English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
not enjoying the company of others; avoiding social interaction; contrary to social norms
"He prefers unsocial hours so he can work alone without interruptions."
not sold; remaining without a buyer
"The unsold goods were returned to the warehouse."
Lacking worldly experience, refinement, or complexity.
"The villagers led an unsophisticated but happy life."
too bad or shocking to be expressed in words
"The survivors endured unspeakable horrors during the war."
not expressed directly in words; implied or left unsaid
"The contract included several unstated expectations."
not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection
"The politician resigned when his position became untenable."
done without careful thought; automatic or thoughtless
"His unthinking remark hurt her feelings."
Happening or done at an unsuitable or premature time.
"His untimely death shocked the entire community."
continuing without stopping; persistent; tireless
"Her untiring efforts finally led to success."
Too great or numerous to be described or counted.
"The project caused untold stress for everyone involved."
not able to be touched or affected; beyond criticism or attack
"The CEO seemed untouchable despite the scandal."
Not capable of working successfully; not feasible or practical.
"The project was deemed unviable due to high costs."
not expressed in speech; in phonetics, a sound produced without vocal cord vibration
"The student kept her opinion unvoiced during the meeting."
Not justified or authorized; lacking good reason.
"The employee faced unwarranted criticism from his manager."
Steady or resolute; not wavering.
"Her unwavering determination led to success."
Not aware of what is happening; done without realizing.
"She became an unwitting participant in the scam."
Not easily broken or giving in to pressure.
"Her unyielding determination helped her overcome all challenges."
a violent or sudden change or disruption to something
"The company faced a major upheaval after the sudden resignation of its CEO."
situated at the highest place or most important
"Her family's safety was uppermost in her mind during the crisis."
the quality of being honest and morally correct; integrity
"His uprightness in business dealings earned him great respect."
An act of resistance or rebellion; an attempt to overthrow authority or government.
"The uprising spread quickly across the country."
A loud noise, commotion, or disturbance caused by a group of people.
"The announcement caused an uproar in the audience."
To pull something out of the ground; to remove or displace completely.
"They uprooted the old tree from the garden."
The final result or outcome of a process or situation.
"The upshot of the meeting was that the plan was postponed."
An improvement or upward trend in a situation, especially in business or economy.
"The company experienced an upturn in sales last quarter."
Designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive; relating to the doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority.
"The building had a simple utilitarian design."
An imagined perfect society or place where everything is ideal.
"Many philosophers dreamed of creating a utopia for humanity."
to leave or give up a place, seat, or position
"They had to vacate the apartment by the end of the month."
A person who wanders from place to place without a home or job.
"The old vagabond lived on the streets of the city."
A person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place.
"The police offered shelter to a vagrant sleeping on the street."
A valley, often used in a poetic or literary sense.
"The village lay hidden in a quiet green vale."
Showing courage, determination, and bravery.
"The firefighters made a valiant effort to save the building."
in a legally, logically, or officially acceptable manner
"The contract was validly signed by both parties."
Great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.
"The soldier was honored for his valor during the war."
the process of deciding how much money something is worth; an estimated value
"The property valuation came in higher than expected."
Education that emphasizes moral principles and ethical values.
"Value-based education shapes moral character."
having no worth, importance, or usefulness
"The old broken phone was considered valueless."
the forefront of an action, movement, or military force
"The company is at the vanguard of technological innovation."
to defeat thoroughly, especially in battle or competition
"The army vanquished its enemies with superior strategy."
a position or situation that gives an advantage or a good view
"From this vantage, we could see the entire valley."
to turn into vapor or gas
"The heat of the sun can vaporize water from the surface."
a device that turns a liquid into vapor, often for inhalation
"She used a vaporizer to ease her cough."
the state of being different or inconsistent; in statistics, a measure of the spread between numbers
"There is a wide variance in students' performance levels."
A liquid that is applied to wood or other materials to form a hard, shiny surface; also to apply such a liquid.
"The carpenter varnished the table to give it a glossy finish."
A large container used for holding liquids such as dye or wine.
"The workers filled the vat with freshly pressed grape juice."
A secure room for storing valuables; also to leap or spring over something.
"The bank kept its gold bars in a secure vault."
to change direction suddenly
"The car veered off the road to avoid the accident."
relating to growth or the basic processes of life, often without conscious thought or activity
"The patient remained in a vegetative state after the accident."
Great forcefulness or intensity of expression, emotion, or conviction.
"She spoke with vehemence during the debate."
showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense
"She made a vehement argument against the proposal."