Darkness
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A2 noun /ˈdɑrk.nəs/

Darkness

Meaning
the partial or total absence of light; wickedness or evil; ignorance or lack of knowledge
Example
The power outage plunged the entire city into darkness.
B2 noun /ˈdiːlər/

dealer

Meaning
a person or business that buys and sells goods; someone who distributes
Example
The car dealer offered a discount to attract customers.
C1 noun /ˌdep.rɪˈveɪ.ʃən/

deprivation

Meaning
The damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society.
Example
Sleep deprivation affects cognitive function.
B2 noun /djʊˈreɪʃən/

duration

Meaning
the length of time that something continues
Example
The meeting lasted for the duration of two hours.
B1 adjective /drəˈmæt.ɪk/

Dramatic

Meaning
relating to drama; sudden and striking; exciting and impressive
Example
The dramatic sunset painted the sky in brilliant colors.
A1 adjective /dɪr/

dear

Meaning
loved or cherished; sometimes used as a polite form of address
Example
She is very dear to her grandparents.
B2 verb /dɪˈfaɪ/

defy

Meaning
to openly resist or refuse to obey someone or something; to challenge or dare someone to do something
Example
The protesters continued to defy the government's ban on public gatherings.
C2 noun /drɒs/

dross

Meaning
worthless or unwanted material; rubbish or impurities
Example
Most of his early writings were considered dross.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪəˌdɛm/

diadem

Meaning
A crown or headband worn as a symbol of royalty or authority.
Example
The queen wore a glittering diadem at the coronation.
C2 noun /ˌdɪskənˈtɪnjʊəns/

discontinuance

Meaning
the act of stopping something, especially permanently
Example
The discontinuance of the service disappointed many customers.
C2 verb /dɪˈpreɪv/

deprave

Meaning
to corrupt morally; to make someone immoral or wicked
Example
The novel was criticized for attempting to deprave the minds of young readers.
C1 noun /ˈdæɡ.ər/

Dagger

Meaning
a short knife with a pointed blade used as a weapon
Example
The ancient warrior carried a silver dagger.
B2 verb /ˈdɪkteɪt/

dictate

Meaning
to say words aloud for someone to write down; to give orders
Example
The boss dictates letters to his secretary.
C1 noun ˈdɛtrɪ.mənt

detriment

Meaning
Harm, damage, impairment.
Example
Smoking is a detriment to health.
B2 noun /ˈdʌbəl ˈdekər/

Double decker

Meaning
a bus with two levels or floors for passengers
Example
The red double decker bus is a famous symbol of London.
B2 noun /ˌdel.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

delegation

Meaning
A group of people chosen to represent others in negotiations or discussions.
Example
The delegation presented their country's agenda.
B1 verb /dɪˈfaɪn/

define

Meaning
to explain the meaning of a word, phrase, or concept clearly
Example
The teacher asked the student to define the word 'democracy'.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɛmbələr/

dissembler

Meaning
a person who conceals their real feelings or intentions; a hypocrite or pretender
Example
The politician was accused of being a dissembler who never revealed his true plans.
C1 verb /dɪˈmiːn/

demean

Meaning
to cause someone to lose dignity or respect
Example
The manager demeaned his employees with rude remarks.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz/

disabuse

Meaning
To free someone from a false belief or misconception.
Example
The teacher tried to disabuse the students of their misunderstanding.
B1 adjective /dɪˈmændɪŋ/

demanding

Meaning
requiring much effort, skill, or attention; difficult to satisfy
Example
The job is very demanding and requires long hours of work.
A2 noun /ˈdrɔːər/

drawer

Meaning
a box-shaped storage compartment that slides in and out of furniture
Example
She kept her jewelry in the top drawer of the dresser.
C2 adjective /ˈdjuːtiəbl/

dutiable

Meaning
subject to customs duty or tax
Example
Imported electronics are often dutiable at the border.
C2 verb /diːˈmæɡnɪtaɪz/

demagnetize

Meaning
To remove or reduce the magnetic properties of something.
Example
The technician demagnetized the old cassette tape.
C2 noun /ˈdiːɪst/

