4000 Essential English Words 5 » Index

a
  • abbey
    abbey [ˈæbi] n.
    An abbey is a house or group of houses where monks or nuns live.
    →When the monk returned to the abbey, he went immediately to his bedroom.
  • abundant
    abundant [əˈbʌndənt] adj.
    If something is abundant, then it is available in large quantities.
    →Cakes, cookies, and candy were so abundant that the child was very happy.
  • accessory
    accessory [ækˈsesəri] n.
    An accessory is a thing that is added to another thing to make it look better.
    →The store sold colorful accessories like bags, sunglasses, and makeup.
  • accordingly
    accordingly [əˈkɔːrdiŋli] adv.
    If someone acts accordingly, they act in a way that is suitable.
    →He feels like he did a good job, and his boss should pay him accordingly.
  • accountant
    accountant [əˈkauntənt] n.
    An accountant is a person whose job is to keep financial accounts.
    →The accountant helped me keep track of my money.
  • acid
    acid [ˈæsid] n.
    An acid is a chemical that can burn or dissolve other substances.
    →In chemistry class, we mixed two acids together and watched the reaction.
  • acquisition
    acquisition [ˌækwəziʃən] n.
    An acquisition is something that a person buys or gets in some way.
    →Marty was happy with his new acquisition: a very fast bicycle.
  • acute
    acute [əˈkjuːt] adj.
    When a bad thing is acute, it is very severe and intense.
    →When she fell out of the tree, the girl felt an acute pain in her arm.
  • adapt
    adapt [əˈdæpt] v.
    To adapt means to change in order to deal with a new situation or addition.
    →When he went to the new town, he had to adapt to all the weather changes.
  • addict
    addict [ˈædikt] n.
    An addict is a person who cannot stop doing or having something.
    →She was a coffee addict. She had more than three cups each day.
  • adept
    adept [əˈdept] adj.
    If someone is adept at something, they are very good at doing it.
    →The carpenter is very adept at building houses.
  • adequate
    adequate [ˈædikwit] adj.
    When something is adequate, it is good enough for something else.
    →Without adequate notice of the road block, they will have to turn around.
  • adjoin
    adjoin [əˈdʒɔin] v.
    To adjoin something means to be next to or attached to something else.
    →She can listen to her brother’s conversations because her room adjoins his.
  • administration
    administration [ədˌminəsˈtreiʃən] n.
    An administration is the group of people who manage a company or organization.
    →She hoped she could be promoted to a job in the administration.
  • administrative
    administrative [ədˈminəstrətiv] adj.
    Administrative describes anything related to managing a company or organization.
    →I work as an administrative assistant to the owner of the company.
  • administrator
    administrator [ædˈminəstreitər] n.
    An administrator is a person who controls a business, company, or organization.
    →Everyone in the store did whatever the administrator asked them to do.
  • aesthetic
    aesthetic [esˈθetik] adj.
    If something is aesthetic, then it is concerned with a love of beauty.
    →The dresses were noteworthy for their aesthetic design.
  • affluent
    affluent [ˈæflu(:)ənt] adj.
    If someone is affluent, they are wealthy.
    →People in the city are usually more affluent than people in the country.
  • aggregate
    aggregate [ˈӕgrəgit] adj.
    When a number is aggregate, it is made up of smaller amounts added together.
    →The company totaled its aggregate sales for the entire year.
  • aggression
    aggression [əˈgreʃən] n.
    Aggression is behavior that is mean or violent to others.
    →The problem was only made worse by Mark’s aggression.
  • aggressive
    aggressive [əˈgresiv] adj.
    If someone is aggressive, then they constantly want to fight.
    →Nobody liked to play games with him because he was always too aggressive.
  • allot
    allot [əˈlɒt] v.
    To allot something means to give it to someone.
    →The coach allotted each team five minutes to prepare a strategy.
  • altitude
    altitude [ˈӕltətjuːd] n.
    The altitude of a place is its height above sea level.
    →The air was thin at such a high altitude on the mountain.
  • amnesty
    amnesty [ˈӕmnəsti] n.
    Amnesty is a pardon given to prisoners of war.
    →She was denied amnesty for her involvement in the war.
  • ample
    ample [ˈæmpl] adj.
    If something is ample, then it is enough or more than enough.
    →There was an ample supply of oats to feed the horses.
  • analytic
    analytic [ˌænəˈlitik] adj.
    If something is analytic, it is related to logic and reasoning.
    →The analytic article criticized the new plan and presented one of its own.
  • anchor
    anchor [ˈæŋkər] n.
    An anchor is a heavy object dropped from a boat to make it stay in one place.
    →When the ship reached its destination, the crew dropped the anchor.
  • anthropology
    anthropology [ˌænθrəˈpɒlədʒi] n.
    Anthropology is the study of people, society, and culture.
    →In anthropology class, I learned about simple tools that ancient cultures used.
  • antibiotic
    antibiotic [ˈæntibaiˈɒtik] n.
    An antibiotic is a medical drug used to kill bacteria and treat infections.
    →The doctor gave me a shot of an antibiotic when I got the flu.
  • antique
    antique [ænˈtiːk] adj.
    If something is antique, it is very old and rare, and therefore valuable.
    →My grandmother’s antique rocking chair is worth a lot of money.
  • appall
    appall [əˈpɔ:l] v.
    To appall means to horrify, shock, or disgust someone.
    →The boy was appalled when he saw the accident.
  • applaud
    applaud [əˈplɔːd] v.
    To applaud means to clap in order to show approval.
    →Everyone cheered and applauded Manny’s efforts.
  • applicant
    applicant [ˈæplikənt] n.
    An applicant is someone who writes a request to be considered for a job or prize.
    →Lots of applicants came into the store when the job position became available.
  • appoint
    appoint [əˈpɔint] v.
    To appoint someone to a job means to give the job to them.
    →Two students were appointed to help the scientists with their research.
  • aquarium
    aquarium [əˈkwɛəriəm] n.
    An aquarium is a building where fish and underwater animals are kept.
    →We took a trip to the aquarium and saw a scary shark.
  • aquatic
    aquatic [əˈkwætik] adj.
    If a plant or animal is aquatic, it lives or grows in water.
    →The dolphin is an aquatic mammal.
  • arbitrary
    arbitrary [ˈɑːrbitreri] adj.
    If something is arbitrary, it is not based on any plan or system, so it seems random.
    →The classroom had many arbitrary rules that made me confused.
  • archaic
    archaic [ɑːrˈkeik] adj.
    If something is archaic, it is very old or outdated.
    →To be competitive, we must update our archaic equipment.
  • archeological
    archeological [ˌɑːrkiəˈlɒdʒikəl] adj.
    When something is archeological, it relates to archeology.
    →They found archeological evidence that proved an ancient species of man.
  • archeology
    archeology [ˌɑːrkiˈɒlədʒi] n.
    Archeology is the study of ancient people through their artifacts.
    →He studied archeology to learn more about ancient Egyptian culture.
  • arena
    arena [əˈriːnə] n.
    An arena is a building where people can watch sports and concerts.
    →The new arena was all set to hold the championship match.
  • arid
    arid [ˈærid] adj.
    If a place is arid, then it is hot and dry and gets very little or no rain.
    →Not many plants grow in the arid desert.
  • arrogant
    arrogant [ˈærəgənt] adj.
    If someone is arrogant, they think that they are more important than others.
    →He is very arrogant. Even though he’s not the boss, he tells everyone what to do.
  • artifact
    artifact [ˈɑːrtəfækt] n.
    An artifact is an old object made by humans that is historically interesting.
    →We studied artifacts from an ancient Chinese settlement.
  • aspect
    aspect [ˈæspekt] n.
    An aspect is one part or feature of something.
    →I thought about the different aspects of owning two dogs.
  • assert
    assert [əˈsəːrt] v.
    To assert a fact or belief means to state it with confidence.
    →He asserted that his mother’s cooking was better than his best friend’s.
  • assess
    assess [əˈses] v.
    To assess something means to judge the structure, purpose, or quality of it.
    →She assessed the condition of the toy car before buying it.
  • asset
    asset [ˈæset] n.
    An asset is a skill or quality that is useful or valuable.
    →The coach realized the boy’s speed was an asset to the team.
  • astonish
    astonish [əˈstɒniʃ] v.
    To astonish someone means to greatly surprise them.
    →The amount of people that came to her party astonished her.
  • astounded
    astounded [əˈstaundid] adj.
    If you are astounded, you are very surprised.
    →I was astounded that Monica won the art competition.
  • astronomical
    astronomical [ˌæstrəˈnɒmikəl] adj.
    If something is astronomical, then it is extremely large.
    →It’s an astronomical distance between the Milky Way galaxy and the nearest galaxy.
  • atom
    atom [ˈætəm] n.
    An atom is the smallest unit of a substance.
    →A molecule consists of a combination of two or more atoms.
  • attorney
    attorney [əˈtəːrni] n.
    An attorney is one who gives others advice about the law.
    →The attorney appeared in front of the judge for me.
  • attribute
    attribute [ˈætribjuːt] n.
    An attribute is a characteristic of a person or thing.
    →He isn’t very clever, but he does have some other positive attributes.
  • audit
    audit [ˈɔːdit] v.
    To audit means to inspect financial records from a person or business.
    →The government usually audits companies that report lower than usual incomes.
  • auditorium
    auditorium [ˌɔːdiˈtɔːriəm] n.
    An auditorium is a large building used for public events.
    →People have gathered at the school auditorium to watch the play.
  • authentic
    authentic [ɔːˈθentik] adj.
    When something is authentic, it is not false or a copy of the original.
    →We ate authentic Italian food on our vacation to Rome.
  • autobiography
    autobiography [ˌɔːtəbaiˈɒgrəfi] n.
    An autobiography is a true story of a person’s life written by that person.
    →I read an autobiography about my favorite entertainer.
  • automate
    automate [ˈɔːtəmeit] v.
    To automate a company means to install machines or computers to do the work.
    →When the bank automated, it started installing ATM machines.
b
  • bachelor
    bachelor [ˈbætʃələr] n.
    A bachelor is an unmarried man.
    →Since he was a bachelor, Jason did his shopping by himself.
  • bankrupt
    bankrupt [ˈbæŋkrʌpt] adj.
    If someone is bankrupt, then they are unable to pay their debts.
    →The store had few customers and soon went bankrupt.
  • banquet
    banquet [ˈbæŋkwit] n.
    A banquet is a grand formal dinner.
    →Both families brought a lot of food for the wedding banquet.
  • barren
    barren [ˈbӕrən] adj.
    If land is barren, it has no plants growing on it.
    →People cannot farm in barren lands.
  • behalf
    behalf [biˈhæf] n.
    If something is done on one’s behalf, it is done for that person by another.
    →The original speaker was sick, so his son gave the speech on his behalf.
  • benevolent
    benevolent [bəˈnevələnt] adj.
    If someone is benevolent, they are kind and generous.
    →My father was a benevolent man and gave lots of money to charity.
  • bias
    bias [ˈbaiəs] n.
    A bias is a person’s likelihood to like one thing more than another thing.
    →The mothers had a natural bias for their own child’s picture.
  • bilingual
    bilingual [baiˈliŋgwəl] adj.
    If someone is bilingual, then they can speak two languages.
    →Since you already know English, after learning French you’ll be bilingual.
  • biography
    biography [baiˈɒgrəfi] n.
    A biography is an account of someone’s life that is written by someone else.
    →We read a biography about Charles Darwin in science class.
  • biological
    biological [ˌbaiəˈlɒdʒikəl] adj.
    Biological describes the process of life and living things.
    →In science, we learned about the biological process of bacterial growth.
  • biosphere
    biosphere [ˈbaiəsfiər] adj.
    The biosphere is the earth’s surface and atmosphere where there are living things.
    →Birds, trees, and worms all thrive in the biosphere.
  • biotechnology
    biotechnology [ˌbaioutekˈnɒlədʒi] n.
    Biotechnology is the use of living parts, such as cells, in industry and technology.
    →Researchers at the biotechnology company use bacteria to make medicine.
  • bizarre
    bizarre [biˈzaːr] adj.
    When something is bizarre, it is very strange.
    →My bizarre dreams make no sense to me when I am awake.
  • boost
    boost [buːst] v.
    To boost something means to increase or improve it.
    →Lowering prices boosts customers’ interest in shopping.
