condescending
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN English BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Spanish FR French DE German RU Russian ZH Chinese JA Japanese
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C1 adjective /ˌkɒndɪˈsɛndɪŋ/

condescending

Meaning
having or showing an attitude of patronizing superiority
Example
Her condescending tone upset her colleagues.
B2 verb /siːs/

cease

Meaning
to bring or come to an end; to stop doing something
Example
The noise ceased as soon as the children went inside.
B2 noun /ˈkaʊn.səl.ɪŋ/

counselling

Meaning
the process of giving professional guidance and support to help someone deal with personal, social, psychological, or career-related problems
Example
She decided to seek counselling to manage stress and anxiety.
C2 noun /kɒzˈmɒɡ.rə.fi/

cosmography

Meaning
the science or art of mapping the universe or cosmos
Example
Medieval scholars practiced cosmography to chart the stars and planets.
C2 adjective /ˈkræbɪd/

crabbed

Meaning
difficult to read or understand; ill-tempered
Example
His handwriting was crabbed and almost illegible.
B2 adjective /ˌkrɒnəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/

chronological

Meaning
Arranged in the order in which events happened.
Example
The events were listed in chronological order.
C2 noun /kəˈnaɪ.vəns/

connivance

Meaning
the act of secretly allowing or being involved in wrongdoing
Example
The theft happened with the connivance of the security guard.
A2 adjective /ˈkɒm.ən/

common

Meaning
occurring frequently or widely; shared by all
Example
It is common to see traffic in the city during rush hour.
B2 noun /kriːk/

creek

Meaning
a small stream or narrow river
Example
We went fishing by the creek near our house.
B2 noun /ˌkrɛd.ɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

credibility

Meaning
The quality of being trusted and believed in; trustworthiness.
Example
His credibility as a leader remains unquestioned.
C1 noun /ˈkɔːkəs/

caucus

Meaning
A meeting of members of a political party to select candidates or decide policy.
Example
The party held a caucus to nominate their candidate for president.
B1 adverb /ˈkɑːm.li/

Calmly

Meaning
in a peaceful way without showing strong emotions; quietly and without excitement
Example
She spoke calmly despite being angry.
C1 adjective /ˈkæl.əs/

Callous

Meaning
showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others; emotionally hardened
Example
He showed a callous disregard for others' feelings.
B2 verb /ˈkɒntəmpleɪt/

contemplate

Meaning
to think deeply and carefully about something; to consider thoughtfully
Example
She sat quietly to contemplate her future plans.
C2 noun /koʊˈædʒətər/

coadjutor

Meaning
a person who helps or assists another, especially in a religious or official capacity
Example
The bishop appointed a coadjutor to assist him with his duties.
C1 adjective /ˈkɔː.stɪk/

caustic

Meaning
able to burn or corrode by chemical action; severely sarcastic
Example
Her caustic remarks hurt his feelings.
A1 verb, adjective /kloʊz/ (verb), /kloʊs/ (adjective)

close

Meaning
To shut something (verb); near in space or relationship (adjective).
Example
Please close the door when you leave.
C2 adjective /sɛnˈtrɪpɪtəl/

centripetal

Meaning
Moving or directed toward a center.
Example
Centripetal force keeps the planets in orbit around the sun.
C2 verb /koʊˈæɡjəˌleɪt/

coagulate

Meaning
to cause a liquid, especially blood, to change into a solid or semi-solid state
Example
The blood quickly coagulated after the cut.
B2 noun /ˌkɒrəˈspɒndənt/

correspondent

Meaning
A journalist who reports news from a particular place or on a particular subject.
Example
The foreign correspondent reported live from Paris.
A1 noun /ˈkʌl.ər/

Colour

Meaning
the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects light; hue, tint, shade
Example
What is your favorite colour for painting the bedroom walls?
B2 verb /kəmˈpɛl/

compel

Meaning
To force or drive someone to do something.
Example
The law compels citizens to pay taxes.
B2 adverb /kənˈsɪstəntli/

consistently

Meaning
in a way that does not vary; regularly and dependably
Example
She has been performing consistently well in her studies.
B2 noun /kreɪn/

