English

English — Vocabulary & Word Meanings

A vocabulary builder from the LAT English section: high-frequency words with their synonyms and usage examples, followed by numbered 'Vocabulary Group' word-to-meaning lists.

Magnificent (adjective)

Synonyms: Extraordinary, glorious, grand, splendid, superb, wonderful. For example, if you say that something or someone is magnificent, you mean that you think it is extremely good. It is a magnificent country house in wooded grounds.

Impressive (adjective)

Synonyms: inspiring, grand, moving, thrilling. Something that is impressive impresses you. For example, it is great in size or in degree or is done with a great deal of skill. It is an impressive achievement.

Impress (verb)

Synonyms: Affect, influence, persuade, sway. For example, if something impresses you, you feel great admiration for it. What impressed him most was their speed.

Deal (noun)

Synonyms: Agreement, arrangement, bargain, contract, understanding. For example, if you say that you need or have a great deal of or a good deal of a particular thing, you are emphasizing that you need or have a lot of it. I'm in a position to save you a good deal of time.

Tragedy (noun)

Synonyms: Calamity, catastrophe, disaster, misadventure. For example, a tragedy is an extremely sad event or situation. They have suffered an enormous personal tragedy.

Involve (verb)

Synonyms: Comprise, consist of, contain, entail, include. For example, if a situation or activity involves something, that thing is a necessary part or consequence of it. Running a kitchen involves a great deal of discipline and speed.

Consequence (noun)

Synonyms: Aftermath, effect, price, repercussion, result. For example, the consequences of something are the results or effects of it. Her lawyer said she understood the consequence of her actions and was prepared to go to jail.

Rival (noun, verb)

Synonyms: challenger, competitor, contender, adversary, enemy. For example, your rival is a person, business, or organization against whom you are competing or fighting in the same area or for the same things. He eliminated his rival in brutal struggle for power.

Compete (verb)

Synonyms: contend, contest, rival, vie, combat, fight, strive, oppose. For example, when one firm or country competes with another, it tries to get people to buy its own goods in preference to those of the other firms or countries. Kangaroos compete with sheep and cattle for sparse supplies of food and water.

Preference (noun)

Synonyms: choice, desire, favorite, option, selection. For example, if you have a preference for something, you would like to have or do that thing rather than something else. Many of these products were bought because customers had a preference for them.

Engrave (verb)

For example, if you engrave something with a design of words, or if you engrave a design or words on it, you cut the design or words onto its surface.

Brutal (adjective)

Synonyms: vicious, savage, cruel, fierce, harsh, inhuman, ruthless, unmerciful, unforgiving. For example, a brutal act or person is cruel and violent. He was the victim of a very brutal murder.

Struggle (verb)

Synonyms: attempt, endeavor, offer, seek, strive, undertake. For example, if you struggle to do something, you try hard to do it, even though other people or things may be making it difficult for you to succeed. They had to struggle against all kinds of adversity.

Adversity (noun)

Synonyms: misfortune, mischance, mishap, tragedy. For example, adversity is a very difficult or unfavorable situation. He showed courage in adversity.

Awkward (adjective)

Synonyms: bumbling, clumsy, halting, heavy-handed, inept, lumbering, uncomfortable. For example, a situation in which you feel so embarrassed that you are not sure what to do or say. The more she tried to get out of the situation, the more awkward it became.

Prison (noun)

Synonyms: can, cooler, lockup, pen, penitentiary, reformatory, stockade. For example, a prison is a building where criminals are kept as punishment or where people accused of crime are kept before their trial. After being convicted of bank robbery, she was sent to prison.

Accuse (verb)

Synonyms: arraign, charge, criminalize, impeach, incriminate, inculpate, indict. For example, if you accuse someone of doing something wrong or dishonest, you say or tell them that you believe that they did. My mom was really upset because he was accusing her of having an affair with another man.

Approve (verb)

Synonyms: accept, favor, go for, accredit, certify, endorse, OK (or okay), sanction. For example, if you approve of an action, event, or suggestion, you like it or are pleased. Not everyone approved of the festival.

Dispute (noun, verb)

Synonyms: argue, bicker, hassle, quibble, squabble, wrangle. For example, a dispute is an argument or disagreement between people or groups. They have won previous pay disputes with the government. He disputed the allegations.

Allegation (noun)

For example, an allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong. The company denied the allegation.

Affair (noun)

Synonyms: business, concern, matter, shooting match, thing. For example, if an event or series of events has been mentioned and you want to talk about it again, you can refer to it as the affair. The government has mishandled the whole affair.

