | adj. | having the power to change what people think or dofamily: influence, influencer, influenced, influencing | Her book was very influential among teachers in the 1990s. |
| innovative ≠in·no·va·tive/ˈɪnəˌveɪtɪv/ | adj. | using or introducing new ideas or methodsfamily: innovate, innovation, innovator | The company won an award for its innovative approach to recycling. |
| insufficient ≠in·suf·fi·cient/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/ | adj. | not enough for what is neededfamily: sufficient, sufficiency, sufficiently, insufficiently | The project failed because of insufficient time and money. |
| intended ✓in·tend·ed/ɪnˈtɛndɪd/ | adj. | planned or meant for a particular purpose or resultfamily: intend, intention, intentional, intentionally, unintended, intent | The intended audience for this textbook is first-year university students. |
| invisible ≠in·vis·i·ble/ɪnˈvɪzəbəl/ | adj. | not able to be seenfamily: visible, invisibility, invisibly | The tiny insects were almost invisible against the brown wood. |
| knowingly ✓know·ing·ly/ˈnoʊɪŋli/ | adv. | while fully aware of what you are doingfamily: knowing, know, unknowingly | Nobody would knowingly submit the wrong file to the professor. |
| known ✓/noʊn/ | adj. | familiar to many people, or already accepted as truefamily: know, knew, knowing, knowledge, knowledgeable, unknown | She is a known expert on rice farming in Thailand. |
| lame ✓/leɪm/ | adj. | unable to walk well because of a hurt leg | The lame horse rested in the field. |
| legendary ≠leg·end·ar·y/ˈlɛdʒənˌdɛɹi/ | adj. | very famous and admired, especially for a long timefamily: legend, legends, legendarily | The legendary coach trained three of the country's best swimmers. |
| lengthy ≠length·y/ˈlɛŋθi/ | adj. | taking or continuing for a long timefamily: length, lengthen, lengths, lengthier | After a lengthy discussion, the committee finally approved the plan. |
| liberal ≠lib·er·al/ˈlɪˌbɝəl/ | adj. | willing to accept new ideas and different ways of livingfamily: liberally, liberalism, liberalise, liberality, liberals | Her parents have liberal views about what young people should wear. |
| lone ⚠/loʊn/ | adj. | single and without companyfamily: lonely | A lone monk walked the path. |
| loosely ✓loose·ly/ˈlusli/ | adv. | not tightly or not exactlyfamily: loose, loosen | The film is loosely based on a true story from the 1980s. |
| lows ⚠/loʊz/ | n. | plural of low: the lowest pointsfamily: low | The term had highs and lows. |
| luxurious ✓lux·u·ri·ous/ləɡˈʒɝiəs/ | adj. | very comfortable, expensive and beautifulfamily: luxury, luxuries, luxuriously | The hotel room was so luxurious that we did not want to leave. |
| matching ✓match·ing/ˈmætʃɪŋ/ | adj. | having the same colour, pattern or design as something elsefamily: match, matches, matched | The twins wore matching blue jackets to the school concert. |
| means ✓✓/minz/ | n. | a way of doing something; used with a or by | The radio is their only means of news. |
| miniature ✓min·i·a·ture/ˈmɪniəˌtʃʊɹ/ | adj. | very small, but shaped like the full-size thingfamily: miniatures, miniaturise | The museum has a miniature model of the old city. |
| misleading ≠mis·lead·ing/mɪˈslidɪŋ/ | adj. | giving a wrong idea or making people believe something untruefamily: mislead, misleadingly, misled | The advert was misleading, because the phone did not have that feature. |
| mixed ✓/mɪkst/ | adj. | made of several different kinds of things or peoplefamily: mix, mixes, mixing, mixer, mixture | The teacher put us in mixed groups of first- and second-year students. |
| modest ✓✓mod·est/ˈmɑdəst/ | adj. | not talking proudly about your own abilities or successfamily: modestly, modesty, immodest | She is very modest about winning the national essay prize. |
| multiple ✓✓mul·ti·ple/ˈmʌltəpəl/ | adj. | involving several or many, not just onefamily: multiply, multiples, multiplication | The word has multiple meanings, so check the context carefully. |
| mute ⚠/mjut/ | adj. | silent; not speaking or soundingfamily: muted | Keep phones on mute in class. |
| needless ✓need·less/ˈnidləs/ | adj. | not necessary, so it should be avoidedfamily: need, needlessly, needlessness | Buying a second printer seems needless when we rarely print anything. |
| neighbouring ≠neigh·bour·ing/ˈneɪbɚɪŋ/ | adj. | next to or very near the place being talked aboutfamily: neighbour, neighbours, neighbourhood | Students from three neighbouring villages attend the same secondary school. |
| nicely ✓nice·ly/ˈnaɪsli/ | adv. | in a pleasant or good wayfamily: nice, nicer, nicest, niceness | The children behaved nicely during the long museum visit. |
| nick ⚠/nɪk/ | n. | a small cut in a surface or edge | A nick in the ruler catches the pen. |
| norm ✓/nɔɹm/ | n. | the usual or expected way of doing thingsfamily: normal | Short quizzes are the norm here. |
| noted ⚠not·ed/ˈnoʊtəd/ | adj. | well known and respectedfamily: note | A noted scholar opened the seminar. |
| obvious ≠ob·vi·ous/ˈɑbviəs/ | adj. | easy to see or understandfamily: obviously | The answer was obvious. |
| odd ≠/ɑd/ | adj. | strange, or not usualfamily: oddly | An odd sound came from the roof. |
| odor ⚠o·dor/ˈoʊdɚ/ | n. | American spelling of odour: a smell, often unpleasant | An odor of smoke filled the room. |
| openly ✓✓o·pen·ly/ˈoʊpənli/ | adv. | without hiding anything from other peoplefamily: open, openness | She talked openly about her mistakes at the meeting. |
| opposed ✓op·posed/əˈpoʊzd/ | adj. | disagreeing strongly with a plan or ideafamily: oppose, opposes, opposing, opposition | Most of the staff were opposed to the longer working hours. |
| optional ✓op·tion·al/ˈɑpʃənəl/ | adj. | that you can choose to do or notfamily: option, options, optionally | The evening workshop is optional, so attend only if you are interested. |
| oval ✓o·val/ˈoʊvəl/ | adj. | shaped like an egg | Sit around the oval table. |
| overall ✓✓o·ver·all/ˈoʊvɚˌɔl/ | adj. | including everything, not just one partfamily: overalls | The overall cost of the trip was lower than we expected. |
| overly ≠o·ver·ly/ˈoʊvɚli/ | adv. | more than is good or necessaryfamily: over | Do not be overly worried about one low mark. |
| pace ≠/peɪs/ | n. | the speed at which something happens | Work at your own pace. |
| packed ✓/pækt/ | adj. | completely full of people or thingsfamily: pack, packs, packing, package, packet | The train was so packed that we could not find a seat. |
| persistent ≠per·sis·tent/pɚˈsɪstənt/ | adj. | not giving up, even when something is difficultfamily: persist, persistence, persistently | The persistent student kept asking questions until she understood the lesson. |
| picturesque ✓pic·tur·esque/ˈpɪktʃɚəsk/ | adj. | pretty and pleasant to look at, like a paintingfamily: picture, pictures | The village by the river is picturesque, especially at sunrise. |
| pointed ✓point·ed/ˈpɔɪntɪd/ | adj. | having a sharp endfamily: point, points, pointer, pointless, pointy, pointedly | The tent has a pointed roof to let the rain run off. |
| pointless ✓point·less/ˈpɔɪntləs/ | adj. | having no purpose or useful resultfamily: point, points, pointlessly, pointed | It is pointless to argue with someone who refuses to listen. |
| potent ✓po·tent/ˈpoʊtənt/ | adj. | very strong and having a powerful effectfamily: potency, potently | This medicine is potent, so take only one tablet a day. |
| practically ✓prac·ti·cal·ly/ˈpɹæktɪkli/ | adv. | almost, or very nearlyfamily: practical, practicality, practice, practise | The classroom was practically empty by four o'clock. |
| precisely ✓✓pre·cise·ly/pɹɪˈsaɪsli/ | adv. | exactly, without any mistake or small differencefamily: precise, precision | The train left at precisely eight o'clock this morning. |
| predictable ✓✓pre·dict·a·ble/pɹɪˈdɪktəbəl/ | adj. | easy to know in advance, so never surprisingfamily: predict, prediction, predictably, unpredictable | The film's ending was predictable, so nobody in the room was surprised. |
| preferable ✓pref·er·a·ble/ˈpɹɛfɚəbəl/ | adj. | better or more suitable than another choicefamily: prefer, preferably, preference, preferences, preferred | A short walk is preferable to sitting all afternoon. |
| prestigious ≠pres·ti·gious/pɹɛˈstɪdʒəs/ | adj. | respected and admired as one of the bestfamily: prestige | She won a place at a prestigious university in London. |
| preventive ✓pre·ven·tive/pɹɪˈvɛntɪv/ | adj. | done to stop something bad before it happensfamily: prevent, prevention, preventable, preventives | Regular hand washing is a simple preventive measure against illness. |
| primary ≠pri·ma·ry/ˈpɹaɪˌmɛɹi/ | adj. | main or most importantfamily: primarily | The primary aim of the course is to improve your writing. |
| prime ✓✓/pɹaɪm/ | adj. | main, or of the best qualityfamily: primary | Rice is the prime crop here. |
| promising ✓prom·is·ing/ˈpɹɑməsɪŋ/ | adj. | showing signs of being successful in the futurefamily: promise, promised, promises | The young scientist is promising and has already published two papers. |
| pros ⚠/pɹoʊz/ | n. | informal: the advantages, in pros and cons | List the pros before you decide. |
| proven ✓prov·en/ˈpɹuvən/ | adj. | shown by tests or experience to be true or to work wellfamily: prove, proof, proved, proves, proving | Reading aloud is a proven way to improve pronunciation. |
| pure ≠/pjʊɹ/ | adj. | not mixed with anything elsefamily: purity | The water here is pure. |
| random ✓ran·dom/ˈɹændəm/ | adj. | chosen or happening without any plan or patternfamily: randomly, randomness, randomize | The teacher picked three random names from the class list. |
| readily ≠read·i·ly/ˈɹɛdəli/ | adv. | quickly and without any difficulty or complaintfamily: ready, readiness | The new students readily agreed to help clean the classroom. |
| rear ⚠/ɹɪɹ/ | n. | the back part of something | Sit at the rear of the room. |
| reasonably ✓✓rea·son·a·bly/ˈɹizənəbli/ | adv. | to a fair degree, but not veryfamily: reason, reasonable, unreasonable | The hotel was reasonably clean, but the room was small. |
| regal ⚠re·gal/ˈɹiɡəl/ | adj. | grand, like a king or queen | The procession moved at a regal pace. |
| remarkably ✓✓re·mark·a·bly/ɹɪˈmɑɹkəbli/ | adv. | surprisingly more than you would expectfamily: remark, remarkable | The new students learned the rules remarkably quickly. |
| risky ✓✓risk·y/ˈɹɪski/ | adj. | involving a chance that something bad will happenfamily: risk, risks, riskier | Driving fast on a wet road is very risky. |
| scent ✓/sɛnt/ | n. | a pleasant smell | The scent of jasmine fills the yard. |
| sensible ≠sen·si·ble/ˈsɛnsəbəl/ | adj. | showing good judgement about what to dofamily: sense, sensibly, sensibleness | It was sensible to leave early and avoid the traffic. |
| serial ≠se·ri·al/ˈsɪˌɹiəl/ | adj. | happening or appearing in parts, one after anotherfamily: series, serially, serialize, serials | The magazine printed the story in serial parts over six months. |
| shaped ✓/ʃeɪpt/ | adj. | having a particular form or outlinefamily: shape, shapes, shapeless | She bought a small, oddly shaped stone at the market. |
| sincere ✓✓sin·cere/sɪnˈsɪɹ/ | adj. | honest, and truly meaning what you sayfamily: sincerely, sincerity, insincere | Please accept my sincere thanks for all your help this year. |
| sober ⚠so·ber/ˈsoʊbɚ/ | adj. | not drunk; serious and plain | The report ends on a sober note. |
| sole ≠/soʊl/ | adj. | being the only onefamily: solely | She was the sole student to finish early. |
| somewhat ✓✓some·what/ˌsʌmˈwʌt/ | adv. | a little, but not very much | The second exam was somewhat easier than the first one. |
| spare ✓✓/spɛɹ/ | adj. | kept ready as an extra | Keep a spare pen in your bag. |
| sporting ✓sport·ing/ˈspɔɹtɪŋ/ | adj. | connected with games played for exercise or competitionfamily: sport, sports, sporty, sportsman | The school held its biggest sporting event of the year on Friday. |
| spur ✓/spɝ/ | n. | something that encourages more effort | The prize was a spur to finish early. |
| stiff ✓✓/stɪf/ | adj. | hard and not easy to bend or movefamily: stiffen, stiffly, stiffness, stiffer | My neck felt stiff after sitting at the computer all day. |
| strictly ✓✓strict·ly/ˈstɹɪktli/ | adv. | in a way that allows no exceptionsfamily: strict, strictness | Mobile phones are strictly forbidden during the examination. |
| striking ≠strik·ing/ˈstɹaɪkɪŋ/ | adj. | unusual enough to attract attention at oncefamily: strike, strikingly | There is a striking similarity between the two paintings. |
| sufficiently ✓✓suf·fi·cient·ly/səˈfɪʃəntli/ | adv. | to a degree that is enough for what is neededfamily: sufficient, insufficient, sufficiency | Make sure the soil is sufficiently wet before planting the seeds. |
| superb ≠su·perb/sʊˈpɝb/ | adj. | extremely goodfamily: superbly | The hotel staff gave us superb service during our stay. |
| surge ≠/sɝdʒ/ | n. | a sudden strong increase | A surge of questions ended the class. |
| tan ✓/tæn/ | n. | brown color from the sunfamily: tanned | He came back with a deep tan. |
| tend ≠/tɛnd/ | v. | to usually do somethingfamily: tendency | Beginners tend to guess the first letter. |
| thoroughly ✓✓thor·ough·ly/ˈθɝoʊli/ | adv. | in a complete and careful wayfamily: thorough, thoroughness | Wash your hands thoroughly before you touch the food. |
| thoughtful ≠thought·ful/ˈθɔtfəl/ | adj. | showing care for what other people needfamily: think, thought, thoughts, thinking, thoughtfully, thoughtless | It was thoughtful of you to bring lunch for everyone. |
| tough ✓✓/tʌf/ | adj. | difficult to do or to deal withfamily: toughen, toughness, tougher, toughest | It was a tough decision, but she chose the smaller university. |
| transparent ≠trans·par·ent/tɹænˈspɛɹənt/ | adj. | clear enough to see throughfamily: transparency, transparently | The shop sells transparent plastic boxes for storing small items. |
| unacceptable ✓✓un·ac·cept·a·ble/ˌʌnækˈsɛptəbəl/ | adj. | so bad or wrong that it cannot be allowedfamily: accept, acceptable, acceptance, accepted, unacceptably | Arriving thirty minutes late for an exam is completely unacceptable. |
| varied ≠var·ied/ˈvɛɹid/ | adj. | including many different kinds of things or peoplefamily: vary, variety, various, variation, variable | The course offers varied activities, from field trips to group projects. |
| vital ✓✓vi·tal/ˈvaɪtəl/ | adj. | extremely important and necessary for success or lifefamily: vitally, vitality | Clean water is vital for the health of every community. |
| wit ≠/wɪt/ | n. | the ability to say clever, funny thingsfamily: witty | Her wit kept the meeting light. |
society108 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| abuse ≠a·buse/əˈbjus/ | n. | cruel or harmful treatment of a person or animalfamily: abuser, abusers, abusive, abused, abusing, abuses | The new law protects workers from abuse by their employers. |
| accusation ≠ac·cu·sa·tion/ˌækjəˈzeɪʃən/ | n. | a statement saying that someone has done something wrongfamily: accuse, accused, accusations | He denied the accusation that he had copied his friend's essay. |
| addict ✓ad·dict/ˈæˌdɪkt/ | n. | a person who cannot stop using a drug or doing somethingfamily: addicted, addiction, addictive, addicts, addictions | He admits he is a coffee addict and drinks six cups a day. |
| addiction ✓✓ad·dic·tion/əˈdɪkʃən/ | n. | the condition of being unable to stop taking or doing something harmfulfamily: addict, addicted, addictive, addictions | Doctors warn that smartphone addiction is a growing problem among teenagers. |
| alcoholism ✓al·co·hol·ism/ˈælkəhɔˌlɪzəm/ | n. | an illness in which a person cannot stop drinking beer, wine or spiritsfamily: alcohol, alcoholic, alcoholics | The clinic offers free treatment for people with alcoholism. |
| alliance ≠al·li·ance/əˈlaɪəns/ | n. | an agreement between countries or groups to work togetherfamily: ally, allies, allied, alliances | The two universities formed an alliance to share research equipment. |
| ambassador ≠am·bas·sa·dor/æmˈbæsədɚ/ | n. | a senior official who represents their country in another countryfamily: ambassadors, embassy, embassies | The ambassador visited our university to talk about student exchanges. |
| assault ≠as·sault/əˈsɔlt/ | n. | a sudden violent attack on a personfamily: assaulted, assaulting, assaults | Assault is a serious crime that can lead to a prison sentence. |
| ballot ≠bal·lot/ˈbælət/ | n. | a paper on which a person marks a secret votefamily: ballots, balloting, balloted | Students put their ballots in the box to choose a class leader. |
| barrier ✓✓bar·ri·er/ˈbæɹiɚ/ | n. | a fence or wall that stops people passing, or anything that prevents progressfamily: barriers | Language is often the biggest barrier for new international students. |
| battlefield ≠bat·tle·field/ˈbætəlˌfild/ | n. | an area of land where two armies fight or once foughtfamily: battle, field, battlefields, battles, battled | We visited the old battlefield, which is now a peaceful museum park. |
| blast ≠/blæst/ | n. | a sudden explosion, or a strong rush of air or noisefamily: blasted, blasting, blasts | Workers left the quarry before the blast broke up the rock. |
| bomber ✓bomb·er/ˈbɑmɚ/ | n. | a military aircraft built to drop explosives on places belowfamily: bomb, bombs, bombing, bombers, bombed | An old bomber from the war now stands in the aviation museum. |
| bombing ✓✓bomb·ing/ˈbɑmɪŋ/ | n. | an attack carried out with explosive devicesfamily: bomb, bombs, bombed, bomber, bombings | The old station was rebuilt after the bombing during the war. |
| broadcaster ✓✓broad·cast·er/ˈbɹɔdˌkæstɚ/ | n. | a person or company that sends out radio or television programmesfamily: broadcast, broadcasting, broadcasts, broadcasters | The national broadcaster will show the concert on Saturday evening. |
| bureaucracy ≠bu·reau·cra·cy/bjʊˈɹɑkɹəsi/ | n. | a system with many official rules, forms and steps that slow things downfamily: bureaucrat, bureaucratic, bureaucracies | Too much bureaucracy delayed the students' visa applications for months. |
| campaign ≠cam·paign/kæmˈpeɪn/ | n. | a series of planned actions to reach a social, political or business goalfamily: campaigns, campaigned, campaigning, campaigner, campaigners | The students ran a campaign to reduce plastic in the canteen. |
| captive ✓cap·tive/ˈkæptɪv/ | n. | a person or animal kept somewhere and not allowed to leavefamily: captives, captivity | The captives were finally set free after the agreement was signed. |
| closure ≠clo·sure/ˈkloʊʒɚ/ | n. | the shutting down of a business, school or roadfamily: close, closed, closes, closing, closures | The closure of the factory left many people without work. |
| coalition ≠co·a·li·tion/ˌkoʊəˈlɪʃən/ | n. | a group of political parties or organisations working togetherfamily: coalitions | Several small charities formed a coalition to protect the river. |
| colonial ≠co·lo·ni·al/kəˈloʊniəl/ | adj. | relating to a time when one country ruled and settled distant landsfamily: colony, colonies, colonist, colonialism | The old colonial buildings in the city centre are now museums. |
| colony ✓col·o·ny/ˈkɑləni/ | n. | a country or area controlled by another, more powerful countryfamily: colonies, colonial, colonialism, colonist | The island was once a colony of a European country. |
| commercial ≠com·mer·cial/kəˈmɝʃəl/ | n. | an advertisement on television or radiofamily: commerce, commercials, commercially, commercialise | The commercial for the new phone was shown during the evening news. |
| commonwealth ✓com·mon·wealth/ˈkɑmənˌwɛlθ/ | n. | a group of countries that work together as friendly partners | Athletes from many nations of the commonwealth compete in the games. |
| condemn ≠con·demn/kənˈdɛm/ | v. | to say strongly and publicly that something is wrongfamily: condemnation, condemned, condemning, condemns | The head teacher condemned the bullying in a letter to parents. |
| confession ≠con·fes·sion/kənˈfɛʃən/ | n. | a statement admitting that you have done something wrongfamily: confess, confessed, confessing, confessions, confessional | His confession that he had broken the window surprised the whole class. |
| conquest ✓con·quest/ˈkɑŋkwɛst/ | n. | the taking of a country or land by forcefamily: conquer, conquered, conqueror, conquests | The lesson covered the conquest of the region by a neighbouring kingdom. |
| consensus ≠con·sen·sus/kənˈsɛnsəs/ | n. | an opinion that all the members of a group agree on | After a long discussion, the committee reached a consensus on the new timetable. |
| consent ≠con·sent/kənˈsɛnt/ | n. | permission that you give for something to happenfamily: consents, consented, consenting | Students under eighteen need a parent's consent to join the trip. |
| conspiracy ✓con·spir·a·cy/kənˈspɪɹəsi/ | n. | a secret plan by a group to do something bad or illegalfamily: conspire, conspiracies, conspirator | The novel tells of a conspiracy to steal a famous painting. |
| controversy ✓✓con·tro·ver·sy/ˈkɑntɹəˌvɝsi/ | n. | strong public disagreement and argument about somethingfamily: controversial, controversially | The plan to build a road through the park caused great controversy. |
| convention ✓✓con·ven·tion/kənˈvɛnʃən/ | n. | an accepted way of behaving that most people in a society followfamily: conventional, conventionally, unconventional, conventions | Shaking hands when you meet someone is a common convention in business. |
| corrupt ≠cor·rupt/kəˈɹʌpt/ | adj. | using power dishonestly to get money or advantagesfamily: corruption, corrupted, corrupting, corruptible, corruptly | The company lost its licence after a corrupt manager accepted secret payments. |
| corruption ≠cor·rup·tion/kəˈɹʌpʃən/ | n. | dishonest behaviour by people in power, such as taking money for favoursfamily: corrupt, corrupted, corrupting, corruptible, corruptions | The new law aims to reduce corruption in local government offices. |
| countrywide ✓coun·try·wide/ˈkʌntɹiˌwaɪd/ | adj. | happening or existing in every part of a nationfamily: country, countries | The ministry launched a countrywide reading campaign in schools. |
| culturally ✓cul·tur·al·ly/ˈkʌltʃɚəli/ | adv. | in a way connected with the customs and arts of a societyfamily: culture, cultures, cultural | Bangkok is a culturally rich city with many festivals. |
| developing ✓de·vel·op·ing/dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ/ | adj. | still building its industry and economy, and not yet richfamily: develop, developed, developer, development, develops | Many developing countries are investing heavily in new schools. |
| dictator ≠dic·ta·tor/dɪkˈteɪtɚ/ | n. | a leader who holds total power over a country without being electedfamily: dictate, dictatorship, dictators, dictation | The history lesson explained how a dictator takes complete control of a country. |
| discriminate ✓dis·crim·i·nate/dɪˈskɹɪməˌneɪt/ | v. | to treat a person or group unfairly because of who they arefamily: discrimination, discriminated, discriminates, discriminating, discriminatory | Employers must not discriminate against applicants because of their age. |
| dispute ≠dis·pute/dɪsˈpjut/ | n. | a serious argument between people or groupsfamily: disputed, disputes, disputing, disputable | The two neighbours settled their dispute about the fence peacefully. |
| divided ✓di·vid·ed/dɪˈvaɪdɪd/ | adj. | not agreeing, because people hold opposite opinionsfamily: divide, divides, dividing, divider, division, divisions | The committee was divided over where to hold the conference. |
| donate ≠do·nate/ˈdoʊˌneɪt/ | v. | to give money or goods to help a person or organisationfamily: donated, donates, donating, donation, donations, donor | Students donated old books to the village school library. |
| donation ✓✓do·na·tion/doʊˈneɪʃən/ | n. | money or goods that you give to help a person or organisationfamily: donate, donated, donating, donor, donations | The school collected donations of books for the village library. |
| editorial ✓ed·i·to·ri·al/ˌɛdəˈtɔɹiəl/ | n. | an article in a newspaper that gives the paper's own opinionfamily: edit, editor, editors, edition, editorials, editorially | The editorial in yesterday's newspaper praised the new library. |
| elect ✓✓e·lect/ɪˈlɛkt/ | v. | to choose someone for a position by votingfamily: elects, elected, electing, election, elections, electoral | The students elected a new president for the science club. |
| endorse ≠en·dorse/ɛnˈdɔɹs/ | v. | to say publicly that you support a person, plan or productfamily: endorsed, endorses, endorsing, endorsement, endorsements, endorser | Several professors endorsed the plan for a new campus library. |
| enforce ≠en·force/ɛnˈfɔɹs/ | v. | to make people obey a rule or lawfamily: enforcement, enforced, enforces, enforcing, enforceable, enforcer | The school will enforce its new rule about mobile phones from Monday. |
| ethnic ✓✓eth·nic/ˈɛθnɪk/ | adj. | connected with a group of people who share a culture or originfamily: ethnicity, ethnicities, ethnically | The festival celebrates the food and music of many ethnic groups. |
| exclusion ≠ex·clu·sion/ɪksˈkluʒən/ | n. | the act of keeping someone or something out of a group or placefamily: exclude, excluded, excludes, excluding, exclusive, exclusively | Her exclusion from the team meeting made her feel unimportant. |
| exploit ≠ex·ploit/ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ | v. | to use someone or something unfairly for your own benefitfamily: exploitation, exploitative, exploited, exploiting, exploits | Some employers exploit young workers by paying them far too little. |