  • Braille
    Braille [breil] n.
    Braille is a system of raised patterns on paper that allows the blind to read.
    →The boy enjoyed reading his favorite books written in Braille.
  • brainstorm
    brainstorm [ˈbreinstɔːrm] v.
    To brainstorm is to have a lot of ideas about a certain topic.
    →The students met after school to brainstorm ideas for their assignment.
  • brass
    brass [bræs] n.
    Brass is a metal that is used to make musical instruments and ornaments.
    →Brass is used to make musical instruments like trumpets.
  • breadth
    breadth [bretθ] n.
    Breadth is the distance from one side to the other side of something.
    →The breadth of the northern wall of the house is twenty meters.
  • bribe
    bribe [braib] v.
    To bribe someone means to illegally persuade them for a favor with money.
    →The judge was bribed so that she would set the suspect free.
  • brook
    brook [bruk] n.
    A brook is a small stream.
    →Water flows down several brooks on the mountain.
  • bud
    bud [bʌd] n.
    A bud is a part of a plant that turns into a flower or a leaf.
    →Two weeks after planting the seed, a small bud appeared.
  • budget
    budget [ˈbʌdʒit] n.
    A budget is the amount of money available to spend on something.
    →His budget for food was very tight.
  • buoy
    buoy [ˈbuːi] n.
    A buoy is a floating sign that warns boats of dangerous areas.
    →Don’t steer the boat near those buoys. There are rocks underneath the water.
  • burden
    burden [ˈbəːrdn] n.
    A burden is a serious or difficult responsibility.
    →Children who do not behave are a burden to their parents.
c
  • cache
    cache [kæʃ] n.
    A cache is a hiding place for valuable things.
    →The pirates kept their jewelry in a cache hidden in a cave.
  • calculus
    calculus [ˈkælkjələs] n.
    Calculus is an advanced type of mathematics.
    →By using calculus, scientists determined small changes in the stars’ brightness.
  • canyon
    canyon [ˈkænjən] n.
    A canyon is a narrow valley with steep walls through which a river often flows.
    →The canyon was so deep that the ground inside was covered in shadow.
  • capitalism
    capitalism [ˈkæpitəlizəm] n.
    Capitalism is an economic system where private companies make goods for profit.
    →Most industries in the world today are based on capitalism.
  • capitalist
    capitalist [ˈkæpitəlist] n.
    A capitalist is a business person who invests in trade and industry for profit.
    →The capitalist invested in a factory that made wheat into cereal.
  • captive
    captive [ˈkæptiv] n.
    A captive is a prisoner.
    →The guards told the captive that there was no way he could escape the prison.
  • cardboard
    cardboard [ˈkɑːrdbɔːrd] n.
    Cardboard is a material made out of stiff paper. It is often used to make boxes.
    →We packed our things into cardboard boxes and moved to our new home.
  • catastrophe
    catastrophe [kəˈtæstrəfi] n.
    A catastrophe is an unexpected event that causes great suffering or damage.
    →It was a catastrophe for my family when my dad lost his job.
  • cater
    cater [ˈkeitər] v.
    To cater to someone means to provide them with all the things needed or wanted.
    →Bill was too sick to get out of bed, so his nurse catered to his needs.
  • cathedral
    cathedral [kəˈθiːdrəl] n.
    A cathedral is an important and often large and beautifully built church.
    →The large cathedral is full of people on Sunday mornings.
  • celestial
    celestial [səˈlestʃəl] adj.
    If something is celestial, it is related to the sky or to outer space.
    →Comets are celestial objects that are rarely seen.
  • cellular
    cellular [ˈseljələr] adj.
    When something is cellular, it relates to the cells of animals or plants.
    →She used a microscope to see the activity at a cellular level.
  • Celsius
    Celsius [ˈselsiəs] n.
    Celsius is a scale for measuring temperature.
    →Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.
  • ceramic
    ceramic [səˈrӕmik] adj.
    If something is ceramic, it is made of baked clay.
    →The house’s roof was made of ceramic tiles.
  • chaotic
    chaotic [keiˈɒtik] adj.
    When something is chaotic, it is crazy, confused, and hectic.
    →The first day of school can be chaotic for a new student.
  • cholesterol
    cholesterol [kəˈlestəroul] n.
    Cholesterol is a substance in fat, tissues, and blood of all animals.
    →When people have too much cholesterol, they are at a high risk for heart problems.
  • chronic
    chronic [ˈkrɒnik] adj.
    When something is chronic, it happens over and over again over time.
    →He had chronic pain in his chest and needed to see a doctor.
  • chronology
    chronology [krəˈnɒlədʒi] n.
    The chronology of a series of past events is when they happened.
    →We learned the chronology of World War II in history class.
  • circuit
    circuit [ˈsəːrkit] n.
    A circuit is a piece of an electronic device that allows electricity to flow.
    →Be very careful not to shock yourself when fixing an electrical circuit.
  • circumference
    circumference [səˈkʌmfərəns] n.
    A circumference is the distance completely around a circular object.
    →The circumference of the Earth is obviously much larger than a baseball’s.
  • cite
    cite [sait] v.
    To cite something is to mention it as an example or as proof of something.
    →She cited six reasons that the school needed to build new classrooms.
  • clap
    clap [klæp] v.
    To clap means to hit one’s hands together to express pleasure or get attention.
    →After the speech, everyone in the crowd clapped their hands for the speaker.
  • clone
    clone [kloun] n.
    A clone is an identical copy of a living creature.
    →Scientists recently made a clone of a sheep.
  • coalition
    coalition [kouəˈliʃən] n.
    A coalition is a group of people or organizations working for a common purpose.
    →The companies formed a coalition to make trade less expensive.
  • coarse
    coarse [kɔːrs] adj.
    If something is coarse, that means it has a rough texture.
    →The coarse sweater made my skin itch.
  • coastline
    coastline [ˈkoustlain] n.
    A coastline is the outline of a country’s coast.
    →He noticed that most of the cities in Australia are on the coastline.
  • cognitive
    cognitive [ˈkɒgnətiv] adj.
    If something is cognitive, it is related to learning and knowing things.
    →After her physical examination, her cognitive strengths were tested.
  • collision
    collision [kəˈliʒən] n.
    A collision is the act of two things hitting into each another.
    →The collision between the two cars created a loud noise.
  • colloquial
    colloquial [kəˈloukwiəl] adj.
    Colloquial describes informal words that are more suitable for speech than writing.
    →I find it difficult to understand people if they use colloquial language.
  • combat
    combat [ˈkɒmbæt] n.
    Combat is fighting between two people or groups.
    →The two warriors were locked in combat.
  • comet
    comet [ˈkɒmit] n.
    A comet is an object in space made of ice and rock with a tail of glowing dust.
    →Comets take many decades to complete an orbit around a star.
  • commence
    commence [kəˈmens] v.
    To commence something means to begin it.
    →His speech commenced with a “thankyou” to all who had helped him succeed.
  • commonplace
    commonplace [ˈkɒmənpleis] adj.
    If something is commonplace, then it is ordinary.
    →There is nothing commonplace about the way Morris dresses.
  • companion
    companion [kəmˈpænjən] n.
    A companion is a person that someone spends a lot of time with.
    →I always walk to school with my companion Frank.
  • compatible
    compatible [kəmˈpætəbəl] adj.
    When things are compatible, they work well or exist together successfully.
    →Jan and Fred are too different. They will never be compatible.
  • compel
    compel [kəmˈpel] v.
    To compel someone to do something means to force them to do it.
    →Traffic signs compel drivers to drive safely.
  • competence
    competence [ˈkɒmpətəns] n.
    Competence is the ability to do something well or effectively.
    →The job was easy because the group had enough competence to do it well.
  • competent
    competent [ˈkɒmpətənt] adj.
    If someone is competent, they are able to think or act successfully.
    →Competent employees are much better than unknowledgeable ones.
  • complement
    complement [ˈkɒmpləment] v.
    To complement something or someone is to make them better.
    →The wool scarf complemented her lovely eyes.
  • component
    component [kəmˈpounənt] n.
    A component is a part of a larger machine.
    →Computers have many different components, so they are complicated to build.
  • compound
    compound [ˈkɒmpaund] n.
    A compound is an enclosed area such as a prison or factory.
    →The workers waited outside the compound for the gates to the factory to open.
  • compress
    compress [kəmˈpres] v.
    To compress something means to press or squeeze it so that it takes up less space.
    →I compressed my clothes to fit into a single suitcase.
  • compromise
    compromise [ˈkɒmprəmaiz] v.
    To compromise is to agree to something that is not exactly what you want.
    →We both compromised about the game we decided to play.
  • confer
    confer [kənˈfəːr] v.
    To confer with someone means to discuss something with them to make a decision.
    →I will have to confer with my wife before I can purchase a new car.
  • conform
    conform [kənˈfɔːrm] v.
    To conform to rules or laws is to obey them.
    →The new student had to conform to the school’s dress code.
  • consecutive
    consecutive [kənˈsekjətiv] adj.
    When things are consecutive, they happen one after another without interruption.
    →The king ruled for ten consecutive years.
  • considerate
    considerate [kənˈsidərit] adj.
    When someone is considerate, they pay attention to the needs of others.
    →The considerate boy gave a present to his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.
  • consumption
    consumption [kənˈsʌmpʃən] n.
    The consumption of food or drink is the act of eating or drinking it.
    →These apples are too rotten for consumption.
  • contempt
    contempt [kənˈtempt] n.
    Contempt is the feeling of having no respect for something.
    →The judge had contempt for the wicked criminal.
  • context
    context [ˈkɒntekst] n.
    Context is the situations that form the background of an event.
    →They studied the context of the battle before giving their presentation.
  • convenience
    convenience [kənˈviːnjənt] n.
    Convenience is a state of being able to do something with little effort.
    →The Internet allows consumers to shop at their own convenience.
  • convention
    convention [kənˈvenʃən] n.
    A convention is behavior that is considered to be common or polite.
    →In the US, a popular convention is to shake hands when you meet someone.
  • coordinate
    coordinate [kouˈɔːrdəneit] v.
    To coordinate things is to make different parts work together.
    →Each skating team had to coordinate their movements for the show.
  • corps
    corps [kɔːr] n.
    A corps is a division of a military force.
    →The army had a corps of archers who trained apart from the regular soldiers.
  • correspond
    correspond [ˌkɔ:rəsˈpɒnd] v.
    To correspond is to match or to be similar to something.
    →The boy’s story didn’t correspond with his mother’s version.
  • corrupt
    corrupt [kəˈrʌpt] adj.
    If someone is corrupt, they break the law for money or fame.
    →The corrupt policemen didn’t arrest the man because he gave them money.
  • cosmetics
    cosmetics [kɒzˈmetiks] n.
    Cosmetics are substances that make the face and skin more beautiful.
    →Girls often look nicer when they don’t use so many cosmetics.
  • courtyard
    courtyard [ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd] n.
    A courtyard is an outdoor area that is surrounded by the walls of a building.
    →During the summer, the courtyard is a nice place to have lunch.
  • craft
    craft [kræft] v.
    To craft something is to make it using skill.
    →She crafted the bookcase out of solid pine wood and then painted it.
  • crater
    crater [ˈkreitər] n.
    A crater is a large hole in a planet’s or moon’s surface.
    →They could clearly see the big crater on the moon through the telescope.
  • creek
    creek [kriːk] n.
    A creek is a stream or small river.
    →Only small fish lived in the shallow waters of the creek.
  • crescent
    crescent [ˈkresənt] n.
    A crescent is the curved shape lit on the moon’s face during its early and late stages.
    →Ten days ago the entire moon was bright, but now only a small crescent is shining.
  • criteria
    criteria [kraiˈtiəriə] n.
    Criteria are factors on which a person judges or decides something.
    →Before she got the job, she had to meet all the necessary criteria.
  • crook
    crook [kruk] n.
    A crook is someone who is not honest or who commits crimes.
    →The manager was arrested by the police for being a crook.
  • crude
    crude [kruːd] adj.
    When something is crude, it is not exact or detailed, but it can still be useful.
    →She drew crude hearts on the ground to show how much she loved him.
  • crust
    crust [krʌst] n.
    Crust is the tough outer part of a loaf of bread.
    →The little boy never ate the crust of his pizza.
  • cube
    cube [kjuːb] n.