Critical (adjective)

Synonyms: acute, climacteric, crucial, desperate, dire. For example, a critical time, factor, or situation is extremely important. The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign.

Campaign (noun, verb)

A campaign is a planned set of activities that people carry out over a period of time in order to achieve something such as social or political change. For example, during his election campaign he promised to put the economy back on its feet. We are campaigning to improve the legal status of woman.

Carry out

Synonyms: administer, administrate, execute, govern, render. For example, if you carry out a threat, task, or instruction, you do it or act according to it. Police say that they believe the attacks were carried out by nationalists.

Investigate (verb)

Synonyms: explore, delve (into), dig (into), go (into), inquire (into), look (into), probe, prospect, sift. For example, if someone, especially an official, investigates an event, situation, or claim, he tries to find out what happened or what the truth is. Police are still investigating how the accident happened.

Dispatch (verb)

Synonyms: address, consign, forward, remit, route, ship, transmit. For example, if you dispatch someone to a place, you send him there for a particular reason. The Italian government was preparing to dispatch 4,000 soldiers to search the island.

Vague (adjective)

Synonyms: ambiguous, equivocal, opaque, uncertain, unclear, inexplicit, unintelligible. For example, if something written or spoken is vague, it does not explain or express things clearly. A lot of talk was apparently vague and general.

Amuse (verb)

Synonyms: divert, entertain, recreate. For example, if something amuses you, it makes you want to laugh and smile. The thought seemed to amuse him.

Vintage (adjective)

Synonyms: old fashioned, antiquated, antique, archaic, dated, old, outdated, outmoded. For example, you can use vintage to describe something which is the best and most typical of its kind. Are you interested in vintage automobiles?

Fascinate (verb)

Synonyms: grip, hold, mesmerize, spellbind, enthrall. For example, if something fascinates you, it interests and delights you so much that your thoughts tend to concentrate on it. Politics fascinated Franklin's father.

Belongings (noun)

Synonyms: effects, goods, movables, things, possessions. For example, your belongings are the things that you own, especially things that are small enough to be carried. I collected my belongings and left.

Lease (noun)

Synonyms: hire, charter, let, rent. For example, a lease is a legal agreement by which the owner of a building, a piece of land, or a car allows someone else to use it for a period of time in return for money. We've taken out a lease on an office building.

Vacate (verb)

Synonyms: abandon, give up, part (with or from), relinquish, leave, quit. For example, if you vacate a place or a job, you leave it or give it up, making it available for another person. He vacated the apartment and went to stay with an uncle.

Unrestrained (adjective)

Synonyms: excessive, immoderate, inordinate, intemperate, overindulgent. For example, if you describe someone's behavior as unrestrained, you mean that it is extreme or intense because he/she is expressing his/her feelings strongly or loudly. There was unrestrained joy on the faces of people.

Intense (adjective)

Synonyms: concentrated, desperate, exquisite, fierce, furious, terrible, vehement, vicious, violent. For example, intense is used to describe something that is very great or extreme in strength or degree. Suddenly, the room filled with intense light.

Applause (noun)

Synonyms: cheers, hand, ovation, round, cheering, clapping, rooting. For example, applause is the noise made by a group of people clapping their hands to show approval. They greeted him with thunderous applause.

Constitution (noun)

The constitution of a country or organization is the system of laws which formally states the people's rights and duties. The Constitution of the United States was written in 1776.

Vital (adjective)

Synonyms: essential, cardinal, constitutive, fundamental. For example, if you say that something is vital, you mean that it is necessary or important. The port is vital to supply relief to millions of droughts victims.

Concrete (adjective)

For example, you use concrete to indicate that something is definite and specific. There were no concrete proposals on the table.

Incentive (noun)

Synonyms: stimulus, catalyst, goad, impetus, impulse, incitation, incitement, motivation, stimulant. For example, if something is an incentive to do something, it encourages you to do it. There is little or no incentive to adopt such measures.

Mediate (verb)

Synonyms: interpose, intercede, interfere, intermediate, intervene, step in. For example, if someone mediates between two groups of people, he tries to settle an agreement by talking to both groups to find out which things they can both agree. Pakistan officials have mediated a series of peace meetings between the two sides.

Settle (verb)

Synonyms: calm, allay, becalm, compose, lull, quiet, quieted, soothe, still, tranquilize. If people settle an argument or problem, or if someone settles it, they solve it. For example, by making a decision about who is right or about what to do. They agreed to try to settle their dispute by negotiation.