| explosive ≠ex·plo·sive/ɪkˈsploʊsɪv/ | n. | a substance that can burst with great force, used in mining or buildingfamily: explode, exploded, explosion, explosions, explosively, explosives | Workers used explosives to cut a tunnel through the mountain. |
| federal ✓✓fed·er·al/ˈfɛdɚəl/ | adj. | connected with the central government of a country made of statesfamily: federation, federally, federalism, federalist | Federal laws apply to every state in the country, not just one. |
| firearm ≠fire·arm/ˈfaɪɚˌɑɹm/ | n. | a gun that can be carried, such as a pistol or riflefamily: fire, arms, firearms | Owning a firearm requires a licence in most countries. |
| fraud ✓✓/fɹɔd/ | n. | the crime of getting money by tricking peoplefamily: frauds, fraudulent, fraudster | The bank warned customers about fraud involving fake emails. |
| globally ✓glob·al·ly/ˈɡloʊbəli/ | adv. | in every part of the worldfamily: globe, global, globalisation, globalise | The company now sells its phones globally, not just in Asia. |
| governmental ✓gov·ern·men·tal/ˈɡʌvɚˌmɛntəl/ | adj. | connected with the people who run a countryfamily: government, govern, governor, governance | Several governmental offices will close during the holiday week. |
| guideline ✓✓guide·line/ˈɡaɪdˌlaɪn/ | n. | an official rule or piece of advice about how to do somethingfamily: guide, guidance, guidelines | Please follow the guidelines when you write your report. |
| holocaust ✓hol·o·caust/ˈhɑləˌkɔst/ | n. | an event in which a very large number of people are killedfamily: holocausts | Survivors of the holocaust shared their stories with the students. |
| impose ✓✓im·pose/ɪmˈpoʊz/ | v. | to force a rule, tax or decision on peoplefamily: imposition, imposed, imposes, imposing | The university imposed a strict limit on printing in the library. |
| imprisonment ≠im·pris·on·ment/ɪmˈpɹɪzənmənt/ | n. | the punishment of being locked up and not allowed to leavefamily: imprison, imprisoned, prison, prisoner | In some countries, driving without a licence can lead to imprisonment. |
| institution ✓✓in·sti·tu·tion/ˌɪnstɪˈtuʃən/ | n. | a large and important organisation, such as a university, bank or hospitalfamily: institute, institutes, institutional, institutions | The university is the oldest educational institution in the region. |
| journalism ✓✓jour·nal·ism/ˈdʒɝnəˌlɪzəm/ | n. | the work of collecting and reporting news for newspapers, television or websitesfamily: journal, journalist, journalists, journalistic, journals | She studied journalism because she wanted to write for a national newspaper. |
| jury ✓✓ju·ry/ˈdʒʊɹi/ | n. | a group of ordinary people who decide in court if someone is guiltyfamily: juror, jurors, juries | The jury listened to every witness before it reached a decision. |
| lawsuit ≠law·suit/ˈlɔˌsut/ | n. | a case that a person or company brings to a court against anotherfamily: lawsuits | The two companies settled the lawsuit before it reached the judge. |
| leaflet ✓✓leaf·let/ˈliflət/ | n. | a small printed sheet of paper that gives information or advertises somethingfamily: leaf, leaflets | The clinic gives every patient a leaflet about healthy eating. |
| legislation ≠leg·is·la·tion/ˌlɛdʒəˈsleɪʃən/ | n. | a law or set of laws made by a governmentfamily: legislate, legislative, legislator | New legislation will require every shop to recycle plastic bags. |
| legislative ≠leg·is·la·tive/ˈlɛdʒəˌsleɪtɪv/ | adj. | relating to making lawsfamily: legislate, legislation, legislator, legislature | The legislative process for the new tax rules took two years. |
| legislator ✓leg·is·la·tor/ˈlɛdʒəˌsleɪtɚ/ | n. | a member of the group that makes a country's lawsfamily: legislate, legislation, legislative, legislators, legislature | The legislators voted to raise the minimum age for driving. |
| legislature ≠leg·is·la·ture/ˈlɛdʒəˌsleɪtʃɚ/ | n. | the group of elected people who make a country's lawsfamily: legislate, legislation, legislative, legislator, legislatures | The legislature will discuss the new education bill next week. |
| legitimate ≠le·git·i·mate/ləˈdʒɪtəmət/ | adj. | allowed by law, or fair and reasonablefamily: legitimately, legitimacy, illegitimate | Illness is a legitimate reason for missing the test. |
| martial ✓mar·tial/ˈmɑɹʃəl/ | adj. | connected with fighting or the armyfamily: martially | Many children in our town learn martial arts after school. |
| massacre ≠mas·sa·cre/ˈmæsəkɚ/ | n. | the killing of a large number of people at one timefamily: massacres, massacred, massacring | The museum tells the story of a massacre that happened centuries ago. |
| minister ✓✓min·is·ter/ˈmɪnəstɚ/ | n. | a senior member of a government in charge of a departmentfamily: ministry, ministers, ministerial | The education minister visited our university to open the new library. |
| missile ≠mis·sile/ˈmɪsəl/ | n. | a weapon that flies through the air to hit a distant targetfamily: missiles | The documentary explained how missiles are guided towards their target. |
| nationwide ≠na·tion·wide/ˌneɪʃənˈwaɪd/ | adj. | happening or existing in every part of a countryfamily: nation, national, nationally, nationality, nations, international | The company ran a nationwide survey of shopping habits. |
| naval ≠na·val/ˈneɪvəl/ | adj. | relating to a country's navy and its shipsfamily: navy, navies | The old naval base by the coast is now a museum. |
| navy ✓na·vy/ˈneɪvi/ | n. | the part of a country's armed forces that fights at seafamily: navies, naval | Her brother joined the navy and now works on a large ship. |
| nomination ≠nom·i·na·tion/ˌnɑməˈneɪʃən/ | n. | the formal suggestion of someone for a job, prize or positionfamily: nominate, nominated, nominating, nominee, nominations | Her nomination for the teaching award surprised nobody. |
| obligation ✓✓ob·li·ga·tion/ˌɑbləˈɡeɪʃən/ | n. | something you must do because of a law, promise or dutyfamily: oblige, obligatory, obligations, obliged | Employees have an obligation to keep customer information private. |
| offender ✓✓of·fend·er/əˈfɛndɚ/ | n. | a person who has broken the lawfamily: offend, offence, offended, offensive, offenders | The judge gave the young offender a warning instead of a fine. |
| parliament ✓✓par·lia·ment/ˈpɑɹləmənt/ | n. | the group of people elected to make a country's lawsfamily: parliaments, parliamentary | The new law must be approved by parliament before it can start. |
| penalty ✓✓pen·al·ty/ˈpɛnəlti/ | n. | a punishment for breaking a rule or a lawfamily: penalties, penalise | There is a penalty for returning library books late. |
| politically ✓po·lit·i·cal·ly/pəˈlɪtɪkəli/ | adv. | in a way that relates to government and public affairsfamily: political, politics, politician, politicians | The new tax was politically difficult, so the plan was delayed. |
| presidential ≠pres·i·den·tial/ˌpɹɛzəˈdɛnʃəl/ | adj. | connected with the elected head of a countryfamily: president, presidency, preside, presidents | The presidential election will be held next spring. |
| prohibit ✓✓pro·hib·it/pɹoʊˈhɪbət/ | v. | to say officially that people must not do somethingfamily: prohibition, prohibitive, prohibited, prohibiting, prohibits | The university prohibits smoking anywhere on the campus. |
| province ≠prov·ince/ˈpɹɑvəns/ | n. | one of the large areas that a country is divided intofamily: provinces, provincial | Chiang Mai is a province in the north of Thailand. |
| publicity ✓✓pub·lic·i·ty/pəˈblɪsəti/ | n. | attention from newspapers, television and the internet that makes something well knownfamily: public, publicise, publicist | The new film received a lot of publicity before it opened. |
| racism ✓✓rac·ism/ˈɹeɪˌsɪzəm/ | n. | unfair treatment of people because of their skin colour or originfamily: racial, racist, racists | The school runs workshops to help students recognise and stop racism. |
| radical ✓rad·i·cal/ˈɹædəkəl/ | n. | a person who wants big and complete changes in societyfamily: radicals, radically, radicalism | Some radicals called for a completely new voting system. |
| reform ≠re·form/ɹəˈfɔɹm/ | n. | a change made to a system or law to improve itfamily: reforms, reformed, reformer, reformist | The university announced a reform of its exam rules. |
| refugee ✓✓ref·u·gee/ˌɹɛfjuˈdʒi/ | n. | a person who has left their country to escape war or dangerfamily: refuge, refugees | Many refugees had to leave their homes with only a small bag. |
| regulate ✓✓reg·u·late/ˈɹɛɡjəˌleɪt/ | v. | to control something using rules or lawsfamily: regulation, regulations, regulated, regulator, regulatory | New laws regulate how long drivers can work without a break. |
| restriction ✓✓re·stric·tion/ɹiˈstɹɪkʃən/ | n. | a rule or limit that controls what people are allowed to dofamily: restrict, restricted, restrictive, restrictions | There are restrictions on how many books you can borrow at once. |
| revolution ✓✓rev·o·lu·tion/ˌɹɛvəˈluʃən/ | n. | a complete and sudden change in the way things are donefamily: revolutions, revolutionary, revolutionise | The internet caused a revolution in how students find information. |
| scandal ✓✓scan·dal/ˈskændəl/ | n. | an action or event that shocks people because it is wrong or dishonestfamily: scandals, scandalous, scandalously, scandalise | The exam cheating scandal was reported in every national newspaper. |
| scheme ✓✓/skim/ | n. | an official plan for doing or achieving somethingfamily: schemes, schemed, scheming, schemer | The university has a new scheme to help students find part-time jobs. |
| showcase ✓show·case/ˈʃoʊˌkeɪs/ | n. | an event or place where the best of something is displayedfamily: show, showcases, showcased, showcasing | The exhibition was a showcase for work by young local designers. |
| spokeswoman ✓✓spokes·wom·an/ˈspoʊkˌswʊmən/ | n. | a woman who officially talks to the media for an organisationfamily: spokesperson, spokesman, spokeswomen, spokesmen, spokespeople | A spokeswoman for the airline said all flights would leave on time. |
| statesman ✓states·man/ˈsteɪtsmən/ | n. | an experienced and respected political leaderfamily: state, statesmen, statesmanship, stateswoman | He was remembered as a wise statesman who served his country for decades. |
| territory ✓✓ter·ri·to·ry/ˈtɛɹɪˌtɔɹi/ | n. | an area of land that belongs to or is controlled by a countryfamily: territories, territorial | Most of the eastern territory of the country is covered by forest. |
| testify ≠tes·ti·fy/ˈtɛstəˌfaɪ/ | v. | to make a formal statement about what is true, often in courtfamily: testimony, testified, testifies, testifying | Two witnesses testified that the car had run the red light. |
| treaty ≠trea·ty/ˈtɹiti/ | n. | a formal written agreement between two or more countriesfamily: treaties | The two countries signed a treaty to protect the river they share. |
| tribe ✓✓/tɹaɪb/ | n. | a group of families living together with shared customs and languagefamily: tribes, tribal | Each tribe in the region has its own traditional clothing. |
| troop ✓✓/tɹup/ | n. | a group of soldiersfamily: troops, trooper | Extra troops were sent to help after the flood. |
| violate ≠vi·o·late/ˈvaɪəleɪt/ | v. | to break a rule, law or agreementfamily: violation, violations, violated, violating, violator | Students who violate the exam rules will lose their marks. |
| voter ✓vot·er/ˈvoʊtɚ/ | n. | a person who takes part in an electionfamily: vote, votes, voted, voting, voters | Each voter receives a card that shows where to go. |
| welfare ✓✓wel·fare/ˈwɛlˌfɛɹ/ | n. | the health, comfort and happiness of a person or group | The school cares about the welfare of every student. |
| worship ≠wor·ship/ˈwɝʃəp/ | n. | prayers, songs and other ways of showing respect to a godfamily: worships, worshipped, worshipping, worshipper | Places of worship in the city include temples, churches and mosques. |
actions96 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| accommodate ✓ac·com·mo·date/əˈkɑməˌdeɪt/ | v. | to have enough room for a number of people or thingsfamily: accommodation, accommodated, accommodating, accommodates | The new hall can accommodate three hundred students at once. |
| accumulate ≠ac·cu·mu·late/əˈkjumjəˌleɪt/ | v. | to collect or gather more and more of something over timefamily: accumulation, accumulated, accumulating, accumulates, accumulative | Dust accumulates quickly on the shelves if nobody cleans them. |
| alternate ✓al·ter·nate/ˈɔltɚˌneɪt/ | v. | to happen or be used in turn, one after the otherfamily: alternating, alternated, alternates, alternately, alternation | The two teachers alternate, so each one teaches every other week. |
| anticipate ✓✓an·tic·i·pate/ænˈtɪsəˌpeɪt/ | v. | to expect that something will happen and get ready for itfamily: anticipation, anticipated, anticipating, anticipates | We anticipate heavy traffic, so the bus will leave thirty minutes early. |
| arose ⚠a·rose/əˈɹoʊz/ | v. | past tense of arisefamily: arise, arisen | A question arose about the dates. |
| assemble ≠as·sem·ble/əˈsɛmbəl/ | v. | to put the parts of something togetherfamily: assembly, assemblies, assembled, assembling, assembles | It took us an hour to assemble the new bookshelf. |
| assure ✓✓as·sure/əˈʃʊɹ/ | v. | to tell someone firmly that something is true or will happenfamily: assurance, assured, assuring, assures, reassure | The manager assured us that the report would be ready by Monday. |
| await ≠a·wait/əˈweɪt/ | v. | to stay ready for something that is going to come or happenfamily: awaited, awaiting, awaits | The students are anxiously awaiting their examination results. |
| bind ≠/baɪnd/ | v. | to tie together; to fasten pages into a bookfamily: bound | Bind the sheets with string. |
| cast ≠/kæst/ | v. | to throw something, especially a net or linefamily: casting | He cast the net wide. |
| cease ≠/sis/ | v. | to stop happening or stop doing somethingfamily: ceased, ceases, ceasing, ceaseless, cessation | The factory will cease production at the end of the year. |
| clarify ✓✓clar·i·fy/ˈklɛɹəˌfaɪ/ | v. | to make something easier to understand by explaining itfamily: clarification, clarity, clarified, clarifies, clarifying | The teacher clarified the instructions before the exam started. |
| conceal ≠con·ceal/kənˈsil/ | v. | to hide something so that it cannot be seen or knownfamily: concealed, concealing, conceals, concealment, concealer | He concealed the gift behind the sofa until the party began. |
| confess ✓✓con·fess/kənˈfɛs/ | v. | to admit that you have done something wrongfamily: confession, confessed, confesses, confessing | He finally confessed that he had broken the printer. |
| confront ≠con·front/kənˈfɹʌnt/ | v. | to face a problem or a person directly instead of avoiding themfamily: confrontation, confrontational, confronted, confronting, confronts | He finally confronted his roommate about the unwashed dishes. |
| consult ✓✓con·sult/kənˈsʌlt/ | v. | to get advice or information from an expert or a bookfamily: consultant, consultation, consulted, consulting, consults | Students should consult their advisor before choosing their final-year project. |
| convert ✓✓con·vert/kənˈvɝt/ | v. | to change something into a different form or usefamily: converts, converted, converting, conversion, converter, convertible | We converted the old garage into a small study room. |
| cooperate ≠co·op·er·ate/koʊˈɑpɚˌeɪt/ | v. | to work together with others to reach a goalfamily: cooperation, cooperative, cooperated, cooperating, cooperates | The two schools cooperated to organise the science fair. |
| correspond ≠cor·re·spond/ˌkɔɹəˈspɑnd/ | v. | to match or be the same as something elsefamily: correspondence, corresponding, correspondent, corresponded, corresponds | The numbers on the map correspond to the rooms in the building. |
| crawl ≠/kɹɔl/ | v. | to move slowly with your body close to the groundfamily: crawled, crawler, crawling, crawls | The baby crawled across the floor towards the toy. |
| curl ⚠/kɝl/ | v. | to form curves or ringsfamily: curly | The pages curled in the damp. |
| dart ⚠/dɑɹt/ | n. | a small pointed object thrown at a targetfamily: darts, darted | He threw the dart and missed. |
| dash ✓/dæʃ/ | n. | a short quick run | A dash through the rain got us there. |
| descend ≠de·scend/dɪˈsɛnd/ | v. | to go or come down from a higher placefamily: descent, descendant, descended, descending, descends | We descended the stairs slowly because the lights were off. |
| detect ✓✓de·tect/dɪˈtɛkt/ | v. | to notice or find something that is not easy to seefamily: detection, detector, detective, detectable, detected, detecting | The smoke alarm detected a small fire in the kitchen. |
| devote ✓✓de·vote/dɪˈvoʊt/ | v. | to give all your time or effort to one thingfamily: devoted, devotion, devotee, devotes, devoting | She devotes every Saturday morning to practising the piano. |
| dismiss ✓✓dis·miss/dɪˈsmɪs/ | v. | to decide that an idea is not worth thinking aboutfamily: dismissal, dismissed, dismisses, dismissing, dismissive | The manager dismissed our suggestion without even reading it. |
| distract ✓✓dis·tract/dɪˈstɹækt/ | v. | to take someone's attention away from what they are doingfamily: distraction, distracted, distracting, distracts | Please turn off your phone so it does not distract the class. |
| dominate ✓✓dom·i·nate/ˈdɑməˌneɪt/ | v. | to control or be the most important part of somethingfamily: dominant, dominance, domination, dominated, dominates, dominating | One large company dominates the mobile phone market in our country. |
| enhance ✓✓en·hance/ɛnˈhæns/ | v. | to improve the quality or value of somethingfamily: enhancement, enhanced, enhances, enhancing | Adding photos will enhance the report and make it clearer. |
| enquire ≠en·quire/ɪnˈkwaɪɚ/ | v. | to ask for information about somethingfamily: enquiry, enquiries, enquired, enquiring, inquire | She phoned the office to enquire about the application deadline. |
| equip ✓✓e·quip/ɪˈkwɪp/ | v. | to provide someone or something with what is neededfamily: equipment, equipped, equipping, equips | The university has equipped every classroom with a projector and speakers. |
| evolve ✓✓e·volve/ɪˈvɑlv/ | v. | to develop gradually over a long period of timefamily: evolution, evolutionary, evolved, evolves, evolving | The small shop has evolved into a large online business. |
| exceed ✓✓ex·ceed/ɪkˈsid/ | v. | to be greater than a number, limit or amountfamily: excess, exceeded, exceeding, exceeds | Drivers who exceed the speed limit will receive a fine. |
| excel ✓ex·cel/ɪkˈsɛl/ | v. | to be extremely good at somethingfamily: excellent, excellence, excellently, excelled, excelling, excels | She excels at mathematics and hopes to study engineering. |
| exclude ✓✓ex·clude/ɪksˈklud/ | v. | to keep someone or something out of a group or activityfamily: exclusion, exclusive, excluded, excludes, excluding | The price excludes breakfast, so we paid for it separately. |
| execute ≠ex·e·cute/ˈɛksəˌkjut/ | v. | to carry out a plan or piece of workfamily: execution, executive, executed, executing, executes, executable | The team executed the marketing plan exactly as it was written. |
| explode ≠ex·plode/ɪkˈsploʊd/ | v. | to burst suddenly with a loud noise and great forcefamily: explosion, explosive, exploded, exploding, explodes, explosions | Fireworks exploded in bright colours over the river on New Year's Eve. |
| facilitate ≠fa·cil·i·tate/fəˈsɪləˌteɪt/ | v. | to make an action or process easierfamily: facilitation, facilitator, facilitated, facilitates, facilitating, facilitators | Clear road signs facilitate travel for visitors who cannot read Thai. |
| fled ⚠/flɛd/ | v. | past tense of flee: ran awayfamily: flee | The birds fled the storm. |
| flee ≠/fli/ | v. | to run away from dangerfamily: fled, fleeing | Birds flee before the storm. |
| fulfil ✓✓ful·fil/fʊlˈfɪl/ | v. | to do or achieve what was promised, needed or hoped forfamily: fulfilment, fulfilled, fulfilling, fulfils | She worked hard to fulfil her dream of becoming a doctor. |
| fulfill ✓ful·fill/fʊlˈfɪl/ | v. | American spelling of fulfilfamily: fulfil | She worked hard to fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse. |
| grip ✓/ɡɹɪp/ | v. | to hold something tightlyfamily: gripped | Grip the rope with both hands. |
| hack ≠/hæk/ | v. | to cut roughly; to break into a computer systemfamily: hacked | They hacked a path through the grass. |
| haul ⚠/hɔl/ | v. | to pull something heavy with effortfamily: hauled | They hauled the boat up the bank. |
| hum ⚠/hʌm/ | v. | to sing with closed lipsfamily: humming | He hummed the tune first. |
| incorporate ✓in·cor·po·rate/ɪnˈkɔɹpɚˌeɪt/ | v. | to include something as a part of a larger wholefamily: incorporation, incorporated, incorporating, incorporates | The new course incorporates online quizzes into every weekly lesson. |
| insert ✓in·sert/ɪnˈsɝt/ | v. | to put something inside or into something elsefamily: insertion, inserted, inserting, inserts | Insert a table after the second paragraph of your report. |
| inspect ≠in·spect/ɪnˈspɛkt/ | v. | to look at something carefully to check itfamily: inspection, inspector, inspected, inspecting, inspects | The engineer inspected the bridge carefully before it reopened. |
| instruct ≠in·struct/ɪnˈstɹʌkt/ | v. | to tell someone officially what they must dofamily: instruction, instructions, instructor, instructive, instructed, instructing | The lecturer instructed us to submit the essay by Friday. |
| integrate ✓✓in·te·grate/ˈɪntəˌɡɹeɪt/ | v. | to combine two or more things so they work together as onefamily: integration, integrated, integrates, integrating, integrative | The new software integrates email, calendars and video calls in one app. |
| interfere ≠in·ter·fere/ˌɪntɚˈfɪɹ/ | v. | to get involved in a situation where you are not wantedfamily: interference, interfered, interfering, interferes | Please do not interfere while the students solve the problem themselves. |
| invoke ≠in·voke/ɪnˈvoʊk/ | v. | to mention a law, rule or idea as a reason for an actionfamily: invocation, invoked, invoking, invokes | The committee invoked an old rule to cancel the meeting. |
| lower ✓✓low·er/ˈloʊɚ/ | v. | to move something down, or to reduce an amount or levelfamily: low, lowered, lowering, lowers, lowest | The shop lowered its prices by ten per cent during the sale. |
| lure ⚠/lʊɹ/ | v. | to attract someone, often by a trickfamily: lured, luring | Bright colors lure insects to the flower. |
| manipulate ≠ma·nip·u·late/məˈnɪpjəˌleɪt/ | v. | to control or influence something skilfully, often in an unfair wayfamily: manipulation, manipulative, manipulator, manipulated, manipulating | The article accuses the company of manipulating its sales figures. |
| merge ≠/mɝdʒ/ | v. | to join together with something and become onefamily: merger, merged, merges, merging | The two departments will merge into a single faculty next year. |
| obey ✓✓o·bey/oʊˈbeɪ/ | v. | to do what you are told by a person, rule or lawfamily: obedience, obedient, obeyed, obeying, obeys | Students must obey the safety rules in the science laboratory. |
| persist ≠per·sist/pɚˈsɪst/ | v. | to continue doing something even though it is difficultfamily: persistence, persistent, persisted, persisting, persists | She persisted with her Japanese lessons even when they became difficult. |
| prod ⚠/pɹɑd/ | v. | to push with a finger or a pointed objectfamily: prodded | Prod the fire gently. |
| reinforce ✓✓re·in·force/ˌɹiɪnˈfɔɹs/ | v. | to make an idea, feeling or structure strongerfamily: reinforcement, reinforced, reinforcing, reinforces | Regular practice reinforces what students learn in class. |
| relieve ✓✓re·lieve/ɹɪˈliv/ | v. | to make pain, worry or a difficult situation less severefamily: relief, relieved, relieving | A short walk after lunch can relieve stress during a busy day. |
| resume ≠re·sume/ɹɪˈzum/ | v. | to start again after a stopfamily: resumed, resumes, resuming | Classes will resume next Monday after the holiday break. |
| retrieve ≠re·trieve/ɹɪˈtɹiv/ | v. | to get something back from the place where it was left or storedfamily: retrieval, retrieved, retrieves, retrieving, retriever, retrievable | She went back to the library to retrieve her forgotten umbrella. |
| reverse ≠re·verse/ɹɪˈvɝs/ | v. | to change something to its oppositefamily: reversal, reversed, reverses, reversing, reversible | The company reversed its decision after customers complained. |
| rid ≠/ɹɪd/ | v. | to free a place of something unwanted | They rid the garden of weeds. |
| shooting ✓✓shoot·ing/ˈʃutɪŋ/ | n. | the activity of firing a gunfamily: shoot, shoots, shot, shootings | Shooting at paper targets is one of the Olympic sports. |
| skip ≠/skɪp/ | v. | to move with light jumps; to leave something outfamily: skipped | Skip the starred questions. |
| slam ≠/slæm/ | v. | to shut or hit with force and noisefamily: slammed | The wind slammed the door. |
| slide ✓✓/slaɪd/ | v. | to move smoothly over a surfacefamily: slid, sliding | The drawer slides open easily. |
| smash ≠/smæʃ/ | v. | to break something into many pieces with great forcefamily: smashed, smashes, smashing, smasher | The glass fell off the table and smashed on the floor. |
| sneak ✓/snik/ | v. | to move quietly so nobody noticesfamily: sneaked | Latecomers sneak in at the back. |
| soar ≠/sɔɹ/ | v. | to rise or fly high in the airfamily: soared, soaring | Kites soar above the field in March. |