    A cube is a solid object with six square surfaces that are all the same size.
    →Please get me some ice cubes to put in my soda.
  • culinary
    culinary [ˈkʌləneri] adj.
    If something is culinary, it is related to cooking.
    →I gained culinary skills after working in a restaurant for many years.
  • currency
    currency [ˈkə:rənsi] n.
    Currency is the form of money used in a certain place.
    →Elizabeth had to exchange her dollars for foreign currency.
d
  • dash
    dash [dæʃ] v.
    To dash means to run or move quickly.
    →Helen dashed up the stairs, so she wouldn’t be late for her appointment.
  • database
    database [ˈdeitəbeis] n.
    A database is a collection of data that is stored in a computer.
    →The company has a database of all the names and accounts of their customers.
  • dearth
    dearth [dəːrθ] n.
    A dearth is an amount or supply which is not large enough.
    →There is a dearth of money in my bank account. I can’t afford a new car.
  • debris
    debris [ˈdəbriː] n.
    Debris is the small pieces scattered from something wrecked or destroyed.
    →The debris from the cube scattered on the floor.
  • deceptive
    deceptive [diˈseptiv] adj.
    When something is deceptive, it encourages one to believe something that is false.
    →The scary-looking man’s appearance is deceptive, but he is actually very nice.
  • dedicate
    dedicate [ˈdedikeit] v.
    To dedicate oneself to something means to put a lot of time and effort into it.
    →The nun dedicated herself to helping people in need.
  • degrade
    degrade [diˈgreid] v.
    To degrade someone means to cause people to have shame.
    →The teacher degraded Bob when she announced his poor performance to the class
  • deliberate
    deliberate [diˈlibərit] adj.
    If a thing you do is deliberate, you intend to do it.
    →She made a deliberate effort to save money each month.
  • dense
    dense [dens] adj.
    If something is dense, it has a lot of things close together.
    →I easily became lost in the dense forest.
  • dependence
    dependence [diˈpendəns] n.
    Dependence is a situation in which somebody relies on something else.
    →Young children have a dependence on their parents.
  • deprive
    deprive [diˈpraiv] v.
    To deprive someone of something means to not let them have it.
    →Because the child was bad, she was deprived of her dessert after dinner.
  • designate
    designate [ˈdezigneit] v.
    To designate someone or something means to give them a particular description.
    →The famous lighthouse was designated a historical monument.
  • despair
    despair [disˈpɛər] n.
    Despair is the complete loss of hope.
    →After the other company won the account, our salespeople were filled with despair.
  • deter
    deter [diˈtəːr] v.
    To deter means to prevent or discourage someone from doing something.
    →Icy roads deter people from driving their cars.
  • devise
    devise [diˈvaiz] v.
    To devise something means to have an idea or plan about it in the mind.
    →The thieves devised a plan to steal the diamonds.
  • diabetes
    diabetes [daiəˈbiːtis] n.
    Diabetes is a medical condition where a person has too much sugar in their blood.
    →Overweight people are more likely to suffer from diabetes than slimmer ones.
  • digest
    digest [diˈdʒest] v.
    To digest means to swallow food and pass it through the body.
    →Allow some time for food to be digested before going swimming.
  • dignity
    dignity [ˈdignəti] n.
    Dignity is the ability to be calm and worthy of respect.
    →When his company went out of business, he faced it with dignity.
  • dilemma
    dilemma [diˈlemə] n.
    A dilemma is a difficult situation in which a choice has to be made.
    →Choosing either the tastier or healthier drink proved to be quite a dilemma.
  • diminish
    diminish [dəˈminiʃ] v.
    To diminish means to reduce or get smaller.
    →As the economy got worse, my savings diminished.
  • diploma
    diploma [diˈploumə] n.
    A diploma is a certificate proving that someone has completed their studies.
    →After four years of college, Mary finally had a diploma.
  • diplomat
    diplomat [ˈdipləmæt] n.
    A diplomat is a representative of a country who works with another country.
    →The Spanish diplomat discussed trade issues with officials in Peru.
  • dire
    dire [ˈdaiər] adj.
    When something is dire, it is terrible and very serious.
    →The tornado created a dire situation for the small town.
  • discipline
    discipline [ˈdisəplin] n.
    Discipline is training that helps people follow the rules.
    →One of the teacher’s jobs is to teach her students discipline.
  • disgust
    disgust [disˈgʌst] n.
    Disgust is a feeling of distaste and anger caused by something rude or unpleasant.
    →He felt disgust toward his date because she had such terrible eating habits.
  • dispose
    dispose [diˈspouz] v.
    To dispose of something means to get rid of it.
    →He disposed of the can by throwing it into the recycle bin.
  • disprove
    disprove [disˈpruːv] v.
    To disprove something means to show that it is not true.
    →The scientist disproved the theory that the sun moved around the Earth.
  • distort
    distort [disˈtɔːrt] v.
    To distort something means to lie about it.
    →His lawyer distorted the facts so that he would be set free.
  • distract
    distract [disˈtrækt] v.
    To distract someone means to stop them from concentrating on something.
    →The phone call distracted him so much that he forgot all about his homework.
  • ditch
    ditch [ditʃ] n.
    A ditch is a narrow hole cut into the ground by a road or a field.
    →When the car slid off of the road, it fell into the ditch.
  • dock
    dock [dɒk] n.
    A dock is an enclosed area where ships go to be loaded, unloaded, and repaired.
    →The huge ship pulled into the dock, and the crew unloaded the cargo.
  • dominance
    dominance [ˈdɒmənəns] n.
    The dominance of a person is their state of being more powerful than others.
    →Large gorillas hit their chests to express their dominance over others.
  • dominate
    dominate [ˈdɒməneit] v.
    To dominate someone or something is to control them.
    →The loud man dominated the conversation.
  • donor
    donor [ˈdounər] n.
    A donor is somebody who gives something to an organization.
    →He was proud to be a blood donor.
  • drawback
    drawback [ˈdrɔːbæk] n.
    A drawback is a disadvantage.
    →The drawback of having a car is that it is very expensive to maintain.
  • drill
    drill [dril] n.
    A drill is a tool with a point that spins in order to make a hole.
    →The carpenter used the drill to make several holes in the wood.
  • drought
    drought [draut] n.
    A drought is a long period of time in which little or no rain falls.
    →After three months of drought, the vegetation and trees started dying.
  • dumb
    dumb [dʌm] adj.
    If someone is dumb, they are unable to speak.
    →She did not share the secret. She remained silent as if she were dumb.
  • duration
    duration [djuəˈreiʃən] n.
    The duration of an event is the time during which it happens.
    →The girls watched television for the duration of the evening.
  • dynamic
    dynamic [daiˈnæmik] adj.
    When people are dynamic, they are lively and have creative ideas.
    →The new, dynamic employee came up with a good way to juggle his work load.
e
  • ecology
    ecology [i:kɒlədʒi] n.
    Ecology is the study of the environment and living things.
    →We study ecology to learn how to help improve the Earth.
  • edible
    edible [ˈedəbəl] adj.
    If something is edible, you can eat it.
    →We learn about edible plants when we go camping.
  • elaborate
    elaborate [iˈlæbərit] adj.
    When something is elaborate, it contains a lot of details.
    →She gave the teacher an elaborate explanation of her project.
  • elapse
    elapse [iˈlæps] v.
    To elapse means to pass, as in seconds, minutes, or hours.
    →A few seconds must elapse before you can take another picture.
  • eligible
    eligible [ˈelidʒəbəl] adj.
    If someone is eligible, then they are permitted to do or have something.
    →Only people who bought tickets were eligible to win a prize.
  • eliminate
    eliminate [iˈliməneit] v.
    To eliminate something that is unwanted means to completely remove it.
    →Wearing a seatbelt eliminates some of the dangers of driving a car.
  • embed
    embed [imˈbed] v.
    To embed something means to place it firmly within a surrounding thing.
    →The logger embedded the ax into the wood after chopping several logs.
  • empathy
    empathy [ˈempəθi] n.
    Empathy is sharing or understanding another person’s feelings.
    →The caring nurse had empathy for her patients.
  • employ
    employ [imˈplɔi] v.
    To employ someone means to give work to them.
    →The bookstore employed two full-time clerks.
  • enigma
    enigma [iˈnigmə] n.
    An enigma is someone or something that is mysterious or hard to understand.
    →The theft of the paintings is an enigma to the investigators.
  • enterprise
    enterprise [ˈentərpraiz] n.
    An enterprise is a company or business.
    →My father owns an advertising enterprise.
  • entitle
    entitle [enˈtaitl] v.
    To entitle someone means to give them the rights to have or do something.
    →His golden ticket entitled him to sit in the front row at the concert.
  • epic
    epic [ˈepik] n.
    An epic is a long book, poem, or movie about a period of time or a great event.
    →The poet wrote an epic about the great discoveries of the past thousand years.
  • equivalent
    equivalent [iˈkwivələnt] n.
    An equivalent is an amount or value that is the same as another amount or value.
    →I worked the equivalent of sixty hours this week.
  • erosion
    erosion [iˈrouʒən] n.
    Erosion is the destruction of rock or soil due to flowing water or weather.
    →Canyons are formed because rivers of fast-moving water caused erosion.
  • escort
    escort [ˈeskɔːrt] v.
    To escort people means to safely accompany them to a place.
    →Her bodyguards escorted her to the movie theater.
  • essence
    essence [ˈesəns] n.
    The essence of something is its important qualities or basic characteristics.
    →The essence of the argument was that both sides felt they had lost money.
  • estate
    estate [isˈteit] n.
    An estate is a large area of land owned by a family or organization.
    →He lived on his father’s estate in the country.
  • ethics
    ethics [ˈeθiks] n.
    Ethics are moral beliefs or rules about right or wrong.
    →The act of stealing certainly doesn’t go against some people’s ethics.
  • excel
    excel [ikˈsel] v.
    To excel at a subject or activity means to be very good at it.
    →Jenny excels at playing the piano.
  • excerpt
    excerpt [ˈeksəːrpt] n.
    An excerpt is a short piece of writing or music taken from a larger piece.
    →I didn’t listen to the entire symphony online, but I did play an excerpt.
  • executive
    executive [igˈzekjətiv] n.
    An executive is the top manager of a business.
    →After twenty years at the company, he finally became the executive.
  • expel
    expel [iksˈpel] v.
    To expel someone means to force them to leave a place.
    →Since he would not follow the rules, the principal had to expel the student.
  • expertise
    expertise [ˌekspə:rtiːz] n.
    Expertise is the knowledge and skills to do something well.
    →John has a lot of advertising expertise. He can sell anything!
  • explicit
    explicit [iksˈplisit] adj.
    If something is explicit, it is very clear, open, and truthful.
    →The man gave a very explicit account of the car accident.
  • exquisite
    exquisite [iksˈkwizit] adj.
    When something is exquisite, it is very beautiful or pleasant.
    →The artist made exquisite watercolor paintings.
  • extension
    extension [iksˈtenʃən] n.
    An extension is a part added to something to give it more time or space.
    →My parents decided to add an extension to our house for the new baby.
  • external
    external [ikˈstəːrnəl] adj.
    When something is external, it is connected to an outer part.
    →It is warm inside my house, but the external temperature is freezing.
  • extract
    extract [ikˈstrӕkt] v.
    To extract something means to remove it.
    →The dentist extracted the woman’s damaged tooth and put in a fake one.
f
  • fabulous
    fabulous [ˈfæbjələs] adj.
    If something is fabulous, it is extremely good.
    →This strawberry is the best I’ve ever had. It’s fabulous.
  • facilitate
    facilitate [fəˈsiləteit] v.
    To facilitate something is to make it easier.
    →To facilitate the meeting, Melissa used a simple computer program.
  • facility
    facility [fəˈsiləti] n.
    A facility is a building that exists for a particular purpose.
    →There are many educational facilities in big cities.
  • faculty
    faculty [ˈfӕkəlti] n.
    A faculty is a mental or physical ability.
    →The boy’s mental faculties impressed all of his teachers.
  • fad
    fad [fæd] n.
    A fad is something that is popular for a short time.
    →The hula hoop was a fad for a few years, but it soon lost its popularity.
  • fanciful
    fanciful [ˈfænsifəl] adj.
    When something is fanciful, it is unusual or unrealistic.
    →The girl had fanciful ideas about doing well in school without studying.
