B1 noun, verb /bʌz/

buzz

Meaning

to make a low continuous humming sound; a feeling of excitement or interest

Example

I could hear the phone buzz during the meeting.

C2 noun /mæn əv wɔːr/

Man of war

Meaning

a warship; a naval vessel equipped with weapons for warfare

Example

The man of war sailed across the ocean to defend the coast.

C2 adjective /rɪˈflɛksəbl/

reflexible

Meaning

Capable of being reflected or bent back.

Example

The surface was highly reflexible, bouncing light in different directions.

C1 noun /kəˈluːʒən/

collusion

Meaning

A secret agreement or cooperation, especially for an illegal or dishonest purpose.

Example

There was evidence of collusion between the officials and the contractors.

C2 noun /ˈbrɒŋkəs/

bronchus

Meaning

either of the two main branches of the trachea that lead directly into the lungs

Example

The left bronchus carries air into the left lung.

C1 noun /ˈpæs.ɪ.fɪst/

pacifist

Meaning

a person who believes in peace and opposes war or violence

Example

She is a committed pacifist who campaigns against armed conflict.

C2 adjective /bɪˈwɪtʃɪŋ/

bewitching

Meaning

charming, enchanting, or captivating in a magical or irresistible way

Example

She wore a bewitching smile that captivated everyone in the room.

C2 noun /stɛp/

steppe

Meaning

A large flat area of unforested grassland, especially in southeastern Europe or Siberia.

Example

The nomads traveled across the vast steppe with their herds.

C1 verb /kənˈtraɪv/

contrive

Meaning

to plan or devise cleverly or skillfully

Example

She contrived a clever plan to surprise her friends.

B1 adjective /ˈkæʒ.u.əl/

Casual

Meaning

relaxed and unconcerned; happening by chance; informal

Example

He wore casual clothes to the party.

C1 noun /koʊlt/

Colt

Meaning

a young male horse, especially one under four years old

Example

The farmer trained the young colt to accept a saddle.

C1 noun/verb /ˈfʌrəʊ/

furrow

Meaning

A long narrow trench made in the ground by a plow; to make wrinkles or grooves.

Example

The farmer plowed furrows in the field.

C2 noun /ˈbaɪəˌɡræf/

biograph

Meaning

A written account of a person's life; an early motion-picture projector (historical use).

Example

The library holds an old biograph of the poet.

C1 adjective /ˈænsɪləri/

ancillary

Meaning

providing necessary support to the main system or organization

Example

The company provides ancillary services to the healthcare industry.

B2 noun /ˌek.əˈnɒm.ɪk səˌsteɪ.nəˈbɪl.ə.ti/

economic sustainability

Meaning

The ability of an economy to support a defined level of economic production indefinitely.

Example

Economic sustainability drives long-term growth.

B2 noun /ˈdʒʊəri/

jury

Meaning

a group of people sworn to give a verdict in a legal case based on the evidence

Example

The jury found him guilty of the crime.

C1 noun /ˌɛksɪˈkjuːʃənər/

executioner

Meaning

A person who carries out a death sentence by execution.

Example

The executioner prepared the gallows for the condemned prisoner.

B2 noun /rɪˈsiː.vər/

Receiver

Meaning

a person or thing that receives something; the part of a telephone containing the earpiece and mouthpiece

Example

She picked up the receiver to answer the phone call.

A2 adjective /ruːd/

Rude

Meaning

impolite; discourteous; lacking civility; rough or harsh in manner

Example

It was rude of him to interrupt the meeting.

C2 adjective /ˈbɪloʊɪŋ/

billowing

Meaning

Describing something that swells or surges outward in waves or large masses.

Example

She walked through the billowing curtains.

C2 adjective /ˌnɒnkəˈmɪtl̩/

noncommittal

Meaning

Not expressing or showing a clear opinion, decision, or commitment.

Example

She gave a noncommittal reply when asked about her future plans.

B2 adjective /ˌʌnkənˈvɪnsɪŋ/

Unconvincing

Meaning

failing to persuade or impress; not believable or credible

Example

His excuse for being late was completely unconvincing.

C1 noun /suˈpriː.mə.si/

Supremacy

Meaning

the state of being supreme; highest authority or power

Example

The country established naval supremacy in the region.