Crane

Meaning
a large tall bird with long legs and neck; a machine for lifting heavy objects
Example
The graceful crane stood motionless by the water's edge.
C1 noun /kənˈtɪn.dʒən.si/

contingency

Meaning
A provision for an unforeseen event or circumstance, especially in financial planning.
Example
The company has a contingency plan for economic downturns.
B2 verb kəˈlæbəreɪt

collaborate

Meaning
To work jointly with others, especially in an intellectual endeavor; cooperate.
Example
Volunteers often collaborate with local organizations.
C2 noun /ˈkɒliər/

collier

Meaning
a person who works in coal mines or a ship carrying coal
Example
The collier spent long hours underground extracting coal.
C1 noun /ˌkɒndʒʊˈɡeɪʃən/

conjugation

Meaning
the variation of the form of a verb to indicate tense, person, and number
Example
French verbs have complex conjugations.
C1 verb /kəˈpɪtjʊˌleɪt/

capitulate

Meaning
to surrender or give in after resisting
Example
The army had no choice but to capitulate to the enemy.
B1 adverb /ˈkʌrəntli/

currently

Meaning
at the present time; now
Example
He is currently working on a new project.
B1 noun ˈtʃɑː.dʒɪŋ

charging

Meaning
The process of supplying electrical energy to recharge a battery or power source.
Example
Electric vehicle charging stations are increasing in cities.
A2 verb /klaɪm/

climb

Meaning
to go up using hands and feet; to ascend
Example
We decided to climb the mountain.
B1 noun /ˈkær.ə.væn/

Caravan

Meaning
a group of people traveling together, especially through desert areas
Example
The merchant caravan crossed the desert with camels carrying precious goods.
A2 noun /keɪs/

case

Meaning
A particular situation, occurrence, or an instance of something; also a container or covering for something.
Example
In this case, we should wait for further instructions.
C1 verb /kɑːrp/

carp

Meaning
to complain or find fault continually, often about trivial matters
Example
She tends to carp about the smallest inconveniences.
C2 verb /kəˈriːn/

careen

Meaning
To move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way, especially in a specific direction.
Example
The car careened down the slippery road.
C2 noun /ˈklɪpər/

clipper

Meaning
a tool used for cutting, or a fast sailing ship of the 19th century
Example
The barber used clippers to trim his hair.
C1 adjective /ˈʃɪvəlrəs/

chivalrous

Meaning
Behaving in a courteous, gallant, and honorable way, especially toward women.
Example
He was chivalrous, always opening doors for others.
B1 noun /kræft/

craft

Meaning
an activity involving skill in making things by hand; a trade or occupation
Example
She has mastered the craft of pottery.
C2 adjective /koʊˈtɜːr.mɪ.nəs/

coterminous

Meaning
having the same boundaries or extent in space, time, or meaning
Example
The two jurisdictions are coterminous, sharing the same borders.
C2 noun /ˌkʌmˈʌpəns/

comeuppance

Meaning
A deserved punishment or fate; just deserts.
Example
The corrupt official finally got his comeuppance in court.
C1 noun /ˈsɪvɪks/

civics

Meaning
the study of the rights and duties of citizens and how government works
Example
Civics helps students understand their responsibilities as citizens.
C2 noun /kænt/

cant

Meaning
Hypocritical and insincere talk, especially about moral or religious principles.
Example
The politician's speech was filled with cant about honesty and integrity.
B2 adjective /ˈkræŋki/

cranky

Meaning
bad-tempered, easily annoyed, or irritable
Example
The child gets cranky when he is hungry.
C1 noun /ˌklɔːstrəˈfəʊbiə/

claustrophobia

Meaning
an extreme or irrational fear of being in confined spaces
Example
He avoids elevators because of his claustrophobia.
C1 noun /kʌˈstoʊ.di.ən/

Custodian

Meaning
a person who has responsibility for or looks after something; a caretaker or guardian
Example
The school custodian ensures that all buildings are clean and secure.
B2 verb /ˌkɒn.trəˈdɪkt/

contradict

Meaning
to say or show the opposite of something that has been said or believed
Example
His actions contradict his words.
B1 noun /kənˈviː.ni.əns/

Convenience

Meaning
the state of being able to proceed with something without difficulty; a thing that contributes to an easy way of life
Example
The convenience of online shopping has changed how people buy products.
A2 adjective /ˈkeər.fəl/

