discern
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 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.
B2 adjective æmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs

ambiguous

Meaning
Having more than one possible meaning; unclear or vague.
Example
His statement was too ambiguous to understand.
C1 adverb /ɔːˈtɒnəməsli/

autonomously

Meaning
In an independent or self-governing manner.
Example
The robot can operate autonomously without human intervention.
A2 noun /vjuː/

View

Meaning
the ability to see something; a particular way of considering or regarding something; an opinion
Example
The mountain view from our hotel room was breathtaking.
C2 adjective /ˌsɒfəˈmɒrɪk/

sophomoric

Meaning
showing immaturity and overconfidence, like a sophomore
Example
His sophomoric behavior embarrassed his friends.
A2 verb /bæt/

bat

Meaning
to hit with a bat; to flutter eyelids
Example
She bats her eyelashes flirtatiously.
B2 noun /ˈraɪdər/

rider

Meaning
A person who rides a horse, bicycle, motorcycle, or other vehicle.
Example
The rider fell off the horse.
B2 adjective /ˈhʌm.bəl/

Humble

Meaning
modest; not proud; unassuming;
Example
Despite his success, he remained humble and kind.
C1 verb /dɪsˈbænd/

disband

Meaning
to break up and stop functioning as a group or organization
Example
The club decided to disband after twenty years of activity.
B2 adjective /hɑːrʃ/

Harsh

Meaning
unpleasantly hard or rough in texture; cruel or severe
Example
The teacher gave harsh criticism about my work.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈklɪər/

unclear

Meaning
not easy to understand; vague or ambiguous
Example
The instructions were unclear, so I asked for clarification.
C2 noun /ˈjuːʒəri/

usury

Meaning
The practice of lending money at unreasonably high interest rates.
Example
The law strictly prohibits usury.
C1 noun /ˈɪntrɪkəsi/

intricacy

Meaning
the quality of being very detailed or complicated
Example
The intricacy of the design impressed everyone.
C1 noun /ˈsɔːl.tɪd fɪʃ/

Salted fish

Meaning
fish preserved with salt; dried and salted fish for storage
Example
Salted fish is a traditional way to preserve seafood.
B2 noun, verb /ˌɪnkənˈviːniəns/

inconvenience

Meaning
trouble or difficulty caused to someone; to cause trouble or difficulty to someone
Example
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay.
C2 noun /əˈfleɪtəs/

afflatus

Meaning
a sudden divine inspiration or creative impulse
Example
The poet wrote the verses under a sudden afflatus of inspiration.
C2 adjective /ˈkɪŋ.ki/

Kinky

Meaning
having or involving unconventional sexual practices; having tight curls or bends
Example
His kinky hair made him look unique.
B1 noun /ˈhɔːlweɪ/

hallway

Meaning
a corridor in a building that connects rooms
Example
The kids left their shoes in the hallway.
C1 noun /bɑːm/

balm

Meaning
A soothing ointment or something that provides comfort or relief.
Example
The balm helped relieve the pain from her sunburn.
C1 adjective /rɪˈvɜː.sə.bəl/

Reversible

Meaning
able to be turned the other way around; able to be undone or changed back
Example
This jacket is reversible and can be worn on both sides.
C1 verb /nɪˈɡeɪt/

negate

Meaning
To cancel out or make ineffective; to deny the truth of something.
Example
The new evidence will negate the claims made earlier.
C1 noun/verb /tæk/

tack

Meaning
a small sharp nail; or to change direction in sailing or approach something differently
Example
She used a tack to pin the paper on the wall.
A2 noun /ˈpoʊst ˌɒfɪs/

post office

Meaning
a public building or agency where mail is sent, received, and other postal services are provided
Example
I went to the post office to mail a package.
A2 noun /ˈɪntəvjuː/

interview

Meaning
A meeting of people face to face, especially for consultation.
Example
The interview was conducted in a calm and professional manner.
C2 adjective /ˌmælˈoʊdərəs/

malodorous

Meaning
Having a very unpleasant smell.
Example
The malodorous room made everyone leave quickly.
A2 verb /ɪkˈspekt/

expect

Meaning
to think something will happen; to anticipate
Example
I expect the meeting to start at 9 AM.
A2 adjective /ˈsɪli/

Silly

Meaning
foolish; lacking good sense or judgement
Example
Don't be silly, of course you can do it!
C1 adjective ˌæd.vɚˈser.i.əl

adversarial

Meaning
Involving or characterized by conflict or opposition.
Example
The two companies have an adversarial relationship in the market.
C1 adjective /ˈtʃɛk.ərd/

checkered

Meaning
Having a pattern of alternating squares of different colors; also describing a past full of ups and downs or varied experiences.
Example
He had a checkered career with many highs and lows.
B2 noun /ˈpɒp.i/

Poppy

Meaning
a bright red flower with black seeds, often used as a symbol of remembrance
Example
The red poppy bloomed beautifully in the garden.
A1 noun /ˈaɪs kriːm/

Ice-cream

Meaning
a frozen sweet dessert made from dairy products, usually served cold
Example
Children love to eat ice-cream on hot summer days.
B2 verb /ˈtrænsplænt/

transplant

Meaning
to move something, especially a plant or organ, from one place to another
Example
The doctors transplanted a kidney into the patient.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpæsəbəl/

impassable

Meaning
Impossible to travel along or over.
Example
The road became impassable after the heavy snowfall.
A1 noun /tɛn/

ten

Meaning
the number following nine and preceding eleven
Example
I have ten apples in the basket.
A1 adverb /ˈriː.ə.li/