| specify ✓✓spec·i·fy/ˈspɛsəˌfaɪ/ | v. | to say clearly and exactly what is wanted or neededfamily: specification, specific, specified, specifies, specifying | The form asks you to specify which course you want to join. |
| spin ≠/spɪn/ | v. | to turn around quickly many timesfamily: spun, spinning | The coin spun on the desk. |
| spit ⚠/spɪt/ | v. | to force liquid out of your mouthfamily: spat | Rinse and spit after brushing. |
| spun ⚠/spʌn/ | v. | past tense of spinfamily: spin, spinning | The wheel spun freely. |
| squeeze ≠/skwiz/ | v. | to press something firmly from both sidesfamily: squeezed, squeezes, squeezing, squeezer, squeezable | Squeeze the lemon over the noodles before you eat them. |
| stab ≠/stæb/ | v. | to push a knife or other sharp object into somethingfamily: stabbed, stabbing, stabs | She stabbed the fork into the potato to check it was cooked. |
| stimulate ✓✓stim·u·late/ˈstɪmjəˌleɪt/ | v. | to encourage something to grow, develop or become more activefamily: stimulation, stimulus, stimulating, stimulated, stimulates | Group discussions stimulate students to think more deeply about the topic. |
| strive ≠/stɹaɪv/ | v. | to try very hard to do or get somethingfamily: strived, striven, strove, strives, striving | The team strives to answer every customer within one hour. |
| suppress ≠sup·press/səˈpɹɛs/ | v. | to stop something from happening, being shown or being knownfamily: suppression, suppressed, suppressing, suppressor, suppressive | She tried to suppress a yawn during the long meeting. |
| surrender ≠sur·ren·der/səˈɹɛndɚ/ | v. | to stop trying to win and accept that you have lostfamily: surrendered, surrendering, surrenders | The team refused to surrender even when they were three goals behind. |
| suspend ✓✓sus·pend/səˈspɛnd/ | v. | to stop something officially for a short timefamily: suspension, suspended, suspending, suspends | The airline suspended all flights during the heavy storm. |
| tackle ✓✓tack·le/ˈtækəl/ | v. | to try to deal with a difficult problemfamily: tackled, tackles, tackling | The city is trying new ways to tackle the traffic problem. |
| threaten ✓✓threat·en/ˈθɹɛtən/ | v. | to warn that you will harm or punish someonefamily: threat, threats, threatens, threatened, threatening | The company threatened to cancel the contract if payment was late. |
| tilt ⚠/tɪlt/ | v. | to lean to one sidefamily: tilted | Tilt the jar and pour slowly. |
| tote ⚠/toʊt/ | v. | informal: to carry something | He toted the water jars uphill. |
| tread ✓/tɹɛd/ | v. | to walk or step on somethingfamily: trod, treading | Do not tread on the wet floor. |
| trim ⚠/tɹɪm/ | v. | to cut a little off to make neatfamily: trimmed | Trim the edges of the card. |
| tug ⚠/tʌɡ/ | v. | to pull hard with a quick movementfamily: tugged | She tugged the rope twice. |
| urge ✓✓/ɝdʒ/ | v. | to advise stronglyfamily: urgent, urgency | Teachers urge students to read daily. |
| urges ⚠urg·es/ˈɝdʒəz/ | v. | the form of urge used with he, she and itfamily: urge | The sign urges visitors to keep quiet. |
| wade ⚠/weɪd/ | v. | to walk through waterfamily: waded | We waded across the shallow ford. |
| withdraw ✓✓with·draw/wɪðˈdɹɔ/ | v. | to take something out or back from a placefamily: withdrawal, withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing, withdraws | She withdrew some cash from the bank before the trip. |
work79 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| aides ⚠/eɪdz/ | n. | plural of aide: assistants to an important personfamily: aide | Two aides handle the paperwork. |
| aircrew ✓air·crew/ˈɛɹˌkɹu/ | n. | the people who work on a plane during a flightfamily: crew, aircrews | The aircrew welcomed passengers and checked their seat belts before take-off. |
| analyst ✓✓an·a·lyst/ˈænəlɪst/ | n. | a person whose job is to study information and explain what it meansfamily: analyse, analysis, analysts, analytical | The company hired a data analyst to study its sales figures. |
| attached ✓at·tached/əˈtætʃt/ | adj. | fixed or joined to something elsefamily: attach, attaches, attaching, attachment, attachments | Please read the attached file before tomorrow's meeting. |
| audit ≠au·dit/ˈɔdɪt/ | n. | an official check of a company's accounts or recordsfamily: auditor, audits, audited, auditing | The accountants completed the yearly audit of the school's finances. |
| authorize ≠au·tho·rize/ˈɔθɚˌaɪz/ | v. | to give official permission for something to happenfamily: authority, authorization, authorized, authorizing, authorizes | Only the head teacher can authorize a trip outside the school. |
| badge ✓✓/bædʒ/ | n. | a small object worn on your clothes to show your name or jobfamily: badges | Every visitor must wear a badge with their name on it. |
| banker ✓bank·er/ˈbæŋkɚ/ | n. | a senior person in the business of keeping and lending people's moneyfamily: bank, banking, bankers, banks | My uncle worked as a banker in the city for thirty years. |
| candidate ≠can·di·date/ˈkændədeɪt/ | n. | a person who is trying to get a job or win an electionfamily: candidates, candidature | Three candidates were interviewed for the teaching post. |
| cellist ✓cel·list/ˈtʃɛləst/ | n. | a musician who plays a large stringed instrument held between the kneesfamily: cello, cellos, cellists | The cellist tuned her instrument before the concert began. |
| certify ✓cer·ti·fy/ˈsɝtəˌfaɪ/ | v. | to state officially that something is true or meets a standardfamily: certificate, certified, certification, certifies, certifying, certifiable | A doctor must certify that you are fit to work. |
| client ≠cli·ent/ˈklaɪənt/ | n. | a person who pays a company or an expert for a servicefamily: clients, clientele | The lawyer explained the contract to her client before the meeting. |
| commander ✓✓com·man·der/kəˈmændɚ/ | n. | the person in charge of a group, especially in the armyfamily: command, commanded, commanding, commanders | The ship's commander welcomed the new crew members on board. |
| commerce ≠com·merce/ˈkɑmɚs/ | n. | the buying and selling of goods and services on a large scalefamily: commercial, commercially, commercialise | The new port will increase commerce between the two countries. |
| completion ✓✓com·ple·tion/kəmˈpliʃən/ | n. | the moment when a piece of work is finishedfamily: complete, completed, completely | After completion of the course, students receive a certificate. |
| consultant ✓✓con·sul·tant/kənˈsʌltənt/ | n. | a person who gives expert advice to companies or peoplefamily: consult, consultation, consultancy | The company hired a consultant to improve its marketing plan. |
| corporate ✓✓cor·po·rate/ˈkɔɹpɚət/ | adj. | relating to a large company or group of companiesfamily: corporation, corporations | She works in the corporate office of a large bank. |
| corporation ✓✓cor·po·ra·tion/ˌkɔɹpəˈɹeɪʃən/ | n. | a large company or group of companiesfamily: corporate, corporations | She works in the marketing department of a large international corporation. |
| craftsman ✓crafts·man/ˈkɹæftsmən/ | n. | a person who is skilled at making things by handfamily: craft, crafts, craftsmen, craftsmanship | A local craftsman made this wooden table for our kitchen. |
| crane ⚠/kɹeɪn/ | n. | a tall machine for lifting; a large long-legged bird | A crane lifts the roof beams. |
| crate ⚠/kɹeɪt/ | n. | a large box for carrying goods | Stack the crates by the door. |
| crew ✓✓/kɹu/ | n. | the group of people who work together on a ship, plane or projectfamily: crews | The cabin crew asked passengers to fasten their seat belts. |
| delegate ≠del·e·gate/ˈdɛləɡət/ | n. | a person chosen to represent a group at a meetingfamily: delegates, delegation, delegated, delegating | Each university sent two delegates to the national student conference. |
| distributor ✓dis·trib·u·tor/dɪˈstɹɪbjətɚ/ | n. | a company that delivers goods from the maker to shopsfamily: distribute, distributed, distribution, distributors | The distributor delivers fresh milk to every supermarket in the city. |
| doorkeeper ✓door·keep·er/ˈdɔɹˌkipɚ/ | n. | a person whose job is to guard the entrance to a buildingfamily: doorkeepers | The doorkeeper checked our tickets before we entered the hall. |
| enterprise ≠en·ter·prise/ˈɛntɚˌpɹaɪz/ | n. | a company or business, especially a new or large onefamily: enterprises, enterprising | Small enterprises create many of the new jobs in our region. |
| entrepreneur ✓✓en·tre·pre·neur/ˌɑntɹəpɹəˈnɝ/ | n. | a person who starts their own business, accepting the risks involvedfamily: entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial, entrepreneurship | A young entrepreneur opened three coffee shops before she turned thirty. |
| essayist ✓es·say·ist/ˈɛˌseɪɪst/ | n. | a writer known for short pieces of writing on one subjectfamily: essay, essays, essayists | The essayist writes about everyday life in a clear, funny style. |
| executive ✓✓ex·ec·u·tive/ɪɡˈzɛkjətɪv/ | n. | a senior manager who makes important decisions in a companyfamily: execute, executives | The executives met to discuss the budget for next year. |
| expertise ✓ex·per·tise/ˌɛkspɚˈtiz/ | n. | special skill or knowledge in a particular subjectfamily: expert, experts, expertly | We need someone with expertise in computer security to check the system. |
| export ≠ex·port/ˈɛkspɔɹt/ | n. | a product that is sold to another countryfamily: exported, exporter, exporters, exporting, exports | Rice is one of the country's biggest exports. |
| foreman ✓fore·man/ˈfɔɹmən/ | n. | a worker who is in charge of a group of other workersfamily: foremen, forewoman | The foreman checks that everyone on the building site wears a helmet. |
| found ✓✓/faʊnd/ | v. | to start an organisation, company or schoolfamily: foundation, founder, founded, founding, founds | The school was founded in 1985 by two local teachers. |
| founder ✓found·er/ˈfaʊndɚ/ | n. | a person who starts a company or organisationfamily: found, founded, founding, founders, foundation | The founder of the company still visits the office every week. |
| gardener ✓gar·den·er/ˈɡɑɹdənɚ/ | n. | a person who looks after plants and flowers as a job or hobbyfamily: garden, gardens, gardening, gardeners | The gardener waters the flowers outside the library every morning. |
| headquarters ✓✓head·quar·ters/ˈhɛdˌkwɔɹtɚz/ | n. | the main office of a company or organisationfamily: headquartered | The bank moved its headquarters from the capital to a smaller city. |
| housekeeper ✓house·keep·er/ˈhaʊsˌkipɚ/ | n. | a person paid to clean and look after a house or hotelfamily: house, housekeepers, housekeeping | The housekeeper changes the towels in every room each morning. |
| incentive ✓✓in·cen·tive/ɪnˈsɛntɪv/ | n. | a reward, such as extra money, that encourages people to work harderfamily: incentives, incentivise | The company offers a bonus as an incentive to finish projects early. |
| input ✓✓in·put/ˈɪnˌpʊt/ | n. | ideas or information that you give to help with somethingfamily: inputs | Thank you for your input on the new timetable. |
| inspector ✓✓in·spec·tor/ɪnˈspɛktɚ/ | n. | a person whose job is to check that rules are followedfamily: inspect, inspection, inspectors | The inspector visited the restaurant to check that the kitchen was clean. |
| interpreter ✓in·ter·pret·er/ɪnˈtɝpɹətɚ/ | n. | a person who changes spoken words from one language into anotherfamily: interpret, interpretation, interpreted, interpreting, interprets, interpreters | The hospital hired an interpreter so the foreign patient could understand the doctor. |
| investigator ≠in·ves·ti·ga·tor/ɪnˈvɛstəˌɡeɪtɚ/ | n. | a person whose job is to find out the facts about somethingfamily: investigate, investigated, investigating, investigation, investigative, investigators | The investigators spent weeks finding out why the bridge had collapsed. |
| jeweler ✓jew·el·er/ˈdʒuəlɚ/ | n. | a person who makes, repairs or sells rings, necklaces and similar itemsfamily: jewel, jewels, jewellery, jewelers | The jeweler fixed the broken clasp on my grandmother's necklace. |
| keeper ✓keep·er/ˈkipɚ/ | n. | a person whose job is to look after a place or animalsfamily: keep, kept, keeping, keeps, keepers | The keeper feeds the elephants twice a day at the zoo. |
| laborer ✓la·bor·er/ˈleɪbɚɚ/ | n. | a person who does hard physical work, often outdoorsfamily: labor, labored, laboring, labors, laborers | The laborers carried bricks up the stairs all morning. |
| manufacture ✓man·u·fac·ture/ˌmænjəˈfæktʃɚ/ | n. | the making of goods in large numbers by machinefamily: manufacturer, manufacturers, manufactured, manufacturing, manufactures | The manufacture of cars needs many workers and machines. |
| manufacturer ✓man·u·fac·tur·er/ˌmænjəˈfæktʃɚɚ/ | n. | a company that makes goods in large numbers, usually in a factoryfamily: manufacture, manufacturing, manufacturers, manufactured | The manufacturer will replace the phone if it breaks within a year. |
| marketing ≠mar·ket·ing/ˈmɑɹkətɪŋ/ | n. | the work of advertising and selling a company's productsfamily: market, markets, marketed, marketer | The company spent half its budget on marketing this year. |
| master ✓✓mas·ter/ˈmæstɚ/ | n. | a person with great skillfamily: mastery | She is a master of the form. |
| mentor ≠men·tor/ˈmɛnˌtɔɹ/ | n. | an experienced person who advises and helps someone with less experiencefamily: mentored, mentoring, mentors, mentorship | My mentor at work helped me prepare for the presentation. |
| merger ≠merg·er/ˈmɝdʒɚ/ | n. | the joining of two companies or organisations into onefamily: merge, merges, merged, merging, mergers | After the merger, the two banks shared one name. |
| messenger ✓mes·sen·ger/ˈmɛsəndʒɚ/ | n. | a person who carries letters or news from one person to anotherfamily: message, messages, messengers | A messenger delivered the signed contract to our office this afternoon. |
| miner ✓min·er/ˈmaɪnɚ/ | n. | a person who works underground digging coal or mineralsfamily: mine, mining | The miners finish before dark. |
| mines ⚠/maɪnz/ | n. | plural of mine: deep holes dug for coal or gemsfamily: mine | The old mines are closed now. |
| negotiate ≠ne·go·ti·ate/nəˈɡoʊʃiˌeɪt/ | v. | to discuss in order to reach agreementfamily: negotiation | They negotiated a new contract. |
| nursing ✓nurs·ing/ˈnɝsɪŋ/ | adj. | connected with the job of caring for sick peoplefamily: nurse, nurses, nursed, nursery | She is studying for a nursing degree at the university hospital. |
| output ✓✓out·put/ˈaʊtˌpʊt/ | n. | the amount of something that a person, machine or factory producesfamily: outputs | The factory's output doubled after the new machines arrived. |
| partnership ✓✓part·ner·ship/ˈpɑɹtnɚˌʃɪp/ | n. | a relationship in which two people or groups work togetherfamily: partner, partners, partnered, partnerships | The university signed a partnership with a local hospital for research. |
| prep ⚠/pɹɛp/ | n. | informal: preparation, or time spent preparingfamily: prepare | Sunday is prep for the whole week. |
| promote ≠pro·mote/pɹəˈmoʊt/ | v. | to move someone to a higher jobfamily: promotion | They promoted her last year. |
| ranger ✓rang·er/ˈɹeɪndʒɚ/ | n. | a person whose job is to look after a forest or parkfamily: rangers | A ranger showed us the safe path through the forest. |
| recruit ✓✓re·cruit/ɹəˈkɹut/ | v. | to find new people to join a company, group or armyfamily: recruitment, recruiter, recruited, recruiting, recruits | The company is recruiting three new engineers for its city office. |
| reset ⚠re·set/ɹiˈsɛt/ | v. | to set something back to the start | Reset the timer. |
| resign ✓✓re·sign/ɹɪˈzaɪn/ | v. | to tell your employer officially that you are leaving your jobfamily: resignation, resigned, resigns, resigning | The manager resigned last month to start her own company. |
| resignation ≠res·ig·na·tion/ˌɹɛzəɡˈneɪʃən/ | n. | the act of telling your employer that you are leaving your jobfamily: resign, resigned, resigning, resigns, resignations | The manager handed in her resignation after ten years at the company. |
| retirement ✓✓re·tire·ment/ɹiˈtaɪɚmənt/ | n. | the time of life after a person stops working because of agefamily: retire, retired, retiring, retiree, retirements | After forty years at the bank, he is enjoying his retirement. |
| sector ✓✓sec·tor/ˈsɛktɚ/ | n. | a part of a country's economy or business activityfamily: sectors, sectoral | Many graduates find jobs in the tourism sector each year. |
| seller ✓sell·er/ˈsɛlɚ/ | n. | a person or company that has goods for people to buyfamily: sell, sold, selling, sale, sellers | The seller answered my questions before I paid for the phone. |
| shipping ≠ship·ping/ˈʃɪpɪŋ/ | n. | the transport of goods from one place to another, especially by seafamily: ship, ships, shipped, shipment, shipments | The online shop offers free shipping on all orders this month. |
| skilled ✓✓/skɪld/ | adj. | having the ability and experience to do something wellfamily: skill, skills, skilful, unskilled | The company needs skilled workers who can repair modern machines. |
| sued ⚠/sud/ | v. | past of sue: took legal action against someonefamily: sue | The company was sued by two customers. |
| supervise ≠su·per·vise/ˈsupɚˌvaɪz/ | v. | to watch over people or work to make sure it is done properlyfamily: supervision, supervisor, supervised, supervising, supervisory | A teacher supervised the students during the science experiment. |
| trainee ✓train·ee/tɹeɪˈni/ | n. | a person who is learning the skills needed for a jobfamily: train, trainer, training, trainees | The new trainees spend their first month watching experienced nurses. |
| translator ✓trans·la·tor/tɹænˈsleɪtɚ/ | n. | a person whose job is to put writing into another languagefamily: translate, translated, translating, translation, translations, translators | The company hired a translator to prepare the Thai version of the contract. |
| undertake ✓✓un·der·take/ˌʌndɚˈteɪk/ | v. | to begin doing a task or job, especially a big onefamily: undertaking, undertook, undertaken, undertakes | The team undertook a study of traffic in the city centre. |
| vat ⚠/væt/ | n. | a very large container for liquid | Dye darkens in the vat overnight. |
| vats ⚠/væts/ | n. | plural of vat: very large containers for liquidfamily: vat | Dye vats line the workshop wall. |
| wage ✓✓/weɪdʒ/ | n. | money paid to a worker, usually for each hour, day or weekfamily: wages | Many students earn a small wage from part-time jobs in shops. |
| ware ⚠/wɛɹ/ | n. | things made for sale, used in words like hardwarefamily: hardware | The potter's ware fills two shelves. |
abstract71 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| artistry ✓art·ist·ry/ˈɑɹtɪstɹi/ | n. | great skill in making something beautifulfamily: art, artist, artistic, artistically | The artistry of the temple carvings amazed the visitors. |
| assumption ✓✓as·sump·tion/əˈsʌmpʃən/ | n. | something you believe is true without any prooffamily: assume, assumed, assuming, assumptions | Her assumption that the shop opens at nine turned out to be wrong. |
| assurance ≠as·sur·ance/əˈʃʊɹəns/ | n. | a promise that something is true or will happenfamily: assure, assured, assuring, reassure, assurances | The company gave us an assurance that the order would arrive on time. |
| attribute ≠at·tri·bute/ˈætɹəˌbjut/ | n. | a quality or feature that someone or something hasfamily: attributes, attribution, attributable, attributive | Patience is an important attribute for a good teacher. |
| availability ≠a·vail·a·bil·i·ty/əˌveɪləˈbɪləti/ | n. | the state of being possible to get or usefamily: available, unavailable | Please check the availability of rooms before booking the hotel. |
| boost ✓✓/bust/ | n. | an increase that makes something better, stronger or more successfulfamily: boosted, boosting, boosts, booster | Winning the prize gave her confidence a real boost. |
| capability ≠ca·pa·bil·i·ty/ˌkeɪpəˈbɪləti/ | n. | the power or skill needed to do a particular thingfamily: capable, capably, incapable, capabilities | The new lab has the capability to test hundreds of samples daily. |
| circumstance ✓✓cir·cum·stance/ˈsɝkəmˌstæns/ | n. | a fact or condition that affects what happens in a situationfamily: circumstances, circumstantial | Under normal circumstances, the report would take a week to finish. |
| coincidence ✓✓co·in·ci·dence/koʊˈɪnsɪdəns/ | n. | a surprising situation where two things happen together by chancefamily: coincide, coincidences, coincidental, coincidentally | By coincidence, my cousin and I booked the same flight to Chiang Mai. |
| competence ≠com·pe·tence/ˈkɑmpətɪns/ | n. | the level of ability that a job or task needsfamily: competent, competently, competency, incompetent | The new nurse showed great competence in her first week. |
| complexity ≠com·plex·i·ty/kəmˈplɛksəti/ | n. | the state of having many connected parts that are hard to understandfamily: complex, complexities | Students often underestimate the complexity of the human brain. |
| conceive ≠con·ceive/kənˈsiv/ | v. | to form a new idea or plan in your mindfamily: concept, conception, conceivable, conceived, conceives, conceiving | The students conceived a clever app for sharing lecture notes. |
| conception ≠con·cep·tion/kənˈsɛpʃən/ | n. | a general idea or understanding of what something is likefamily: concept, conceptions, conceive | Many people have a false conception of what scientists do all day. |
| concession ≠con·ces·sion/kənˈsɛʃən/ | n. | something you agree to give up in order to end an argumentfamily: concede, conceded, concessions | The company made a small concession by allowing staff to leave early on Fridays. |
| confine ≠con·fine/kənˈfaɪn/ | v. | to keep someone or something within certain limits or a placefamily: confined, confinement, confines, confining | Please confine your essay to the topic on the exam paper. |
| conversion ≠con·ver·sion/kənˈvɝʒən/ | n. | the act of changing something into a different form or usefamily: convert, converted, converting, converts, converter, convertible | The conversion of the old barn into a café took six months. |
| creation ✓✓cre·a·tion/kɹiˈeɪʃən/ | n. | the making of something new that did not exist beforefamily: create, created, creative, creativity, creator, creations | The creation of a new library took the university nearly three years. |
| criticism ✓✓crit·i·cism/ˈkɹɪtɪˌsɪzəm/ | n. | remarks that say what is wrong with someone or somethingfamily: critic, critical, criticise, criticisms | The film received strong criticism for its slow story. |
| dedication ≠ded·i·ca·tion/ˌdɛdəˈkeɪʃən/ | n. | the hard work and time given to something you care aboutfamily: dedicate, dedicated, dedicates, dedicating | Her dedication to the team showed in every training session she attended. |
| devil ≠dev·il/ˈdɛvəl/ | n. | an evil spirit, especially the most powerful one in some religionsfamily: devils, devilish | In the play, the devil tries to trick the farmer into selling his land. |
| division ✓✓di·vi·sion/dɪˈvɪʒən/ | n. | the separation of something into two or more partsfamily: divide, divided, dividing, divisions, divisional | The division of the class into small groups made discussion easier. |
| emergence ≠e·mer·gence/ɪˈmɝdʒəns/ | n. | the fact of something new appearing or becoming knownfamily: emerge, emerged, emerging, emergent | The emergence of online learning changed how universities teach. |
| engagement ≠en·gage·ment/ɛnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/ | n. | the state of being involved in something and interested in itfamily: engage, engaged, engages, engaging, engagements | Group projects increase student engagement much more than long lectures do. |
| equal ≠e·qual/ˈikwəl/ | v. | to be the same in amount, number or value as somethingfamily: equally, equality, equalise, unequal, equals, equalled | Two plus two equals four, as every child knows. |
| equivalent ✓e·quiv·a·lent/ɪˈkwɪvələnt/ | n. | something that has the same value, size or meaning as another thingfamily: equivalence, equivalently, equivalents | There is no exact equivalent for this word in my language. |
| evolution ✓✓ev·o·lu·tion/ˌɛvəˈluʃən/ | n. | slow change and development over a very long timefamily: evolve, evolved, evolving, evolutionary, evolutions | The lecture described the evolution of the bicycle over two hundred years. |
| exception ✓✓ex·cep·tion/ɪkˈsɛpʃən/ | n. | a person or thing that does not follow the usual rulefamily: except, exceptional, exceptionally, exceptions | Most shops close at nine, but the pharmacy is an exception. |
| execution ≠ex·e·cu·tion/ˌɛksəˈkjuʃən/ | n. | the carrying out of a plan, order or piece of workfamily: execute, executed, executes, executing, executive, executions | The idea was good, but its execution was poor. |
| expansion ✓✓ex·pan·sion/ɪkˈspænʃən/ | n. | an increase in the size, number or range of somethingfamily: expand, expanded, expanding, expansive, expansions | The company's rapid expansion created hundreds of new jobs. |
| expectation ✓✓ex·pec·ta·tion/ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃən/ | n. | a strong belief that something will happen or be truefamily: expect, expected, expecting, unexpected, expectations | My parents have high expectations of my exam results. |
| exposure ✓ex·po·sure/ɪkˈspoʊʒɚ/ | n. | the state of being left open to something harmful, with no protectionfamily: expose, exposed, exposes, exposing, exposures | Long exposure to loud noise can damage your hearing. |
