4000 Essential English Words 1 » Index

a
  • above
    above [əˈbʌv] prep.
    If something is above, it is at a higher level than something else.
    →He straightened the sign that was above the crowd.
  • academy
    academy [əˈkadəmi] n.
    An academy is a special type of school.
    →There are many courses taught at the academy that I go to.
  • accept
    accept [əkˈsɛpt] v.
    To accept something that is offered is to take it.
    →I accepted the girl’s very nice gift.
  • achieve
    achieve [əˈtʃiːv] v.
    To achieve something is to successfully do it after trying hard.
    →I was happy that I could achieve my goal.
  • across
    across [əˈkrɒs] prep.
    To go across something is to go to the other side of it.
    →He walked across the board to the other side.
  • actual
    actual [ˈaktʃʊəl] adj.
    Actual means that something is real or true.
    →This is the actual sword that the King owned, not a fake one.
  • actually
    actually [ˈaktʃʊəli] adv.
    Actually means in fact or really.
    →My dad looks a little mean, but actually he’s very kind.
  • advance
    advance [ədˈvɑːns] v.
    To advance is to go forward.
    →He advanced up the ladder slowly.
  • advantage
    advantage [ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ] n.
    An advantage is something that helps you.
    →Being tall is an advantage to a basketball player.
  • adventure
    adventure [ədˈventʃər] n.
    An adventure is a fun or exciting thing that you do.
    →Riding in the rough water was an adventure.
  • advertise
    advertise [ˈadvətʌɪz] v.
    To advertise is to tell people about something on TV, radio, etc.
    →They used a rabbit to help them advertise their product.
  • advice
    advice [ədˈvʌɪs] n.
    Advice is an opinion about what to do.
    →I don’t know how to study for my exams. Can you give me some advice?
  • advise
    advise [ədˈvʌɪz] v.
    To advise someone is to tell them what to do.
    →My mother often advises people about their money.
  • afraid
    afraid [əˈfreid] adj.
    When someone is afraid, they feel fear.
    →The woman was afraid of what she saw.
  • against
    against [əˈɡeɪnst] prep.
    To be against something is to be touching it or opposed to it.
    →They both leaned against the wall.
  • agree
    agree [əˈɡriː] v.
    To agree is to say “yes” or to think the same way.
    →A: The food is very good in that restaurant. B: I agree with you.
  • ahead
    ahead [əˈhɛd] adv.
    If something is ahead of something else, it is in front of it.
    →The blue car drove on ahead of us.
  • alien
    alien [ˈeɪljən] n.
    An alien is a creature from a different world.
    →The alien came in peace.
  • alive
    alive [əˈlʌɪv] adj.
    If someone or something is alive, they are not dead.
    →My grandparents are still alive even though they are over 90.
  • allow
    allow [əˈlaʊ] v.
    To allow something to happen means to let it happen.
    →Having a ticket will allow you to enter the show.
  • alone
    alone [əˈləʊn] adj.
    If someone is alone, they are not with another person.
    →The boy wanted to be alone to think.
  • along
    along [əˈlɒŋ] prep.
    Along means to move from one part of a road, river, etc. to another.
    →Walk along this tunnel for ten minutes, and you’ll see a door on the left.
  • already
    already [ɔːlˈrɛdi] adv.
    If something happens already, it happens before a certain time.
    →It is already time for the movie to start. Let’s go in.
  • amaze
    amaze [əˈmeɪz] v.
    To amaze someone is to surprise them very much.
    →The news in the paper amazed Jack.
  • among
    among [əˈmʌŋ] prep.
    If you are among certain things, they are all around you.
    →There was a red apple among the green ones.
  • amount
    amount [əˈmaʊnt] n.
    An amount is how much there is of something.
    →Can I use my card to pay for the entire amount?
  • ancient
    ancient [ˈeɪnʃ(ə)nt] adj.
    If something is ancient, it is very old.
    →I want to see the ancient buildings in Rome.
  • angry
    angry [ˈæŋɡrɪ] adj.
    When someone is angry, they may want to speak loudly or fight.
    →She didn’t do her homework, so her father is angry.
  • announce
    announce [əˈnaʊns] v.
    To announce something is to make it known.
    →He announced to everyone his new idea for the company.
  • anymore
    anymore [ēnimɔ:r] adv.
    Anymore means any longer.
    →Her old pants don’t fit her anymore.
  • apartment
    apartment [əˈpaːtmənt] n.
    An apartment is a set of rooms in a building where people live.
    →She has a nice apartment in the city.
  • appear
    appear [əˈpɪə] v.
    To appear is to seem.
    →She appeared to be sad. She was crying.
  • appreciate
    appreciate [əˈpriːsɪeɪt] v.
    To appreciate something is to understand its good qualities.
    →I can appreciate the lovely scenery.
  • approach
    approach [əˈproʊtʃ] v.
    To approach something means to move close to it.
    →The boy approached his school.
  • appropriate
    appropriate [əˈprəʊprɪeɪt] adj.
    When a thing is appropriate, it is right or normal.
    →It’s appropriate to wear a suit when you go to the office.
  • argue
    argue [ˈɑːɡjuː] v.
    To argue is to angrily speak to someone because you do not agree.
    →We argued about where to go for dinner.
  • arrange
    arrange [əˈreɪn(d)ʒ] v.
    To arrange things is to put them in the right place.
    →Please arrange the bowling pins in order so we can play.
  • arrive
    arrive [əˈraɪv] v.
    To arrive is to get to or reach some place.
    →The bus always arrives at the corner of my street at 4:00.
  • article
    article [ˈaːtikl] n.
    An article is a story in a newspaper or magazine.
    →Did you read the article in the newspaper about the soccer game?
  • artist
    artist [ˈɑːtɪst] n.
    An artist is a person who paints, draws, or makes sculptures.
    →He went to Paris to become an artist.
  • asleep
    asleep [əˈsliːp] adj.
    When a person is asleep, they are not awake.
    →The baby has been asleep for hours.
  • assign
    assign [əˈsʌɪn] v.
    To assign something to someone is to tell them to do it.
    →I assigned the worker an important task.
  • associate
    associate [əˈsəʊʃɪət] v.
    To associate means to connect something with a person or thing.
    →Most people associate birthday parties with having fun.
  • athlete
    athlete [ˈaθliːt] n.
    An athlete is a person who plays sports.
    →Some athletes can play many sports very well.
  • attack
    attack [əˈtæk] v.
    To attack is to try to fight or to hurt.
    →The man with the sword attacked the other man first.
  • attend
    attend [əˈtɛnd] v.
    To attend something is to go to it.
    →My sister and I attend the same school.
  • attention
    attention [əˈtɛnʃ(ə)n] n.
    Attention is the notice, thought, or consideration of someone.
    →His work got the attention of two of his co-workers.
  • attitude
    attitude [ˈӕtitjuːd] n.
    Someone’s attitude is the way they feel and think.
    →John has a bad attitude. He’s always angry.
  • attract
    attract [əˈtrakt] v.
    To attract means to make a person or thing come closer or be interested.
    →The magnet attracted the metal.
  • audience
    audience [ˈɔːdɪəns] n.
    An audience is a group of people who watch something together.
    →There was a large audience at the game.
  • available
    available [əˈveɪləb(ə)l] adj.
    If something is available, it means you can get it.
    →There were many seats available in the room.
  • average
    average [ˈav(ə)rɪdʒ] adj.
    If something is average, it is at a normal level.
    →I’m not rich or poor; I’m average.
  • avoid
    avoid [əˈvɔɪd] v.
    To avoid something is to stay away from it.
    →Avoid the broken bottle on the floor.
  • aware
    aware [əˈwɛː] adj.
    If you are aware of something, you know about it.
    →I was not aware of the ringing phone.
b
  • badly
    badly [ˈbadli] adv.
    Badly means in a severe or harmful way.
    →He hurt his arm badly playing with friends.
  • balance
    balance [ˈbal(ə)ns] v.
    To balance something is to keep it from falling.
    →We saw an elephant balance itself on a ball.
  • band
    band [band] n.
    A band is a group of people who play music.
    →My brother is in a rock band.
  • barely
    barely [ˈbɛːli] adv.
    Barely means by the smallest amount, almost not.
    →I barely had enough money to pay for my bus ticket.
  • base
    base [beɪs] n.
    The base is the bottom of something.
    →The base of the table has three legs.
  • basic
    basic [ˈbeɪsɪk] adj.
    If something is basic, it is very simple or easy.
    →I learned some basic English skills in school today.
  • beach
    beach [biːtʃ] n.
    The beach is a sandy or rocky place by the ocean.
    →The little girl built a sandcastle on the beach.
  • beat
    beat [biːt] v.
    To beat someone means to do better than they do.
    →I managed to beat everyone in the race.
  • behave
    behave [bɪˈheɪv] v.
    To behave is to act in a particular way, especially to be good.
    →She always behaves well when her father is around.
  • behavior
    behavior [bɪˈheɪvjə] n.
    Your behavior is the way you act.
    →Their behavior was good this semester. They didn’t cause trouble.
  • behind
    behind [bɪˈhʌɪnd] prep.
    Behind means to be at the back of something.
    →The little girl was hiding behind a tree.
  • belief
    belief [bɪˈliːf] n.
    A belief is a strong feeling that something is correct or true.
    →A preacher or priest should have a strong belief in God.
  • belong
    belong [bɪˈlɒŋ] v.
    If something belongs to you, you own it.
    →The blue suit belongs to Paul.
  • benefit
    benefit [ˈbɛnɪfɪt] n.
    A benefit is a good thing.
    →Being able to fly is a good benefit to birds.
  • berry
    berry [ˈbɛrɪ] n.
    A berry is a small round fruit that grows on certain plants and trees.
    →The berry looked delicious.
  • beside
    beside [bɪˈsʌɪd] prep.
    When someone or something is beside you, they are next to you.
    →The two brothers stood beside each other.
  • bit
    bit [bɪt] n.
    A bit is a small amount of something.
    →I ate a bit of chocolate before I went to bed.
  • bite
    bite [bʌɪt] n.
    Bite is the act of using your teeth to cut and tear into something.
    →The boy took a big bite out of his hamburger.
  • block
    block [blɒk] n.
    A block is a solid piece of wood, stone or ice.
    →I saw a block of ice on the floor.
  • blood
    blood [blʌd] n.
    Blood is the red liquid in your body.
    →I cut my finger and got blood on my shirt.
