4000 Essential English Words 2 » Index

a
  • ability
    ability [əˈbiləti] n.
    Ability is the quality of a person being able to do something well.
    →His swimming abilities let him cross the entire lake.
  • abroad
    abroad [əˈbrɔːd] adv.
    If someone goes or travels abroad, they go to another country.
    →My brother wants to go abroad next year.
  • absorb
    absorb [əbˈzɔːrb] v.
    To absorb a liquid means to take it inside.
    →He used a sponge to absorb the water on the floor.
  • abstract
    abstract [ˈæbstrækt] adj.
    If ideas are abstract, they are based on general ways of thinking.
    →The idea of beauty is abstract and changes over time.
  • abuse
    abuse [əˈbjuːz] v.
    To abuse someone or something means to hurt them on purpose.
    →The mean man abused his dog when it barked too loudly.
  • accompany
    accompany [əˈkʌmpənɪ] v.
    To accompany other people means to join them or go with them.
    →My brothers accompanied me to the movie.
  • accomplish
    accomplish [əˈkʌmplɪʃ] v.
    To accomplish something means to finish it.
    →He accomplished his goal of running ten miles.
  • accuse
    accuse [əˈkjuːz] v.
    To accuse someone of something is to blame them for doing it.
    →She accused her brother of breaking her computer.
  • adjust
    adjust [əˈdʒʌst] v.
    To adjust something means to change it so it is better.
    →He adjusted the old guitar to make it sound better.
  • admire
    admire [ədˈmaɪə:r] v.
    To admire someone is to like them for what they do.
    →I admire my brother for his hard work.
  • admission
    admission [ədˈmɪʃən] n.
    Admission is the act of allowing to enter a place.
    →The admission ticket to the movie was $5.
  • admit
    admit [ədˈmɪt] v.
    To admit something means to say that it is true.
    →I had to admit that I stole his idea.
  • adopt
    adopt [əˈdɒpt] v.
    To adopt someone is to make them as a part of one’s own family.
    →The girl was adopted by the couple when she was three.
  • afford
    afford [əˈfɔːrd] v.
    To afford something means you have enough money to pay for it.
    →I’ve been saving my money, so I can afford to buy a new bike.
  • agriculture
    agriculture [ˈægrɪkʌltʃər] n.
    Agriculture is the growing of food and animals.
    →The farmer studied agriculture in college.
  • aid
    aid [eɪd] v.
    To aid someone is to help them when they need something.
    →The doctor aided the boy after his accident.
  • aim
    aim [eim] n.
    An aim is a goal someone wants to make happen.
    →My aim is to become a helicopter pilot.
  • alarm
    alarm [əˈlɑːrm] n.
    An alarm is something that warns people of danger.
    →When the students heard the fire alarm, they left the building.
  • alike
    alike [əˈlaɪk] adj.
    If two things or people are alike, they are similar in some way.
    →People often think my sister and I look alike.
  • amuse
    amuse [əˈmjuːz] v.
    To amuse someone means to do something that is funny or entertaining.
    →The singer was very good. She amused the crowd.
  • ancestor
    ancestor [ˈænsɛstə] n.
    An ancestor is a family member from the past.
    →My ancestors came from Germany.
  • anger
    anger [ˈæŋgər] v.
    To anger someone is to make them mad.
    →It angers me when people are rude.
  • angle
    angle [æŋgl] n.
    An angle is the direction from which you look at something.
    →The giraffe turned its head to see from another angle.
  • annoy
    annoy [əˈnɔɪ] v.
    To annoy someone means to bother them.
    →The flies buzzing around John’s head annoyed him very much.
  • annual
    annual [ˈænjʊəl] adj.
    If something is annual, it happens once a year.
    →The only time I see my aunts and uncles is at our annual family picnic.
  • anxiety
    anxiety [æŋˈzaɪətɪ] n.
    When someone has anxiety, they have a lot of worries and fear.
    →When I have to climb to high places, I’m filled with anxiety.
  • anxious
    anxious [ˈӕŋkʃəs] adj.
    When a person is anxious, they worry that something bad will happen.
    →She was anxious about not making her appointment on time.
  • apart
    apart [əˈpɑːrt] adv.
    When people or things are apart, they are not close together.
    →The couple decided to live apart from each other.
  • apology
    apology [əˈpɒlədʒɪ] n.
    An apology is something someone says to show that they are sorry.
    →After arguing with her teacher, the girl wrote the teacher an apology.
  • apparent
    apparent [əˈpærənt] adj.
    If something is apparent, it is easy to see.
    →Her happiness was apparent from the smile on her face.
  • appeal
    appeal [əˈpiːl] v.
    To appeal to someone is to be interesting or attractive to them.
    →Sleeping all day appeals to me, but I have to go to school.
  • approve
    approve [əˈpruːv] v.
    To approve of something means you like it or are happy about it.
    →Her co-workers approved her new plan.
  • approximate
    approximate [əˈprɒksəmɪt] adj.
    Approximate means to be close to an exact amount, number or time.
    →My approximate height is two meters.
  • architecture
    architecture [ˈɑːrkətektʃər] n.
    Architecture is the style or way a building is made.
    →The architecture of the church is amazing.
  • army
    army [ˈɑːrmɪ] n.
    An army is a large group of people who fight in wars.
    →The army protects all the people in the country.
  • arrest
    arrest [əˈrest] v.
    To arrest someone means to catch them for doing something bad.
    →The man was arrested for breaking the law.
  • arrow
    arrow [ˈærəʊ] n.
    An arrow is a thin, straight stick shot from a bow.
    →The arrow flew through the air and hit the target.
  • artificial
    artificial [ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl] adj.
    If something is artificial, it is made to look like something natural.
    →That soccer field has artificial grass, but it looks real.
  • assume
    assume [əˈsjuːm] v.
    To assume something is to think that it is true, even with no proof.
    →I assume you are both familiar with this plan.
  • astronaut
    astronaut [ˈæstrənɔːt] n.
    An astronaut is a person that goes into outer space.
    →The astronaut was walking on the moon.
  • astronomy
    astronomy [əsˈtrɒnəmɪ] n.
    Astronomy is the study of the stars and planets.
    →Harold loved watching the stars, so he decided to study astronomy.
  • attach
    attach [əˈtætʃ] v.
    To attach is to put two things together.
    →I attached the socks to the clothesline to dry.
  • attempt
    attempt [əˈtempt] v.
    To attempt something is to try to do that thing.
    →I am attempting to learn English.
  • authority
    authority [əˈθɒːrətɪ] n.
    Authority is the power that someone has because of their position.
    →The policeman has authority on the streets.
  • awake
    awake [əˈweɪk] adj.
    When you are awake, you are not asleep.
    →Sometimes I lay awake in bed because I am not tired.
  • award
    award [əˈwɔːrd] n.
    An award is a prize someone gets for doing something well.
    →He got an award for having the best grades in class.
  • awful
    awful [ˈɔːfəl] adj.
    When something is awful, it is very bad.
    →Her performance last night was awful.
b
  • bake
    bake [beɪk] v.
    To bake means to cook food with heat.
    →My sister is a good cook. She bakes delicious cakes.
  • bare
    bare [bɛər] adj.
    When something is bare, it is plain. It has no covering.
    →He likes to walk around in his bare feet.
  • barrier
    barrier [ˈbærɪər] n.
    A barrier is something that is in your way.
    →The Great Wall was a barrier between China and its enemies.
  • basis
    basis [ˈbeɪsɪs] n.
    To do something on time’s basis is how often you do it.
    →My grandfather gets his hearing checked on a yearly basis.
  • bath
    bath [bæθ] n.
    A bath is water in a tub. People take a bath to get clean.
    →After playing in the dirt, the boy took a bath.
  • battle
    battle [ˈbætl] n.
    A battle is a fight between two armies during a war.
    →The battle lasted for many days.
  • bean
    bean [bi:n] n.
    A bean is a plant seed that is good to eat.
    →There are many different kinds of beans to eat.
  • beg
    beg [beg] v.
    To beg is to ask for something one really wants.
    →The man begged for some money.
  • bend
    bend [bend] v.
    To bend is to move something so it is not straight.
    →Lee bent over and picked up the paper on the ground.
  • bet
    bet [bet] v.
    To bet is to risk money on the result of a game or a business.
    →How much will you bet that your horse will win?
  • beyond
    beyond [bɪˈjɒnd] prep.
    If A is beyond B, A is farther away.
    →John’s house is beyond that lake.
  • billion
    billion [ˈbɪljən] n.
    A billion is a very large number: 1,000,000,000.
    →There are billions of stars in outer space.
  • bin
    bin [bin] n.
    A bin is a container that holds things.
    →He put his trash in the bin.
  • biology
    biology [baɪˈɒlədʒɪ] n.
    Biology is the study of living things.
    →We learned about the human heart in biology class.
  • blame
    blame [bleɪm] v.
    To blame someone for something bad is to say they did it.
    →My mom blamed me for something I didn’t do.
  • blind
    blind [blaɪnd] adj.
    When people are blind, they cannot see.
    →The blind man didn’t see the hole and almost fell in.
  • bold
    bold [bould] adj.
    If someone is bold, they are not afraid of doing something.
    →The bold man climbed the high mountain.
  • boot
    boot [buːt] n.
    A boot is a heavy shoe that goes over your ankle.
    →He wore boots so that his feet wouldn’t get wet.
  • border
    border [ˈbɔːrdər] n.
    A border is the edge of an area.
    →The postcard had a pretty green border of pine needles.
  • borrow
    borrow [ˈbɔ(:)roʊ] v.
    To borrow something is to take it and then give it back later.
    →Can I borrow a pencil to use today? I’ll give it back to you tomorrow.
  • boss
    boss [bɔ(:)s] n.
    A boss is a person in charge of other people at work.
    →My boss is a nice person.
  • bow
    bow [bəʊ] n.
    A bow is a weapon made of curved wood and string that shoots arrows.
    →He went hunting with a bow and arrow.
  • bowl
    bowl [boul] n.
    A bowl is a deep, round dish that holds food or liquid.
    →I ate a bowl of cereal for breakfast.
  • branch
    branch [bræntʃ] n.
    A branch is the part of a tree with leaves.
    →The monkey was hanging from a branch on the tree.
  • brave
    brave [breɪv] adj.
    When people are brave, they are not afraid to face pain or danger.
    →The brave firefighter saved the girl from the burning building.
  • breath
    breath [breθ] n.
    A breath is the air that goes into and out of one’s lungs.
    →You can’t take a breath under water.
  • breed
    breed [briːd] n.
    A breed is a group of animals within a species.
    →I like small dog breeds, such as terriers.
  • bride
    bride [braɪd] n.
    A bride is a woman who is getting married or has just gotten married.
    →The bride looked beautiful in her wedding dress.
  • bridge
    bridge [brɪdʒ] n.
    A bridge is something that is built over a river so people can cross it.
    →The old bridge fell into the river.
  • brief
    brief [briːf] adj.
