CEFR Level
the pursuit of high principles and noble goals; unrealistic pursuit of perfection
"His youthful idealism motivated him to join various social justice movements."
pursuing high principles or ideals; unrealistically optimistic
"She has an idealistic view of changing the world."
To regard or represent something as perfect or better than it really is.
"Children often idealize their parents."
Relating to or based on a system of ideas or beliefs.
"The two parties are divided by deep ideological differences."
A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
"Democracy is based on the ideology of freedom and equality."
A group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words.
"The idiom 'break the ice' means to start a conversation in a friendly way."
Peculiar or individual; relating to an idiosyncrasy.
"He has an idiosyncratic approach to problem-solving."
To admire or worship someone excessively.
"Fans often idolize celebrities for their talent and lifestyle."
Like an idyll; extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.
"They enjoyed an idyllic vacation by the sea."
Formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
"Granite is an igneous rock commonly used in construction."
To catch fire or cause to catch fire; to start or arouse.
"The sparks ignited the dry leaves in seconds."
Not clear enough to be read; unreadable.
"The doctor’s handwriting was almost illegible."
Not authorized by law, rules, or standards; not recognized as valid.
"The court ruled the contract to be illegitimate."
Forbidden by law, rules, or custom.
"The police shut down the illicit drug operation."
Not making sense or lacking clear reasoning.
"It is illogical to blame children for adult mistakes."
To light up or make something clearer.
"Streetlights illuminate the road at night."
the act of lighting something or making something clear
"The street was filled with bright illumination from the lamps."
deceptive or misleading; based on illusion
"His hopes of sudden wealth proved to be illusive."
Based on illusion; not real or actual.
"The sense of safety was illusory, as danger still lurked nearby."
Well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.
"She had an illustrious career in medicine."
visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work
"The poet's use of imagery brought the scene to life."
A lack of balance; a state of inequality or disproportion.
"The imbalance of power led to conflict."
To fix firmly or deeply in a surrounding mass.
"The journalist imbedded himself with the troops to report firsthand."
to inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality
"The teacher's passion for history imbued the students with curiosity."
perfectly clean, neat, or free from flaws
"Her room was immaculate, with everything in its place."
Not important or relevant; lacking physical substance.
"The judge ruled that the argument was immaterial to the case."
the state of not being fully developed emotionally, mentally, or physically; lack of maturity
"His immaturity made it difficult for him to handle responsibility."
Too great or extreme to be measured.
"Her kindness brought him immeasurable happiness."
The quality of bringing one into direct and instant involvement with something, giving rise to a sense of urgency or excitement.
"The immediacy of digital communication has reshaped business operations."
to involve oneself deeply in an activity or interest; to submerge in a liquid
"She decided to immerse herself in the study of ancient history."
the act of deeply involving oneself in something; the state of being completely surrounded by liquid
"Language immersion helps students learn more effectively."
the state of being about to happen
"The imminence of the storm forced people to take shelter."
unable to move or be moved
"After the accident, he was immobile for weeks."
the quality of being immoral; behavior that violates accepted moral standards
"The community condemned the immorality of the corrupt officials."
living forever; never dying; lasting forever in fame or memory
"Legends often describe heroes as immortal beings who never die."
the state of living forever; eternal life or lasting fame beyond death
"Many ancient cultures believed that heroes could achieve immortality through great deeds."
to preserve the memory of someone or something forever
"The statue was built to immortalize the hero’s sacrifice."
impossible to move or change
"The rock was too heavy and immovable."
unchangeable; not able to be altered
"The laws of nature are immutable."
to weaken or damage something, especially a function or ability
"Smoking can impair your lung capacity."
Decline in physical or mental functionality
"Sleep deprivation leads to cognitive impairment."
to make information known; to bestow or communicate
"The teacher imparted valuable knowledge to her students."
Treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair and just.
"The judge remained impartial throughout the trial."
Impossible to travel along or over.
"The road became impassable after the heavy snowfall."
A situation in which no progress is possible; a deadlock.
"Negotiations reached an impasse after both sides refused to compromise."
Filled with or showing great emotion.
"She gave an impassioned speech about human rights."
Not showing or feeling emotion; expressionless.
"Despite the shocking news, she remained impassive."
To charge a public official with misconduct while in office.
"The parliament voted to impeach the president."
Perfect; without flaws or faults.
"She delivered an impeccable performance on stage."
to slow down, block, or hinder progress or movement
"Heavy traffic impeded our progress to the airport."