  • board
    board [bɔːd] n.
    A board is a flat piece of wood.
    →The sign was made of a few wooden boards.
  • bone
    bone [bəʊn] n.
    A bone is a hard part of the body.
    →I brought home a nice bone for my dog.
  • boring
    boring [ˈbɔːrɪŋ] adj.
    If something is boring, it is not fun.
    →I think the Internet is boring.
  • bother
    bother [ˈbɒðə] v.
    To bother is to make the effort to do something.
    →No one bothered to wash the dishes today.
  • bottom
    bottom [ˈbɒtəm] n.
    The bottom is the lowest part.
    →The bottom of my shoe has a hole in it.
  • brain
    brain [breɪn] n.
    The brain is the organ in your head that lets you think.
    →You must use your brain to solve the problem.
  • breakfast
    breakfast [ˈbrɛkfəst] n.
    Breakfast is the first meal of the day.
    →I eat breakfast at 8:00 every morning.
  • breathe
    breathe [briːð] v.
    To breathe means to let air go in and out of your body.
    →We need strong healthy lungs to help us breathe well.
  • bright
    bright [brʌɪt] adj.
    If something is bright, it shows a lot of light.
    →The bright light from the explosion hurt my eyes.
  • burn
    burn [bəːn] v.
    To burn something is to set it on fire.
    →I burned some wood in the camp fire.
c
  • calm
    calm [kɑːm] adj.
    When someone is calm, they do not get excited or upset.
    →A nice warm bath makes me feel so calm.
  • cancel
    cancel [ˈkans(ə)l] v.
    To cancel means to decide that an event or a request will not happen.
    →She cancelled the rest of her plans because of the rain.
  • captain
    captain [ˈkaptɪn] n.
    A captain is the person who leads a ship or airplane.
    →The captain sailed his ship to Australia.
  • career
    career [kəˈrɪə] n.
    A career is a job that you do for a large part of your life.
    →He was in the hospitality business for most of his career.
  • carefully
    carefully [kɛərfəli] adv.
    Carefully means with great attention, especially to detail or safety.
    →The baby carefully climbed down the stairs.
  • cause
    cause [kɔːz] v.
    To cause is to make something happen.
    →The cold weather caused her to get sick.
  • celebrate
    celebrate [ˈsɛlɪbreɪt] v.
    To celebrate is to do something to show that an event is special.
    →We all celebrated when we heard the great news.
  • cell
    cell [sɛl] n.
    A cell is a small room where a person is locked in.
    →The jail cell was very small.
  • center
    center [ˈsɛntə] n.
    The center of something is the middle of it.
    →The center of a dart board is the most important spot.
  • century
    century [ˈsɛntʃʊri] n.
    A century is one hundred years.
    →Our company is celebrating a century of business in London.
  • certain
    certain [ˈsəːt(ə)n] adj.
    If you are certain about something, you know it is true.
    →I am certain that zebras have stripes.
  • challenge
    challenge [ˈtʃalɪn(d)ʒ] n.
    A challenge is something difficult to complete.
    →It was a challenge to climb to the top of the mountain.
  • chance
    chance [tʃɑːns] n.
    A chance is an opportunity to do something.
    →I had a chance to see the Roman Coliseum last summer.
  • characteristic
    characteristic [karəktəˈrɪstɪk] n.
    A characteristic is something that shows what a person or a thing is like.
    →One characteristic of tigers is their black stripes.
  • charge
    charge [tʃɑːdʒ] n.
    A charge is the price to pay for something.
    →The charge for the shirts was $15.00.
  • chart
    chart [tʃɑ:rt] n.
    A chart is a list of information.
    →We used a chart to see how we had improved.
  • cheer
    cheer [tʃɪə] v.
    To cheer is to give a loud shout of approval or encouragement.
    →The crowd all cheered when the home team won.
  • chemical
    chemical [ˈkɛmɪkəl] n.
    A chemical is something that scientists use in chemistry.
    →The scientist mixed the chemicals.
  • choice
    choice [tʃɔɪs] n.
    A choice is the act or possibility of picking something.
    →I had my choice of five doors to open.
  • claim
    claim [kleɪm] v.
    To claim means to say that something is true.
    →He claimed to know why the country’s laws were weak.
  • clerk
    clerk [klɑːk] n.
    A clerk is a type of worker. Clerks in a store help customers.
    →The clerk added up her bill for the groceries.
  • clever
    clever [ˈklɛv ər] adj.
    When someone is clever, they can solve a hard puzzle or problem.
    →The clever boy thought of a good idea.
  • climb
    climb [klʌɪm] v.
    To climb means to use your hands and feet to go up on something.
    →The girls climbed to the top of the mountain.
  • cloud
    cloud [klaʊd] n.
    A cloud is a group of water drops in the sky.
    →The sky was filled with white clouds.
  • clue
    clue [kluː] n.
    A clue is a fact or object that helps solve a mystery or crime.
    →The detective found some clues on the sidewalk.
  • coach
    coach [kəʊtʃ] n.
    A coach is a person who teaches sports.
    →My coach gets very excited during games.
  • coast
    coast [kəʊst] n.
    The coast is the land by an ocean.
    →I stayed on the southern coast of Australia.
  • collect
    collect [kəˈlɛkt] v.
    To collect things is to group them together all in one place.
    →I collected shells when I was younger.
  • comfort
    comfort [ˈkʌmfət] v.
    To comfort someone means to make them feel better.
    →I wanted to comfort my friend after I heard the bad news.
  • common
    common [ˈkɒmən] adj.
    If something is common, it happens often or there is much of it.
    →It is common for snow to fall in the winter.
  • communicate
    communicate [kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt] v.
    To communicate is to give information by talking, writing, etc.
    →I communicated with Paul about his new ideas.
  • community
    community [kəˈmjuːnɪti] n.
    A community is a group of people who live together.
    →The kids from my community usually play together.
  • compare
    compare [kəmˈpɛː] v.
    To compare means to say how two things are the same and different.
    →If you compare cats and dogs, you’ll see that they’re both good pets.
  • compete
    compete [kəmˈpiːt] v.
    To compete is to try to be better than someone.
    →He will compete with very good athletes.
  • competition
    competition [kɒmpɪˈtɪʃ(ə)n] n.
    A competition is a contest to see who is the best at something.
    →He won the running competition over the weekend.
  • complex
    complex [ˈkɒmplɛks] adj.
    If something is complex, it has many small parts. It is hard to understand.
    →A jig-saw puzzle can be complex because it has so many pieces.
  • comprehend
    comprehend [ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnd] v.
    To comprehend something is to understand it.
    →Henry could not comprehend the message.
  • concern
    concern [kənˈsəːn] n.
    Concern is a feeling of worry.
    →I was filled with concern after reading the newspaper.
  • concert
    concert [kənˈsəːt] n.
    A concert is an event where you listen to people play music.
    →I enjoyed the concert last night. The band was very good.
  • conclusion
    conclusion [kənˈkluːʒ(ə)n] n.
    The conclusion of something is the final part of it.
    →At the conclusion of the race, the spectators cheered for the winner.
  • condition
    condition [kənˈdɪʃ(ə)n] n.
    The condition of someone or something is the state that they are in.
    →The patient’s condition was very good.
  • consider
    consider [kənˈsɪdə] v.
    To consider something means to think about it.
    →Pete didn’t like his job. He considered getting a new one.
  • consume
    consume [kənˈsjuːm] v.
    To consume something means to eat or drink it.
    →Jack consumed a whole plate of spaghetti.
  • contact
    contact [kənˈtakt] v.
    To contact someone is to speak or write to them.
    →I contacted Sue about my party.
  • contain
    contain [kənˈteɪn] v.
    To contain something is to have it inside.
    →The mailbox contained a letter.
  • content
    content [kənˈtɛnt] adj.
    To be content is to be happy and not want more.
    →The baby looked very content sitting on the floor.
  • continue
    continue [kənˈtɪnjuː] v.
    To continue something is to keep doing it.
    →She stood under her umbrella as the rain continued to fall.
  • contrast
    contrast [kənˈtrɑːst] n
    A contrast is the sharp difference between two things.
    →The contrast between my parents is very noticeable.
  • contribute
    contribute [kənˈtrɪbjuːt] v.
    To contribute to something means to do something to make it successful.
    →We decided to contribute money to the new hospital.
  • control
    control [kənˈtrəʊl] v.
    To control something is to make it do what you want.
    →To control the TV, just push the buttons.
  • conversation
    conversation [kɒnvəˈseɪʃ(ə)n] n.
    A conversation is a talk between people.
    →There were two conversations going on at once.
  • cool
    cool [kuːl] adj.
    If the weather is cool, it is a little bit cold.
    →The weather is cool in the fall.
  • correct
    correct [kəˈrɛkt] adj.
    To be correct is to be right.
    →All of my answers on the test were correct.
  • cost
    cost [kɒst] v.
    To cost is to require expenditure or payment.
    →These designer shoes cost more than the regular ones.
  • county
    county [ˈkaʊnti] n.
    A county is the largest political division of a state in the US.
    →He wanted to represent the citizens of his county.
  • course
    course [kɔːs] n.
    A course is a class in school.
    →I took a P.E. course in school this year.
  • create
    create [kriˈeit] v.
    To create means to make something new.
    →She created an igloo from blocks of snow.
  • creature
    creature [ˈkriːtʃə] n.
    A creature is any living thing.
    →The creature we saw today was either a dolphin or a porpoise.
  • critic
    critic [ˈkrɪtɪk] n.
    A critic is someone who give their opinions about movies, books, plays.
    →The wine critic tasted the wine so he could give his opinion.
  • crop
    crop [krɒp] n.
    A crop is food that a farmer grows.
    →Wheat is a crop that is made into bread.
  • crowd
    crowd [kraʊd] n.
    A crowd is a large group of people.
    →A large crowd had gathered on the street to see the accident.
  • cruel
    cruel [ˈkruːəl] adj.
    When someone is cruel, they do bad things to hurt others.
    →The cruel man yelled at his sister.
  • customer
    customer [ˈkʌstəmə] n.
    A customer is a person who buys something at a store.
    →The customer put a few items in a bag.
d
  • damage
    damage [ˈdamɪdʒ] v.
    To damage something is to break it.
    →The car was damaged in the accident.
  • dead
    dead [dɛd] adj.
    To be dead is to not be alive.
    →A dead person is usually buried in the ground.