Offense (noun)

Synonyms: attack, aggression, assailment, assault, offensive, downfall, onset, onslaught. For example, an offense is a crime that breaks a particular law and requires a punishment. A criminal offense is an act committed by someone which is in direct violation of the laws of a particular country.

Conspire (verb)

Synonyms: plot, cogitate, collogue, collude, connive, contrive, devise, intrigue, machinate, scheme. For example, if two or more people or groups conspire to do something illegal or harmful, they make a secret agreement to do it. They'd conspired to overthrow the government.

Overthrow (verb)

Synonyms: overturn, knock over, overset, tip (over), topple, turn over, upset. For example, when a government or leader is overthrown, he/she is removed by force. That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.

Seize (verb)

Synonyms: appropriate, annex, arrogate, commandeer, confiscate, expropriate, preempt, sequester. For example, when a group of people seize a place or seize control of it, they take control of it quickly and suddenly, using force. Army officers plotted a failed attempt yesterday to seize power.

Bribe (noun)

Synonyms: buy, buy off, fix, have. For example, a bribe is a sum of money or something valuable that one person offers or gives to another in order to persuade him or her to do something. He was being investigated for receiving bribes.

Precision (noun)

Synonyms: accuracy, correctness, definiteness, definitiveness, definitude, exactitude, exactness, preciseness. For example, if you do something with precision, you do it exactly as it should be done. The interior is planned with a precision the military would be proud of. Adjective: made or done in a very exact way. The wheat is milled with precision grinding.

Retard (verb)

Synonyms: delay, decelerate, detain, hang up, mire, set back, slacken, slow (up or down). For example, if something retards a process, or the development of something, it makes it happen more slowly. (Formal) Continuing violence will retard negotiations over the country's future.

Extinction (noun)

For example, the extinction of a species of animal or plant is the death of all its remaining living members. An operation is beginning to try to save a species of crocodile from extinction.

Encroach (verb)

Synonyms: trespass, entrench, infringe, invade. For example, if one thing encroaches on another, the first thing spreads or becomes stronger, and slowly begins to restrict the power, range, or effectiveness of the second. Any attempt to encroach upon presidential prerogatives in this domain was quickly and firmly resisted.

Domain (noun)

Synonyms: field, dominion, province, sphere, terrain, territory, walk. For example, a domain is a particular field of thought, activity, or interest, especially one over which someone has control, influence, or rights. (Formal) This information should be in the public domain.

Deliberate (adjective)

Synonyms: planned, projected, schemed, calculated, careful, meticulous, scrupulous, foresighted, forethoughtful, provident, prudent. For example, if you do something that is deliberate, you planned or decided to do it beforehand, and so it happens on purpose rather than by chance. Witnesses say the firing was deliberate and sustained.

Ancient (adjective)

Synonyms: aged, age-old, antediluvian, antique, hoary, old, timeworn, venerable, obsolete. For example, ancient means very old or something which has existed for a long time. They have practiced ancient Jewish traditions all of their lives.

Pile (noun, verb)

Synonyms: drift, heap, hill, mass, mound, mountain, mow, pyramid. For example, a pile of things is a quantity of things that have been put neatly somewhere so that each thing is on top of the one below. There is a pile of boxes in the garage. If you pile things somewhere, you put them there so that they form a pile. He was piling clothes into the case.

Lean (verb, adjective)

For example, if you lean on or against someone or something, you rest against it so that it partly supports your weight. If you lean an object on or against something, you place the object so that it is partly supported by that thing. She was feeling tired and was glad to lean against him. Lean can also mean to become thin or to lose weight. After three weeks of long distance running and weight-lifting, she became very lean.

Mow (verb)

Synonyms: clip, crop, cut. For example, if you mow an area of grass, you cut it using a machine called lawn mower. He continued to mow the lawn and do other routine chores.

Chore (noun)

Synonyms: task, assignment, duty, job. For example, chores are tasks such as cleaning, washing, and ironing that have to be done regularly at home. My husband and I both go out to work, so we share the household chores.

Prospect (noun)

Synonyms: vista, lookout, outlook, perspective. For example, if there is some prospect of something happening, there is a possibility that it will happen. What are my promotion prospects in this job?

Unanimous (adjective)

Synonyms: agreed, agreeing, concordant, concurrent, harmonious. For example, when a group of people are unanimous, they all agree about something or all vote for the same thing. The people were unanimous in their condemnation of the proposals.

Prestigious (adjective)

Synonyms: famous, celebrated, distinguished, eminent, famed, illustrious, notable, prominent, renowned. For example, a prestigious institution, job, or activity is respected and admired by people.

