Despairing
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 /dɪˈsperɪŋ/

Despairing

Meaning
feeling hopeless; in despair
Example
She felt despairing after losing her job.
B1 noun /ˈɪnsɪdənt/

incident

Meaning
an event or occurrence, often unpleasant or unusual
Example
The police quickly responded to the incident in the park.
C2 verb /ˈpʌlvəraɪz/

pulverize

Meaning
To crush or grind something into a fine powder; to completely defeat or destroy.
Example
The machine can pulverize stones into dust.
B1 noun /ˈkɒntɛkst/

context

Meaning
the circumstances or background relevant to an event, statement, or idea
Example
To understand the quote, you need to know the context in which it was said.
B1 adjective /ɪˈmiːdiət/

immediate

Meaning
happening or done without delay
Example
The doctor gave her immediate attention.
B2 noun /ˌæljuˈmɪniəm/

aluminium

Meaning
a lightweight, silvery-white metal used widely in manufacturing and packaging
Example
Aluminium is commonly used to make cans and aircraft parts.
B1 noun /ˈpælɪs/

palace

Meaning
a large and impressive building that is the official home of a king, queen, or other ruler
Example
The royal family lives in a magnificent palace.
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.
C1 noun /ˌmænɪˈfɛstoʊ/

manifesto

Meaning
a public declaration of policy and aims, especially by a political party
Example
The party released its manifesto before the election.
B2 adjective /ˈrændəm/

Random

Meaning
without pattern or predetermined order; happening by chance
Example
She selected a random book from the library shelf.
B2 noun /ˈwɔːfeər/

Warfare

Meaning
armed conflict between different countries or groups; the activity of fighting a war
Example
Modern warfare involves advanced technology and strategic planning.
A2 noun /seɪf/

Safe

Meaning
secure container for storing valuables; protection from danger
Example
He kept his important documents in the office safe.
C2 noun /ˈɛmɪsɛri/

emissary

Meaning
A person sent on a special mission, usually as a diplomatic representative.
Example
The king sent an emissary to negotiate peace.
B2 noun nɪˈsesɪti

necessity

Meaning
The fact of being required or indispensable; an indispensable thing.
Example
Waste management is a necessity for environmental sustainability.
B2 verb /ræm/

ram

Meaning
to strike or push something with great force
Example
The truck rammed into the wall.
C2 noun /ˈkrɛməˌtɔːri/

crematory

Meaning
a place where dead bodies are cremated
Example
The crematory was located near the cemetery.
B2 adjective /rɪˈfaɪnd/

Refined

Meaning
elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, or taste; purified
Example
She has very refined taste in art and music.
B1 verb /ˈmɛʒər/

measure

Meaning
to determine the size, amount, or degree of something
Example
She measured the length of the table.
C1 adjective /ˈvɪrjʊlənt/

virulent

Meaning
Extremely severe or harmful in its effects.
Example
The virulent disease spread rapidly across the region.
A2 noun /ækˈtɪv.ə.ti/

Activity

Meaning
something that you do for interest or pleasure, or in order to achieve a particular aim
Example
Physical activity is important for good health.
C1 verb /kənˈdʒɛst/

congest

Meaning
To block or overcrowd a space, making movement or flow difficult.
Example
Heavy traffic can congest the city streets during rush hour.
B2 noun /prɒp/

prop

Meaning
an object used on stage by actors during a performance; something that supports or holds up
Example
The actor forgot his prop on stage.
C1 verb /əˈbɔːrt/

abort

Meaning
to stop a process or action before it is completed; to end a pregnancy deliberately
Example
The pilot decided to abort the mission due to bad weather.
C2 adjective /ˈiːkwaɪn/

equine

Meaning
Relating to or resembling a horse.
Example
The veterinarian specialized in equine medicine.
C1 verb /ˌæprɪˈhɛnd/

apprehend

Meaning
to arrest or seize someone; to understand or perceive something
Example
The police managed to apprehend the thief after a long chase.
C2 noun, adjective /ˈɡɒsəmər/

gossamer

Meaning
Something light, thin, and delicate, like a fine fabric or cobweb.
Example
The bride's veil was made of delicate gossamer fabric.
B2 noun /buːθ/

booth

Meaning
a small enclosed space or area used for a specific purpose, such as voting or selling.
Example
He went into the voting booth to cast his ballot.
A1 verb /biː/

be

Meaning
To exist, to occur, or to have a particular quality.
Example
She wants to be a doctor.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒŋɡruənt/

congruent

Meaning
in agreement or harmony; having the same shape and size in geometry
Example
Their values are congruent with the goals of the organization.
A2 noun /ˈɑːr.tɪst/