    If something is brief, it only lasts fora short time.
    →The meeting this afternoon was very brief.
  • bring
    bring [brɪŋ] v.
    To bring means to take someone or something to a person or place.
    →Oscar will bring in all the boxes.
  • broad
    broad [brɔːd] adj.
    If something is broad, it is wide.
    →The river is very long and broad.
  • bucket
    bucket [ˈbʌkɪt] n.
    A bucket is a round containerto put things in.
    →I filled the bucket with water.
  • bush
    bush [bʊʃ] n.
    A bush is a plant with many thin branches. It is smaller than a tree.
    →My dad and I planted some small bushes around the house.
c
  • cabin
    cabin [ˈkæbɪn] n.
    A cabin is a small house made of wood.
    →My grandfather owns a small cabin in the country.
  • cage
    cage [keɪdʒ] n.
    A cage is something that holds an animal so it cannot leave.
    →We put the parrots in their cage at night.
  • calculate
    calculate [ˈkælkjəleɪt] v.
    To calculate is to find an answer using math.
    →I calculated how much money I would need to buy the car.
  • candle
    candle [ˈkændl] n.
    A candle is a stick of wax that is lit on fire for light or heat.
    →When the lights went out, we lit some candles.
  • capable
    capable [ˈkeɪpəbəl] adj.
    If someone or something is capable of something, they can do it.
    →The Olympic athlete is capable of lifting a lot of weight.
  • capital
    capital [ˈkæpɪtl] n.
    A capital is an important city where a country’s leaders live and work.
    → We will visit the capital to learn about our government.
  • capture
    capture [ˈkæptʃər] v.
    To capture someone or something is to catch them.
    →James tried to capture the bubbles in his hands.
  • cardinal
    cardinal [ˈkɑːrdənl] adj.
    If a rule or quality is cardinal, then it is the most important one.
    →Raising your hand in the classroom before you speak is a cardinal rule.
  • carriage
    carriage [ˈkærɪdʒ] n.
    A carriage is a vehicle pulled by a horse.
    →We took a carriage ride in the park.
  • cartoon
    cartoon [kɑːrˈtuːn] n.
    A cartoon is a funny drawing.
    →Sometimes, people draw cartoons for the newspaper.
  • carve
    carve [kɑːrv] v.
    To carve means to cut into something.
    →My father usually carves the turkey for Thanksgiving.
  • cash
    cash [kæʃ] n.
    Cash is money in the form of paper or coins.
    →I was able to save up enough cash to buy my mother a gift.
  • cast
    cast [kæst] v.
    To cast something means to throw it.
    →The fisherman cast his line into the water.
  • castle
    castle [ˈkæːsl] n.
    A castle is a building with strong walls where royalty usually lives.
    →The castle was built many years ago.
  • ceiling
    ceiling [ˈsiːlɪŋ] n.
    The ceiling is the top of a room.
    →He painted the ceiling with a special roller.
  • chain
    chain [tʃeɪn] n.
    A chain is a series of connected loops often used to keep things in place.
    →The scary dog was secured with a chain.
  • chamber
    chamber [ˈtʃeɪmbər] n.
    A chamber is an old word for a bedroom.
    →The girl was tired. She went to her chamber fora nap.
  • chase
    chase [tʃeɪs] v.
    To chase someone or something is to follow them in order to catch them.
    →I was chased by an angry native.
  • chat
    chat [tʃæt] v.
    To chat is to talk with someone.
    →Even though they were far apart, the couple chatted every day.
  • cheat
    cheat [tʃiːt] v.
    To cheat is to be dishonest so that you can win or do well.
    →They cheated on the test by sharing answers.
  • chemistry
    chemistry [ˈkemɪstrɪ] n.
    Chemistry the study of and reaction to substances.
    →In chemistry class, the professor taught us about chemical reactions.
  • chest
    chest [tʃest] n.
    The chest is the front part of a person’s body under the neck.
    →The water in the lake was as high as my chest.
  • chew
    chew [tʃuː] v.
    To chew is to move your mouth to break up food.
    →I always chew my food carefully before swallowing it.
  • chief
    chief [tʃiːf] n.
    A chief is the leader of a group of people.
    →The chief led the people through the mountains.
  • citizen
    citizen [ˈsɪtəzən] n.
    A citizen is someone who lives in a certain town or city.
    →Carlos was born in Spain. He is a Spanish citizen.
  • classic
    classic [ˈklæsɪk] adj.
    If something is classic, it is typical.
    →The athlete made a classic mistake-he started running too soon.
  • clay
    clay [kleɪ] n.
    Clay is a type of heavy, wet soil used to make pots.
    →She made a bowl out of the clay.
  • client
    client [ˈklaɪənt] n.
    A client is a person or business that pays another to do a service.
    →She has many clients who enjoy coming to her salon.
  • cloth
    cloth [klɔ(:)θ] n.
    Cloth is material used to make clothes.
    →His shirt is made of a very soft type of cloth.
  • colleague
    colleague [ˈkɒliːg] n.
    A colleague is somebody you work with.
    →My colleague helped me finish the job.
  • colony
    colony [ˈkɒlənɪ] n.
    A colony is a country controlled by another country.
    →The USA was at one time a colony of Great Britain.
  • command
    command [kəˈmænd] v.
    To command someone is to tell them to do something.
    →The general commanded his army to attack.
  • commit
    commit [kəˈmɪt] v.
    To commit to something is to promise to do it.
    →Seth wanted to go home, but he had committed to finishing the job.
  • committee
    committee [kəˈmɪtɪ] n.
    A committee is a group of people who meet together to make decisions.
    →The school’s committee agreed on a new dress code for students.
  • commute
    commute [kəˈmjuːt] v.
    To commute is to travel a long distance to get to work.
    →I usually commute to work on the train.
  • compose
    compose [kəmˈpəʊz] v.
    To compose something is to make it from smaller parts.
    →Tonya composed her report using many sources of information.
  • concentrate
    concentrate [ˈkɒnsəntreɪt] v.
    To concentrate on someone or something is to give your full attention.
    →I could not concentrate on my homework because the room was so loud.
  • conclude
    conclude [kənˈkluːd] v.
    To conclude is to arrive at a logical end by looking at evidence.
    →I saw crumbs on my dog’s face, so I concluded that he ate my cookie.
  • confidence
    confidence [ˈkɒnfɪdəns] n.
    If you have confidence about something, you are sure of it.
    →I have confidence that I did well on the test.
  • confident
    confident [ˈkɒnfɪdənt] adj.
    Confident means that one believes they can do something without failing.
    →She was confident she could climb the mountain due to her training.
  • confirm
    confirm [kənˈfəːrm] v.
    To confirm is to make sure something is correct.
    →Winning the game confirmed that James was a good player.
  • congratulate
    congratulate [kənˈgrætʃəleɪt] v.
    To congratulate someone is to tell them that you are happy for them.
    →Bill and Angela congratulated each other on a job well done.
  • consequence
    consequence [ˈkɒnsɪkwəns] n.
    A consequence is a result of a choice or action.
    →Asa consequence of missing my bus, I had to find another way to work.
  • considerable
    considerable [kənˈsɪdərəbl] adj.
    If something is considerable, it is large in size, amount or extent.
    →They paid a considerable amount of money for that car.
  • consist
    consist [kənˈsɪst] v.
    To consist of is to be made of parts or things.
    →Today’s choices for lunch consisted of pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs.
  • consult
    consult [kənˈsʌlt] v.
    To consult someone means to ask them for help.
    →I will consult my accountant to find a way to pay for my bills.
  • contest
    contest [ˈkɒntest] n.
    A contest is a game or a race.
    →The girls had a contest to see who could jump higher.
  • contract
    contract [ˈkɒntrækt] n.
    A contract is a written agreement between two people.
    →The woman signed a contract when she bought the house.
  • convert
    convert [kənˈvəːrt] v.
    To convert something means to change it into something else.
    →The man converted his messy field into a garden of flowers.
  • convey
    convey [kənˈveɪ] v.
    To convey is to communicate or make ideas known.
    →That picture of a crying child conveys a feeling of sadness.
  • convict
    convict [kənˈvikt] v.
    To convict someone means to prove that they did a bad thing.
    →He was convicted of the crime and sent to jail.
  • convince
    convince [kənˈvɪns] v.
    To convince someone means to make them sure of something.
    →She convinced me to buy the house.
  • cooperate
    cooperate [koʊˈɒpəreɪt] v.
    To cooperate is to work together to do something.
    →The students cooperated to clean up the classroom.
  • coral
    coral [ˈkɒ:rəl] n.
    Coral is the hard, colorful material formed by the shells of animals.
    →The diver admired the beautiful coral under the water.
  • costume
    costume [ˈkɒstjuːm] n.
    A costume is a set of clothes people wear for a particular occasion.
    →The woman wore a mask with her costume.
  • cotton
    cotton [ˈkɒtn] n.
    Cotton is a cloth made from the fibers of the cotton plant.
    →I like to wear clothes made from cotton in the summer.
  • council
    council [ˈkaunsəl] n.
    A council is a group of people who run a city or town.
    →The council met to discuss the new laws for the city.
  • counsel
    counsel [ˈkaʊnsəl] v.
    To counsel someone is to listen and give advice about a problem.
    →The teacher counseled the girl about her troubles.
  • courage
    courage [ˈkə:rɪdʒ] n.
    When you have courage, you are not afraid.
    →The man had the courage to touch the lion.
  • crash
    crash [kræʃ] v.
    To crash means to hit and break something.
    →There was a loud noise when the car crashed into the tree.
  • crew
    crew [kruː] n.
    A crew is a group of workers.
    →My father has a crew. They help him build houses.
  • criminal
    criminal [ˈkrɪmənl] n.
    A criminal is a person who does something against the law.
    →The police made sure the criminal couldn’t move his hands.
  • criticize
    criticize [ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz] v.
    To criticize is to say you do not like someone or something.
    →He criticized his wife forspending too much money.
  • curious
    curious [ˈkjʊərɪəs] adj.
    When you are curious about something, you want to know more about it.
    →I opened up the clock because I was curious about how it worked.
  • curtain
    curtain [ˈkəːrtən] n.
    A curtain is a cloth hung over a window or used to divide a room.
    →She opened the curtains to let light into the room.
d
  • dare
    dare [dɛər] v.
    To dare means to be brave enough to try something.
    →He dared to jump out of the airplane and skydive.
  • debate
    debate [dɪˈbeɪt] v.
    To debate is to seriously discuss something with someone.
    →The husband and wife debated over which TV to buy.
  • debt
    debt [det] n.
    A debt is an amount of money that a person owes.
    →I have not paid my gas bill. I owe a debt to the gas company.
  • deck
    deck [dek] n.
    A deck is a wooden floor built outside of a house or the floor of a ship.
    →A ship will store many supplies below its deck.
  • declare
    declare [dɪˈklɛər] v.
    To declare is to say something officially.
    →I declared my love for him.
