English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
to reject or refuse in a sharp or abrupt way
"She rebuffed his invitation to dinner."
to criticize or scold someone sharply
"The teacher rebuked the student for being late."
to argue against or prove wrong; to refute
"The lawyer rebutted the false accusations with strong evidence."
a statement or argument made to oppose or disprove another
"Her rebuttal was clear and convincing."
To adjust or modify according to a new standard or plan; to reassess and realign.
"He had to recalibrate his strategy after the market crash."
To take back or regain possession of something.
"The army managed to recapture the lost territory."
To present or change something in a different form or style.
"The director decided to recast the role with a younger actor."
To move back or further away from a previous position.
"The floodwaters began to recede after the heavy rain stopped."
Money that is owed to a company and is expected to be paid.
"The company's receivables increased significantly this quarter."
Willing to listen to or accept new ideas, suggestions, or experiences.
"She was receptive to feedback from her colleagues."
The ability or willingness to receive something, especially signals or stimuli.
"Her receptivity to new ideas helped improve the project."
Relating to or characterized by economic recession.
"Governments introduce policies to counter recessionary effects."
In genetics, relating to a trait that is expressed only when two copies of the gene are present.
"Blue eye color is often a recessive trait."
Given, felt, or done in return; mutual.
"Their relationship is based on reciprocal respect and trust."
To respond to an action or gesture by making a corresponding one.
"She smiled at him, and he reciprocated with a warm hug."
The practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit.
"Friendships are often based on reciprocity and trust."
A performance of music, dance, or poetry, usually by a soloist.
"She gave a piano recital at the concert hall."
The act of reading or repeating something aloud, especially poetry or passages.
"The student won the prize for her poetry recitation."
a person who recites or repeats something aloud from memory, especially poetry, prayers, or formal texts
"The reciter delivered the poem with clarity and emotion."
To lean or lie back in a relaxed position.
"She reclined on the sofa with a book."
A person who lives alone and avoids other people; someone who lives a solitary life.
"The old man lived as a recluse in the mountains."
To suddenly spring back in fear, horror, or from force such as a gun's kickback.
"She recoiled at the sight of the snake."
To remember something; to bring a past event back to mind.
"I cannot recollect the exact date of the meeting."
the action or faculty of remembering something
"I have no recollection of what happened yesterday."
To restore friendly relations or make consistent.
"They managed to reconcile after years of conflict."
The restoration of friendly relations or agreement after conflict.
"The peace treaty marked a reconciliation between the two nations."
A survey or exploration, especially for military or strategic purposes.
"The soldiers conducted a reconnaissance of the enemy camp."
to restore something to its original form or state; to reassemble
"The group was reconstituted after the leader returned."
to gather or assemble again, especially for a meeting
"The committee will reconvene after lunch."
to narrate or tell the details of an event or experience
"She recounted her adventures during the summer trip."
a source of help or protection in a difficult situation
"The students had no recourse but to appeal to the principal."
to correct or make something right
"The manager promised to rectify the mistake immediately."
to recover from illness or regain strength
"She went to the countryside to recuperate after surgery."
The process of gradually recovering from illness or fatigue
"Rest is essential for recuperation after illness."
the fact of something happening again; an instance of something happening again
"The doctor was concerned about the recurrence of the patient's symptoms."
happening again and again, repeatedly
"She suffers from recurrent nightmares."
to compensate for faults or mistakes; to exchange something for value
"He managed to redeem his reputation after the scandal."
the act of being saved from sin, error, or evil; also the act of regaining possession or making something better
"He sought redemption for his past mistakes."
the act of sharing something out differently from before, often wealth or resources
"The government promised a fair redistribution of land among the farmers."
to set right, remedy, or compensate for a wrong or grievance
"The company promised to redress the complaints of its customers."
the state of being unnecessary or more than needed
"The report contained too much redu ndance and repetition."
the state of being unnecessary or no longer needed; dismissal from a job due to lack of work
"Many workers faced redundancy after the factory closed."
not or no longer needed; unnecessary
"Many workers were made redundant after the company closed."
to smell strongly and unpleasantly; to give off a bad odor
"The garbage bin reeked after being left in the sun."
to lose balance and stagger; to wind or spin something onto a reel
"He reeled backward after being punched."
to set up or restore something again after it has been disrupted
"The government worked hard to reestablish peace in the region."
a general vote by the population on a single political issue
"The government held a referendum on the new constitution."
a person who directs someone to another person or service
"The referrer earned a bonus for recommending a new client."
the process of improving something to make it more polished or sophisticated
"The new software is a refinement of the earlier version."
an industrial facility where raw materials are processed and purified
"The oil refinery processes thousands of barrels daily."