  • fantasy
    fantasy [ˈfæntəzi] n.
    A fantasy is a pleasant situation that people think about but is unlikely to happen.
    →Becoming an astronaut is a fantasy shared by many children.
  • fast
    fast [fæst] v.
    To fast means to go without food or drink for a period of time.
    →In her religion, they fast for five days and then have a big feast.
  • fatigue
    fatigue [fəˈtiːg] n.
    Fatigue is a feeling of extreme tiredness.
    →After three days with little sleep, she was feeling a lot of fatigue.
  • feat
    feat [fiːt] n.
    A feat is an impressive or difficult achievement or action.
    →The elephant’s standing up on one leg was a feat.
  • feedback
    feedback [ˈfiːdbæk] n.
    Feedback is comments to a person about how they are doing something.
    →I asked my boss for feedback on my work.
  • fellow
    fellow [ˈfelou] n.
    A fellow is someone who shares a job or quality with someone else.
    →All of my fellow patients at the hospital have also complained about the food.
  • finance
    finance [fiˈnæns] v.
    To finance someone or something means to provide money for them.
    →The government financed the scientist’s experiments with new weapons.
  • flap
    flap [flæp] v.
    To flap means to move quickly up and down or from side to side.
    →The tiny bird flapped its wings and ate from the flowers.
  • fleet
    fleet [fliːt] n.
    A fleet is a group of ships.
    →The fleet of ships spent a few days at the dock.
  • fluorescent
    fluorescent [fluəˈresnt] adj.
    If something is fluorescent, it is such a bright color that it seems to give off light.
    →She highlighted the key words in the document with a fluorescent yellow pen.
  • foe
    foe [fou] n.
    A foe is an enemy or opponent.
    →It was hard to believe that anyone could be his foe.
  • fore
    fore [fɔːr] n.
    The fore of something is the front part of it.
    →The teacher’s desk is at the fore of the classroom.
  • forthcoming
    forthcoming [fɔːrθˈkʌmiŋ] adj.
    If something is forthcoming, then it is about to happen in the future.
    →Some economists predicted that the forthcoming world economy would be severe.
  • fossil
    fossil [ˈfɒsl] n.
    A fossil is the hard remains of a prehistoric animal or plant.
    →The expert arranged the fossils to build the skeleton of the dinosaur.
  • fracture
    fracture [ˈfræktʃə:r] n.
    A fracture is a crack or break in something.
    →Don’t stand on that teg because there is a fracture. It might get worse.
  • fragile
    fragile [ˈfrædʒəl] adj.
    When people or things are fragile, they are not strong and can be damaged easily.
    →The fragile glassware was carefully packed into boxes.
  • fragment
    fragment [ˈfrægmənt] n.
    A fragment is a small part of something.
    →After the light broke, there were fragments of glass to clean up.
  • framework
    framework [ˈfreimwəːrk] n.
    A framework is a set of rules or ideas that people use to solve problems.
    →His ideas fit into the framework of a successful business plan.
  • fraud
    fraud [frɔːd] n.
    Fraud is the crime of gaining money by lying or by tricking people.
    →Experts say that credit card fraud increases around the holidays.
  • frequent
    frequent [ˈfriːkwənt] adj.
    If something is frequent, then it happens or is done often.
    →While Dad was sick, the doctor made frequent visits to his house.
  • furious
    furious [ˈfjuəriəs] adj.
    If you are furious, you are extremely angry.
    →My father was furious when he read my bad school report.
  • furnish
    furnish [ˈfəːrniʃ] v.
    To furnish means to put furniture in a house or room.
    →Most homes are furnished with tables, chairs, and beds.
g
  • galaxy
    galaxy [ˈgæləksi] n.
    A galaxy is any extremely large collection of star systems.
    →Our solar system is located in the outer area of our galaxy.
  • genuine
    genuine [ˈdʒenjuin] adj.
    When something is genuine, it is true or real.
    →After the painting was determined to be genuine, it sold for a million dollars.
  • geology
    geology [dʒiˈɒlədʒi] n.
    Geology is the study of the Earth’s natural structures and how they change.
    →Because he studied geology, he knew how the mountains were formed.
  • gigantic
    gigantic [dʒaiˈgæntik] adj.
    If something is gigantic, then it is extremely large.
    →Some dinosaurs were so gigantic that they were the size of buildings.
  • glacier
    glacier [ˈgleiʃər] n.
    A glacier is a large piece of ice that moves very slowly.
    →The North Pole is covered by a huge glacier.
  • globe
    globe [gloub] n.
    The globe refers to the Earth.
    →Water covers most of the globe.
  • gloom
    gloom [gluːm] n.
    Gloom is a state of being almost completely dark.
    →In the gloom of the morning, it was difficult to see the boat on the lake.
  • gorgeous
    gorgeous [ˈgɔːrdʒəs] adj.
    When something is gorgeous, it is very pleasing and attractive.
    →The girl picked out a gorgeous dress to wear to the dance.
  • gossip
    gossip [ˈgɒsip] n.
    Gossip is information that might be untrue but is still discussed anyway.
    →The friends exchanged gossip about the people they knew in school.
  • gracious
    gracious [ˈgreiʃəs] adj.
    If someone is gracious, then they are kind and helpful to those who need it.
    →The operator was gracious enough to help me find his number.
  • graduate
    graduate [ˈgrædjueit] v.
    To graduate from a school means to complete and pass all courses of study there.
    →At the end of the spring, my friends and I will graduate from high school.
  • graffiti
    graffiti [grəˈfiːti:] n.
    Graffiti is words or drawings in public places.
    →The wall was covered with colorful graffiti.
  • grease
    grease [griːs] n.
    Grease is an oily substance put on moving parts, so they work smoothly.
    →When I was done working on the car, I had grease all over my hands.
  • grid
    grid [grid] n.
    A grid is a pattern of squares with numbers and letters to find places on a map.
    →We located our town using the grid.
  • gripe
    gripe [graip] v.
    To gripe means to complain constantly.
    →Lawrence always gripes when he has to do chores.
  • grueling
    grueling [ˈgru:əliŋ] adj.
    When something is grueling, it is very hard to do.
    →The climber faced the grueling task of reaching the top of the steep mountain.
  • grumble
    grumble [ˈgrʌmbəl] v.
    To grumble means to complain.
    →He grumbled about having to work late on Friday.
  • guardian
    guardian [ˈgɑːrdiən] n.
    A guardian is someone who protects somebody or something.
    →The librarians are the guardians of the books.
  • gulf
    gulf [gʌlf] n.
    A gulf is a gap between people who do not understand each other.
    →There has been a gulf between James and Tony since their parents died.
h
  • hack
    hack [hæk] v.
    To hack something means to cut it into uneven pieces.
    →My uncle used the ax to hack the tree into many logs.
  • harness
    harness [ˈhɑːrnis] v.
    To harness something means to control and use it, usually to make energy.
    →The sails harness the wind in order to move.
  • haste
    haste [heist] n.
    Haste is speed in movement or action.
    →In order to get to the meeting in time, he proceeds with haste.
  • headquarters
    headquarters [ˈhedˈkwɔːrtərz] n.
    A headquarters is a building where the bosses of a company work.
    →He drove the long route to headquarters because it was a nice day.
  • heap
    heap [hiːp] n.
    A heap of things is a large pile of them.
    →After the building was torn down, all that was left was a heap of bricks.
  • hemisphere
    hemisphere [ˈhemisfiər] n.
    A hemisphere is one half of the earth.
    →In the northern hemisphere, the weather is usually warmest in July and August.
  • heredity
    heredity [hiˈredəti] n.
    Heredity is the process of passing on features from parents to children.
    →The boy’s face is similar to his father’s because of heredity.
  • horizontal
    horizontal [ˌhɔ:rəˈzɒntl] adj.
    When something is horizontal, it is flat and level with the ground.
    →The Russian flag has three horizontal stripes of white, blue, and red.
  • hostile
    hostile [ˈhɒstəl] adj.
    If someone is hostile, they are angry and unfriendly.
    →We were happy to move away from our hostile neighbor.
  • hound
    hound [haund] n.
    A hound is a type of dog that is often used for racing or hunting.
    →The men took their hounds with them when they went on the hunting trip.
  • hum
    hum [hʌm] v.
    To hum means to make a low, continuous noise.
    →The man hummed his favorite song.
  • humanitarian
    humanitarian [hjuːˌmænəˈtɛəriən] adj.
    If something is humanitarian, it is connected to helping people’s lives.
    →After the flood, several humanitarian organizations offered help.
  • humanities
    humanities [hju:mænətiz] n.
    Humanities are subjects which analyze human ideas, such as history and literature.
    →Jennifer has always been more interested in humanities than science.
  • humiliate
    humiliate [hjuːˈmilieit] v.
    To humiliate someone means to make them feel ashamed and embarrassed.
    →I was humiliated when I tripped and fell down in front of the whole school.
  • hybrid
    hybrid [ˈhaibrid] n.
    A hybrid is a mixture of different things or styles.
    →In Greek mythology, a centaur is a hybrid of a man and a horse.
  • hydrogen
    hydrogen [ˈhaidrədʒən] n.
    Hydrogen is a gas that has no taste, color, or smell.
    →Balloons filled with hydrogen can easily float away if you aren’t careful.
  • hygiene
    hygiene [ˈhaidʒiːn] n.
    Hygiene is the conditions or methods needed for health and cleanliness.
    →People who brush their teeth at least twice a day are practicing good hygiene.
  • hygienic
    hygienic [haiˈdʒinik] adj.
    If something is hygienic, then it is clean and unlikely to cause disease.
    →My sister works very hard to keep her entire home as hygienic as possible.
  • hypothesis
    hypothesis [haiˈpɒθəsis] n.
    A hypothesis is an idea for something that has not been proved yet.
    →The teacher did an experiment to prove whether his hypothesis was right.
i
  • ignorance
    ignorance [ˈignərəns] n.
    Ignorance of something is lack of knowledge about it.
    →When he failed the test, his ignorance of math was obvious.
  • immune
    immune [iˈmjuːn] adj.
    When someone is immune to a disease, they cannot be affected by it.
    →Children usually get shots to make them immune to certain diseases.
  • impair
    impair [imˈpɛər] v.
    To impair something means to damage it or make it worse.
    →Drinking coffee impairs my ability to go to sleep.
  • impersonal
    impersonal [imˈpəːrsənəl] adj.
    If something is impersonal, it is not friendly and makes people feel unimportant.
    →The boy felt scared on his first day at the big, impersonal high school.
  • implement
    implement [ˈimpləment] v.
    To implement something means to ensure that what has been planned is done.
    →The school decided to implement a new teaching strategy.
  • implicate
    implicate [ˈimpləkeit] v.
    To implicate someone is to show that they have done a crime or something bad.
    →The man was implicated in the theft at the store.
  • import
    import [ˈimpɔːrt] v.
    To import means to bring in a product from another country.
    →Foods that have been imported are usually more expensive.
  • impose
    impose [imˈpouz] v.
    To impose means to interrupt or force your ideas on other people.
    →He imposes on his wife every morning by expecting her to make breakfast.
  • imprint
    imprint [imˈprint] n.
    An imprint is an effect or lesson from an experience that is hard to forget.
    →The experience ofwarleftan imprint on his mind that troubled him.
  • improve
    improve [imˈpruːv] v.
    To improve something means to make it better.
    →He studied hard to improve his test scores from the previous year.
  • impulse
    impulse [ˈimpʌls] n.
    An impulse is a sudden thoughtless urge to do something.
    →Because of the scary noise, she had an impulse to run somewhere and hide.
  • incentive
    incentive [inˈsentiv] n.
    An incentive is what makes a person want to do something.
    →The chance of winning a prize was incentive to get people to play the game.
  • incline
    incline [ˈinklain] n.
    An incline is a sharp rise in something, especially a hill or mountain.
    →This mountain has one of the steepest inclines in the world.
  • indifferent
    indifferent [inˈdəfrənt] adj.
    When someone is indifferent toward something, they have a lack of interest in it.
    →Lisa is indifferent toward school. She doesn’t care what her final grades are.
  • indigenous
    indigenous [inˈdidʒənəs] adj.
    If something is indigenous, it is originally from, or native to, a place.
    →Tomatoes are indigenous to the Americas.
  • inevitable
    inevitable [inˈevitəbəl] adj.