deist

Meaning
a person who believes in the existence of a supreme being but rejects organized religion
Example
The philosopher identified himself as a deist.
B1 noun dɛt

debt

Meaning
A sum of money that is owed or due.
Example
High levels of debt can lead to a financial crisis.
B1 verb /dɪˈlɪvər/

deliver

Meaning
to bring or hand over something to the intended recipient
Example
The courier will deliver the package tomorrow.
B2 verb /dɪˈspaɪz/

despise

Meaning
to regard with contempt; to hate strongly
Example
She despises dishonesty in all its forms.
C2 noun /dɪˈstɪlər/

distiller

Meaning
A person or company that makes alcoholic drinks or purified liquids by distillation.
Example
The distiller introduced a new brand of whiskey last year.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪtəm/ or /ˈdætəm/

datum

Meaning
a single piece of information; a fact used as a basis for reasoning or calculation
Example
Each datum in the survey was carefully analyzed.
C2 adjective /dɪˈluːsɪv/

delusive

Meaning
Giving a false or misleading impression; deceptive.
Example
His promises turned out to be delusive and untrustworthy.
C1 noun /ˌdiːˈmer.ɪt/

Demerit

Meaning
a fault or disadvantage; a mark given for a fault or offense
Example
The student received a demerit for arriving late to class repeatedly.
B2 adjective /dɪˈvɔːrst/

divorced

Meaning
No longer married because the marriage has been legally dissolved.
Example
She has been divorced for five years.
C2 noun /dɪsˈkwaɪɪtjuːd/

disquietude

Meaning
A state of uneasiness, anxiety, or restlessness.
Example
His constant pacing showed his inner disquietude.
C1 noun /ˈdek.ə.dəns/

decadence

Meaning
Moral or cultural decline characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury.
Example
The novel describes the decadence of the wealthy elite.
C1 noun /dɪˈlɪriəm/

delirium

Meaning
An acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence.
Example
The patient experienced delirium after the surgery due to the strong medication.
C2 noun /dɪˈmeɪn/

demesne

Meaning
Land attached to a manor and retained for the owner's use.
Example
The castle was surrounded by its vast demesne.
C1 verb /dɪsˈɡrʌntl/

disgruntle

Meaning
to make someone dissatisfied or discontented
Example
The unfair treatment disgruntled the workers.
C2 noun /dɜːrdʒ/

dirge

Meaning
A mournful song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief, often for the dead.
Example
The choir sang a solemn dirge at the funeral.
B2 adjective /dɪˈvaɪn/

Divine

Meaning
heavenly; sacred; godlike; relating to God or a deity
Example
The divine beauty of the sunset took their breath away.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɛntɪd/

demented

Meaning
behaving irrationally due to mental illness or extreme excitement
Example
He looked demented after hearing the shocking news.
C1 noun ˌdɪs.ɪnˈfek.ʃən

disinfection

Meaning
The process of destroying harmful microorganisms to prevent infection.
Example
Kitchen appliances require frequent disinfection.
B2 verb /draʊn/

drown

Meaning
to die or cause to die by being submerged in and inhaling water
Example
He nearly drowned while swimming in the river.
B2 verb /dɪsˈmɪs/

dismiss

Meaning
to remove someone from a job or position; to decide something is not important
Example
The manager dismissed the employee for being late too often.
B2 noun /ˌdɪs.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Disability

Meaning
a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities
Example
Despite his physical disability, he became a successful athlete in wheelchair racing.
C2 adjective /ˈdəʊ.lə.rəs/

dolorous

Meaning
Expressing great sorrow or distress.
Example
He spoke in a dolorous tone after the loss.
A2 noun /dɪˈlɪv.ə.ri/