Artist

Meaning
a person who creates art, especially paintings or drawings; a person skilled in a particular art form
Example
The artist displayed her sculptures at the gallery opening.
C1 verb /ˈræʃənaɪz/

rationlize

Meaning
to justify or explain something with logical reasons, even if not appropriate or true
Example
He tried to rationlize his mistake by blaming the system.
B1 noun /edʒ/

Edge

Meaning
the outside limit of an object or area; a sharp side of a blade
Example
Be careful not to cut yourself on the sharp edge of the knife.
C2 noun /ˈsɛm.ɪ.nɛr.i/

seminary

Meaning
A school or college for training priests, ministers, or rabbis.
Example
He decided to enroll in a seminary to study theology.
B1 noun /piː/

Pea

Meaning
a small round green seed eaten as a vegetable
Example
The children enjoyed eating sweet peas with dinner.
B2 noun /ˈreɪsɪzəm/

racism

Meaning
the belief that some races are superior to others, leading to unfair treatment or prejudice
Example
The organization works to eliminate racism in all forms.
B2 verb /wɛd/

wed

Meaning
to marry someone; to enter into a marriage
Example
They decided to wed in a small ceremony by the beach.
C2 adjective /ˈnjuːmɪnəs/

numinous

Meaning
having a strong spiritual or mysterious quality
Example
The temple had a numinous atmosphere that inspired awe.
B2 adjective ˌkæt.əˈstrɑː.fɪk

catastrophic

Meaning
Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.
Example
Climate change has catastrophic consequences.
C2 noun /ˈheɪ.deɪ/

Hey day

Meaning
the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor; prime time
Example
During her heyday as a singer, she performed in sold-out concerts around the world.
C1 noun /ˈdaʊri/

dowry

Meaning
Property or money brought by a bride to her husband at marriage.
Example
The dowry tradition is still followed in some cultures.
A2 noun /ˈpɪloʊ/

Pillow

Meaning
a soft cushion used to support the head while sleeping
Example
She rested her head on the soft pillow.
C2 adjective /ˈoʊ.pən ˈhɑrt.ɪd/

Open-hearted

Meaning
Kind and generous; sincere and honest; warmly receptive;
Example
She welcomed the strangers with an open-hearted smile and invited them for dinner.
C1 noun /straɪf/

strife

Meaning
angry or violent conflict; struggle or discord
Example
The region has been torn apart by political strife.
C1 noun /əˈlɜːrtnəs/

alertness

Meaning
the state of being mentally aware and quick to notice or respond; vigilance
Example
The driver maintained a high level of alertness during the long journey.
C1 noun /ˈten.jər/

Tenure

Meaning
the period of time during which someone holds an office or position
Example
During his tenure as CEO, the company expanded globally.
C1 verb /dɪˈpriːʃieɪt/

depreciate

Meaning
to reduce in value over time
Example
Cars tend to depreciate quickly in their first few years.
B2 noun /ˈsɜːrkɪt/

circuit

Meaning
A roughly circular line, route, or movement that starts and ends at the same place; also an electrical pathway.
Example
The runners completed the circuit around the park.
A2 adjective /ɪˌlɛkˈtrɒnɪk/

electronic

Meaning
Operating with or produced by the use of electronic devices.
Example
She bought an electronic keyboard for her music lessons.
A2 noun /ˈdɪfərəns/

difference

Meaning
A point or way in which things are not the same.
Example
There is a big difference between theory and practice.
B2 adverb /ˈnɔɪzɪli/

