Often: "disregard" + warning, advice, instructions. More formal than "ignore".
to pay no attention to
He disregarded the warning.
"Slicker", "mac" (Mackintosh, Scottish inventor), "trench coat": variants. UK: famously rainy, so common item.
a waterproof coat
He put on his raincoat before going out.
Two senses: student and eye opening. Same Latin root "pupilla" (little doll - because you see your own tiny reflection in someone's pupil).
a student
There are 20 pupils in the class.
Two senses: student and eye opening. Same Latin root "pupilla" (little doll - because you see your own tiny reflection in someone's pupil).
the dark center of the eye that lets light in
Her pupils widened in the dark room.
UK "pudding" = any dessert ("What's for pudding?"). US: usually creamy custard-like dish (Jell-O Pudding). "Yorkshire pudding": savory.
a sweet dessert; (UK) dessert in general
She made chocolate pudding.
"Proper noun": grammatical term (names). UK informal: "proper" = real ("a proper job"). "Proper English": correct grammar.
correct or suitable
That's not the proper way to do it.
not in accordance with accepted rules or standards, especially of morality or honesty
Improper behavior.
"Principal" = main/most important. Common confusion with "principle" (rule). Mnemonic: the principal is your "pal" (the friendly noun).
first in order of importance; main
His principal reason was money.
"On principle" = based on one's beliefs. "In principle" = in theory. Common confusion with "principal". Homophones.
a fundamental truth or moral rule
Honesty is an important principle.
"Priest": main term in Catholic/Orthodox/Anglican churches. Female: "priestess" (now usually "priest" or specific titles like "minister").
an ordained minister of a religion
The priest blessed the congregation.
From Spanish/Italian. Used informally for military chaplains. "San Diego Padres": MLB baseball team.
a chaplain, especially a military one
The padre led the prayer.
Three different senses share spelling: weight unit (lb), UK currency (£), and the symbol # (hashtag). Also a verb: pound = hit repeatedly.
a unit of weight; British currency
The package weighs five pounds.
to hit something repeatedly and heavily
He pounded on the door until someone answered.
Many senses: mail (UK), job, vertical pole, internet post, military assignment. "Post-" prefix = after. "Post haste": quickly.
a job; mail; a vertical pole
She applied for the post of manager.
a person who is employed to deliver or collect letters and parcels
The postman comes at 8am.
Often used affectionately about creative outsiders. "Misfits": common rebellion narrative (band name, TV show).
a person who doesn't fit in
He was always a misfit at school.
"Postural hypotension": blood pressure drop on standing. "Postural muscles": for maintaining posture. Related noun: posture (see "pose").
relating to bodily posture
She does postural exercises daily.
Informal/slang for "police officer". Origin: possibly from "copper" (as in catch/grab). "Cop out" = avoid responsibility.
(informal) a police officer
The cops arrived quickly.
Increasingly replaced by gender-neutral "police officer".
a male police officer
The policeman directed traffic.
a female police officer
The policewoman asked for ID.
Gender-neutral, modern preferred term. Same as policeman/policewoman without the gender marking.
a member of the police force
The police officer wrote up the report.
"Per": used widely in measurements (miles per hour). "As per": according to. "Per capita": per person.
for each
It costs five dollars per person.
"Tomato paste", "toothpaste". Computing: "copy and paste" (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V). "Pasta" derives from same Italian root.
a soft moist substance
She made a paste of flour and water.
"Beyond the pale" = unacceptable behavior (from old meaning of "pale" as boundary). "Pale in comparison" = seem less significant.
light in color or skin tone
She looked pale and tired.
American spelling. From Hindi/Urdu "pajama" (loose pants). Always plural: like jeans, shorts. "PJs": common abbreviation.
(American) loose clothes for sleeping
She put on her pajamas.
British spelling. Same meaning, same pronunciation. "The cat's pyjamas": UK slang for something excellent.
(British) loose clothes for sleeping
He wore his striped pyjamas.
Antonym: extraordinary. "Out of the ordinary" = unusual. "The ordinary": popular skincare brand.
normal or usual
It was just an ordinary day.
very unusual or remarkable
The extraordinary beauty of the landscape.
"Ordinarily" often used at the start of sentences as a softener: "Ordinarily I would agree, but..."
in the usual or normal way
Ordinarily, I don't drink coffee.
"It's official": common phrase confirming something. "Officialese": bureaucratic language style.
approved or authorized
That's the official announcement.
a person holding public office
Government officials met with the press.
"Nod off" = fall asleep. "Land of Nod" = sleep (biblical place). "Nodding acquaintance": slight familiarity.
to move the head up and down
He nodded in agreement.