  • deal
    deal [diːl] n.
    A deal is an agreement that you have with another person.
    →I made a deal with the other company to give us some money.
  • decision
    decision [dɪˈsɪʒ(ə)n] n.
    A decision is a choice.
    →He made the wrong decision.
  • deliver
    deliver [dɪˈlɪvə] v.
    To deliver something is to take it from one place to another.
    →The man delivered Chinese food to my house.
  • demand
    demand [dɪˈmɑːnd] v.
    To demand something is to say strongly that you want it.
    →The workers demanded to be paid more money.
  • demonstrate
    demonstrate [ˈdɛmənstreɪt] v.
    To demonstrate something is to show how it is done.
    →She demonstrated her plan to her co-workers.
  • depend
    depend [dɪˈpɛnd] v.
    To depend on someone or something is to need them.
    →Children depend on their parents for many things.
  • describe
    describe [dɪˈskraɪb] v.
    To describe is to say or write what someone or something is like.
    →They described their tree as colorful with gold ribbon and a star.
  • description
    description [dɪˈskrɪpʃ(ə)n] n.
    A description of someone or something says what they are like.
    →I gave a description of the man with the gun and hat to the police.
  • desert
    desert [dɪˈzəːt] n.
    The desert is an area of land without many plants or water.
    →Not many plants grow in the desert.
  • destroy
    destroy [dɪˈstrɔɪ] v.
    To destroy means to damage something so badly that it cannot be used.
    →The glass was destroyed.
  • determine
    determine [dɪˈtəːmɪn] v.
    To determine means to choose or make a decision.
    →He tried to determine which one to eat first.
  • dictionary
    dictionary [ˈdɪkʃ(ə)n(ə)ri] n.
    A dictionary is a book that tells you what words mean.
    →I use the dictionary to learn new words.
  • difference
    difference [ˈdɪf(ə)r(ə)ns] n.
    A difference is a way that something is not like other things.
    →The biggest difference between the birds is the color of their feathers.
  • different
    different [ˈdɪf(ə)r(ə)nt] adj.
    Different describes someone or something that is not the same as others.
    →Each of my sisters has a different hair style from one another.
  • direct
    direct [dɪˈrɛkt] adj.
    If something is direct, it goes straight between two places.
    →The green path is a direct route to my house.
  • disappear
    disappear [dɪsəˈpɪə] v.
    To disappear means to go away or not be seen.
    →The top of the building is disappearing in the clouds.
  • discover
    discover [dɪˈskʌvə] v.
    To discover something is to find it for the first time.
    →I discovered some new information in this book!
  • dish
    dish [dɪʃ] n.
    A dish is a plate.
    →She put a clean white dish on the table.
  • distance
    distance [ˈdɪst(ə)ns] n.
    The distance between two things is how far it is between them.
    →The distance between the Earth and the Moon is 384,400 kilometers.
  • divide
    divide [dɪˈvʌɪd] v.
    To divide something is to make it into smaller parts.
    →We divided the pizza.
  • doubt
    doubt [daʊt] n.
    Doubt is a feeling of not being sure.
    →I have doubt that the story is true.
  • driveway
    driveway [ˈdrʌɪvweɪ] n.
    A driveway is a short private road that leads to a person’s home.
    →The long driveway led us to their new house.
  • drop
    drop [drɒp] v.
    To drop is to fall or allow something to fall.
    →A small amount of water dropped from the bottle.
e
  • earn
    earn [əːn] v.
    To earn means to get money for the work you do.
    →He earns his living as a chef in a great restaurant.
  • earthquake
    earthquake [ˈəːθkweɪk] n.
    An earthquake is a shaking movement of the ground.
    →The building shook during the earthquake.
  • effect
    effect [ɪˈfɛkt] n.
    An effect is a change made by something else.
    →The medicine had a good effect on the boy.
  • effective
    effective [ɪˈfɛktɪv] adj.
    If something is effective, it works well.
    →Swimming is an effective way to stay healthy.
  • effort
    effort [ˈɛfət] n.
    Effort is hard work or an attempt to do something.
    →He always puts a lot of effort into his studies.
  • either
    either [ˈiːðə] conj.
    Either is used with “or” to say there are two or more possibilities.
    →You can choose to be either white or black when you play chess.
  • else
    else [ɛls] adj.
    If you talk about something else, you talk about something different.
    →I wanted a bike for my birthday, but I got something else.
  • emotion
    emotion [ɪˈməʊʃ(ə)n] n.
    An emotion is how you feel.
    →Anger is a common emotion that we all feel.
  • empty
    empty [ˈɛm(p)ti] adj.
    If something is empty, it does not have anything in it.
    →My gas tank was almost empty, so I couldn’t drive my car very long.
  • encourage
    encourage [ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ] v.
    To encourage someone is to make them want to do something.
    →My football coach will encourage us when we are losing.
  • enter
    enter [ˈɛntə] v.
    To enter a place is to go into it.
    →Two guards greeted me as I entered the front door.
  • entertain
    entertain [ɛntəˈteɪn] v.
    To entertain someone is to do something that they enjoy.
    →The clown entertained the kids at the party.
  • environment
    environment [ɪnˈvʌɪrənm(ə)nt] n.
    The environment is the place where people work or live.
    →Keeping our environment clean is important to our health.
  • equal
    equal [ˈiːkw(ə)l] adj.
    To be equal is to be the same.
    →Both students are equal in age.
  • error
    error [ˈɛrə] n.
    An error is something you do wrong.
    →I made an error on my report, so my boss was angry.
  • escape
    escape [ɪˈskeɪp] v.
    To escape is to run away from something bad.
    →The butterfly could not escape from the cage.
  • essential
    essential [ɪˈsɛnʃ(ə)l] adj.
    If something is essential, it is very important and necessary.
    →It is essential to have oxygen when you scuba dive.
  • event
    event [ɪˈvɛnt] n.
    An event is something that happens, especially something important.
    →Finishing high school was a major event in his life.
  • ever
    ever [ˈɛvər] adv.
    Ever means at any time.
    →Going skiing last winter was the most fun I’ve ever had.
  • evidence
    evidence [ˈɛvɪd(ə)ns] n.
    Evidence is a fact or thing that you use to prove something.
    →He used the pictures as evidence that UFOs are real.
  • evil
    evil [ˈiːvəl] adj.
    Evil describes something or someone bad or cruel, not good.
    →The evil figure scared us all.
  • exact
    exact [ɪɡˈzakt] adj.
    If something is exact, it is just the right amount.
    →Please use the exact amount of sugar for the cake.
  • exam
    exam [ɪɡˈzam] n.
    An exam is a test.
    →I did some practice questions for the math exam on the board.
  • examine
    examine [ɪɡˈzamɪn] v.
    To examine something is to look at it carefully.
    →The doctor examined my eyes today.
  • example
    example [ɪɡˈzɑːmp(ə)l] n.
    An example of something is a thing that is typical of it.
    →Cola is an example of a soft drink.
  • excellent
    excellent [ˈɛks(ə)l(ə)nt] adj.
    When something is excellent, it is very good.
    →I got an excellent score on my school test.
  • excite
    excite [ɪkˈsʌɪt] v.
    To excite someone means to make them happy and interested.
    →I heard about the school dance on Friday. This excited me.
  • exercise
    exercise [ˈɛksəsʌɪz] v.
    To exercise is to run or play sports so that you can be healthy.
    →You should exercise every day.
  • exist
    exist [ɪɡˈzɪst] v.
    To exist is to be real.
    →Do you really think that unicorns ever existed?
  • expect
    expect [ɪkˈspɛkt] v.
    If you expect something to happen, you believe it will happen.
    →I expect the bus to be here very soon.
  • experience
    experience [ɪkˈspɪərɪəns] n.
    An experience is something you have seen or done.
    →Rock climbing was a fun experience.
  • experiment
    experiment [ikˈsperəmənt] n.
    An experiment is a test that you do to see what will happen.
    →The student did an experiment in science class.
  • expert
    expert [ˈɛkspəːt] n.
    An expert is someone who is very good at doing something.
    →The wizard was an expert at magic.
  • explore
    explore [ɪkˈsplɔː] v.
    To explore is to look for new places.
    →He wants to explore the world and see new things.
  • extra
    extra [ˈɛkstrə] adj.
    If something is extra, it is more than what is needed.
    →The squirrel had extra nuts for the winter.
  • extreme
    extreme [ɪkˈstriːm] adj.
    If something is extreme, it is in a large amount or degree.
    →His workout was so extreme that he was sweating heavily.
f
  • face
    face [feɪs] v.
    If you face a problem, you deal with it.
    →My sister and I have to find a better way to face our differences.
  • factory
    factory [ˈfakt(ə)ri] n.
    A factory is a building where things are made or put together.
    →We have only one factory in our town.
  • fail
    fail [feɪl] v.
    To fail means you do not succeed in what you try to do.
    →Since he failed to get the job, he was sad.
  • fair
    fair [fɛː] adj.
    Fair describes treating someone in a way that is reasonable or right.
    →He sold me his car for a fair price.
  • false
    false [fɔːls] adj.
    If something is false, it is not correct.
    →If you think the answer is false, press the red button.
  • familiar
    familiar [fəˈmɪlɪə] adj.
    If someone or something is familiar to you, you know them well.
    →The two friends were very familiar with each other.
  • famous
    famous [ˈfeɪməs] adj.
    If someone or something is famous, they are known to many people.
    →The Eiffel Tower in Paris is very famous.
  • far
    far [fɑ:r] adj.
    If something is far, it is not close.
    →It’s far going from the east coast to the west coast of America.
  • fear
    fear [fɪə] n.
    Fear is the feeling of being afraid.
    →I have a great fear of skateboarding.
  • feature
    feature [ˈfiːtʃə] n.
    A feature is an important part of something.
    →The cell phone has many features.
  • feed
    feed [fiːd] v.
    To feed is to give food.
    →Mother feeds my baby brother everyday.
  • field
    field [fiːld] n.
    A field is a big area of land.
    →The field of flowers looked so pretty.
  • final
    final [ˈfʌɪn(ə)l] adj.
    If something is final, it is the last part.
    →In the final part of the film, the man and the woman got married.
  • finally
    finally [ˈfaɪnəlɪ] adv.
    If something happens finally, it happens after a longtime or at the end.
    →He finally crossed the finish line after five hours of running.
  • fit
    fit [fɪt] v.