Noisily

Meaning
in a way that makes a lot of noise; loudly
Example
The children were playing noisily in the playground.
B2 noun /ˈdiːmən/

demon

Meaning
an evil spirit or devil
Example
The story was about a demon who haunted the village.
C1 noun /ˈlɛktən/

lectern

Meaning
A tall stand with a sloping top used to support a book, notes, or script during a speech or lecture.
Example
The professor placed her notes on the lectern before starting her lecture.
C1 verb /kənˈstrɪkt/

constrict

Meaning
to make narrower or tighter; to shrink or compress
Example
The snake constricted its prey before swallowing.
C2 noun /əˈnækrəˌnɪzəm/

anachronism

Meaning
something that is out of its proper time period, especially something old-fashioned in a modern context
Example
Using a typewriter today feels like an anachronism.
C1 verb /ˈɪmprəvaɪz/

improvise

Meaning
To create or perform something spontaneously without preparation.
Example
The actor had to improvise his lines when he forgot the script.
B1 adjective /ˌɪmpəˈlaɪt/

impolite

Meaning
Not showing good manners; rude.
Example
It is impolite to interrupt someone while they are speaking.
C2 adjective /prəˈvaɪzəri/

provisory

Meaning
conditional; depending on certain terms being met
Example
The arrangement was only provisory until the final contract was signed.
C1 noun /ɪˈpɪt.ə.mi/

epitome

Meaning
A perfect example of a particular quality or type; the best representation of something.
Example
She is the epitome of grace and kindness.
C2 verb /bɪˈfʌdəl/

befuddle

Meaning
to confuse someone completely; to make someone unable to think clearly
Example
The complex instructions befuddled the students.
C1 noun /ˈkɒb.lər/

Cobbler

Meaning
a person who repairs shoes and other leather goods
Example
The cobbler fixed my broken shoes perfectly.
C1 adjective /suːˈpɜːrlətɪv/

superlative

Meaning
Of the highest quality or degree; expressing the extreme form of an adjective or adverb.
Example
Her performance was superlative, earning her a standing ovation.
C2 noun /pɪˈnɒlədʒi/

penology

Meaning
The study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation.
Example
He decided to specialize in penology to help improve the prison system.
C1 noun /ˈkroʊniˌɪzəm/

cronyism

Meaning
The practice of favoring friends or associates, especially in political appointments or business deals.
Example
The company was accused of cronyism in hiring practices.
B1 verb ˈtrænsfər

transfer

Meaning
To move from one place to another; to hand over.
Example
Power transfer was necessary.
C2 noun /ɛˌspriː də ˈkɔːr/

esprit de corps

Meaning
A feeling of pride, fellowship, and loyalty shared by members of a group.
Example
The team's esprit de corps was evident in their cooperative effort.
B2 adjective /ˈmɪstʃɪvəs/

Mischievous

Meaning
playfully naughty; causing minor trouble; impish
Example
The mischievous child hid his sister's favorite toy.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrtləsnəs/

artlessness

Meaning
The quality of being natural and simple without deceit or pretension.
Example
Her artlessness made her beloved by all.
B2 adjective /ˈɒnərəbəl/

honourable

Meaning
deserving respect or admiration because of moral integrity; showing honesty and fairness
Example
She is known as an honourable leader who always keeps her promises.
C1 verb /ʃʌn/

Shun

Meaning
to deliberately avoid or stay away from someone or something
Example
He shuns public attention and prefers privacy.
B1 noun /ˈkɒtɪdʒ/

cottage

Meaning
a small simple house, typically in the countryside
Example
They spent their vacation in a cozy cottage by the lake.
C1 noun /kwoʊ/

quo

Meaning
The existing state of affairs or situation, often used in the phrase 'status quo'.
Example
He wanted to maintain the status quo at work.
C1 noun /ˈpoʊtənsi/

potency

Meaning
The power or ability of something to affect or influence; strength or effectiveness.
Example
The potency of the new medicine amazed the doctors.
C2 noun /ˌɔːrnɪˈθɒlədʒɪst/