Equip (verb)

Synonyms: furnish, accouter, appoint, arm, fit out, gear, outfit, rig, turn out. For example, if you equip a person or things with something, you give him/her the tools or equipment that are needed. Thanks to some endowments from some private companies, this laboratory is a well-equipped research building.

Abuse (noun)

Synonyms: contumely, invective, obloquy, scurrility, vituperation. For example, abuse of something is cruel and violent treatment of it. The police conducted an investigation of alleged child abuse.

Submit (verb)

Synonyms: bring, deliver, present, offer, proffer, tender, send in, provide. For example, if you submit a proposal, report, or request to someone, you formally send it to him/her so that he/she can consider it or decide about it. They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.

Allocation (noun)

For example, an allocation is an amount of something, especially money that is given to a particular person or used for a particular purpose. We need to reconsider allocations for expenditures.

Beforehand (adjective)

Synonyms: before, ahead, ante, antecedently, fore, forward, in advance, precedent, previous. For example, if you do something beforehand, you do it earlier than a particular event. That sounds fine to me. I'll bring chairs over from my office beforehand.

Itinerary (noun)

For example, an itinerary is a plan or journey, including the route and places that you will visit. Do you need a copy of his itinerary for France?

Vocabulary Group 1

#WordMeaning
1Accidentallyby chance; without advance planning
2Accordancein a manner conforming with
3Accuserssomeone who imputes guilt or blame
4Achievereach or attain (a desired objective, level, or result) by effort, skill
5Anxiousexperiencing worry, unease, or nervousness
6AppealMake a serious or urgent request, typically to the public.
7Appearcome into sight
8ApplaudedShowed praise
9ApplauseApproval or praise expressed by clapping.
10AptitudeA natural tendency to do something well, especially one that can be further developed
11AquifersA layer of rock or soil that can hold or transmit water
12ArableLand used or suitable for growing crops
13Argumentsan exchange of diverging or opposite views
14AspirationsA desire or ambition to achieve something
15Associatedconnected with something else
16AttemptTry to do some thing
17Barriera circumstance or obstacle that keeps people or things apart or prevents communication or progress
18BeamingSmiling in very obvious way
19BeneathExtending or directly underneath, typically with close contact underneath so as to be hidden, covered, or protected.
20BlogA biographical web log the page usually contains some-one's personal opinions, comments, and experiences.
21BroadcastTo transmit a program on television or radio
22Bystandersa person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part.
23Caliphthe chief Muslim civil and religious ruler.
24Celebratepublicly acknowledge with a social gathering or enjoyable activity
25ChivalryThe qualities of being polite and honest
26CircumstancesEnvironmental conditions of an act or event
27Commandmenta divine rule
28Commonplacenot unusual; ordinary not interesting or original; trite.
29Concessionsa thing that is granted.
30ConfessedTo admit a wrongdoing, crime, or error openly
31Conflicta serious disagreement or argument
32Conquerovercome and take control of (a place or people) by use of military force
33ConsiderationsSomething to be taken into account before making a decision
34Constructedbuild or erect (something, typically a building, road, or machine
35ContestA competition in which people try to win something
36ConvictProve in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime
37Countrymana person who lives in or comes from the same country as you
38CoverageThe action of covering something for the press
39Criminala person who has committed a crime.
40CriticalSerious
41CurrentPresent-day
42Customa traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time.
43Customaryaccording to the customs or usual practices
44DawnedBegin ( a day)
45DecadeA period of ten years
46DefyDisobey
47Demandedask authoritatively or brusquely. insist on having.
48Demandedask authoritatively or brusquely insist on having.
49DemiseThe time when some things stops existing
50DepletedReduced

