English vocabulary · C1

These are the 1,007 words that English courses and textbooks teach at level C1 (Advanced). Each one comes with a definition and an example sentence in English, with no translation: the way native speakers learn.

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Word	Meaning	Example
acute	Very serious or severe, often starting suddenly.	The hospital is facing an acute* shortage of nurses this winter.*
addictive	So enjoyable or strong that people find it hard to stop doing or using it.	This puzzle game is so addictive* that I played it until 2 a.m.*
affordable	Cheap enough for ordinary people to pay for.	Young couples are struggling to find affordable* housing in the city.*
allergic	Having a bad physical reaction to something, such as a food or an animal.	I can't eat these biscuits because I'm allergic* to nuts.*
anonymous	Done or written by someone whose name is not known or not given.	The charity received a huge donation from an anonymous* businessman.*
applicable	Relevant to or able to be used in a particular situation.	The new rules are only applicable* to students who started this year.*
approximate	Close to the exact number or amount, but not completely correct.	The approximate* cost of the repairs is about two thousand pounds.*
bankrupt	Officially unable to pay your debts.	After three bad years, the small airline finally went bankrupt.
bilingual	Able to speak two languages equally well.	Having a Spanish mother and a Scottish father, Lucy grew up bilingual.
bizarre	Very strange and difficult to explain.	We heard a bizarre* story about a parrot that could order pizza.*
blunt	Saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite or kind.	To be blunt, your essay needs a lot more work.
chaotic	In a state of complete confusion and disorder.	The first day of the sale was completely chaotic, with people pushing everywhere.
charitable	Kind and generous, especially in giving help or money to people in need.	My aunt does a lot of charitable* work for the local hospice.*
compassionate	Showing kindness and understanding towards people who are suffering.	The nurse was patient and compassionate* with every frightened child.*
competent	Having enough skill or knowledge to do something well.	She's a very competent* driver, so I feel safe in her car.*
concise	Short and clear, using only the words that are needed.	Please keep your answers concise; we only have ten minutes.
confidential	Meant to be kept secret and shared only with certain people.	Patients' medical records are strictly confidential.
considerate	Always thinking about other people's feelings and needs.	It was very considerate* of you to bring me soup when I was ill.*
contagious	Easily passed from one person to another by touch or close contact.	Stay at home until you are no longer contagious.
cosmopolitan	Full of people and influences from many different countries.	London is one of the most cosmopolitan* cities in the world.*
cosy	Warm, comfortable and pleasant, especially in a small space.	We spent the evening in a cosy* little café near the harbour.*
costly	Costing a lot of money, or causing a lot of loss or harm.	Choosing the cheaper builder turned out to be a costly* mistake.*
deceptive	Giving a false idea of what something is really like.	The calm sea was deceptive; strong currents lay beneath the surface.
defensive	Reacting as if you are being criticised or attacked.	He gets very defensive* whenever anyone mentions his cooking.*
deliberate	Done on purpose, not by accident.	The referee decided the foul was deliberate* and showed a red card.*
dense	Having parts or people very close together; thick and hard to see through.	The hikers got lost in the dense* fog on the mountain.*
detrimental	Causing damage or harm.	Lack of sleep can have a detrimental* effect on your memory.*
devoted	Loving or caring about someone or something very much.	Tom is a devoted* father who never misses his daughter's matches.*
disposable	Made to be used once or a few times and then thrown away.	The café has stopped selling drinks in disposable* cups.*
disruptive	Causing trouble and stopping something from continuing normally.	The teacher moved the most disruptive* pupils to the front of the class.*
durable	Able to last a long time without breaking or getting worse.	These walking boots are expensive but extremely durable.
eccentric	Behaving in a strange and unusual way that others find interesting or funny.	Our eccentric* neighbour walks his cat on a lead every morning.*
edible	Safe or suitable to eat.	Some of these mushrooms are edible, but others are poisonous.
entitled	Having the right to have or do something.	All employees are entitled* to 25 days of paid holiday.*
erratic	Changing often and suddenly, without a regular pattern.	The old bus has a very erratic* timetable, so we often wait ages.*
exotic	Unusual and exciting because it comes from a distant country.	The market sells exotic* fruits I had never seen before.*
fatal	Causing death, or leading to complete failure.	Forgetting to save his work was a fatal* error.*
fertile	Able to produce good crops, or to produce babies or young.	The river valley has fertile* soil that is perfect for farming.*
fictional	Invented for a story; not real.	Sherlock Holmes is probably the most famous fictional* detective.*
fluent	Able to speak a language easily and well.	After a year in Lisbon, Anna was fluent* in Portuguese.*
forthcoming	Happening or appearing soon.	Details of the forthcoming* concert will be announced next week.*
frantic	Very anxious, hurried and out of control because of fear or worry.	There was a frantic* search for the missing keys before we left.*
gloomy	Dark and depressing, or feeling sad and without hope.	It was a gloomy* November afternoon with heavy grey clouds.*
graphic	Showing violent or unpleasant details very clearly.	The film contains some graphic* scenes that may upset young viewers.*
hazardous	Dangerous, especially to people's health or safety.	Workers must wear masks when handling hazardous* chemicals.*
hectic	Very busy and full of activity.	December is always a hectic* month in the restaurant.*
heroic	Very brave and admired by many people.	The firefighters made a heroic* effort to save the old building.*
hilarious	So funny that it makes you laugh a lot.	The comedian was hilarious; the whole audience was crying with laughter.
hypocritical	Saying that you have certain beliefs while acting in a way that shows the opposite.	It's hypocritical* to tell people to recycle if you never do it yourself.*
idle	Not working or not being used; also, lazy.	The factory machines have been idle* since the strike began.*
illiterate	Unable to read or write.	In the past, many villagers were illiterate* and signed with a cross.*
immune	Protected from a disease, or not affected by something.	Once you've had chickenpox, you're usually immune* to it.*
impartial	Not supporting any side in an argument or competition; fair.	A judge must remain completely impartial* during a trial.*
impulsive	Doing things suddenly without thinking carefully first.	In an impulsive* moment, she booked a flight to Iceland.*
inclusive	Welcoming and including everyone, whatever their background or ability.	The club wants to be inclusive, so membership is free for students.
indifferent	Not interested in or caring about something.	He seemed completely indifferent* to the result of the match.*
inferior	Not as good as something or someone else.	The cheaper speakers produce inferior* sound quality.*
informative	Giving useful facts or knowledge.	The museum guide was friendly and very informative.
insecure	Not confident about yourself or your abilities.	Many teenagers feel insecure* about the way they look.*
insignificant	Too small or unimportant to be worth considering.	Compared with the rent, the cost of the bus pass is insignificant.
intact	Complete and not damaged.	Amazingly, the vase arrived intact* after the long journey.*
intrusive	Getting too involved in someone's private life in an unwelcome way.	I found the journalist's questions rather intrusive.
irritating	Making you feel annoyed.	The constant beeping of the alarm was really irritating.
lethal	Strong or dangerous enough to cause death.	Some snakes carry a lethal* amount of poison in a single bite.*
lively	Full of energy, activity and interest.	The square is lively* in the evenings, with music and street food.*
lucrative	Producing a lot of money or profit.	Selling handmade jewellery online became a lucrative* business for her.*
magnificent	Extremely beautiful, impressive or grand.	From the tower we had a magnificent* view of the whole valley.*
meaningful	Important, serious or useful in a way that matters.	Volunteering gave her life a more meaningful* purpose.*
memorable	Special or unusual enough to be remembered for a long time.	Our trip to the desert was the most memorable* holiday we've had.*
metropolitan	Connected with a large city and the area around it.	The metropolitan* area now has a population of over five million.*
modest	Not talking much about your own abilities or success; also, not large.	Despite winning the prize, she was very modest* about her talent.*
monetary	Connected with money, especially the money of a country.	The central bank is changing its monetary* policy.*
obese	Extremely fat in a way that is dangerous for health.	Doctors warn that more children are becoming obese.
obsessive	Thinking about something far too much, so you cannot stop.	He's obsessive* about cleaning his car every single day.*
outgoing	Friendly and enjoying meeting and talking to new people.	Maria is very outgoing* and made friends on her first day.*
overweight	Heavier than is healthy or normal.	The vet said our dog was slightly overweight* and needed more walks.*
passive	Accepting what happens without trying to change it or take action.	Don't be so passive; tell your manager what you want.
petty	Small and unimportant, or caring too much about small things.	They stopped speaking because of a petty* argument about parking.*
philosophical	Calm and accepting when something bad happens.	He was philosophical* about losing his job and soon found another.*
pointless	Having no purpose or useful result.	It's pointless* arguing with him; he never changes his mind.*
polluted	Made dirty and harmful by chemicals, waste or other substances.	Fish can no longer survive in the polluted* river.*
portable	Light and small enough to be carried easily.	We took a portable* speaker to the beach.*
preliminary	Coming before the main part of something, to prepare for it.	The preliminary* results suggest the treatment works.*
premature	Happening too early or before the right time.	It's premature* to celebrate; the votes haven't all been counted.*
priceless	So valuable that nobody could put a price on it.	The museum guards a collection of priceless* paintings.*
prone	Likely to suffer from something or to behave in a certain way.	I'm prone* to headaches when I don't drink enough water.*
rebellious	Refusing to obey rules or people in authority.	As a rebellious* teenager, he dyed his hair green.*
reckless	Doing dangerous things without caring about the results.	The driver was fined for reckless* driving near a school.*
refreshing	Making you feel cooler, less tired, or pleasantly different.	After the hike, a cold lemonade was very refreshing.
repetitive	Doing or saying the same thing many times, so it becomes boring.	Factory work can be very repetitive.
residential	Having mainly homes rather than offices or factories.	They live in a quiet residential* area outside the town centre.*
respectable	Considered acceptable, good or proper by society.	He wore a suit to look respectable* at the interview.*
rewarding	Giving you satisfaction because it is useful or important.	Teaching can be hard, but it is very rewarding.
risky	Involving the possibility of danger, loss or failure.	Investing all your savings in one company is risky.
seasonal	Happening or available only at a certain time of year.	The restaurant changes its menu to use seasonal* vegetables.*
sedentary	Involving a lot of sitting and little physical activity.	Office workers often have a very sedentary* lifestyle.*
shallow	Not deep; or not showing serious thought or feeling.	Young children should swim at the shallow* end of the pool.*
simultaneous	Happening or done at exactly the same time.	The conference offers simultaneous* translation into five languages.*
sinister	Seeming evil or dangerous.	There was something sinister* about the empty house at night.*
skilled	Having the training and experience to do a job well.	The company is looking for skilled* workers such as electricians.*
solitary	Done alone or existing alone, without others.	My grandfather enjoys long, solitary* walks along the coast.*
spacious	Having a lot of room inside.	The new flat has a spacious* kitchen with room for a big table.*
stubborn	Refusing to change your opinion or behaviour, even when you should.	My brother is too stubborn* to admit he was wrong.*
sufficient	As much as is needed; enough.	There isn't sufficient* evidence to prove he took the money.*
supportive	Giving help, kindness and encouragement.	My family was very supportive* when I decided to change careers.*
tedious	Long, slow and boring.	Copying the data by hand was a tedious* task.*
tolerant	Willing to accept other people's beliefs or behaviour, even if you disagree.	We should be tolerant* of people with different opinions.*
toxic	Containing poison or substances that can damage health.	The factory was accused of dumping toxic* waste in the lake.*
transparent	Clear enough to see through; or open and honest, with nothing hidden.	The council promised a more transparent* way of spending public money.*
unbearable	Too painful or unpleasant to deal with.	The heat in the car was almost unbearable.
unconscious	In a state like sleep, caused by an injury or illness.	The player was knocked unconscious* after colliding with the post.*
unpredictable	Changing so much that you cannot know what will happen.	The weather in the mountains is very unpredictable.
upbeat	Cheerful and positive about the future.	Despite the bad news, the coach remained upbeat* about the season.*
vague	Not clear or detailed.	He gave only a vague* answer about where he had been.*
verbal	Spoken rather than written; connected with words.	We had a verbal* agreement, but nothing on paper.*
vivid	Very bright and clear, or producing strong images in your mind.	I have vivid* memories of my first day at school.*
wary	Careful because you think there may be danger or problems.	Cats are often wary* of strangers.*
worthwhile	Useful or enjoyable enough to be worth the time, money or effort.	The course was expensive but definitely worthwhile.