    If something fits, it is small enough or the right size to go there.
    →The colorful eggs fit into the box.
  • fix
    fix [fɪks] v.
    To fix something is to make it work.
    →My dad has many tools to help him fix broken things.
  • flat
    flat [flat] adj.
    Flat describes something that is level and smooth with no curved parts.
    →My parents bought a new flat screen TV over the weekend.
  • flow
    flow [fləʊ] v.
    To flow is to move easily and continuously in one direction.
    →The water flowed over the rocks and into the lake.
  • focus
    focus [ˈfəʊkəs] v.
    To focus on something is to think about it and pay attention to it.
    →My mom always helps me to focus on my school work.
  • follow
    follow [ˈfɒləʊ] v.
    To follow means to go behind someone and go where they go.
    →The little boy followed his mother home.
  • force
    force [fɔːs] n.
    Force is a person’s strength or power.
    →He used all his force to try and open the door.
  • foreign
    foreign [ˈfɒrɪn] adj.
    If something is foreign, it is from a different country.
    →Mexican food is a popular foreign food.
  • forest
    forest [ˈfɒrɪst] n.
    A forest is a place with lots of trees and animals.
    →I love to go walking in the forest.
  • fortunate
    fortunate [ˈfɔːtʃ(ə)nət] adj.
    If you are fortunate, you are lucky.
    →I was fortunate to get a seat.
  • forward
    forward [ˈfɔːwəd] adv.
    If you move forward, you move in the direction in front of you.
    →When he saw his mother, the baby crawled forward to her.
  • frank
    frank [fraŋk] adj.
    If you are frank, you are being very honest.
    →The teacher had a frank discussion with her students.
  • frequently
    frequently [ˈfriːkwəntli] adv.
    When something happens frequently, it happens often.
    →We meet frequently, either at the beginning or ending of the week.
  • fresh
    fresh [frɛʃ] adj.
    If something is fresh, it is new.
    →I just bought these oranges. They are very fresh.
  • friendly
    friendly [ˈfrɛndlɪ] adj.
    Friendly is behaving in a pleasant, kind way toward someone.
    →The friendly animals came up to the girl.
  • friendship
    friendship [ˈfrɛn(d)ʃɪp] n.
    Friendship is the relationship between people who are friends.
    →Michael and Lisa have a very strong friendship with each other.
  • fright
    fright [frʌɪt] n.
    Fright is the feeling of being scared.
    →She was filled with fright.
  • function
    function [ˈfʌŋ(k)ʃ(ə)n] n.
    The function of something is what it does.
    →The function of a flashlight is to help you see in the dark.
  • further
    further [ˈfəːðə] adj.
    Further is used to say something is from a distance or time.
    →The escalator is further along than I thought.
g
  • gain
    gain [ɡeɪn] v.
    If you gain something, you get more of it.
    →I gained some weight over the summer.
  • garbage
    garbage [ˈɡɑːbɪdʒ] n.
    Garbage is waste material like unwanted or spoiled food, bottles, paper, etc.
    →The boy cleaned up the garbage around his house.
  • gate
    gate [ɡeɪt] n.
    A gate is a type of door. Gates are usually made of metal or wood.
    →We want to put up a wooden gate around our house.
  • gather
    gather [ˈɡaðə] v.
    To gather is to collect several things usually from different places.
    →Sam gathered some flowers for his mother.
  • gentleman
    gentleman [ˈdʒɛnt(ə)lmən] n.
    A gentleman is a nice man.
    →My grandfather is a kind and helpful gentleman.
  • ghost
    ghost [ɡəʊst] n.
    A ghost is the spirit of a dead person.
    →Many people are afraid of ghosts.
  • gift
    gift [ɡɪft] n.
    A gift is something you give someone.
    →Dave received many gifts for Christmas.
  • glad
    glad [ɡlæd] adj.
    If you are glad, you are happy.
    →I am glad you came to my party.
  • goal
    goal [ɡəʊl] n.
    A goal is something you work toward.
    →Her goal was to become a doctor.
  • grab
    grab [ɡrab] v.
    To grab is to take a hold of someone or something suddenly.
    →I grabbed a pear from the tree.
  • grade
    grade [ɡreɪd] n.
    A grade is a score or mark given to someone’s work.
    →I managed to get good grades on my report card.
  • grass
    grass [ɡrɑːs] n.
    Grass is the green leaves that cover the ground.
    →The grass looked so soft and green.
  • ground
    ground [ɡraʊnd] n.
    The ground is the top part of the Earth that we walk on.
    →The ground under our feet was dry and brown.
  • guard
    guard [ɡɑːd] v.
    To guard something is to take care of it.
    →The police officer will guard us from any harm.
  • guide
    guide [ɡʌɪd] n.
    A guide is someone who shows you where to go.
    →We followed a guide at the park.
h
  • habit
    habit [ˈhabɪt] n.
    A habit is a thing that you do often.
    →Smoking is a bad habit that can kill you.
  • hang
    hang [haŋ] v.
    To hang something is to keep it above the ground.
    →I drew a picture of my family, and my mother hung it on the wall.
  • happen
    happen [ˈhap(ə)n] v.
    If someone happens to do something, they do it by chance.
    →I happened to meet some new friends at school today.
  • harm
    harm [hɑːm] n.
    Harm is hurt or problems caused to someone or something.
    →A hot iron can cause great harm if you are not careful.
  • hero
    hero [ˈhɪərəʊ] n.
    A hero is a brave person who does things to help others.
    →To children, the man in the blue and red costume was a real hero.
  • hidden
    hidden [ˈhɪdn] adj.
    Hidden means to be not easily noticed or too hard to find.
    →The hidden camera recorded everything in the parking lot.
  • hide
    hide [haɪd] v.
    To hide is to try not to let others see you.
    →The other children will hide while you count to 100.
  • hill
    hill [hɪl]
    A hill is a round area of land. It is higher than the land around it.
    →The sun was rising above the green hills.
  • hole
    hole [həʊl] n.
    A hole is an opening in something.
    →The man was going to jump into the hole in the ice.
  • honesty
    honesty [ˈɒnɪsti] n.
    Honesty means the quality of being truthful or honest.
    →A courtroom should be a place of honesty.
  • however
    however [haʊˈɛvə] adv.
    However means despite or not being influenced by something.
    →She is a great cook. However, she never had professional lessons.
  • huge
    huge [hjuːdʒ] adj.
    If something is huge, it is very big.
    →At work, my father drives a huge truck.
  • hunger
    hunger [ˈhʌŋɡə] n.
    Hunger is the feeling that you get when you need to eat.
    →After playing all day long, he was filled with hunger.
  • hunt
    hunt [hʌnt] v.
    To hunt is to look for or search for an animal to kill.
    →Long ago, people hunted with bows and arrows.
  • hurry
    hurry [ˈhʌri] v.
    To hurry is to do something quickly.
    →I hurried home on my bike.
  • hurt
    hurt [həːt] v.
    To hurt is to do something that makes you feel pain.
    →She hurt her leg falling down the stairs.
i
  • identify
    identify [ʌɪˈdɛntɪfʌɪ] v.
    To identify something is to be able to name it.
    →I used the file to identify his name.
  • idiom
    idiom [ˈɪdɪəm] n.
    An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from its words.
    →The idiom “when pigs fly” means that something will never happen.
  • image
    image [ˈɪmɪdʒ] v.
    The image of something is a picture of it.
    →The image of her eye was very clear.
  • imagine
    imagine [ɪˈmadʒɪn] v.
    To imagine something is to think of it in your mind.
    →Sally imagined herself winning lots of money.
  • immediate
    immediate [iˈmiːdiət] adj.
    If something is immediate, it happens quickly.
    →An immediate response came from the pizza place.
  • imply
    imply [ɪmˈplʌɪ] v.
    To imply something is to suggest it without saying it.
    →The man implied that he wanted the job, but he didn’t say so.
  • importance
    importance [ɪmˈpɔːt(ə)ns] n.
    Importance means the quality or condition of being needed or valued.
    →VIPs are people of great importance.
  • include
    include [ɪnˈkluːd] v.
    To include something means to have it as part of a group.
    →Does this meal include a soft drink?
  • increase
    increase [ˈɪŋkriːs] v.
    To increase something is to make it larger or more.
    →They’ve increased the price of gas by 15 cents!
  • independent
    independent [ɪndɪˈpɛnd(ə)nt] adj.
    If something is independent, it is not controlled by something else.
    →She chose to live an independent life in the country.
  • indicate
    indicate [ˈɪndɪkeɪt] v.
    To indicate means to show, point or make something clear.
    →He pointed to his eyes to indicate where he had hurt himself.
  • individual
    individual [ɪndɪˈvɪdjʊ(ə)l] n.
    An individual is one person.
    →Only one individual could win the bicycle race.
  • inform
    inform [ɪnˈfɔːm] v.
    To inform someone is to tell them about something.
    →I called and informed her about my idea.
  • injustice
    injustice [ɪnˈdʒʌstɪs] n.
    Injustice is a lack of fairness or justice.
    →Putting an innocent person in jail is an act of injustice.
  • inside
    inside [ɪnˈsʌɪd] n.
    Inside means the inner part, space or side of something.
    →The inside of the box was empty.
  • instance
    instance [ˈɪnst(ə)ns] n.
    An instance is an example of something.
    →I have never experienced an instance of hate. Have you?
  • instead
    instead [inˈsted] adv.
    Instead means in place of.
    →He ate the carrot instead of the ice cream.
  • instruct
    instruct [ɪnˈstrʌkt] v.
    To instruct is to teach.
    →My teacher instructs us in several subjects.
  • instrument
    instrument [ˈɪnstrʊm(ə)nt] n.
    An instrument is something designed to do a certain task like music.
    →My favorite musical instrument is the piano.
  • international
    international [ɪntəˈnaʃ(ə)n(ə)l] adj.
    If something is international, it involves more than one country.
    →The United Nations is a powerful international organization.
  • introduce
    introduce [intrəˈdjuːs] v.
    To introduce someone or something is to say who they are.
    →I introduced myself to our newest co-worker today.
  • involve
    involve [ɪnˈvɒlv] v.
    To involve means to be actively taking part in something.
    →The whole family was involved in playing the game.
  • island
    island [ˈʌɪlənd] n.
    An island is land in the middle of water.
    →Japan is a group of islands.
  • issue
    issue [ˈɪʃuː] n.
    An issue is an important topic.