  • decrease
    decrease [ˈdiːkriːs] v.
    To decrease something is to make it less than it was before.
    →Hiring more police officers has decreased crime in the city.
  • defend
    defend [dɪˈfend] v.
    To defend someone or something is to protect them from attack.
    →The soldiers defended the town from the invaders.
  • definite
    definite [ˈdɛf ə nɪt] adj.
    If something is definite, it is certain or sure to be true.
    →There is a definite connection between hard work and success.
  • delay
    delay [dɪˈleɪ] v.
    To delay means to wait to do something.
    →I was delayed at the airport for over two hours.
  • delight
    delight [dɪˈlaɪt] n.
    Delight is a feeling of being very happy with something.
    →He felt such delight after getting a promotion at work.
  • deny
    deny [dɪˈnaɪ] v.
    To deny something is to say it is not true.
    →The boy denied that he broke the window.
  • depart
    depart [dɪˈpɑːrt] v.
    To depart is to leave some place so you can go to another place.
    →The plane departed for Italy at 3:00 this afternoon.
  • depress
    depress [dɪˈpres] v.
    To depress someone is to make them sad.
    →The bad news from work depressed the man.
  • deserve
    deserve [dɪˈzəːrv] v.
    To deserve is to be worthy of something as a result of one’s actions.
    →The dog deserved a bone for behaving very well.
  • desire
    desire [dɪˈzaɪər] v.
    To desire is to want something.
    →My sister desires a big house and lots of money.
  • despite
    despite [dɪsˈpaɪt] prep.
    If something happens despite what you do, it happens anyway.
    →We still played the game despite the cold weather.
  • destination
    destination [ˌdestɪˈneɪʃən] n.
    A destination is the place where someone or something is going to.
    →The destination of this plane is Munich, Germany.
  • destruction
    destruction [dɪsˈtrʌkʃən] n.
    Destruction is damage to something so bad that it can’t be fixed.
    →After the big fire, there was much destruction in the city.
  • detect
    detect [dɪˈtekt] v.
    To detect something means to notice or find something.
    →The boy ran to the kitchen when he detected the smell of cookies.
  • devote
    devote [dɪˈvəʊt] v.
    To devote time to something means to spend a lot of time doing it.
    →She devotes two hours a day to playing the piano.
  • diary
    diary [ˈdaɪərɪ] n.
    A diary is a book in which people write their personal experiences.
    →I do not let anybody read my diary.
  • dictate
    dictate [dɪkˈteɪt] v.
    To dictate something is to read it aloud so it can be written down.
    →He dictated his speech so his secretary could write it down.
  • differ
    differ [ˈdɪfər] v.
    To differ is to not be the same as another person or thing.
    →I differ from my brother: he is short, while I am tall.
  • dig
    dig [dɪg] v.
    To dig is to make a hole in the ground.
    →My dog digs in the yard so he can hide his bones.
  • dine
    dine [daɪn] v.
    To dine means to eat dinner.
    →The young couple dined at their home.
  • dinosaur
    dinosaur [ˈdaɪnəsɔːr] n.
    A dinosaur is a very big animal that lived millions of years ago.
    →I like to see the dinosaur bones at the museum.
  • disabled
    disabled [dɪsˈeɪbəld] adj.
    When a person is disabled, they cannot do what a normal person can do.
    →The disabled man used a wheelchair to move around.
  • disadvantage
    disadvantage [ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒ] n.
    A disadvantage is a situation where someone is likely to lose.
    →Mike had a disadvantage in the race since he hurt his knee.
  • disappoint
    disappoint [ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt] v.
    To disappoint is to make one feel sad or unsatisfied.
    →I do not want to disappoint my family, so I try to do well at school.
  • disaster
    disaster [dɪˈzæs tər] n.
    A disaster is a really bad thing that happens.
    →When the car crashed, it was a disaster.
  • disorder
    disorder [dɪsˈɔːrdər] n.
    Disorder is a lack of order, or a complete mess.
    →The teacher’s desk had many papers in disorder.
  • distinct
    distinct [dɪsˈtɪŋkt] adj.
    If something is distinct, it is easily noticed or different from other things.
    →That girl has distinct pink hair.
  • distinguish
    distinguish [dɪsˈtɪŋgwɪʃ] v.
    To distinguish is to recognize differences between things.
    →The twins look exactly the same. It is hard to distinguish between them.
  • disturb
    disturb [diˈstəːrb] v.
    To disturb someone means to upset them.
    →The loud noise disturbed me while I was working.
  • dive
    dive [daɪv] v.
    To dive is to jump into water.
    →I will dive into the lake once we get there.
  • division
    division [dɪˈvɪʒən] n.
    A division is the act of making smaller groups out of a larger one.
    →The chart had six divisions which all had different colors.
  • document
    document [ˈdokjəmənt] n.
    A document is an official piece of writing.
    →He was given an official document proving he was a citizen.
  • donate
    donate [ˈdouneit] v.
    To donate is to give something to a charity or organization.
    →We donate money to Christmas charities every year.
  • dormitory
    dormitory [ˈdɔːrmətɔ:rɪ] n.
    A dormitory is a school building where students live.
    →I will move into the dormitory at the beginning of the school year.
  • double
    double [ˈdʌbəl] adj.
    If something is double, it is twice as much, or twice as many.
    →I paid almost double the amount for that shirt.
  • downtown
    downtown [ˈdaʊnˈtaʊn] n.
    The downtown is the center of most cities.
    →The downtown is filled with many tall buildings.
  • dozen
    dozen [ˈdʌzən] n.
    A dozen is a group of twelve things.
    →Mom brought home a dozen donuts for us as a treat.
  • duke
    duke [djuːk] n.
    A duke is a man of high social rank but below a king or queen.
    →The duke ruled over the land.
  • dull
    dull [dʌl] adj.
    If something is dull, it is not exciting.
    →The movie was very dull. I fell asleep watching it.
  • dust
    dust [dʌst] n.
    Dust is very tiny pieces of dirt or other matter.
    →In the old house, the dust was thick on the floor and chairs.
  • duty
    duty [ˈdjuːtɪ] n.
    A duty is something that a person has to do.
    →It is parents’ duty to take care of their children.
e
  • eager
    eager [ˈiːɡər] adj.
    When a person is eager about something, they are excited about it.
    →The man was eager to talk about the good news.
  • edge
    edge [edʒ] n.
    The edge of something is the part of it that is farthest from the center.
    →He ran to the edge of the cliff.
  • elder
    elder [ˈeldər] adj.
    An elder is a person who is older than the people around them.
    →Uncle Ray is my elder so I always try to be respectful.
  • electronic
    electronic [ɪlekˈtrɒnɪk] adj.
    When something is electronic, it uses electricity to do something.
    →I like having electronic devices such as an MP3 player.
  • element
    element [ˈeləmənt] n.
    An element of something is a particular part of it.
    →Tackling an opponent is Johnny’s favorite element of American footbal.
  • elementary
    elementary [ˌəlɪˈmentərɪ] adj.
    When something is elementary, it is the first or most simple thing.
    →Children go to elementary school before high school.
  • elevate
    elevate [ˈeləveɪt] v.
    To elevate something is to put it at a higher level.
    →The man elevated the picture so he could see it better.
  • embarrass
    embarrass [ɪmˈbærəs] v.
    To embarrass someone is to make them feel ashamed or foolish.
    →He was embarrassed when he couldn’t remember her name.
  • emergency
    emergency [ɪˈməːrdʒənsɪ] n.
    An emergency is a time when someone needs help right away.
    →There is a huge fire in my house! This is an emergency!
  • emphasize
    emphasize [ˈemfəsaɪz] v.
    To emphasize is to give importance or attention to something.
    →She emphasized the key points by circling them in red ink.
  • enable
    enable [ɪˈneɪbl] v.
    To enable a person is to make it possible for them to do something.
    →Having the key enabled us to open the door.
  • enemy
    enemy [ˈɛnəmɪ] n.
    An enemy is a country that is fighting another country during a war.
    →The enemy prepared to attack the kingdom.
  • engage
    engage [enˈgeɪdʒ] v.
    To engage in something means to do it.
    →Dad was engaged in sawing a piece of wood in half.
  • enormous
    enormous [ɪˈnɔːrməs] adj.
    When people or things are enormous, they are very large.
    →My dog looks enormous next to yours.
  • ensure
    ensure [ɪnˈʃʊər]
    To ensure is to make certain that something happens.
    →Eating good food ensures that we stay healthy.
  • entrance
    entrance [ˈentrəns] n.
    An entrance is a place where someone can enter an area.
    →The gate was locked, so Bill had to find a different entrance.
  • estimate
    estimate [ˈɛstəmeɪt] v.
    To estimate something means to make a guess about it.
    →The boy estimated that he was one meter tall.
  • exchange
    exchange [ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ] v.
    To exchange means to give something for another thing in return.
    →I exchanged my foreign money for American dollars.
  • excitement
    excitement [ɪkˈsaɪtmənt] n.
    Excitement means to feel a lot of happiness about something.
    →Did you see the excitement in her when the team scored?
  • exclaim
    exclaim [ɪksˈkleɪm] v.
    To exclaim is to say something loudly, usually due to being excited.
    →“Look at her dress!” Sara exclaimed.
  • exhaust
    exhaust [ɪgˈzɔːst] v.
    To exhaust someone is to make them tired.
    →John exhausted himself by swimming all day.
  • exhibit
    exhibit [ɪgˈzɪbɪt] n.
    An exhibit is a display of interesting things.
    →There was an animal exhibit at the fair.
  • expense
    expense [ɪksˈpens] n.
    An expense is the money that people spend on something.
    →She wrote down all the expenses for her trip.
  • explosion
    explosion [ɪkˈsploʊ ʒən] n.
    An explosion is a violent burst, usually with a loud sound.
    →A nuclear explosion can cause great damage.
  • expose
    expose [ɪksˈpəʊz] v.
    To expose is to make known something that is hidden.
    →He took off his shirt exposing his costume.
  • extend
    extend [ɪksˈtend] v.
    To extend is to stretch out or reach.
    →The boy extended his hand to catch the ball.
  • extraordinary
    extraordinary [ikˈstroːrdənəri] adj.
    When someone or something are extraordinary, they are amazing.
    →The fireman who rescued the girl was extraordinary.
f
  • facial
    facial [ˈfeɪʃəl] adj.
    If something is facial, it is related to a person’s face.
    →I could tell from his facial features that he was angry.
  • factual
    factual [ˈfæktjʊəl] adj.
    When something is factual, it is true.
    →John learns about history from factual books.
  • failure
    failure [ˈfeɪljər] n.
    A failure happens when you do not do something right.
    →My cooking ended in failure because I burned the food.
  • faith
    faith [feɪθ] n.
    When people have faith in something, they believe in it and trust it.
    →The sick girl had faith in doctors. She knew they would make her better.
  • fame
    fame [feɪm] n.
    Fame is reputation one has gained among the public.
    →He had fame and fortune, but he was not happy.