adamant	Very sure about something and refusing to change your mind.	She was adamant* that she had locked the door before leaving.*
apprehensive	Worried or nervous about something that is going to happen.	I felt a little apprehensive* before my first driving lesson.*
articulate	Able to express ideas clearly and effectively in words.	The young speaker was confident and remarkably articulate.
astute	Clever at understanding situations quickly and using this to your advantage.	An astute* investor, she sold her shares just before prices fell.*
benign	Not harmful, especially describing a growth in the body that is not cancer.	Luckily, the doctor said the lump was benign.
candid	Honest and direct, even when the truth is uncomfortable.	In a candid* interview, the actor talked about his early failures.*
cohesive	Forming a united whole whose parts work well together.	The new manager turned the players into a cohesive* team.*
commendable	Good enough to deserve praise and admiration.	The volunteers showed commendable* patience with the confused visitors.*
complacent	Too satisfied with yourself, so you stop trying to improve or notice dangers.	We're top of the league, but we can't afford to become complacent.
conducive	Providing conditions that make something likely to happen.	A quiet, tidy room is conducive* to good study.*
contentious	Likely to cause strong disagreement between people.	The plan to close the library proved highly contentious.
conspicuous	Very easy to notice because it is different.	In his bright orange jacket, he was conspicuous* among the guests.*
culpable	Deserving blame for something wrong.	The report found the company culpable* for the accident.*
daunting	Making you feel worried that you may not be able to do something.	Moving to a new country alone can be a daunting* experience.*
derogatory	Showing a very low opinion of someone in an insulting way.	He was suspended for making derogatory* remarks about a colleague.*
diligent	Working hard and carefully.	Thanks to diligent* research, she found the missing letters.*
discreet	Careful not to attract attention or reveal private information.	The hotel staff are polite and very discreet.
disillusioned	Disappointed because something is not as good as you believed.	Many young voters feel disillusioned* with traditional parties.*
elusive	Difficult to find, catch, achieve or remember.	Success remained elusive* for the band for many years.*
entrenched	Firmly fixed and very difficult to change.	Changing entrenched* habits takes more than a week.*
exemplary	So good that it should be copied by others.	The pupil was praised for her exemplary* behaviour.*
far-reaching	Having a big effect on many people or things.	The new law will have far-reaching* consequences for farmers.*
fervent	Showing very strong and sincere feelings.	He is a fervent* supporter of his local football club.*
formidable	Powerful or difficult in a way that makes you feel respect or fear.	Our opponents in the final will be formidable.
frail	Physically weak and thin, usually because of age or illness.	My great-grandmother is frail* but still very sharp.*
gruelling	Very difficult and tiring for a long time.	The cyclists faced a gruelling* climb through the Alps.*
hesitant	Slow to speak or act because you feel uncertain.	She was hesitant* to accept the job offer at first.*
idealistic	Believing in perfect standards that may not be possible in real life.	As a young, idealistic* teacher, he hoped to change the world.*
illicit	Not allowed by law or by social rules.	Police discovered an illicit* trade in rare birds.*
imperative	Extremely important and urgent.	It is imperative* that we leave before the storm arrives.*
incessant	Never stopping, often in an annoying way.	The incessant* noise of the traffic kept me awake.*
indispensable	So important or useful that you cannot manage without it.	A good dictionary is indispensable* for translators.*
ingenious	Very clever, original and inventive.	She came up with an ingenious* way to store her bikes on the ceiling.*
insatiable	Always wanting more and never satisfied.	The boy has an insatiable* appetite for books about space.*
intricate	Having many small parts or details that are arranged in a complicated way.	The carpet has an intricate* pattern of flowers and birds.*
intrinsic	Being a basic part of what something is.	Music has an intrinsic* value beyond making money.*
invasive	Spreading in a harmful way, or involving cutting into the body.	The surgeon recommended a less invasive* treatment.*
ironic	Strange or funny because it is the opposite of what you would expect.	It's ironic* that the fire station burned down.*
lavish	Large, impressive and expensive.	They held a lavish* party with live music and fireworks.*
lucid	Clearly expressed and easy to understand; or able to think clearly.	The professor gave a lucid* explanation of a very difficult theory.*
meticulous	Very careful and paying great attention to every detail.	The editor is meticulous* about checking every date and name.*
momentous	Very important because of its great effect on the future.	The moon landing was a momentous* event in human history.*
negligent	Not giving enough care or attention to something you are responsible for.	The landlord was found negligent* for ignoring the broken stairs.*
nostalgic	Feeling happy and a little sad when remembering the past.	Old photos always make my dad feel nostalgic.
obsolete	No longer used because something newer has replaced it.	Fax machines are almost obsolete* in most offices.*
ominous	Suggesting that something bad is going to happen.	Dark, ominous* clouds were gathering over the hills.*
overt	Done openly, not secretly.	There was no overt* criticism, but we could tell he was unhappy.*
palpable	So strong that it can almost be felt or touched.	The tension in the room before the results was palpable.
paramount	More important than anything else.	Passenger safety is paramount* for any airline.*
pertinent	Directly connected with what is being discussed.	Please keep your questions pertinent* to today's topic.*
pragmatic	Dealing with problems in a practical way rather than following theories.	We need a pragmatic* solution that we can afford.*
precarious	Not safe or certain; likely to fall or get worse.	The climber was in a precarious* position on the narrow ledge.*
profound	Very great or intense, or showing deep understanding.	Travelling alone had a profound* effect on her confidence.*
prolific	Producing a large number of works, results or goals.	She is a prolific* writer who publishes two novels a year.*
rampant	Spreading or growing quickly and without control.	Weeds were rampant* in the abandoned garden.*
resolute	Determined and not willing to change your aim.	Despite the criticism, the mayor remained resolute.
robust	Strong, healthy and unlikely to break or fail.	We need a robust* system that can handle millions of users.*
salient	Most important or most noticeable.	The report summarises the salient* points in a single page.*
scathing	Criticising something very strongly and harshly.	The film received a scathing* review in the weekend paper.*
staggering	So great or surprising that it is hard to believe.	The house sold for a staggering* amount of money.*
stark	Very plain and clear, often in an unpleasant way.	The photos show a stark* contrast between rich and poor areas.*
stringent	Very strict and demanding.	The lab has stringent* safety rules for handling samples.*
susceptible	Easily influenced, harmed or affected by something.	Older people are more susceptible* to infections in winter.*
tangible	Real and able to be seen, touched or measured.	After months of training, we are starting to see tangible* results.*
tentative	Not certain or definite; done without confidence.	We've made tentative* plans to meet in June.*
unwarranted	Not deserved or not necessary.	The fans thought the referee's decision was completely unwarranted.
versatile	Able to do many different things or be used in many different ways.	Eggs are a versatile* ingredient in the kitchen.*
volatile	Likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly, often for the worse.	Fuel prices have been very volatile* this year.*
accompany	To go somewhere with someone; or to play music for a singer.	Children under twelve must be accompanied* by an adult.*
alert	To warn someone about a danger or a situation.	A neighbour smelled smoke and alerted* the fire brigade.*
amend	To make small changes to a text or law to improve it.	The club voted to amend* its rules on guests.*
amuse	To make someone laugh or smile.	My little brother tried to amuse* the baby by pulling faces.*
applaud	To clap your hands to show approval; or to praise.	The audience stood up to applaud* the dancers.*
assemble	To come together in a group, or to fit the parts of something together.	It took us three hours to assemble* the wardrobe.*
attribute	To say or believe that something is caused by or belongs to someone or something.	Doctors attribute* his quick recovery to his excellent fitness.*
bargain	To discuss a price to try to get a better deal.	In the market, tourists are expected to bargain* with the sellers.*
betray	To be disloyal to someone who trusted you.	He felt his best friend had betrayed* him by telling his secret.*
bounce	To move up and away again after hitting a surface.	The ball bounced* off the wall and into the net.*
capture	To catch a person or animal; or to show something accurately in a picture or words.	The photograph captures* the joy on the children's faces.*
cherish	To love and care for something or someone very much.	I will always cherish* the memories of that summer.*
circulate	To move around freely, or to pass information from person to person.	Rumours about the new manager began to circulate* around the office.*
classify	To put things into groups according to their type.	Librarians classify* books by subject.*
coincide	To happen at the same time as something else.	My birthday coincides* with the first day of the festival this year.*
collide	To crash into something or someone while moving.	Two cyclists collided* at the busy junction this morning.*
compose	To write music, a poem or a letter.	Mozart began to compose* music when he was five.*
compromise	To accept less than you wanted in order to reach an agreement.	In the end, we compromised* and went to the beach in the morning only.*
congratulate	To tell someone you are happy about their success or good news.	Everyone rushed to congratulate* her on passing the exam.*
consent	To agree to something or give permission for it.	Her parents consented* to the school trip abroad.*
contaminate	To make something dirty or poisonous by adding a harmful substance.	Chemicals from the farm contaminated* the local water supply.*
crack	To break so that lines appear on the surface; or to solve a difficult problem.	Detectives finally cracked* the case after ten years.*
crush	To press something so hard that it breaks or loses its shape.	Crush the garlic with the flat side of a knife.
decorate	To make something look more attractive by adding things to it.	We decorated* the hall with balloons for the party.*
deduct	To take an amount away from a total.	The bank will deduct* the fee from your account each month.*
defy	To refuse to obey a person, law or rule.	Thousands of fans defied* the ban and gathered outside the stadium.*
depart	To leave, especially to start a journey.	The train to Edinburgh departs* from platform four.*
descend	To move down from a higher place.	The plane began to descend* towards the runway.*
diagnose	To find out what illness someone has by examining them.	It took the doctors weeks to diagnose* the problem.*
digest	To change food in the stomach so the body can use it; or to understand information.	Give yourself time to digest* the news before you decide.*
dispose	To get rid of something, usually followed by "of".	Please dispose* of your rubbish in the bins provided.*
dissolve	To mix with a liquid and become part of it.	Stir the coffee until the sugar has completely dissolved.
distract	To take someone's attention away from what they are doing.	Don't distract* the driver while he's reversing.*
diversify	To start making or doing a wider range of things.	The farm decided to diversify* by opening a café.*
embrace	To hold someone closely in your arms; or to accept new ideas eagerly.	The town quickly embraced* the idea of a car-free Sunday.*
emigrate	To leave your country to live permanently in another one.	Her grandparents emigrated* to Canada in the 1960s.*
endorse	To say publicly that you support or approve of something.	Several famous athletes endorsed* the new sports drink.*
endure	To suffer something painful or difficult for a long time with patience.	The sailors had to endure* weeks of storms.*
enlarge	To make something bigger.	Could you enlarge* this photo so I can frame it?*
enrol	To officially join a course or school.	I'm going to enrol* on an evening course in photography.*
erupt	When a volcano does this, it suddenly throws out smoke, fire and rock.	The volcano erupted* without warning, covering the town in ash.*
evacuate	To move people out of a dangerous place to somewhere safe.	Firefighters had to evacuate* the whole building.*
evaporate	To change from liquid into gas; or to disappear slowly.	The puddles soon evaporated* in the hot sun.*
flee	To escape quickly from danger.	The family fled* their home when the flood water rose.*
forbid	To order someone not to do something.	My parents forbid* me to use my phone at the dinner table.*
glance	To look at something quickly.	She glanced* at her watch and realised she was late.*
grasp	To hold something firmly; or to understand something completely.	It took me a while to grasp* the rules of cricket.*
heal	To become healthy again, or to make a wound better.	The cut on his knee took two weeks to heal.
hesitate	To pause before doing or saying something because you are uncertain.	If you need anything, don't hesitate* to call me.*
impair	To damage something so that it does not work as well.	Loud music can impair* your hearing over time.*
insert	To put something into something else.	Insert your card and enter your PIN.