    →The men spoke about issues that were important to the people.
  • item
    item [ˈʌɪtəm] n.
    An item is a thing that you buy or sell.
    →I have many items for school in my bag.
j
  • journey
    journey [ˈdʒəːni] n.
    A journey is a long trip.
    →I went on a journey across the country with my parents.
  • judge
    judge [dʒʌdʒ] v.
    To judge something is to say if it is good or bad.
    →The boy was going to judge how his mother’s turkey tasted.
  • judgment
    judgment [ˈdʒʌdʒm(ə)nt] n.
    Judgment is the ability to form opinions or decisions.
    →It’s good judgment to recycle your aluminum cans.
k
  • kill
    kill [kil] v.
    To kill someone or something is to make them die.
    →I killed the fly with a fly swatter.
  • knowledge
    knowledge [ˈnɒlɪdʒ] n.
    Knowledge is information that you have about something.
    →A music teacher should have good knowledge of music.
l
  • laboratory
    laboratory [ˈlӕbrəto:ri] n.
    A laboratory is a room where a scientist works.
    →My mother works in a laboratory.
  • lack
    lack [lak] n.
    If there is a lack of something, there is not enough of it.
    →His only problem is a lack of money.
  • later
    later [ˈleɪtə] adv.
    Later means after the present, expected, or usual time.
    →She missed the train, so she’ll arrive a little later than expected.
  • laugh
    laugh [læf] n.
    Laugh is the sound made when someone is happy or a funny thing occurs.
    →The sound of their laugh filled the room.
  • lawyer
    lawyer [ˈlɔːjə] n.
    A lawyer works with the law and represents people in court.
    →The lawyer left the courthouse after the judge made her decision.
  • lay
    lay [leɪ] v.
    To lay means to put or place in a horizontal or flat position.
    →Don’t lay your socks on the floor.
  • leave
    leave [liːv] v.
    To leave means to go away from someone or something.
    →He packed his bag and was ready to leave for home.
  • length
    length [lɛn(t)θ] n.
    The length of something is how long it is from one end to the other.
    →The length of the floor is three meters.
  • level
    level [ˈlɛv(ə)l] n.
    A level is a point on a scale that measures something.
    →Please check the level of the temperature.
  • library
    library [ˈlaibrəri] n.
    A library is a place where you go to read books.
    →The library at school is full of books.
  • lie
    lie [lʌɪ] v.
    To lie is to say or write something untrue to deceive someone.
    →Whenever Pinocchio lied to his father, his nose grew.
  • likely
    likely [ˈlʌɪkli] adv.
    If something likely happens, it will probably happen.
    →I will likely stay at home and watch TV tonight.
  • limit
    limit [ˈlɪmɪt] n.
    A limit is the largest or smallest amount of something that you allow.
    →My mother put a limit on how much I could use the phone.
  • list
    list [lɪst] n.
    A list is a record of information printed with an item on each line.
    →My mom makes a list of groceries to buy.
  • local
    local [ˈləʊk(ə)l] adj.
    If something is local, it is nearby.
    →The local market in my neighborhood sells all the food we need.
  • locate
    locate [lə(ʊ)ˈkeɪt] v.
    To locate something is to find it.
    →I could not locate my keys in the house.
  • lone
    lone [ləʊn] adj.
    If someone or something is lone, they are the only one of that kind.
    →A lone man walked along the street.
  • lord
    lord [lɔːd] n.
    Long ago, a lord was a man in charge of a town.
    →The lord of the town was not kind.
  • lot
    lot [lɒt] n.
    A lot means a large number or amount of people, animals, things, etc.
    →There are a lot of apples in the basket.
  • loud
    loud [laʊd] adj.
    If a sound is loud, it is strong and very easy to hear.
    →The man’s voice was so loud that we all could hear him.
  • lower
    lower [ˈləʊə] v.
    To lower something is to make it go down.
    →The chart shows how his production has lowered over the year.
m
  • magazine
    magazine [maɡəˈziːn] n.
    A magazine is a regular publication with news, stories, and articles.
    →She likes to read fashion magazines.
  • magic
    magic [ˈmadʒɪk] n.
    Magic is the power to do impossible things.
    →The magician used magic to pull a rabbit out of his hat.
  • magical
    magical [ˈmadʒɪk(ə)l] adj.
    Magical describes a quality that makes someone or something special.
    →The fireworks made the night sky look so magical.
  • mail
    mail [meɪl] n.
    Mail is letters and other things sent to people.
    →I get a lot of mail because I have friends all over the world.
  • maintain
    maintain [meɪnˈteɪn] v.
    To maintain means to make something stay the same.
    →The balls maintain constant movement.
  • major
    major [ˈmeɪdʒə] adj.
    If something is major, it is big or important.
    →I have a major problem. My boss wants me to redo my project!
  • manage
    manage [ˈmanɪdʒ] v.
    To manage something means to control or be in charge of it.
    →I had to manage the meeting myself.
  • marry
    marry [ˈmari] v.
    To marry is to legally become husband and wife.
    →Rose and Henry were married, and they lived happily.
  • master
    master [ˈmɑːstə] n.
    A master is a person who is very good at something.
    →My brother is a master of taekwondo.
  • match
    match [matʃ] v.
    To match is to be the same or similar.
    →The two shoes matched. They looked the same.
  • material
    material [məˈtɪərɪəl] n.
    A material is what is used to make something.
    →Brick is a good material for building houses.
  • maybe
    maybe [ˈmeɪbi] adv.
    Maybe is used to show that something is possible or may be true.
    →If I focus hard enough, maybe I can come up with the right answer.
  • meal
    meal [miːl] n.
    A meal is a time when food is eaten like breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
    →Breakfast is my favorite meal because I enjoy breakfast foods.
  • mean
    mean [miːn] adj.
    Mean describes someone who is unkind or cruel.
    →My co-worker is a very mean person. He gets angry very quickly.
  • meat
    meat [miːt] n.
    Meat is food made of animals.
    →This piece of meat I’m eating tastes very good.
  • medicine
    medicine [ˈmɛdɪsɪn] n.
    Medicine is something you take to feel better or treat an illness.
    →The doctor gave me medicine for my cold.
  • member
    member [ˈmɛmbə] n.
    A member is a person who is part of a group.
    →Julie is the newest member of our team.
  • memory
    memory [ˈmɛm(ə)ri] n.
    A memory is something you remember.
    →The memory of my first time in the city will always be the best.
  • mental
    mental [ˈmɛnt(ə)l] adj.
    If something is mental, it has to do with your mind.
    →I made a mental picture of the room.
  • mention
    mention [ˈmɛnʃ(ə)n] v.
    To mention something is to talk about it.
    →The doctors mentioned the problems that the patient was having.
  • message
    message [ˈmɛsɪdʒ] n.
    A message is a set of words that you send to someone.
    →I left a message for you in the envelope.
  • method
    method [ˈmɛθəd] n.
    A method is the way to do something.
    →One method to remember things is to tie a string around your finger.
  • middle
    middle [mɪdl] n.
    The middle of something is the center or halfway point.
    →The Canadian flag has a maple leaf in the middle of it.
  • mistake
    mistake [mɪˈsteɪk] n.
    A mistake is something you do wrong.
    →My boss always yells at me when I make a mistake.
  • mix
    mix [mɪks] n.
    A mix is different things put together.
    →The green mix we made in science class spilled onto the table.
  • moment
    moment [ˈmoʊmənt] n.
    A moment is a second or a very short time.
    →I was only a few moments late for the meeting.
  • mystery
    mystery [ˈmɪst(ə)ri] n.
    A mystery is something that is difficult to understand or explain.
    →The path on the map was a complete mystery to me.
n
  • necessary
    necessary [ˈnɛsəs(ə)ri] adj.
    If something is necessary, you must do it.
    →It is necessary to have a passport when you travel to a foreign country.
  • neighbor
    neighbor [ˈneɪ bər] n.
    A neighbor is a person who lives near you.
    →I like my neighbor because he’s very friendly.
  • neither
    neither [ˈnʌɪðə] adv.
    You use neither to connect two negative statements.
    →Neither the pass on the left nor the pass on the right will lead us home.
  • nervous
    nervous [ˈnɜr vəs] adj.
    When a person is nervous, they think something bad will happen.
    →The boy became nervous when he heard the news.
  • noise
    noise [nɔɪz] n.
    A noise is an unpleasant sound.
    →The crying baby made a loud noise.
  • none
    none [nəʊn] pron.
    None means not any of someone or something.
    →He spent all his money. There is none left.
  • normal
    normal [ˈnɔːm(ə)l] adj.
    If something is normal, it is not strange nor surprising to you.
    →It is normal for me to bathe every night.
  • notice
    notice [ˈnəʊtɪs] v.
    To notice something is to see it for the first time.
    →Did you notice the view?
  • novel
    novel [ˈnɒv(ə)l] n.
    A novel is a book that tells a story.
    →He wrote a great novel about ancient China.
  • nurse
    nurse [nəːs] n.
    A nurse is a person who helps sick people in the hospital.
    →A nurse helped me get better.
o
  • observe
    observe [əbˈzəːv] v.
    To observe something is to watch it.
    →Brian observed the sun rising over the mountains.
  • occur
    occur [əˈkəː] v.
    To occur means to happen.
    →When did the thunderstorm occur?
  • ocean
    ocean [ˈəʊʃ(ə)n] n.
    The ocean is all of the salt water that surrounds land.
    →The ocean can make powerful waves.
  • offer
    offer [ˈɒfə] v.
    To offer is to present someone with something.
    →He offered me the keys to his car.
  • officer
    officer [ˈɒfɪsə] n.
    An officer is a leader in the army.
    →The soldiers followed the orders of the officer.
  • operation
    operation [ɒpəˈreɪʃ(ə)n] n.
    An operation is when a doctor replaces or removes something in the body.
    →The operation on my arm was a success.
  • opinion
    opinion [əˈpɪnjən] n.
    An opinion is a thought about a person or a thing.
    →Meg told me her opinion of my story. She said it was not funny.
  • opportunity
    opportunity [ɒpəˈtjuːnɪti] n.
    An opportunity is a chance to do something.
    →I had an opportunity to take pictures in the jungle.
  • opposite
    opposite [ˈɒpəzɪt] n.
    If A is the opposite of B, A is completely different from B.
    →The opposite of black is white.
  • organize
    organize [ˈɔːɡ(ə)nʌɪz] v.