  • fantastic
    fantastic [fænˈtæstɪk] adj.
    If something is fantastic, it is really good.
    →The student did a fantastic job on his project and got an award.
  • fare
    fare [fɛər] n.
    A fare is an amount of money paid to use a bus, train, or taxi.
    →Since he is a senior, my grandfather pays a low fare for the bus.
  • fascinate
    fascinate [ˈfæsəˌneɪt] v.
    To fascinate someone is to make them really like something.
    →The kitten was fascinated by the ball of yarn.
  • fault
    fault [fɔːlt] n.
    A fault is a mistake.
    →It is my fault that the cat ran away. I left the door open.
  • favor
    favor [ˈfeɪvər] n.
    A favor is something you do for someone to help them.
    →Can you do me a favor and turn off the lights?
  • feather
    feather [ˈfeðər] n.
    Feathers are the things covering birds’ bodies.
    →That bird has orange feathers on its chest.
  • fee
    fee [fiː] n.
    A fee is an amount of money that a person or company asks for a service.
    →I had to pay an hourly fee to speak with my lawyer.
  • fence
    fence [fens] n.
    A fence is a structure around a house or field.
    →The farmer put up a fence so that no one could walk on her field.
  • fertile
    fertile [ˈfəːrtl] adj.
    If land is fertile, it is able to produce good crops and plants.
    →The farmer grew many vegetables in the fertile soil.
  • fever
    fever [ˈfiːvər] n.
    A fever is a high body temperature that people get when they are sick.
    →Lydia had a high fever so she didn’t go to school.
  • fiction
    fiction [ˈfɪkʃən] n.
    Fiction is a story that is not true.
    →I enjoy reading works of fiction because they are very entertaining.
  • firm
    firm [fə:rm] adj.
    When something is firm, it is solid but not too hard.
    →He sleeps better on a firm bed.
  • flag
    flag [flæg] n.
    A flag is a piece of colored cloth that represents something.
    →Our country has a beautiful flag.
  • flavor
    flavor [ˈfleivər] n.
    A flavor is the taste of food or drinks.
    →The flavor of the ice cream was very good.
  • float
    float [fləʊt] v.
    To float is to move on top of water without sinking.
    →The boy’s toy boat floated in the pool.
  • flood
    flood [flʌd] n.
    A flood is an event in which water covers an area which is usually dry.
    →After three days of rain, there was a flood in the city.
  • flu
    flu [flu:] n.
    The flu is a type of sickness that makes you feel weak or your body hurt.
    →Since he had the flu, he felt miserable.
  • fog
    fog [fo(:)g] n.
    Fog is a thick cloud that is near the ground or water.
    →I did not want to drive in the thick fog.
  • fool
    fool [fuːl] n.
    A fool is someone who makes unwise choices.
    →The girl was a fool for playing too close to the water.
  • forbid
    forbid [fəˈbɪd] v.
    To forbid is to tell someone they cannot do something.
    →My father forbids watching TV while we’re eating dinner.
  • forecast
    forecast [ˈfɔrˌkæst] n.
    A forecast is an idea about what the weather will be like in the future.
    →The forecast says that it will rain all week.
  • forever
    forever [fərˈevər] adv.
    If something lasts forever, it means it lasts for all time.
    →The young couple promised that they would love each other forever.
  • formal
    formal [ˈfɔːrməl] adj.
    If something is formal, it is done in an official way.
    →It was a formal dinner, so we wore our best clothes.
  • former
    former [ˈfɔːrmər] adj.
    Former describes something that used to be but is not any more.
    →The hotel, a former castle, was built over 200 years ago.
  • formula
    formula [ˈfɔːrmjələ] n.
    A formula is a set mathematical way or method of solving a problem.
    →I learned a new formula that may help us with our problem.
  • fortune
    fortune [ˈfɔːrtʃən] n.
    When someone has good fortune, it means they have luck.
    →I have good fortune when I play cards.
  • found
    found [faund] v.
    To found a company or organization means to start it.
    →The pilgrims founded one of the first colonies in the United States.
  • foundation
    foundation [faʊnˈdeɪʃən] n.
    A foundation is a group that provides money for research.
    →The foundation raised money to give scholarships to students.
  • frame
    frame [freɪm] n.
    A frame is a border for a picture or mirror.
    →I have to get a frame for my friend’s picture.
  • freeze
    freeze [fri:z] v.
    To freeze is to become very cold.
    →If you don’t wear your coat in winter, you will freeze.
  • frustrate
    frustrate [frʌsˈtreɪt] v.
    To frustrate is to prevent someone from fulfilling their desire.
    →The machine frustrated me because I could not fix it.
  • fuel
    fuel [fjʊ:əl] n.
    Fuel is something that creates heat or energy.
    →Heat is the fuel that comes from fire.
  • fund
    fund [fʌnd] n.
    A fund is an amount of money that people have.
    →We all put money into our club’s fund.
  • funeral
    funeral [ˈfjuːnərəl] n.
    A funeral is a ceremony that takes place after a person dies.
    →They had a funeral for the soldier who died during the war.
  • furniture
    furniture [ˈfəːrnɪtʃə:r] n.
    Furniture is the things used in a house such as tables and chairs.
    →His living room only had a few simple pieces of furniture.
g
  • garage
    garage [gəˈrɑ:ʒ] n.
    A garage is the part of a house where people put their cars.
    →My car does not get dirty because I keep it in the garage.
  • generation
    generation [ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃən] n.
    A generation is a group of people who live at the same time.
    →My grandparents are from a different generation than me.
  • generous
    generous [ˈdʒenərəs] adj.
    When someone is generous, they like to give things to people.
    →The generous man donated several new computers to our school.
  • genius
    genius [ˈdʒiːnjəs] n.
    A genius is a very smart person.
    →Since she was a genius, she easily passed all of her school exams.
  • gentle
    gentle [ˈdʒentl] adj.
    Someone who is gentle is kind and calm.
    →He is very gentle with the baby.
  • geography
    geography [dʒɪˈɒgrəfɪ] n.
    Geography is the study of where things are.
    →I had to draw a map for geography class.
  • gesture
    gesture [ˈdʒestʃər] n.
    A gesture is a movement of the hands or body.
    →My teacher makes a lot of gestures when she speaks.
  • giant
    giant [ˈdʒaɪənt] adj.
    When people or things are giant, they are very big.
    →The giant truck got in my way.
  • govern
    govern [ˈgʌvən] v.
    To govern is to control the public business of a country, state, or city.
    →The United States is governed from the White House.
  • gradual
    gradual [ˈgrædjʊəl] adj.
    When something is gradual, it happens slowly.
    →Children learn to read at a gradual pace. They do not learn right away.
  • grain
    grain [greɪn] n.
    Grain is food crops such as wheat, corn, rice or oats.
    →The farmer planted two fields of grain this year.
  • grand
    grand [grænd] adj.
    When something is grand, it is big and liked by people.
    →The grand mountain rose high into the sky.
  • grant
    grant [grænt] v.
    To grant something is to allow someone to have it.
    →The teacher granted us a break after studying hard all day.
  • grave
    grave [greɪv] n.
    A grave is the place where a dead person is buried.
    →We visit our grandfather’s grave each year.
  • gravity
    gravity [ˈgrӕvəti] n.
    Gravity is the force that makes things fall to Earth.
    →There is no gravity in space.
  • greenhouse
    greenhouse [ˈgriːnhaʊs] n.
    A greenhouse is a small glass building that is used to grow plants.
    →We have a small greenhouse in our backyard where we grow plants.
  • greet
    greet [griːt] v.
    To greet someone means to meet and welcome them.
    →When my friend came over, I greeted him at the door.
  • guarantee
    guarantee [ˌgærənˈtiː] v.
    To guarantee means to know something will happen.
    →I guarantee that the sun will come up in the morning.
  • guilty
    guilty [ˈgɪltɪ] adj.
    If people feel guilty, they feel bad for what they did.
    →I felt guilty for taking my sister’s cookies.
  • guy
    guy [gaɪ] n.
    A guy is an informal way to call a man.
    →The guy at the flower shop was really helpful today.
h
  • handle
    handle [ˈhændl] n.
    A handle is the part of an object people hold while using it.
    →The pot is very hot. So pick it up by the handle.
  • hardly
    hardly [ˈhɑːrdlɪ] adj.
    If something hardly happens, it almost does not happen at all.
    →I hardly saw the concert since I had to leave early.
  • heal
    heal [hiːl] v.
    To heal means to make a part of the body healthy again after injury.
    →After my broken arm heals, I can play baseball again.
  • heaven
    heaven [ˈhɛvən] n.
    Heaven is the place that some people believe people go when they die.
    →When I die, I hope that I go to heaven.
  • height
    height [haɪt] n.
    Height is how tall someone or something is.
    →My height is 168 centimeters.
  • hike
    hike [haɪk] v.
    To hike means to walk in the mountains or forest.
    →I always bring plenty of equipment with me when I hike.
  • hire
    hire [ˈhaɪər] v.
    To hire someone is to pay them money to work for you.
    →We hired a man to paint our house.
  • honor
    honor [ˈɒn ər] v.
    When you honor people or things, you show respect for them.
    →I honor my science teacher by working hard in class.
  • household
    household [ˈhaʊshəʊld] n.
    A household is all the people who live in one house.
    →Our household is made up of my father, my mother and me.
  • hurricane
    hurricane [ˈhə:rəkein] n.
    A hurricane is a bad storm that happens over the ocean.
    →The wind from the hurricane bent the palm tree.
i
  • ideal
    ideal [aɪˈdɪ:əl] adj.
    If something is ideal, it is the best that it can possibly be.
    →This house is an ideal place for my family. It has everything we need.
  • ignore
    ignore [ɪgˈnɔːr] v.
    To ignore something is to act like you do not see or hear it.
    →I ignored the message he was making and kept studying.
  • illustrate
    illustrate [ˈɪləstreɪt] v.
    To illustrate is to show something by drawing a picture.
    →The executive illustrated the decreasing profits of the company.
  • immigrant
    immigrant [ˈɪmɪgrənt] n.
    An immigrant is a person who moves to a different country.
    →My parents were immigrants. They came from Poland.
  • impress
    impress [ɪmˈpres] v.
    To impress someone means to make that person proud.
    →He was able to impress the girls with his new dance.
  • impression
    impression [ɪmˈpreʃən] n.
    An impression is the way of thinking about someone or something.
    →Most people’s first impression of Dr. Giani is that he is mean.
  • income
    income [ˈɪnkʌm] n.
    Income is how much money a person or business makes.
    →Her company pays her a fairly good income.
  • incredible
    incredible [ɪnˈkredəbl] adj.
    If someone or something is incredible, it is hard to believe they are true.
    →I have an incredible story to tell you about my vacation.
  • indeed
    indeed [ɪnˈdiːd] adv.
    Indeed means truly or really.
    →The birthday party was indeed fun last night.
  • ingredient
    ingredient [ɪnˈgriːdɪənt] n.