inspect	To look at something carefully to check it.	An engineer came to inspect* the bridge after the storm.*
insult	To say or do something rude that offends someone.	He didn't mean to insult* the chef by adding salt.*
interact	To communicate with or affect each other.	The app lets students interact* with teachers online.*
irritate	To make someone annoyed; or to make part of the body sore.	This soap can irritate* sensitive skin.*
kidnap	To take someone away illegally and keep them as a prisoner.	In the novel, the gang plans to kidnap* a famous singer.*
linger	To stay somewhere longer than necessary, or to continue to exist.	The smell of burnt toast lingered* in the kitchen all morning.*
merge	To combine two or more things into one.	The two banks will merge* next year.*
mislead	To make someone believe something that is not true.	The advert was banned for trying to mislead* customers.*
mourn	To feel and show great sadness because someone has died.	The whole village mourned* the loss of the old doctor.*
multiply	To increase greatly in number; or to add a number to itself a certain number of times.	If you multiply* five by four, you get twenty.*
nurture	To care for and help someone or something to grow and develop.	Good teachers nurture* their pupils' talents.*
outnumber	To be more in number than another group.	At the concert, girls outnumbered* boys by three to one.*
overestimate	To think something is bigger, better or more important than it really is.	We overestimated* how much food we needed and threw half away.*
overload	To put too many things or people on or into something.	Don't overload* the washing machine or it won't work properly.*
pollute	To make air, water or land dirty and harmful.	Plastic bags continue to pollute* the oceans.*
ponder	To think carefully about something for some time.	She sat by the window to ponder* her next move.*
possess	To have or own something.	He doesn't possess* a single suit.*
praise	To say that someone or something is very good.	The critics praised* the young actor's performance.*
prescribe	When a doctor does this, they say what medicine a patient should take.	The doctor prescribed* antibiotics for my chest infection.*
quote	To repeat the exact words that someone else has said or written.	The journalist quoted* the minister in her article.*
reassure	To say or do something to make someone feel less worried.	The pilot tried to reassure* the nervous passengers.*
recall	To remember something from the past.	I can't recall* where I left my keys.*
reconcile	To become friendly again after an argument; or to make two ideas fit together.	After years of silence, the two brothers finally reconciled.
refine	To improve something by making small changes.	The chef spent months trying to refine* the recipe.*
rehearse	To practise a play, speech or piece of music before performing it.	The band will rehearse* every evening before the tour.*
reinvent	To change something so much that it seems completely new.	The singer has managed to reinvent* herself several times.*
renovate	To repair and improve an old building.	The couple renovated* an old farmhouse and turned it into a hotel.*
resent	To feel angry because you think you have been treated unfairly.	I resent* being told what to do by people younger than me.*
resume	To start again after a pause.	After the rain stopped, the match resumed.
rotate	To turn in a circle around a central point.	The Earth rotates* once every twenty-four hours.*
scatter	To throw or drop things so they spread over a wide area.	The wind scattered* the papers all over the playground.*
scrap	To get rid of something, or to cancel a plan.	The council scrapped* plans for a new car park after protests.*
shrink	To become smaller, especially after washing.	My favourite jumper shrank* in the wash.*
simplify	To make something easier to do or understand.	The bank wants to simplify* its online forms.*
smuggle	To take things or people into or out of a place illegally or secretly.	The gang tried to smuggle* cigarettes across the border.*
soak	To put something in liquid for a time, or to make it very wet.	Soak the beans in water overnight before cooking them.
stumble	To hit your foot on something and almost fall.	She stumbled* on the stairs but caught the handrail.*
submit	To formally give a document or piece of work for others to consider.	Please submit* your application before Friday.*
surrender	To stop fighting and accept defeat.	After a long siege, the soldiers finally surrendered.
suspend	To stop something for a time, or to officially remove someone from a job or school for a time.	The player was suspended* for three matches.*
tempt	To make someone want to do or have something, especially something they shouldn't.	I was tempted* to buy the expensive shoes, but I resisted.*
terrify	To make someone extremely frightened.	The thought of speaking in public terrifies* me.*
transmit	To send out a signal, or to pass something from one person or place to another.	Mosquitoes can transmit* serious diseases.*
trigger	To cause something to start happening.	Certain foods can trigger* an allergic reaction.*
underestimate	To think something is smaller, easier or less important than it really is.	Never underestimate* how long it takes to cross the city at rush hour.*
unite	To join together, or to make people join together, for a shared purpose.	The disaster helped to unite* the community.*
vanish	To disappear suddenly and completely.	The magician waved his hand and the coin vanished.
wreck	To destroy or badly damage something.	The storm wrecked* dozens of boats in the harbour.*
alleviate	To make pain or a problem less severe.	The new bus lane should alleviate* traffic in the centre.*
allude	To mention something in an indirect way, usually followed by "to".	In his speech, he alluded* to problems within the team.*
ascertain	To find out the truth about something, formally.	Police are trying to ascertain* the cause of the fire.*
aspire	To have a strong wish to achieve something, usually followed by "to".	She aspires* to become a pilot one day.*
augment	To make something larger or more valuable by adding to it.	Many students work weekends to augment* their income.*
bolster	To support or strengthen something.	The good results helped to bolster* her confidence.*
circumvent	To find a clever way of avoiding a rule or problem.	Some websites try to circumvent* the new privacy laws.*
coerce	To force someone to do something by using threats.	He claimed he had been coerced* into signing the contract.*
comprehend	To understand something fully, formally.	It's hard to comprehend* how big the universe really is.*
concur	To agree with someone or have the same opinion, formally.	I concur* with my colleague's conclusions.*
consolidate	To make something stronger or more secure; or to combine things into one.	The team won again to consolidate* their lead at the top.*
culminate	To end with or reach a final, important point.	Years of training culminated* in an Olympic gold medal.*
curb	To control or limit something that is harmful.	The city introduced new rules to curb* noise at night.*
curtail	To reduce or limit something, often by cutting it short.	Our holiday was curtailed* when my father fell ill.*
deem	To consider or judge something in a particular way, formally.	The bridge was deemed* unsafe and closed immediately.*
defer	To delay something until a later time.	You can defer* your place at university for a year.*
denounce	To criticise someone or something strongly and publicly.	Leaders around the world denounced* the attack.*
deplete	To reduce the amount of something so that little is left.	Overfishing has depleted* fish stocks in the area.*
deploy	To move people or equipment into position so they are ready to be used.	Extra police officers were deployed* for the festival.*
deter	To make someone decide not to do something.	Cameras are used to deter* thieves.*
devise	To invent a plan or method.	The teachers devised* a new system for marking homework.*
discern	To notice or understand something that is not obvious.	In the dark, I could barely discern* the path.*
disclose	To make information known, especially something secret.	The company refused to disclose* how much it paid the singer.*
dispel	To make a feeling or belief go away.	The minister tried to dispel* fears about the new tax.*
divert	To change the direction of something.	Flights were diverted* to another airport because of the fog.*
elicit	To get a reaction or information from someone.	The teacher used pictures to elicit* answers from the class.*
embark	To start something new and important, usually followed by "on".	At sixty, he embarked* on a new career as a painter.*
encompass	To include a wide range of things.	The course encompasses* history, art and literature.*
entail	To involve something as a necessary part.	What does the job entail?
envisage	To imagine something as a possibility in the future.	I don't envisage* any problems with the new schedule.*
eradicate	To get rid of something completely.	Scientists hope to eradicate* the disease within ten years.*
erode	To gradually damage or destroy something, especially by wind, water or rain.	The sea has eroded* the cliffs over hundreds of years.*
evoke	To bring a memory, feeling or image into your mind.	The smell of baking bread evokes* memories of my childhood.*
exacerbate	To make a bad situation worse.	Scratching will only exacerbate* the itching.*
exert	To use power or influence to affect something.	Parents exert* a strong influence on their children's habits.*
expedite	To make a process happen more quickly.	Paying an extra fee will expedite* your passport application.*
exemplify	To be a typical example of something.	This building exemplifies* the style of the 1930s.*
fabricate	To invent false information in order to deceive people.	The journalist was fired for having fabricated* quotes.*
falter	To lose strength or confidence and begin to stop.	Her voice faltered* as she began to speak about her father.*
forge	To create something strong after effort; or to illegally copy something.	The two schools have forged* close links over the years.*
galvanise	To shock or excite someone into taking action.	The flood galvanised* the village into building better defences.*
hamper	To make it difficult for someone to do something.	Rescue efforts were hampered* by heavy snow.*
harness	To control and use the power of something.	Engineers want to harness* the energy of the waves.*
heighten	To increase an effect or feeling.	The sudden silence heightened* the tension in the room.*
hinge	To depend completely on something, usually followed by "on".	The whole plan hinges* on the weather being good.*
instigate	To make something start, especially something official or bad.	The manager instigated* an investigation into the missing money.*
intensify	To become or make something stronger or more extreme.	The storm intensified* during the night.*
jeopardise	To put something at risk of being damaged or lost.	One careless mistake could jeopardise* the whole project.*
mitigate	To make something bad less harmful or serious.	Planting trees can help mitigate* the effects of flooding.*
mobilise	To organise people or resources for a purpose.	Volunteers were quickly mobilised* to clean the beach.*
necessitate	To make something necessary.	The new road will necessitate* the closure of the park for months.*
offset	To balance one effect against another so that the situation stays the same.	The higher salary is offset* by the cost of travelling.*
outweigh	To be greater or more important than something else.	For most people, the benefits of exercise far outweigh* the risks.*
perpetuate	To make something, usually bad, continue to exist.	Some films perpetuate* old stereotypes about older people.*
plummet	To fall very quickly and suddenly.	Temperatures plummeted* to minus ten overnight.*
precipitate	To make something, usually bad, happen suddenly or sooner than expected.	The scandal precipitated* the director's resignation.*
prevail	To win after a struggle; or to be common at a particular time.	In the end, common sense prevailed* and the meeting was cancelled.*
proclaim	To announce something publicly and officially.	The new park was proclaimed* a protected area.*
refrain	To stop yourself from doing something, usually followed by "from".	Please refrain* from talking during the performance.*
reiterate	To say something again to make it clear.	I want to reiterate* that the exam starts at nine sharp.*
relinquish	To give up control, power or a right, often unwillingly.	The old king refused to relinquish* his throne.*
render	To cause someone or something to be in a particular state.	The injury rendered* him unable to walk for months.*
replenish	To fill something again or bring it back to its full amount.	Drink plenty of water to replenish* the fluids you've lost.*
rectify	To correct something that is wrong.	We will rectify* the error in your bill as soon as possible.*
scrutinise	To examine something very carefully.	Every page of the contract was scrutinised* by the lawyers.*
soar	To rise very quickly to a high level, or to fly high in the sky.	House prices soared* after the new railway opened.*
spearhead	To lead an action or a campaign.	A group of parents spearheaded* the campaign for a safer crossing.*
streamline	To make a system or organisation simpler and more efficient.	The airline wants to streamline* the check-in process.*
substantiate	To provide facts or evidence to show that something is true.	She was unable to substantiate* her claims with any documents.*
surpass	To be better or greater than something else.	The film's success surpassed* everyone's expectations.*
thrive	To grow, develop or be successful.	These plants thrive* in warm, sunny conditions.*
underpin	To give support or a strong basis to something.	Trust underpins* every successful friendship.*
unravel	To solve something mysterious, or to come apart.	Detectives are trying to unravel* the mystery of the missing painting.*
vindicate	To prove that someone who was blamed or doubted was right.	The new evidence vindicated* the scientist's controversial theory.*
waive	To officially allow someone not to pay or obey something.	The museum waived* the entry fee for students.*
wane	To become gradually weaker or less important.	Interest in the show waned* after the first series.*
warrant	To make something necessary or appropriate.	The minor damage doesn't warrant* a full repair.*
withstand	To be strong enough not to be damaged by something.	The new houses are built to withstand* earthquakes.*
yield	To produce a result, crop or profit.	The experiment yielded* some surprising results.*
bear out	To show that something someone said or believed is true.	The latest research bears out* what doctors have suspected for years.*
brush up on	To practise and improve a skill you used to have but have partly forgotten.	I need to brush up on* my French before our trip to Lyon.*
crack down on	To start dealing much more strictly with something illegal or unwanted.	The police are cracking down on* drivers who use their phones.*
drag on	To continue for longer than necessary or wanted.	The meeting dragged on* for three hours without a decision.*
fend off	To defend yourself against an attack, a question or a difficulty.	The goalkeeper fended off* shot after shot in the second half.*
fork out	To pay money for something, especially when you do not want to.	We forked out* eighty pounds for a taxi from the airport.*
gloss over	To avoid talking about something unpleasant or treat it as unimportant.	The report glossed over* the company's serious financial problems.*
iron out	To solve small problems or differences.	We still need to iron out* a few details before we sign.*
kick off	To start, especially an event or a football match.	The festival kicks off* on Friday with a free concert.*
lash out	To suddenly attack someone, with words or physically.	When the reporters followed him, the singer lashed out* at them angrily.*
mull over	To think carefully about something for a long time.	Let me mull over* your offer and I'll call you tomorrow.*
pan out	To develop or end in a particular way.	Our plan to open a second shop never really panned out.