Male child of a sibling. From Latin "nepos". Same root as "nepotism" (favoring relatives).
the son of one's brother or sister
My nephew is starting college this fall.
Female counterpart to nephew. Common spelling rule challenge: i-before-e except after c (niece follows the rule).
the daughter of one's brother or sister
She bought a present for her niece.
Also "motorbike". Famous makers: Harley-Davidson, Honda, Ducati. UK: "motorbike" more common in casual speech.
a two-wheeled motor vehicle
He rides a motorcycle to work.
"Motion picture": film. "In motion": moving. Legal/parliamentary: "motion" = formal proposal. Physics: laws of motion (Newton).
the act of moving; a formal proposal
The car was in motion.
"Mop": also someone's messy hair ("mop of hair"). "Mop up" = clean up, or finish remaining tasks.
a tool for washing floors
She filled the bucket and grabbed the mop.
American stress on second syllable. From French. "Massage the numbers", figurative: manipulate data subtly.
the rubbing of the body to relieve tension
She booked a deep tissue massage.
From Greek "melos" (song). Distinct from "harmony" (chords) and "rhythm" (beat). "Melodic": adjective form.
a tune or arrangement of musical notes
The melody was haunting.
having a pleasant tune; relating to melody
The song has a melodic chorus.
Physics: mass vs weight distinction. Religious: Catholic Mass (capitalized). "Mass media", "mass production": modern usage.
a coherent body of matter; a large amount
A mass of people gathered.
Mostly used before a noun: "lone wolf", "lone survivor", "the Lone Ranger". "Alone" used predicatively (after the verb).
having no companions
He's a lone wolf.
"Leave me alone": common request. "Home Alone": 1990 holiday film. "Alone" can be neutral or lonely depending on context.
by oneself
She lives alone.
"T" silent.
to pay attention to what someone is saying or to a sound
Please listen carefully to the instructions.
"T" silent. "Good listener": common compliment. Programming: "event listener", code that responds to events.
a person who listens
She's a good listener.
Often paired with "former": "the former... the latter...". Different from "later" (time). "Latter-day Saints": Mormon term.
the second of two things mentioned
Of soccer and tennis, I prefer the latter.
"Later!": informal goodbye. "See you later". "Later gator" (childhood phrase). "Sooner or later": eventually.
at a time after the present
I'll call you later.
"Jack-o'-lantern": Halloween pumpkin. "Chinese lantern", paper lantern (also: lantern festival). "Lantern jaw": prominent jaw.
a portable lamp enclosed in glass
He carried a lantern through the woods.
"Bowling alley": venue. "Back alley": often crime-associated. "Up someone's alley" = suitable to their interests.
a narrow passage between buildings
The cat ran down the alley.
Two senses: musical instrument, scientific instrument. Also figurative: "an instrument of change" = means of bringing about change.
a tool, especially for delicate work; a device for making music
She plays three musical instruments.
"Instrumental in" = playing a crucial role in. Music: "instrumental version", without vocals.
playing a key role; (music) without vocals
He was instrumental in passing the bill.
"Indeed": formal confirmation. Can be sarcastic with right inflection. "A friend in need is a friend indeed": proverb.
truly; certainly
It was indeed a great honor.
"Heaven": eternal paradise in many religions. "Heavens above!": exclamation. "Pennies from heaven": unexpected good fortune.
the dwelling place of God; paradise
She prayed to be reunited in heaven.
occurring at a highly opportune moment; extremely fortunate or helpful
A heaven-sent opportunity.
a planet, star, or other celestial body
The sun is a heavenly body.
From Spanish "guayaba", originally from Arawak. Tropical fruit, often pink or white inside. Popular in Latin American and Asian cuisines.
a tropical fruit with green skin and pink or white flesh
She ate fresh guava for breakfast.
Plural: geese (irregular). "Wild goose chase" = futile pursuit. "Cooked goose" = ruined situation. Geese honk. "Mother Goose": children's nursery rhymes.
a large water bird
A flock of geese flew overhead.
Plural of goose. "Mongoose" is unrelated (plural: mongooses, not mongeese!). Common spelling/grammar test.
plural of goose
Six geese a-laying.
a valuable yellow precious metal
The ring is made of pure gold.
"Golden age", "golden years", "golden opportunity", "golden ratio". "Golden Globe": film award. "Golden Gate Bridge".
made of or like gold; very good
She has golden hair.