    An ingredient is something that is part of a food dish.
    →The main ingredients in cake are eggs, sugar and flour.
  • inherit
    inherit [ɪnˈherɪt] v.
    To inherit is to get something from someone who has died.
    →She inherited her mother’s gold earrings.
  • initial
    initial [ɪˈnɪʃəl] adj.
    When something is initial, it is the first thing.
    →The initial step when writing a paper is to find a good topic.
  • inn
    inn [ɪn] n.
    An inn is a place where travelers can rest and eat.
    →The visitor got a room at the inn.
  • innocent
    innocent [ˈɪnəsnt] adj.
    If someone is innocent, they are not guilty of a crime.
    →The judge said that the woman was innocent of the crime.
  • insert
    insert [inˈsəːrt] v.
    To insert something means to put it in something else.
    →The mailman inserted the letter into the mailbox.
  • insist
    insist [ɪnˈsɪst] v.
    To insist means to be firm in telling people what to do.
    →I insist that you try some of these cookies.
  • inspect
    inspect [ɪnˈspekt] v.
    To inspect is to look at something carefully.
    →The mechanic inspected our car to see if it had any problems.
  • inspire
    inspire [ɪnˈspaɪər] v.
    To inspire means to make a person want to do something.
    →I was inspired to write a poem after watching the sunrise.
  • instant
    instant [ˈɪnstənt] n.
    An instant is a very short amount of time.
    →A microwave oven cooks food in an instant.
  • intelligence
    intelligence [ɪnˈtelədʒəns] n.
    Intelligence is the ability to learn and understand things.
    →Because of his high intelligence, he finished school early.
  • intend
    intend [ɪnˈtend] v.
    To intend to do something means to plan to do it.
    →I intend to finish college in three years.
  • intense
    intense [ɪnˈtens] adj.
    If something is intense, it is very strong.
    →The skunk made an intense odor that filled the air.
  • intent
    intent [ɪnˈtent] n.
    An intent is a plan to do something.
    →Her intent is to visit Italy next summer.
  • interfere
    interfere [ˌɪntəˈfɪər] v.
    To interfere is to cause problems and keep something from happening.
    →My little sister always interferes when I’m trying to study.
  • interpret
    interpret [inˈtəːrprit] v.
    To interpret is to explain what something means.
    →The woman interpreted what her co-worker was trying to say.
  • interrupt
    interrupt [ˌɪntəˈrʌpt] v.
    To interrupt is to briefly stop someone when they are doing something.
    →My mother interrupted me when I was trying to listen to music.
  • invent
    invent [ɪnˈvent] v.
    To invent something is to create something that never existed before.
    →My grandfather has invented some interesting things.
  • invest
    invest [ɪnˈvest] v.
    To invest means to use money in a way that will bring a profit later.
    →I invested money in a new building that should bring me a profit.
  • investigate
    investigate [ɪnˈvestəgeɪt] v.
    To investigate means to search for something or learn about it.
    →The detective went to investigate the crime.
j
  • jail
    jail [dʒeɪl] n.
    Jail is a place where criminals go to be punished.
    →The thief was caught and sent to jail for ten years.
  • jewel
    jewel [ˈdʒuːəl] n.
    A jewel is a beautiful stone that is worth a lot of money.
    →A diamond is one of the most expensive jewels in the world.
  • jewelry
    jewelry [ˈdʒu:əlri]
    Jewelry is something that people wear like earrings or necklaces.
    →The woman looked beautiful with her nice dress and jewelry.
  • journal
    journal [ˈdʒəːrnəl] n.
    A journal is a type of magazine that deals with an academic subject.
    →Mi-young was busy working on an article for an art journal.
  • journalist
    journalist [ˈdʒəːrnəlɪst] n.
    A journalist is a person who writes news stories.
    →The journalist took notes for a story he was writing.
  • joy
    joy [dʒɔɪ] n.
    Joy is a feeling you get when you are really happy.
    →I love baseball. I feel joy when I play.
  • junior
    junior [ˈdʒuːnjər] adj.
    If someone is junior in their job, they do not have a lot of power.
    →When she started at the company, she was only a junior manager.
k
  • kindly
    kindly [ˈkaɪndlɪ] adv.
    If people do something kindly, they do it in a nice way.
    →The stranger kindly cared for the hurt man.
l
  • label
    label [ˈleɪ bəl] n.
    A label is a tag that tells about something.
    →The label on the back of your shirt will tell you what size it is.
  • labor
    labor [ˈleɪbər] n.
    Labor is the act of doing or making something.
    →Building the house took a lot of labor.
  • land
    land [lænd] v.
    To land means to come to the ground usually from a ship or aircraft.
    →The parachutist landed safely on the ground.
  • landscape
    landscape [ˈlænskeɪp] n.
    A landscape is how an area of land looks.
    →The landscape of the country is very green.
  • last
    last [læst] v.
    To last is to continue or go on for an amount of time.
    →The football match lasted for nearly two hours.
  • laughter
    laughter [ˈlæftər] n.
    Laughter is the sound produced by laughing about something funny.
    →Susan’s joke made her classmates burst into laughter.
  • layer
    layer [ˈleɪə:r] n.
    A layer covers over something or is between two things.
    →There was a layer of snow on the tops of the houses this morning.
  • legend
    legend [ˈledʒənd] n.
    A legend is a story from the past.
    →There is a well-known legend about a king and his queen.
  • lend
    lend [lend] v.
    To lend something is to give it to someone for a short time.
    →My sister lost her pen, so I will lend her mine.
  • lift
    lift [lɪft] v.
    To lift something is to move it higher.
    →The man tried to lift the box.
  • lightly
    lightly [ˈlaɪtlɪ] adv.
    To do something lightly is to not push very hard.
    →Draw lightly so you do not tear your paper.
  • likeness
    likeness [ˈlaɪknɪs] n.
    Likeness means the state of being like, or resemblance.
    →Michelle bears a strong likeness to her older sister Kate.
  • liquid
    liquid [ˈlɪkwɪd] n.
    A liquid is a substance that is neither solid nor gas.
    →Water is the most important liquid for life.
  • load
    load [loud] v.
    To load is to put objects into something.
    →The man loaded the boxes into a truck.
  • loan
    loan [loun] n.
    A loan is the act of lending something, usually money.
    →I got a loan from the bank.
  • log
    log [lɒg] n.
    A log is a thick piece of wood that is cut from a tree.
    →The fire was too small, so we added another log to it.
  • loss
    loss [lɒ(:)s] n.
    A loss means the act or an instance of losing something.
    →I suffered a big loss while I was gambling.
  • lovely
    lovely [ˈlʌvlɪ] adj.
    If people or things are lovely, they are good-looking or beautiful.
    →The trees look lovely in the fall.
  • lung
    lung [lʌŋ] n.
    A lung is the organ in the body that fills with air when breathing.
    →Having strong lungs is necessary for a healthy life.
m
  • mad
    mad [mæd] adj.
    When someone is mad, they are angry.
    →Mother got mad when I didn’t listen to her.
  • manner
    manner [ˈmænə:r] n.
    A manner is the way someone does something.
    →His manner of not looking at someone while speaking, is a bit rude.
  • marathon
    marathon [ˈmærəθən] n.
    A marathon is a very long foot race just over 42 kilometers.
    →I ran a marathon, and now my legs are tired.
  • marvel
    marvel [ˈmɑːrvəl] v.
    To marvel at something is to feel surprise and interest in it.
    →We marveled at her excellent piano playing.
  • mechanic
    mechanic [məˈkænɪk] n.
    A mechanic is someone who fixes vehicles or machines.
    →We took the car to the mechanic to be fixed.
  • mere
    mere [mɪər] adj.
    When something is mere, it is small or not important.
    →We lost the game by a mere two points.
  • mess
    mess [mes] n.
    A mess is a condition that is not clean or neat.
    →Heather’s room was a complete mess.
  • metal
    metal [ˈmetl] n.
    Metal is a strong material people use to build things.
    →Steel is a common metal that is used to build buildings.
  • meteor
    meteor [ˈmiːtɪər] n.
    A meteor is a rock from outer space that falls to Earth.
    →We saw a meteor in the sky last night.
  • military
    military [ˈmɪlɪtərɪ] n.
    The military is the armed forces of a country.
    → I joined the military after I finished high school.
  • miner
    miner [ˈmaɪnər] n.
    A miner is a person who works in a mine.
    →The miner was looking for gold.
  • mineral
    mineral [ˈmɪnərəl] n.
    A mineral is a type of substance found in the Earth.
    →Rocks are made up of different kinds of minerals.
  • minister
    minister [ˈmɪnɪstər] n.
    A minister is an important person in government with many duties.
    →The minister of education controls the country’s schools.
  • mission
    mission [ˈmɪʃən] n.
    A mission is an important job that is sometimes far away.
    →The woman’s mission was to help sick people.
  • monitor
    monitor [ˈmɒnɪtər] v.
    To monitor people or things is to watch them closely.
    →The teacher monitors the students when they take tests.
  • monk
    monk [mʌŋk] n.
    A monk is a religious person who lives a simple life.
    →The monks knew a lot about religion.
  • monster
    monster [ˈmɒnstər]
    A monster is any imaginary frightening creature that looks strange.
    →The monster scared everyone in the village.
  • mood
    mood [muːd] n.
    A mood is the way someone is feeling.
    →I am in a good mood because I did well on my math test.
  • moreover
    moreover [mɔːˈrəʊvər] adv.
    Moreover means besides or in addition to something.
    →It’s cold outside. Moreover, the wind is very strong.
  • motion
    motion [ˈməʊʃən] n.
    A motion is a movement that someone makes.
    →The police officer made a motion with his hand.
  • motive
    motive [moutiv] n.
    A motive is the reason someone does something.
    →His motive for studying so hard is to get into a good college.
  • mount
    mount [maʊnt] v.
    Something mounts when it becomes stronger over time.
    →His fear mounted as the monster crawled out from under his bed.
  • mud
    mud [mʌd] n.
    Mud is soft, wet dirt.
    →My brother played rugby in the mud. Now he’s dirty.
n
  • narrow
    narrow [ˈnærəʊ] adj.
    When something is narrow, it is very thin.
    →The bridge is too narrow for a car to drive over.
  • neat
    neat [niːt] adj.
    If something is neat, it is very clean or organized well.
    →My sister always keeps her bedroom very neat.
  • nest
    nest [nest] n.
    A nest is a place where a bird lays its eggs.
    →The bird laid her eggs in the nest that she made.
  • net
    net [net] n.
    A net is a bag made of strong thread. It is used to catch animals.
    →The boy caught butterflies in his net.
  • nevertheless
    nevertheless [ˌnevəðəˈles] adv.
    You use nevertheless to show that something goes against a fact.
    →He is usually friendly. Nevertheless, he wasn’t this afternoon.
  • northern
    northern [ˈnɔr:ðərn] adj.
    If something is northern, it is in the direction of north.
