CEFR Level
a short, petty quarrel or argument
"They had a brief spat about who should do the dishes."
a large number of things occurring in quick succession
"There has been a spate of robberies in the city."
relating to space or the position, area, and size of things
"The scientist studied the spatial arrangement of stars."
to produce or generate, often in large numbers
"The video game has spawned many sequels."
to lead or initiate an action, project, or movement
"She spearheaded the campaign for environmental awareness."
money in the form of coins rather than notes or credit
"The transaction was made in specie."
A very small spot, mark, or particle.
"There was a tiny speck of dust on the glass table."
A ghost or spirit; something that causes fear or dread.
"The specter of war still haunts the region."
Relating to a ghost or specter; ghostly. Also relating to a spectrum.
"The old mansion had a spectral atmosphere at night."
A person who forms theories without evidence, or invests in assets hoping for profit.
"The real estate speculator bought land hoping its value would rise."
completely fascinated and unable to move or think about anything else; enchanted
"The children sat spellbound as the magician performed his tricks."
Long, thin, and weak-looking
"The spindly tree bent under the weight of the snow."
lacking courage or determination; weak-willed
"He was too spineless to stand up for his beliefs."
An unmarried woman, often one who is older and considered unlikely to marry
"The novel featured a kind-hearted spinster who cared for the village children."
covered with or full of spines; having sharp points
"The spiny cactus stood tall in the desert."
a tall, pointed structure on top of a building, especially a church
"The church spire could be seen from miles away."
to join two pieces of rope, film, or other material by weaving or attaching them together
"The technician spliced the two wires to restore the connection."
A rigid device used to support and immobilize a broken or injured body part.
"The doctor applied a splint to stabilize the patient's broken arm."
A person who ruins other people's enjoyment or fun.
"Don't be a spoilsport and let us enjoy the party."
soft and full of holes like a sponge; porous
"The cake had a light and spongy texture."
The quality of being natural, impulsive, and unplanned.
"Her spontaneity made the trip more exciting."
happening naturally without being planned or forced
"She spontaneously started singing when she heard the music."
A humorous imitation of something, or to trick or parody someone or something.
"The comedian spoofed the politician’s speech to entertain the audience."
Occurring irregularly or in scattered instances rather than continuously.
"The region experienced sporadic rain showers throughout the week."
an injury to a joint in which the ligaments are stretched or torn
"She sprained her ankle while running in the park."
full of energy and life; lively
"The sprightly old man danced with joy at the wedding."
to begin to grow; to produce new leaves or shoots
"The seeds began to sprout after a few days of rain."
to make neat or tidy in appearance; also refers to an evergreen tree
"He spruced up his room before the guests arrived."
To encourage or motivate someone to take action.
"The teacher's praise spurred him to study harder."
Not genuine, authentic, or true; false or fake.
"The report was based on spurious claims."
To reject something or someone with disdain or contempt.
"She spurned his offer of help."
To argue noisily over something small or unimportant.
"The children squabbled over the last piece of cake."
extremely dirty and unpleasant, often due to poverty or neglect
"He lived in a squalid room with broken furniture."
a sudden violent gust of wind, often accompanied by rain, snow, or sleet
"A sudden squall caught the sailors off guard."
the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially due to poverty or neglect
"They lived in squalor without basic facilities."
to waste something, especially money or time, in a reckless or foolish manner
"He squandered all his savings on gambling."
to crouch or sit with knees bent and body close to the ground
"He squatted down to tie his shoes."
a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land
"The police removed the squatters from the abandoned house."
to make a high-pitched cry; to inform on someone
"The children squealed with delight when they saw the surprise."
easily made to feel sick, faint, or disgusted
"She felt squeamish at the sight of blood."
to look with partly closed eyes
"She squinted at the bright sunlight."
The process of making or becoming stable.
"The stabilization of the structure was essential after the earthquake."
not moving, changing, or developing; inactive
"The company’s growth remained stagnant for several years."
to stop developing, progressing, or moving
"Without innovation, the business will stagnate."
a state of not advancing, developing, or moving
"The country suffered from economic stagnation during the crisis."
Serious, respectable, and unadventurous.
"He came from a staid family background."
A situation in which no progress can be made or no party can win.
"Negotiations ended in a stalemate."
An adult male horse that is not castrated, often used for breeding.
"The farm owns a powerful stallion for breeding purposes."
Loyal, reliable, and hardworking; strongly built or sturdy.
"She has always been a stalwart supporter of the community."
To speak with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat the initial letters of words.
"The nervous student began to stammer during his speech."