ornithologist

Meaning
a scientist who studies birds
Example
The ornithologist spent years studying migratory birds.
B2 noun /ˈfʌndˌreɪzɪŋ/

fundraising

Meaning
the process of collecting money for a cause or project
Example
The organization is organizing a fundraising event.
B1 verb, adjective /spɛnt/

spent

Meaning
Past tense and past participle of 'spend'; also used as an adjective meaning exhausted or used up.
Example
She spent all her energy preparing for the exam.
C1 verb /siːd/

cede

Meaning
to give up power, territory, or rights to another
Example
The country ceded territory after losing the war.
C2 verb /ˌʌndərˈɡɜːrd/

undergird

Meaning
to provide support or foundation for; to strengthen
Example
Strong values undergird a healthy society.
C2 noun /ˌɛn.biː.esˈpiː/

nbsp

Meaning
a non-breaking space character in HTML used to prevent an automatic line break at its position
Example
Use   in HTML to add a space that won't break into a new line.
A2 noun /ˈdʒɜːr.ni/

Journey

Meaning
an act of travelling from one place to another; a long and often difficult process of personal development
Example
Their journey across the country took three weeks to complete.
C2 adjective /ˈnɛðər/

nether

Meaning
situated down or below; lower
Example
They explored the nether regions of the cave.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈæl.əˌbæs.tər/

alabaster

Meaning
A fine-grained, usually white variety of gypsum, often used for carving; also describes something smooth and pale like alabaster.
Example
The statue was carved from pure alabaster.
C2 verb /ˈɡæmbəl/

gambol

Meaning
to run or jump about playfully
Example
The lambs gamboled in the field under the sun.
B1 noun /sərˈtɪfɪkət/

certificate

Meaning
a document serving as proof of achievement or qualification
Example
She received a certificate for completing the course.
B2 noun /buˈkeɪ/

Bouquet

Meaning
an attractively arranged bunch of flowers, especially one presented as a gift or carried at a ceremony
Example
The bride carried a beautiful bouquet of white roses down the aisle.
C1 adjective /ɪˈleɪtɪd/

elated

Meaning
Extremely happy and excited.
Example
She was elated when she heard the good news.
B1 preposition, adverb, adjective /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/

underneath

Meaning
Located directly below or beneath something
Example
The keys were hidden underneath the pile of papers.
B2 noun /ˈbækˌsaɪd/

backside

Meaning
the rear part or surface of something; informal term for the buttocks
Example
The kids slid down the hill on their backside.
B1 noun /kəmˈpəʊzə(r)/

composer

Meaning
a person who writes music, especially classical music
Example
The composer is working on a new symphony.
B2 noun /ˈfreɪ.ɡrəns/

Fragrance

Meaning
a pleasant, sweet smell; a perfume or cologne
Example
The fragrance of jasmine flowers filled the entire garden in the evening.
C1 noun /plaɪt/

Plight

Meaning
a dangerous, difficult, or unfortunate situation
Example
The refugees were in a desperate plight.
C2 noun /hɑrˈmoʊniəm/

Harmonium

Meaning
a keyboard musical instrument similar to an organ, using air to produce sound
Example
She played devotional songs on the harmonium at the temple.
C2 verb /ˈhæloʊ/

hallow

Meaning
to honor as holy; to make sacred or greatly respected
Example
The ancient temple was hallowed by centuries of worship.
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.
C2 noun /ˈlɪŋ.ɡwə/

lingua

Meaning
A language, especially one used for communication among people.
Example
English has become a global lingua for business and science.
C1 adjective /ˈɜːrksəm/

irksome

Meaning
annoying or irritating
Example
Waiting in a long line is one of the most irksome tasks.
C1 verb /fɔːrˈʃædoʊ/

foreshadow

Meaning
To indicate or suggest something that will happen in the future
Example
Dark clouds foreshadowed an approaching storm.
C2 noun /kwaɪˈiːtəs/