    →It is much colder in northern countries than it is here.
  • nowadays
    nowadays [ˈnaʊədeɪz] adv.
    If something happens nowadays, it happens at the present time.
    →In the past people walked everywhere. Nowadays, they use cars.
  • nutrient
    nutrient [ˈnjuːtrɪənt] n.
    A nutrient is something that a living thing needs to keep it alive.
    →Vegetables are full of important nutrients.
o
  • obey
    obey [oʊˈbeɪ] v.
    To obey means to follow what a law or a person says you must do.
    →My little sister did not obey my mother. Now she is in trouble.
  • obtain
    obtain [əbˈteɪn] v.
    To obtain is to get something you want or need.
    →After I passed the test, I obtained my driver’s license.
  • obvious
    obvious [ˈɒbvɪəs] adj.
    If something is obvious, it is clear and easily seen.
    →It was obvious that he was tired. He kept falling asleep.
  • occasion
    occasion [əˈkeɪʒən] n.
    An occasion is a time when something important happens.
    →Her graduation was an occasion to have a good time.
  • occupation
    occupation [ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən] n.
    An occupation is a person’s job.
    →My father’s occupation is a dentist.
  • odd
    odd [ɒd] adj.
    When something is odd, it is unusual.
    →Her cat is odd. It walks on two feet.
  • oppose
    oppose [əˈpəʊz] v.
    To oppose something means to dislike it or act against it.
    →I want to be a police officer because I oppose crime.
  • ordinary
    ordinary [ˈɔːrdənerɪ] adj.
    If someone or something is ordinary, they are not special in any way.
    →Today was just an ordinary day. Nothing unusual happened.
  • origin
    origin [ˈɒrədʒɪn] n.
    The origin of someone or something is where they come from.
    →The origin of the honey that we eat is from a beehive.
  • ought
    ought [ɔːt] aux. v.
    If someone ought to do something, then it is the right thing to do.
    →I ought to take my library books back.
  • overcome
    overcome [ˌəʊvəˈkʌm] v.
    To overcome a problem is to successfully fix it.
    →She overcame her shyness and spoke in front of the class.
  • overseas
    overseas [ˌəʊvəˈsiːz] adv.
    If you go overseas, you go to a country on the other side of an ocean.
    →John often goes overseas for vacations.
p
  • pace
    pace [ˈpeɪs] n.
    The pace of something is the speed at which it happens.
    →I ran the race at a slower pace than my friend.
  • palace
    palace [ˈpælɪs] n.
    A palace is a very large building. It is often the home of a royal family.
    →The king and queen live in a beautiful palace.
  • pale
    pale [peɪl] adj.
    When something is pale, it does not have a bright color.
    →The girl’s skin was very pale.
  • participate
    participate [pɑ:rtɪsəpeɪt] v.
    To participate is to take part in something.
    →The students participated in the school play.
  • passive
    passive [ˈpæsɪv] a.
    If a person is passive, they do not take action to solve problems.
    →Marcie is so passive that she never solves her own problems.
  • path
    path [pɑːθ] n.
    A path is a way from one place to another that people can walk along.
    →We followed a path through the woods.
  • pause
    pause [pɔːz] v.
    To pause means to stop doing something for a while.
    →Since she was so hungry, she paused to make a snack.
  • peak
    peak [piːk] n.
    The peak is the very top of a mountain.
    →There is snow on the peaks of those mountains.
  • penalty
    penalty [ˈpɛnəltɪ] n.
    A penalty is a punishment, given when someone breaks a rule or law.
    →I had to pay a $100 penalty for parking in the wrong spot.
  • permanent
    permanent [ˈpəːrmənənt] adj.
    If something is permanent, it lasts for a long time or forever.
    →We don’t know if Aunt Mildred’s visit will be a permanent one.
  • permission
    permission [pə:rmɪʃən] n.
    Permission means the act of allowing the doing of something.
    →I have permission to drive my mom’s car.
  • permit
    permit [pərˈmɪt] v.
    To permit something is to let someone do it.
    →I was sick, so my mother permitted me to stay home from school.
  • perspective
    perspective [pə:rspektɪv] n.
    A perspective is the way you think about something.
    →The man’s speech gave me a new perspective on our country.
  • persuade
    persuade [pəˈsweɪd] v.
    To persuade someone is to make them agree to do something.
    →The children persuaded their parents to buy them gifts.
  • philosophy
    philosophy [fɪˈlɒsəfɪ] n.
    A philosophy is a way to think about truth and life.
    →My philosophy is “live and let live. ”
  • physics
    physics [ˈfɪzɪks] n.
    Physics is a science that deals with energy and how it affects things.
    →In physics class, we used Newton’s Cradle to learn about energy.
  • plain
    plain [pleɪn] adj.
    If something is simple, it is plain and not decorated.
    →He bought a pair of plain white shoes over the weekend.
  • plenty
    plenty [ˈplentɪ] n.
    To have plenty of something is to have more than you need.
    →The school had plenty of books for the students to read.
  • polite
    polite [pəˈlaɪt] adj.
    When someone is polite, they are acting in a thoughtful way.
    →The boy was very polite: he behaved very thoughtfully.
  • portion
    portion [ˈpɔːrʃən] n.
    A portion of something is a part of it.
    →I only ate a small portion of the pizza.
  • possess
    possess [pəˈzes] v.
    To possess something is to have it or own it.
    →My uncle possesses three sheep, a chicken, a cow and a dog.
  • pot
    pot [pɒt] n.
    A pot is a deep, round metal container used for cooking.
    →Don’t touch the pot on the stove. It’s hot.
  • potential
    potential [pəˈtenʃəl] adj.
    Potential means capable of being but not yet in existence.
    →I’ve thought of some potential problems with your idea.
  • pour
    pour [pɔːr]
    To pour a liquid means to make it come out of a container.
    →I poured some milk into my sister’s cup.
  • poverty
    poverty [ˈpɒvətɪ] n.
    Poverty is the state of being poor.
    →Poverty is a problem in many countries around the world.
  • practical
    practical [ˈpræktɪkəl] adj.
    If something is practical, it is useful in normal life.
    →Learning English is practical; you can use it in many places.
  • praise
    praise [preɪz] v.
    To praise is to show that you like someone or something.
    →The coach praised both athletes after a good practice.
  • presence
    presence [ˈprɛzəns] n.
    Someone or something’s presence is the fact they are there.
    →The presence of dark clouds meant it would rain.
  • preserve
    preserve [priˈzəːrv] v.
    To preserve is to protect something from harm.
    →Dad sprayed a chemical on the house to help preserve its looks.
  • pretend
    pretend [prɪˈtend] v.
    To pretend means to make believe something is real.
    →The boy liked to pretend he was a king.
  • pride
    pride [praɪd] n.
    When you have pride, you are happy with yourself.
    →I take pride in getting good grades.
  • priest
    priest [priːst] n.
    A priest is a person trained to perform religious duties.
    →The priest taught us about God.
  • prime
    prime [praɪm] adj.
    If something is prime, it is the most important one.
    →Dirty air is a prime cause of illness.
  • principal
    principal [ˈprɪnsəpəl] n.
    A principal is a person in charge of a school.
    →My school’s principal can be very strict with the rules.
  • proceed
    proceed [prəˈsiːd] v.
    To proceed is to go in a certain direction.
    →My son and I proceeded to the beach so we could go fishing.
  • profession
    profession [prəˈfeʃən] n.
    A profession is a person’s job.
    →He loved sailing, so he chose to work on ships as a profession.
  • pronounce
    pronounce [prəˈnaʊns] v.
    To pronounce is to say the sounds of letters or words.
    →Young children often have trouble pronouncing words right.
  • proof
    proof [pruːf] n.
    Proof is a fact that shows something is real.
    →They used his fingerprint as proof for the crime he committed.
  • protest
    protest [prəˈtest] v.
    To protest something is to argue about it with someone.
    →The people protested the decision of the president.
  • pup
    pup [pʌp] n.
    A pup is a young dog.
    →All the girl wanted for her birthday was a pup.
  • pure
    pure [pjʊər] adj.
    If something is pure, it is very clear and beautiful.
    →The rose was pure. It had no dirt or imperfections.
q
  • qualify
    qualify [ˈkwɒləfaɪ] v.
    To qualify is to get, or to be declared, adequate or good enough.
    →He qualified to go to the final match by beating the opponent.
  • quantity
    quantity [ˈkwɒntətɪ] n.
    A quantity is a certain amount of something.
    →I have a small quantity of milk in my glass.
  • quarter
    quarter [ˈkwɔːrtər] n.
    A quarter is 25 cents.
    →He paid a quarter for the candy.
  • quit
    quit [kwɪt] v.
    To quit something means to stop doing it.
    →I quit running because I got tired.
r
  • rank
    rank [ræŋk] n.
    A person’s rank is their place in an order of people.
    →The man got to the rank of captain in the navy.
  • rapidly
    rapidly ˈræpɪdlɪ] adv.
    When something happens rapidly, it happens very fast.
    →The train moved rapidly on the tracks.
  • rational
    rational [ˈræʃənl] adj.
    When something is rational, it is normal or practical.
    →It is hard to think in a rational way when you are scared.
  • raw
    raw [rɔː] adj.
    If a material is raw, it is natural and has not been processed.
    →The company dumped raw sewage into the river.
  • recall
    recall [rɪˈkɔːl] v.
    To recall something is to remember it.
    →She was trying to recall what she had told her friend.
  • reception
    reception [rɪˈsepʃən] n.
    A reception is a party to welcome a person or celebrate an event.
    →We all danced and had a good time at the wedding reception.
  • recognition
    recognition [ˌrekəgˈnɪʃən] n.
    Recognition is getting praise from other people.
    →The hero got recognition for his brave deed.
  • recover
    recover [rɪˈkʌvə:r] v.
    To recover is to go back to normal after something bad happens.
    →I hope the city will recover soon after the flood.
  • reef
    reef [riːf] n.
    A reef is a group of rocks or coral that rise to or near the ocean.
    →He walked along the reef and looked at the water below.
  • refrigerate
    refrigerate [rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪt] v.
    To refrigerate something means to make it cold.
    →Grocery stores refrigerate fruit to make it last long.
  • regret
    regret [rɪˈgret] v.
    To regret something is to wish that it didn’t happen.
    →I regret that I was mean to my sister.
  • reject
    reject [rɪˈdʒekt] v.
    To reject is to refuse something because you do not want it.
    →The girl rejected the broken cup.
  • relative
    relative [ˈrelətɪv] n.
    A relative is a family member.
    →My relatives came by to see the new baby.
  • relieve
    relieve [rɪˈliːv] v.
    To relieve someone is to make them feel less pain.
    →The medicine relieved the sick boy.
  • religious
    religious [rɪˈlɪdʒəs] adj.
    When something is religious, it has to do with religion.
    →The holy man spoke about religious topics.
  • rely
    rely [rɪˈlaɪ] v.
    To rely on something or someone is to trust or depend on them.