    When something is inevitable, it is certain to happen or cannot be avoided.
    →It is inevitable that the days will get longer in the summer.
  • infer
    infer [inˈfəːr] v.
    To infer something is to decide it is true based on other information one has.
    →By the position of the sun in the sky, she inferred that it was noon.
  • infinite
    infinite [ˈinfənit] adj.
    If something is infinite, it has no limit or end.
    →Many scientists believe that the universe is infinite.
  • inflate
    inflate [inˈfleit] v.
    To inflate something means to fill it up with air.
    →I helped him inflate the balloons.
  • informative
    informative [inˈfɔːrmətiv] adj.
    When something is informative, it provides a lot of information.
    →The travel guide had a lot of informative facts about the region.
  • infrastructure
    infrastructure [ˈinfrəˌstrʌtʃər] n.
    An infrastructure is a collection of services needed to run a society or business.
    →Power lines are important parts of a city’s infrastructure.
  • inland
    inland [ˈinlənd] adv.
    If someone goes inland, they travel into the center of a country or land.
    →The river curved inland near the campground.
  • innate
    innate [iˈneit] adj.
    When something is innate, it is something that one is born with, it is not learned.
    →He had the innate desire to please his teachers.
  • innocence
    innocence [ˈinəsns] n.
    Innocence is a lack of experience of difficult or complex things in life.
    →Everyone who met her found her innocence to be charming.
  • input
    input [ˈinput] n.
    Input is information that is put into a computer.
    →Type the input into the computer program.
  • insight
    insight [ˈinsait] n.
    Insight is a deep and accurate understanding of something.
    →The physics textbook gave the student new insight about gravity.
  • insulate
    insulate [ˈinsəleit] v.
    To insulate something means to protect it from heat, cold, or noise.
    →People can conserve energy by insulating their houses.
  • intake
    intake [ˈinteik] n.
    Your intake of food is the amount of food you take into your body.
    →The doctor said I needed to increase my intake of fruits and vegetables.
  • integrity
    integrity [inˈtegrəti] n.
    Integrity is honesty and good morals.
    →The principal had a lot of integrity.
  • intellect
    intellect [ˈintəlekt] n.
    An intellect is a person’s ability to understand things easily.
    →She was known for her quick and strong intellect as well as her beauty.
  • internal
    internal [inˈtəːrnl] adj.
    When something is internal, it exists or happens inside a person, object, or place.
    →We removed the outer case to reveal the computer’s internal wires.
  • intimate
    intimate [ˈintəmit] adj.
    When a relationship is intimate, the two things are very closely connected.
    →I only tell my secrets to my most intimate friends.
  • intricate
    intricate [ˈintrəkit] adj.
    When something is intricate, it has many small parts or details.
    →The intricate painting on the quilt was very lovely.
  • intrigue
    intrigue [inˈtriːg] v.
    To intrigue means to cause an interest in something or someone.
    →Her mysterious past intrigued her new friend.
  • inventory
    inventory [ˈinvənˌtɔ:ri] n.
    An inventory is a supply of something.
    →Gwen was checking the inventory to make sure we had what we needed.
  • inward
    inward [ˈinwərd] adj.
    If a thought or feeling is inward, it is not expressed or shown to others.
    →She had an inward feeling of guilt when she lied to her mother.
  • irrigate
    irrigate [ˈirəgeit] v.
    To irrigate means to supply water to land so that crops can grow.
    →In dry climates, it is important to irrigate fields of crops.
k
  • keen
    keen [kiːn] adj.
    If someone is keen, they are intelligent.
    →Only the keenest of students could have solved that math problem.
  • kin
    kin [kin] n.
    Kin is a person’s family and relatives.
    →His kin were all farmers.
  • knit
    knit [nit] v.
    To knit is to make fabric by connecting strings together.
    →My grandmother knitted me a sweater.
  • knot
    knot [nɒt] n.
    A knot is made when you tie the ends of rope or cord together.
    →He tied a knot in his shoelaces, so they wouldn’t come off during the race.
l
  • landlord
    landlord [ˈlændlɔːrd] n.
    A landlord is a man who rents property to a person.
    →The landlord collected everyone’s rent money on the first day of every month.
  • latter
    latter [ˈlætə:r] adj.
    Latter describes something last in a series or the second choice of two things.
    →In the latter minutes of the game, the visitors scored the winning goal.
  • lease
    lease [liːs] v.
    To lease means to rent property, usually an apartment or land.
    →When the family first leased the apartment, the rent was very low.
  • legacy
    legacy [ˈleɡəsi] n.
    A legacy is an effect that exists because of a person or thing in the past.
    →The legacy of the ancient Egyptians can be seen in their monuments.
  • legislate
    legislate [ˈledʒisleit] v.
    To legislate means to make laws.
    →Senators have to legislate fairly, so most people will enjoy the benefits.
  • legitimate
    legitimate [liˈdʒitəmit] adj.
    If something is legitimate, then it is acceptable according to the law.
    →She found a legitimate plan to raise extra funds for her vacation.
  • likewise
    likewise [ˈlaikwaiz] adv.
    If someone does something likewise, they do the same thing as someone else.
    →If Joe is staying away from school to go swimming, I want to do likewise.
  • limb
    limb [lim] n.
    A limb is a large branch on a tree.
    →The monkey sat on the tree limb and enjoyed a piece of fruit.
  • linguist
    linguist [ˈliŋgwist] n.
    A linguist is someone who studies languages.
    →Tony is a good linguist and speaks four different languages.
  • loaf
    loaf [louf] n.
    A loaf of bread is bread shaped and baked in one piece.
    →Could you please buy a loaf of bread for sandwiches?
  • longevity
    longevity [lɒnˈdʒevəti] n.
    Longevity is the ability to live for a long time.
    →Sea turtles have an amazing longevity.
  • lyric
    lyric [ˈlirik] adj.
    When a poem is considered lyric, it is written in a simple and direct style.
    →I enjoy reading and creating my own lyric poetry.
m
  • magnet
    magnet [ˈmægnit] n.
    A magnet is a piece of iron or other material which attracts iron toward it.
    →I used a magnet to pick up the nails that were scattered on the floor.
  • majesty
    majesty [ˈmædʒisti] n.
    Majesty is supreme greatness or authority.
    →You should address the king and queen as your majesty.
  • malnutrition
    malnutrition [mӕlnjuˈtriʃən] n.
    Malnutrition is the condition of not getting enough nutrients.
    →After eating only a meager amount of food, she suffered from malnutrition.
  • managerial
    managerial [ˌmænəˈdʒiəriəl] adj.
    Managerial describes something related to a manager or management.
    →Nancy has a managerial position at the bank.
  • mandatory
    mandatory [ˈmændətɔ:ri] adj.
    If something is mandatory, then it is required by law.
    →It’s mandatory that everyone be at least sixteen to drive a car in the US.
  • manipulate
    manipulate [məˈnipjəleit] v.
    To manipulate something means to skillfully or unfairly control or affect it.
    →The Dr. manipulated the data to make it look like the cure was working.
  • manufacture
    manufacture [ˌmænjəˈfæktʃə:r] v.
    To manufacture something means to make it in a factory.
    →My father’s company manufactures steel building materials.
  • marble
    marble [ˈmɑːrbəl] n.
    Marble is a type of rock that feels cold and is smooth when cut.
    →The large house had floors made of marble.
  • masculine
    masculine [ˈmæskjəlin] adj.
    When something is masculine, it is a quality or thing related to men.
    →American football is usually considered a masculine sport.
  • mast
    mast [mæst] n.
    A mast is a long pole on a ship that holds the sail.
    →The mast held both sails of the ship upright.
  • masterpiece
    masterpiece [ˈmæstərpiːs] n.
    A masterpiece is a very good painting, novel, movie, or other work of art.
    →The Arc de Triomphe is considered a masterpiece in the world of architecture.
  • maximize
    maximize [ˈmæksəmaiz] v.
    To maximize something is to make it as great in amount, size, or importance.
    →You should exercise regularly to maximize a healthy lifestyle.
  • mechanism
    mechanism [ˈmekənizəm] n.
    A mechanism is a part of a machine that performs a certain function.
    →I can’t open my car door because the locking mechanism is broke.
  • medication
    medication [ˌmedəˈkeiʃən] n.
    Medication is medicine or drugs given to people who are sick.
    →The doctor gave me medication to treat my illness.
  • medieval
    medieval [mi:diˈiːvəl] adj.
    If something is medieval, it comes from the period between 650 and 1500 CE.
    →We visited a castle that was built during medieval times.
  • meditate
    meditate [ˈmedəteit] v.
    To meditate means to focus or think deeply in silence.
    →She liked to meditate for several hours of each day.
  • mend
    mend [mend] v.
    To mend something means to fix it when it is broken or damaged.
    →Mother mended the rip in my pants with a piece of cloth.
  • merchandise
    merchandise [ˈməːrtʃəndaiz] n.
    Merchandise is goods ready to be purchased or sold.
    →The store added more merchandise because there were more shoppers.
  • merge
    merge [məːrdʒ] v.
    To merge two things is to combine them into one whole thing.
    →The storm clouds merged into one large menacing cloud that filled the sky.
  • metabolism
    metabolism [məˈtæbəlizəm] n.
    A person’s metabolism is the way chemical processes in their body use energy.
    →If you exercise every day, your metabolism speeds up.
  • microchip
    microchip [ˈmaikrouˌtʃip] n.
    A microchip is a small device inside a computer that holds information.
    →I can put more data on my computer if I buy a more powerful microchip.
  • migraine
    migraine [ˈmaiːgrein] n.
    A migraine is a painful headache that makes one feel sick.
    →My sister gets a migraine every time she has a lot of stress.
  • minimal
    minimal [ˈminəməl] adj.
    When something is minimal, it is very small.
    →My lazy husband does a minimal amount of work around the house.
  • minimize
    minimize [ˈminəmaiz] v.
    To minimize means to reduce something to the lowest possible level.
    →I checked my homework twice to minimize errors I might have made.
  • misconception
    misconception [miskənˈsepʃən] n.
    A misconception is a wrong idea about something.
    →People once believed the misconception that the Earth is flat.
  • misplace
    misplace [misˈpleis] v.
    To misplace something means to lose it.
    →I misplaced my wallet, and I didn’t find it until a week later.
  • moderate
    moderate [ˈmɒdəreit] adj.
    When something is moderate, it is not too big or too small in size or amount.
    →It takes a moderate amount of patience to be around small children all day.
  • moisture
    moisture [ˈmɔistʃər] n.
    Moisture is small drops of water in the air or on a surface.
    →If you breathe on a window, moisture from your breath collects on the glass.
  • molecule
    molecule [ˈmɒləkjuːl] n.
    A molecule is the smallest basic unit that makes up a physical substance.
    →A tiny drop of water is made up of thousands of molecules of water.
  • monarch
    monarch [ˈmɒnark] n.
    The monarch of a country is the king, queen, emperor, or empress.
    →The monarch lived in a beautiful palace with a grand gate.
  • monetary
    monetary [ˈmanəteri] adj.
    When something is monetary, it relates to money.
    →A strong monetary policy is important for a country to be successful.
  • monument
    monument [ˈmɒnjəmənt] n.
    A monument is a structure that is built to remind people of a person or event.
    →A large monument was built to honor the brave soldiers.
  • mortgage
    mortgage [ˈmɔːrgidʒ] n.
    A mortgage is a loan for property, especially homes and businesses.
    →When they bought their new home, the married couple had to sign a mortgage.
  • multiple
    multiple [ˈmʌltəpəl] adj.
    If there are multiple things, there are many of them.
    →When the stunt went wrong, the man suffered multiple injuries.
  • mundane
    mundane [ˈmʌnˈdein] adj.
    When something is mundane, it is boring, common, or ordinary.
    →The man had the mundane chore of raking thousands of leaves into piles.
  • muscular
    muscular [ˈmʌskjələ:r] adj.
    When someone is muscular, they are very fit and strong.
    →He exercised regularly so that his body could become muscular.
  • mythology
    mythology [miˈθɒlədʒi] n.
    Mythology is a group of stories from a particular country or region.
    →Egyptian mythology was the basis for a religion.
n
  • narrate
    narrate [næˈreit] v.
    To narrate a story means to write about it or read it aloud.
    →This story was written by John, but Aaron is narrating it to the crowd.