    To organize is to plan or get ready for an event.
    →Make a list to help you organize the things you need.
  • original
    original [əˈrɪdʒɪn(ə)l] adj.
    If something is original, it is the first one of that thing.
    →This is the original painting of the Mona Lisa.
  • otherwise
    otherwise [ˈʌðəwʌɪz] adv.
    Otherwise means different or in another way.
    →It’s good to stay active; otherwise, you’ll gain weight.
  • outline
    outline [ˈaʊtlʌɪn] n.
    An outline is the plan for a story or essay.
    →Before I wrote my essay, I made an outline.
  • owe
    owe [əʊ] v.
    To owe is to have to pay or give back something received from another.
    →I owed him twenty dollars, so I paid him back.
  • own
    own [əʊn] v.
    To own something means to have it. That thing belongs to you.
    →My grandfather owns that house.
p
  • pain
    pain [peɪn] n.
    Pain is the feeling that you have when you are hurt.
    →His head was full of pain.
  • passage
    passage [ˈpasɪdʒ] n.
    A passage is a long area with walls that goes from one place to another.
    →The long passage led us to the other side of the field.
  • passenger
    passenger [ˈpasɪndʒə] n.
    A passenger is a person who rides in a car, train, or airplane.
    →One passenger was standing in the subway train.
  • patient
    patient [ˈpeɪʃ(ə)nt] adj.
    If a person is patient, they don’t become angry or upset easily.
    →I had to be patient and wait until 5 o’clock to leave.
  • pattern
    pattern [ˈpat(ə)n] n.
    A pattern is a way in which something is done or organized.
    →My pattern of brushing my teeth is the same as most people’s.
  • peace
    peace [piːs] n.
    Peace is a time without war.
    →A white dove is a symbol for peace.
  • perform
    perform [pəˈfɔːm] v.
    To perform is to do something in front of people who watch.
    →He will perform a song for the class.
  • perhaps
    perhaps [pəˈhaps] adv.
    Perhaps is used when you say that something could happen.
    →Perhaps I will eat an apple for lunch.
  • period
    period [ˈpɪərɪəd] n.
    A period is an amount of time when something happens.
    →In one period in Europe, there were many knights.
  • personality
    personality [pəːsəˈnalɪti] n.
    Your personality is what you are like and how you behave.
    →John has a bad personality.
  • pet
    pet [pɛt] n.
    A pet is an animal that lives with people.
    →Out of all my pets, the dog is my favorite.
  • physical
    physical [ˈfɪzɪk(ə)l] adj.
    If something is physical, it is related to your body and not your mind.
    →Biking is good for your physical health.
  • planet
    planet [ˈplænət] n.
    A planet is a large round thing in space.
    →Saturn is the planet with the ring around it.
  • plate
    plate [pleɪt] n.
    A plate is a flat round thing that you put food on.
    →I put my plate down so I could put some food on it.
  • pleasant
    pleasant [ˈplɛz(ə)nt] adj.
    If something is pleasant, you enjoy it.
    →The character had a pleasant look on its face.
  • pleased
    pleased [pli:zd] adj.
    When someone is pleased, they are happy.
    →She was pleased with the phone call she received.
  • poem
    poem [ˈpəʊɪm] n.
    A poem is a short kind of writing.
    →William Shakespeare wrote many poems.
  • poet
    poet [ˈpəʊɪt] n.
    A poet is a person who writes poems.
    →William Shakespeare was one of the greatest poets.
  • pole
    pole [pəʊl] n.
    A pole is a long thin stick made of wood or metal that supports things.
    →The flag was hanging from the flag pole.
  • policy
    policy [ˈpɒlɪsi] n.
    A policy is a rule.
    →He told us that his policy was to put customers first.
  • populate
    populate [ˈpɒpjʊleɪt] v.
    If people populate an area, they live there.
    →Billions of people populate the Earth.
  • position
    position [pəˈzɪʃ(ə)n] n.
    A position is the way something is placed.
    →How can you sit in that position?
  • positive
    positive [ˈpɒzɪtɪv] adj.
    If something is positive, it is good.
    →She has a positive future ahead of her after finishing college.
  • pound
    pound [paʊnd] v.
    To pound something is to hit it many times with a lot of force.
    →He pounded the nail with the hammer.
  • predict
    predict [prɪˈdɪkt] v.
    To predict something is to say that it will happen.
    →She predicted that I would get married next year.
  • prefer
    prefer [prɪˈfəː] v.
    If you prefer something, you want it more than something else.
    →I prefer to take the path that will lead me to a bright future.
  • prepare
    prepare [prɪˈpɛə] v.
    To prepare is to get ready for something.
    →I prepared my speech to the class.
  • president
    president [ˈprɛzɪd(ə)nt] n.
    A president is the leader of a country.
    →The president of our country made an important announcement.
  • pressure
    pressure [ˈprɛʃə] n.
    Pressure is what you apply to make someone do something.
    →They put pressure on him to change his mind.
  • prevent
    prevent [prɪˈvɛnt] v.
    To prevent something is to stop it from happening.
    →The handcuffs prevented me from moving my hands.
  • price
    price [prʌɪs] n.
    The price of something is how much it costs.
    →What is the price of this item?
  • primary
    primary [ˈprʌɪm(ə)ri] adj.
    If something is primary, it is the most important thing.
    →His primary thoughts are about money.
  • prince
    prince [prɪns] n.
    A prince is the son of a king.
    →The prince and the princess were married.
  • print
    print [prɪnt] v.
    To print something is to put it onto paper.
    →Make sure that you print your name clearly.
  • prize
    prize [prʌɪz] n.
    A prize is something of value that is given to the winner.
    →I won a prize for getting the best grade on my science test.
  • probable
    probable [ˈprɒbəb(ə)l] adj.
    If something is probable, it is likely to happen.
    →It is probable that you will get a good grade if you study for the test.
  • process
    process [prəˈsɛs] n.
    A process is the steps to take to do something.
    →Making a cake is a long process.
  • produce
    produce [prəˈdjuːs] v.
    To produce something is to make or grow it.
    →This tree produces apples every year.
  • product
    product [ˈprɒdʌkt] n.
    A product is something that is made.
    →My sister has many beauty products in her room.
  • professional
    professional [prəˈfɛʃ(ə)n(ə)l] adj.
    If something is professional, it deals with work that uses special skills.
    →If you want to be a pilot, you must have professional training.
  • professor
    professor [prəˈfɛsə] n.
    A professor is a person who teaches in college.
    →Mike’s science professor knows a lot about physics.
  • profit
    profit [ˈprɒfɪt] n.
    A profit is the extra money you make when you sell something.
    →I made a small profit from selling my old clothes.
  • progress
    progress [prəˈɡrɛs] n.
    Progress is the act of getting closer to doing or finishing something.
    →Our company made financial progress this year.
  • project
    project [ˈprodʒekt] n.
    A project is a type of work that you do for school ora job.
    →His afternoon work project was to paint the room green.
  • promise
    promise [ˈprɒmɪs] v.
    To promise is to say you will do something for sure.
    →He promised to return my key by tomorrow.
  • proper
    proper [ˈprɒpə] adj.
    If something is proper, it is right.
    →It is not proper to throw your garbage on the road.
  • property
    property [ˈprɒpəti] n.
    Property is something that someone owns.
    →The house is now my property.
  • propose
    propose [prəˈpəʊz] v.
    To propose something is to say that it should be done.
    →Santa Claus proposed that I try to be a good boy all year.
  • protect
    protect [prəˈtɛkt] v.
    To protect someone is to stop them from getting hurt.
    →Firemen protect us from fires.
  • proud
    proud [praʊd] adj.
    If someone feels proud, they are happy about what they have done.
    →She is proud of the picture she drew of her house.
  • prove
    prove [pruːv] v.
    To prove something is to show that it is true.
    →My teacher proved the answer on the board.
  • public
    public [ˈpʌblɪk] adj.
    If something is public, it is meant for everyone to use.
    →I went to the public park to play with my friends.
  • publish
    publish [ˈpʌblɪʃ] v.
    To publish a book is to get it printed and ready to sell.
    →That company publishes daily newspapers.
  • puddle
    puddle [ˈpʌd(ə)l] n.
    A puddle is a pool of liquid on the ground.
    →When the ice melted, it formed a puddle.
  • punish
    punish [ˈpʌnɪʃ] v.
    To punish means to make someone suffer for breaking the rules or laws.
    →To punish me, my teacher had me stand in the corner.
  • purchase
    purchase [ˈpəːtʃɪs] v.
    To purchase something is to buy it.
    →I recently purchased a new car.
  • purpose
    purpose [ˈpəːpəs] n.
    A purpose is the reason that you do something.
    →The purpose of exercising is to get into shape.
  • puzzle
    puzzle [ˈpʌz(ə)l] n.
    A puzzle is something that is hard to understand.
    →The question was a puzzle to him.
q
  • quality
    quality [ˈkwɒlɪti] n.
    The quality of something is how good it is.
    →The quality of his car is very good.
  • quite
    quite [kwʌɪt] adv.
    Quite is used to say that something is complete or very much.
    →I think typing on a keyboard is quite easy.
r
  • race
    race [reɪs] n.
    A race is a contest to see who is the fastest.
    →Paul is a fast runner, so he easily won the race.
  • raise
    raise [reɪz] v.
    To raise something is to lift it up.
    →We had to work together to raise the last piece.
  • range
    range [reɪn(d)ʒ] n.
    A range is a number or a set of similar things.
    →I saw a range of cars to choose from.
  • rare
    rare [rɛː] adj.
    If something is rare, you do not see it very often.
    →It is rare for him to miss his flight.
  • rather
    rather [ˈrɑːðə] adv.
    Rather is used when you want to do one thing but not the other.
    →I would rather have the red one than the blue one.
  • reach
    reach [riːtʃ] v.
    To reach means to arrive at a place.
    →I was happy to finally reach my destination.
  • react
    react [rɪˈakt] v.
    To react is to act in a certain way because of something that happened.
    →James reacted badly to the news.
  • real
    real [riːl] adj.
    If something is real, it actually exists.
    →The handbag has a stamp on it, so it’s real.
  • realize
    realize [ˈrɪəlʌɪz] v.
    To realize is to suddenly understand.
    →After I left my house, I realized that I left the light on.
  • receive
    receive [rɪˈsiːv] v.
    To receive something is to get it.
