English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
mainly; for the most part
"The population in the city is predominantly young."
an introduction to a book, speech, or other written work
"The author explained his motivation in the preface."
more desirable or suitable; better than something else
"It is preferable to take the train rather than drive in heavy traffic."
a greater liking for one alternative over another
"She has a preference for tea over coffee."
a word, letter, or number placed before another; as a verb, to add something in front of something else
"Developers often prefix variables with an underscore."
Belonging to the time before written records.
"The prehistoric era was marked by the rise of early humans."
An unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge.
"Prejudice often prevents people from seeing the truth about others."
having or showing a dislike or bias against a person or group without proper reason
"He was prejudiced against people from other regions."
happening before something that is more important; introductory or preparatory
"The team held a preliminary meeting to discuss the project."
Happening or done before the usual or proper time.
"His decision to quit the job was premature."
the head of government in some countries; first in importance or rank
"The French premier addressed the nation."
a statement or idea on which reasoning or an argument is based; also a building or property
"His argument was based on a false premise."
an amount of money paid regularly for an insurance policy; something of superior quality or value
"You need to pay your insurance premium every year."
Serving as preparation or preliminary before the main event.
"They held a preparatory meeting before the main conference."
to recommend or authorize the use of something, especially medicine
"The doctor prescribed medication for my cold."
A written order from a doctor for the preparation and administration of a medicine; also, a recommendation or authoritative rule.
"The doctor gave her a prescription for antibiotics."
neat and suitable for being seen in public; acceptable in appearance
"Make sure you look presentable for the job interview."
at the current moment; now
"Presently, I am working on a new project."
The act of keeping something in its original state or protecting it from harm or decay.
"The preservation of old books is important for cultural heritage."
to keep something safe from harm, decay, or loss
"We must preserve our cultural heritage."
the office or position of being a president
"He was elected to the presidency in 2020."
relating to a president or presidency
"The presidential election is scheduled for next month."
Requiring immediate attention or urgent action.
"The manager had to deal with several pressing issues at once."
a sealed cooking pot that uses steam pressure to cook food faster
"Using a pressure cooker reduces cooking time by more than half."
Widespread respect and admiration felt for someone or something based on their achievements or quality.
"Winning the award gave the company international prestige."
having a high reputation; respected
"Harvard University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world."
used to convey that something is assumed to be true though not known for certain
"Presumably, he forgot to send the email."
To suppose something is true without proof; to take for granted.
"I presume she has already left for the meeting."
an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true
"He made no pretence of being interested in the conversation."
A false appearance or claim; an act of pretending.
"His kindness was only a pretense to gain trust."
To prove more powerful or superior; to be widespread or common.
"Justice will always prevail over injustice."
designed to prevent something from happening; protective against disease
"Regular exercise is a preventive measure against heart disease."
an animal hunted by another for food; to hunt and feed on
"Lions prey on zebras in the wild."
extremely valuable; invaluable; beyond price
"Her grandmother's antique jewelry is absolutely priceless."
The main goal or chief aim of an activity, project, or endeavor.
"The primary objective of the event was to promote recycling."
Of the best quality; most important; peak condition.
"She is in the prime of her career."
Relating to an early stage of development; simple and basic.
"The tribe lived in primitive huts made of mud and straw."
existing or coming before something in time or order
"He had no prior knowledge of the event."
To designate or treat something as more important than other things.
"Always prioritize tasks to avoid delay."
a teacher who gives individual instruction to a student outside of regular school
"The private tutor helped the student improve his math skills."
in a private way; not in public or not shared with others
"She spoke to him privately about the issue."
A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.
"Education is considered a privilege in many developing countries."
having special advantages; favored; elite
"She comes from a privileged background with many opportunities."
Taking action by causing change and not only reacting to change when it happens.
"Proactive strategies are needed to combat scarcity."
the likelihood or chance of something happening
"The probability of rain tomorrow is high according to the forecast."
likely to happen or be true, but not certain
"Rain is probable tomorrow according to the forecast."
a period of testing or supervision, especially for offenders or new employees
"He was placed on probation for six months."
to investigate thoroughly; a device used for exploration or examination
"The journalist probed into the politician’s past."
The process of working through details of a problem to reach a solution.
"Effective problem-solving is critical in overcoming challenges."
Difficult to solve or deal with; presenting a problem or challenge.
"His problematic behavior made teamwork very difficult."