  • nasty
    nasty [ˈnæsti] adj.
    If something is nasty, then it is not nice or pleasant.
    →The rotten apple left a nasty taste inside her mouth.
  • naughty
    naughty [ˈnɔːti] adj.
    When children are naughty, they behave badly or do not do what they are told.
    →The boy had to go to his room because he was being naughty.
  • nausea
    nausea [ˈnɔːziə] n.
    Nausea is the feeling of being sick to your stomach.
    →The doctor said the medicine would help get rid of her nausea.
  • naval
    naval [ˈneivəl] adj.
    When something is naval, it relates to a country’s navy or military ships.
    →The country sent all of its naval forces to protect them.
  • nectar
    nectar [ˈnektər] n.
    Nectar is a sweet liquid produced by flowers that bees and other insects collect.
    →Bees use nectar to make their honey.
  • nick
    nick [nik] v.
    To nick someone means to cut them slightly with a sharp object.
    →While cutting the carrots, the cook nicked his finger with the edge of his knife.
  • nonetheless
    nonetheless [ˌnʌnðəˈles] adv.
    If something happens nonetheless, then it occurs despite some other thing.
    →She tried to keep the dog out of the mud, but it got dirty nonetheless.
  • norm
    norm [nɔːrm] n.
    A norm is a way of behaving that is considered normal in a particular society.
    →Wearing a heavy coat all summer is not considered a norm in the desert.
  • notion
    notion [ˈnouʃən] n.
    A notion is an idea or belief about something.
    →I have a notion that this route would get us to the beach.
  • notorious
    notorious [nouˈtɔːriəs] adj.
    When something is notorious, it is well-known because of something bad.
    →This area of town is notorious for gang activity.
  • nucleus
    nucleus [ˈnjuːkliəs] n.
    The nucleus is the central part of an atom or cell.
    →The nucleus is made up of many tiny particles.
o
  • oath
    oath [ouθ] n.
    An oath is a formal, often public, promise.
    →Judges must take an oath to be fair to everyone in court.
  • obscure
    obscure [əbˈskjuər] adj.
    If something is obscure, it is not well-known.
    →The old man travels the world in search of obscure books.
  • obsolete
    obsolete [ˈɒbsəliːt] adj.
    If something is obsolete, it is not used anymore because something better exists.
    →Since computers became inexpensive, typewriters have become obsolete.
  • offset
    offset [ˈɔ:fset] v.
    To offset means to use one thing to cancel out the effect of another thing.
    →Increased wages are offset by higher prices for goods.
  • ongoing
    ongoing [ˈɒnˌgouiŋ] adj.
    If something is ongoing, then it is still happening or still growing.
    →The development of plants is ongoing because it takes time for them to mature.
  • oppress
    oppress [əˈpres] v.
    To oppress someone means to rule over them in a cruel and unfair way.
    →Free speech had been oppressed in his country.
  • opt
    opt [ɒpt] v.
    To opt is to make a choice, especially when deciding in favor of something.
    →My brother likes chocolate ice cream, but I always opt for vanilla.
  • optic
    optic [ˈɒptik] adj.
    When something is optic, it relates to the eyes or light.
    →Her blindness was caused by a problem with her optic nerve.
  • optimism
    optimism [ˈoptəmizəm] n.
    Optimism is the feeling of being hopeful about the future or success of something.
    →The mother had optimism about her children’s futures.
  • oracle
    oracle [ˈɔ(:)rəkəl] n.
    An oracle is person who speaks with gods and gives advice about the future.
    →The king went to the oracle to ask if going to war was a good idea.
  • orangutan
    orangutan [ɔ:ˈræŋuˈtæn] n.
    An orangutan is a large ape with red and brown hair and long arms.
    →Orangutans use their long arms to swing from trees.
  • orbit
    orbit [ˈɔːrbit] v.
    To orbit something means to move around it in a continuous, curving path.
    →The moon orbits the Earth.
  • ornament
    ornament [ˈɔːrnəmənt] n.
    An ornament is an attractive object that people display in their homes.
    →The woman kept some colorful ornaments on the shelves.
  • outdated
    outdated [ˈautˈdeitid] adj.
    When something is outdated, it is old and no longer useful in modern time.
    →Tape players are becoming outdated because of digital music.
  • outlook
    outlook [ˈautluk] n.
    An outlook is a person’s opinion or way of thinking about something.
    →He changed his outlook about rats after he read a book about them.
  • outrage
    outrage [ˈautreidʒ] n.
    Outrage is a very strong emotion of anger or shock.
    →Tommy was feeling outrage when his parents said he couldn’t go to the dance.
  • overall
    overall [ˈouvərɔːl] adv.
    When a thing is talked about overall, the whole thing is considered.
    →Overall, the party was a huge success.
  • overlap
    overlap [ˈouvərlæp] v.
    To overlap something means to cover a piece of it.
    →The gift on top overlaps the other gift on the bottom.
  • overload
    overload [ˌouvərˈloud] v.
    To overload something means to put more things into it than it is meant to hold.
    →If you overload the truck, it might crash.
  • overview
    overview [ˈouvərvjuː] n.
    An overview is a general description of a situation.
    →My brother gave me an overview of the important parts of the book.
  • overwhelm
    overwhelm [ˌouvərhˈwelm] v.
    To overwhelm is to exist in such a large amount that someone cannot deal with it.
    →The amount of homework her teacher assigned has overwhelmed her.
p
  • paltry
    paltry [ˈpɔːltri] adj.
    When an amount of something is paltry, it is very small.
    →The poor man had a paltry sum of money.
  • parachute
    parachute [ˈpærəʃuːt] n.
    A parachute is a device that helps people and things fall to the ground safely.
    →They used parachutes dropped from airplanes to send supplies to the civilians.
  • parasite
    parasite [ˈpӕrəsait] n.
    A parasite is a tiny animal or plant that attaches to another animal to get food.
    →The sick dog was covered in parasites.
  • partiality
    partiality [ˌpɑːrʃiˈæləti] n.
    A partiality is a tendency to prefer one thing to another.
    →She has a partiality for walking to school instead of driving.
  • participant
    participant [pɑːrˈtisəpənt] n.
    A participant is someone who joins in a social event or competition.
    →There were thousands of participants in this year’s marathon.
  • peculiar
    peculiar [piˈkjuːliər] adj.
    When something is peculiar, it is strange, sometimes in a bad way.
    →That peculiar smell coming from the kitchen reminds me of rotten eggs.
  • pedestrian
    pedestrian [pəˈdestriən] n.
    A pedestrian is a person who is walking on a street.
    →Cars should be careful when pedestrians are walking around.
  • peel
    peel [piːl] v.
    To peel fruits and vegetables is to remove their skin.
    →We peeled the apple before eating it.
  • peninsula
    peninsula [pəˈninsələ] n.
    A peninsula is a large piece of land that is surrounded by the sea on three sides.
    →The state of Florida is an example of a peninsula.
  • perceive
    perceive [pərsiːv] v.
    To perceive something means to be aware of it.
    →He was talking loudly, so he did not perceive that the music had stopped.
  • perception
    perception [pərˈsepʃən] n.
    A perception of a situation is a way of thinking about it or understanding it.
    →Since he couldn’t see, his perception of life was much different than mine.
  • personnel
    personnel [ˌpəːrsəˈnel] n.
    Personnel are employees in a business.
    →When business increased, we had to hire more personnel.
  • pharmaceutical
    pharmaceutical [ˌfɑːrməˈsuːtikəl] adj.
    If something is pharmaceutical, then it is related to the development of drugs.
    →Pharmaceutical companies discover new cures to illnesses all the time.
  • phase
    phase [feiz] n.
    A phase is a stage in a process or the gradual development of something.
    →The first phase in the recycling project involves finding volunteers to help out.
  • philanthropy
    philanthropy [fiˈlænθrəpi] n.
    Philanthropy is the act of helping others, without wanting anything in return.
    →The wealthy business owner is well known for his acts of philanthropy.
  • physiology
    physiology [ˌfiziˈɒlədʒi] n.
    Physiology is the study of the various parts of living things.
    →His work in physiology helped him understand how the human body works.
  • pinch
    pinch [pintʃ] v.
    To pinch means to take a piece of skin between one’s fingers and squeeze.
    →I pinched my nose, so I couldn’t smell the odor from the garbage.
  • pioneer
    pioneer [paiəˈniər]
    A pioneer is a person who is the first to discover or be involved in something.
    →He was a pioneer of computer programming.
  • plausible
    plausible [ˈplɔːzəbəl] adj.
    If something is plausible, it is reasonable or possible.
    →It is plausible that Jack isn’t here today because he is sick.
  • plumbing
    plumbing [ˈplʌmiŋ] n.
    Plumbing is the system of pipes used in a home to supply water.
    →When the plumbing stopped working, no one was allowed to use the toilets.
  • posture
    posture [ˈpɒstʃər] n.
    A person’s posture is the position in which they stand or sit.
    →Your back will feel better if you improve your posture.
  • pouch
    pouch [pautʃ] n.
    A pouch is a small, flexible bag that is usually made of cloth.
    →I keep my money in a small pouch.
  • prairie
    prairie [ˈprɛəri] n.
    A prairie is a large flat area of grassland.
    →The prairie was perfect for a farm because there were hills and trees.
  • precaution
    precaution [priˈkɔːʃən] n.
    A precaution is an action that is meant to stop something bad from happening.
    →Asa precaution, you should put on a heavy coat before going out in cold weather.
  • precede
    precede [priˈsiːd] v.
    To precede something means to come before it.
    →The hurricane was preceded by a moment of still wind and clear sky.
  • precipitate
    precipitate [priˈsipəteit] v.
    To precipitate an event means to cause it to happen sooner than normal.
    →The violent attack precipitated an all-out war.
  • precise
    precise [priˈsais] adj.
    If someone is precise, then they are exact and careful about their work.
    →The builder was very precise about where he placed the nails.
  • prehistoric
    prehistoric [ˈpriːhisˈtɔ:rik] adj.
    When something is prehistoric, it is from a time when there was no written history.
    →The scientists found prehistoric pots used by the people in the area.
  • preliminary
    preliminary [priˈliməneri] adj.
    Preliminary describes something that happens before a more important event.
    →The runners must do well in the preliminary races to qualify for the final race.
  • premise
    premise [ˈpremis] n.
    A premise is an idea on which something is based.
    →The premise of the movie that Bobbi and I watched was unrealistic.
  • prescribe
    prescribe [priˈskraib] v.
    To prescribe medicine means to tell someone to take it.
    →When I was sick, the doctor prescribed me flu medicine.
  • prescription
    prescription [priˈskripʃən] n.
    A prescription is permission from a doctor to get medicine.
    →The doctor gave me a prescription for my medication.
  • prestige
    prestige [presˈtiːrdʒ] n.
    If a person has prestige, people admire or respect them.
    →The young actress gained much prestige after she won an award.
  • prevalent
    prevalent [ˈprevələnt] adj.
    When something is prevalent, it is common.
    →Growing a beard is more prevalent behavior in men than women.
  • preview
    preview [ˈpriːvjuː] n.
    A preview is an opportunity to see something before it is available to the public.
    →The band played us a preview of their new song.
  • previous
    previous [ˈpriːviəs] adj.
    If something is previous, then it happened earlier in time or order.
    →He turned back to the previous page to read the paragraph again.
  • primate
    primate [ˈpraimeit] n.
    A primate is a type of mammal that includes monkeys, apes, and humans.
    →Primates use their hands for such tasks as swinging from branches.
  • primitive
    primitive [ˈprimətiv] adj.
    If something is primitive, then it is simple, basic, and not very developed.
    →The computers of the 1980s are primitive compared to those of todays.
  • probe
    probe [proub] v.
    To probe into something means to ask questions to discover facts about it.
    →The bank probed into his financial history to see if he qualified for a loan.
  • proficient
    proficient [prəˈfiʃənt] adj.
    When a person is proficient at something, they can do it well.
    →Secretaries are proficient at typing quickly.
  • prominent
    prominent [ˈprɒmənənt] adj.
    When something is prominent, it is important and well known.
    →Queen Victoria was a prominent person in history.
  • prone
    prone [proun] adj.
    When things are prone to some bad thing, they are likely affected by it.
    →Some people are more prone to catching colds than others.
  • proponent
    proponent [prəˈpounənt] n.