pin down	To discover or describe exactly what something is.	It's difficult to pin down* exactly why the film works so well.*
rein in	To control something more strictly, especially spending.	The new manager wants to rein in* costs.*
shy away from	To avoid something because you are nervous or not confident.	Good leaders don't shy away from* difficult decisions.*
single out	To choose one person or thing from a group for special attention.	The coach singled out* the young defender for praise.*
stave off	To stop something bad from happening for a time.	We ate a few biscuits to stave off* our hunger until dinner.*
stem from	To be the result of something.	Most of her anxiety stems from* a fear of failure.*
weigh up	To consider the advantages and disadvantages of something before deciding.	You need to weigh up* the pros and cons before accepting the job.*
whip up	To quickly make a meal; or to make people feel strongly about something.	Dad whipped up* a delicious omelette in five minutes.*
thereafter	After that particular time, formally.	She moved to Rome in 2010 and, shortly thereafter, opened a bakery.
hitherto	Until now, or until a particular time, formally.	The expedition explored a hitherto* unknown part of the forest.*
insofar as	Used to say to what degree something is true.	The plan is fair insofar as* everyone pays the same amount.*
in passing	Mentioned briefly while talking about something else.	He mentioned in passing* that he was moving to Spain.*
inasmuch as	Used formally to mean "because" or "to the extent that".	The trip was a success inasmuch as* nobody got lost.*
in the wake of	Used to say that something happens after and because of an event.	Many shops closed in the wake of* the economic crisis.*
in lieu of	Instead of something, formally.	Staff received extra days off in lieu of* overtime pay.*
by virtue of	Because of; as a result of, formally.	She got the job by virtue of* her excellent language skills.*
with a view to	With the aim or intention of doing something.	They bought the land with a view to* building a small hotel.*
in conjunction with	Together with something or someone.	The festival is organised in conjunction with* the local council.*
on the verge of	Very close to doing something or to something happening.	The company was on the verge of* closing when a new investor appeared.*
at the expense of	In a way that harms or costs something or someone else.	He finished the project quickly, but at the expense of* quality.*
in accordance with	Following a rule, law or wish.	The ashes were scattered at sea, in accordance with* her wishes.*
in excess of	More than a particular amount, formally.	The painting sold for a sum in excess of* two million euros.*
by dint of	By means of a lot of effort or a particular quality.	He passed the exam by dint of* hard work rather than talent.*
to that end	In order to achieve that aim.	We want to cut waste. To that end, we've removed all paper cups.
as such	In the exact sense of the word; or because of being that thing.	There's no menu as such, but the chef will cook what you like.
if anything	Used to suggest that the opposite of what was said may be true.	The new phone isn't cheaper; if anything, it's more expensive.
all the same	Despite what has just been said; nevertheless.	I know you're busy, but all the same, please call your mother.
be that as it may	Used to accept that something is true while saying it does not change the situation.	You're tired, I know. Be that as it may, the report must be finished today.
for the most part	Mostly; in most cases.	The students were, for the most part, well prepared for the test.
in hindsight	Thinking now about a past event, with knowledge you did not have then.	In hindsight, we should have booked the hotel earlier.
at length	For a long time and in great detail.	The committee discussed the problem at length* but reached no decision.*
in a nutshell	Using very few words; briefly.	In a nutshell, the film is about a boy who wants to fly.
by the same token	For the same reason; in the same way.	Hard work deserves reward. By the same token, laziness shouldn't be rewarded.
on balance	After considering all the facts and opinions.	On balance, I think the second flat is the better choice.
to all intents and purposes	In almost every important way, even if not exactly.	The match was, to all intents and purposes, over by half-time.
needless to say	Used to introduce something that is obvious or expected.	It rained all weekend. Needless to say, the picnic was cancelled.
more often than not	Usually; in most cases.	More often than not, the bus arrives a few minutes late.
at best	Even in the most positive situation or opinion.	The film was, at best, average.
at worst	In the most negative situation or opinion.	If we're late, we'll miss the start or, at worst, the whole show.
at odds with	In disagreement with, or not matching, something or someone.	His story is at odds with* what the witnesses said.*
in retrospect	Looking back on a past event and thinking about it now.	In retrospect, leaving school at sixteen was a mistake.
in earnest	Seriously and with full effort, or beginning properly.	The work on the new bridge began in earnest* in March.*
on the face of it	Judging by what something seems like at first.	On the face of it, the offer looks generous, but read the small print.
off the record	Said unofficially and not meant to be reported publicly.	Off the record, the manager admitted the team had problems.
under way	Already started and happening.	Preparations for the wedding are well under way.
at stake	At risk of being lost or harmed, depending on the result.	With the title at stake, both teams played very carefully.
at the outset	At the very beginning of something.	The rules were explained clearly at the outset* of the game.*
in tandem	Together, at the same time or working closely.	The two departments worked in tandem* on the new website.*
en route	On the way to a place.	We stopped for lunch en route* to the coast.*
per se	By itself; in itself.	Technology isn't bad per se; it depends on how we use it.
vice versa	With the two things or people in the opposite order.	Cats often chase dogs, and vice versa.
so to speak	Used to show that you are describing something in an unusual or not exact way.	She's the heart of the team, so to speak.
ostensibly	Seeming to be true, although perhaps not really true.	He left the party early, ostensibly* because he was tired.*
invariably	Always, without any exception.	My grandmother invariably* arrives with a cake.*
inherently	As a basic and permanent part of something.	Climbing mountains is inherently* dangerous.*
conceivably	Possibly; in a way that can be imagined.	The project could conceivably* be finished by next spring.*
implicitly	Without being said directly, but understood; or completely.	I trust my doctor implicitly.
purportedly	According to what people claim, but which may not be true.	The letter was purportedly* written by a famous poet.*
seemingly	Appearing to be true, but perhaps not actually true.	The seemingly* endless queue moved surprisingly fast.*
tacitly	In a way that is understood without being said directly.	By staying silent, they tacitly* agreed to the plan.*
unwittingly	Without knowing or intending.	She unwittingly* took someone else's umbrella from the restaurant.*
wholeheartedly	Completely and with enthusiasm.	I wholeheartedly* agree with everything you said.*
categorically	In a very clear and certain way, without any doubt.	The minister categorically* denied the rumours.*
profoundly	Very deeply or greatly.	The trip to Africa changed her profoundly.
markedly	In a way that is clear and easy to notice.	His English has improved markedly* since last year.*
scarcely	Almost not; only just.	I could scarcely* hear the speaker from the back of the hall.*
somewhat	To some degree; rather.	The second half of the book is somewhat* disappointing.*
increasingly	To a greater and greater degree over time.	It is becoming increasingly* difficult to find a parking space.*
readily	Quickly and without difficulty; or willingly.	Spare parts are readily* available online.*
merely	Only; nothing more than.	I was merely* trying to help.*
solely	Only; and not involving anything or anyone else.	The decision is based solely* on your exam results.*
considerably	By a large amount or to a large degree.	The new flat is considerably* bigger than the old one.*
significantly	In a way that is large or important enough to be noticed.	Crime has fallen significantly* in the area.*
dramatically	Suddenly and to a very great degree.	Temperatures dropped dramatically* after sunset.*
substantially	Very much; to a large degree.	The price of coffee has risen substantially* this year.*
roughly	About; not exactly but close to the number given.	The journey takes roughly* two hours.*
even though	Despite the fact that.	She went to work even though* she had a bad cold.*
even if	Used to say that something will happen whether or not something else happens.	I'm going to the beach even if* it rains.*
given that	Considering the fact that.	Given that it was his first race, he did very well.
as though	In a way that suggests something.	He looked as though* he hadn't slept for days.*
in particular	Used to mean especially, more than others.	I love Italian food, pasta in particular.
in effect	In fact; in practice, even if not officially.	The new rule is, in effect, a ban on cars in the centre.
as a whole	Considering all the parts together.	Some songs are weak, but the album as a whole* is excellent.*
in the meantime	In the period of time between two events.	The plumber is coming at five. In the meantime, don't use the shower.
abstraction	A general idea that is not based on real, physical things.	For young children, numbers can be a difficult abstraction.
accountability	The fact of being responsible for your decisions and actions and having to explain them.	Voters are demanding more accountability* from local politicians.*
acumen	The ability to make good judgements and quick decisions, especially in business.	Her business acumen* turned a small shop into a national chain.*
adherence	The act of following a rule, belief or plan closely.	Strict adherence* to the diet helped him lose weight.*
adversity	A very difficult or unlucky situation.	The team showed great courage in the face of adversity.
advent	The arrival or beginning of something important.	The advent* of the internet changed how we shop.*
affinity	A natural liking for or understanding of someone or something.	She has always had a strong affinity* with animals.*
allegiance	Loyalty and support for a person, group or country.	Fans rarely change their allegiance* to their football club.*
allocation	An amount of money, time or space given for a particular purpose.	Each department receives an annual budget allocation.
ambivalence	The state of having two opposite feelings about something at the same time.	He felt some ambivalence* about leaving his home town.*
amendment	A small change to a law, rule or document.	The committee proposed an amendment* to the club's rules.*
analogy	A comparison between two things to help explain an idea.	The teacher used the analogy* of a city to explain how a cell works.*
anecdote	A short, interesting or funny story about a real event.	Grandpa told an amusing anecdote* about his first job.*
anomaly	Something that is different from what is normal or expected.	The warm weather in January was an anomaly.
antidote	A substance that stops the effects of a poison; or something that helps against a bad situation.	Laughter is the best antidote* to stress.*
apathy	A lack of interest or energy.	Low numbers of voters reflect growing apathy* among young people.*
aptitude	A natural ability to do something well.	He showed an early aptitude* for languages.*
arbitration	A way of settling a disagreement in which someone neutral decides.	The dispute between the union and the company went to arbitration.
aspiration	A strong hope or wish to achieve something.	Her aspiration* is to become a doctor.*
attainment	The act of achieving something, or the level achieved, especially in education.	The school is proud of its pupils' high levels of attainment.
attribute	A quality or feature that someone or something has.	Patience is an important attribute* for a teacher.*
austerity	A situation in which a government cuts spending and people have less money.	Years of austerity* led to fewer public services.*
backdrop	The background or situation in which events happen.	The wedding took place against a backdrop* of snowy mountains.*
benefactor	Someone who gives money to help a person or organisation.	A wealthy benefactor* paid for the new hospital wing.*
blunder	A stupid or careless mistake.	Sending the email to the whole company was a huge blunder.
bottleneck	A place or situation where things become slower because there is too much traffic or work.	The narrow bridge creates a bottleneck* every morning.*
breadth	The distance from one side to the other; or a wide range.	The breadth* of her knowledge is impressive.*
brink	The point at which something, often bad, is about to happen.	The species is on the brink* of extinction.*
calibre	The quality or level of ability of someone or something.	We need more players of her calibre.
caveat	A warning that something should be considered before acting.	The offer comes with one caveat: you must book before Monday.
chronology	The order in which a series of events happened.	The historian tried to establish the chronology* of the war.*
clout	The power to influence people and decisions.	The union has a lot of political clout.
cognition	The mental processes of knowing, thinking and understanding.	Sleep plays an important role in cognition* and memory.*
coherence	The quality of being logical and well organised.	The essay lacked coherence; the ideas jumped around.