C1 noun /ˈdʒɛntri/

gentry

Meaning

People of good social position, usually of high birth or wealthy landowners

Example

The gentry of the town gathered for the annual ball.

C1 adjective /ˌpɜːrpənˈdɪkjələr/

perpendicular

Meaning

At an angle of 90 degrees to a given line, plane, or surface.

Example

The ladder was placed perpendicular to the ground for safety.

C1 adjective /ˌɪnkənˈkluːsɪv/

inconclusive

Meaning

Not leading to a definite result or decision.

Example

The investigation remained inconclusive due to a lack of evidence.

B2 adverb /prɪˈzjuːməbli/

presumably

Meaning

used to convey that something is assumed to be true though not known for certain

Example

Presumably, he forgot to send the email.

B1 noun /ɪkˈspres treɪn/

Express Train

Meaning

a fast train that travels between major stations with few or no intermediate stops

Example

The express train reached the destination in half the usual time.

C2 verb /ɪkˈspʌndʒ/

expunge

Meaning

To erase or remove completely, often something unwanted.

Example

He managed to expunge the embarrassing memory from his mind.

C1 verb /bɪˈreɪt/

berate

Meaning

to scold or criticize angrily

Example

The teacher berated the student for being late.

B1 noun /ˈælkəhɒl/

alcohol

Meaning

A colorless volatile liquid that is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks.

Example

Too much alcohol can damage your liver.

C1 adjective /prəˈmɪskjuəs/

promiscuous

Meaning

Having or showing a casual and unselective approach, often used to describe indiscriminate sexual relationships.

Example

The novel depicts a character with a promiscuous lifestyle.

B2 verb, adjective /ɪˈlæbəreɪt/ (verb), /ɪˈlæbərət/ (adjective)

elaborate

Meaning

verb: to explain something in detail; adjective: detailed and complicated in design

Example

She asked him to elaborate on his proposal.

C1 noun /ˈfræk.tʃər/

Fracture

Meaning

the cracking or breaking of a hard object or material; a break in a bone

Example

The doctor confirmed that he had a hairline fracture in his wrist.

B2 adjective /prəˈɡrɛsɪv/

progressive

Meaning

favoring or implementing new and modern ideas or policies; moving forward or improving

Example

She holds progressive views on social justice and equality.

C2 adjective /ˈsiːmli/

seemly

Meaning

proper or appropriate in behavior or appearance

Example

It was not seemly to argue loudly during the ceremony.

C1 adverb /ˌðeərəˈpɒn/

Thereupon

Meaning

immediately after that; following that event

Example

He finished his speech and thereupon left the stage.

C1 noun /ˈʌndərˌteɪkər/

undertaker

Meaning

A person whose job is to prepare the dead for burial and arrange funerals.

Example

The undertaker prepared the body for the funeral service.

A2 noun /læmp/

Lamp

Meaning

a device for giving light, either one using electricity or burning gas or oil

Example

She turned on the reading lamp to illuminate her book.

B2 noun /ˈsaɪrən/

siren

Meaning

A device that makes a loud prolonged sound as a signal or warning; in mythology, a creature that lures sailors with enchanting songs.

Example

The police car passed with its siren blaring.

C1 noun /kəˈpɪl.ər.iz/

capillaries

Meaning

Any of the fine branching blood vessels that form a network between the arterioles and venules.

Example

Broken capillaries cause dark circles.

A2 noun /dʒɔɪ/

Joy

Meaning

a feeling of great pleasure and happiness; a person or thing that causes delight

Example

The children's laughter filled the house with joy during the holiday celebration.

A2 noun /əˈdɪʃ.ən/

Addition

Meaning

the process of adding numbers; something that is added

Example

The addition of a new room made the house more spacious.

C2 adjective /ˈdʒen.ɪ.tɪv/

genitive

Meaning

relating to or denoting a case of nouns and pronouns indicating possession

Example

In English, the genitive case is often shown with an apostrophe and 's'.

C1 noun, verb /pliːt/

pleat

Meaning

a fold in fabric made by doubling the material back upon itself

Example

She added a pleat to the skirt for extra volume.