Careful

Meaning
taking care to avoid potential problems or dangers; cautious; attentive
Example
Be careful when crossing the busy street during rush hour.
C1 noun /ˈkɑːrtrɪdʒ/

cartridge

Meaning
A container holding a substance or device, such as ink for printers or bullets for firearms.
Example
The printer stopped working because the ink cartridge was empty.
A2 noun /ˈkoʊkənʌt/

Coconut

Meaning
a large brown seed with hard shell containing white flesh and coconut water
Example
We drank coconut water directly from the coconut.
A2 noun /kæmp/

Camp

Meaning
a place where soldiers live temporarily; a place with tents or huts for temporary accommodation
Example
The military established a camp near the border.
B2 adjective /kənˈtɛmpərɛri/

contemporary

Meaning
belonging to the same time period; modern
Example
She enjoys contemporary art exhibitions.
C1 noun ˈkætəlɪst

catalyst

Meaning
A person or thing that precipitates an event or change.
Example
His speech acted as a catalyst for change in the community.
C1 noun /klæn/

clan

Meaning
a large family group or a close-knit community with shared interests or ancestry
Example
The entire clan gathered to celebrate the festival.
C2 adjective /ˌkloʊs ˈhɔːld/

close-hauled

Meaning
of a sailing ship, sailing as nearly as possible towards the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Example
The yacht was close-hauled as it cut through the waves.
B2 noun /ˈkæp.tɪv/

Captive

Meaning
a person who has been taken prisoner or an animal that has been confined
Example
The captive was held in a small cell for several months.
C1 noun /ˌkɑːr.diˈɒl.ə.dʒɪst/

cardiologist

Meaning
A doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating heart diseases.
Example
She made an appointment with a cardiologist for her chest pain.
B2 noun ˈkrɪt.ɪ.kəl ˈθɪŋ.kɪŋ

critical thinking

Meaning
The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.
Example
Critical thinking helps in making informed decisions.
B2 verb /kəmˈpoʊz/

compose

Meaning
to create music or writing; to make up; to calm oneself
Example
She composes beautiful songs.
C1 noun /ˈtʃæplɪn/

chaplain

Meaning
A member of the clergy attached to a private chapel, institution, hospital, or military unit.
Example
The army chaplain offered prayers before the battle.
C1 noun /koʊˈɜː.ʃən/

coercion

Meaning
The practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.
Example
Cybercriminals use coercion to extract information.
C1 verb /kənˈkɒkt/

concoct

Meaning
to make something, especially food or a story, by mixing or inventing
Example
He concocted a story to explain his absence.
C1 noun /krəˈnɒlədʒi/

chronology

Meaning
The arrangement of events or dates in the order of their occurrence.
Example
The chronology of the dynasty was carefully studied by historians.
B2 noun /ˈkaʊn.tər/

counter

Meaning
a flat surface in a shop, bank, or kitchen where transactions or work are done
Example
The cashier stood behind the counter.
C2 noun /kəˈnɑːrd/

canard

Meaning
a false or unfounded story or rumor
Example
The article turned out to be nothing more than a canard.
C2 adjective /ˈsɜː.kəm.spekt/

circumspect

Meaning
Wary and unwilling to take risks; careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences.
Example
Investors must be circumspect before making decisions.
C1 noun /ˌkɒnvəˈlɛsns/

convalescence

Meaning
the period of time spent recovering from an illness or medical treatment
Example
His convalescence lasted for almost two months after the accident.
B1 noun /ˈkɜː.ri/

Curry

Meaning
a dish of meat, vegetables, etc., cooked in an Indian-style sauce with hot spices
Example
I love spicy chicken curry with rice.
C2 adjective /koʊˈiːvəl/

coeval

Meaning
Having the same age, date of origin, or duration; contemporary.
Example
The philosopher was coeval with the rise of modern science.
B2 noun /kənˈdʌktər/

conductor

Meaning
a person who directs a performance or someone who collects fares on public transport; or a material that conducts electricity
Example
The conductor waved his baton to start the orchestra.
C1 noun /krɪpt/

crypt

Meaning
an underground chamber, especially one beneath a church, used as a burial place
Example
The tourists explored the ancient crypt beneath the cathedral.
C2 verb /kəˈmɪz.ə.reɪt/