    A proponent is a person who supports an idea or a plan.
    →He was a proponent of using environmentally friendly products.
  • proportion
    proportion [prəˈpɔːrʃən] n.
    A proportion is an amount that shows the link between the parts and the whole.
    →Only a small proportion of the people in this town actually work here.
  • provide
    provide [prəˈvaid] v.
    To provide something means to supply it.
    →Each student was provided with a test and three sharp pencils.
  • provoke
    provoke [prəˈvouk] v.
    To provoke someone means to annoy them on purpose to cause violence.
    →The older boy provoked Paul by calling him mean names.
  • proximity
    proximity [prɒkˈsiməti] n.
    Proximity is closeness in time, space, or relationships.
    →All the trees in the proximity of the beach had been cut down.
  • publicity
    publicity [pʌbˈlisəti] n.
    Publicity is public attention given to someone or something by the media.
    →She received a lot of publicity after her performance in the film.
  • punctual
    punctual [ˈpʌŋktjuəl] adj.
    When someone is punctual, they do something or arrive at the right time.
    →My mother hates being late. She is the most punctual person I know.
q
  • quantum
    quantum [ˈkwɒntəm] adj.
    When something is quantum, it relates to the behavior of atomic particles.
    →The physics student studied quantum mechanics.
  • quest
    quest [kwest] n.
    A quest is a long and difficult search for something.
    →The treasure hunter went on a quest to find an ancient gold necklace.
r
  • rack
    rack [ræk] n.
    A rack is an object with shelves that holds things.
    →He stored his tools on a rack.
  • radiate
    radiate [ˈreidieit] v.
    To radiate means to send out energy or heat.
    →The heat from the fireplace radiated throughout the room.
  • radical
    radical [ˈrædikəl] adj.
    If something is radical, it is very new or different.
    →The president is planning to make some radical changes to the law.
  • radioactive
    radioactive [reidiouˈӕktiv] adj.
    If something is radioactive, then it lets out, or is related to, radiation.
    →Radioactive materials can be very bad for anyone’s health.
  • ragged
    ragged [ˈrægid] adj.
    If something is ragged, then it is old, torn, and falling apart.
    →They could see his toes through the holes in his ragged shoes.
  • ratio
    ratio [ˈreiʃou] n.
    A ratio is a relationship between two things expressed in numbers or amounts.
    →The boy to girl ratio is one to three.
  • realm
    realm [relm] n.
    A realm is any area of activity or interest.
    →He was not very active in the realm of business.
  • recipient
    recipient [riˈsipiənt] n.
    A recipient of something is the person who receives it.
    →I was the recipient of four phone calls today.
  • recruit
    recruit [riˈkruːt] v.
    To recruit people means to select them to join or work for an organization.
    →We successfully recruited someone to be the new manager.
  • rectify
    rectify [ˈrektəfai] v.
    To rectify something means to correct it.
    →I quickly rectified the spelling mistakes that I had on my essay.
  • recur
    recur [riˈkəːr] v.
    To recur means to happen more than once.
    →Burglaries seem to recur over and over in our neighborhood.
  • referee
    referee [ˌrefəˈriː] n.
    A referee is a person who makes sure that the rules are followed in sports.
    →The soccer player didn’t agree with the referee.
  • refine
    refine [riˈfain] v.
    To refine something is to make it better by making changes.
    →The principal refined his method of controlling students over the years.
  • refund
    refund [ˈriːfʌnd] n.
    A refund is money given back to a person when an item is returned to a store.
    →I asked for a refund because the shoes I bought were too tight.
  • refute
    refute [riˈfjuːt] v.
    To refute something means to prove that it is false or incorrect.
    →The bank manager has refuted the claims that he lied to his customers.
  • register
    register [ˈredʒəstə:r] n.
    A register is an official list or record of people or things.
    →At a wedding there is register for all of the guests to sign.
  • reign
    reign [rein] n.
    A reign is the period of time in which a ruler rules.
    →The emperor’s reign lasted for only two years.
  • relativity
    relativity [ˌreləˈtivəti] n.
    Relativity is a set of ideas about time and space developed by Albert Einstein.
    →Relativity teaches that light travels at the same speed in the universe.
  • relevant
    relevant [ˈreləvənt] adj.
    When something is relevant, it is important to a certain person or situation.
    →The thirty-year-old book about politics is still relevant to our society today.
  • remedy
    remedy [ˈremədi] n.
    A remedy is a cure for a disease, argument, or problem.
    →A good remedy for a headache is an aspirin and a glass of water.
  • Renaissance
    Renaissance [reˈnəsɑːns] n.
    The Renaissance was a period between the 14th and 17th centuries.
    →Leonardo Da Vinci was a popular artist of the Renaissance.
  • renown
    renown [riˈnaun] n.
    Renown is the quality of being well known due to having done good things.
    →Michael is a singer of great renown in New Zealand.
  • repetitive
    repetitive [riˈpetətiv] adj.
    When something is repetitive, it is repeated many times and becomes boring.
    →Working on an assembly line making cars every day is a repetitive job.
  • reproductive
    reproductive [riːprəˈdʌktiv] adj.
    If something is reproductive, it has to do with a living thing producing young.
    →The reproductive system of a plant is simple.
  • reptile
    reptile [ˈreptail] n.
    A reptile is a cold-blooded animal that lays eggs and has skin covered with scales.
    →Lizards are my favorite type of reptile.
  • resourceful
    resourceful [riˈsɔːrsfəl] adj.
    When someone is resourceful, they are good at dealing with hard situations.
    →After his boat sunk, Matt was resourceful enough to build a raft.
  • respective
    respective [risˈpektiv] adj.
    When things are respective, they relate separately to each person just mentioned.
    →The boxers were told to return to their respective corners.
  • respirator
    respirator [respəˈreitə:r] n.
    A respirator is a machine that helps weak or sick people breathe.
    →The man needed a respirator to breathe.
  • restrict
    restrict [risˈtrikt] v.
    To restrict is to limit something and prevent it from getting bigger.
    →The club restricted the amount of members.
  • retail
    retail [ˈriːteil] n.
    Retail is the activity of selling goods to the public, often for personal use.
    →Though cheap to make, once a t-shirt reaches retail, it costs ten times as much.
  • reunion
    reunion [riːˈjuːnjən] n.
    A reunion is the meeting of people or things that have been separated.
    →Every summer we have a family reunion at the lake.
  • revenue
    revenue [ˈrevənjuː] n.
    Revenue is the income made by a company.
    →The new products really increased the business’s monthly revenue.
  • revere
    revere [riviə:r] v.
    To revere something is to admire it greatly.
    →The students revere their teacher, who has taught them a lot.
  • revive
    revive [riˈvaiv] v.
    To revive someone or something means to restore health or life to them.
    →She revived the feeling of warmth in her leg by rubbing it softly.
  • ridge
    ridge [ridʒ] n.
    A ridge is a long, narrow piece of raised land.
    →The brown bear walked along the edge of the mountain ridge.
  • rig
    rig [rig] v.
    To rig something means to dishonestly arrange it.
    →The bad politician rigged the election so that he would win.
  • rigid
    rigid [ˈridʒid] adj.
    When rules or systems are rigid, they are severe because they cannot be changed.
    →Societies often have rigid rules about the way that people are supposed to act.
  • rite
    rite [rait] n.
    A rite is a traditional ceremony carried out by a particular group or society.
    →Special masks are worn during the rite when a new baby is born.
  • ritual
    ritual [ˈritjuəl] n.
    A ritual is a formal custom that people do regularly.
    →Ken was very interested to learn about the religious rituals of the natives.
  • roam
    roam [roum] v.
    To roam means to move around without a plan or purpose.
    →All day the cows roamed around the field eating grass.
  • rubbish
    rubbish [ˈrʌbiʃ] n.
    Rubbish is trash or waste.
    →The floor around the garbage can was covered with all kinds of rubbish.
  • rugged
    rugged [ˈrʌgid] adj.
    If an area of land is rugged, then it is rocky and difficult to travel through.
    →Their car couldn’t make it far along the rugged roads.
  • rust
    rust [rʌst] n.
    Rust is a red and brown coating on iron objects caused by water and air.
    →The old metal gate would not swing because the hinges were covered in rust.
s
  • sacred
    sacred [ˈseikrid] adj.
    If something is sacred, then it is worshipped and respected.
    →One religion in India will not harm cows because it believes that they are sacred.
  • sanctuary
    sanctuary [ˈsӕŋktʃuəri] n.
    A sanctuary is a place where people in danger can go to be safe.
    →The church was made into a sanctuary for homeless people in the winter.
  • saturate
    saturate [ˈsӕtʃəreit] v.
    To saturate something means to completely soak it with a liquid.
    →The sponge was saturated with soapy water and dripped all over the floor.
  • saturated
    saturated [ˈsætʃəreitid] adj.
    If something is saturated, it is completely wet.
    →Leigh’s hair became saturated in the rain storm.
  • scarce
    scarce [ˈskɛə:rs] adj.
    If something is scarce, then it is in a very small amount.
    →When gasoline was scarce, we rode our bikes, instead of driving, to school.
  • secondhand
    secondhand [ˈsekəndˈhænd] adj.
    When something is secondhand, it has been owned by someone else.
    →Her secondhand jeans were a bit faded in the front.
  • sequence
    sequence [ˈsiːkwəns] n.
    A sequence is a number of events or things that come one after another.
    →The dominos fell in a sequence of one after another.
  • sever
    sever [ˈsevə:r] v.
    To sever something is to cut through it completely.
    →He severed the string using scissors.
  • shaft
    shaft [ʃæft] n.
    A shaft is a handle of a tool or weapon.
    →The golf club had a long wooden shaft that he held in his hands.
  • shiver
    shiver [ˈʃivə:r] n.
    A shiver is a shaking movement the body makes when someone is cold or scared.
    →I got shivers on my way home because it was so cold.
  • sibling
    sibling [ˈsibliŋ] n.
    A sibling is a brother or sister.
    →Jane has two siblings, an older brother and a younger sister.
  • significance
    significance [sigˈnifikəns] n.
    The significance of something is the quality that makes it important.
    →The significance of the snowy weather was that we didn’t have to go to school.
  • simplicity
    simplicity [simˈplisəti] n.
    The simplicity of something is the fact that it is easy to do or understand.
    →We were able to find the house thanks to the simplicity of the directions.
  • simultaneous
    simultaneous [ˌsaiməlˈteiniəs] adj.
    When something is simultaneous, it occurs at the same time as something else.
    →The movement of the gears inside the watch was simultaneous.
  • situate
    situate [ˈsitjueit] v.
    To situate something means to place or build it in a certain place.
    →The road was situated between the forest and the lake.
  • skeptic
    skeptic [ˈskeptik] n.
    A skeptic is a person who does not believe something.
    →The scientist showed the skeptic that dinosaurs did exist by providing evidence.
  • skinny
    skinny [ˈskini] adj.
    If someone is skinny, they are extremely thin.
    →Polly is very skinny. I think she needs to eat more.
  • slot
    slot [slɒt] n.
    A slot is a narrow opening in a machine or container.
    →To operate the machine, put your coins into the slot.
  • sociable
    sociable [ˈsouʃəbəl] adj.
    When someone is sociable, they are friendly.
    →Many of my good friends are sociable, but I am shy.
  • sociology
    sociology [ˌsousiˈɒlədʒi] n.
    Sociology is the study of human society, its organizations, and problems.
    →Sociology teaches that people’s problems are a result of their society.
  • solitary
    solitary [ˈsɒliteri] adj.
    If something is solitary, then it is lonely or the only one.
    →The only thing in the room was a solitary chair.
  • sow
    sow [sou] v.
    To sow seeds means to plant them in the ground.
    →He always sows his garden seeds in the springtime.
  • soy
    soy [sɔi] n.
    Soy is a food made from soybeans, such as flour or butter.
    →Soy can be made into tofu, sauce, and also milk.
  • spade
    spade [speid] n.
    A spade is a tool used for digging.
    →The gardener used her spade to make a hole for the seed.
  • spatial
    spatial [ˈspeiʃəl] adj.
    When something is spatial, it relates to the position and size of things.
    →He was asked where the books were located to test his spatial ability.
  • specify
    specify [ˈspesəfai] v.
    To specify is to describe something clearly.
    →The poster didn’t specify where the concert was taking place.