B2 adverb /ˈaʊtraɪt/

Outright

Meaning

completely; directly; without reservation or concealment

Example

She rejected the proposal outright.

A2 conjunction /ˈwɛðər/

whether

Meaning

used to express a doubt or choice between alternatives

Example

I don’t know whether I should go.

B2 noun /ɡriːnz/

Greens

Meaning

Leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and cabbage

Example

Eating greens is important for good health.

C1 adjective/noun /fəˈrɛns.ɪk/

forensic

Meaning

Scientific analysis applied to criminal or legal matters

Example

Forensic experts analyze cybercrimes using advanced tools.

B2 adjective /ˌprɒb.ləˈmæt.ɪk/

Problematic

Meaning

causing problems; troublesome; difficult to deal with

Example

The new policy changes are problematic and need to be reviewed.

A2 noun /ˈtʃælɪndʒɪz/

challenges

Meaning

Difficult tasks or situations that test someone's abilities or resources.

Example

Overcoming challenges is the key to personal growth.

C2 verb /ˈdɒɡmətaɪz/

dogmatize

Meaning

To state opinions or beliefs as if they were absolute truths.

Example

The professor tended to dogmatize on political issues.

C1 adjective /ˌnɒn ɪɡˈzɪstənt/

non-existent

Meaning

not real or not present; lacking existence

Example

The supposed evidence turned out to be non-existent.

C2 noun /sfɛˈrɪsɪti/

sphericity

Meaning

The quality or state of being spherical; roundness.

Example

The sphericity of the ball made it roll smoothly on the ground.

C2 adjective /ˈmiːli ˌmaʊðd/

mealy-mouthed

Meaning

Unwilling to speak directly and honestly; insincere or evasive in speech.

Example

The manager gave a mealy-mouthed excuse instead of admitting the mistake.

C2 noun /ˈpɛntæd/

pentad

Meaning

A group or set of five things.

Example

The committee was divided into a pentad of working groups.

C1 noun /ˈmælədi/

Malady

Meaning

A disease or ailment; a serious problem

Example

The doctor diagnosed a rare malady that affected her nervous system.

C2 adverb, adjective /ˈɡrætɪs/ or /ˈɡreɪtɪs/

gratis

Meaning

Without charge; free of cost.

Example

The drinks at the event were provided gratis.

A2 noun /ˈmɪr.ər/

Mirror

Meaning

a reflective surface that shows an image of whatever is in front of it

Example

She looked at herself in the mirror.

C2 noun /ˌθiːəˈloʊdʒən/

theologian

Meaning

A person who studies or is an expert in theology.

Example

Theologians often debate complex questions of faith and morality.

B2 noun /ˈməʊtərɪst/

motorist

Meaning

a person who drives a motor vehicle, especially a car or motorcycle

Example

The motorist stopped to help after seeing the accident on the highway.

A1 noun /mɑːm/

mom

Meaning

an informal word for mother

Example

My mom makes the best homemade food.

C1 adverb /maɪˈnjuːtli/

Minutely

Meaning

in very small detail; extremely carefully

Example

The detective examined the evidence minutely.

C1 noun /ˈstætʃuːt/

statute

Meaning

A written law passed by a legislative body.

Example

The new statute protects workers' rights.

B2 noun /dɪˈvoʊ.ʃən/

Devotion

Meaning

love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause

Example

Her devotion to helping others made her a beloved figure in the community.

C1 noun /ˌʌnriˈælɪti/

unreality

Meaning

the state or quality of being unreal; lack of reality or truth

Example

The dreamlike setting gave the story a sense of unreality.

B2 adjective /ʌnprəˈdʌk.tɪv/

Unproductive

Meaning

not achieving much; not producing good results

Example

The meeting was unproductive and wasted everyone's time.

C1 verb /ɪnˈlaɪvən/

enliven

Meaning

to make something more lively, interesting, or cheerful

Example

Her jokes helped enliven the dull meeting.

B2 noun /əˈstrɒnəmər/

astronomer

Meaning

a scientist who studies the stars, planets, and the universe

Example

The astronomer observed the new comet through his telescope.

B2 adverb /ˈaʊər.li/

Hourly

Meaning

every hour; happening or done each hour; continuously

Example

The weather report is updated hourly.