commiserate

Meaning
To express sympathy or compassion for someone's misfortune.
Example
She called her friend to commiserate after his loss.
C1 verb kəˈrɒb.ə.reɪt

corroborate

Meaning
Confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding.
Example
The witness corroborated the defendant's testimony.
B2 noun /kənˈtroʊlər/

controller

Meaning
a person or device that manages, directs, or regulates something
Example
The game controller made it easy to play the video game.
C1 adjective /kəmˈpleɪsənt/

complacent

Meaning
showing self-satisfaction and a lack of concern about potential dangers or problems
Example
The team grew complacent after a few victories and stopped practicing hard.
B2 noun /ˈkæriər/

carrier

Meaning
A person or thing that carries, transports, or conveys something; also an organization that provides transport services.
Example
The airline is the largest carrier in the country.
C1 noun /ˌkɒn.təmˈpleɪ.ʃən/

contemplation

Meaning
The action of looking thoughtfully at something for a long time; deep reflective thought.
Example
She sat in contemplation before making her decision.
C2 noun /ˌkəʊ.əˈles.əns/

coalescence

Meaning
The process of coming together to form one mass or whole.
Example
The coalescence of different cultures creates diversity.
B2 noun /kraɪˈtɪəriən/

criterion

Meaning
A standard or rule used to make a judgment or decision.
Example
Honesty is an important criterion for this job.
C1 noun /ˈsɪtrɪk ˈæsɪd/

Citric Acid

Meaning
a natural acid found in citrus fruits, used as a food preservative and flavoring agent
Example
Add a pinch of citric acid to preserve the color of the fruit jam.
C2 noun /ˈkɔː.seər/

corsair

Meaning
a pirate, especially one operating along the Mediterranean coasts
Example
The corsair plundered ships along the coast.
C2 noun /ˈkæt.aɪ.ɒn ɪksˌtʃeɪndʒ/

cation-exchange

Meaning
A chemical process in soil that helps retain nutrients.
Example
The cation-exchange capacity of soil affects plant growth.
B1 noun /kriˈeɪ.ʃənz/

creations

Meaning
Things that have been created, especially works of art or imaginative works.
Example
His creations astonished the world.
B2 noun /kənˈstɪtʃ.u.ənts/

constituents

Meaning
Components or elements used to create something.
Example
Proteins and vitamins are essential constituents of a healthy diet.
B2 noun /kleɪ/

clay

Meaning
a natural material made of fine earth that becomes hard when baked, used for making pottery
Example
The artist molded the wet clay into a beautiful vase.
C2 noun /ˈkʌvi/

covey

Meaning
a small group of birds, especially partridges or quails
Example
A covey of quails flew across the field.
B1 noun /kənˈsʌltənt/

consultant

Meaning
A professional who provides expert advice in a particular area.
Example
The company hired a consultant to improve its marketing strategy.
C2 verb /ˈtʃæfɪŋ/

chaffing

Meaning
Teasing or joking in a lighthearted way.
Example
They were chaffing each other during lunch.
C1 adjective /kənˈdʒiːniəl/

congenial

Meaning
pleasant and friendly because of having similar interests or qualities
Example
They found the café a congenial place to meet and talk.
C1 noun /kənˈspɪrə.tər/

conspirator

Meaning
a person who secretly plans with others to do something unlawful or harmful
Example
The conspirator was arrested before the plan could be carried out.
B1 noun /ˈsɜːrkəmstæns/

circumstance

Meaning
a fact or condition connected with an event or action
Example
She handled the difficult circumstances bravely.
C2 noun /ˈkæbəˌlɪzəm/

cabalism

Meaning
The doctrines, practices, or secretive dealings of a cabal.
Example
The historian wrote extensively about cabalism in the royal court.
B2 noun /ˈkɔːr.əs/

Chorus

Meaning
a large organized group of singers; a part of a song that is repeated after each verse
Example
The school chorus performed beautifully at the annual concert.
B2 noun /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/

cargo

Meaning
goods carried by a ship, plane, or other transport
Example
The ship was loaded with valuable cargo.
C1 verb /ˈkriːmeɪt/

cremate

Meaning
to burn a dead body to ashes as a funeral rite
Example
According to his wishes, they cremated his body after the funeral.
C2 adjective /kənˈdʒɛktʃərəl/

conjectural

Meaning
based on guesswork or incomplete evidence rather than certain knowledge
Example
His explanation was purely conjectural and lacked proof.
A2 noun/verb /kɔːz/

cause

Meaning
a person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition; to make something happen
Example
The heavy rain caused flooding in the city.
C1 noun /ˈkɑːrdəməm/