| extension ✓✓ex·ten·sion/ɪkˈstɛnʃən/ | n. | an extra part or extra time that makes something bigger or longerfamily: extend, extended, extending, extensive, extensions, extent | She asked the lecturer for a one-week extension on her essay. |
| fame ✓✓/feɪm/ | n. | being known and talked about by a great many peoplefamily: famous, famously, famed | The young singer found fame after one video went viral. |
| flaw ≠/flɔ/ | n. | a fault or weak point that makes something not perfectfamily: flawed, flawless, flaws | The plan has one serious flaw: it costs far too much. |
| flexibility ≠flex·i·bil·i·ty/ˌflɛksəˈbɪləti/ | n. | the ability to change or bend easily to suit different situationsfamily: flexible, flexibly, inflexible, flex | Working from home gives parents more flexibility with their hours. |
| formation ✓✓for·ma·tion/fɔɹˈmeɪʃən/ | n. | the starting or making of something new, such as a company or groupfamily: form, forms, formed, forming, formations, format | The formation of the student film club took only two weeks. |
| goodness ✓good·ness/ˈɡʊdnəs/ | n. | the quality of being kind, honest and morally rightfamily: good, better, best | Her goodness showed in the way she cared for the neighbours. |
| highlight ≠high·light/ˈhaɪˌlaɪt/ | n. | the best or most interesting part of somethingfamily: highlights, highlighted, highlighting, highlighter | The highlight of the trip was the boat ride at sunset. |
| ideology ≠i·de·ol·o·gy/ˌaɪdiˈɑlədʒi/ | n. | a set of beliefs and ideas that shape a political or social systemfamily: ideological, ideologically, ideologies | Each group in the debate class explained its ideology clearly. |
| illusion ✓il·lu·sion/ɪˈluʒən/ | n. | something that seems real or true but is notfamily: illusions, illusionist | The mirror creates the illusion of a much larger room. |
| implication ✓✓im·pli·ca·tion/ˌɪmpləˈkeɪʃən/ | n. | a possible effect or result of an action or decisionfamily: imply, implies, implied, implying, implicit, implications | The new rule has serious implications for students who work part-time. |
| indication ✓in·di·ca·tion/ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃən/ | n. | a sign that shows something exists or is likely to happenfamily: indicate, indicated, indicates, indicating, indicative, indicator | Her smile was a clear indication that she had passed. |
| initiative ✓✓in·i·tia·tive/ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ | n. | the ability to decide and act without being told what to dofamily: initiate, initiatives | She showed initiative by fixing the problem before anyone asked. |
| innovation ≠in·no·va·tion/ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən/ | n. | a new idea, method or productfamily: innovate, innovations, innovative, innovator | The company is known for innovation in mobile phone design. |
| instinct ≠in·stinct/ˈɪnstɪŋkt/ | n. | a natural way of behaving that you do not need to learnfamily: instincts, instinctive, instinctively | Birds build nests by instinct, without anyone teaching them. |
| involvement ≠in·volve·ment/ɪnˈvɑlvmənt/ | n. | the act of taking part in an activity or eventfamily: involve, involved, involves, involving, involvements | Parents' involvement in school events helps children feel supported. |
| masterpiece ✓mas·ter·piece/ˈmæstɚˌpis/ | n. | an excellent work of art, writing or music, often an artist's bestfamily: masterpieces | Many critics consider this novel the writer's masterpiece. |
| mobility ≠mo·bil·i·ty/moʊˈbɪləti/ | n. | the ability to move or travel from place to place easilyfamily: mobile, mobilise, mobilities | The new bus service improved mobility for people in the village. |
| modification ≠mod·i·fi·ca·tion/ˌmɑdəfəˈkeɪʃən/ | n. | a small change made to something to improve itfamily: modify, modifies, modified, modifying, modifier | The engineer made a small modification to the design. |
| mortal ✓mor·tal/ˈmɔɹtəl/ | adj. | not able to live for everfamily: mortality, mortally, mortals, immortal | All living things are mortal, so the scientist studied how cells age. |
| motion ✓✓mo·tion/ˈmoʊʃən/ | n. | the act or fact of moving from one place to anotherfamily: motions, motionless | The camera captures the motion of the ball in slow detail. |
| necessity ✓✓ne·ces·si·ty/nəˈsɛsəti/ | n. | something that you must have, not just something you wantfamily: necessary, necessarily, unnecessary, necessities, necessitate | A good internet connection is a necessity for students who study online. |
| outcome ✓✓out·come/ˈaʊtˌkʌm/ | n. | the final result of an action, event or situationfamily: outcomes | We will not know the outcome of the interview until next week. |
| perspective ✓✓per·spec·tive/pɚˈspɛktɪv/ | n. | a particular way of thinking about or seeing somethingfamily: perspectives | Studying abroad gave him a new perspective on his own culture. |
| popularity ✓✓pop·u·lar·i·ty/ˌpɑpjəˈlɛɹəti/ | n. | the quality of being liked or enjoyed by a lot of peoplefamily: popular, unpopular, popularly | The popularity of online courses has grown quickly in recent years. |
| predicate ✓pred·i·cate/ˈpɹɛdəˌkeɪt/ | v. | to base something on a particular idea or belieffamily: predication, predicated, predicates, predicative | The whole plan is predicated on getting more funding. |
| prevail ≠pre·vail/pɹɪˈveɪl/ | v. | to be common or accepted in a place or timefamily: prevailed, prevailing, prevails, prevalent, prevalence | A calm and friendly mood prevailed in the office all week. |
| priority ✓✓pri·or·i·ty/pɹaɪˈɔɹəti/ | n. | something that is more important than other things and must be done firstfamily: prior, priorities, prioritise | Finishing the report is my top priority this week. |
| probable ✓✓prob·a·ble/ˈpɹɑbəbəl/ | adj. | likely to happen or to be truefamily: probably, probability, improbable | The most probable cause of the power cut was the storm. |
| proposed ✓pro·posed/pɹəˈpoʊzd/ | adj. | suggested as a plan but not yet agreed or donefamily: propose, proposal, proposals, proposes, proposing | The proposed timetable gives students a longer lunch break. |
| prospect ✓✓pros·pect/ˈpɹɑspɛkt/ | n. | the possibility that something, often something good, will happenfamily: prospects, prospective | The prospect of studying abroad next year excites her. |
| pursuit ✓✓pur·suit/pɚˈsut/ | n. | the act of trying hard to achieve or get somethingfamily: pursue, pursued, pursuing, pursuits | She moved to the city in pursuit of a better job. |
| recognition ✓✓rec·og·ni·tion/ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃən/ | n. | the ability to know who or what something is when you see itfamily: recognize, recognizable, recognized, recognitions | Face recognition unlocks my phone as soon as I look at it. |
| related ≠re·lat·ed/ɹɪˈleɪtɪd/ | adj. | connected in some wayfamily: relate, relation, relationship, relative, relatively, unrelated | The two subjects are closely related, so study them together. |
| resolution ✓✓res·o·lu·tion/ˌɹɛzəˈluʃən/ | n. | a firm decision to do or not do somethingfamily: resolve, resolute, resolutions | My New Year resolution is to read one book every month. |
| sustain ≠sus·tain/səˈsteɪn/ | v. | to keep something going at the same level for a long timefamily: sustainable, sustainability, sustained, sustaining, sustains | It is hard to sustain full attention during a three-hour lecture. |
| symbolic ≠sym·bol·ic/sɪmˈbɑlɪk/ | adj. | representing an idea or feeling rather than having a practical effectfamily: symbol, symbols, symbolise, symbolism, symbolically | Lighting the candle was a symbolic start to the new school year. |
| transition ✓✓tran·si·tion/tɹænˈzɪʃən/ | n. | a change from one state or situation to anotherfamily: transit, transitional, transitions | The transition from school to university can be difficult for many students. |
| ultimate ✓✓ul·ti·mate/ˈʌltəmət/ | adj. | final, coming after everything elsefamily: ultimately | Her ultimate goal is to open her own language school. |
| universal ✓✓u·ni·ver·sal/ˌjunəˈvɝsəl/ | adj. | existing everywhere or involving everyone in the worldfamily: universe, universally, universality | A smile is a universal sign of friendliness in every culture. |
| valid ✓✓val·id/ˈvælɪd/ | adj. | able to be accepted because it is true, reasonable or officialfamily: validity, validate, validation, invalid, validly | You need a valid student card to borrow books from the library. |
people71 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| adopted ✓a·dopt·ed/əˈdɑptɪd/ | adj. | taken into a family and raised as its own childfamily: adopt, adopts, adopting, adoption, adoptive, adoptee | Their adopted son loves visiting his grandparents every weekend. |
| adoption ≠a·dop·tion/əˈdɑpʃən/ | n. | the legal act of bringing someone else's child into your familyfamily: adopt, adopted, adopting, adoptive, adoptions | After the adoption, the little boy finally had a family of his own. |
| alien ✓a·li·en/ˈeɪliən/ | n. | a being from another planet; in law, a foreigner | The film's alien never speaks. |
| ally ≠al·ly/ˈælaɪ/ | n. | a person or country that helps and supports anotherfamily: allies, alliance | The librarian is a teacher's ally. |
| bans ⚠/bænz/ | n. | plural of ban: official rules that forbid somethingfamily: ban, banned | The school bans phones in exams. |
| birthplace ✓birth·place/ˈbɝθˌpleɪs/ | n. | the town or country where a person's life beganfamily: birth, birthplaces | Her birthplace was a small village in the north of the country. |
| boxer ✓box·er/ˈbɑksɚ/ | n. | a person who fights with their fists as a sportfamily: boxing, boxers | The young boxer trains at the gym six days a week. |
| clan ≠/klæn/ | n. | a large family group | The whole clan gathers at New Year. |
| collector ✓✓col·lec·tor/kəˈlɛktɚ/ | n. | a person who gathers and keeps things of one typefamily: collect, collection, collectors | My uncle is a stamp collector with thousands of stamps. |
| conductor ✓con·duc·tor/kənˈdʌktɚ/ | n. | a person who stands in front of an orchestra and directs the musicfamily: conduct, conducted, conducting, conductors | The conductor raised her hands and the orchestra began to play. |
| courtesy ≠cour·te·sy/ˈkɝtəsi/ | n. | polite behaviour that shows respect for other peoplefamily: courteous, courteously, courtesies | She always answers customer emails with great courtesy, even when they are angry. |
| darling ✓dar·ling/ˈdɑɹlɪŋ/ | n. | a person who is loved very muchfamily: darlings | Come here, darling, and let me see your school report. |
| dependable ✓de·pend·a·ble/dɪˈpɛndəbəl/ | adj. | able to be trusted to do what is expectedfamily: depend, depends, depended, depending, dependably, dependence | Nok is so dependable that she has never missed a deadline. |
| divorce ✓✓di·vorce/dɪˈvɔɹs/ | n. | the legal ending of a marriagefamily: divorced, divorcee, divorces, divorcing | After the divorce, the children lived with their mother. |
| duel ✓du·el/ˈduəl/ | n. | a formal fight between two people | The two officers fought a duel at dawn. |
| dwarf ✓/dwɔɹf/ | n. | a small, human-like creature in old stories, often living under the groundfamily: dwarfs, dwarves, dwarfed, dwarfing | In the story, seven dwarfs lived in a small house in the forest. |
| economist ✓✓e·con·o·mist/ɪˈkɑnəmɪst/ | n. | an expert who studies how countries and businesses use money and resourcesfamily: economy, economic, economics, economical, economies, economists | The economist warned that prices would rise again next year. |
| explorer ✓ex·plor·er/ɪkˈsplɔɹɚ/ | n. | a person who travels to unknown places to find out about themfamily: explore, explored, exploring, exploration, explorers | Early explorers crossed the desert without maps or modern equipment. |
| fighting ≠fight·ing/ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ | n. | the use of physical force against another person or groupfamily: fight, fighter, fighters, fights, fought | Any fighting in the school playground will be reported to parents. |
| gang ✓✓/ɡæŋ/ | n. | an organized group, often of young people | A gang of cousins arrived at once. |
| genius ✓✓ge·nius/ˈdʒinjəs/ | n. | a person who is extremely clever or has unusual natural abilityfamily: geniuses | Everyone in the class thinks my cousin is a genius at maths. |
| helper ✓help·er/ˈhɛlpɚ/ | n. | a person who assists someone with a taskfamily: help, helpers, helpful, helping | Each teacher has a helper who prepares the materials. |
| housewife ✓house·wife/ˈhaʊsˌwaɪf/ | n. | a married woman whose main work is looking after her home and familyfamily: house, wife, housewives | My mother was a housewife until my brother started secondary school. |
| humble ≠hum·ble/ˈhʌmbəl/ | adj. | not thinking you are better or more important than othersfamily: humbly, humility, humbled, humbling | Despite winning the prize, she stayed humble and thanked her team. |
| idiot ≠id·i·ot/ˈɪˌdiət/ | n. | a very stupid personfamily: idiots, idiotic, idiotically | I felt like an idiot when I forgot my own phone number. |
| immigrant ≠im·mi·grant/ˈɪməɡɹənt/ | n. | a person who comes to live permanently in another countryfamily: immigrants, immigrate, immigration | Many immigrants opened restaurants in the old part of town. |
| infant ≠in·fant/ˈɪnfənt/ | n. | a very young child who cannot walk or talk yetfamily: infants, infancy | The nurse weighed the infant and wrote the number on the chart. |
| insult ≠in·sult/ˈɪnsʌlt/ | n. | a rude remark that hurts someone's feelingsfamily: insults, insulted, insulting | Calling his work lazy was an insult he did not forget. |
| intellectual ≠in·tel·lec·tu·al/ˌɪntəˈlɛktʃuəl/ | n. | a person who studies and thinks deeply about serious ideasfamily: intellect, intellectually, intellectuals | The journal invited several intellectuals to discuss the future of cities. |
| intimate ≠in·ti·mate/ˈɪntəmət/ | adj. | very close and personal, sharing private feelingsfamily: intimacy, intimately | They have been intimate friends since primary school. |
| inventor ✓in·ven·tor/ɪnˈvɛntɚ/ | n. | a person who designs or creates something completely newfamily: invent, inventors, invention, inventive | The inventor of the telephone changed how people communicate. |
| investor ✓✓in·ves·tor/ɪnˈvɛstɚ/ | n. | a person who puts money into a business hoping to earn morefamily: invest, investment, investors | The young company needs investors before it can open its first shop. |
| islander ✓is·land·er/ˈaɪləndɚ/ | n. | a person who lives on a piece of land surrounded by seafamily: island, islanders | The islanders travel to the mainland by boat once a week. |
| lance ✓/læns/ | n. | a long pole with a sharp point, carried by riders in the past | The museum keeps a rusted lance. |
| lord ✓/lɔɹd/ | n. | a man of high rank; a British title | The old story names a river lord. |
| madam ✓mad·am/ˈmædəm/ | n. | a polite word used to speak to a woman you do not knowfamily: madams | Excuse me, madam, you have dropped your umbrella. |
| maestro ✓mae·stro/ˈmaɪstɹoʊ/ | n. | a person who is extremely skilled at music, especially a conductorfamily: maestros | The audience stood and clapped when the maestro walked onto the stage. |
| mama ✓ma·ma/ˈmɑmə/ | n. | an informal word for mother, used mainly by young childrenfamily: mamas | The little boy ran to his mama when he fell over. |
| mature ≠ma·ture/məˈtʃʊɹ/ | adj. | behaving in a sensible adult wayfamily: maturity, matured, maturing, maturely, immature | She is very mature for a fifteen-year-old and handles problems calmly. |
| morality ≠mo·ral·i·ty/mɚˈæləti/ | n. | ideas and habits of right conductfamily: moral, virtue | The tale teaches simple morality. |
| narrator ✓nar·ra·tor/ˈnɛɹeɪtɚ/ | n. | the person who tells the story in a book, film or playfamily: narrate, narration, narrators, narrative | The narrator of the novel is a young girl living in Bangkok. |
| needy ✓need·y/ˈnidi/ | adj. | very poor and lacking basic things such as food or moneyfamily: need, needier, neediest, neediness | The charity gives warm clothes to needy families every winter. |
| nerd ⚠/nɝd/ | n. | someone very interested in study or technologyfamily: nerds, nerdy | He calls himself a grammar nerd. |
| newscaster ✓news·cast·er/ˈnuzˌkæstɚ/ | n. | a person who presents the latest reports on television or radiofamily: newscast, newscasters | The newscaster read the evening headlines calmly and clearly. |
| oath ✓/oʊθ/ | n. | a formal serious promise | New officials take an oath. |
| observer ✓✓ob·serv·er/əbˈzɝvɚ/ | n. | a person who watches something carefully, often to report on itfamily: observe, observation, observers | An observer from the ministry sat at the back during the exam. |
| operator ✓✓op·er·a·tor/ˈɑpɚˌeɪtɚ/ | n. | a person whose job is to work a machine or telephone systemfamily: operate, operation, operators | The crane operator waited for the signal before lifting the heavy box. |
| opponent ✓✓op·po·nent/əˈpoʊnənt/ | n. | a person you compete against in a game, contest or argumentfamily: opponents, oppose, opposition | Our team shook hands with our opponents after the match. |
| pact ⚠/pækt/ | n. | a formal agreement between people or countries | The two schools made a sports pact. |
| panel ✓✓pan·el/ˈpænəl/ | n. | a small group of people chosen to discuss, judge or advise on somethingfamily: panels, panellist | A panel of three teachers will judge the speech competition. |
| pastor ≠pas·tor/ˈpæstɚ/ | n. | a religious leader in charge of a Christian church and its peoplefamily: pastors, pastoral | The pastor greeted each family as they arrived at the hall. |
| peers ⚠/pɪɹz/ | n. | plural of peer: people of your own age or positionfamily: peer | Students learn fastest from peers. |
| pharmacist ✓phar·ma·cist/ˈfɑɹməsɪst/ | n. | a person whose job is to prepare and sell medicinesfamily: pharmacy, pharmacies, pharmacists | The pharmacist explained how often to take the tablets. |
| pirate ≠pi·rate/ˈpaɪɹət/ | n. | a person who robs ships at seafamily: pirates, piracy, pirated | The children dressed up as pirates for the school play. |
| presenter ✓pre·sen·ter/ˈpɹɛzəntɚ/ | n. | a person who introduces and leads a television or radio programmefamily: present, presentation, presented, presenting, presenters | The presenter welcomed the guests at the start of the show. |
| privately ✓pri·vate·ly/ˈpɹaɪvətli/ | adv. | without other people knowing or watchingfamily: private, privacy | The teacher spoke to him privately after the class ended. |
| racist ✓✓rac·ist/ˈɹeɪsɪst/ | n. | a person who treats others unfairly because of their skin colour or originfamily: racism, racial, racists | The novel follows a racist who slowly learns to respect people of every background. |
| rival ✓✓ri·val/ˈɹaɪvəl/ | n. | a person or group competing with another for the same thingfamily: rivals, rivalry, rivalries | The two schools have been rivals in football for many years. |
| roommate ✓room·mate/ˈɹuˌmeɪt/ | n. | a person you share a flat or living space withfamily: roommates | My roommate and I take turns cleaning the kitchen. |
| servant ≠ser·vant/ˈsɝvənt/ | n. | a person who is paid to work in someone else's homefamily: serve, served, serving, service, servants | In the old house, a servant cooked and cleaned for the family. |
| spear ⚠/spɪɹ/ | n. | a long pole with a sharp point, used as a weapon | The hunter carried a spear. |
| spokesman ✓✓spokes·man/ˈspoʊksmən/ | n. | a man chosen to give official information for a company or groupfamily: spokesperson, spokeswoman, spokesmen | A spokesman for the airline said all flights would run tomorrow. |
| supervisor ≠su·per·vi·sor/ˈsupɚˌvaɪzɚ/ | n. | a person who is in charge of others and checks their workfamily: supervise, supervised, supervising, supervision, supervisors, supervisory | My supervisor reads every report before it goes to the client. |
| therapist ✓✓ther·a·pist/ˈθɛɹəpəst/ | n. | a person trained to treat problems of the body or mindfamily: therapy, therapeutic, therapists | She talks to a therapist once a week about her stress. |
| trait ✓✓/tɹeɪt/ | n. | a particular quality in a person's characterfamily: traits | Patience is a useful trait for anyone who teaches young children. |
| trio ≠tri·o/ˈtɹiˌoʊ/ | n. | a group of three | A trio of students presented. |
| unite ≠u·nite/ˈjuˌnaɪt/ | v. | to join together as one groupfamily: unity, united | The villages united to build a school. |
| veto ⚠ve·to/ˈviˌtoʊ/ | n. | the power to stop a decision alone | The head kept a veto on trips. |
| volunteer ≠vol·un·teer/ˌvɑlənˈtɪɹ/ | n. | a person who offers to do work for no moneyfamily: volunteers, volunteered, volunteering | Volunteers helped clean the beach after the storm. |
| wed ✓/wɛd/ | v. | to marry; a formal or newspaper wordfamily: wedding | The couple wed in April. |
| widow ≠wid·ow/ˈwɪdoʊ/ | n. | a woman whose husband has diedfamily: widows, widowed, widower, widowhood | After becoming a widow, she moved closer to her children. |
nature67 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| acre ≠a·cre/ˈeɪkɚ/ | n. | a unit for measuring land | The farm covers thirty acres. |
| acres ⚠a·cres/ˈeɪkɚz/ | n. | more than one acrefamily: acre | The temple owns twelve acres. |
| aloe ⚠al·oe/ˈæˌloʊ/ | n. | a plant whose thick leaves give a healing juice | She rubbed aloe on the burn. |
| aluminium ≠al·u·min·i·um/ˌæljəˈmɪniəm/ | n. | a light silver-coloured metal used for cans, foil and planes | Most drink cans are made of aluminium because it is light. |
| ape ≠/eɪp/ | n. | a large animal similar to a monkey | Apes use simple tools. |
| ash ≠/æʃ/ | n. | the grey powder left after burning | Ash covered the ground. |
| bait ⚠/beɪt/ | n. | food used to attract fish or animals | The fisherman changed his bait. |
| beam ≠/bim/ | n. | a line of light | A beam of sunlight crossed the room. |
| blossom ✓blos·som/ˈblɑsəm/ | n. | a flower on a tree or bush, especially a fruit treefamily: blossoms, blossomed, blossoming | In spring the mango trees are covered in white blossom. |
| bred ⚠/bɹɛd/ | v. | past tense of breedfamily: breed, breeding | These fish are bred for the ponds. |
| cane ✓/keɪn/ | n. | a stick used for walking or a tall plant stem | Sugar comes from cane. |
| carp ⚠/kɑɹp/ | n. | a large freshwater fish often kept in ponds | Carp rise to the bread crumbs. |
| cedar ⚠ce·dar/ˈsidɚ/ | n. | a tall evergreen tree with sweet-smelling wood | The chest is made of cedar. |
| colt ⚠/koʊlt/ | n. | a young male horse | The colt stays near its mother. |
| coral ✓cor·al/ˈkɔɹəl/ | n. | a hard, colourful substance made by tiny sea animalsfamily: corals | Divers came to see the bright coral near the island. |
| corona ✓co·ro·na/kəˈɹoʊnə/ | n. | the ring of light seen around the sun during a total eclipsefamily: coronas | During the eclipse, the corona glowed faintly around the dark moon. |
| cove ⚠/koʊv/ | n. | a small sheltered bay | Fishing boats wait out storms in the cove. |
| crab ✓/kɹæb/ | n. | a sea animal with a hard shell and big front claws | A crab hid under the rock. |
| crater ✓cra·ter/ˈkɹeɪtɚ/ | n. | a large round hole in the ground or on a planetfamily: craters, cratered | The students studied photos of a huge crater on the moon. |
| cub ⚠/kʌb/ | n. | a young bear, lion or fox | The cub stayed near its mother. |
| decay ✓de·cay/dɪˈkeɪ/ | v. | to slowly go bad or fall apart over timefamily: decayed, decaying, decays | Fruit decays quickly if you leave it in the sun. |
| delta ⚠del·ta/ˈdɛltə/ | n. | low land where a river splits before reaching the sea | Rice grows well in the delta. |
| den ⚠/dɛn/ | n. | the home of a wild animal | The fox returned to its den. |
| dove ✓/dʌv/ | n. | a bird like a small pigeon, a symbol of peace | A dove nests under the eaves. |
| dune ⚠/dun/ | n. | a hill of sand made by the wind | We climbed a dune to see the sea. |
| dunes ⚠/dunz/ | n. | plural of dune: hills of loose sandfamily: dune | The dunes shift with the wind. |
| echo ≠ech·o/ˈɛkoʊ/ | n. | a sound that comes back to you | Your voice makes an echo in the hall. |
| elemental ✓el·e·men·tal/ˌɛləˈmɛntəl/ | adj. | very basic and powerful, like the forces of naturefamily: element, elements, elementary, elementally | The storm showed the elemental power of wind and rain. |
| erupt ✓✓e·rupt/ɪˈɹʌpt/ | v. | to explode suddenly and throw out fire, rock or gasfamily: eruption, erupted, erupting, erupts, eruptive | The volcano erupted twice last century, covering nearby villages in ash. |
| fern ⚠/fɝn/ | n. | a green plant with feathery leaves and no flowers | Ferns grow by the stream. |
| fin ⚠/fɪn/ | n. | a thin flat part on a fish used for swimming | The fish moved its fin. |
| gill ⚠/ɡɪl/ | n. | the organ a fish breathes withfamily: gills | Water passes over the gills. |
| glen ⚠/ɡlɛn/ | n. | a small narrow valley | Mist filled the glen at dawn. |
| goat ✓/ɡoʊt/ | n. | a farm animal with horns that climbs well | The goat ate the notice. |
| habitat ≠hab·i·tat/ˈhæbəˌtæt/ | n. | the natural home of an animal or plant | The birds lost their habitat. |
| hare ⚠/hɛɹ/ | n. | an animal like a large rabbit | A hare ran across the field. |
| hay ✓/heɪ/ | n. | dried grass used as animal food | The cows eat hay in the dry season. |
| hunting ✓✓hunt·ing/ˈhʌntɪŋ/ | n. | the activity of chasing and catching wild animalsfamily: hunt, hunted, hunter, hunters, hunts | Hunting is not allowed anywhere inside the national park. |
| isles ⚠/aɪlz/ | n. | plural of isle: islands, a poetic wordfamily: isle, island | Small isles dot the southern sea. |