  • spectacular
    spectacular [spekˈtækjələr] adj.
    If something is spectacular, it looks or sounds very impressive.
    →There was a spectacular fireworks display in the park at New Year.
  • spectator
    spectator [spekˈteitə:r] n.
    A spectator is someone who watches something, especially a sports event.
    →There were thousands of spectators at the big game.
  • spectrum
    spectrum [ˈspektrəm] n.
    The spectrum is the full range of color ranging from red to violet.
    →You can see the entire spectrum in a rainbow.
  • speculate
    speculate [ˈspekjəleit] v.
    To speculate means to guess about something.
    →My sister looked at the sky and speculated that it would rain tomorrow.
  • sphere
    sphere [sfiə:r] n.
    A sphere is a three-dimensional round shape, like a ball.
    →The balloons were inflated into a variety of colorful spheres.
  • spiral
    spiral [ˈspaiərəl] n.
    A spiral is a shape which winds round and round in a larger and larger circle.
    →A strand of DNA looks like two interlocking spirals.
  • spontaneous
    spontaneous [spɒnˈteiniəs] adj.
    When an act is spontaneous, it is not planned. It happens suddenly.
    →My wife made a spontaneous decision to buy a new sofa while I was at work.
  • spouse
    spouse [spaus] n.
    A spouse is the person to whom someone is married.
    →I live in a home with my spouse and our two children.
  • stab
    stab [stæb] v.
    To stab means to cut someone or something with a sharp object like a knife.
    →He stabbed the fork into the potato and passed it to his daughter.
  • stall
    stall [stɔːl] v.
    To stall means to stop a process and continue it at a later time.
    →If you give the car a push, it won’t stall.
  • status
    status [ˈsteitəs] n.
    Status is the position of something or someone in relation to others.
    →She had achieved the status of being the smartest girl in the class.
  • stereotype
    stereotype [ˈsteriətaip] n.
    A stereotype is a general but often incorrect idea about a person or thing.
    →There’s a stereotype that pigs are dirty animals. But they are rather clean.
  • sticky
    sticky [ˈstiki] adj.
    If something is sticky, then it is covered with a substance that things stick to.
    →Place the sticky part of the tape against the paper, so it will cling to the wall.
  • stimulus
    stimulus [ˈstimjələs] n.
    A stimulus is something that causes growth or activity.
    →Having a lot of money is a stimulus for people to buy more things.
  • straightforward
    straightforward [ˌstreitˈfɔːrwərd] adj.
    When something is straightforward, it is good because it is easy to understand.
    →The teacher’s grading system was straightforward and fair.
  • strive
    strive [straiv] v.
    To strive is to struggle to achieve something.
    →People who strive to succeed often do.
  • submerge
    submerge [səbˈməːrdʒ] v.
    To submerge something means to put it below the surface of a liquid.
    →The whale submerged its huge body into the ocean.
  • subsequent
    subsequent [ˈsʌbsikwənt] adj.
    If something is subsequent, then it comes after something else in time.
    →The flood and the subsequent rescue of those caught in the flood were on TV.
  • subsidy
    subsidy [ˈsʌbsidi] n.
    A subsidy is money given by the government to companies to assist them.
    →The official gave the company a subsidy, so it could open two new factories.
  • substitute
    substitute [ˈsʌbstitjuːt] v.
    To substitute something or someone means to have them take the place of another.
    →When I ran out of juice, I had to substitute water to drink in the morning.
  • supernatural
    supernatural [ˌsuːpərˈnætʃərəl] adj.
    If something is supernatural, it is not real or explainable by natural law.
    →The dragon had supernatural powers such as flying and breathing fire.
  • supervise
    supervise [ˈsuːpərvaiz] v.
    To supervise something means to make sure that it is done correctly.
    →Allen supervised the construction workers to ensure everyone’s safety.
  • surgeon
    surgeon [ˈsəːrdʒən] n.
    A surgeon is a doctor who is trained to do surgery.
    →The surgeon operated on the old man’s heart.
  • suspicion
    suspicion [səsˈpiʃən] n.
    A suspicion is a feeling that something is possible or true in a crime.
    →The police had a suspicion that the driver had stolen the purse.
  • sustenance
    sustenance [ˈsʌstənəns] n.
    Sustenance is food and water needed to keep a person, animal, or plant alive.
    →Without the proper sustenance, the man will starve.
  • symmetry
    symmetry [ˈsimətri] n.
    Symmetry is the state of having two halves that are exactly the same.
    →The artist made sure to use perfect symmetry when painting the butterfly.
  • synthetic
    synthetic [sinˈθetik] adj.
    If something is synthetic, then it is made to be like something natural.
    →Clothing made out of synthetic fabrics is very effective at keeping people warm.
t
  • tactic
    tactic [ˈtæktik] n.
    A tactic is a careful plan to achieve something.
    →Sam thought of a good tactic in order to attract more business.
  • talkative
    talkative [ˈtɔːkətiv] adj.
    When someone is talkative, they talk a lot.
    →My aunt is very talkative whenever she is on the phone.
  • tattoo
    tattoo [tæˈtuː] n.
    A tattoo is a design that is drawn permanently on the skin with needles.
    →The surfer had tattoos on both his arms.
  • tedious
    tedious [ˈtiːdiəs] adj.
    When something is tedious, it is long, frustrating, and boring.
    →His job involved a lot of tedious typing, filing, and organizing.
  • temperate
    temperate [ˈtempərit] adj.
    When a place is temperate, it never gets too hot or cold.
    →In Peru, the weather is temperate and rarely gets too hot or cold.
  • tenant
    tenant [ˈtenənt] n.
    A tenant is a person who rents property from a landlord.
    →The new tenants moved into the house across the street.
  • terminal
    terminal [ˈtəːrmənəl] adj.
    If something is terminal, then it causes or results in death.
    →Since his condition was not terminal, he felt a great sense of relief.
  • terminate
    terminate [ˈtəːrməneit] v.
    To terminate something means to stop or end it.
    →The trip was terminated after the car broke down.
  • termite
    termite [ˈtəːrmait] n.
    A termite is an insect that lives in groups and feeds on wood.
    →The wood we found was full of termites.
  • theme
    theme [θiːm] n.
    A theme is the main subject of a book, movie, or painting.
    →The students discussed the book’s theme in class.
  • theoretical
    theoretical [θiəˈretikəl] adj.
    If something is theoretical, it is based on theory rather than experience.
    →His conclusion was only theoretical and not meant to be publicized.
  • therapy
    therapy [ˈθerəpi] n.
    Therapy is treatment for a particular physical or mental illness or condition.
    →After she broke her legs, she used physical therapy to learn how to walk again.
  • thereby
    thereby [ˈðɛə:rˈbai] adv.
    If something happens thereby an action, then it is the result of that action.
    →He didn’t score a goal, thereby ending his chance at setting a record.
  • thrive
    thrive [θraiv] v.
    To thrive means to do well and be successful, healthy, or strong.
    →He may be an old man, but he continues to thrive.
  • thrust
    thrust [θrʌst] v.
    To thrust means to push or move something quickly with a lot of force.
    →The boxer thrust his fist into the punching bag.
  • tolerance
    tolerance [ˈtɒlərəns] n.
    Tolerance is the ability to accept something painful or unpleasant.
    →Boxers have a high tolerance for pain.
  • tolerate
    tolerate [ˈtɒləreit] v.
    To tolerate something means to be able to accept it even when it is unpleasant.
    →When you are in a hurry, it can be hard to tolerate traffic signals.
  • tow
    tow [tou] v.
    To tow something is to pull it.
    →The truck was towing a trailer behind it.
  • trail
    trail [treil] n.
    A trail is a path through a wild area.
    →A narrow trail cut through the field and over the hills.
  • tramp
    tramp [træmp] v.
    To tramp is to put your feet down in a loud, heavy way as you walk.
    →The baby tramped across the floor as he was learning to walk.
  • transaction
    transaction [trænˈsækʃən] n.
    A transaction is an act of buying or selling something.
    →Because the clerk was new at the job, the simple transaction took a long time.
  • transfer
    transfer [ˈtrænsfə:r] v.
    To transfer something means to move it from one place to another.
    →The family transferred the groceries from the shopping cart to the car.
  • transition
    transition [trænˈziʃən] n.
    A transition is a process where there is a change from one form to another.
    →The weather gets colder during the transition from summer to autumn.
  • transplant
    transplant [trænsˈplænt] n.
    A transplant is an operation in which a damaged part of one’s body is replaced.
    →The sick child needed a heart transplant to live.
  • trendy
    trendy [ˈtrendi] adj.
    If something is trendy, then it is very popular and new.
    →Carlo bought a trendy new car.
  • tuition
    tuition [tju:iʃən] n.
    Tuition is the amount of money paid to go to a school.
    →University tuitions have increased by fifty percent in the last five years.
  • tusk
    tusk [tʌsk] n.
    A tusk is a long, curved, pointed tooth of an elephant, boar, or walrus.
    →Sadly, some people hunt elephants and remove their tusks to sell them.
  • twig
    twig [twig] n.
    A twig is a short and thin branch from a tree or bush.
    →They started the fire with a handful of dry twigs.
u
  • ultimate
    ultimate [ˈʌltəmit] adj.
    When something is ultimate, it is the final result or aim of a long series of events.
    →By trying hard in school, I will reach my ultimate goal of becoming a doctor.
  • undergo
    undergo [ˈʌndərˈgou] v.
    To undergo an action means to have it happen to you.
    →The cancer patient undergoes treatments twice a week. gous
  • undergraduate
    undergraduate [ˈʌndərˈgrædjuit] n.
    An undergraduate is a student at a college who is studying fora bachelor’s degree.
    →She was excited to finish high school and enroll as an undergraduate in the fall.
  • upcoming
    upcoming [ˈʌpkʌmiŋ] adj.
    When something is upcoming, that means it will happen in the near future.
    →The kids were worried about their upcoming exam.
  • update
    update [ʌpˈdeit] n.
    An update is an act of making something more modern.
    →I’m doing an update on my personal phone directory.
  • utility
    utility [juːˈtiləti] n.
    A utility is a business that supplies services such as water or electricity.
    →If you don’t pay the utilities, you may have your electricity turned off.
v
  • vague
    vague [veig] adj.
    If something is vague, it is not clear, and it gives very few details.
    →I asked him about his mother’s health, but he was very vague about it.
  • violate
    violate [ˈvaiəleit] v.
    To violate a law, rule, or agreement means to break it.
    →I was given a ticket because the policeman said I violated the speed limit.
  • viral
    viral [ˈvaiərəl] adj.
    When something is viral, it is a disease or infection that is caused by a virus.
    →The girl was in bed fora week when she had a viral infection.
  • virtue
    virtue [ˈvəːrtʃuː] n.
    A virtue is a good quality or way of behaving.
    →My best virtue is forgiveness.
  • vulnerable
    vulnerable [ˈvʌlnərəbəl] adj.
    When someone is vulnerable, they are weak and without protection.
    →He felt very vulnerable when he was stranded in the desert.
w
  • wax
    wax [wæks] n.
    Wax is a substance that is slightly shiny and melts when heated.
    →The candles are made of wax.
  • weave
    weave [wiːv] v.
    To weave means to make cloth using horizontal and vertical threads.
    →We saw a woman weave a blanket on our vacation to South America.
  • welfare
    welfare [ˈwelfɛə:r] n.
    Welfare is the health and happiness of a person or group.
    →Having plenty of clean water is necessary for the welfare of people.
  • whereby
    whereby [hwɛə:rˈbai] conj.
    Whereby means by which or through which.
    →The mayor had a new bridge built whereby the citizens could cross the river.
Answer Key
Favorite Books
4000 Essential English Words 1

The activities in "4000 Essential English Words" are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 1: 600 words (Unit 1 - Unit 30).

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4000 Essential English Words 2

The activities in "4000 Essential English Words" are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 2: 600 words (Unit 1 - Unit 30).

Read more
4000 Essential English Words 3

The activities in "4000 Essential English Words" are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 3: 600 words (Unit 1 - Unit 30).

Read more
4000 Essential English Words 4

The activities in "4000 Essential English Words" are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 4: 600 words (Unit 1 - Unit 30).

Read more
4000 Essential English Words 6

The activities in "4000 Essential English Words" are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 6: 600 words (Unit 1 - Unit 30).

Read more