"Stir-fry": Chinese technique. "Deep-fried": submerged in oil. US: "french fries" = UK "chips". "Small fry": unimportant people.
to cook in hot oil or fat
She fried the eggs in butter.
cooked in hot fat or oil; (slang) exhausted or intoxicated
fried eggs; my brain is fried
"L" silent. "Folks": informal address ("hey folks!"). "Folk music", "folk tale". "My folks" = parents (informal).
people in general
Most folks like the new park.
Increasingly replaced by gender-neutral "firefighter". "Fireman Sam": UK children's show.
a man who fights fires
The fireman rescued the cat.
Less common than "fireman": usually "firefighter" preferred for women too.
a woman who fights fires
She trained to become a firewoman.
Military/police term. Different from "firefighting" (the action of putting out fires).
a battle with firearms
The soldiers were caught in a firefight.
The modern gender-neutral term, now preferred over fireman/firewoman.
a person whose job is to put out fires
The firefighter carried the child to safety.
"FDR's "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" (1933). "Fear of God": religious awe. "FOMO": fear of missing out (modern).
an unpleasant feeling caused by danger
He overcame his fear of heights.
lacking fear
A fearless defender of freedom.
"Fearful symmetry": from William Blake's poem "The Tyger". More formal than "afraid" or "scared".
feeling fear
She was fearful of flying.
British spelling. American: favor. "Do me a favour" - common request. "In favour of" = supporting.
a helpful or kind act
Could you do me a favour?
British spelling. American: favorable.
positive, helpful, or approving
The proposal received a favourable response.
British spelling. American: favorite.
liked more than others
This is my favourite song.
unfair preference for one person or group
Employees accused the manager of favouritism.
not helpful, positive, or approving
The film received unfavourable reviews.
Informal clipping of 'favorite/favourite'; also used as an adjective ('my fave band').
(informal) a favorite person or thing
This little cafe is an absolute fave of mine.
American spelling of favour.
approval, support, or liking for someone or something
The proposal was met with favor from the committee.
an act of kindness beyond what is due or expected
I've come to ask you a favor.
American spelling of favour (verb).
to prefer or support one option over another
The committee favored the second proposal.
American spelling of favourable.
expressing approval; to the advantage of someone or something
The book received favorable reviews.
to not succeed in doing something
The plan failed because of poor timing.
"Failure is the mother of success": proverb. "Heart failure": medical condition. "Failure to launch": adult living with parents.
the state of not succeeding
He learned from his failures.
"Raise an eyebrow" = show surprise/skepticism. "Eyebrow" trends: bushy, thin, microbladed, fashion changes by decade.
the line of hair above the eye
She plucked her eyebrows.
"Highbrow" / "lowbrow": class-coded terms for cultural sophistication. "Furrowed brow": sign of worry.
the forehead; an eyebrow
She wiped sweat from her brow.
"Electric" describes things powered by electricity (electric car). Often figurative: "electric atmosphere", exciting.
powered by electricity
They bought an electric car.
"Electrical": relating to electricity in general (electrical engineering). Subtle distinction from "electric": often interchangeable in casual use.
relating to electricity
He's an electrical engineer.
Licensed trade in most countries. Common reality TV figure. Same Latin root as "electric" (Latin "electrum", amber, which produces static electricity when rubbed).
a person who installs or fixes electrical equipment
The electrician fixed the wiring.
"Hoop earrings", "stud earrings", "dangle earrings": common styles. Piercings have a long cross-cultural history.
jewelry worn on the ear
She lost one of her diamond earrings.
free from moisture or liquid
The towel was completely dry.
to make or become free of moisture
Hang the shirt outside to dry.
"Tumble dryer": full name. "Hair dryer". "Drier" (with i): variant spelling, especially comparative of "dry".
a machine for drying things
She put the wet clothes in the dryer.
to make a picture with lines; to pull something; to attract
She drew a map on a napkin.
a lottery selection; also an attraction or a tied result
The final ended in a draw.
"Drawing room" - living room (archaic, withdrawing room). "Drawing" - also a lottery draw.
a picture made with pencil or pen
Her drawing was very detailed.
"Dis-" + "cover" = uncover. "Discover": also a credit card brand. Distinct from "invent" (create new).
to find or become aware of
Columbus discovered the New World.
"Discovery Channel": TV network. "Self-discovery": common personal growth theme. Legal: "discovery" = pre-trial evidence exchange.
the act or process of finding
The discovery of penicillin changed medicine.
to control or guide something; to tell someone the way
She directs the marketing team.
going straight to a place or point without stopping; straightforward
We took the direct flight.
"Board of directors": corporate governance. "Film director": creative head of a movie. "Funeral director" (modern "undertaker").
a person who directs a company or film
The director called "action!"