| lava ✓la·va/ˈlɑvə/ | n. | very hot melted rock that flows out of a volcano | The lava moved slowly down the mountain towards the empty village. |
| lush ✓/lʌʃ/ | adj. | growing thickly, green and healthy | The fields are lush after the rains. |
| mass ✓✓/mæs/ | n. | a large amount of matter with no clear shapefamily: massive, masses | A mass of cloud covered the hill. |
| mesa ⚠me·sa/ˈmeɪsə/ | n. | a hill with a flat top and steep sides | The road climbs the mesa slowly. |
| mole ⚠/moʊl/ | n. | a small animal that digs; also a dark skin spot | A mole dug up the flowerbed. |
| oaks ⚠/oʊks/ | n. | plural of oakfamily: oak | Old oaks shade the courtyard. |
| opal ⚠o·pal/ˈoʊpəl/ | n. | a precious stone with shifting colors | The ring holds a small opal. |
| otter ≠ot·ter/ˈɑtɚ/ | n. | a river animal with thick fur that swims well | An otter fished below the weir. |
| pastoral ✓pas·tor·al/ˈpæstɚəl/ | adj. | connected with quiet country life and farmingfamily: pastor, pastoralism, pastoralist | The painting shows a pastoral scene with sheep on green hills. |
| paw ✓/pɔ/ | n. | the foot of an animal with claws | The cat lifted one paw. |
| pest ⚠/pɛst/ | n. | an insect or animal that damages crops | The pest ruined the rice. |
| pits ⚠/pɪts/ | n. | plural of pit: holes in the groundfamily: pit | Fill the pits before the rains. |
| pup ⚠/pʌp/ | n. | a young dog or seal | The pup chewed everything. |
| resin ≠res·in/ˈɹɛzən/ | n. | a sticky substance that comes from some trees | Resin beads on the cut branch. |
| ridge ✓/ɹɪdʒ/ | n. | a long narrow raised line, especially along a hilltopfamily: ridges | The path follows the ridge north. |
| risen ⚠ris·en/ˈɹɪzən/ | v. | past participle of risefamily: rise, rose | The river has risen overnight. |
| rod ≠/ɹɑd/ | n. | a long thin bar of metal or wood | He carried a fishing rod. |
| rot ⚠/ɹɑt/ | v. | to decay slowlyfamily: rotten | The fruit will rot in the heat. |
| shear ⚠/ʃɪɹ/ | v. | to cut the wool off a sheepfamily: shears | Farmers shear the flock in the hot season. |
| soil ≠/sɔɪl/ | n. | the earth that plants grow in | Good soil makes a good garden. |
| species ✓✓spe·cies/ˈspiʃiz/ | n. | a group of similar living things | This species is rare. |
| stag ⚠/stæɡ/ | n. | an adult male deer | A stag crossed the forest road. |
| sty ⚠/staɪ/ | n. | a pen where pigs are kept | The sty is washed every morning. |
| swan ✓/swɑn/ | n. | a large white water bird with a long neck | A swan crossed the pond. |
| teak ⚠/tik/ | n. | a hard golden-brown wood from Southeast Asian trees | The old hall is built of teak. |
| threat ≠/θɹɛt/ | n. | a warning that harm may comefamily: threaten | The flood was a real threat. |
| tide ≠/taɪd/ | n. | the regular rise and fall of the seafamily: tidal | The tide comes in at dusk. |
| worm ✓✓/wɝm/ | n. | a long thin animal with a soft body and no legsfamily: worms, wormy | After the rain, worms came out onto the wet path. |
home63 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| axes ⚠ax·es/ˈækˌsɪz/ | n. | plural of axefamily: axe | The axes stay locked in the shed. |
| backyard ✓back·yard/ˈbækˌjɑɹd/ | n. | an open area behind a house, often with grassfamily: yard, backyards | The children played football in the backyard all Saturday afternoon. |
| barn ✓/bɑɹn/ | n. | a large farm building for crops or animals | The rice dries in the barn. |
| birdcage ✓bird·cage/ˈbɝdkeɪdʒ/ | n. | a box made of thin bars in which a pet bird is keptfamily: bird, cage, birdcages | Grandfather hangs the birdcage outside the window every morning. |
| bolt ✓/boʊlt/ | n. | a metal pin that fastens things togetherfamily: bolts | One bolt holds the whole shelf. |
| brad ⚠/bɹæd/ | n. | a thin nail with a small head | Two brads hold the frame's back. |
| cabinet ≠cab·i·net/ˈkæbənət/ | n. | a cupboard with doors or drawers for keeping things infamily: cabinets | She keeps the medicine in a small cabinet above the sink. |
| ceiling ≠ceil·ing/ˈsilɪŋ/ | n. | the surface above your head inside a roomfamily: ceilings | A large fan hangs from the ceiling of the classroom. |
| cellar ✓cel·lar/ˈsɛlɚ/ | n. | a room under a house, used for storing thingsfamily: cellars | They keep old furniture and boxes in the cellar. |
| chimney ✓chim·ney/ˈtʃɪmni/ | n. | a tall pipe that carries smoke out of a buildingfamily: chimneys | Grey smoke rose from the chimney of the old farmhouse. |
| cleaning ✓clean·ing/ˈklinɪŋ/ | n. | the work of making a place or thing free from dirtfamily: clean, cleaner, cleaners, cleanliness | We do the cleaning together every Saturday morning. |
| cord ⚠/kɔɹd/ | n. | thick string or a covered electrical wire | Do not trip on the cord. |
| cork ⚠/kɔɹk/ | n. | light bark used to stop bottles; a stopper made of it | The cork came out with a pop. |
| corridor ✓✓cor·ri·dor/ˈkɔɹədɚ/ | n. | a long narrow passage in a building with rooms on each sidefamily: corridors | Please walk quietly along the corridor while other classes are working. |
| cottage ≠cot·tage/ˈkɑtədʒ/ | n. | a small, simple house, usually in the countrysidefamily: cottages | They spent the weekend in a cottage near the lake. |
| darn ⚠/dɑɹn/ | v. | to mend a hole in cloth with stitchesfamily: darned | Monks darn their own robes. |
| decorate ≠dec·o·rate/ˈdɛkɚˌeɪt/ | v. | to make a place or thing look nicer by adding things to itfamily: decoration, decorations, decorative, decorator, decorated, decorating | The students decorated the classroom with paper flowers for the festival. |
| decoration ✓✓dec·o·ra·tion/ˌdɛkəˈɹeɪʃən/ | n. | something attractive that is added to make a place look nicerfamily: decorate, decorated, decorating, decorative, decorator, decorations | The students hung paper decorations around the classroom for the party. |
| decorative ✓dec·o·ra·tive/ˈdɛkɹətɪv/ | adj. | made to look attractive rather than to be usefulfamily: decorate, decorated, decorating, decoration, decorations, decorator | The small decorative lights made the classroom feel warm and welcoming. |
| doorway ✓door·way/ˈdɔɹˌweɪ/ | n. | the opening in a wall that you walk through to enter a roomfamily: door, doorways | She stood in the doorway and waited for the rain to stop. |
| dorm ✓/dɔɹm/ | n. | a shared sleeping room; short for dormitoryfamily: dormitory | Novices share the west dorm. |
| dormitory ✓dor·mi·to·ry/ˈdɔɹməˌtɔɹi/ | n. | a building where many students live and sleepfamily: dorm, dormitories | First-year students usually share a room in the university dormitory. |
| drip ⚠/dɹɪp/ | v. | to fall in small dropsfamily: dripped, dripping | The tap drips all night. |
| dye ✓/daɪ/ | n. | a substance that changes the color of cloth or hair | The dye turned the shirt dark blue. |
| dyes ⚠/daɪz/ | n. | plural of dyefamily: dye | Natural dyes color the silk. |
| estate ✓✓es·tate/ɪˈsteɪt/ | n. | a large area of land in the countryside owned by one person or familyfamily: estates | The old estate has a big house, a lake and a farm. |
| fireplace ✓fire·place/ˈfaɪɚˌpleɪs/ | n. | a space in a wall where wood is burned to heat a roomfamily: fire, place, fireplaces | On cold evenings the family sat around the fireplace and talked. |
| flame ✓✓/fleɪm/ | n. | the hot bright gas that rises from something burningfamily: flames, flamed, flaming, flammable | A small blue flame appeared under the cooking pot. |
| folding ✓fold·ing/ˈfoʊldɪŋ/ | adj. | able to be bent flat so it takes less spacefamily: fold, folded, folds | We keep a folding table in the cupboard for extra guests. |
| fuse ⚠/fjuz/ | n. | a safety part that melts to break an electric circuit | The fan stopped when the fuse blew. |
| gateway ✓gate·way/ˈɡeɪtˌweɪ/ | n. | an entrance to a town, building or piece of landfamily: gate, gateways | We walked through the old stone gateway into the university grounds. |
| heap ✓/hip/ | n. | an untidy pile of things | A heap of books blocked the shelf. |
| hook ✓✓/hʊk/ | n. | a curved piece of metal or plastic for hanging things onfamily: hooks, hooked | Hang your coat on the hook behind the door. |
| implement ✓im·ple·ment/ˈɪmpləmənt/ | n. | a tool used for a particular job, especially outdoorsfamily: implements, implemented, implementing, implementation | The farmer keeps his implements in a small wooden shed. |
| interior ≠in·te·ri·or/ɪnˈtɪɹiɚ/ | n. | the inside part of a building, car or other objectfamily: interiors | The interior of the old library was cool and quiet. |
| label ≠la·bel/ˈleɪbəl/ | n. | a piece of paper or cloth on something that gives information about itfamily: labels, labelled, labelling | Read the label on the bottle before you take the medicine. |
| leak ≠/lik/ | v. | to let liquid or gas escape through a holefamily: leaking, leaky | The roof leaks in heavy rain. |
| lighting ✓✓light·ing/ˈlaɪtɪŋ/ | n. | the lamps and equipment that make a room or stage brightfamily: light, lights, lit | The lighting in the library is soft and easy on the eyes. |
| lobby ≠lob·by/ˈlɑbi/ | n. | the large open area just inside the entrance of a buildingfamily: lobbies, lobbyist, lobbying | Please wait for me in the hotel lobby at nine o'clock. |
| mains ⚠/meɪnz/ | n. | the mains: the main supply of electricity or water | Switch off at the mains first. |
| mansion ✓man·sion/ˈmænʃən/ | n. | a very large and expensive housefamily: mansions | The old mansion on the hill has more than twenty rooms. |
| manual ✓man·u·al/ˈmænjuəl/ | n. | a book that explains how to use or fix somethingfamily: manuals, manually | Read the manual before you set up the printer. |
| mesh ⚠/mɛʃ/ | n. | material with open spaces, like a net | A mesh screen keeps insects out. |
| mold ✓/moʊld/ | n. | a soft green or black growth on old food or damp walls; also a shaped containerfamily: moldy | Mold spotted the bread by Friday. |
| packet ✓✓pack·et/ˈpækət/ | n. | a small paper or plastic container for things such as biscuits or seedsfamily: pack, package, packets | She opened a packet of biscuits and shared them with us. |
| pane ⚠/peɪn/ | n. | a single sheet of glass in a window | The ball cracked a window pane. |
| rack ✓/ɹæk/ | n. | a frame with bars for holding things | Dry the cloths on the rack. |
| reels ⚠/ɹilz/ | n. | plural of reel: spools that thread or film wind ontofamily: reel | Two reels of thread, please. |
| residence ≠res·i·dence/ˈɹɛzɪdəns/ | n. | a place where someone lives, especially a large or official housefamily: reside, resident, residents, residential, residency, residences | The director lives in an official residence next to the campus. |
| rug ✓/ɹʌɡ/ | n. | a small carpet that covers part of a floor | A red rug lay in front of the sofa. |
| rust ⚠/ɹʌst/ | n. | the reddish coating that forms on old ironfamily: rusty | Rust covered the gate. |
| satin ⚠sat·in/ˈsætən/ | n. | a smooth shiny clothfamily: satins | The cushion was covered in satin. |
| shed ✓/ʃɛd/ | n. | a small simple building for tools or storage | The rakes are in the shed. |
| slab ≠/slæb/ | n. | a thick flat piece of stone or concrete | A slab covers the old well. |
| soak ≠/soʊk/ | v. | to leave in liquid until wet throughfamily: soaked, soaking | Soak the brushes overnight. |
| sweep ✓✓/swip/ | v. | to clean a floor by pushing dirt away with a brushfamily: swept, sweeper, sweeping, sweeps | He sweeps the classroom floor every afternoon after the last lesson. |
| terrace ✓ter·race/ˈtɛɹəs/ | n. | a flat outdoor area next to a building where people can sitfamily: terraces, terraced | We had lunch on the terrace outside the café. |
| tray ✓/tɹeɪ/ | n. | a flat board with raised edges for carrying things | Carry the cups on a tray. |
| tub ✓/tʌb/ | n. | a wide open container; a bath | Soak the beans in a tub. |
| vent ⚠/vɛnt/ | n. | an opening that lets air in or out | Dust blocks the ceiling vent. |
| villa ✓vil·la/ˈvɪlə/ | n. | a large house with a garden, often used for holidaysfamily: villas | They rented a villa near the beach for the whole week. |
| wipe ≠/waɪp/ | v. | to clean or dry a surface by rubbing it with a clothfamily: wiped, wiper, wipers, wipes, wiping | He wiped the whiteboard before the next class started. |
| yarn ⚠/jɑɹn/ | n. | thread for knitting or weaving | She bought two rolls of yarn. |
daily55 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ace ⚠/eɪs/ | n. | a playing card with one mark; also someone very skilled | He drew the ace of hearts. |
| aired ⚠/ɛɹd/ | v. | past tense of air: broadcast, or dried in the airfamily: air | The interview aired on Sunday. |
| alto ⚠al·to/ˈæltoʊ/ | n. | a low female singing voice, or a singer with it | The altos carry the second line. |
| aria ⚠a·ri·a/ˈɑɹiə/ | n. | a song for one voice in an opera | The aria closes the first act. |
| athletics ✓ath·let·ics/æθˈlɛtɪks/ | n. | sports such as running, jumping and throwingfamily: athlete, athletic, athletes | She trains for athletics three times a week at the stadium. |
| ballad ✓bal·lad/ˈbæləd/ | n. | a slow song or poem that tells a storyfamily: ballads | The singer ended the concert with a quiet ballad about her hometown. |
| ballet ✓✓bal·let/bæˈleɪ/ | n. | a kind of dance with graceful movements, performed to music on stagefamily: ballets, ballerina | My cousin has studied ballet since she was six years old. |
| bikini ✓bi·ki·ni/bɪˈkini/ | n. | a two-piece swimming costume worn by womenfamily: bikinis | She packed a bikini and a towel for the beach trip. |
| breakdown ≠break·down/ˈbɹeɪkˌdaʊn/ | n. | a time when a machine or a system suddenly stops workingfamily: breakdowns | A breakdown on the motorway made us two hours late. |
| browse ✓/bɹaʊz/ | v. | to look through things or websites without a clear aimfamily: browser, browsers, browsed, browses, browsing | I browsed the bookshop for an hour and bought nothing. |
| burial ≠bur·i·al/ˈbɛɹiəl/ | n. | a ceremony at which a dead body is placed in the groundfamily: bury, buried, burials, buries | The whole village attended the burial of the old teacher. |
| carnival ✓car·ni·val/ˈkɑɹnəvəl/ | n. | a public festival with music, dancing and people in colourful costumesfamily: carnivals | The whole town joins the carnival parade every February. |
| catalogue ≠cat·a·logue/ˈkætəˌlɔɡ/ | n. | a book or list showing all the things you can buy or borrowfamily: catalogues, catalogued, cataloguing | She chose a new desk from the furniture catalogue. |
| costume ≠cos·tume/ˈkɑstum/ | n. | a set of clothes worn to look like a particular person or thingfamily: costumes, costumed | The children wore animal costumes for the school play. |
| cuff ✓/kʌf/ | n. | the end part of a sleeve, around the wristfamily: cuffs | He rolled up his cuffs before washing the dishes. |
| cyclist ✓cy·clist/ˈsaɪkəlɪst/ | n. | a person who rides a bicyclefamily: cycle, cycling, cycled, cycles, cyclists | Cyclists should wear a helmet and use the bike lane when possible. |
| denim ✓den·im/ˈdɛnəm/ | n. | a strong cotton cloth, usually blue, used for jeans | He wore a denim jacket over a plain white T-shirt. |
| diva ⚠di·va/ˈdivə/ | n. | a celebrated female singer, especially in opera | The diva sang the final aria. |
| fabric ✓✓fab·ric/ˈfæbɹɪk/ | n. | cloth used to make clothes, curtains and furniture coversfamily: fabrics | The shop sells cotton fabric for making shirts and dresses. |
| fest ⚠/fɛst/ | n. | informal: a festival, used in words like film festfamily: festival | The school held a short story fest. |
| gala ⚠ga·la/ˈɡælə/ | n. | a special public celebration or show | The school gala funds the library. |
| gems ⚠/dʒɛmz/ | n. | plural of gem: precious stonesfamily: gem | The crown holds nine gems. |
| gigs ⚠/ɡɪɡz/ | n. | informal plural of gig: paid performancesfamily: gig | The band plays small gigs on weekends. |
| harp ⚠/hɑɹp/ | n. | a large musical instrument with strings played by hand | The harp opens the ceremony. |
| illustration ✓✓il·lus·tra·tion/ˌɪləˈstɹeɪʃən/ | n. | a picture in a book or magazine that explains or decorates the textfamily: illustrate, illustrated, illustrating, illustrator, illustrative, illustrations | Each chapter of the children's book begins with a colourful illustration. |
| karaoke ✓kar·a·o·ke/ˌkɛɹiˈoʊki/ | n. | singing popular songs to recorded music, often with friends | We sang karaoke with our classmates after the exams finished. |
| legend ✓✓leg·end/ˈlɛdʒənd/ | n. | an old story about people or events that may not be truefamily: legends, legendary | According to an old legend, a giant once lived on that mountain. |
| linen ✓lin·en/ˈlɪnən/ | n. | a strong, cool cloth made from a plant, used for clothes and sheetsfamily: linens | In hot weather he wears a light linen shirt to work. |
| lore ⚠/lɔɹ/ | n. | traditional knowledge and stories about a subject | Village lore names every big tree. |
| mage ⚠/meɪdʒ/ | n. | a magician, used in stories and games | The mage in the game heals the team. |
| mask ≠/mæsk/ | n. | a covering worn over the face | Dust masks hang by the door. |
| melody ≠mel·o·dy/ˈmɛlədi/ | n. | a series of musical notes that make a pleasant tunefamily: melodic, melodious, melodies | The song has a simple melody that children can sing easily. |
| noir ⚠/nwɑɹ/ | n. | a style of dark crime film or fiction | The club watched a classic noir. |
| outfit ✓✓out·fit/ˈaʊtˌfɪt/ | n. | a set of clothes that you wear together, often for a special occasionfamily: outfits | She chose a smart outfit for her first day at the new office. |
| parade ✓✓pa·rade/pəˈɹeɪd/ | n. | a line of people moving through the streets together to celebrate somethingfamily: parades, paraded, parading | The whole town came out to watch the New Year parade. |
| pearl ✓/pɝl/ | n. | a small round white jewel that grows inside an oyster | One pearl fell from the necklace. |
| plot ≠/plɑt/ | n. | the story of a book or film; a small piece of land | Retell the plot in five sentences. |
| polo ✓po·lo/ˈpoʊloʊ/ | n. | a ball game played on horses by two teams using long sticks | My uncle watched a polo match at the club last weekend. |
| pose ≠/poʊz/ | v. | to hold a position for a photograph | They posed for the class photo. |
| postal ✓post·al/ˈpoʊstəl/ | adj. | connected with the service that sends letters and parcelsfamily: post, posts, postage | Write your postal address clearly on the back of the envelope. |
| rave ⚠/ɹeɪv/ | n. | a large dance party with electronic music | The rave went on past midnight. |
| recreation ✓rec·re·a·tion/ˌɹɛkɹiˈeɪʃən/ | n. | activities you do for enjoyment when you are not workingfamily: recreational | The park is a popular place for recreation at weekends. |
| reggae ✓reg·gae/ˈɹɛˌɡeɪ/ | n. | a style of popular music from Jamaica with a strong steady beat | The cafe plays reggae music every Saturday afternoon. |
| rehearsal ✓re·hears·al/ɹɪˈhɝsəl/ | n. | a practice of a play or music before the real performancefamily: rehearse, rehearsals, rehearsed | The band has a rehearsal every evening before the concert. |
| replica ✓rep·li·ca/ˈɹɛplɪkə/ | n. | an exact copy of something, especially a famous objectfamily: replicas, replicate, replication | The museum shop sells a small replica of the ancient boat. |
| saga ⚠sa·ga/ˈsɑɡə/ | n. | a long story of many events | The lost-key saga lasted a week. |
| scuba ✓scu·ba/ˈskubə/ | n. | equipment for breathing under water while swimming | We learned to use scuba equipment before diving near the island. |
| semi ⚠sem·i/ˈsɛmi/ | n. | informal: a semifinalfamily: semifinal | Our team reached the semi. |
| skateboard ✓skate·board/ˈskeɪtˌbɔɹd/ | n. | a short flat piece of wood with wheels that you stand on and ridefamily: skateboards, skateboarder, skateboarding | He rides his skateboard to the park after school. |
| solo ≠so·lo/ˈsoʊˌloʊ/ | n. | a piece performed by one person alone | She sang a solo at assembly. |
| sprint ✓/spɹɪnt/ | n. | a short race or run at full speedfamily: sprints, sprinted, sprinting, sprinter | She won the sprint at the school sports day. |
| stud ⚠/stʌd/ | n. | a small round earring; a small metal buttonfamily: studs | She wears one silver stud. |
| toon ⚠/tun/ | n. | informal: a cartoon character or filmfamily: cartoon | The kids named every toon on the poster. |
| underwear ≠un·der·wear/ˈʌndɚˌwɛɹ/ | n. | clothes that you put on next to your skin, inside your other clothesfamily: wear | Pack enough underwear for the whole week away. |
| veil ⚠/veɪl/ | n. | a thin cloth covering the face or head | The bride lifted her veil. |
feelings54 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| alert ≠a·lert/əˈlɝt/ | adj. | watchful and quick to notice | Stay alert during the drill. |
| anxious ≠anx·ious/ˈæŋkʃəs/ | adj. | worried and unable to relaxfamily: anxiety | She grew anxious as time passed. |
| aspire ≠as·pire/əˈspaɪɹ/ | v. | to want strongly to achieve something great in the futurefamily: aspiration, aspirations, aspiring, aspired, aspires | Many of the students aspire to become doctors or engineers. |
| aura ⚠au·ra/ˈɔɹə/ | n. | a feeling or quality that seems to surround a person or place | The old hall has an aura of calm. |
| avid ≠av·id/ˈævəd/ | adj. | very eager and enthusiastic | She is an avid reader of folk tales. |
| blues ⚠/bluz/ | n. | the blues: sad feelings; slow, sad musicfamily: blue | Rainy-season blues pass quickly here. |
| bothered ✓both·ered/ˈbɑðɚd/ | adj. | feeling worried or upset by somethingfamily: bother, bothers, bothering | He was not bothered by the noise from the road. |
| charm ≠/tʃɑɹm/ | n. | a quality that pleases peoplefamily: charming | The old town has charm. |
| console ✓con·sole/kənˈsoʊl/ | v. | to make someone feel better when they are sadfamily: consolation, consoled, consoling, consoles | Her friends consoled her after she failed the driving test. |
| contempt ≠con·tempt/kənˈtɛmpt/ | n. | the feeling that someone or something deserves no respect at allfamily: contemptible, contemptuous | She looked at the untidy report with obvious contempt. |
| content ≠con·tent/ˈkɑntɛnt/ | adj. | quietly satisfied with what you havefamily: contentment | He seemed content with the result. |
| cope ✓✓/koʊp/ | v. | to manage something difficultfamily: coping | She coped well with two classes at once. |
| dare ≠/dɛɹ/ | v. | to be brave enough to do somethingfamily: daring | Nobody dared to answer. |
| desperately ✓✓des·per·ate·ly/ˈdɛspɚətli/ | adv. | very much, because of great need or worryfamily: desperate, desperation | She desperately wanted to pass the driving test this time. |
| determined ≠de·ter·mined/dɪˈtɝmənd/ | adj. | having a strong wish to do something and not giving upfamily: determine, determination, determinedly, determines, determining | She is determined to pass the driving test this time. |
| devoted ✓de·vot·ed/dɪˈvoʊtɪd/ | adj. | loving someone or something very much and giving it your timefamily: devote, devotes, devoting, devotion, devotee, devotedly | She is a devoted teacher who stays late to help students. |
| dread ✓/dɹɛd/ | v. | to feel very worried about something that will happenfamily: dreaded, dreadful, dreading, dreads | I dread giving presentations in front of the whole class. |
| dreamy ✓dream·y/ˈdɹimi/ | adj. | lost in pleasant thoughts and not paying attentionfamily: dream, dreamier, dreamily, dreaminess | He had a dreamy look and did not hear the question. |
| furious ✓✓fu·ri·ous/ˈfjʊɹiəs/ | adj. | feeling extremely strong angerfamily: fury, furiously | The manager was furious when the report arrived two days late. |
| grim ✓/ɡɹɪm/ | adj. | very serious or unpleasantfamily: grimly | The news from the flood was grim. |
| grin ≠/ɡɹɪn/ | v. | to smile widelyfamily: grinning | She grinned at the answer. |
| hug ✓/hʌɡ/ | n. | putting your arms around someone warmlyfamily: hugged | Grandmother gave him a hug. |
| impressed ✓✓im·pressed/ɪmˈpɹɛst/ | adj. | feeling admiration because someone or something is very goodfamily: impress, impressive, impression | The judges were impressed by how clearly she explained her project. |
| intent ✓in·tent/ɪnˈtɛnt/ | adj. | giving all your attention to doing somethingfamily: intend, intended, intention, intentional, intentionally, intently | She was intent on finishing the report before lunch. |
| keen ≠/kin/ | adj. | very interested in something and wanting to do itfamily: keenly, keenness | My brother is keen to join the university football club. |
| mercy ≠mer·cy/ˈmɝsi/ | n. | kindness shown to someone you have the power to punishfamily: merciful, merciless, mercies | The teacher showed mercy and accepted the late assignment. |
| motivated ✓mo·ti·vat·ed/ˈmoʊtəˌveɪtəd/ | adj. | very keen to do something and work hard at itfamily: motivate, motivating, motivation, motivator | The students were highly motivated after hearing about the scholarship. |
| moving ✓✓mov·ing/ˈmuvɪŋ/ | adj. | causing strong feelings, especially sadness or sympathyfamily: move, moved, movingly | The film's final scene was so moving that many people cried. |
| muse ✓/mjuz/ | v. | to think quietly about something; a formal word | He mused over the exam results. |
| naive ≠na·ive/nɑˈiv/ | adj. | too ready to believe things, from lack of experiencefamily: naively | It is naive to skip the answer key. |
| nightmare ✓✓night·mare/ˈnaɪtˌmɛɹ/ | n. | a frightening dreamfamily: nightmares, nightmarish | The child woke up crying after a nightmare about a big dog. |
| offend ✓✓of·fend/əˈfɛnd/ | v. | to make someone feel hurt or angryfamily: offence, offensive, offended, offending, offender, offends | I hope my comment about the food did not offend anyone. |