    →The boy relied on his older brother to help him.
  • remark
    remark [rɪˈmɑːrk] v.
    To remark is to say something.
    →The teacher remarked on how quickly the students were learning.
  • remind
    remind [rɪˈmaɪnd] v.
    To remind someone is to tell them to remember to do something.
    →Nick’s dad reminded him to do his homework.
  • remote
    remote [rɪˈmoʊt] adj.
    If something is remote, it is very far away and difficult to get to.
    →It took many days to get to the remote island.
  • rent
    rent [rent] n.
    Rent is the money people pay to someone to live in a certain place.
    →To live in this house, I have to pay rent at the start of each month.
  • repair
    repair [rɪˈpɛə:r] v.
    To repair something is to fix it.
    →I repaired the flat tire on my car.
  • reputation
    reputation [ˌrepjəˈteɪʃən] n.
    Reputation is the opinion that people have about someone.
    →The doctor had a reputation for helping people.
  • resemble
    resemble [rɪˈzembəl] v.
    To resemble someone is to look like them.
    →The baby resembles his father a great deal.
  • resist
    resist [rɪˈzɪst] v.
    To resist something is to fight against it.
    →He resisted the treatment at the hospital.
  • resort
    resort [rɪˈzɔːt] v.
    To resort to something is to depend on it in order to solve a problem.
    →I hope they don’t resort to violence to end the argument.
  • resume
    resume [rɪˈzuːm] v.
    To resume something means to start it again after taking a break.
    →I put the newspaper down to eat breakfast. Then I resumed reading.
  • retire
    retire [rɪˈtaɪər] v.
    To retire is to leave a job, usually because of old age.
    →My father is sixty-five years old. He is about to retire from work.
  • reveal
    reveal [rɪˈviːl] v.
    To reveal is to show something.
    →I will reveal where I hid the candy bar.
  • rid
    rid [rɪd] v.
    To rid is to make a place free from something or someone.
    →We rid our home of mice by using traps.
  • rob
    rob [rɒb] v.
    To rob a person or place is to take their property by using force.
    →A thief has robbed me of my passport.
  • romantic
    romantic [roʊˈmæntɪk] adj.
    When something is romantic, it has to do with love.
    →The young couple went to see a romantic movie.
  • roof
    roof [ruːf] n.
    A roof is the outside top part of a building.
    →The roof was covered with snow.
  • rough
    rough [rʌf] adj.
    When something is rough, it is not even or smooth.
    →The rough ground hurt my feet.
  • route
    route [ruːt] n.
    A route is the way you go from one place to another.
    →I saw many new houses along the route to the city.
  • row
    row [rou] n.
    A row is a line of things.
    →James put all of his toy soldiers into neat rows.
  • royal
    royal [ˈrɔɪəl] adj.
    Royal describes something that belongs to a king or queen.
    →The king sat upon the royal throne.
  • rude
    rude [ruːd] adj.
    When someone is rude, they are mean and not polite.
    →The children at the bus stop were very rude.
  • ruins
    ruins [ˈruːɪnz] n.
    Ruins are old buildings that are not used anymore.
    →I visited some interesting ruins in Greece.
s
  • salary
    salary [ˈsælərɪ] n.
    A salary is how much money a person makes at his or her job.
    →He got a new job with a better salary.
  • satellite
    satellite [ˈsætəlaɪt] n.
    A satellite is something that is sent into space to get information.
    →The satellite was traveling around the earth.
  • satisfy
    satisfy [ˈsætɪsfaɪ] v.
    To satisfy someone means to make them happy.
    →It will satisfy my teacher if I finish all my homework.
  • scale
    scale [skeɪl] n.
    The scale of something is its size, especially when it is very large.
    →I was surprised by the scale of the buildings in the downtown area.
  • scholar
    scholar [ˈskɒlə:r] n.
    A scholar is a person who studies something and knows much about it.
    →The scholar knew much about art history.
  • scholarship
    scholarship [ˈskɒlə:rʃɪp] n.
    A scholarship is money given to one so they can go to school.
    →I got a scholarship to help me pay for university.
  • scream
    scream [skriːm] v.
    To scream means to make a loud noise with your mouth.
    →The girl saw a spider and screamed.
  • sculpture
    sculpture [ˈskʌlptʃə:r] n.
    A sculpture is a piece of art that is made from wood, clay, or stone.
    →We saw an old sculpture of Buddha at the museum.
  • secretary
    secretary [ˈsekrəterɪ] n.
    A secretary is a person who works in an office.
    →Rebecca asked her secretary to type a report.
  • secure
    secure [sɪˈkjʊə:r] v.
    To secure something means to get it after a lot of effort.
    → I was able to secure a good grade on my test after weeks of studying.
  • seed
    seed [siːd] n.
    A seed is the hard part of a plant or fruit that trees grow from.
    →I planted the seed in the dirt hoping that it would grow into a tree.
  • seek
    seek [siːk] v.
    To seek is to look for something.
    →If I have a problem, I seek my sister’s advice.
  • senior
    senior [ˈsiːnjər] adj.
    If one is senior, they are the oldest or have been there the longest.
    →Because he got his job first, Bob is the senior chef.
  • sensitive
    sensitive [ˈsensɪtɪv] adj.
    When someone or something is sensitive, they are easily hurt.
    →My teeth are sensitive to cold things.
  • settle
    settle [ˈsetl] v.
    To settle a problem means to end it by finding a solution.
    →It took three of our best executives all day to settle the problem.
  • severe
    severe [sɪˈvɪə:r] adj.
    If something is severe, it is very bad or serious.
    →After hitting his hand with the hammer, Sam was in severe pain.
  • shade
    shade [ʃeɪd] n.
    The shade is a dark area that something makes when it blocks the sun.
    →It was hot outside, so the boy sat in the shade of a tree.
  • shadow
    shadow [ˈʃædəʊ] n.
    A shadow is the dark area that is made when something blocks light.
    →The man’s shadow was taller than he was.
  • sharp
    sharp [ʃɑːrp] adj.
    When something is sharp, it has a thin edge that cuts things easily.
    →That knife is very sharp. Be careful not to hurt yourself.
  • shelf
    shelf [ʃelf] n.
    A shelf is a place on a wall where you put things.
    →I keep my clothes on a shelf in my closet.
  • shell
    shell [ʃel] n.
    A shell is a hard covering that protects the body of some sea creatures.
    →There were many pretty shells on the beach.
  • shift
    shift [ʃɪft] v.
    To shift to something is to move into a new place or direction.
    →He shifted to the other side of the table to eat his breakfast.
  • shine
    shine [ʃaɪn] v.
    To shine is to make a bright light.
    →The candles are shining in the dark room.
  • shock
    shock [ʃɒk] v.
    To shock people is to surprise them.
    →The man was shocked by the news.
  • shore
    shore [ʃɔːr] n.
    A shore is the edge of a large body of water.
    →All of the boats were floating near the shore.
  • shortage
    shortage [ˈʃɔːrtɪdʒ] n.
    A shortage is a lack of something you need or want.
    →Since there was a shortage of food, people were hungry.
  • shut
    shut [ʃʌt] v.
    To shut something means to close it tightly.
    →Please shut the door; the air outside is cold.
  • shy
    shy [ʃaɪ] adj.
    When people are shy, they are nervous around people strange to them.
    →The girl was too shy to try out for the play.
  • signal
    signal [ˈsignəl] n.
    A signal is a sound or action that tells someone to do something.
    →The coach blew his whistle as a signal to begin the game.
  • significant
    significant [sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt] adj.
    When someone or something is significant, they are important.
    →I read many significant novels as a literature major in university.
  • silence
    silence [ˈsaɪləns] n.
    Silence is complete quiet.
    →The man asked for silence while he worked on the problem.
  • silent
    silent [ˈsaɪlənt] adj.
    If someone or something is silent, they make no sound.
    →Since no one was home, the house was silent.
  • sincere
    sincere [sɪnˈsɪər] adj.
    When people are sincere, they tell the truth.
    →He sounded sincere when he apologized to me.
  • sink
    sink [sɪŋk] v.
    To sink into something is to slowly fall into it.
    →The boat had a hole in it, and it sank into the ocean.
  • skip
    skip [skɪp] v.
    To skip something is to not do it.
    →He skipped work to get more sleep.
  • slave
    slave [sleɪv] n.
    A slave is a person who is not free and must work for someone else.
    →The slave worked very hard all day long.
  • slip
    slip [slɪp] v.
    To slip means to slide and fall down.
    →The man slipped on the wet floor.
  • smooth
    smooth [smuːð] a.
    If something is smooth, it has no bumps.
    →The baby’s skin felt very smooth.
  • soil
    soil [sɔɪl] n.
    Soil is the top layer of land on the Earth.
    →The boy planted flowers in the soil and watered them every day.
  • solid
    solid [ˈsɒlɪd] adj.
    If something is solid, it is made of firm material.
    →The safe looked to be quite solid.
  • somewhat
    somewhat [ˈsʌmwɒt] adv.
    Somewhat means to some degree, but not to a large degree.
    →James was somewhat upset when he had to move some boxes.
  • sort
    sort [sɔːrt] n.
    A sort of something is a type of it.
    →What sort of instrument do you want to learn to play?
  • soul
    soul [soʊl] n.
    A soul is a person’s spirit.
    →Some people believe that the soul lives after the body dies.
  • southern
    southern [ˈsʌðə:rn] adj.
    If something is southern, it is in the direction of south.
    →Taegu is located in the southern part of the Korean peninsula.
  • spill
    spill [spɪl] v.
    To spill is to have something fall out of its container.
    →I spilled the coffee on the table.
  • spin
    spin [spɪn] v.
    To spin is to turn around in circles.
    →The boy kept spinning until he fell down.
  • spite
    spite [spaɪt] n.
    If you do something out of spite, you want to be mean.
    →He snuck into his sister’s room and stole her bag out of spite.
  • stable
    stable [ˈsteɪbl] adj.
    When something is stable, it will not fall over.
    →The chair is stable. Its legs are strong.
  • stare
    stare [stɛə:r] v.
    To stare at something is to look at it for a long time.
    →The young couple stared into each other’s eyes.
  • statistic
    statistic [stəˈtɪstɪk] n.
    A statistic is a number that tells a fact about something.
    →The statistics showed that we did just as well this year as last year.
  • statue
    statue [ˈstætjuː] n.
    A statue is an image of a person or animal made of stone or metal.
    →I saw a beautiful statue of a lion today.
  • steady
    steady [ˈstedɪ] adj.
    When someone or something is steady, they are under control.
    →The problem was hard but she remained steady and solved it.
  • steam
    steam [stiːm] n.
    Steam is water that has become hot and has turned into a misty gas.
    →We could see the steam rise from the boiling water.
  • stock
    stock [stɒk] n.
    A stock is a stored amount of something.
    →They keep a stock of rice so they’ll always have something to eat.
  • stream
    stream [striːm] n.
    A stream is a small river.