From Greek "kyklos" (circle). "Life cycle", "news cycle", "menstrual cycle". "Wash cycle": washing machine setting.
a series of events that repeats
The water cycle includes evaporation and rain.
a bicycle
She rode her cycle to work.
a deep narrow valley with steep sides, often made by a river
We hiked along the rim of the canyon.
a colored wax stick used for drawing
The child drew a house with a blue crayon.
Cocoa is the usual spelling for the processed powder; cacao often refers to the plant or raw beans.
powder made from cacao beans, used for chocolate
Add two spoons of cocoa to the cake batter.
a hot drink made with cocoa powder and milk or water
She made cocoa after coming in from the snow.
to hit your hands together to show approval or keep rhythm
Everyone clapped at the end of the song.
a sharp sound made by hitting the hands or objects together
A clap of thunder woke me up.
Plural: children (irregular).
a young human being, especially between infancy and puberty
Every child deserves a safe place to grow up.
a son or daughter of any age
She is their only child.
Usually negative. Childlike can be positive, meaning innocent or open.
silly or immature in a way expected of a child
Refusing to apologize was childish.
to shout in support or happiness
The crowd cheered when the team scored.
a shout of support or happiness
A loud cheer rose from the audience.
a route or medium through which things pass or communicate
Use the official channel for support requests.
a television, radio, or online stream
She runs a cooking channel.
a narrow passage of water
The boat entered the channel at dawn.
to direct energy, money, or effort toward something
He channels his anger into exercise.
a system or chart for organizing days, months, and years
Mark the deadline on your calendar.
a schedule of events
The court calendar is full this week.
a heavy responsibility, problem, or load
The medical bills became a burden for the family.
to give someone a heavy problem or responsibility
I do not want to burden you with my worries.
carrying a heavy worry, duty, or load
She looked burdened by the news.
a living creature or person
The story imagines a being from another planet.
existence or the state of existing
The law came into being after years of debate.
to act in a particular way
The app behaves differently on older phones.
to act politely and properly
The teacher asked the children to behave.
British spelling of behavior.
the way a person, animal, or system acts
His behaviour changed after the accident.
American spelling of behaviour.
the way a person, animal, or system acts
The teacher praised the students' good behavior.
Plural is bases /ˈbeɪsiːz/, not basics.
the main reason, principle, or support for something
The decision was made on the basis of safety.
forming the simplest or most necessary part of something
The course teaches basic grammar and pronunciation.
used to give the main point in simple terms
Basically, we need more time and less noise.
the simplest and most important facts or skills
Before writing essays, review the basics of sentence structure.
a person whose job is cutting men's hair and shaving beards
He went to the barber for a quick trim.
The closed spelling barbershop is common in American English.
a shop where a barber cuts hair
The barbershop was busy on Saturday morning.
a close-harmony a cappella singing style
He sings bass in a barbershop quartet.
Open spelling of barbershop.
a shop where a barber cuts hair
The old barber shop still has a striped pole outside.
Also spelled barbeque, especially in casual signs and restaurant names.
food cooked slowly over fire or smoke
We ordered barbecue ribs and corn for dinner.
an outdoor meal or party where food is grilled
They invited the whole office to a backyard barbecue.
to cook food over fire, smoke, or hot coals
Dad barbecued chicken on the patio.
a tailless primate such as a chimpanzee or gorilla
The documentary followed a family of apes in the forest.
As a verb it means imitate, often awkwardly or without originality.
to copy someone's behavior or style
The ad aped the style of old detective movies.
a quantity of something
A small amount of salt makes the soup taste better.
Used in the phrase amount to: the facts amount to evidence.
to add up to a total or have the effect of being something
The fees amount to nearly one month's rent.
similar to each other
The twins look alike, but their voices are different.
in a similar way, or equally
The policy affects managers and interns alike.
Usually a verb: affect = influence. Do not confuse it with effect, which is usually a noun.
to influence or change someone or something
The new rule will affect every department.
to pretend to feel or have a quality
He affected a calm voice, but everyone knew he was nervous.
Often negative: it suggests a mannerism that feels artificial or put on.
an unnatural way of speaking or behaving to impress people
Her fake accent sounded like an affectation.
In this sense, affected means artificial, not emotionally moved.
not natural or sincere; done to impress others
The actor's affected laugh made the interview awkward.
an event, situation, or matter being dealt with
The meeting was a quiet affair with only six people.
a secret romantic relationship, often outside marriage
The scandal began when the affair became public.