| optimistic ✓✓op·ti·mis·tic/ˌɑptəˈmɪstɪk/ | adj. | expecting good things to happen in the futurefamily: optimism, optimist, optimistically | Despite the difficult exam, she felt optimistic about her results. |
| passionate ✓✓pas·sion·ate/ˈpæʃənət/ | adj. | having or showing very strong feelings about somethingfamily: passion, passionately | She is passionate about teaching young children to read. |
| possessed ✓pos·sessed/pəˈzɛst/ | adj. | acting as if controlled by a very strong force or feelingfamily: possess, possession, possessive, possessor, possessing | He trained like a man possessed before the marathon. |
| rage ≠/ɹeɪdʒ/ | n. | very strong anger | He left in a rage. |
| rants ⚠/ɹænts/ | n. | plural of rant: long angry complaintsfamily: rant | Keep feedback short — no rants. |
| regret ≠re·gret/ɹəɡˈɹɛt/ | v. | to feel sorry about something you did | He regretted saying it. |
| relaxation ✓re·lax·a·tion/ˌɹilækˈseɪʃən/ | n. | rest and calm after work or effortfamily: relax, relaxed, relaxing | Listening to quiet music is his favourite form of relaxation. |
| relief ✓✓re·lief/ɹɪˈlif/ | n. | the good feeling you have when worry or pain goes awayfamily: relieve, relieved, relieving, reliefs | It was a relief to hear that everyone had arrived safely. |
| relieved ✓✓re·lieved/ɹɪˈlivd/ | adj. | feeling happy because a worry or problem has gonefamily: relieve, relief | She felt relieved when she finally found her lost passport. |
| sensitive ✓✓sen·si·tive/ˈsɛnsətɪv/ | adj. | easily affected, hurt or upset by things around youfamily: sense, sensitivity, sensitively, insensitive | She is very sensitive, so please be kind when you give feedback. |
| sob ✓/sɑb/ | v. | to cry noisily, taking short breathsfamily: sobbing | She sobbed at the end of the film. |
| spite ✓✓/spaɪt/ | n. | the wish to upset someone; in spite of means although | He hid the chalk out of spite. |
| stern ✓/stɝn/ | adj. | serious and strictfamily: sternly | One stern look stopped the noise. |
| suspicious ≠sus·pi·cious/səˈspɪʃəs/ | adj. | feeling that someone may be dishonest or something may be wrongfamily: suspicion, suspiciously, suspect | The teacher became suspicious when two essays looked exactly alike. |
| sympathetic ✓✓sym·pa·thet·ic/ˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk/ | adj. | showing that you understand and care about someone's problemsfamily: sympathy, sympathetically, unsympathetic | The manager was sympathetic when I explained why I was late. |
| tease ✓/tiz/ | v. | to laugh at someone, playfully or unkindlyfamily: teasing | Do not tease slower readers. |
| tender ≠ten·der/ˈtɛndɚ/ | adj. | gentle and caring towards someonefamily: tenderly, tenderness | The nurse spoke in a tender voice to the frightened child. |
| thrilled ≠/θɹɪld/ | adj. | extremely pleased and excitedfamily: thrill, thrills, thrilling, thriller | The children were thrilled to see the elephants at the zoo. |
| tolerate ≠tol·er·ate/ˈtɑlɚˌeɪt/ | v. | to accept something you do not like without complainingfamily: tolerance, tolerant, tolerated, tolerates, tolerating, toleration | Our manager will not tolerate people arriving late to meetings. |
| torture ≠tor·ture/ˈtɔɹtʃɚ/ | v. | to cause someone very great pain or sufferingfamily: tortured, torturer, tortures, torturing, torturous | The long wait for her exam results tortured her all week. |
| willing ✓✓will·ing/ˈwɪlɪŋ/ | adj. | ready and happy to do something if askedfamily: will, willingness, willingly, unwilling | Several students were willing to help clean the beach on Sunday. |
| woes ⚠/woʊz/ | n. | plural of woe: troubles; a literary wordfamily: woe | The team's woes ended with one win. |
academic53 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| acquisition ≠ac·qui·si·tion/ˌækwəˈzɪʃən/ | n. | the gaining of something new, such as knowledge, skills or propertyfamily: acquire, acquired, acquisitions | Language acquisition happens faster when children hear English every day. |
| analogy ≠a·nal·o·gy/əˈnælədʒi/ | n. | a comparison between two things that helps to explain an ideafamily: analogies, analogous | The teacher used an analogy between the heart and a water pump. |
| approximate ✓ap·prox·i·mate/əˈpɹɑksəmət/ | adj. | close to the real number or amount but not exactfamily: approximately, approximation, approximated, approximates | The approximate cost of the trip is two thousand baht. |
| assess ✓✓as·sess/əˈsɛs/ | v. | to carefully judge the quality or amount of somethingfamily: assessment, assessed, assessing, assessor | The teacher will assess your essay for ideas, organization and grammar. |
| biological ✓✓bi·o·log·i·cal/ˌbaɪəˈlɑdʒɪkəl/ | adj. | relating to living things and the study of themfamily: biology, biologist, biologists, biologically | The students studied the biological effects of pollution on river fish. |
| botany ✓bot·a·ny/ˈbɑtəni/ | n. | the scientific study of plantsfamily: botanist, botanists, botanical | She chose botany because she loves working with plants. |
| canon ✓can·on/ˈkænən/ | n. | the books or works that experts agree are the most importantfamily: canons, canonical | Her novels are now part of the canon of modern literature. |
| clause ≠/klɔz/ | n. | a group of words with a subject and a verbfamily: clauses, clausal | Underline the main clause in each sentence. |
| compile ≠com·pile/kəmˈpaɪl/ | v. | to collect pieces of information and put them together in one documentfamily: compilation, compiler, compiled, compiling, compiles | The students compiled a list of useful websites for their project. |
| comprise ≠com·prise/kəmˈpɹaɪz/ | v. | to be made up of certain partsfamily: comprised, comprises, comprising | The course comprises ten lectures and two written assignments. |
| criterion ✓cri·te·ri·on/kɹaɪˈtɪɹiən/ | n. | a standard used to judge or decide somethingfamily: criteria | Clear writing is the main criterion for marking these essays. |
| critically ✓✓crit·i·cal·ly/ˈkɹɪtɪkəli/ | adv. | in a way that carefully judges what is good or badfamily: critical, critic, criticism, criticise | University students must learn to read critically, not just remember facts. |
| deduction ✓de·duc·tion/dɪˈdʌkʃən/ | n. | a conclusion that you reach by thinking carefully about the factsfamily: deduce, deduct, deduced, deducted, deductions, deductive | From the wet umbrella, her deduction was that it had rained. |
| descriptive ✓de·scrip·tive/dɪˈskɹɪptɪv/ | adj. | giving a clear picture in words of what something is likefamily: describe, description, descriptions, descriptively | Her essay was so descriptive that I could almost see the beach. |
| dimension ≠di·men·sion/dɪˈmɛnʃən/ | n. | a measurement of how long, wide or high something isfamily: dimensions, dimensional | Please write down the dimensions of the box before we order the packaging. |
| draft ✓✓/dɹæft/ | n. | an early version of a piece of writing that will be changed laterfamily: drafted, drafting, drafts, drafter | Please send me the first draft of your report by Friday. |
| elective ✓e·lec·tive/ɪˈlɛktɪv/ | adj. | chosen by the student rather than required by the coursefamily: elect, elected, election, electives | Students may take two elective subjects in their second year. |
| eligible ≠el·i·gi·ble/ˈɛlədʒəbəl/ | adj. | allowed to do or receive something because you meet the rulesfamily: eligibility, ineligible | Only students with a high GPA are eligible for the scholarship. |
| equation ≠e·qua·tion/ɪˈkweɪʒən/ | n. | a statement in mathematics with two sides that have the same valuefamily: equate, equations | Solve the equation to find the value of x. |
| estimated ✓es·ti·mat·ed/ˈɛstəˌmeɪtəd/ | adj. | calculated roughly rather than measured exactlyfamily: estimate, estimates, estimating, estimation, estimator | The estimated cost of the school trip is two thousand baht. |
| evaluate ✓✓e·val·u·ate/ɪˈvæljuˌeɪt/ | v. | to judge how good, useful or successful something isfamily: evaluation, evaluated, evaluates, evaluating, evaluator, evaluative | Teachers evaluate each essay using the same list of criteria. |
| evaluation ✓✓e·val·u·a·tion/ɪˌvæljuˈeɪʃən/ | n. | a careful judgement of how good or useful something isfamily: evaluate, evaluated, evaluating, evaluations, evaluator, evaluative | Students complete an evaluation of each course at the end of term. |
| extract ✓✓ex·tract/ˈɛkˌstɹækt/ | n. | a short part taken from a book, film or piece of writingfamily: extracts, extracted, extracting, extraction, extractor | We read an extract from the novel before watching the film. |
| footnote ✓foot·note/ˈfʊtˌnoʊt/ | n. | extra information printed at the bottom of a pagefamily: footnotes | The author explains the term in a footnote at the bottom. |
| fundamental ✓✓fun·da·men·tal/ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəl/ | adj. | forming the most basic and important part of somethingfamily: fundamentals, fundamentally | Reading is a fundamental skill that every child should learn early. |
| illustrate ✓✓il·lus·trate/ˈɪləˌstɹeɪt/ | v. | to make an idea clear by giving examples or picturesfamily: illustration, illustrator, illustrative, illustrated, illustrates, illustrating | The teacher used a short video to illustrate how volcanoes form. |
| imagery ≠im·age·ry/ˈɪmədʒɹi/ | n. | descriptive language that helps a reader see or feel a scenefamily: image, images | The poem uses rich imagery to describe the rainy city at night. |
| index ✓✓in·dex/ˈɪndɛks/ | n. | an alphabetical list at the back of a book showing where topics appearfamily: indexes, indexed, indexing | Look in the index to find the pages about volcanoes. |
| infer ✓✓in·fer/ɪnˈfɝ/ | v. | to reach an opinion from the information you havefamily: inference, inferences, inferred, inferring, infers | From her silence, we inferred that she disagreed with the plan. |
| interpret ✓✓in·ter·pret/ɪnˈtɝpɹət/ | v. | to explain or decide what something meansfamily: interpretation, interpreter, interpreted, interpreting, interprets, interpretive | Scientists must interpret the data carefully before drawing any conclusions. |
| investigate ≠in·ves·ti·gate/ɪnˈvɛstəˌɡeɪt/ | v. | to examine something carefully to find out the truth about itfamily: investigation, investigator, investigative, investigated, investigating, investigates | Scientists are investigating why the river has turned green this summer. |
| justify ✓✓jus·ti·fy/ˈdʒʌstəˌfaɪ/ | v. | to give good reasons why something is right or necessaryfamily: justification, justifiable, justified, justifies, justifying | How can the company justify such a large price increase? |
| literal ✓lit·er·al/ˈlɪtɚəl/ | adj. | following the basic, exact meaning of the wordsfamily: literally, literalism | A literal translation of that idiom makes no sense in Thai. |
| mathematical ≠math·e·mat·i·cal/ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəl/ | adj. | connected with numbers, shapes and calculationsfamily: mathematics, maths, math, mathematician, mathematically | She solved the mathematical puzzle faster than anyone in the class. |
| metric ✓met·ric/ˈmɛtɹɪk/ | adj. | using metres, grams and litres to measure thingsfamily: metre, metrical, metrics | Most countries use the metric system, so distances are given in kilometres. |
| perceive ✓✓per·ceive/pɚˈsiv/ | v. | to notice something, or to understand it in a particular wayfamily: perception, perceived, perceives, perceiving, perceptive | Many students perceive grammar as the hardest part of English. |
| preliminary ≠pre·lim·i·nar·y/pɹɪˈlɪməˌnɛɹi/ | adj. | happening before the main part, to prepare for itfamily: preliminaries | The preliminary results of the survey will be shared next week. |
| procedure ✓✓pro·ce·dure/pɹəˈsidʒɚ/ | n. | the official or usual way of doing something, step by stepfamily: procedures, procedural | Follow the safety procedure before you start the experiment. |
| psychology ✓✓psy·chol·o·gy/saɪˈkɑlədʒi/ | n. | the scientific study of the mind and how people behavefamily: psychologist, psychologists, psychological, psychologically | She is studying psychology because she wants to understand human behaviour. |
| publication ✓✓pub·li·ca·tion/ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/ | n. | a book, magazine or article that is printed for people to readfamily: publish, published, publisher, publishing, publications | The university library receives many new publications every month. |
| quotation ≠quo·ta·tion/kwoʊˈteɪʃən/ | n. | words taken exactly from a book or speech and repeated by someone elsefamily: quote, quoted, quoting, quotes, quotations | The essay begins with a quotation from a famous scientist. |
| quote ≠/kwoʊt/ | n. | a short piece of speech or writing repeated from someone elsefamily: quotation, quoted, quoting, quotes, quotable | She put a quote from the interview at the top of her report. |
| relevant ✓✓rel·e·vant/ˈɹɛləvənt/ | adj. | closely connected with the subject being discussedfamily: relevance, irrelevant | Please include only the information that is relevant to your question. |
| reprint ✓re·print/ˈɹiˌpɹɪnt/ | n. | a book or article published again, without change, after its first appearancefamily: print, reprints, reprinted, reprinting | The library ordered a reprint of the textbook because the old copies were damaged. |
| seminar ✓✓sem·i·nar/ˈsɛməˌnɑɹ/ | n. | a class where a small group discusses a topic with a teacherfamily: seminars | Every student must present a paper at the Friday seminar. |
| statistics ✓sta·tis·tics/stəˈtɪstɪks/ | n. | a collection of numbers that gives facts about somethingfamily: statistic, statistical, statistically, statistician | The statistics show that more students cycle to class now. |
| submit ✓✓sub·mit/səbˈmɪt/ | v. | to give a document or piece of work to someone officiallyfamily: submission, submitted, submitting, submits | Students must submit their assignments online by Friday evening. |
| thesis ✓✓the·sis/ˈθisəs/ | n. | a long piece of writing based on research, done for a university degreefamily: theses | She is writing her master's thesis on language learning in children. |
| translation ≠trans·la·tion/tɹænzˈleɪʃən/ | n. | a text that has been changed from one language into anotherfamily: translate, translated, translating, translator, translators, translations | The Thai translation of the novel came out last year. |
| trial ✓✓tri·al/ˈtɹaɪəl/ | n. | a test to find out how well something worksfamily: try, tried, trials | The new medicine is still in its trial period. |
| utilize ≠u·ti·lize/ˈjutəˌlaɪz/ | v. | to make practical use of somethingfamily: utilization, utilized, utilizes, utilizing, utilizable | The school utilizes the empty hall as a study space after class. |
| variation ✓✓var·i·a·tion/ˌvɛɹiˈeɪʃən/ | n. | a difference in amount, level or form between similar thingsfamily: vary, varied, various, variety, variable, variations | There is a lot of variation in the prices of hotel rooms. |
| yield ≠/jild/ | v. | to produce a crop, result or amountfamily: yielded, yielding, yields | The survey yielded useful data about student sleep habits. |
body50 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| acne ⚠ac·ne/ˈækni/ | n. | small red spots on the skin, common in teenagers | Many teenagers worry about acne. |
| balm ⚠/bɑm/ | n. | a soothing oil or cream | Tiger balm sits in every Thai home. |
| blink ✓/blɪŋk/ | v. | to close and open your eyes very quicklyfamily: blinked, blinks, blinking | The bright light made her blink several times. |
| chemotherapy ✓che·mo·ther·a·py/ˌkimoʊˈθɛɹəpi/ | n. | a medical treatment that uses strong drugs to kill cancer cellsfamily: chemo | Her aunt is feeling stronger after finishing chemotherapy last month. |
| coma ✓co·ma/ˈkoʊmə/ | n. | a long state of being unconscious | He woke from the coma after a week. |
| compress ✓com·press/ˈkɑmpɹɛs/ | n. | a cloth pressed on a hurt part of the body to reduce painfamily: compresses, compression | The nurse put a cold compress on his swollen ankle. |
| dental ✓den·tal/ˈdɛntəl/ | adj. | connected with the teethfamily: dentist, dentists, dentistry | The university offers free dental checks for all new students. |
| diarrhea ✓di·ar·rhe·a/ˌdaɪəˈɹiə/ | n. | American spelling of diarrhoeafamily: diarrhoea | Drinking dirty water can cause diarrhea, so always boil it first. |
| diarrhoea ✓di·ar·rhoe·a/ˌdaɪəˈɹiə/ | n. | an illness in which the body passes watery waste very often | Drink plenty of clean water if you have diarrhoea, because you lose fluids. |
| disorder ✓✓dis·or·der/dɪˈsɔɹdɚ/ | n. | an illness that stops part of the body or mind working normallyfamily: order, disordered, disorderly, disorders | Sleep disorders can make it hard to concentrate in lectures. |
| dose ≠/doʊs/ | n. | a measured amount of medicine | Take one dose after food. |
| fatal ≠fa·tal/ˈfeɪtəl/ | adj. | causing a person or animal to diefamily: fate, fatally, fatality, fatalities | Wearing a helmet can turn a fatal accident into a minor injury. |
| fist ⚠/fɪst/ | n. | a hand with the fingers closed tightly | He tapped the table with his fist. |
| gum ✓/ɡʌm/ | n. | the flesh around the teeth; also chewing gum | Brush along the gum line. |
| gut ≠/ɡʌt/ | n. | the tube in the body that food passes through | Spicy food upsets his gut. |
| guts ✓/ɡʌts/ | n. | informal plural of gut; also couragefamily: gut | It took guts to speak first. |
| healthcare ✓health·care/ˈhɛlθˌkɛɹ/ | n. | the services that keep people well and treat the sickfamily: health, healthy | Good healthcare in rural areas depends on well-trained nurses. |
| hygiene ✓hy·giene/ˈhaɪˌdʒin/ | n. | the practice of keeping yourself and your surroundings cleanfamily: hygienic, hygienically, hygienist | Good hygiene, like washing your hands, prevents many illnesses. |
| immune ✓im·mune/ɪˈmjun/ | adj. | not able to catch a particular illnessfamily: immunity, immunise, immunisation | After the vaccine, most children are immune to the disease. |
| infect ≠in·fect/ɪnˈfɛkt/ | v. | to pass a disease to a person, animal or plantfamily: infection, infectious, infected, infecting, infects | Wash your hands often so you do not infect other people. |
| infected ✓in·fect·ed/ɪnˈfɛktɪd/ | adj. | containing harmful germs that cause illnessfamily: infect, infection, infectious, infects, infecting | Clean the infected cut carefully before you cover it. |
| infectious ✓in·fec·tious/ɪnˈfɛkʃəs/ | adj. | able to pass from one person to anotherfamily: infect, infection, infected, infectiously | Stay at home if you have an infectious illness. |
| inflammatory ✓in·flam·ma·to·ry/ɪnˈflæməˌtɔɹi/ | adj. | causing a part of the body to become red, swollen and painfulfamily: inflame, inflammation | The doctor said the pain came from an inflammatory condition. |
| influenza ✓in·flu·en·za/ˌɪnfluˈɛnzə/ | n. | an illness like a bad cold, with fever and aching musclesfamily: flu | Many students missed classes because of influenza last winter. |
| injection ≠in·jec·tion/ɪnˈdʒɛkʃən/ | n. | an act of putting medicine into the body through a needlefamily: inject, injected, injecting, injections | The nurse gave the child an injection to protect against measles. |
| injured ≠in·jured/ˈɪndʒɚd/ | adj. | having a hurt or damaged part of the bodyfamily: injure, injury, injuries, uninjured | The injured player was carried off the field on a stretcher. |
| intravenous ✓in·tra·ve·nous/ˌɪntɹəˈvinəs/ | adj. | put into the body through a veinfamily: intravenously | The nurse gave the patient intravenous fluids overnight. |
| iris ⚠i·ris/ˈaɪɹəs/ | n. | the colored ring of the eye; also a tall garden flower | The iris controls how much light enters. |
| laps ⚠/læps/ | n. | plural of lap: circuits of a track or poolfamily: lap | Swim four laps to warm up. |
| lisp ⚠/lɪsp/ | n. | saying s and z close to th when speaking | The lisp faded as he grew. |
| malaria ✓ma·lar·i·a/məˈlɛɹiə/ | n. | a serious illness with fever that is spread by mosquito bitesfamily: malarial | Travellers to some tropical areas take medicine to prevent malaria. |
| medication ✓✓med·i·ca·tion/ˌmɛdəˈkeɪʃən/ | n. | a drug that you take to treat or prevent an illnessfamily: medicate, medications, medicine, medical | My grandfather takes medication for his high blood pressure every morning. |
| nasal ⚠na·sal/ˈneɪzəl/ | adj. | relating to the nose; a nasal sound is made through the nosefamily: nose | M and n are nasal sounds. |
| nerve ✓✓/nɝv/ | n. | a thin thread inside the body that carries signals to the brainfamily: nerves, nervous, nervously | The dentist numbed the nerve so the tooth would not hurt. |
| pant ⚠/pænt/ | v. | to breathe fast and loudly after effortfamily: panting | The runners panted in the heat. |
| pneumonia ✓pneu·mo·nia/nuˈmoʊnjə/ | n. | a serious illness in which the lungs become swollen and full of liquid | Her grandfather stayed in hospital for a week with pneumonia. |
| prescribe ≠pre·scribe/pɹəˈskɹaɪb/ | v. | to say officially which medicine a patient should takefamily: prescription, prescribed, prescribes, prescribing | The doctor prescribed some tablets for my cough and told me to rest. |
| pulse ≠/pʌls/ | n. | the regular beat of blood that you can feel in your body | Find your pulse at the wrist. |
| reps ⚠/ɹɛps/ | n. | informal: repetitions — how many times you repeat an exercisefamily: repeat, repetition | Do three sets of ten reps. |
| shin ⚠/ʃɪn/ | n. | the front part of the leg below the kneefamily: shins | The ball struck his shin. |
| sling ⚠/slɪŋ/ | n. | a cloth support for an injured arm | His arm is in a sling for a week. |
| stroke ✓✓/stɹoʊk/ | n. | a sudden illness in which blood stops flowing to part of the brainfamily: strokes, stroked, stroking | After his stroke, my grandfather had to learn to walk again. |
| therapy ✓✓ther·a·py/ˈθɛɹəpi/ | n. | treatment that helps a person recover from an illness, injury or problemfamily: therapies, therapist, therapists, therapeutic | After the operation, he had six weeks of therapy for his knee. |
| tuberculosis ✓tu·ber·cu·lo·sis/təˌbɝkjəˈloʊsɪs/ | n. | a serious disease that mainly affects the lungs | Doctors can now cure tuberculosis with a long course of medicine. |
| tumor ✓tu·mor/ˈtumɚ/ | n. | a lump of cells growing in the body where it should notfamily: tumors | Doctors found a small tumor and removed it safely. |
| unconscious ✓✓un·con·scious/ˌʌnˈkɑnʃəs/ | adj. | not awake or aware of anything, often because of illness or injuryfamily: conscious, consciousness, unconsciously | She fainted in the heat and was unconscious for a few seconds. |
| vaccine ✓vac·cine/ˌvækˈsin/ | n. | a substance put into the body to protect against a diseasefamily: vaccines, vaccination, vaccinate, vaccinated | Every child receives a vaccine against measles at school. |
| vein ≠/veɪn/ | n. | a tube carrying blood back to the heartfamily: veins, venous | The nurse found the vein quickly. |
| vitamin ✓✓vi·ta·min/ˈvaɪtəmən/ | n. | a natural substance in food that your body needs to stay healthyfamily: vitamins | Oranges are full of vitamin C, which helps you stay well. |
| wig ⚠/wɪɡ/ | n. | a covering of false hair | The actor wore a grey wig. |
school46 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| alphabetical ✓al·pha·bet·i·cal/ˌælfəˈbɛtɪkəl/ | adj. | arranged in the order of the letters from A to Zfamily: alphabet, alphabets, alphabetically | Please put the names on the list in alphabetical order. |
| alter ✓✓al·ter/ˈɔltɚ/ | v. | to change something slightlyfamily: alteration | Alter the sentence to the past tense. |
| ammonia ✓am·mo·nia/əˈmoʊnjə/ | n. | a gas with a strong smell, used in cleaning products | The cleaner opened the windows because the ammonia smelt so strong. |
| applicant ✓✓ap·pli·cant/ˈæplɪkənt/ | n. | a person who formally asks for a job, place or permissionfamily: apply, application, applicants | More than five hundred applicants took the entrance test this year. |
| assembly ≠as·sem·bly/əˈsɛmbli/ | n. | a meeting of a large group of people, such as a whole schoolfamily: assemble, assembled, assemblies | Every Monday the head teacher speaks to the students at assembly. |
| assessment ✓✓as·sess·ment/əˈsɛsmənt/ | n. | a judgement about the quality, size or value of somethingfamily: assess, assessed, assessing, assessor, assessments | The final assessment counts for half of the course grade. |
| astronomy ✓as·tron·o·my/əˈstɹɑnəmi/ | n. | the scientific study of the stars, planets and spacefamily: astronomer, astronomical | She chose astronomy because she loved looking at the night sky. |
| attendance ≠at·ten·dance/əˈtɛndəns/ | n. | the fact of being present at a class, meeting or eventfamily: attend, attended, attending, attendee | Attendance at the lecture is checked every week. |
| certificate ✓✓cer·tif·i·cate/sɚˈtɪfɪkət/ | n. | an official document that proves something, such as passing a coursefamily: certify, certified, certificates | Students receive a certificate when they finish the training course. |
| cite ≠/saɪt/ | v. | to name a source you have usedfamily: citation | Cite the article in your essay. |
| cites ⚠/saɪts/ | v. | third person form of citefamily: cite, citation | She cites three sources. |
| coed ⚠co·ed/ˈkoʊˌɛd/ | adj. | with male and female students together | The college went coed in the nineties. |
| compulsory ✓✓com·pul·so·ry/kəmˈpʌlsɚi/ | adj. | required by a rule or law, not a free choicefamily: compel, compulsion, compulsorily | English is a compulsory subject for all first-year students. |