    →The boy caught a fish in the stream.
  • stretch
    stretch [stretʃ] v.
    To stretch is to make your arms or legs reach out.
    →She stretched her body before exercising.
  • strict
    strict [strɪkt] adj.
    When someone is strict, they make sure others follow rules.
    →The teacher is strict. She does not let students talk in class.
  • struggle
    struggle [ˈstrʌgəl] v.
    To struggle is to fight against someone or something.
    →The kids struggled with each other for the toy.
  • stupid
    stupid [ˈstjuːpɪd] adj.
    When someone is stupid, they lack intelligence.
    →He said something stupid that made everyone angry at him.
  • submit
    submit [səbˈmɪt] v.
    To submit to someone is to agree to do what they tell you to do.
    →She submitted to her mother’s wishes and did her homework.
  • substance
    substance [ˈsʌbstəns] n.
    A substance is any specific material or mixture of materials.
    →Water is an important substance for all living things.
  • subtract
    subtract [səbˈtrækt] v.
    To subtract means to take something away.
    →We learned how to subtract numbers from each other in class.
  • succeed
    succeed [səkˈsiːd] v.
    To succeed is to complete something that you planned or tried to do.
    →He will continue to work on the robot until he succeeds.
  • sue
    sue [su:] v.
    To sue someone is to take them to court for something wrong they did.
    →I sued the company after I slipped on a banana peel in their hallway.
  • sufficient
    sufficient [səˈfɪʃənt] adj.
    When something is sufficient, you have enough of it.
    →After eating a sufficient amount of food, I left the table.
  • super
    super [ˈsuːpər] adj.
    Super means really good.
    →My dad said I did a super Job cleaning the house.
  • superior
    superior [səˈpɪəriər] adj.
    If someone or something is superior, they are better than another.
    →I think cooking outdoors is superior to cooking indoors.
  • supplement
    supplement [ˈsʌpləmənt] v.
    To supplement something is to add something else to it in a good way.
    →He supplements his diet with fresh fruits.
  • surf
    surf [səːrf] v.
    To surf means to use a special board to ride on waves in the ocean.
    →The students went to the beach to surf during their vacation.
  • surgery
    surgery [ˈsəːrdʒərɪ] n.
    Surgery is medical treatment when the doctor cuts open your body.
    →I needed surgery to repair my leg after the accident.
  • surround
    surround [səˈraʊnd] v.
    To surround something is to close in on it from all sides.
    →We surrounded the suspect on all four sides.
  • suspect
    suspect [səsˈpekt] v.
    To suspect something is to believe that it is true.
    →I suspect that those kids stole the money.
  • sword
    sword [sɔːrd] n.
    A sword is a long sharp weapon.
    →They used to use swords in battles in ancient times.
  • symptom
    symptom [ˈsimptəm] n.
    A symptom of a bad condition or illness is a sign that it is happening.
    →Sneezing and a high fever are symptoms of the common cold.
t
  • tale
    tale [teɪl] n.
    A tale is a story.
    →She told her two friends about the wild tale of her day.
  • talent
    talent [ˈtælənt] n.
    If someone has a talent, they are naturally able to do it well.
    →Maria has a talent for playing the piano.
  • task
    task [tæsk] n.
    A task is a piece of work to be done that is usually difficult.
    →My task for the weekend was to clean the entire back yard.
  • telescope
    telescope [ˈtɛləskoʊp] n.
    A telescope is a tool people use to look at the stars.
    →With a telescope, you can see the moon and stars easily.
  • temple
    temple [ˈtempl] n.
    A temple is a building that is used for religious purposes.
    →The people visited the temple to pray.
  • temporary
    temporary [ˈtempərərɪ] adj.
    If something is temporary, it exists for a short time.
    →This car is only temporary; I’ll get a new one soon.
  • terror
    terror [ˈterər] n.
    When someone feels terror, they are scared.
    →I felt a sense of terror when the tiger chased me.
  • thesis
    thesis [ˈθiːsɪs] n.
    A thesis is an idea that needs to be proved.
    →She did not support her thesis very well.
  • thick
    thick [θɪk] adj.
    If something is thick, it is wide and solid.
    →The fog was so thick that I couldn’t see through it.
  • threat
    threat [θret] n.
    A threat is something bad that might happen.
    →Due to the dark clouds, there was a threat of a bad storm.
  • thus
    thus [ðʌs] adv.
    Thus means as a result or for that reason.
    →The sun was shining. Thus, I wore my sunglasses.
  • tight
    tight [taɪt] adj.
    When something is tight, it is fixed or fastened firmly in place.
    →The knots were too tight to untie.
  • tiny
    tiny [ˈtaɪnɪ] adj.
    When people or things are tiny, they are very small.
    →A baby’s hand is tiny.
  • tissue
    tissue [ˈtɪʃuː] n.
    A tissue is a soft piece of paper people use to wipe their noses.
    →There was a box of tissue on the table.
  • tobacco
    tobacco [təˈbækou] n.
    Tobacco is a plant whose leaves are smoked, such as in cigarettes.
    →The tobacco in cigarettes is bad for your health.
  • tomb
    tomb [tuːm] n.
    A tomb is a grave where a dead person is buried.
    →Their whole family is buried inside the tomb.
  • tone
    tone [təʊn] n.
    Tone is the sound of someone’s voice. It shows how they feel.
    →My father’s tone told me I had broken the rule.
  • tough
    tough [tʌf] adj.
    If something is tough, it is difficult.
    →The man passed his driving test even though it was very tough.
  • trap
    trap [træp] v.
    To trap people or animals is to capture them so they cannot get away.
    →We trapped butterflies in a net.
  • treasure
    treasure [ˈtreʒə:r] n.
    A treasure is a collection of valuable things, especially jewels or gold.
    →They became very rich when they found the buried treasure.
  • trial
    trial [ˈtraiəl] n.
    A trial is the way a court discovers if a person is guilty or innocent.
    →He went on trial for robbing the bank.
  • tribe
    tribe [traɪb] n.
    A tribe is a group of people who live in the same culture.
    →There’s a small tribe of people who live in the mountains of Spain.
  • trust
    trust [trʌst] v.
    To trust is to believe that someone is honest and will do what is right.
    →I trust my friends; they don’t tell my secrets to other people.
  • tube
    tube [tjuːb] n.
    A tube is a pipe through which water or air passes.
    →The pile of tubes was going to be put in the ground.
  • tutor
    tutor [ˈtjuːtər] n.
    A tutor is someone who gives lessons in a certain subject.
    →My sister is bad at math. So my mother hired a tutor to help her.
  • twin
    twin [twɪn] n.
    Twins are two children born at the same time.
    →My sister and I are twins. We look exactly the same.
  • twist
    twist [twɪst] v.
    To twist something is to wrap it around itself or another thing.
    →She twisted the spaghetti around her fork.
u
  • underground
    underground [ˈʌndəgraʊnd] adv.
    When something is underground, it is below the surface of the Earth.
    →Subway trains travel underground.
  • uniform
    uniform [ˈjuːnəfɔːrm] n.
    A uniform is a piece of clothing worn by people of the same group.
    →All the members of our marching band wear matching uniforms.
  • unique
    unique [juːˈniːk] adj.
    If people or things are unique, they are not like the others.
    →Her dog is unique. I’ve never seen one quite like it.
  • unless
    unless [ənˈles] conj.
    Unless means if not or except when.
    →Unless you clean your room, you cannot play with your friends.
  • upper
    upper [ˈʌpər] adj.
    Upper means higher in position or place.
    →A home’s attic is at the upper part of the structure.
  • urge
    urge [əːrdʒ] v.
    To urge someone is to try very hard to get them to do something.
    →He urged them to believe his story.
v
  • valley
    valley [ˈvælɪ] n.
    A valley is a low area of land between two mountains or hills.
    →We looked at the valley below from the top of the mountain.
  • vehicle
    vehicle [ˈvi:ɪkəl] n.
    A vehicle is a thing that moves people or things to another place.
    →A ferry is a vehicle that takes people from one island to another.
  • victim
    victim [ˈvɪktɪm] n.
    A victim is a person that had something bad happen to them.
    →I was a victim of a robbery.
  • violent
    violent [ˈvaɪələnt] adj.
    When people are violent, they want to hurt someone.
    →The man was put into jail because he was violent.
  • virtual
    virtual [ˈvəːrtʃuəl] adj.
    If something is virtual, then it is very close to being true or accurate.
    →Because he’s popular, Joe is the virtual leader of the group.
  • vision
    vision [ˈvɪʒən] n.
    Vision is the act of seeing.
    →The eye doctor tested my vision.
  • volcano
    volcano [vɒlˈkeɪnəʊ] n.
    A volcano is a mountain with a hole on top where hot liquid comes out.
    →When the volcano erupted, smoke and heat filled the air.
w
  • wallet
    wallet [ˈwɒlɪt] n.
    A wallet is a thing that holds money and fits in a pocket.
    →I keep my money in a wallet.
  • weapon
    weapon [ˈwepən] n.
    A weapon is an object that can be used to hurt people.
    →Swords have been used as weapons for thousands of years.
  • weed
    weed [wiːd] n.
    A weed is a plant, especially one that is not useful or wanted.
    →The yard of the house was full of ugly weeds.
  • weigh
    weigh [weɪ] v.
    To weigh something means to see how heavy it is.
    →The little dog weighed exactly 3kgs.
  • wet
    wet [wet] adj.
    If something is wet, it has water on it.
    →Since my dog was wet, he tried to shake all the water off his body.
  • wheel
    wheel [wi:l] n.
    A wheel is a round thing on a vehicle that turns when it moves.
    →A car has four wheels.
  • whisper
    whisper [ˈwɪspə:r] v.
    To whisper means to say very quietly.
    →We have to whisper in the library so people can focus on reading.
  • wing
    wing [wɪŋ] n.
    A wing is the part of an animal that lets it fly.
    →The bird used its wings to fly across the water.
  • witch
    witch [wɪtʃ] n.
    A witch is a woman with magical powers.
    →People think that witches fly around on broomsticks.
  • wound
    wound [wuːnd] n.
    A wound is an injury to the body.
    →He had many wounds after the car accident.
  • wrap
    wrap [ræp] v.
    To wrap is to cover something on all sides.
    →I wrapped his gift and put a bow on it.
y
  • yard
    yard [jɑːrd] n.
    A yard is the ground just outside of a person’s house.
    →The girls jumped rope in the yard.
  • yell
    yell [jel] v.
    To yell is to say something very loudly.
    →The coach yelled at his team for their poor performance.
  • youth
    youth [juːθ] n.
    Youth is a time in people’s lives when they are young.
    →My mother wanted to be a nurse in her youth.
z
  • zone
    zone [zoun] n.
    A zone is an area that has different qualities from the ones around it.
    →Firefighters often work in danger zones.
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 3

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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).

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4000 Essential English Words 5

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 5: 600 words (Unit 1 - Unit 30).

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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).

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