B2 verb /ɪkˈspaɪər/

expire

Meaning

to come to an end, especially a period of validity or life

Example

My passport will expire next month.

B2 adjective /ˌʌnɪˈmædʒənəbəl/

Unimaginable

Meaning

impossible to conceive; beyond imagination

Example

The scale of destruction was unimaginable until we saw it firsthand.

A1 pronoun /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

nothing

Meaning

not anything; no thing

Example

She has nothing to worry about.

C1 noun /ˌlaɪ.sənˈsiː/

Licensee

Meaning

a person or organization that holds a license to do something

Example

The licensee is responsible for following all regulations.

B2 noun /ˈblæk.smɪθ/

Blacksmith

Meaning

a person who makes and repairs things made of iron

Example

The blacksmith hammered the hot iron into a horseshoe.

B2 noun /ˈkrɪtɪk/

critic

Meaning

A person who judges the merits of something, especially art or literature

Example

The film critic praised the director's latest movie.

B2 noun /ˌɪn.dɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Indication

Meaning

a sign or piece of information that indicates something; a suggestion or hint

Example

The dark clouds were a clear indication that a storm was approaching the area.

A2 adjective /duː/

Due

Meaning

owed as a debt; expected at a certain time; scheduled

Example

The assignment is due tomorrow.

B2 verb prəˈlɒŋ

prolong

Meaning

To extend the duration of something; to make something last longer.

Example

A healthy diet helps prolong life expectancy.

C1 adjective /ˌfɪz.i.əˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/

physiological

Meaning

Relating to bodily functions and activities.

Example

Exercise improves physiological functions of the body.

B2 adjective /fræŋk/

Frank

Meaning

honest; open; straightforward; candid

Example

She gave me a frank opinion about my presentation.

B1 noun /soʊl/

Soul

Meaning

the spiritual or immaterial essence of a human being or animal; a person's emotional or intellectual nature

Example

She poured her heart and soul into her artwork.

A2 noun /əˈtɛnʃən/

attention

Meaning

the act of focusing on something or someone

Example

The teacher asked for the students' attention.

C1 adjective /ˈkwɑː.rəl.səm/

Quarrelsome

Meaning

given to arguing and fighting; argumentative and confrontational

Example

His quarrelsome nature makes it difficult to work with him.

A1 adjective /frɛntʃ/

french

Meaning

Relating to France, its people, or their language.

Example

We enjoyed delicious French cuisine on our trip to Paris.

B2 noun /ɪnˈtɛnsəti/

intensity

Meaning

The quality of being extreme, strong, or forceful in degree.

Example

The intensity of the storm frightened the villagers.

C1 noun/verb mælˈfʌŋk.ʃən

malfunction

Meaning

A failure to function normally or satisfactorily; a defect or breakdown.

Example

The engine malfunctioned due to overheating.

C1 noun /meɪl treɪn/

Mail train

Meaning

a train that carries mail and postal packages

Example

The mail train departs every evening to deliver letters across the country.

A1 verb, adjective /oʊn/

own

Meaning

to possess something; belonging to oneself

Example

She owns a beautiful house in the city.

C1 noun/adjective /ˈmæm.əθ/

mammoth

Meaning

An extinct large elephant-like animal with long curved tusks; also means something huge.

Example

The company faced a mammoth challenge during expansion.

A2 noun /ˈkær.ɪk.tər/

Character

Meaning

the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual; a person in a novel, play, or film

Example

She showed great character by helping others during the crisis.

C1 adjective ˈsɛd(ə)ntəri

sedentary

Meaning

Characterized by much sitting and little physical activity.

Example

A sedentary lifestyle can lead to numerous health problems.

B2 adjective /ˈsʌb.sɪ.kwənt/

subsequent

Meaning

Coming after something in time; following in time or order.

Example

Subsequent events clarified the outcomes.

B2 verb /trɛk/

trek

Meaning

to go on a long, difficult journey, especially on foot

Example

They trekked across the mountains for three days.

C1 noun ˌpraɪ.vɪ.taɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

privatization

Meaning

The transfer of a business, industry, or service from public to private ownership and control.

Example

The privatization of state-owned companies increased efficiency.