cohesion	The state of a group or team being closely united.	Team cohesion* improved after the weekend trip together.*
collusion	Secret cooperation to do something dishonest.	The two companies were accused of collusion* to keep prices high.*
compliance	The act of obeying a rule, law or request.	Inspectors check for compliance* with safety regulations.*
complacency	A feeling of being too satisfied, so you stop trying or stop noticing danger.	After two easy wins, complacency* cost them the third game.*
composure	The state of being calm and in control of your feelings.	She kept her composure* despite the difficult questions.*
conception	A basic understanding or idea of something; or the moment a baby starts to form.	He has no conception* of how hard the job is.*
condolence	Sympathy for someone whose relative or friend has died.	Please accept my deepest condolences* on the loss of your father.*
confines	The limits or edges of an area or activity.	The prisoners rarely left the confines* of their cells.*
conformity	Behaviour that follows the usual rules or what most people do.	The school uniform encourages conformity.
conglomerate	A large company made up of many different businesses.	The newspaper was bought by a media conglomerate.
connotation	A feeling or idea that a word suggests in addition to its main meaning.	The word "cheap" often has a negative connotation.
conscience	The part of your mind that tells you whether your actions are right or wrong.	He had a guilty conscience* after lying to his friend.*
consortium	A group of companies working together on a project.	A consortium* of banks is funding the new airport.*
constituency	An area of a country that elects a representative to parliament.	The MP visits her constituency* every Friday.*
constraint	Something that limits what you can do.	Because of time constraints, we couldn't visit the museum.
contention	Disagreement; or an opinion that someone argues for.	The location of the new school is a point of contention.
contingency	Something that might happen in the future, especially a problem.	We have a contingency* plan in case the flight is cancelled.*
continuity	The state of continuing without stopping or changing.	The new director promised continuity* with the old policies.*
contradiction	A difference between two statements or facts that means they cannot both be true.	There's a contradiction* between what he says and what he does.*
conundrum	A confusing and difficult problem.	Where to put all the guests was a real conundrum.
credentials	Qualifications and experience that show you are suitable for something.	Her credentials* as a scientist are excellent.*
crux	The most important part of a problem or argument.	The crux* of the matter is that we have no money.*
culmination	The final result or highest point of a long process.	The concert was the culmination* of a year of practice.*
curfew	A rule that people must stay indoors after a certain time.	My parents set a curfew* of eleven o'clock on Saturdays.*
cynicism	The belief that people act only for themselves and are not honest.	There is widespread cynicism* about politicians' promises.*
dearth	A lack of something.	There is a dearth* of good restaurants in this area.*
deference	Polite respect shown to someone, especially because of their age or position.	The children were taught to show deference* to their elders.*
deficiency	A lack of something necessary, especially in the diet.	Tiredness can be a sign of iron deficiency.
degradation	The process of something becoming worse or damaged.	Pollution has caused serious degradation* of the soil.*
deliberation	Long and careful thought or discussion before making a decision.	After much deliberation, the jury reached a verdict.
demise	The end of something that existed for a long time; or a death.	Online shopping contributed to the demise* of many small shops.*
denial	A statement that something is not true; or refusing to accept something unpleasant.	Despite the evidence, he was still in denial.
deployment	The act of sending people or equipment somewhere to be used.	The deployment* of extra ambulances helped during the heatwave.*
deterrent	Something that makes people decide not to do something.	High fines act as a deterrent* to speeding drivers.*
detriment	Harm or damage caused to something or someone.	He worked long hours, to the detriment* of his health.*
deviation	A change from what is normal, expected or planned.	There will be no deviation* from the original timetable.*
devolution	The transfer of power from a central government to regional governments.	Scotland gained its own parliament through devolution.
dichotomy	A difference between two completely opposite ideas or things.	The novel explores the dichotomy* between city and country life.*
diligence	Careful and steady effort.	Her diligence* was rewarded with a promotion.*
discrepancy	A difference between two things that should be the same.	There's a discrepancy* between the two sets of figures.*
discretion	The right to decide something yourself; or care not to reveal private things.	Tips are left to the customer's discretion.
disparity	A large and unfair difference.	There is a huge disparity* in pay between men and women in the industry.*
disposition	The natural character or mood that a person usually has.	My sister has a cheerful disposition.
dissent	Strong disagreement with an official opinion.	There was some dissent* among the staff about the new hours.*
dissertation	A long piece of writing on a subject, especially for a university degree.	She's writing her dissertation* on medieval music.*
distortion	A change that makes something look, sound or seem different from reality.	The article was a distortion* of the facts.*
divergence	A difference or separation between things that were once similar.	There is a growing divergence* of opinion within the team.*
dividend	A part of a company's profits paid to people who own its shares.	Shareholders will receive a dividend* in June.*
doctrine	A set of beliefs or principles taught by a group.	The army followed a strict military doctrine.
domain	An area of knowledge, activity or responsibility.	Cooking used to be my father's domain.
downturn	A fall in economic or business activity.	Many shops closed during the economic downturn.
duration	The length of time that something lasts.	Please remain seated for the duration* of the flight.*
endeavour	A serious attempt to do something difficult.	Climbing the mountain was a dangerous endeavour.
endorsement	Public support or approval for something or someone.	The book received an endorsement* from a famous chef.*
entitlement	The right to have or receive something.	Check your holiday entitlement* with the HR department.*
equilibrium	A state of balance.	Yoga helps me find some mental equilibrium.
equity	Fairness; or the value of a property after debts are paid.	The new tax aims to improve equity* between rich and poor.*
escalation	A rapid increase in the size or seriousness of something.	Police feared an escalation* of violence after the match.*
ethos	The beliefs and values of a person, group or organisation.	The school's ethos* is based on respect and kindness.*
euphemism	A polite word used instead of one that might be unpleasant or offensive.	"Passed away" is a euphemism* for "died".*
exemption	Permission not to do or pay something that others must.	Students can apply for an exemption* from the fee.*
exodus	A large number of people leaving a place at the same time.	There is an exodus* from the city every August.*
facade	The front of a building; or a false appearance.	Behind her cheerful facade, she was very worried.
fallacy	A belief that many people think is true but is false.	It's a fallacy* that goldfish only remember for three seconds.*
feat	An achievement that needs great skill, strength or courage.	Building the bridge in a year was an incredible feat.
fluctuation	A change, often frequent, in amount, level or value.	Farmers worry about fluctuations* in the price of wheat.*
foresight	The ability to imagine what will happen in the future and plan for it.	Thanks to her foresight, we had extra water when the pipes froze.
forgery	A copy of a document, painting or signature made to deceive people.	Experts discovered the painting was a forgery.
fragment	A small piece that has broken off something.	Archaeologists found fragments* of ancient pottery.*
framework	A basic structure or set of ideas on which something is built.	The agreement provides a framework* for future cooperation.*
fruition	The point at which a plan or project becomes successful.	After ten years, her dream finally came to fruition.
gist	The main idea of something.	I didn't understand every word, but I got the gist.
grassroots	The ordinary people in a group or organisation, not the leaders.	The campaign started at the grassroots* with a few local parents.*
guise	The way something appears, often hiding the truth.	The scammers called in the guise* of bank officials.*
hallmark	A typical feature that makes something easy to recognise.	Attention to detail is the hallmark* of her work.*
hindrance	Something that makes progress difficult.	The heavy rain was a hindrance* to the rescue team.*
hindsight	The understanding of a situation that you have only after it has happened.	With the benefit of hindsight, the decision was wrong.
homage	Something done to show respect and admiration for someone.	The film pays homage* to the great silent comedies.*
hysteria	A state of extreme fear, excitement or emotion that cannot be controlled.	There was mass hysteria* when the band appeared.*
impasse	A situation in which no progress is possible because people cannot agree.	The talks have reached an impasse.
impetus	Something that encourages a process to happen faster.	The award gave new impetus* to her career.*
implementation	The process of putting a plan or decision into action.	The implementation* of the new system will take six months.*
inception	The beginning of an organisation or activity.	She has worked for the charity since its inception.
incidence	How often something happens, especially something bad.	There is a high incidence* of flu this winter.*
inclination	A feeling that makes you want to do something.	I had no inclination* to go out in the rain.*
increment	An amount by which something increases, often regularly.	Your salary will rise in yearly increments.
indictment	A sign that a system or situation is very bad; or a formal accusation of a crime.	The long waiting lists are an indictment* of the health service.*
inertia	A lack of desire to move or change.	Many people stay with the same bank out of inertia.
influx	The arrival of a large number of people or things at the same time.	The town sees an influx* of tourists every summer.*
ingenuity	The ability to think of clever new ideas.	With a bit of ingenuity, we turned the boxes into a bookshelf.
inhibition	A feeling of embarrassment that stops you from behaving naturally.	On the dance floor, he lost all his inhibitions.
insurgency	An armed fight against a government by people from the same country.	The army struggled to end the insurgency* in the mountains.*
intellect	The ability to think in a logical way and understand difficult ideas.	She was admired for her sharp intellect.
intuition	The ability to know something by feeling rather than by thinking.	My intuition* told me something was wrong.*
irony	A situation that is strange because it is the opposite of what you expect.	The irony* is that the safety expert broke his leg.*
juncture	A particular point in time or in a process.	At this juncture, we should review our progress.
kinship	A family relationship; or a feeling of closeness with others.	She felt a deep kinship* with the other refugees.*
lapse	A short time when you fail to concentrate or behave well.	A brief lapse* in concentration cost them the match.*
latitude	Freedom to act or choose as you want.	Teachers are given some latitude* in how they teach the course.*
leeway	Freedom to change or decide something within certain limits.	The new deadline gives us a little more leeway.
leverage	Power to influence people or situations.	The union used the strike as leverage* in the negotiations.*
liaison	Communication and cooperation between groups; or a person who does this.	She acts as a liaison* between the school and parents.*
limelight	The attention that the public gives to famous people.	After her book became a hit, she was suddenly in the limelight.
litigation	The process of taking a case to a court of law.	The dispute could lead to years of costly litigation.
loophole	A small mistake in a law or rule that lets people avoid it legally.	Wealthy people use loopholes* to avoid paying tax.*
magnitude	The great size or importance of something.	Nobody understood the magnitude* of the problem at first.*
malpractice	Careless, wrong or illegal behaviour by a professional person.	The surgeon was accused of medical malpractice.
mediation	The process of helping two sides to reach an agreement.	The neighbours finally settled their argument through mediation.
mentor	An experienced person who advises and helps someone less experienced.	My first boss became my mentor* and a close friend.*
merit	A good quality that deserves praise; or the quality of being good.	The plan has some merit, but it's too expensive.
metaphor	A way of describing something by calling it something else with similar qualities.	"Life is a journey" is a common metaphor.
methodology	A set of methods used in a particular area of study.	The researchers explained their methodology* in detail.*
mindset	A person's way of thinking and set of attitudes.	To succeed in sport, you need a winning mindset.
misconduct	Bad or unacceptable behaviour, especially by a professional person.	The police officer was dismissed for serious misconduct.
misgiving	A feeling of doubt or worry about something.	I had some misgivings* about lending him my car.*
moderation	The quality of not doing too much or going to extremes.	Chocolate is fine if you eat it in moderation.
morale	The amount of confidence and enthusiasm felt by a group of people.	Staff morale* is low after the job cuts.*
narrative	A story or a description of events.	The novel's narrative* jumps between the past and the present.*
nepotism	Giving jobs or advantages to your own family or friends unfairly.	He was accused of nepotism* after hiring his nephew.*
niche	A small but specialised area of the market or a suitable position for someone.	She found a niche* selling vegan dog food.*
nostalgia	A happy but slightly sad feeling when you remember the past.	Old songs fill me with nostalgia* for my student days.*
nuance	A very small difference in meaning, sound or feeling.	A good translator understands the nuances* of both languages.*
omission	Something that has been left out.	The omission* of her name from the list upset her.*
onset	The beginning of something, especially something bad.	Farmers rushed to harvest before the onset* of winter.*
outlook	A general attitude to life; or what is likely to happen.	Despite her illness, she has a positive outlook.
outrage	A strong feeling of anger and shock.	The decision to cut the trees caused public outrage.
outskirts	The outer areas of a town or city.	They live on the outskirts* of Manchester.*
overhaul	A complete examination and repair or change of a system or machine.	The tax system needs a complete overhaul.