Quietus

Meaning
death or something that causes death; a final settlement
Example
The hero received his quietus from the villain's sword.
B2 verb /ɪnˈfɜːr/

infer

Meaning
to conclude or deduce something from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements
Example
From his silence, I inferred that he was not happy with the decision.
B2 adjective /proʊn/

Prone

Meaning
having a tendency to; inclined; lying face down
Example
He is prone to making mistakes when he's tired.
C2 noun /ˈbɔːlsəm/

Balsam

Meaning
a flowering plant with colorful blooms that often open in the evening; also refers to aromatic resin
Example
The garden balsam flowers bloomed beautifully in various shades of pink and purple.
A1 noun /ˈpiːtsə/

pizza

Meaning
a flat round bread baked with toppings such as cheese, tomato, and other ingredients
Example
We ordered a large pepperoni pizza for dinner.
B1 noun /ˈsʌb.stəns/

Substance

Meaning
a particular kind of matter with uniform properties; the essential nature of something; material or content
Example
The scientist analyzed the unknown substance in the laboratory.
C1 noun/verb /kroʊˈʃeɪ/

crochet

Meaning
Needlework made by interlocking loops of thread with a hooked needle; the act of making such items.
Example
She learned how to crochet a scarf for winter.
B2 verb əˈteɪnd

attained

Meaning
Succeeded in achieving (something that one desires and has worked for); reached a specified age, size, or amount.
Example
The region attained remarkable progress.
C2 noun /ˈdʌlərd/

dullard

Meaning
a slow or stupid person
Example
He was considered a dullard by his classmates.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɪˈstæblɪʃ/

preestablish

Meaning
To establish or set up beforehand.
Example
Certain rules were preestablished before the meeting.
B1 adverb /əˈlaʊd/

Aloud

Meaning
in a voice that can be heard; not silently
Example
Please read the instructions aloud so everyone can hear.
B1 verb /ˈwɪspər/

whisper

Meaning
to speak very softly using one's breath without vocal cords
Example
She whispered a secret in my ear.
B2 adjective /dɪˈzaɪərəbl/

desirable

Meaning
worth having or wanting; attractive
Example
The location of the house was highly desirable, with great views.
C1 noun ˈprəʊses stəˈbɪlɪti

process stability

Meaning
The consistency and steadiness of biological or functional processes
Example
Cold air ensures process stability in plants.
C1 adjective /ˈmɒsi/

Mossy

Meaning
covered with moss; having moss growing on it
Example
The old tree trunk was mossy and covered with green vegetation.
B2 adjective /ˈfoʊni/

phony

Meaning
not genuine; fraudulent or insincere
Example
He gave a phony smile to hide his true feelings.
C1 adjective /ˌnɒnˈvɜː.bəl/

non-verbal

Meaning
Not involving or using words or speech; communicated through gestures, body language, or facial expressions.
Example
Non-verbal cues are just as important as words.
A1 noun, verb /rɛst/

rest

Meaning
to cease work or movement in order to relax or recover strength
Example
He needs to rest after the long journey.
C1 noun ˈhaɪ.drə.dʒən ˈpaʊ.əd bʌsɪz

hydrogen-powered buses

Meaning
Buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells that produce only water vapor as emission.
Example
Hydrogen-powered buses reduce air pollution.
B1 noun /ˈtʃɪl.i/

Chilly/Chilli

Meaning
noticeably cold; a hot-tasting pod of a variety of capsicum, used as a spice
Example
The chef added red chilli to make the curry spicier.
C2 noun ˌsʌb.dʒʊˈɡeɪ.ʃən

subjugation

Meaning
The action of bringing someone or something under domination or control, especially by force.
Example
The subjugation of weaker nations by colonial powers shaped history.
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.
C1 adverb /əˈfrɛʃ/

afresh

Meaning
From the beginning, in a new way.
Example
After the failure, they started the project afresh.
B2 noun prəˈsiːdɪŋz

proceedings

Meaning
An event or a series of activities involving a formal or set procedure.
Example
The proceedings discussed language issues.
B2 noun /ˈseɡ.mənt/

Segment

Meaning
each of the parts into which something is divided; a section or portion
Example
The orange was divided into eight segments.