C1 noun /ˈlɪɡ.əmənt/

ligament

Meaning

A tough band of tissue that connects bones at a joint.

Example

He tore a ligament in his knee while playing football.

C2 verb /ˈæbnɪˌɡeɪt/

abnegate

Meaning

to deny or renounce something, especially a right or desire

Example

She chose to abnegate her personal interests for the sake of the team.

B2 adjective /fɔːrˈsiːəbl/

foreseeable

Meaning

Able to be predicted or expected in advance

Example

The company is unlikely to make changes in the foreseeable future.

C1 noun /flæt fɪʃ/

Flat fish

Meaning

a type of fish with a flattened body that lives on the sea floor

Example

Flat fish like sole and flounder are excellent for grilling.

B1 noun /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/

disappointment

Meaning

the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one's hopes or expectations

Example

Her face showed deep disappointment after hearing the results.

B2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈpruːv/

disapprove

Meaning

to have a negative opinion about something; to consider something wrong or bad

Example

Many parents disapprove of smoking.

B2 noun /veɪn/

Vein

Meaning

a blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart; a streak or marking of a different color

Example

The nurse found a vein in his arm to draw blood.

C2 noun /θiˈɒsəfi/

theosophy

Meaning

A religious or philosophical belief system that seeks direct knowledge of the mysteries of life and the divine.

Example

Theosophy attracted people interested in mysticism and spiritual growth.

C2 noun /ˌsæv.wɑːr ˈfeər/

savoir-faire

Meaning

The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations; polished social skills.

Example

She handled the delicate situation with remarkable savoir-faire.

B2 noun /ˈtɜːnˌəʊvə/

turnover

Meaning

the amount of business conducted during a particular period, or the rate at which employees leave a company

Example

The company reported a high turnover in its sales department.

C2 noun /leɪð/

lathe

Meaning

A machine for shaping wood, metal, or other material by rotating it against a cutting tool.

Example

The carpenter used a lathe to shape the wooden bowl.

A2 adjective /ˈpɒp.jʊ.lər/

summer

Meaning

the warmest season of the year, between spring and autumn

Example

We love going to the beach during summer.

C1 adjective dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɔːri

discriminatory

Meaning

Making or showing an unfair or prejudicial distinction between different categories of people or things.

Example

Discriminatory policies triggered protests.

B2 noun ˌriːkənˈstrʌkʃn

reconstruction

Meaning

The action or process of reconstructing or being reconstructed.

Example

The reconstruction project took years.

C2 noun /ˈluː.mən/

lumen

Meaning

A unit of luminous flux, measuring the amount of visible light emitted by a source.

Example

The bulb produces 800 lumens of light.

C1 adjective ˈleɪ.tənt

latent

Meaning

Existing but not yet developed or manifested; hidden potential.

Example

His artistic talent remained latent for years.

A1 noun /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

morning

Meaning

the early part of the day, typically from sunrise until noon

Example

I like to go for a run in the morning.

C1 verb /rɪˈprɛs/

repress

Meaning

To restrain, suppress, or keep under control, especially emotions or desires.

Example

He tried to repress his anger during the meeting.

C1 verb/noun /ˈkwɪbəl/

quibble

Meaning

To argue or raise objections about a trivial matter; a petty objection.

Example

They quibbled over who should pay the bill.

A2 adjective /ˈskeəri/

scary

Meaning

causing fear or making you feel frightened

Example

That horror movie was really scary.

C1 noun /braɪn/

brine

Meaning

Water saturated with salt, often used for preserving food.

Example

The olives were stored in brine to keep them fresh.

C1 adjective, noun /ˈmɑːrʃən/

martian

Meaning

Related to the planet Mars; or an imaginary being from Mars.

Example

The movie showed a Martian visiting Earth.

B2 verb /əˈpɔɪnt/

appoint

Meaning

to choose someone for a job or position

Example

The board will appoint a new director.

A2 noun, verb /kɒf/

cough

Meaning

a sudden noisy release of air from the lungs to clear the throat or airway; to expel air suddenly from the lungs with a cough

Example

He has a bad cough and stayed home today.

C1 noun /ˈɛər.luːm/

heirloom

Meaning

a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations

Example

The ring is a family heirloom passed down from her grandmother.