Cardamom

Meaning
aromatic seeds from a plant in the ginger family, used as a spice
Example
The recipe calls for a pinch of ground cardamom.
B2 noun /ˈklær.ɪ.ti/

clarity

Meaning
The quality of being coherent and intelligible; transparency or lucidity.
Example
The speaker's clarity made the concept easy to understand.
A2 noun/verb /kənˈsɜːrn/

concern

Meaning
to relate to or affect; a matter of worry or interest
Example
Environmental issues concern all of us.
B1 noun /ˈkʊkər/

cooker

Meaning
a device or appliance used for cooking food; a person or thing that cooks
Example
The rice cooker makes cooking meals much easier.
B2 noun /kɜːrl/

Curl

Meaning
a piece of hair that curves or coils; something with a spiral or curved shape
Example
She had beautiful natural curls that framed her face perfectly.
A2 noun /ˈkʌl.tʃər/

Culture

Meaning
the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement; the customs and beliefs of a particular society
Example
Learning about different cultures helps us understand and appreciate diversity.
C2 verb /ˈkælsɪfaɪ/

calcify

Meaning
To harden by deposition of calcium salts; to become rigid or inflexible.
Example
Over time, the tissue began to calcify and lose flexibility.
C2 noun /ˈkælvəri/

calvary

Meaning
A place or experience of intense suffering, originally the site of Jesus’s crucifixion.
Example
For many refugees, the journey across the desert was a calvary.
C1 verb /kəmˈpjuːt/

compute

Meaning
To calculate or determine by using a computer or mathematical methods.
Example
The software can compute the total cost in seconds.
B2 noun /kənˈstreɪnt/

constraint

Meaning
a limitation or restriction
Example
Time is the biggest constraint in completing the project.
B1 noun /kəˈnæl/

canal

Meaning
an artificial waterway constructed for navigation, irrigation, or drainage
Example
The canal was built to help transport goods across the region.
B2 noun /ˈkɑːmpaʊnd/

compound

Meaning
a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; an enclosed area with buildings
Example
The scientist studied the chemical compound in the lab.
A1 adjective /koʊld/

Cold

Meaning
having a low temperature; lacking warmth; unfriendly
Example
The cold winter wind made everyone shiver.
B2 noun kəmˈpet.ɪ.tɪv.nəs

competitiveness

Meaning
The quality of being as good as or better than others of a comparable nature; the ability to compete successfully.
Example
Competitiveness is vital for economic sustainability.
C1 adjective /klænˈdɛstaɪn/

clandestine

Meaning
kept secret or done secretly, especially for illicit purposes
Example
They held a clandestine meeting late at night.
C1 noun /ˈkroʊ.bɑːr/

Crowbar

Meaning
a heavy iron bar with a curved end used as a lever for prying things apart
Example
He used a crowbar to remove the old nails.
C2 adjective /sɛnˈtrɪfjʊɡəl/

centrifugal

Meaning
Moving or tending to move away from a center.
Example
The centrifugal force pushes the clothes to the sides of the washing machine.
C1 verb /kraʊtʃ/

crouch

Meaning
to bend your knees and lower your body close to the ground
Example
The cat crouched before leaping at its prey.
B1 noun /ˈsɪtɪzən/

citizen

Meaning
a legally recognized subject or national of a state
Example
Every citizen has the right to vote.
B2 noun /ˈsɛmɪˌtɛri/

cemetery

Meaning
a place where dead people are buried
Example
The old cemetery is located at the edge of the village.
C2 verb /ˈkɒr.ʌ.skeɪt/

coruscate

Meaning
to sparkle or flash brightly
Example
The fireworks coruscated across the night sky.
B2 verb /koʊp/

cope

Meaning
to deal effectively with something difficult
Example
She had to cope with a lot of pressure at work.
C1 noun /ˈsɪ.nɪk/

Cynic

Meaning
a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest; someone who is skeptical about human nature
Example
The old cynic believed that politicians only cared about getting votes.