Delivery

Meaning
the action of delivering letters, parcels, or goods; the process of giving birth
Example
The delivery of the package was delayed due to bad weather conditions.
A2 noun dɪˈskrɪpʃən

description

Meaning
A spoken or written account of a person, object, or event.
Example
His description was vivid.
C1 adjective /dɪˈlɪriəs/

delirious

Meaning
in an extremely disturbed or excited state of mind, often due to illness or emotion
Example
He was delirious with fever and kept muttering nonsense.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈkɔːrdənt/

discordant

Meaning
disagreeing or clashing; harsh and jarring in sound
Example
The discordant notes of the band hurt our ears.
C2 noun/verb /dɪsˈfeɪvər/

disfavor

Meaning
disapproval or dislike; to regard with disapproval
Example
The new policy fell into disfavor with the public.
C1 noun /ˈdjuːplɛks/

duplex

Meaning
A house or apartment divided into two separate residences.
Example
They live in a duplex near the city center.
C2 adjective /daɪˈvɜːrtɪbəl/

divertible

Meaning
capable of being turned aside or redirected
Example
Funds from the budget are not legally divertible.
C2 noun /ˈdjʊərəns/

durance

Meaning
imprisonment or confinement
Example
The prisoner spent years in durance before his release.
C2 noun /dɪsˈjuːnjən/

disunion

Meaning
the state of being separated or not united
Example
Civil wars often result from national disunion.
B2 adjective dɪˈlɪbəreɪt

deliberate

Meaning
Done consciously and intentionally; carefully considered.
Example
His deliberate actions showed great care and thoughtfulness.
A2 noun /ˈdɪʃ ˌwɒʃər/

Dish washer

Meaning
an appliance for washing dishes automatically
Example
We installed a new dishwasher in our kitchen last week.
B2 noun dɪˈstrækʃən

distraction

Meaning
Something that prevents concentration or takes attention away from something else.
Example
Distraction during study time can hinder learning.
B2 adjective /dɪˈskriːt/

discreet

Meaning
careful and prudent in one's speech or actions, especially to keep something confidential or avoid embarrassment
Example
She was discreet about the details of their conversation.
B1 noun /dɪˈsɪʒənˌmeɪkɪŋ/

decision-making

Meaning
the process of making decisions, especially important or business-related decisions
Example
The CEO's decision-making was crucial for the success of the company.
A2 noun /deθ/

Death

Meaning
the end of life; the permanent cessation of vital functions
Example
The death of the great leader was mourned by the entire nation.
A1 verb/noun /dæns/

dance

Meaning
to move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps
Example
They danced all night at the wedding.
C2 noun /ˈdrɪvəl/

drivel

Meaning
silly or nonsensical talk
Example
The politician’s speech was full of meaningless drivel.
C1 verb /daɪˈvɛst/

divest

Meaning
to strip away possessions, rights, or assets; to rid oneself of
Example
The company decided to divest its unprofitable division.
B1 noun /ˈdaɪ.ə.lɑːɡ/

Dialogue

Meaning
a conversation between two or more people; discussion aimed at exploration of a subject
Example
The political leaders engaged in meaningful dialogue to resolve the conflict.
C1 verb /dɪsˈmæntəl/

dismantle

Meaning
to take apart; to remove or destroy the parts of
Example
Workers will dismantle the old bridge next month.
C1 noun /dɪsˈɒn.ər/

Dishonour

Meaning
a state of shame or disgrace; lack of honor or integrity; failure to fulfill obligations
Example
Breaking his promise brought dishonour to his name and family legacy.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɒndənt/

despondent

Meaning
feeling or showing deep hopelessness or discouragement
Example
She felt despondent after losing her job.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk/

diabolic

Meaning
Extremely evil or cruel; characteristic of the devil.
Example
The villain devised a diabolic scheme.
C2 noun /dɪˈstɛnʃən/

distention

Meaning
The state of being swollen due to internal pressure.
Example
The patient complained of abdominal pain and distention.
C1 noun /dɪˈmaɪz/

demise

Meaning
Death or end of something, especially the end of an institution or system.
Example
The sudden demise of the company shocked investors.
C1 noun /ˈdɑːrwɪnɪzəm/

darwinism

Meaning
the theory of biological evolution developed by Charles Darwin, emphasizing natural selection
Example
Darwinism revolutionized the way scientists understood the origin of species.
C2 verb /dɪˈsɛmbəl/

dissemble

Meaning
to conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs; to pretend
Example
He tried to dissemble his anger with a forced smile.
C2 noun /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃə/

differentia

Meaning
A distinguishing characteristic that sets one thing apart from another.
Example
The differentia of humans is their ability to reason abstractly.
A1 noun /dres/