| core ✓✓/kɔɹ/ | n. | the central and most important part | That is the core of the argument. |
| cube ✓/kjub/ | n. | a solid shape with six equal square sidesfamily: cubes, cubed, cubic, cubical | Cut the cheese into small cubes before adding it to the salad. |
| cues ⚠/kjuz/ | n. | signals that tell you to do somethingfamily: cue | Watch for the teacher's cues. |
| diploma ✓di·plo·ma/dɪˈploʊmɑ/ | n. | an official document showing that you have finished a course of studyfamily: diplomas | She received her diploma at the ceremony in the main hall. |
| educated ≠ed·u·cat·ed/ˈɛdʒəˌkeɪtɪd/ | adj. | having studied for many years and knowing a lotfamily: educate, education, educational, educator, educates, educating | Her grandmother was a highly educated woman who spoke four languages. |
| educator ≠ed·u·ca·tor/ˈɛdʒəˌkeɪtɚ/ | n. | a person whose work is teaching or improving how people learnfamily: educate, educated, education, educational, educators | Educators from twenty universities met to discuss online learning. |
| enroll ✓en·roll/ɛnˈɹoʊl/ | v. | to officially join a course, school or clubfamily: enrolled, enrolling, enrolls, enrollment, enrolment | More than forty students enrolled on the evening Thai cooking course. |
| feedback ✓✓feed·back/ˈfidˌbæk/ | n. | comments on how well someone did something, meant to help them improvefamily: feed, back | Our lecturer gives detailed feedback on every essay we write. |
| genre ✓✓gen·re/ˈʒɑnɹə/ | n. | a particular type of book, film or musicfamily: genres | Comedy is the genre of film that my brother likes most. |
| hint ≠/hɪnt/ | n. | a small piece of help toward an answer | Give one hint, not the answer. |
| intro ⚠in·tro/ˈɪntɹoʊ/ | n. | informal: an introductionfamily: introduction | Keep the intro to two lines. |
| lecturer ✓lec·tur·er/ˈlɛktʃəɹɚ/ | n. | a person who teaches at a university or collegefamily: lecture, lectured, lectures, lecturing, lecturers | Our lecturer explained the theory again after the class asked questions. |
| margin ✓✓mar·gin/ˈmɑɹdʒən/ | n. | the empty space at the edge of a pagefamily: marginal, marginally, marginalise, margins | Please write your comments in the margin of the essay. |
| metaphor ✓✓met·a·phor/ˈmɛtəfɔɹ/ | n. | an expression that describes one thing by calling it something elsefamily: metaphorical, metaphorically, metaphors | When we say time is money, we are using a metaphor. |
| microscope ✓mi·cro·scope/ˈmaɪkɹəˌskoʊp/ | n. | an instrument that makes very small things look much largerfamily: microscopes, microscopic, microscopy | We looked at a leaf cell under the microscope in class. |
| multiply ✓✓mul·ti·ply/ˈmʌltəˌplaɪ/ | v. | to add a number to itself a certain number of timesfamily: multiplication, multiple, multiplier, multiplied, multiplies, multiplying | If you multiply six by seven, you get forty-two. |
| nor ≠/nɔɹ/ | conj. | and not either | Neither the teacher nor the students knew. |
| omit ⚠/oʊˈmɪt/ | v. | to leave something outfamily: omitted | Omit question five today. |
| oral ≠o·ral/ˈɔɹəl/ | adj. | spoken rather than writtenfamily: orally | The oral test is on Friday. |
| particle ✓par·ti·cle/ˈpɑɹtəkəl/ | n. | an extremely small piece of somethingfamily: particles | Tiny particles of dust floated in the sunlight near the window. |
| peer ✓✓/pɪɹ/ | n. | a person of the same age or position | Students learn well from peers. |
| prom ✓/pɹɑm/ | n. | a formal dance for older students, especially in the US | The film ends at the prom. |
| prop ≠/pɹɑp/ | n. | an object used in a play; a support | Each group brings one prop. |
| rehearse ⚠re·hearse/ɹiˈhɝs/ | v. | to practice before a performancefamily: rehearsal | They rehearsed the dialogue twice. |
| relay ✓re·lay/ˈɹiˌleɪ/ | n. | a race between teams whose members take turns | The spelling relay ends the lesson. |
| scramble ✓scram·ble/ˈskɹæmbəl/ | v. | to mix things into a disordered statefamily: scrambled, unscramble | Scramble the letters and swap sheets. |
| slang ✓/slæŋ/ | n. | very informal words used among friends | Keep slang out of the essay. |
| slate ⚠/sleɪt/ | n. | a dark grey stone that splits flat; old school writing boards | Older monks learned letters on slate. |
| tack ⚠/tæk/ | n. | a small flat-headed pin; also an approach to a problem | Pin the chart up with tacks. |
| terms ✓/tɝmz/ | n. | plural of term: words, or school periodsfamily: term | Learn these terms before the test. |
| trace ✓✓/tɹeɪs/ | v. | to find by following signsfamily: traceable | Trace the word back to Latin. |
| tuition ≠tu·i·tion/tjuˈɪʃən/ | n. | teaching, especially to one student or a small group | She receives private tuition in maths twice a week. |
| verse ≠/vɝs/ | n. | one section of a poem or songfamily: verses | Read the second verse aloud. |
money43 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| accounting ✓ac·count·ing/əˈkaʊntɪŋ/ | n. | the work of keeping records of money that comes in and goes outfamily: account, accountant, accountancy, accounts | She studied accounting and now works for a large company. |
| affordable ✓✓af·ford·a·ble/əˈfɔɹdəbəl/ | adj. | cheap enough for most people to buy or pay forfamily: afford, affordably, affordability | The rent is affordable, so many students live in this building. |
| asset ✓as·set/ˈæˌsɛt/ | n. | a useful or valuable thing a person or company ownsfamily: assets | Patience is a teacher's best asset. |
| bankruptcy ✓bank·rupt·cy/ˈbæŋkɹəpsi/ | n. | the state of being unable to pay the money you owefamily: bankrupt, bankrupted, bankruptcies | The company declared bankruptcy after losing its biggest customer. |
| bet ≠/bɛt/ | v. | to risk money on a resultfamily: betting | He bet on the wrong team. |
| bid ✓✓/bɪd/ | v. | to offer a price for something, often at a salefamily: bidder | Three buyers bid for the old house. |
| bidding ✓bid·ding/ˈbɪdɪŋ/ | n. | offers of money made by people who want to buy the same thingfamily: bid, bids, bidder, bidders | Bidding for the old painting started at five thousand baht. |
| bids ⚠/bɪdz/ | n. | plural of bid: offers of a pricefamily: bid | Two bids came in for the old van. |
| commission ≠com·mis·sion/kəˈmɪʃən/ | n. | money paid to a seller for each sale they makefamily: commissions, commissioned, commissioner | The agent earns a five percent commission on every house sold. |
| compensate ≠com·pen·sate/ˈkɑmpənˌseɪt/ | v. | to give someone money or help to make up for a lossfamily: compensation, compensated, compensating, compensates, compensatory | The airline compensated passengers for the long delay with free meals. |
| compensation ≠com·pen·sa·tion/ˌkɑmpənˈseɪʃən/ | n. | money paid to someone because they have suffered loss, damage or injuryfamily: compensate, compensated, compensates, compensating, compensatory | The airline paid compensation to passengers whose flight was cancelled. |
| costly ≠cost·ly/ˈkɑstli/ | adj. | very expensive to buy, do or keepfamily: cost, costs, costlier, costliest | Flying in the holiday season is costly, so we booked early. |
| debit ✓deb·it/ˈdɛbɪt/ | n. | an amount of money taken out of a bank accountfamily: debits, debited, debiting | The debit for my phone bill appears on the statement every month. |
| deficit ≠def·i·cit/ˈdɛfəsət/ | n. | the amount by which money spent is greater than money receivedfamily: deficits | The club has a deficit this year because ticket sales fell sharply. |
| dime ✓/daɪm/ | n. | a US coin worth ten cents | A dime is smaller than a cent coin. |
| dong ⚠/dɔŋ/ | n. | the money of Vietnam | Lunch cost fifty thousand dong. |
| dues ⚠/duz/ | n. | money paid regularly to belong to a groupfamily: due | She pays her club dues in January. |
| earnings ≠earn·ings/ˈɝnɪŋz/ | n. | the money that a person or company makes from work or businessfamily: earn, earned, earning, earns | Her earnings went up after she moved to the new job. |
| economical ✓e·co·nom·i·cal/ˌɛkəˈnɑmɪkəl/ | adj. | not using more money, fuel or time than neededfamily: economy, economic, economics, economically, economist | A small car is more economical for driving in the city. |
| financially ✓fi·nan·cial·ly/fəˈnænʃəli/ | adv. | in a way that concerns moneyfamily: finance, financial, finances, financed, financing | Many students are financially supported by their parents during university. |
| funding ✓fund·ing/ˈfʌndɪŋ/ | n. | money given for a particular purpose, such as a projectfamily: fund, funds, funded, funder | The lab received funding to study clean water in rural areas. |
| incur ≠in·cur/ɪnˈkɝ/ | v. | to have to pay or suffer something because of your actionsfamily: incurs, incurred, incurring | Late payments will incur an extra charge of ten percent. |
| inflation ✓✓in·fla·tion/ɪnˈfleɪʃən/ | n. | a general rise in prices over time, so money buys lessfamily: inflate, inflated, inflationary | High inflation means our lunch costs more than it did last year. |
| inherit ✓✓in·her·it/ɪnˈhɛɹət/ | v. | to receive money or property from someone who has diedfamily: inheritance, inherited, inheriting, inheritor, inherits | She inherited her grandmother's house in the countryside. |
| investment ✓✓in·vest·ment/ɪnˈvɛstmənt/ | n. | money put into a business or property to make more money laterfamily: invest, investor, invested, investing, investments | Her investment in the small bakery doubled in value within three years. |
| lease ✓/lis/ | n. | a written agreement to rent property for a time | The shop's lease ends in March. |
| lira ⚠li·ra/ˈlɪɹə/ | n. | the money of Turkey; Italy's money before the euro | Prices there are shown in lira. |
| merchandise ✓mer·chan·dise/ˈmɝtʃənˌdaɪz/ | n. | goods that are bought and sold, especially in shopsfamily: merchandising, merchandiser, merchant | The shop displays its new merchandise in the front window. |
| millionaire ✓mil·lion·aire/ˌmɪljəˈnɛɹ/ | n. | a person who is extremely richfamily: million, millionaires | The shop owner became a millionaire after selling his business. |
| mortgage ✓✓mort·gage/ˈmɔɹɡədʒ/ | n. | money borrowed from a bank to buy a house, paid back over many yearsfamily: mortgages, mortgaged, mortgaging | They pay part of their mortgage every month for thirty years. |
| payment ≠pay·ment/ˈpeɪmənt/ | n. | an amount of money given for something you buy or owefamily: pay, paid, payments | The shop asks for full payment before it sends the order. |
| pension ✓✓pen·sion/ˈpɛnʃən/ | n. | money paid regularly to a person who has stopped working because of agefamily: pensioner, pensions, pensioners | After forty years at the company, he now receives a monthly pension. |
| profit ≠prof·it/ˈpɹɑfət/ | n. | the money a business keeps after paying all its costsfamily: profitable, profits, profited, profiting | The shop made a small profit in its first year. |
| profitable ≠prof·it·a·ble/ˈpɹɑfətəbəl/ | adj. | making more money than it costsfamily: profit, profits, profitably, profitability, unprofitable | The small bakery became profitable in its second year. |
| purchase ✓✓pur·chase/ˈpɝtʃəs/ | n. | something that you buy, or the act of buying itfamily: purchases, purchased, purchasing, purchaser, purchasers | Keep the receipt in case you need to return your purchase. |
| rand ⚠/ɹænd/ | n. | the money of South Africa | He changed baht into rand. |
| recession ✓✓re·ces·sion/ɹɪˈsɛʃən/ | n. | a period when a country's economy gets worse and jobs are lostfamily: recessions, recessionary | Many small companies closed during the recession of that year. |
| rental ≠rent·al/ˈɹɛntəl/ | n. | an arrangement where you pay to use something for a limited timefamily: rent, rents, rented, renting, rentals | The weekend car rental cost less than we had expected. |
| revenue ✓✓rev·e·nue/ˈɹɛvəˌnu/ | n. | the money that a business or government receivesfamily: revenues | The company's revenue grew after it opened two new shops. |
| saving ✓✓sav·ing/ˈseɪvɪŋ/ | n. | an amount of money you do not have to payfamily: save, saves, saved, savings | Buying the train ticket early gave us a saving of ten pounds. |
| scam ⚠/skæm/ | n. | a dishonest plan for getting moneyfamily: scams | The message about a prize was a scam. |
| stock ✓✓/stɑk/ | n. | the goods that a shop keeps ready to sellfamily: stocks, stocked, stocking, stockist | The shop has no more stock of that phone until next week. |
| wealthy ✓✓wealth·y/ˈwɛlθi/ | adj. | having a lot of money or propertyfamily: wealth, wealthier | A wealthy family paid for the new school library. |
tech38 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| acid ✓✓ac·id/ˈæsəd/ | n. | a chemical that can burn things; the opposite of a basefamily: acidic | Lime juice is a mild acid. |
| activate ✓ac·ti·vate/ˈæktəˌveɪt/ | v. | to make something start workingfamily: activation, activated, activating, activates | You need to activate your student card before using the library. |
| aluminum ✓a·lu·mi·num/əˈlumənəm/ | n. | American spelling of aluminiumfamily: aluminium | Most drink cans are made of aluminum because it is light. |
| antivirus ✓an·ti·vi·rus/ˌæntiˈvaɪɹəs/ | n. | software that protects a computer from harmful programsfamily: virus, viruses | Please update the antivirus on your laptop before connecting to the network. |
| backup ≠back·up/ˈbæˌkʌp/ | n. | a copy of computer data kept in case the original is lostfamily: backups | Always make a backup of your essay before you close the laptop. |
| beta ⚠be·ta/ˈbeɪtə/ | n. | the second Greek letter; a test version of software | The app is still in beta. |
| broadband ≠broad·band/ˈbɹɔdˌbænd/ | n. | a fast internet connection that can carry a lot of data | Our village finally got broadband, so online classes work now. |
| cable ✓✓ca·ble/ˈkeɪbəl/ | n. | a thick wire that carries electricity or signalsfamily: cables, cabling | The technician ran a cable from the router to the computer. |
| component ✓✓com·po·nent/kəmˈpoʊnənt/ | n. | one of the parts that together make up a machine or systemfamily: components | Each component of the engine is checked before it is fitted. |
| compute ≠com·pute/kəmˈpjut/ | v. | to work out a number or amount by calculatingfamily: computer, computers, computation, computing, computed, computable | The program computes the average score for each class automatically. |
| cyberspace ✓cy·ber·space/ˈsaɪbɚˌspeɪs/ | n. | the imaginary space where online communication and information exist | Millions of people now meet, shop and study in cyberspace every day. |
| database ✓✓da·ta·base/ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/ | n. | a large collection of information stored and organised on a computerfamily: data, databases | The library database lists every book you can borrow. |
| desktop ≠desk·top/ˈdɛskˌtɑp/ | n. | a computer designed to stay on a desk rather than be carriedfamily: desktops | The office replaced its old desktops with laptops so staff could work anywhere. |
| disconnect ✓dis·con·nect/dɪskəˈnɛkt/ | v. | to stop a device being joined to its power, phone or internet supplyfamily: connect, disconnected, disconnecting, disconnection, disconnects | Remember to disconnect the printer before you clean it. |
| electronics ✓✓e·lec·tron·ics/ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɑnɪks/ | n. | machines and devices such as computers, phones and televisionsfamily: electronic, electronically, electron | The shop sells electronics such as laptops, cameras and headphones. |
| hardware ≠hard·ware/ˈhɑɹdˌwɛɹ/ | n. | the physical parts of a computer, such as the screen and keyboard | The new hardware made the old software run much faster. |
| info ✓in·fo/ˈɪnfoʊ/ | n. | informal: informationfamily: information | The back page has contact info. |
| installation ✓in·stal·la·tion/ˌɪnstəˈleɪʃən/ | n. | the work of fitting equipment so that it is ready to usefamily: install, installed, installer, installing, installs, uninstall | The installation of the new air conditioner took two hours. |
| interactive ≠in·ter·ac·tive/ˌɪntɚˈæktɪv/ | adj. | involving people or things that respond to each otherfamily: interact, interaction, interactively, interactivity | The museum has interactive screens that children can touch and explore. |
| laser ≠la·ser/ˈleɪzɚ/ | n. | a narrow, very strong beam of light | The pointer uses a small laser. |
| lens ✓/lɛnz/ | n. | curved glass that bends light | Clean the camera lens. |
| media ≠me·di·a/ˈmidiə/ | n. | newspapers, television, radio and the internet as a group | The story ran in the local media. |
| mode ✓/moʊd/ | n. | a particular way a machine or activity works | Put the phone in silent mode. |
| neon ⚠ne·on/ˈniɑn/ | n. | a gas that glows brightly in signs | A neon sign lit the doorway. |
| node ⚠/noʊd/ | n. | a point where lines or connections meet in a network | Each computer is a node on the network. |
| nodes ⚠/noʊdz/ | n. | plural of node: points where lines or networks connectfamily: node | The diagram has five nodes. |
| ping ⚠/pɪŋ/ | v. | to send a quick signal or message to check a connectionfamily: pinged | Ping the server before class starts. |
| predictive ✓pre·dic·tive/pɹɪˈdɪktɪv/ | adj. | able to show what is likely to happen laterfamily: predict, prediction, predictable, predictively | The app uses predictive text to guess your next word. |
| programmer ✓pro·gram·mer/ˈpɹoʊˌɡɹæmɚ/ | n. | a person whose job is writing computer softwarefamily: program, programme, programming, programmers, programs | The programmer fixed the bug before the app was released. |
| programming ✓✓pro·gram·ming/ˈpɹoʊˌɡɹæmɪŋ/ | n. | the work of writing instructions that a computer can followfamily: program, programmer, programmers | She is learning programming so she can build her own apps. |
| rocket ✓✓rock·et/ˈɹɑkət/ | n. | a long vehicle with a pointed top that is sent into spacefamily: rockets, rocketed, rocketing | The rocket carried a new satellite into space this morning. |
| serif ⚠ser·if/ˈsɛɹəf/ | n. | the small finishing line on a letter's stroke in some fonts | Worksheets print clearly in a serif font. |
| solar ✓✓so·lar/ˈsoʊlɚ/ | adj. | of or powered by the sunfamily: sun | Solar panels heat the water. |
| sonic ⚠son·ic/ˈsɑnɪk/ | adj. | relating to sound or the speed of soundfamily: sound | The lab measures sonic waves. |
| technical ≠tech·ni·cal/ˈtɛknɪkəl/ | adj. | connected with the practical skills and knowledge of a particular subjectfamily: technique, technically, technicality, technician | The manual explains the technical details of the new printer. |
| transistor ✓tran·sis·tor/tɹænˈzɪstɚ/ | n. | a tiny electronic part that controls the flow of electricityfamily: transistors | A modern phone chip contains billions of transistors. |
| transmit ✓✓trans·mit/tɹænzˈmɪt/ | v. | to send a signal, message or disease from one place to anotherfamily: transmission, transmitter, transmits, transmitted, transmitting | The satellite transmits weather data to the station every hour. |
| tuner ⚠tun·er/ˈtunɚ/ | n. | a person or device that tunes instruments or signalsfamily: tune, tuning | A phone tuner keeps the guitar true. |
travel33 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| aircraft ✓✓air·craft/ˈɛɹˌkɹæft/ | n. | a machine that can fly, such as a plane or helicopter | Several small aircraft were parked near the runway. |
| auto ≠au·to/ˈɔtoʊ/ | n. | a car, chiefly in American English | The auto factory closed. |
| commute ✓com·mute/kəˈmjut/ | v. | to travel regularly between your home and your workplacefamily: commuter, commuters, commuted, commuting, commutes | She commutes to Bangkok by train every weekday. |
| deck ✓✓/dɛk/ | n. | a ship's floor; also a pack of cards | Passengers stood on the upper deck. |
| dock ✓/dɑk/ | n. | a place in a port where ships stop to load or unloadfamily: docked, docking, docks, docker, dockers | The ferry waited at the dock while the cars drove on board. |
| excursion ✓ex·cur·sion/ɪkˈskɝʒən/ | n. | a short journey made for pleasure, often with a groupfamily: excursions | Our class went on an excursion to the science museum. |
| expedition ≠ex·pe·di·tion/ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃən/ | n. | an organised journey made for a special purpose, such as exploring a placefamily: expeditions | The scientists joined an expedition to study ice in the Arctic. |
| ferryboat ✓fer·ry·boat/ˈfɛɹiˌboʊt/ | n. | a ship that carries people or cars regularly across a river or seafamily: ferry, ferries, ferryboats | We took the ferryboat across the river to reach the island. |
| fleet ≠/flit/ | n. | a group of ships or vehicles that belong to one organisationfamily: fleets | The delivery company has a fleet of fifty electric vans. |
| frontier ✓fron·tier/fɹənˈtɪɹ/ | n. | a line or border where one country or area endsfamily: frontiers | The train stopped at the frontier so officers could check passports. |
| gear ≠/ɡɪɹ/ | n. | equipment needed for an activity | Bring your climbing gear. |
| helicopter ≠hel·i·cop·ter/ˈhɛlɪˌkɑptɚ/ | n. | an aircraft with turning blades on top that can rise straight upfamily: helicopters | A helicopter flew over the city to check the morning traffic. |
| inn ⚠/ɪn/ | n. | a small hotel, usually in the countryside | They stayed at a village inn. |
| landing ✓✓land·ing/ˈlændɪŋ/ | n. | the moment when an aircraft comes down to the groundfamily: land, landed, lands, landings | The pilot made a smooth landing despite the strong wind. |
| limo ⚠lim·o/ˈlɪmoʊ/ | n. | informal: a limousinefamily: limousine | The bride arrived in a white limo. |
| liner ✓lin·er/ˈlaɪnɚ/ | n. | a large ship that carries passengers on long journeysfamily: line, liners | The cruise liner stopped at three islands during the ten-day trip. |
| mast ⚠/mæst/ | n. | a tall pole that holds a ship's sails or an antenna | The flag runs up the mast. |
| motorbike ✓mo·tor·bike/ˈmoʊtɚˌbaɪk/ | n. | a vehicle with two wheels and an engine that one or two people ridefamily: motorbikes, motorcycle, motorcyclist | Many students ride a motorbike to the university each morning. |
| motorist ≠mo·tor·ist/ˈmoʊtɚɪst/ | n. | a person who drives a carfamily: motor, motors, motoring, motorists, motorway | Every motorist must stop when the traffic light turns red. |
| navigate ✓nav·i·gate/ˈnævəˌɡeɪt/ | v. | to find the right way to a place, especially using mapsfamily: navigation, navigator, navigated, navigating, navigational | We used a phone app to navigate the old city. |
| navigation ✓✓nav·i·ga·tion/ˌnævəˈɡeɪʃən/ | n. | finding the right way to a place, especially using maps or instrumentsfamily: navigate, navigational, navigator | Modern ships rely on satellite navigation to cross the ocean safely. |
| outing ≠out·ing/ˈaʊtɪŋ/ | n. | a short trip somewhere for pleasure, usually with a groupfamily: out, outings | Our department organised an outing to the beach for new staff. |
| pier ⚠/pɪɹ/ | n. | a structure built out over water | We walked along the pier. |
| rider ✓rid·er/ˈɹaɪdɚ/ | n. | a person riding a horse, bicycle or motorcyclefamily: ride, rides | The rider waited out the rain. |
| route ≠/ɹut/ | n. | the way from one place to another | The bus takes the river route. |
| scooter ✓scoot·er/ˈskutɚ/ | n. | a light motorbike with small wheels and a low seatfamily: scoot, scooters | Many students ride a scooter to the university every day. |
| sedan ⚠se·dan/səˈdæn/ | n. | a car with four doors and a separate boot; a US word | A grey sedan waited at the gate. |
| steer ≠/stɪɹ/ | v. | to control the direction of a vehiclefamily: steering | Steer carefully on the narrow road. |
| stub ⚠/stʌb/ | n. | the short piece left when most is used or torn off | Keep your ticket stub. |
| toll ≠/toʊl/ | n. | money paid to use a road or bridge | The new bridge charges a toll. |
| trek ✓/tɹɛk/ | n. | a long hard walk, often for several days | The hill trek takes two days. |
| western ≠west·ern/ˈwɛstɚn/ | adj. | in or from the west of a country or regionfamily: west, westerner, westerners, westernise | Heavy rain is expected in the western provinces tomorrow. |
| windshield ✓wind·shield/ˈwɪndˌʃild/ | n. | the large glass window at the front of a carfamily: windshields | Rain ran down the windshield faster than the wipers could clear it. |
food31 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| barley ✓bar·ley/ˈbɑɹli/ | n. | a plant whose grain is used in soups and drinks | This soup is made with barley, carrots and fresh herbs. |
| berry ✓ber·ry/ˈbɛɹi/ | n. | a small round fruit that grows on a bush or treefamily: berries | We picked fresh berries from the bushes behind the farmhouse. |
| bun ✓/bʌn/ | n. | a small round bread roll or cake | She bought a bun at the bakery. |
| carb ⚠/kɑɹb/ | n. | informal: a carbohydratefamily: carbohydrate | Rice is the main carb here. |
| char ⚠/tʃɑɹ/ | v. | to burn the outside of something blackfamily: charred | Char the peppers before peeling. |
| cherry ✓cher·ry/ˈtʃɛɹi/ | n. | a small round red fruit with a stone in the middlefamily: cherries | She put a cherry on top of each small cake. |
| chew ✓/tʃu/ | v. | to break food into small pieces with your teethfamily: chewed, chewing, chews, chewy, chewable | Chew your food slowly so that it is easier to digest. |
| chop ✓✓/tʃɑp/ | v. | to cut something into pieces with a knife or an axefamily: chopped, chopping, chops | Chop the onions finely before you add them to the pan. |
| clam ✓/klæm/ | n. | a shellfish with two shells that close tightly | The soup has clams in it. |
| cocktail ≠cock·tail/ˈkɑkˌteɪl/ | n. | a mixed drink, usually containing alcohol, made from several ingredientsfamily: cocktails | The hotel serves a cocktail made with fresh mango, lime and mint. |