    →I received a present on my birthday.
  • recognize
    recognize [ˈrɛkəɡnʌɪz] v.
    To recognize something is to know it because you have seen it before.
    →I recognized an old friend from many years ago.
  • recommend
    recommend [rɛkəˈmɛnd] v.
    To recommend something is to say that someone should do it.
    →My doctor recommended that I get some exercise.
  • reflect
    reflect [rɪˈflɛkt] v.
    To reflect is when a surface sends back light, heat, sound or an image.
    →Her face was reflected on the smooth glass.
  • refuse
    refuse [rɪˈfjuːz] v.
    To refuse something is to say “no” to it.
    →The dog refused to play with the cat.
  • regard
    regard [rɪˈɡɑːd] v.
    To regard someone or something is to think of them in a certain way.
    →The boy regarded the girl as a good friend.
  • regular
    regular [ˈrɛɡjʊlə] adj.
    If something is regular, it happens often and in equal amounts of time.
    →Our regular lunch time is around noon.
  • relax
    relax [rɪˈlaks] v.
    To relax is to rest.
    →The frog relaxed in the warm sun.
  • release
    release [rɪˈliːs] v.
    To release something is to stop holding it.
    →She released the bird from her hands.
  • remain
    remain [rɪˈmeɪn] v.
    To remain somewhere is to stay there.
    →My sister had to remain home since she was sick.
  • remove
    remove [rɪˈmuːv] v.
    To remove something is to take it away.
    →I removed the nail from the board.
  • reply
    reply [rɪˈplaɪ] v.
    To reply is to give an answer or say back to someone.
    →She asked him what time his meeting was. He replied, “at three.”
  • report
    report [rɪˈpɔrt] n.
    A report is something students write for school.
    →Karen had trouble writing her report.
  • represent
    represent [rɛprɪˈzɛnt] v.
    To represent is to speak or act for a person or group.
    →My lawyer will represent me in court.
  • request
    request [rɪˈkwɛst] v.
    To request something is to ask for it.
    →The little girl requested a special gift from Santa Claus.
  • require
    require [rɪˈkwʌɪə] v.
    To require something is to say that it is necessary.
    →We require teachers to have a university degree.
  • reside
    reside [rɪˈzʌɪd] v.
    To reside means to live somewhere permanently or for a long time.
    →My brother and his family reside in a lovely house on the beach.
  • respect
    respect [rɪˈspɛkt] n.
    Respect is a good opinion of someone because they are good.
    →I have great respect for firemen.
  • respond
    respond [rɪˈspɒnd] v.
    To respond is to give an answer to what someone else said.
    →When the teacher asked the question, we all responded.
  • response
    response [rɪˈspɒns] n.
    A response is the answer to a question.
    →He asked if I was sad. My response was “No.”
  • responsible
    responsible [rɪˈspɒnsɪb(ə)l] adj.
    If a person is responsible, they do the right things.
    →I try to be responsible and save money.
  • rest
    rest [rɛst] v.
    To rest is to stop being active while the body gets back its strength.
    →I rested on the couch after work.
  • result
    result [rɪˈzʌlt] n.
    A result is something that happens because of something else.
    →Asa result of all the rain, the man had to climb on the roof.
  • return
    return [rɪˈtəːn] v.
    To return is to go back to a place.
    →I was happy to return home to my mom after school.
  • reward
    reward [rɪˈwɔːd] n.
    A reward is something given in exchange for good behavior or work.
    →He was given a reward for his excellent performance.
  • rich
    rich [rɪtʃ] adj.
    Ifyou are rich, you have a lot of money.
    →He’s rich. He can buy anything he wants.
  • ride
    ride [rʌɪd] v.
    To ride something is to travel on it. You can ride an animal, a bike, etc.
    →I will ride a roller-coaster for the first time today.
  • risk
    risk [rɪsk] n.
    A risk is a chance of something bad happening.
    →I took a risk and climbed the snowy mountain.
  • rock
    rock [rɒk] n.
    A rock is a hard thing in the dirt.
    →I stacked rocks on top of one another.
  • roll
    roll [rəʊl] v.
    To roll is to move by turning over and over.
    →You must roll the ball into the pins when you bowl.
  • rush
    rush [rʌʃ] v.
    To rush is to go somewhere or do something very quickly.
    →Nancy rushed to finish her homework.
s
  • safe
    safe [seɪf] adj.
    When a person is safe, they are not in danger.
    →Put on your seat belt in the car to be safe.
  • safety
    safety [ˈseɪfti] n.
    Safety means to be the condition of being safe and free from danger.
    →For his own safety, he was placed in a car seat.
  • sail
    sail [seɪl] v.
    To sail is to move a boat on the water.
    →I love to sail my boat on the lake.
  • save
    save [seɪv] v.
    To save something is to keep it from being hurt.
    →I want to help save the world.
  • scan
    scan [skan] v.
    To scan something is to look at it very carefully.
    →You must scan each person closely.
  • scare
    scare [skɛər] v.
    To scare someone is to make them feel afraid.
    →My uncle was scared by what he saw in the room.
  • scene
    scene [siːn] n.
    A scene is one part of a book or movie.
    →A movie is made up of many short pieces or scenes.
  • schedule
    schedule [ˈʃɛdjuːl] n.
    A schedule is a plan that tells you when to do things.
    →What is your class schedule for today?
  • season
    season [ˈsiːz(ə)n] n.
    A season is a time of the year: spring, summer, fall or winter.
    →Fall is a warm season, while winter is very cold.
  • secret
    secret [ˈsiːkrɪt] n.
    A secret is something that you do not tell other people.
    →The two boys were sharing a secret.
  • section
    section [ˈsɛkʃ(ə)n] n.
    A section is a part of something larger.
    →The green section of the graph is the most important part.
  • select
    select [sɪˈlɛkt] v.
    To select something is to choose it.
    →I hope that I selected the right answers on the test.
  • sense
    sense [sɛns] v.
    To sense something is to know about it without being told.
    →I could sense that he was watching me.
  • separate
    separate [ˈsepəreit] v.
    If two things are separate, they are not together.
    →New York and Los Angeles are in two separate parts of America.
  • serious
    serious [ˈsɪərɪəs] adj.
    When something is serious, it is bad or unsafe.
    →The accident was very serious.
  • serve
    serve [səːv] v.
    To serve someone is to give them food or drinks.
    →He served us our drinks quickly.
  • set
    set [sɛt] v.
    To set something is to put it somewhere.
    →Please set the dice down on the table.
  • several
    several [ˈsɛvərəl] adj.
    Several is more than two but not many.
    →He had to read several books for class.
  • shake
    shake [ʃeɪk] v.
    To shake is to move back and forth or up and down quickly.
    →When people shake hands, it usually means they agree.
  • shape
    shape [ʃeɪp] n.
    A shape is a simple form like a square or circle.
    →The triangle is my favorite shape.
  • share
    share [ʃɛː] v.
    To share something is to give some of it to another person.
    →Jimmy shared his apple with me.
  • sheet
    sheet [ʃiːt] n.
    A sheet is a thin flat piece of paper.
    →I only needed a single sheet of paper to do my homework.
  • shoot
    shoot [ʃuːt] v.
    To shoot is to fire something like a bullet at someone or something.
    →The hunter raised his gun to shoot at the target.
  • shout
    shout [ʃaʊt] v.
    To shout is to say something loudly.
    →My boss shouted at me because I was late for work.
  • sight
    sight [sʌɪt] n.
    A sight is something interesting to see.
    →I saw the pyramids of Egypt. What a sight!
  • sign
    sign [sʌɪn] n.
    A sign is a notice giving information, directions, a warning, etc.
    →The sign indicated that today would be a bad day.
  • silly
    silly [ˈsɪli] adj.
    If someone or something is silly, they show a lack of thought.
    →I made a silly mistake of dropping mom’s vase.
  • since
    since [sɪns] prep.
    Since is used to talk about a past event still happening now.
    →Since 1992, he has been driving that car.
  • single
    single [ˈsɪŋɡ(ə)l] adj.
    If something is single, then there is only one.
    →I have a single key in my hand.
  • site
    site [saɪt] n.
    A site is a place.
    →We found the perfect site for our picnic.
  • situated
    situated [ˈsɪtʃʊeɪtid] adj.
    If something is situated somewhere, it is in that place.
    →The white board is situated between the two men.
  • skill
    skill [skɪl] n.
    A skill is the knowledge and ability that allows you to do something well.
    →A snowboarder must have the right skills to do well.
  • smell
    smell [smel] v.
    To smell something means to use your nose to sense it.
    →The two friends smelled the flower.
  • social
    social [ˈsəʊʃ(ə)l] adj.
    If something is social, it is about many people in a community.
    →People should come together and fix the world’s social problems.
  • society
    society [səˈsʌɪɪti] n.
    Society is people and the way that they live.
    →Society expects people to be good and honest.
  • solution
    solution [səˈluːʃ(ə)n] n.
    A solution is a way to solve a problem.
    →There are many problems. We need solutions!
  • solve
    solve [sɒlv] v.
    To solve something is to find an answer to it.
    →All the students could easily solve the math problem.
  • somehow
    somehow [ˈsʌmhaʊ] adv.
    Somehow means in a way or by some means which is not known.
    →He somehow had to find a way to reach the life preserver.
  • sound
    sound [saʊnd] v.
    To sound means to make a noise.
    →The alarm clock sounded and woke us all up.
  • space
    space [speɪs] n.
    A space is an empty area.
    →I don’t have much space for things in my small house.
  • specific
    specific [spəˈsɪfɪk] adj.
    If something is specific, it is precise or exact.
    →Please choose a specific place on the map.
  • speech
    speech [spiːtʃ] n.
    A speech is something said to a group of people.
    →She gave a speech to the class.
  • spend
    spend [spɛnd] v.
    To spend is to use time doing something or being somewhere.
    →I like to spend my free time fishing.
  • spot
    spot [spɒt] n.
    A spot is a place where something happens.
    →The kitchen is a good spot to eat meals.
  • spread
    spread [sprɛd] v.
    To spread is to move quickly to more places.
    →I like to spread butter on my toast.
  • staff
    staff [stɑːf] n.
    A staff is a group of people working together in a company.
    →My dad has a staff of four people to help him at the office.
  • stage
    stage [steɪdʒ] n.
    A stage is a place where actors or musicians act or sing.
    →A large screen was on the stage.