Dress

Meaning
a piece of clothing for women or girls that covers the body and extends down over the legs
Example
She wore a beautiful blue dress to the party.
C2 verb /dɪˈbɑːrk/

debark

Meaning
to disembark or get off a ship, aircraft, or vehicle
Example
The passengers debarked as soon as the ship docked.
C2 verb /ˌdɪspəˈzɛs/

dispossess

Meaning
to deprive someone of land, property, or other possessions
Example
The new law threatened to dispossess many farmers of their land.
B1 adjective /dɪsˈɒnəst/

Dishonest

Meaning
not honest; fraudulent; deceitful
Example
The dishonest salesman tried to sell them a broken car.
A2 noun /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/

dining

Meaning
the act of eating a meal, especially in a formal setting
Example
We enjoyed fine dining at the new restaurant.
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.
C1 verb dɪˈlɪnieɪt

delineate

Meaning
To describe or portray something precisely
Example
The artist delineated the scene in intricate detail.
C2 verb /ˌdɒmɪˈnɪə/

domineer

Meaning
to assert one's will over another in an arrogant way
Example
He tends to domineer over his younger colleagues.
C1 noun /dɪˈvaɪzər/

divisor

Meaning
A number by which another number is divided.
Example
In the equation 12 ÷ 3, the number 3 is the divisor.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfɪdəns/

diffidence

Meaning
Lack of self-confidence; shyness or modesty.
Example
Her diffidence made it hard for her to speak in public.
B2 noun /dɪsˈɡaɪz/

Disguise

Meaning
a means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity; something that hides the truth
Example
The spy wore an elaborate disguise to avoid being recognized by enemies.
C1 adjective /dɪˈbɪl.ɪ.teɪ.tɪŋ/

debilitating

Meaning
Making someone or something weak and infirm.
Example
The disease had a debilitating effect on his health.
C1 verb /dɪˈzɪst/

desist

Meaning
to stop doing something, especially an action considered wrong or undesirable
Example
The judge ordered the company to desist from unfair practices.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/

diminutive

Meaning
extremely or unusually small
Example
Despite his diminutive size, he was a powerful leader.
A1 noun/verb /deɪt/

date

Meaning
A particular day of the month or year; also, a social or romantic appointment.
Example
They decided to meet on the date of her birthday.
C1 verb /dɪsˈfɪɡjər/

disfigure

Meaning
to spoil or damage the appearance of something
Example
The fire disfigured the old building.
C1 noun /dɪˈsaɪ.pəl/

Disciple

Meaning
a follower and student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher; devoted follower
Example
The famous philosopher had many disciples who spread his teachings worldwide.
A2 noun /ˈdrɑː.mə/

drama

Meaning
a play for theater, radio, or television, or an exciting or emotional situation
Example
She loves watching historical drama series.
C2 verb /dɪˈfoʊlieɪt/

defoliate

Meaning
to strip leaves from a tree, plant, or area, often using chemicals
Example
The farmers defoliated the fields before harvest.
B2 adjective /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

deserted

Meaning
Empty of people; abandoned.
Example
The village looked completely deserted after the storm.
B1 adjective /draɪd/

dried

Meaning
without moisture; preserved by removing water
Example
She added some dried flowers to the vase for decoration.
B2 noun /dɪˈstrækʃənz/

distractions

Meaning
Things that prevent someone from concentrating on something else.
Example
Eliminate distractions for better productivity.
B2 noun /droʊn/

