English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
the willingness to take bold risks; rude or disrespectful boldness
"He had the audacity to question the professor in class."
able to be heard
"Her voice was barely audible over the noise of the crowd."
Relating to the sense of hearing.
"The lecture was designed to enhance students' auditory learning skills."
To make something greater by adding to it; to increase.
"The company plans to augment its workforce with new recruits."
Enhancing or increasing the effectiveness or quality of something.
"Augmented reality (AR) enables augmentation of real-world experiences."
having been made greater in size or value.
"The new software provided augmented reality features."
Increasing; making something greater in size, number, or degree
"Life expectancy is augmenting with advancements in healthcare."
Relating to the ear or the sense of hearing.
"The lecture was an aural experience as well as an intellectual one."
A natural display of lights in the sky, usually seen in polar regions.
"We traveled to Norway to see the northern aurora."
Suggesting a positive or favorable outcome; fortunate.
"The wedding was held on an auspicious day."
Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance; plain and simple.
"The monk lived an austere life in the mountains."
Sternness or severity in manner or attitude; also strict economic policies.
"The government introduced new austerity measures."
To prove or show that something is genuine or true.
"The bank uses advanced technology to authenticate online transactions."
Favouring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, often at the expense of personal freedom.
"The regime was highly authoritarian, suppressing all forms of dissent."
Having or showing authority; commanding and self-confident; reliable as a source of information.
"She spoke in an authoritative tone that silenced the room."
A system of government in which one person has absolute power.
"The country suffered under decades of autocracy."
A ruler with absolute power.
"The autocrat controlled the country with an iron fist."
Relating to a ruler who has absolute power and does not consult others.
"The manager’s autocratic style discouraged employees from sharing their ideas."
A machine that works automatically; also refers to a person who behaves like a machine, without thinking.
"He worked like an automaton, without showing any emotion."
Having the freedom to govern or control oneself; independent.
"The region is largely autonomous and makes its own decisions."
In an independent or self-governing manner.
"The robot can operate autonomously without human intervention."
a post-mortem examination to discover the cause of death or the extent of disease
"The autopsy revealed that the victim had died from poisoning."
relating to or characteristic of autumn; occurring in autumn
"The autumnal colors of red and gold filled the forest."
(adjective) providing supplementary or additional help and support; (noun) a person or thing that provides auxiliary support
"The hospital has an auxiliary power generator in case of emergencies."
innovative, experimental, or ahead of its time, especially in the arts and culture
"The gallery featured avant-garde paintings that challenged traditional styles."
people or works that are innovative, experimental, and ahead of their time
"The avantgarde of the 20th century reshaped modern art."
an icon or figure representing a person in digital contexts; in Hinduism, a divine incarnation
"She changed her social media avatar to a new cartoon image."
to inflict harm in return for an injury or wrong done to oneself or another
"He vowed to avenge his brother's death."
having a strong dislike of or opposition to something
"He was averse to taking unnecessary risks."
a strong feeling of dislike or unwillingness towards something
"She has a strong aversion to smoking."
having an eager desire or enthusiasm for something
"She is an avid reader of mystery novels."
covered or flooded with water or something in large quantities
"The market was awash with cheap imported goods."
a sheet of canvas or material stretched on a frame to shelter a place from the sun or rain
"We sat under the awning to avoid the heavy rain."
away from the expected or proper direction; wrong or amiss
"The plan went awry when the weather suddenly changed."
a statement or principle that is generally accepted as true
"It is an axiom of economics that supply creates its own demand."
an affirmative vote or expression of agreement
"The committee voted aye on the proposal."
To talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way.
"The child began to babble happily to herself."
a large African and Arabian primate with a dog-like snout and colorful buttocks
"The baboon troop gathered around the watering hole in the savanna."
Indirect or sarcastic, often appearing as praise but actually insulting.
"She gave him a backhanded compliment about his work."
To repeatedly ask or annoy someone with demands or questions.
"The reporter kept badgering the politician with questions."
To confuse or puzzle someone completely.
"The complex puzzle baffled the students."
the temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, often with a financial guarantee
"He was granted bail after his arrest."
An official who keeps order in a court, carries out court orders, or collects debts.
"The bailiff asked everyone to rise as the judge entered the courtroom."
A large bundle of goods tightly wrapped and bound.
"The workers loaded the bale of cotton onto the truck."
to hesitate or refuse to proceed or comply
"She balked at signing the contract without reading it fully."
a narrative song or poem, often sentimental or romantic
"The singer performed a moving ballad about lost love."
A soothing ointment or something that provides comfort or relief.
"The balm helped relieve the pain from her sunburn."
Mild and pleasantly warm; soothing.
"We enjoyed a walk on a balmy summer evening."
Lacking originality; boringly obvious and commonplace.
"His speech was full of banal clichés."
A cause of great distress, harm, or annoyance.
"Traffic jams are the bane of city life."