oversight	A mistake caused by not noticing something; or the job of watching over a process.	Leaving her off the guest list was an oversight.
paradigm	A typical example or model of how something works.	The internet created a new paradigm* for selling music.*
parity	Equality, especially in pay or position.	Nurses are demanding pay parity* with other health workers.*
patronage	Support, especially financial, given by a person or organisation.	The museum survives thanks to the patronage* of local businesses.*
pedigree	The family history of an animal; or someone's background and experience.	The horse has an excellent racing pedigree.
peer	A person of the same age or position as you.	Teenagers are often influenced by their peers.
periphery	The outer edge of an area or group.	The new factories were built on the periphery* of the city.*
persecution	Cruel and unfair treatment of people, especially because of their beliefs or background.	They left their country to escape persecution.
perseverance	The quality of continuing to try even when something is difficult.	Learning a language takes time and perseverance.
pitfall	A likely problem or danger that is not obvious.	The guide explains the common pitfalls* of buying a used car.*
plight	A difficult or dangerous situation.	The documentary highlighted the plight* of homeless families.*
populism	Political ideas that claim to represent ordinary people against the elite.	Historians study the rise of populism* in different countries.*
precedent	An earlier action or decision used as an example for later ones.	The court's decision set an important precedent.
predecessor	The person who had a job or position before someone else.	The new head teacher is stricter than her predecessor.
predicament	A difficult situation where it is hard to know what to do.	Lost without a map or phone, we were in a real predicament.
prerequisite	Something that must exist or happen before something else is possible.	A good level of maths is a prerequisite* for this course.*
pretext	A false reason given to hide the real reason.	He called on the pretext* of returning a book.*
proficiency	A high level of skill or ability.	Candidates need proficiency* in at least two languages.*
prognosis	A doctor's opinion about how an illness will develop.	The prognosis* is good, and she should recover fully.*
proliferation	A sudden large increase in the number of something.	The town has seen a proliferation* of coffee shops.*
propaganda	Information, often false or one-sided, used to influence people's opinions.	During the war, posters were used as propaganda.
proponent	A person who supports an idea or plan publicly.	She is a strong proponent* of cycling to work.*
prowess	Great skill at doing something.	The young player's football prowess* impressed the scouts.*
proximity	The state of being near in space or time.	The hotel's proximity* to the beach makes it popular.*
ramification	A complicated result of an action or decision that was not expected.	Have you considered the legal ramifications* of this decision?*
rapport	A friendly relationship in which people understand each other well.	The teacher quickly built a good rapport* with the class.*
rationale	The reasons behind a decision or belief.	Can you explain the rationale* for changing the timetable?*
realm	An area of interest, knowledge or activity.	Time travel is still in the realm* of science fiction.*
rebuttal	A statement that says an accusation or argument is false.	The minister issued a firm rebuttal* of the claims.*
reconciliation	The process of becoming friendly again after an argument.	The family hoped for a reconciliation* between father and son.*
redundancy	Losing your job because your employer no longer needs you.	Hundreds of workers face redundancy* when the factory closes.*
referral	The act of sending someone to another person or place for help.	My doctor gave me a referral* to a specialist.*
reign	The period during which a king or queen rules.	The castle was built during the reign* of Henry VIII.*
remorse	A strong feeling of being sorry for something you have done.	The thief showed no remorse* for his crime.*
remuneration	Payment for work or services, formally.	The job offers generous remuneration* and benefits.*
rendition	A performance of a song, poem or piece of music.	She gave a moving rendition* of the national anthem.*
repercussion	An effect of an action, usually bad and often unexpected.	The scandal had serious repercussions* for the whole team.*
replica	An exact copy of something.	The museum displays a replica* of the famous ship.*
repression	The use of force to control people; or the act of hiding feelings.	The novel describes the repression* of free speech under a dictator.*
reprisal	An action taken to punish someone for something they did to you.	Witnesses were afraid of reprisals* if they spoke to the police.*
resurgence	The return and growth of an activity or idea.	There has been a resurgence* of interest in vinyl records.*
retention	The act of keeping something or someone.	The company offers bonuses to improve staff retention.
retrospect	Thinking about a past event with knowledge gained since then.	In retrospect, I should have studied harder.
revelation	A surprising fact that becomes known; or a very pleasant surprise.	The new singer was a revelation* at the festival.*
rift	A serious disagreement that separates people.	The argument caused a rift* between the two sisters.*
rigour	The quality of being very careful, thorough and exact.	The study lacks scientific rigour.
safeguard	Something that protects against harm or loss.	The law includes safeguards* to protect children online.*
scepticism	Doubt about whether something is true or useful.	The new diet was met with scepticism* by doctors.*
scrutiny	Careful and detailed examination.	The minister's expenses came under close scrutiny.
setback	A problem that delays or stops progress.	Losing the main sponsor was a major setback* for the team.*
simulation	A model of a real situation, used for training or study.	Pilots train using a flight simulation.
spillover	The effect that something has on another area or situation.	The spillover* from the festival benefits nearby restaurants.*
stalemate	A situation in which neither side can win or make progress.	The negotiations ended in stalemate.
stamina	The physical or mental strength to continue doing something for a long time.	Marathon runners need a lot of stamina.
standpoint	A particular way of thinking about a situation.	From a financial standpoint, the plan makes sense.
stigma	Strong feelings of disapproval that society has about something.	There is still a stigma* attached to mental illness.*
stipulation	A condition that must be met as part of an agreement.	The only stipulation* is that pets are not allowed in the flat.*
subsidiary	A company that is owned and controlled by a larger company.	The bank opened a subsidiary* in Singapore.*
successor	A person or thing that comes after another and takes its place.	The president named her successor* before retiring.*
surplus	An amount that is more than is needed.	The farm sells its surplus* of apples at the market.*
susceptibility	The state of being easily affected or harmed by something.	Stress can increase your susceptibility* to colds.*
synergy	The extra success achieved when two groups work together.	The merger created synergy* between the two companies.*
synthesis	The combination of separate ideas or things into a whole.	Her music is a synthesis* of jazz and folk.*
tactic	A planned action to achieve something.	The coach changed his tactics* at half-time.*
takeover	The act of one company gaining control of another.	The supermarket rejected the takeover* bid.*
tenure	The period of time when someone holds an important job.	During her tenure* as mayor, she built three new parks.*
testament	Something that shows that something else exists or is true.	The packed stadium is a testament* to the team's popularity.*
totalitarianism	A political system in which the government has complete control over people's lives.	Orwell's novel 1984 is a warning about totalitarianism.
trade-off	A situation where you accept something bad in order to have something good.	There's always a trade-off* between price and quality.*
trajectory	The curved path of a moving object; or the way something develops.	Her career has followed an upward trajectory.
tranquillity	A state of peace and calm.	We enjoyed the tranquillity* of the lake at sunrise.*
transcript	A written copy of words that were spoken.	Journalists asked for a transcript* of the interview.*
tribunal	A special court that judges particular types of problems.	He took his employer to an employment tribunal.
turmoil	A state of great confusion, worry or disorder.	The country was in turmoil* after the election.*
turnover	The amount of business a company does; or the rate at which staff leave.	The restaurant has a high staff turnover.
upheaval	A big change that causes a lot of confusion or problems.	Moving house is always a huge upheaval.
upsurge	A sudden increase in something.	There has been an upsurge* in demand for electric bikes.*
vacancy	A job or room that is available.	The hotel has no vacancies* for this weekend.*
venture	A new business or activity that involves risk.	Their latest venture* is a vegan bakery.*
vigilance	Careful attention to notice possible danger.	Police urged vigilance* after a series of burglaries.*
volatility	The tendency to change suddenly and unexpectedly.	Investors are worried about the volatility* of the markets.*
windfall	An unexpected amount of money that you receive.	She used her windfall* from the lottery to pay off her debts.*
acclaim	Public praise and approval.	Her first novel won wide critical acclaim.
accolade	A prize or praise given for an achievement.	The award is the highest accolade* in the music industry.*
acquaintance	A person you know but who is not a close friend.	He's just an acquaintance* from work, not a friend.*
advocacy	Public support for an idea or a group.	She is known for her advocacy* of children's rights.*
aesthetic	A set of ideas about beauty or style.	The café has a minimalist aesthetic* with white walls.*
affiliation	A connection with an organisation or group.	The school has an affiliation* with a local university.*
alienation	The feeling of being isolated or not belonging.	Many people in big cities experience alienation.
allure	A quality that makes something attractive or exciting.	The allure* of city life brought her to London.*
altruism	Care for other people's needs without thinking of yourself.	Donating a kidney to a stranger is an act of altruism.
amnesty	An official decision to forgive people for certain crimes or to stop punishment.	The library offered an amnesty* on overdue book fines.*
apprehension	Worry or fear about something that might happen.	She waited for the results with some apprehension.
arsenal	A large collection of weapons; or a range of things that can be used.	The chef has an arsenal* of spices in her kitchen.*
articulation	The act of expressing ideas clearly in words; or the way sounds are pronounced.	Good articulation* makes a speaker easier to follow.*
assertion	A statement that you strongly believe is true.	His assertion* that he was at home was later proved false.*
atrocity	An extremely cruel and violent act, especially in war.	The museum records the atrocities* committed during the war.*
attrition	The gradual reduction of something's strength or number.	The company reduced staff through attrition* rather than firing people.*
autocracy	A system of government in which one person has total power.	The country slowly changed from an autocracy* to a democracy.*
backbone	The bones down the middle of your back; or the most important part of something.	Small businesses are the backbone* of the local economy.*
banter	Friendly conversation in which people joke and tease each other.	The friendly banter* between the presenters makes the show fun.*
bearing	A connection or influence on something.	His age had no bearing* on the decision.*
bloc	A group of countries or parties with similar interests.	The trading bloc* includes six countries.*
bombardment	A continuous attack with bombs; or a large number of things directed at someone.	Children face a constant bombardment* of advertising.*
brevity	The quality of being short in time or words.	The speech was praised for its brevity.
bystander	A person who sees something happen but is not involved.	Several bystanders* helped the injured cyclist.*
camaraderie	A feeling of friendship and trust among a group.	There's a great sense of camaraderie* in the choir.*
catalyst	Something that causes an important change or event.	The flood was the catalyst* for building new defences.*
chronicle	A written record of events in the order they happened.	The book is a chronicle* of village life in the 1950s.*
closure	The closing of a business or road; or a feeling that something has ended.	The closure* of the factory affected the whole town.*
coercion	The use of threats or force to make someone do something.	He claimed his confession was made under coercion.
cohort	A group of people who share something, such as age or year of study.	This year's cohort* of students is the largest ever.*
collateral	Property promised to a lender in case a loan is not repaid.	She used her house as collateral* for the business loan.*
commemoration	An event that honours and remembers an important person or event.	A commemoration* was held to mark a hundred years since the disaster.*
commonplace	Something that is common and not unusual.	Smartphones are now a commonplace* even among young children.*
complicity	Involvement with others in doing something wrong.	He denied any complicity* in the robbery.*
configuration	The way the parts of something are arranged.	The configuration* of the seats can be changed for concerts.*
conjecture	An opinion based on incomplete information; a guess.	Whether he will return is pure conjecture.
conscription	A system where people must join the armed forces by law.	Many countries have ended conscription.
constituent	A person who lives in an area represented by a politician; or a part of something.	The MP replied to letters from her constituents.
contempt	A strong feeling that someone or something is worthless.	She looked at him with contempt* after he lied.*
contingent	A group of people who belong to a larger group.	A large contingent* of fans travelled from Scotland.*
counterfeit	A fake copy of something valuable, such as money, made to deceive people.	The shopkeeper realised the fifty-euro note was a counterfeit.
custodian	A person responsible for protecting something.	The museum sees itself as the custodian* of the nation's art.*
defiance	Open refusal to obey someone or something.	In an act of defiance, the students refused to wear the uniform.
delusion	A false belief that someone has about themselves or the world.	He is under the delusion* that he can sing.*
demeanour	The way someone looks and behaves.	Despite the pressure, the pilot kept a calm demeanour.
demographic	A group of people of a similar age, income or background.	The app is popular with the 18–24 demographic.
denomination	The value of a coin or banknote; or a religious group.	The bank machine gives notes of every denomination.