Drone

Meaning
a male bee that does not work and whose only function is to mate with the queen
Example
The drone bees do not collect honey like worker bees.
C2 verb /dɪˈmɜːr/

demur

Meaning
to raise doubts, objections, or show reluctance
Example
She agreed to help without demur.
B2 verb /dɪsˈtɜːb/

disturb

Meaning
to interrupt or cause someone to stop what they are doing
Example
Please don’t disturb me while I’m studying.
C2 noun /dɪˈfoʊliənt/

defoliant

Meaning
a chemical that causes leaves to drop from plants, often used in warfare or agriculture
Example
The army sprayed defoliant to clear the forest cover.
C1 verb /dəˈmɛstɪkeɪt/

domesticate

Meaning
to tame an animal for use by humans; to adapt something for domestic use
Example
Humans domesticated dogs thousands of years ago.
C1 verb /dɪˈsweɪd/

dissuade

Meaning
To persuade someone not to do something.
Example
She tried to dissuade him from quitting his job.
C2 noun /dɪˈpɔːrtmənt/

deportment

Meaning
A person's behavior or manners, especially in a formal situation.
Example
Her deportment during the ceremony impressed everyone.
B2 verb /dɪsˈkloʊz/

disclose

Meaning
to reveal or make information known; to expose
Example
The company must disclose all financial information.
B2 adjective /dɪˈstɜː.bɪŋ/

disturbing

Meaning
causing anxiety, worry, or emotional distress
Example
The news about the accident was deeply disturbing.
C1 noun /ˌdɪp.ləˈmæt.ɪk ˈmaɪl.stəʊn/

diplomatic milestone

Meaning
A significant achievement or important event in diplomatic relations.
Example
Hosting the summit was a diplomatic milestone.
C1 verb /diːˈfjuːz/

defuse

Meaning
To make a situation less dangerous, tense, or explosive; to remove a fuse from a bomb.
Example
The negotiator helped defuse the tense situation.
C1 noun /dɪˈten.ʃən/

Detention

Meaning
the action of detaining someone or being detained in official custody
Example
The student received detention for repeatedly disrupting the class.
C2 adjective /ˈdoʊlfəl/

Doleful

Meaning
sorrowful; mournful; expressing grief or sadness
Example
She gave him a doleful look when he left.
B2 noun /daɪm/

dime

Meaning
a small coin, especially a U.S. coin worth ten cents
Example
He gave me a dime for the phone call.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈpɛptɪk/

dyspeptic

Meaning
Relating to indigestion or having a gloomy or irritable disposition.
Example
After the heavy meal, he felt dyspeptic and uncomfortable.
C2 verb /dɪsˈpɔːrt/

disport

Meaning
To amuse oneself in a lively or playful way.
Example
The children disported themselves in the garden.
C2 verb /dɪˈnɒmɪˌneɪt/

denominate

Meaning
to give a name or designation to something
Example
The currency was denominated in dollars.
A2 noun /dɪˈzaɪnər/

designer

Meaning
a person who plans and creates the form or structure of something
Example
The fashion designer presented her new collection.
C1 verb dɪˈsɜːn

discern

Meaning
To perceive or recognize something; to distinguish with difficulty by sight or with the other senses.
Example
He could barely discern the distant figure in the fog.
C2 noun /ˈdɔːrmər/

dormer

Meaning
A window that projects vertically from a sloping roof.
Example
The old house had a dormer overlooking the garden.
C2 noun /ˌdiːnəʊˈteɪʃən/

denotation

Meaning
The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.
Example
The denotation of the word 'rose' is a type of flower.
C1 noun ˈdɪl.ɪ.dʒəns

diligence

Meaning
Careful and persistent work or effort.
Example
Success requires patience and diligence.
B2 noun /den/

Den

Meaning
a wild animal's lair or home; a small, comfortable room; a place for illegal activities
Example
The fox disappeared into its den when it sensed danger approaching.
B2 verb /dɪˈprɛs/

depress

Meaning
To make someone feel sad or without hope; to reduce the level or strength of something.
Example
The gloomy weather tends to depress people.
C2 verb /dʌn/

dun

Meaning
to demand payment of a debt persistently
Example
The landlord dunned the tenant for unpaid rent.