In British English, toilet can mean the room. In American English, restroom or bathroom is more polite for the room.
a fixture used for urinating or defecating
The toilet is clogged.
a room containing a toilet
Where is the toilet?
Sofa and couch are near synonyms; sofa can sound a little more formal.
a long soft seat for two or more people
We watched the movie on the sofa.
Couch is more common in American everyday speech; sofa can sound slightly more formal.
a long soft seat for two or more people
He fell asleep on the couch.
More than two, but not many. It is less exact than a few.
more than two but not a large number
Several people left before the meeting ended.
more than two people or things
I asked for volunteers, and several agreed.
a group of words expressing a complete thought
This sentence needs a verb.
a punishment given by a court
The judge gave him a five-year sentence.
to officially give someone a legal punishment
The court sentenced him to probation.
one of the main periods of the year, such as winter or summer
Autumn is my favorite season.
a period when something regularly happens or is available
Mango season starts in summer.
a set of episodes of a TV show
The first season has ten episodes.
to add salt, spices, or flavor to food
Season the soup with pepper.
Two senses: experienced; and flavored.
experienced; (of food) flavored with salt, herbs, or spices
a seasoned traveler; well-seasoned vegetables
Also the past tense of rise: prices rose.
a flower with a sweet smell and thorny stems
He gave her a single red rose.
pinkish red in color
The sky turned rose at sunset.
a machine that can do tasks automatically
The factory uses robots to assemble small parts.
a place where meals are prepared and served to customers
We booked a table at a small Italian restaurant.
a small sewn compartment in clothing or a bag
She put the keys in her coat pocket.
to put something into a pocket or keep it for yourself
He pocketed the receipt and walked away.
a flat dish used for serving food
Put the sandwiches on a large plate.
a thin flat piece of metal, glass, or bone
The surgeon fixed the bone with a metal plate.
a person with authority in the police, military, or an organization
A police officer asked for my ID.
a person holding an official position in a company or group
The chief financial officer approved the budget.
Title used before a married woman's family name, though many women prefer Ms.
a title used before a married woman's last name
Mrs. Chen will meet us at the office.
a device that produces light
She turned on the lamp beside the bed.
soft light produced by a lamp
He read the letter by lamplight.
a small animal with six legs and usually wings
A small insect landed on the window.
The suffix -cide means killing, as in pesticide and homicide.
a chemical used to kill insects
The farmer sprayed insecticide on the crops.
Uncountable: say a lot of homework, not many homeworks.
schoolwork done outside class
I finished my English homework before dinner.
preparation or research done before a task
Do your homework before the interview.
an adult female chicken or other female bird
The hen laid three eggs this week.
Female counterpart of god; common in mythology and poetic praise.
a female god
Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom.
a woman who is admired as extremely beautiful or talented
The singer was treated like a goddess by her fans.
an area where plants, flowers, or vegetables are grown
She grows tomatoes in the garden.
to work in a garden
He likes to garden on Sunday mornings.
Medical word for damaged or abnormal tissue, not just a surface wound.
an injured or abnormal area of body tissue
The scan showed a small lesion on his lung.
a medical test using a small sample of tissue
The doctor ordered a biopsy of the lump.
a messy collection of things lying around
I need to clear the clutter from my desk.
to fill a place with too many messy things
Old boxes cluttered the hallway.
Popularized by tidying experts like Marie Kondo.
to remove unnecessary items from an untidy or overcrowded place
She spent the weekend decluttering her apartment.
Common in religious contexts: ordain a priest or minister.
to officially make someone a priest or minister
He was ordained in 2012.
to order or establish something formally
The rules were ordained by tradition.
to twist together or trap in a tangled mass
The fishing line entangled the bird's feet.
to involve someone in a difficult situation
He became entangled in a legal dispute.
caught, twisted together, or complicatedly involved
The cables were entangled behind the desk.
a complicated involvement or tangled state
The contract created an expensive entanglement.
to twist the body from discomfort or embarrassment
The child began to squirm in the dentist's chair.
a twisting movement of discomfort
She gave a little squirm when the topic came up.
a thick woven cloth picture or wall hanging
A medieval tapestry hung in the museum.
a complex mixture of many things
The city is a tapestry of languages and cultures.
Can sound insulting when used casually about an older person.
showing mental decline associated with old age
Doctors no longer use senile as loosely as people once did.
Older term. Dementia is the preferred clinical word now.
dementia associated with old age
The chart used the older label senile dementia.
Sounds like holy but means completely.
completely or entirely
The claim is wholly false.
in, at, or to an unknown or unspecified place
I left my keys somewhere in the kitchen.
an unspecified place
Let's find somewhere quiet to talk.