despair	The feeling of having no hope.	In despair, she sat down and cried.
detachment	The state of not being emotionally involved.	The doctor spoke with professional detachment.
devotion	Great love, loyalty or care for someone or something.	Her devotion* to her patients is admirable.*
diaspora	People who have spread from their original country to live in many other places.	The Irish diaspora* celebrates St Patrick's Day around the world.*
dignitary	A person with an important official position.	Foreign dignitaries* attended the opening ceremony.*
disarray	A state of confusion and lack of order.	After the party, the house was in complete disarray.
disclaimer	A statement saying that someone is not responsible for something.	The website includes a disclaimer* about medical advice.*
discord	Disagreement and arguments between people.	Money is often a source of discord* within families.*
dismay	A feeling of shock and disappointment.	To our dismay, the restaurant was closed.
displacement	The situation of people being forced to leave their homes.	The floods caused the displacement* of thousands of families.*
dissemination	The spreading of information widely.	The internet allows the rapid dissemination* of news.*
dissident	A person who publicly criticises the government of their country.	Several dissidents* were forced to leave the country.*
downfall	The loss of power, success or money; or what causes this.	Pride was the king's downfall.
dynasty	A series of rulers or leaders from the same family.	The Ming dynasty* ruled China for nearly three hundred years.*
embargo	An official order that stops trade with another country.	The government placed an embargo* on arms sales.*
embodiment	A person or thing that is a perfect example of a quality or idea.	My grandmother is the embodiment* of kindness.*
eminence	The quality of being famous and respected.	She is a scientist of great eminence.
empathy	The ability to understand and share another person's feelings.	Good nurses show empathy* towards their patients.*
encroachment	The gradual movement into an area that belongs to someone or something else.	The encroachment* of new houses threatens the forest.*
entourage	A group of people who travel with an important person.	The singer arrived with her entourage* of assistants.*
envoy	Someone sent to represent a government or organisation in talks.	A special envoy* was sent to help settle the dispute.*
espionage	The activity of finding out secret information about another country or company.	The novel is a thriller about industrial espionage.
etiquette	The rules of polite behaviour in a society or group.	In Japan, there is a strict etiquette* for exchanging business cards.*
excerpt	A short part taken from a book, film or piece of music.	The newspaper published an excerpt* from her new novel.*
exile	The state of being forced to live outside your own country.	The poet spent twenty years in exile.
expatriate	A person who lives outside their own country.	Many British expatriates* have retired to Spain.*
exposition	A detailed explanation of a theory; or a large public exhibition.	The book gives a clear exposition* of the theory.*
extremism	Political or religious opinions that are very far from what most people accept.	The programme aims to protect young people from extremism.
fiasco	A complete and embarrassing failure.	The concert was a fiasco: the sound system broke down.
figurehead	A leader who has the title but no real power.	The king is now mainly a figurehead.
flair	A natural ability to do something well.	She has a flair* for languages.*
folklore	The traditional stories and customs of a group of people.	In Irish folklore, fairies live under the hills.
forefront	The most important or leading position.	The company is at the forefront* of solar technology.*
fraternity	A feeling of friendship among a group; or a group of people with shared interests.	There's a strong sense of fraternity* among the island's fishermen.*
frenzy	A state of great excitement or wild activity.	The arrival of the band sent fans into a frenzy.
gaffe	An embarrassing mistake in a social situation.	He made a gaffe* by calling the host by the wrong name.*
foothold	A secure position from which further progress can be made.	The company is trying to gain a foothold* in the Asian market.*
gravity	The force that pulls things towards the earth; or seriousness.	He didn't seem to understand the gravity* of the situation.*
haven	A safe or peaceful place.	The garden is a haven* for birds and bees.*
humility	The quality of not thinking you are better than others.	Despite her fame, she shows great humility.
hypocrisy	Behaviour in which someone says one thing but does the opposite.	Voters were angry at the hypocrisy* of the politician.*
idiom	A group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of each word.	"Break a leg" is an idiom* meaning "good luck".*
incumbent	The person who holds an official position at a particular time.	The incumbent* won the election for a third time.*
indifference	A lack of interest or care.	The public reacted to the news with indifference.
infancy	The time when someone is a baby; or the early stage of something.	In the 1990s, the internet was still in its infancy.
infringement	An action that breaks a rule, law or agreement.	Copying the film is an infringement* of copyright.*
inquest	An official investigation into the cause of someone's death.	An inquest* will be held into the climber's death.*
insolvency	The state of not having enough money to pay your debts.	The travel company is facing insolvency.
interim	The period between two events.	The new boss starts in May; in the interim, Sam is in charge.
intricacy	A small, complicated detail of something.	It takes years to learn the intricacies* of the law.*
jargon	Special words used by a particular group that others find difficult to understand.	The report was full of legal jargon.
jeopardy	Danger of loss, harm or failure.	The strike put hundreds of jobs in jeopardy.
legislature	The group of people with the power to make and change laws.	The new law was approved by the state legislature.
lexicon	All the words of a language, or the words used in a particular area.	"Selfie" entered the English lexicon* quite recently.*
longevity	Long life, or the fact of lasting a long time.	Diet plays a key role in longevity.
manoeuvre	A skilful movement or action, especially in driving.	Parking in that tiny space was a tricky manoeuvre.
mayhem	A situation of great confusion and disorder.	When the cows escaped, there was mayhem* in the village.*
memoir	A book in which someone writes about their own life.	The actor's memoir* became a bestseller.*
menace	Someone or something that is dangerous or annoying.	Speeding scooters are a menace* on the pavement.*
migraine	A very bad headache, often with sickness and problems seeing.	Bright lights can bring on a migraine.
mobilisation	The act of organising people for a purpose.	The mobilisation* of volunteers after the storm was impressive.*
mockery	Comments or actions that make fun of someone or something.	The unfair trial made a mockery* of justice.*
monarchy	A system in which a king or queen is head of state.	Spain is a parliamentary monarchy.
mosaic	A picture made of small coloured pieces of stone or glass.	The floor of the Roman villa was covered with a mosaic.
motif	A pattern or idea that is repeated in a work of art, music or literature.	Water is a recurring motif* in her poetry.*
notoriety	The state of being famous for something bad.	The hotel gained notoriety* after a famous robbery.*
novelty	The quality of being new and unusual; or something new.	The novelty* of the new phone soon wore off.*
oath	A formal promise, especially in a court of law.	Witnesses must take an oath* to tell the truth.*
onus	The responsibility for something.	The onus* is on the seller to describe the car accurately.*
ordeal	A very unpleasant and difficult experience.	The passengers described their twelve-hour ordeal* on the stuck train.*
outcry	A strong public reaction of anger.	There was a public outcry* when the park was sold.*
overtone	A quality or feeling that is suggested but not said directly.	His comments had political overtones.
pageant	A public show or procession, often about history; or a beauty competition.	The town holds a historical pageant* every summer.*
paradise	A perfect place; or a place that is ideal for a certain activity.	This island is a paradise* for divers.*
parody	A piece of writing, music or film that copies another in a funny way.	The show is a parody* of old detective films.*
partisan	A strong supporter of a party or group; or a member of a secret armed group in an occupied country.	During the war, partisans* hid in the mountains.*
abundance	A very large amount of something.	The forest has an abundance* of wild flowers in spring.*
acceleration	The rate at which something increases speed; or a rapid increase.	The new electric car has impressive acceleration.
accumulation	The gradual collection of something over time.	The accumulation* of snow on the roof caused it to collapse.*
ailment	An illness, usually not a serious one.	Grandma treats minor ailments* with herbal tea.*
ally	A person or country that supports another.	Britain and France were allies* in the war.*
amenity	A useful feature of a place, such as a shop, park or pool.	The village lacks basic amenities* like a doctor's surgery.*
ancestry	The people in your family who lived a long time ago.	She is proud of her Italian ancestry.
anguish	Extreme pain or suffering, especially mental.	The parents waited in anguish* for news of their son.*
apparatus	Equipment used for a particular activity or purpose.	The divers checked their breathing apparatus* carefully.*
appraisal	A judgement of someone's work or the value of something.	I have my annual appraisal* with my manager next week.*
arrears	Money that should have been paid earlier.	They were three months in arrears* with the rent.*
artefact	An object made by people in the past, often of historical interest.	The museum displays artefacts* from ancient Egypt.*
assortment	A mixture of different types of things.	The box contains an assortment* of chocolates.*
audacity	Brave or shocking confidence.	He had the audacity* to ask for a pay rise on his first day.*
backlog	A large amount of work that has not been done yet.	The office has a backlog* of emails after the holidays.*
bailout	Financial help given to a company to stop it failing.	The airline asked for a government bailout.
bandwagon	An activity that is suddenly popular, which people join to be successful.	Many brands jumped on the eco-friendly bandwagon.
bigotry	Unfair dislike of people from different groups or with different opinions.	The campaign fights bigotry* in sport.*
birthright	Something you have a right to because of your family or where you were born.	Free education should be every child's birthright.
bombshell	A sudden piece of very surprising news.	The coach dropped a bombshell: he was leaving the club.
bounty	A reward offered for catching a criminal; or a large amount of something good.	The farmers celebrated the bounty* of the harvest.*
breakdown	A failure of a machine or system; or a detailed list of the parts of something.	We had a breakdown* on the motorway and waited hours for help.*
brainchild	A clever idea or invention that one person had.	The festival was the brainchild* of a local teacher.*
broker	A person who buys and sells things, such as shares, for other people.	My broker* advised me to sell the shares.*
buffer	Something that protects against harmful effects.	Savings act as a buffer* against unexpected costs.*
bulk	The largest part of something; or a large size.	The bulk* of the work was done by volunteers.*
bureau	An office or organisation that provides information or a service.	You can ask at the tourist information bureau.
by-product	Something produced in addition to the main product.	Sawdust is a by-product* of furniture making.*
candour	Honesty and openness, even when the truth is uncomfortable.	I appreciated his candour* about the problems.*
caricature	A funny drawing or description that exaggerates someone's features.	The artist drew a caricature* of the teacher with an enormous nose.*
cartel	A group of companies that agree to fix prices and limit competition.	The oil companies were accused of forming a cartel.
centrepiece	The most important or attractive part of something.	The giant clock is the centrepiece* of the station.*
charisma	A strong personal charm that attracts other people.	The new manager has great charisma* and energy.*
checkpoint	A place where people and vehicles are stopped and checked.	All cars were stopped at the border checkpoint.
clampdown	A sudden action to stop or limit something.	There's been a clampdown* on illegal parking in the city centre.*
cliché	A phrase or idea used so often that it is no longer interesting.	"Love is blind" is such a cliché.
commentator	A person who describes an event on TV or radio, or gives opinions on news.	The commentator* shouted with excitement when the goal went in.*
commotion	A sudden noisy disturbance.	We heard a commotion* in the street and looked out of the window.*
compatriot	A person from the same country as someone else.	She beat two of her compatriots* to win the final.*
concoction	A drink or food made by mixing unusual things.	He drank a strange concoction* of fruit juice and coffee.*
condemnation	Very strong public disapproval.	The attack drew condemnation* from all sides.*
consignment	A quantity of goods sent together.	A new consignment* of books will arrive on Monday.*
contender	A person or team with a good chance of winning.	They're serious contenders* for the title this year.*
convergence	The process of coming together or becoming similar.	There's a growing convergence* of views among the experts.*
cornerstone	The most important part of something, on which everything else depends.	Trust is the cornerstone* of any good relationship.*
crackdown	Severe action taken to stop illegal or unwanted behaviour.	The police announced a crackdown* on drink-driving.*
craving	A very strong desire for something, especially food.	I have a sudden craving* for chocolate.*
creed	A set of beliefs or principles.	People of every creed* and colour are welcome here.*
cue	A signal for someone to do something, especially an actor.	When the lights go down, that's your cue* to come on stage.*
curator	A person in charge of the objects in a museum or gallery.	The curator* explained the history of each painting.*
debacle	A complete failure that causes embarrassment.	The opening night was a debacle: half the actors forgot their lines.