Vocabulary Group 2

#WordMeaning
1Destitutewithout the basic necessities of life not having.
2Destructionthe action or process of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired the action or process of killing or being killed.
3Dirhamsthe basic monetary unit of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates
4Disgraceloss of reputation or respect
5DistinctMarked
6DynamicActive and changing
7Encouragedgive support, confidence, or hope
8EnhanceImprove
9Equitablefair and impartial
10EscalateTo become or make something greater or more intense
11EscapeTo get away from a place where one has been a prisoner
12Eternallasting or existing forever
13Eternallasting or existing forever; without end or beginning; unchanging.
14Evidencethe available body of facts or information
15ExcelBe better than
16Executionthe carrying out or putting into effect of a plan, order, or course of action. The killing of somebody as part of a legal process
17Favoran attitude of approval or liking support or advancement given as a sign of approval.
18Festivalsa day or period of celebration
19Festiveof or relating to a festival cheerful and jovially celebratory.
20FixSpot to trouble, to make correct
21Forgivenessthe action or process of forgiving or being forgiven.
22Fortunechance or luck
23FossilAn animal or plant that lived many thousands of years ago and is preserved in rock or as a piece of rock
24Furiouslyin a wild and stormy manner
25Goodnessthe quality of being good, in particular virtue; moral excellence.
26Haltedto a stop
27Handingpick (something) up and give to (someone).
28Hangedsuspend
29Honorhigh respect
30Illustrateprovide with pictures explain or make clear by using examples, charts, pictures, etc.
31Implementationthe process of putting a decision or plan into effect;
32Incidencethe occurrence, rate, or frequency of a disease, crime, or something else
33IndividualSingle; separate.
34InnovativeNew and creative
35IntegrityRighteousness
36Intercedeintervene on behalf of another.
37Irrespectiveregardless of.
38Justicethe quality of being fair and reasonable.
39LeisureThe state of having time at one's own disposal
40LoatheTo dislike somebody or some things intensely
41LuxuryDelight
42Magnitudethe great size or extent of something great importance
43Manlinessthe traditional male quality of being brave and strong
44Mentionsrefer to something briefly and without going into detail
45MerelyOnly
46Messengera person who carries a message
47MightStrength
48monsteran imaginary creature that is typically large, ugly, and frightening.
49MotivationInspiration
50Murderera person who commits murder; a killer.

Vocabulary Group 3

#WordMeaning
1NegateProve something is false
2OmitLeave somebody or something out
3OrphanA child whose parents are dead
4Partakejoin in
5ParticipantA person who takes part in something
6Patiencethe capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
7Perfectionbeing free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects
8Perseverecontinue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.
9Perspiringgive out sweat through the pores of the skin as the result of heat, physical exertion, or stress.
10Phasesa distinct period or stage in a process of change or forming
11PietyThe quality of being religious
12Pleasurea feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment
13Praisedexpress warm approval or admiration of express one's respect and gratitude
14PrevailBe or become the more widespread or more usual, be widespread in a particular area at a particular time; be current.
15Priorexisting or coming before in time, order, or importance.
16PriorityMost important thing
17Proclaimedannounce officially or publicly declare something one considers important with due emphasis.
18ProficientVery skillful at something
19Prosperitythe state of being prosperous.
20RecaptureTo take back somebody that has escaped
21Recipienta person or thing that receives or is awarded something.
22ReeledMoved backward quickly
23Regardingwith respect to; concerning.
24Remainedcontinue to exist, especially after other similar or related people or things have ceased to exist.
25Representedbe entitled or appointed to act or speak for (someone)
26Reputationthe beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something a widespread belief that someone or something has a particular habit or characteristic.
27ResultantlyResulting from
28revelationThe revealing of something previously hidden or secret
29Rewarda thing given in recognition of one's service, effort, or achievement.
30RewardingGiven as reward
31Roaringmaking or uttering a loud, deep, or harsh prolonged sound (of a fire) burning fiercely and noisily.
32Ruinedreduce (a building or place) to a state of decay, collapse
33SentencePunishment by judge
34Sentenceddeclare the punishment decided for (an offender).
35Sermona talk on a religious or moral subject
36SignificanceThe importance that something has because it affects other things
37Smashingviolently break (something) into pieces
38Spinningturn or cause to turn
39Spiritsthe soul the nonphysical part of a person regarded as a person's true self and as capable of surviving physical death or separation.
40Spiritualof, relating to, or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things
41Springmove or jump suddenly or rapidly upward or forward move rapidly
42Stealingtake (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it dishonestly.
43SturdyHaving a well-developed strong-look body and limbs
44SuretySomeone responsible for another person's behavior
45Surrenderedcease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority.
46Thoroughlycompletely
47Thoughdespite the fact that
48Throughoutall the way through, in particular. in every part of
49Traditionallong-established produced, done, or used in accordance with tradition.
50Traitsa distinguishing quality or characteristic

Vocabulary Group 4

#WordMeaning
1Transcendsbe or go beyond the range or limits of, surpass
2TrialThe procedure by which a court determines the guilt or innocence of an accused person
3TrusteeAn individual person or member of a board given control or powers of administration.
4Upheldconfirm or support
5VulnerableIn danger
6Wardingguard; protect
7Warm heartedFriendly and generous
8Whispersspeak very softly
9Witnessesa person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take place.
10Wondrousinspiring a feeling of wonder or delight; marvelous.

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