| cocoa ✓co·coa/ˈkoʊkoʊ/ | n. | a brown powder made from beans, used for chocolate and hot drinks | Mix two spoons of cocoa into the warm milk. |
| coconut ✓co·co·nut/ˈkoʊkəˌnʌt/ | n. | a large brown nut with white flesh and sweet water insidefamily: coconuts | The vendor cut open a coconut so we could drink from it. |
| cores ⚠/kɔɹz/ | n. | more than one corefamily: core | Throw the apple cores away. |
| fig ⚠/fɪɡ/ | n. | a soft sweet fruit with many small seeds | Dried figs keep for months. |
| finely ✓fine·ly/ˈfaɪnli/ | adv. | into very small pieces or thin slicesfamily: fine, fineness | Chop the garlic finely before adding it to the hot oil. |
| herb ✓✓/ɝb/ | n. | a plant whose leaves are used to add taste to food or as medicinefamily: herbs, herbal | She grows herbs like basil and mint on the balcony. |
| mango ✓man·go/ˈmæŋɡoʊ/ | n. | a sweet yellow or green tropical fruit with a large flat seedfamily: mangoes, mangos | Ripe mangoes with sticky rice are a popular dessert in Thailand. |
| mint ✓/mɪnt/ | n. | a fresh-tasting herb; a sweet with that taste | Tear a few mint leaves in. |
| peach ✓/pitʃ/ | n. | a round, soft fruit with sweet yellow flesh and a large stonefamily: peaches | She bought fresh peaches at the market to make a dessert. |
| peel ✓/pil/ | v. | to remove the skin of fruit or vegetables | Peel the mango over the sink. |
| pint ✓/paɪnt/ | n. | a unit for measuring liquid | A pint of milk, please. |
| pumpkin ✓pump·kin/ˈpʌmpkɪn/ | n. | a large round orange vegetable with a thick skinfamily: pumpkins | My mother makes a sweet soup from pumpkin and coconut milk. |
| salsa ✓sal·sa/ˈsɔlsə/ | n. | a spicy sauce made from tomatoes, onions and chilli | She served the chips with a bowl of fresh salsa. |
| soybean ✓soy·bean/ˈsɔɪˌbin/ | n. | a small round seed used to make oil, milk and tofufamily: soy, soya, soybeans | Soybeans are grown on many farms in the north of the country. |
| starve ✓✓/stɑɹv/ | v. | to suffer or die because there is not enough foodfamily: starvation, starved, starving, starves | Without rain, the farm animals would starve during the dry season. |
| stew ✓/stu/ | n. | meat and vegetables cooked slowly in liquid | The stew needs one more hour. |
| tang ⚠/tæŋ/ | n. | a strong sharp taste or smell | Lime gives the soup its tang. |
| teaspoon ✓tea·spoon/ˈtiˌspun/ | n. | a small spoon used for stirring hot drinks or measuringfamily: teaspoons, teaspoonful | Add one teaspoon of sugar and stir well. |
| vinegar ✓vin·e·gar/ˈvɪnəɡɚ/ | n. | a sour liquid used to add taste to foodfamily: vinegars, vinegary | Add a little vinegar to the salad before serving. |
| wheat ✓✓/wit/ | n. | a plant whose grain is made into flour for bread and pasta | Farmers in the north grow wheat, while the south grows rice. |
| whip ≠/wɪp/ | v. | to beat cream or eggs quickly until they become thickfamily: whipped, whipping, whips | Whip the cream for two minutes until it forms soft peaks. |
buddhism30 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| altar ✓al·tar/ˈɔltɚ/ | n. | a raised table used for religious offerings or ceremoniesfamily: altars | Fresh flowers were placed on the altar before the ceremony began. |
| attachment ≠at·tach·ment/əˈtætʃmənt/ | n. Pali: upādāna | holding on to things or ideas so the mind cannot let gofamily: attach, attached | The teaching warns against attachment to views. |
| conscience ≠con·science/ˈkɑnʃəns/ | n. Pali: hiri | the inner sense of shame that turns one from wrongdoing | His conscience would not let him lie. |
| consciousness ≠con·scious·ness/ˈkɑnʃəsnəs/ | n. Pali: viññāṇa | bare knowing; awareness of an objectfamily: conscious | Eye-consciousness arises with sight. |
| craving ≠crav·ing/ˈkɹeɪvɪŋ/ | n. Pali: taṇhā | strong wanting that pulls the mind after thingsfamily: crave | Craving is named as the origin of suffering. |
| doctrine ≠doc·trine/ˈdɑktɹən/ | n. Pali: dhamma | a body of teaching held by a religion or schoolfamily: doctrinal | The doctrine is studied in Pali. |
| enlightenment ⚠en·light·en·ment/ˌɛnˈlaɪtənmənt/ | n. Pali: bodhi | full awakening; complete understanding that ends delusionfamily: enlightened | The Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. |
| greed ⚠/ɡɹid/ | n. Pali: lobha | strong selfish wanting for morefamily: greedy | Greed is one of the three unwholesome roots. |
| hatred ≠ha·tred/ˈheɪtɹəd/ | n. Pali: dosa | strong hostile dislikefamily: hate | Hatred is never stilled by hatred. |
| ignorance ≠ig·no·rance/ˈɪɡnɚəns/ | n. Pali: avijjā | not knowing; in Buddhist use, not seeing things as they arefamily: ignorant | Ignorance is named first among the twelve links. |
| incense ✓in·cense/ˌɪnˈsɛns/ | n. Pali: dhūpa | a substance burned for its sweet smell in ceremonies | Incense smoke filled the hall. |
| insight ≠in·sight/ˈɪnˌsaɪt/ | n. Pali: vipassanā | seeing clearly into the true nature of things | Calm supports insight. |
| karma ⚠kar·ma/ˈkɑɹmə/ | n. Pali: kamma | intentional action, and the results it brings, good or bad | He explained karma with a simple story. |
| lama ⚠la·ma/ˈlɑmə/ | n. | a teacher in Tibetan Buddhism | The visiting lama spoke through a translator. |
| liberation ≠lib·er·a·tion/ˌlɪˌbɝˈeɪʃən/ | n. Pali: vimutti | freedom of the mind from what binds itfamily: liberate | The path leads toward liberation. |
| lotus ⚠lo·tus/ˈloʊtəs/ | n. Pali: paduma | a water flower important in Buddhist art | A lotus opened on the pond. |
| merit ≠mer·it/ˈmɛɹət/ | n. Pali: puñña | goodness earned by doing good actions | They make merit at the temple. |
| mindfulness ⚠mind·ful·ness/ˈmaɪndfəlnəs/ | n. Pali: sati | calm, steady attention to the present momentfamily: mindful | Ten minutes of mindfulness starts the class. |
| monastery ✓mon·as·ter·y/ˈmɑnəsˌtɛɹi/ | n. Pali: vihāra | a place where monks live and practicefamily: monastic | He stayed a month in the monastery. |
| noble ≠no·ble/ˈnoʊbəl/ | adj. Pali: ariya | of high moral quality; in Buddhist use, belonging to the path of the awakenedfamily: nobility | The Noble Eightfold Path has eight factors. |
| novice ⚠nov·ice/ˈnɑvəs/ | n. Pali: sāmaṇera | a junior monk in training; also any beginner | The novice swept the courtyard. |
| pagoda ⚠pa·go·da/pəˈɡoʊdə/ | n. Pali: cetiya | a tower built as a religious monument in Asia | The golden pagoda shone in the sun. |
| perception ✓✓per·cep·tion/pɚˈsɛpʃən/ | n. Pali: saññā | the mind's noting and recognizing of thingsfamily: perceive | Perception marks a sound as a bell. |
| ritual ≠rit·u·al/ˈɹɪtʃuəl/ | n. | a set of actions always done the same way in a ceremony | The morning ritual begins at five. |
| sacred ≠sa·cred/ˈseɪkɹəd/ | adj. | holy and deserving deep respect | The text is sacred to Buddhists. |
| saint ≠/seɪnt/ | n. | a person recognized as very holy | The hall is named after a saint. |
| sermon ⚠ser·mon/ˈsɝmən/ | n. Pali: desanā | a religious talk given to teach people | The abbot gave a short sermon. |
| shrine ⚠/ʃɹaɪn/ | n. Pali: cetiya | a small holy place for prayer or offerings | A small shrine stands by the gate. |
| sin ≠/sɪn/ | n. | an act that breaks a religious or moral rule | The text lists five kinds of sin. |
| suffering ✓✓suf·fer·ing/ˈsʌfɚɪŋ/ | n. Pali: dukkha | pain or unsatisfactoriness; in Buddhist use, the unsatisfactory nature of conditioned thingsfamily: suffer | The First Noble Truth concerns suffering. |
discourse30 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| accordingly ≠ac·cord·ing·ly/əˈkɔɹdɪŋli/ | adv. | in a way that fits what has just happened or been saidfamily: accord, according, accordance | The cost of paper went up, so prices were raised accordingly. |
| additionally ✓✓ad·di·tion·al·ly/əˈdɪʃənəli/ | adv. | used to give one more point or factfamily: add, addition, additional | Additionally, students must submit a short reflection with their project. |
| articulate ≠ar·tic·u·late/ɑɹˈtɪkjəˌleɪt/ | v. | to express your ideas or feelings clearly in wordsfamily: articulation, articulated, articulating, articulates, articulately | She articulated her concerns clearly at the staff meeting. |
| assert ≠as·sert/əˈsɝt/ | v. | to state firmly that something is truefamily: assertion, assertive, asserted, asserting, asserts | The author asserts that sleep improves memory in students. |
| colon ✓co·lon/ˈkoʊlən/ | n. | the punctuation mark (:) used before a list or explanationfamily: colons | Put a colon before the list of items you need. |
| concede ≠con·cede/kənˈsid/ | v. | to admit that something is true after first disagreeingfamily: concession, concessions, conceded, concedes, conceding | After seeing the data, she conceded that the plan needed changes. |
| conjunction ✓con·junc·tion/kənˈdʒʌŋkʃən/ | n. | a word such as and, but or because that joins parts of a sentencefamily: conjunctions | Use a conjunction such as 'but' to join the two short sentences. |
| conversely ✓con·verse·ly/ˈkɑnvɚsli/ | adv. | in the opposite way, or from the opposite point of viewfamily: converse | Some students learn best by reading; conversely, others prefer listening. |
| essentially ✓✓es·sen·tial·ly/ɛˈsɛnʃəli/ | adv. | in the most basic and important wayfamily: essential, essence | The two phones are essentially the same, apart from the colour. |
| evidently ✓ev·i·dent·ly/ˈɛvədəntli/ | adv. | in a way that is clear from the facts you can seefamily: evident, evidence | The students had evidently studied hard, because everyone passed the test. |
| frankly ≠frank·ly/ˈfɹæŋkli/ | adv. | in an honest and direct wayfamily: frank, frankness | Frankly, I think the plan needs more time before we start. |
| ideally ✓i·de·al·ly/aɪˈdili/ | adv. | in the best possible situationfamily: ideal, ideals, idealism | Ideally, everyone would finish the reading before the seminar. |
| imply ✓✓im·ply/ɪmˈplaɪ/ | v. | to suggest something without saying it directlyfamily: implication, implied, implies, implying, implicit | Her smile implied that she already knew the answer. |
| ironically ≠i·ron·i·cal·ly/aɪˈɹɑnɪkli/ | adv. | in a way that is the opposite of what you would expectfamily: irony, ironic, ironical | Ironically, the fastest runner in our class missed the bus. |
| lastly ✓last·ly/ˈlæstli/ | adv. | used to introduce the final point in a listfamily: last | Lastly, I would like to thank my classmates for their help. |
| likewise ✓✓like·wise/ˈlaɪkˌwaɪz/ | adv. | in the same way as something already mentioned | The first group finished early, and the second group did likewise. |
| literally ✓✓lit·er·al·ly/ˈlɪtɚəli/ | adv. | in the exact meaning of the words, not as a comparisonfamily: literal | The word homework literally means work that you do at home. |
| necessarily ≠nec·es·sar·i·ly/ˌnɛsəˈsɛɹəli/ | adv. | as a certain or unavoidable resultfamily: necessary, necessity, necessities, necessitate, unnecessary | Expensive shoes are not necessarily better than cheap ones. |
| potentially ✓✓po·ten·tial·ly/pəˈtɛnʃəli/ | adv. | in a way that is possible but has not happened yetfamily: potential | This new medicine could potentially save thousands of lives every year. |
| preferably ✓pref·er·a·bly/ˈpɹɛfɚəbli/ | adv. | if possible, as the better choicefamily: prefer, preferable, preference | Send your essay by email, preferably before Friday. |
| presumably ≠pre·sum·a·bly/pɹəˈzuməbli/ | adv. | used to say that something is probably truefamily: presume, presumed, presumable, presumption | The lights are off, so presumably nobody is home yet. |
| purely ✓pure·ly/ˈpjʊɹli/ | adv. | only, and for no other reasonfamily: pure, purity | She joined the club purely because her friends were members. |
| query ≠que·ry/ˈkwiɹi/ | n. | a question you ask to get information or check somethingfamily: queries, queried, querying | Send any queries about the timetable to the office email. |
| reckon ✓✓reck·on/ˈɹɛkən/ | v. | to think or believe that something is truefamily: reckoned, reckoning, reckons | I reckon the train will be late again today. |
| regardless ≠re·gard·less/ɹəˈɡɑɹdləs/ | adv. | without being affected by what has happened or been saidfamily: regard, regards, regarding, regarded | The rain was heavy, but the match went ahead regardless. |
| specifically ≠spe·cif·i·cal·ly/spəˈsɪfɪkli/ | adv. | for one particular purpose, person or thing onlyfamily: specific, specify, specifics, specification, specificity | This textbook was written specifically for first-year engineering students. |
| ultimately ✓✓ul·ti·mate·ly/ˈʌltəmətli/ | adv. | in the end, after everything else has happenedfamily: ultimate | The project was delayed several times but ultimately succeeded. |
| undoubtedly ≠un·doubt·ed·ly/ənˈdaʊtɪdli/ | adv. | certainly, in a way that no one could questionfamily: undoubted, doubt, doubtless | She is undoubtedly the most careful researcher in our group. |
| verbal ≠ver·bal/ˈvɝbəl/ | adj. | spoken rather than writtenfamily: verb, verbs, verbally, verbalise | The manager gave verbal approval, but we still need it in writing. |
| whereas ✓✓where·as/wɛˈɹæz/ | conj. | used to compare two facts that are different from each other | My brother loves cold weather, whereas I prefer the heat. |
city28 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| arch ✓/ɑɹtʃ/ | n. | a curved structure over an opening | They walked under the stone arch. |
| arena ≠a·re·na/əˈɹinə/ | n. | a large building or area where sports or concerts happenfamily: arenas | Thousands of fans filled the arena for the basketball final. |
| barbershop ✓bar·ber·shop/ˈbɑɹbɚˌʃɑp/ | n. | a shop where a man goes to have his hair cutfamily: barber, barbers, barbershops | My brother visits the barbershop on the corner once a month. |
| booth ✓/buθ/ | n. | a small closed space where one person can do something in privatefamily: booths | There is a photo booth next to the station entrance. |
| brewery ✓brew·er·y/ˈbɹuɚi/ | n. | a place where beer is madefamily: brew, brewer, brewed, brewing, breweries | The old brewery by the river is now a museum. |
| bust ⚠/bʌst/ | n. | a statue of a person's head and shoulders | A bronze bust stands in the hall. |
| cathedral ✓ca·the·dral/kəˈθidɹəl/ | n. | a very large and important church in a cityfamily: cathedrals | Tourists climbed the tower of the old cathedral for the view. |
| cemetery ≠cem·e·ter·y/ˈsɛməˌtɛɹi/ | n. | a place where dead people are buriedfamily: cemeteries | Every year the family visits the cemetery where their grandparents are buried. |
| concrete ✓✓con·crete/ˈkɑnkɹit/ | n. | a hard building material made from cement, sand, small stones and waterfamily: concretely, concreteness | The workers poured concrete to make the floor of the new car park. |
| cop ≠/kɑp/ | n. | an informal word for a police officer | A cop directed the traffic. |
| dent ⚠/dɛnt/ | n. | a hollow mark made by a knockfamily: dented, dents | There is a dent in the car door. |
| dome ⚠/doʊm/ | n. | a round curved roof | The hall has a white dome. |
| embassy ≠em·bas·sy/ˈɛmbəsi/ | n. | the building where a country's officials work in a foreign capitalfamily: embassies, ambassador | She went to the embassy to apply for a student visa. |
| exhibit ✓ex·hib·it/ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/ | n. | an object shown to the public in a museum or galleryfamily: exhibition, exhibitions, exhibitor, exhibited, exhibiting, exhibits | The most popular exhibit at the museum is a dinosaur skeleton. |
| ghetto ✓ghet·to/ˈɡɛtoʊ/ | n. | a poor part of a city where one group of people mostly livesfamily: ghettos, ghettoes | Many families in the ghetto could not afford proper housing. |
| hospice ✓hos·pice/ˈhɑspəs/ | n. | a hospital that gives comfort and care to people who are dyingfamily: hospices | Volunteers at the hospice read to patients every afternoon. |
| housing ✓hous·ing/ˈhaʊzɪŋ/ | n. | the flats and buildings that people live infamily: house, houses, household, housed | The city needs more affordable housing for young workers. |
| hubs ⚠/hʌbz/ | n. | plural of hub: the centres of wheels or of activityfamily: hub | Bus hubs link the far districts. |
| mart ⚠/mɑɹt/ | n. | a market or shop, used mainly in namesfamily: market | The corner mart sells ice. |
| neighboring ✓neigh·bor·ing/ˈneɪbɚɪŋ/ | adj. | American spelling of neighbouringfamily: neighbouring | Students from neighboring villages share the same school bus. |
| nightclub ✓night·club/ˈnaɪtˌklʌb/ | n. | a place that opens late at night where people dance and listen to musicfamily: nightclubs | The new nightclub near the river plays music until two in the morning. |
| raid ≠/ɹeɪd/ | n. | a sudden attack or official searchfamily: raided, raider | Police carried out a raid at dawn. |
| ramp ✓/ɹæmp/ | n. | a slope that joins two levelsfamily: ramps | A ramp leads up to the library door. |
| sewer ⚠sew·er/ˈsuɚ/ | n. | an underground pipe that carries away waste waterfamily: sewers | New sewers ended the street flooding. |
| suburb ✓✓sub·urb/ˈsʌbɚb/ | n. | an area where people live on the edge of a large cityfamily: suburbs, suburban | They moved to a quiet suburb where the children could play outside. |
| tunnel ✓✓tun·nel/ˈtʌnəl/ | n. | a long passage dug under the ground or through a hillfamily: tunnels, tunnelled, tunnelling | The train went through a long tunnel under the mountain. |
| urban ✓✓ur·ban/ˈɝbən/ | adj. | connected with a town or city, not the countrysidefamily: urbanization, urbanize, suburban | Urban areas usually have better public transport than small villages. |
| venue ✓✓ven·ue/ˈvɛnju/ | n. | the place where an event such as a concert or meeting happensfamily: venues | The conference venue is a hotel near the main railway station. |
time21 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| advent ✓ad·vent/ˈædˌvɛnt/ | n. | the arrival or beginning of something important | The advent of smartphones changed how students find information. |
| coincide ≠co·in·cide/ˌkoʊɪnˈsaɪd/ | v. | to happen at the same time as something elsefamily: coincidence, coincidences, coincided, coincides, coinciding, coincidental | The school trip coincided with the first day of the holiday. |
| eve ⚠/iv/ | n. | the day or evening before an event | They arrived on the eve of the festival. |
| everlasting ✓ev·er·last·ing/ˌɛvɚˈlæstɪŋ/ | adj. | continuing without end, for all timefamily: everlastingly | Grandmother said a good education is an everlasting gift. |
| formerly ✓✓for·mer·ly/ˈfɔɹmɚli/ | adv. | in the past, but not nowfamily: former | The museum was formerly a railway station. |
| forthcoming ≠forth·com·ing/ˌfɔɹθˈkʌmɪŋ/ | adj. | going to happen or appear soon | Tickets for the forthcoming concert go on sale next Monday. |
| hourly ✓hour·ly/ˈaʊɹli/ | adj. | happening or done once every sixty minutesfamily: hour, hours | An hourly bus runs from the campus to the city centre. |
| instantly ✓✓in·stant·ly/ˈɪnstəntli/ | adv. | immediately, without any delayfamily: instant, instantaneous | She recognised the voice instantly and picked up the phone. |
| lifetime ✓✓life·time/ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm/ | n. | the whole period of time from someone's birth to their deathfamily: life, lifetimes | My grandmother saw huge changes in technology during her lifetime. |
| medieval ≠me·di·eval/mɪˈdivəl/ | adj. | belonging to the Middle Ages, roughly the years 500 to 1500family: medievalist | The old town still has a medieval wall around its centre. |
| ongoing ✓on·go·ing/ˈɑnˌɡoʊɪŋ/ | adj. | still happening or continuing now | Road repairs are ongoing, so expect delays near the bridge. |
| onset ⚠on·set/ˈɑnˌsɛt/ | n. | the beginning, especially of something unpleasant | Finish planting before the onset of the rains. |
| originally ≠o·rig·i·nal·ly/əˈɹɪdʒənəli/ | adv. | at first, before something changedfamily: origin, original, originality, originate, origins | The building was originally a school, but now it is a library. |
| phase ≠/feɪz/ | n. | one stage in a process of changefamily: phases | The reading phase lasts two weeks. |
| precede ✓✓pre·cede/pɹɪˈsid/ | v. | to come or happen before something elsefamily: preceded, precedes, preceding, precedent, precedence | A short introduction preceded the main speech at the conference. |
| previously ≠pre·vi·ous·ly/ˈpɹiviəsli/ | adv. | at an earlier pointfamily: previous | She previously worked as a nurse before becoming a teacher. |
| prior ✓✓pri·or/ˈpɹaɪɚ/ | adj. | happening or existing before something elsefamily: priority, priorities | Students with no prior knowledge of chemistry can still join the course. |
| span ≠/spæn/ | n. | the length of time something lastsfamily: spans, spanned | The lesson has a span of fifty minutes. |
| temporarily ✓✓tem·po·rar·i·ly/ˌtɛmpəˈɹɛɹəli/ | adv. | for a short time only, not permanentlyfamily: temporary | The library is temporarily closed while the roof is repaired. |
| thereafter ≠there·af·ter/ðɛɹˈæftɚ/ | adv. | after the time or event that has just been mentioned | She graduated in June and started her new job shortly thereafter. |
| timing ✓✓tim·ing/ˈtaɪmɪŋ/ | n. | the moment chosen for something to happenfamily: time, timed, timings | The timing of the meeting was bad because everyone had exams. |
weather6 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| drought ✓✓/dɹaʊt/ | n. | a long period with no rain | The drought lasted two years. |
| gale ≠/ɡeɪl/ | n. | a very strong windfamily: gales | A gale brought down the old tree. |
| hail ⚠/heɪl/ | n. | frozen rain that falls as small balls of ice | Hail rattled on the tin roof. |
| harsh ≠/hɑɹʃ/ | adj. | unpleasantly severefamily: harshly | The winter was harsh. |
| mist ✓/mɪst/ | n. | a thin cloud close to the groundfamily: misty | Morning mist covered the field. |
| ray ≠/ɹeɪ/ | n. | a narrow line of light | A ray of sun crossed the floor. |
environment3 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| carbon ✓✓car·bon/ˈkɑɹbən/ | n. | a chemical element found in coal, diamonds and all living thingsfamily: carbonate, carbonated, carbonation, carbonic, carbonise | Trees take in carbon from the air as they grow. |
| disposal ≠dis·pos·al/dɪˈspoʊzəl/ | n. | the act of throwing away or getting rid of somethingfamily: dispose, disposed, disposable, disposals | Safe disposal of old batteries protects the soil and water. |
| litter ✓✓lit·ter/ˈlɪtɚ/ | n. | pieces of rubbish left lying on the ground in public placesfamily: littered, littering, litters | Volunteers picked up litter along the beach on Saturday morning. |
outside3 words
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| marathon ✓✓mar·a·thon/ˈmɛɹəˌθɑn/ | n. | a running race of just over 42 kilometresfamily: marathons, marathoner | My sister trained for six months before running her first marathon. |
| pitch ✓✓/pɪtʃ/ | n. | an area of ground marked out for playing a team sportfamily: pitches, pitched, pitching | The football pitch was wet after the heavy rain. |
| rural ✓✓ru·ral/ˈɹʊɹəl/ | adj. | connected with the countryside, not the town or city | Many rural schools have fewer than fifty students in total. |
classroom1 words
Practice these words
Six scrambles taken from the list above. Each one opens in the unscrambler with the letters already entered, so you can try it in your head first and then check.
To practice a set you choose yourself, paste your own words into the scramble maker and print a sheet with an answer key. If you are a teacher, the worksheet library has ready-made sets with a classroom procedure attached.
Study notes for B2
At B2, a definition is rarely enough. Two words with the same meaning behave differently: one is formal, one is not; one takes an object, one does not. When you meet a new word here, ask three questions — who says this, in what kind of writing, and what usually follows it.
This is roughly where a plain scramble stops earning its place. Rearranging letters drills the recognition of a written form, and by B2 you recognize written forms fluently. Your gaps are meaning, register and collocation. If you want the puzzle format to keep working, use the scramble maker in its with definitions format, where the task is recalling which word carries a given sense.
Beyond B2 this site does not publish a word list. C1 has 426 entries in the learner layer and C2 has 28 — enough for the maker to build a worksheet from, not enough to call a list. A short list presented as a level would misrepresent the level, so it is not offered.
Where to go next
When most of this list is familiar, move up to C1 vocabulary. Do not wait until you know every word — the bands overlap, and the fastest way to consolidate one level is to start meeting the next.
All six bands are explained on the levels page. The unscrambler shows the band on every learner entry, so any learner word you look up tells you roughly how hard it is. Teachers matching these bands to a national curriculum may want the Thai curriculum mapping.
Sources: Meanings are written for learners rather than adapted from any single dictionary, and checked against established learner dictionaries. CEFR levels are evidence-graded against the CEFR-J Wordlist v1.5 (© Tono Laboratory, TUFS), the Oxford 3000/5000 level bands and, for C1–C2, the Octanove Vocabulary Profile (CC BY-SA 4.0); each level carries one of five evidence marks (✓✓ ✓ ≠ ✓* ⚠). Pronunciations derive from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (Copyright © 1993–2015 Carnegie Mellon University), General American. Full methodology, exact counts and the change log: methodology & sources. Last checked: 24 August 2026.