decency	Behaviour that is good, moral and respectful.	He didn't even have the decency* to apologise.*
deluge	A large amount of rain or water; or a large number of things arriving at once.	The radio station received a deluge* of complaints.*
detour	A longer route taken to avoid something or to visit somewhere.	We made a detour* to avoid the roadworks.*
dexterity	Skill in using your hands or your mind.	Playing the harp requires great dexterity.
dialect	A form of a language spoken in a particular area.	My grandmother speaks a local dialect* I barely understand.*
directive	An official instruction from someone in authority.	The new directive* requires all staff to wear name badges.*
discourse	Serious discussion or communication about a subject.	Social media has changed political discourse.
disenchantment	The feeling of being disappointed with something you once liked or believed in.	There's growing disenchantment* with the new government.*
dossier	A collection of documents about a person or subject.	The detective opened a thick dossier* on the suspect.*
dweller	A person who lives in a particular place.	City dwellers* often dream of a quiet life in the country.*
eligibility	The fact of having the right to do or receive something.	Check your eligibility* for a student discount before you pay.*
emblem	A picture or object that represents an organisation, country or idea.	The dove is an emblem* of peace.*
enactment	The process of making a law official.	The enactment* of the new law took two years.*
enclave	A small area where people of a different group live, surrounded by a larger area.	The old town is a quiet enclave* of artists and writers.*
endowment	Money given to a school, hospital or other organisation to provide an income.	The college received a large endowment* from a former student.*
entrant	A person who takes part in a competition or joins an organisation.	All entrants* must be over sixteen.*
epicentre	The point on the surface of the earth directly above an earthquake; or the centre of an activity.	The town lay close to the epicentre* of the earthquake.*
errand	A short trip to do something, such as buy something or deliver a message.	I've got a few errands* to run before lunch.*
excavation	The process of digging to find ancient objects.	The excavation* revealed the remains of a Roman bath.*
expiry	The end of the period when something can be used.	Check the expiry* date on your passport.*
extradition	The official process of sending someone accused of a crime back to another country.	The suspect is fighting extradition* to the United States.*
faction	A small group within a larger group with different ideas.	The party is split into rival factions.
fanfare	A short loud piece of music to announce something; or a lot of public attention.	The new model was launched with great fanfare.
feasibility	The degree to which something can be done.	The council ordered a study into the feasibility* of a new tram line.*
fixture	A sports event on a fixed date; or something fixed in a building.	The club has published its fixtures* for next season.*
flagship	The best or most important product, shop or service of an organisation.	The brand's flagship* store is on Oxford Street.*
flux	A situation of continuous change.	The industry is in a state of flux.
footing	A secure position or basis; or the ability to stand firmly.	He lost his footing* on the wet rocks and fell.*
forerunner	A person or thing that came before and led to something later.	The telegraph was a forerunner* of the telephone.*
freelancer	A person who works for several companies rather than being employed by one.	As a freelancer, she chooses her own hours.
gateway	An entrance; or a place or thing that leads to something else.	Dover is the gateway* to Britain for many travellers.*
glitch	A small problem that stops something working properly.	A technical glitch* delayed the launch of the website.*
grudge	A feeling of anger towards someone because of something they did in the past.	She still holds a grudge* against him for forgetting her birthday.*
handout	Money or food given to people in need; or a printed sheet given in class.	The teacher gave us a handout* with the main points.*
hardliner	A person who has extreme opinions and will not change them.	Hardliners in the party rejected the compromise.
headway	Progress towards achieving something.	We've made good headway* with the plans for the new library.*
heartland	The central area where an activity or belief is strongest.	This region is the heartland* of the country's wine industry.*
hoax	A trick to make people believe something false.	The bomb warning turned out to be a hoax.
hub	The central and most important part of an area or activity.	The city is a major transport hub.
hurdle	A problem or difficulty that must be dealt with.	Finding money is the first hurdle* we need to clear.*
impediment	Something that makes progress or movement difficult.	Lack of transport is a major impediment* to finding work.*
imprint	A mark made by pressing something into a surface; or a lasting effect.	We found the imprint* of a fossil leaf in the rock.*
indignation	Anger about something unfair.	She expressed her indignation* at being treated so rudely.*
inference	A conclusion that you reach from the information you have.	From his silence, I drew the inference* that he was angry.*
infighting	Arguments between members of the same group.	Constant infighting* weakened the committee.*
injunction	An official court order that stops someone doing something.	The company got an injunction* to stop the newspaper publishing the story.*
insurgent	A person fighting against the government of their own country.	The insurgents* took control of a small town in the north.*
interplay	The way two or more things affect each other.	The novel explores the interplay* between memory and identity.*
intrusion	An unwelcome entry into a private place or situation.	She saw the photographers as an intrusion* into her private life.*
keynote	The main speech at a conference.	The famous scientist will give the keynote* on Monday.*
kickback	Money paid secretly and illegally to someone for help in getting business.	The official was jailed for accepting kickbacks.
landowner	A person who owns a large area of land.	Local landowners* opposed the new railway line.*
layman	A person without special knowledge of a subject.	Can you explain the problem in layman's terms?
lawmaker	A politician who helps make laws.	Lawmakers voted to raise the minimum wage.
lifeline	Something that helps you in a difficult situation.	The bus service is a lifeline* for elderly people in the village.*
malaise	A general feeling of discomfort, unhappiness or lack of energy.	There is a sense of malaise* in the town since the factory closed.*
mainstay	The most important part of something, which everything else depends on.	Fishing is the mainstay* of the island's economy.*
manuscript	The original handwritten or typed copy of a book before it is printed.	She sent her manuscript* to twenty publishers.*
marvel	Something extremely good or surprising.	The new bridge is a marvel* of engineering.*
mastermind	A clever person who plans a complicated activity, often a crime.	Police arrested the mastermind* behind the bank robbery.*
meltdown	A complete failure or loss of control.	My toddler had a meltdown* in the middle of the supermarket.*
microcosm	A small place or group that has all the features of a much larger one.	The village is a microcosm* of British society.*
milieu	The people and social environment around someone.	He grew up in an artistic milieu* in Paris.*
misfortune	Bad luck, or an unlucky event.	He had the misfortune* to break his leg on the first day of the holiday.*
mishap	A small accident or mistake.	Apart from a minor mishap* with the oven, dinner went well.*
moratorium	An official temporary stop to an activity.	The city declared a moratorium* on new hotel building.*
negligence	Failure to take proper care, especially in a job.	The accident was caused by the driver's negligence.
newcomer	A person who has recently arrived somewhere or started something.	The club welcomes newcomer* of all ages.*
nominee	A person suggested for a prize, position or job.	The nominees* for best actress were announced this morning.*
outsider	A person who does not belong to a group; or someone not expected to win.	The horse was a 50-to-1 outsider, but it won.
patron	A person who gives money or support to an artist or organisation.	The princess is a patron* of several charities.*
payoff	The good result that you get from something you have done.	The payoff* for all our hard work was a gold medal.*
perk	An extra advantage that comes with a job.	Free lunches are one of the perks* of working here.*
pinnacle	The most successful or highest point of something.	Winning the World Cup was the pinnacle* of his career.*
plaintiff	A person who takes legal action against someone in a court.	The judge decided in favour of the plaintiff.
ploy	A clever trick to get an advantage.	The free gift was just a ploy* to make us sign up.*
pretence	A way of behaving that is meant to make people believe something false.	He made a pretence* of reading, but he was listening to us.*
quarrel	An angry argument, usually between people who know each other.	They had a quarrel* about whose turn it was to cook.*
ransom	Money demanded for the release of someone who is being kept as a prisoner.	In the film, the gang demanded a huge ransom* for the dog.*
rebate	Money that is returned to you, for example because you paid too much tax.	I got a tax rebate* of two hundred pounds.*
recourse	A possible way of getting help in a difficult situation.	Without a contract, she had no legal recourse.
relapse	The return of an illness after a period of improvement.	After two good months, he suffered a relapse.
residue	A small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone.	The cleaner removes sticky residue* from glass.*
resilience	The ability to recover quickly from difficulties.	The children showed remarkable resilience* after the move.*
retreat	A quiet place to rest; or a movement away from danger or an enemy.	The cottage is a perfect weekend retreat.
ridicule	Unkind words or actions that make someone look silly.	His strange hat attracted ridicule* from his classmates.*
rigidity	The quality of being difficult to bend or change.	The rigidity* of the rules frustrated the staff.*
rivalry	Competition between people or groups who want the same thing.	There's a strong rivalry* between the two local football clubs.*
sabotage	Deliberate damage to equipment or plans to stop them working.	The broken machines were an act of sabotage.
scaffolding	Metal poles and boards put up outside a building so people can work on it.	The church has been covered in scaffolding* for months.*
scapegoat	A person blamed for something that others have done.	The junior employee was made the scapegoat* for the error.*
screening	A showing of a film; or a medical test for a disease.	There will be a special screening* of the film at the festival.*
sentiment	A feeling or opinion.	Public sentiment* has turned against the new road.*
showdown	A final meeting or fight to decide who wins.	Sunday's match will be a showdown* for the title.*
slump	A sudden fall in prices, sales or activity.	There has been a slump* in house sales.*
spate	A large number of similar events happening in a short time.	A spate* of burglaries has worried local residents.*
stakeholder	A person or group with an interest in a business or project.	The council will consult all stakeholders* before deciding.*
standstill	A situation in which there is no movement or activity.	The snow brought traffic to a standstill.
staple	A basic food or product that is used all the time.	Rice is a staple* in many Asian countries.*
stronghold	A place where a belief or activity is very strong; or a castle.	The village is a stronghold* of traditional music.*
subversion	The act of trying to weaken a system or government secretly.	The writer was arrested for subversion.
succession	A number of similar things that follow each other; or the process of taking over a position.	She received a succession* of phone calls all morning.*
superpower	A country with very great military and economic power.	After the war, two superpowers* dominated world politics.*
surge	A sudden large increase.	There was a surge* in demand for umbrellas during the storm.*
swathe	A long strip or large area of land.	The fire destroyed a huge swathe* of forest.*
tally	A record of how many points or things there are.	Keep a tally* of how much money you spend.*
tenet	A principle or belief of a group or theory.	Respect for nature is one of the main tenets* of the movement.*
thrust	The main idea of an argument; or a strong push.	The main thrust* of her speech was the need for more housing.*
trademark	A name or symbol of a product that is legally protected; or a typical feature of someone.	Her red glasses have become her trademark.
tremor	A small earthquake, or a slight shaking movement.	We felt a slight tremor* during the night.*
trustee	A person who controls the money or property of others or of an organisation.	The trustees* of the charity meet every three months.*
undercurrent	A hidden feeling or tendency.	There was an undercurrent* of tension during the meeting.*
underdog	A person or team not expected to win.	Everyone loves to support the underdog.
upkeep	The cost or process of keeping something in good condition.	The upkeep* of a big garden takes a lot of time.*
uptake	The rate at which people use or accept something new.	The uptake* of electric cars has been slow in rural areas.*
usage	The way a word or something is used; or the amount used.	Water usage* rises sharply in summer.*
vicinity	The area around a particular place.	There are several good restaurants in the vicinity* of the hotel.*
watchdog	An organisation that makes sure companies follow rules.	The consumer watchdog* fined the bank for overcharging.*
whereabouts	The place where someone or something is.	Police are asking for information about the man's whereabouts.
yardstick	A standard used to judge something.	Exam results are not the only yardstick* of a good school.*
comprise	To consist of or be made up of particular parts or members.	The course comprises* ten lessons and a final exam.*
conversely	Used to introduce an idea that is the opposite of what was just said.	Some people work better in the morning; conversely, others prefer the evening.
benchmark	A standard used to judge or compare the quality of other things.	This phone has become the benchmark* for all other smartphones.*
tariff	A tax on goods coming into or going out of a country.	The government put a tariff* on imported steel.*
criterion	A standard by which something is judged or a decision is made.	What criteria* are used to choose the winner?*
inhibit	To slow down or prevent a process, or to make someone too shy to act naturally.	Cold weather inhibits* the growth of the plants.*
reliance	The state of depending on someone or something.	Our reliance* on cars is bad for the environment.*
respectively	In the same order as the things just mentioned.	Anna and Tom are 12 and 15 respectively.
nutrient	A substance in food that living things need to grow and stay healthy.	Plants take nutrients* from the soil through their roots.*

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