  • stair
    stair [stɛː] n.
    Stairs are the things that are used to go up in a building.
    →You can take the stairs to the second floor.
  • standard
    standard [ˈstandəd] n.
    A standard is what people consider normal or good.
    →This older model TV is below our store’s standards.
  • steal
    steal [stiːl] v.
    To steal is to take something that is not yours.
    →The men tried to steal money from the bank.
  • step
    step [stɛp] v.
    To step is to walk.
    →Be careful where you step.
  • still
    still [stɪl] adv.
    Still is used when you say that a situation keeps going on.
    →They are still waiting in line to get tickets.
  • store
    store [stɔː] n.
    A store is a place where you can buy things.
    →I picked up a few things at the grocery store.
  • storm
    storm [stɔːm] n.
    A storm is very bad weather. There is a lot of rain or snow.
    →Did that storm wake you up last night?
  • strange
    strange [streɪn(d)ʒ] adj.
    When something is strange, it is not normal.
    →Joe had a strange look on his face after he saw what happened.
  • strength
    strength [strɛŋkθ] n.
    Strength is the physical power that you have.
    →Exercising will increase your strength and give you more power.
  • strike
    strike [strʌɪk] v.
    To strike someone or something is to hit them.
    →She struck the other girl in the face.
  • stroll
    stroll [strəʊl] v.
    To stroll means to walk slowly and calmly.
    →My dog and I strolled through the park today.
  • structure
    structure [ˈstrʌktʃə] n.
    A structure is a building.
    →They just built a beautiful new structure downtown.
  • success
    success [səkˈsɛs] n.
    Success is doing something well that you choose to do.
    →My daughter was a big success at school.
  • sudden
    sudden [ˈsʌd(ə)n] adj.
    When something is sudden, it happens very quickly.
    →He felt a sudden pain in his chest.
  • suddenly
    suddenly [ˈsʌd(ə)nli] adv.
    If something happens suddenly, it happens quickly and unexpectedly.
    →I was suddenly surprised by the cake my friends brought me.
  • suffer
    suffer [ˈsʌfə] v.
    To suffer is to feel pain.
    →Her headache made her suffer all day.
  • suggest
    suggest [səˈdʒɛst] v.
    To suggest something means to give an idea or plan about it.
    →He suggested that we go to see his boss.
  • support
    support [səˈpɔːt] v.
    To support something is to like it and help it be successful.
    →Everyone at work supports the new plan.
  • suppose
    suppose [səˈpəʊz] v.
    To suppose is to guess.
    →I suppose I should go home now.
  • surface
    surface [ˈsəːfɪs] n.
    The surface of something is the top part or outside of it.
    →The surface of the moon is very rough.
  • survive
    survive [səˈvʌɪv] v.
    To survive is to stay alive.
    →My dog survived her fall into the water.
  • swim
    swim [swɪm] v.
    To swim is to move through water.
    →I love to swim in the ocean.
  • symbol
    symbol [ˈsɪmbəl] n.
    A symbol is a thing that stands for something else.
    →This symbol tells us that we cannot smoke in this area.
t
  • tail
    tail [teɪl] n.
    A tail is a part of an animal’s body, sticking out from its rear or back.
    →Our dog wags its tail when it’s happy.
  • task
    task [tɑːsk] n.
    A task is work that someone has to do.
    →Who has the task of building the brick wall?
  • taste
    taste [teɪst] n.
    A taste is the flavor something makes in your mouth.
    →The taste of the fruit was sweet.
  • tear
    tear [tɪə] v.
    To tear something means to pull it apart.
    →It is easy to tear paper.
  • technology
    technology [tɛkˈnɒlədʒi] n.
    Technology is new things made by using science.
    →He loves technology such as laptop computers.
  • term
    term [təːm] n.
    A term is a word for something.
    →I often use the term “oops” when I make a mistake.
  • terrible
    terrible [ˈtɛrəbəl] adj.
    If something is terrible, it is very bad.
    →The way he treated his classmate was terrible.
  • theater
    theater [ˈθɪətə] n.
    A theater is a building where you watch plays, shows, and movies.
    →We went to the theater to see a play.
  • theory
    theory [ˈθɪəri] n.
    A theory is an idea about how something works.
    →We talked about Einstein’s theory of relativity in class.
  • therefore
    therefore [ˈðɛːfɔː] adv.
    Therefore means for this reason.
    →He is fat. Therefore, he will go on a diet.
  • thief
    thief [θiːf] n.
    A thief is someone who quietly takes things that do not belong to them.
    →A thief broke into our home and took my mother's jewelry.
  • thin
    thin [θɪn] adj.
    If someone or something is thin, they are not fat.
    →The man was thin because he didn’t eat much.
  • though
    though [ðəʊ] conj.
    Though is used when the second idea makes the first seem surprising.
    →Though he was overweight, he liked to be active.
  • throw
    throw [θrəʊ] v.
    To throw something is to use your hand to make it go through the air.
    →The pitcher can throw the baseball very fast.
  • tip
    tip [tɪp] n.
    A tip is a pointed end of something.
    →The tip of his pen was very sharp.
  • tool
    tool [tuːl] n.
    A tool is something that helps you do a task.
    →We used a tool to fix the window.
  • tour
    tour [tʊə] n.
    A tour is a short trip in which you see many sights.
    →I took a tour of Asia and Europe.
  • toward
    toward [təˈwɔːd] prep.
    If you go toward something, you go closer to it.
    →Santa walked toward my house with a special tree.
  • tradition
    tradition [trəˈdɪʃ(ə)n] n.
    A tradition is something people have been doing for a long time.
    →Marriage is a tradition all over the world.
  • trash
    trash [traʃ] n.
    Trash is waste material or unwanted or worthless things.
    →Please take out the trash; it smells bad.
  • treat
    treat [triːt] v.
    To treat is to act in a certain way toward someone.
    →The cats treated the mouse very nicely.
  • trick
    trick [trɪk] n.
    A trick is something you do to fool another person.
    →His card trick really surprised us.
  • trip
    trip [trɪp] n.
    A trip is a journey to a certain place.
    →Ken took a trip to the city yesterday.
  • trouble
    trouble [ˈtrʌbəl] n.
    Trouble is a problem ora difficulty.
    →I have trouble working with my boss.
  • truth
    truth [truːθ] n.
    The truth is a fact or something that is right.
    →He was telling the truth about seeing a large green snake.
u
  • unite
    unite [juːˈnʌɪt] v.
    To unite is to get together to do something.
    →If we unite, we can finish our project faster.
  • universe
    universe [ˈjuːnɪvəːs] n.
    The universe is the known or supposed objects in space.
    →The universe is so large that it cannot be measured.
  • upset
    upset [ʌpsɛt] adj.
    To be upset is to be unhappy about something.
    →She was upset because she broke her toy.
v
  • value
    value [ˈvaljuː] n.
    If something has value, it is worth a lot of money.
    →Matthew found a treasure of very high value.
  • various
    various [ˈvɛːrɪəs] adj.
    If something is various, there are many types of it.
    →She owned shoes of various styles.
  • vegetable
    vegetable [ˈvɛdʒtəb(ə)l] n.
    A vegetable is a plant used as food.
    →Carrots are my favorite vegetable.
  • view
    view [vjuː] v.
    To view is to look at something.
    →Michael likes to view himself in the mirror.
  • village
    village [ˈvɪlɪdʒ] n.
    A village is a very small town.
    →There are only a few houses in my village.
  • visible
    visible [ˈvɪzɪb(ə)l] adj.
    If something is visible, it can be seen.
    →The moon and stars were visible in the night sky.
  • voice
    voice [vɔɪs] n.
    A voice is the sound a person makes when they talk or sing.
    →He used a microphone, so everyone could hear his voice.
  • vote
    vote [vəʊt] v.
    To vote is to officially choose between two or more things.
    →I voted for Billy to be our class president.
w
  • wake
    wake [weɪk] v.
    To wake is to not be sleeping anymore.
    →He is always full of energy when he wakes in the morning.
  • war
    war [wɔː] n.
    A war is a big fight between two groups of people.
    →Many young men died in the war.
  • waste
    waste [weɪst] v.
    To waste means to carelessly use something all up.
    →Turn off the water so you don’t waste it.
  • wave
    wave [weɪv] n.
    A wave is a line of water that moves higher than the rest of the water.
    →The water was filled with large blue waves.
  • wealth
    wealth [wɛlθ] n.
    Wealth is a large amount of money.
    →One of the most important things to some people is wealth.
  • weather
    weather [ˈwɛðə:r] n.
    The weather is the condition of the air: hot, rainy, windy, etc.
    →The weather can be sunny, rainy, or cold.
  • web
    web [wɛb] n.
    →Mom cleaned the spider webs out of the garage.
  • well
    well [wɛl] adv.
    You use well to say that something was done in a good way.
    →The couple can dance quite well.
  • whether
    whether [ˈwɛðə] conj.
    You use whether when you must choose between two things.
    →I could not decide whether to go left or right.
  • whole
    whole [həʊl] adj.
    Whole means all of something.
    →I ate the whole pie. We don’t have any more.
  • wide
    wide [wʌɪd] adj.
    If something is wide, it is large from side to side.
    →The door was as wide as my arms.
  • wild
    wild [wʌɪld] adj.
    If something is wild, it is found in nature.
    →You should be careful around a fox, because it is a wild animal.
  • wise
    wise [wʌɪz] adj.
    To be wise is to use experience and intelligence to make good choices.
    →Many people believe that owls are very wise animals.
  • within
    within [wɪðˈɪn] prep.
    You use within to say that something is inside another thing.
    →Within the box, there was a pizza.
  • wonder
    wonder [ˈwʌndə] v.
    To wonder is to ask yourself questions or have a need to know.
    →The young mother wondered if she’d have a boy or a girl.
  • wood
    wood [wʊd] n.
    Wood is the thing that trees are made of.
    →I put the pieces of wood in a pile.
  • worse
    worse [wɜrs] adj.
    If something is worse, it is of poorer quality than another thing.
    →Business was worse this month than last month.
  • worth
    worth [wəːθ] adj.
    If something is worth an amount of money, it costs that amount.
    →Our house is worth a lot of money.
y
  • yet
    yet [jɛt] adv.
    Yet is used to say something has not happened up to now.
    →We can’t go out yet; we’re still eating.
Answer Key
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4000 Essential English Words 4

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4000 Essential English Words 5

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