Really

Meaning
actually; truly; very much
Example
I really enjoyed the concert last night.
C1 noun /ˈrɛɡjəleɪtər/

regulator

Meaning
a person or device that controls or maintains the operation of a system
Example
The government appointed a new regulator for the financial sector.
C1 noun /rɪdʒ/

ridge

Meaning
a long, narrow hilltop, mountain range, or raised strip
Example
We walked along the mountain ridge.
C2 verb /ˈbɪloʊ/

billow

Meaning
To swell or rise in large waves or surges; to flow outward in a rolling motion.
Example
Smoke billowed from the burning building.
C2 noun /ˈvɜːrdɪɡriːs/

verdigris

Meaning
A green or bluish deposit that forms on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces due to oxidation.
Example
The old statue was covered in verdigris after years of exposure to the rain.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɒs.stɪk/

Joss-stick

Meaning
a thin stick of incense that is burned for its pleasant smell, especially in religious ceremonies
Example
She lit a joss-stick in the temple during her prayers.
C2 verb /bɪˈfʌdəl/

befuddle

Meaning
to confuse someone completely; to make someone unable to think clearly
Example
The complex instructions befuddled the students.
A2 adjective /əˈlɪmpɪk/

olympic

Meaning
related to the Olympic Games, a major international sporting event
Example
She trained hard to compete in the Olympic Games.
B1 noun /laɪt ˈkʌlər/

Light Colour

Meaning
a pale or bright shade of any color
Example
The walls were painted in light colours to make the room look bigger.
C1 adjective /stɔːntʃ/

staunch

Meaning
Loyal, committed, and firm in support.
Example
She is a staunch supporter of environmental protection.
C1 verb /ˈæn.ə.teɪt/

annotate

Meaning
to add notes or comments to a text, diagram, or document for explanation or clarification
Example
The teacher asked the students to annotate the poem with their interpretations.
B2 adjective /ˈkaʊntləs/

countless

Meaning
too many to be counted; innumerable
Example
There are countless stars in the sky.
C2 verb /əˈɡræn.daɪz/

aggrandize

Meaning
To increase the power, wealth, or importance of a person or entity.
Example
The politician tried to aggrandize himself through exaggerated claims.
C1 noun /ˈɡoʊld.smɪθ/

Goldsmith

Meaning
a person who makes or repairs articles of gold
Example
The goldsmith crafted a beautiful wedding ring.
C2 noun /əˈkwaɪərmənt/

acquirement

Meaning
the act of acquiring something; something that has been acquired, especially a skill or possession
Example
Language proficiency is an important acquirement for global careers.
B2 verb /ɪˈvækjueɪt/

evacuate

Meaning
To remove people from a dangerous place to safety.
Example
The residents were ordered to evacuate the building after the fire alarm.
B2 verb /ˌoʊvərˈsiː/

oversee

Meaning
to supervise or watch over something; to manage and direct
Example
The manager will oversee the entire construction project.
B2 verb /rɪˈfreʃ/

refresh

Meaning
to make fresh again; to restore energy
Example
A cold drink refreshes me on hot days.
B2 adjective rəʊˈbʌst

robust

Meaning
Strong and healthy; vigorous; able to withstand or overcome adverse conditions.
Example
The robust infrastructure ensures reliable communication.
C2 adjective /ˈnɔɪ.səm/

Noisome

Meaning
having an extremely offensive smell; harmful or unpleasant
Example
The noisome smell from the garbage made everyone cover their noses.
B2 verb /ˈbjuːtɪfaɪ/

beautify

Meaning
to make something more beautiful or attractive
Example
The city plans to beautify the old park with trees and lights.
B2 noun ɪnˈdev.ər

endeavor

Meaning
An attempt to achieve a goal; a serious determined effort.
Example
The endeavor to innovate space tourism is ambitious.
C2 noun /ˈæl.baɪt/

albite

Meaning
A white or colorless mineral of the feldspar group, often found in igneous rocks.
Example
Geologists discovered albite crystals in the rock sample.
B2 adjective /dɪˈziːzd/

Diseased

Meaning
affected by disease; suffering from illness; sick
Example
The diseased tree had to be removed from the garden.
B1 noun /ˈprɛɡnənsi/

pregnancy

Meaning
the condition of being pregnant; the period during which a woman carries a developing fetus
Example
Her pregnancy was carefully monitored by her doctor.
C2 noun /ʃɪˈfɒn/

chiffon

Meaning
A lightweight, sheer fabric often used in dresses or scarves.
Example
She wore a beautiful chiffon dress at the party.
C1 verb /ɪˈnʌnsieɪt/

enunciate

Meaning
to pronounce words clearly; to express an idea clearly
Example
The teacher asked him to enunciate each word.
B2 adjective /ˈnoʊtəbl/

notable

Meaning
worthy of attention or notice; remarkable
Example
She made a notable contribution to the project.
C2 verb /dɪsˈbɑːr/

disbar

Meaning
to officially remove a lawyer from the legal profession
Example
The corrupt lawyer was disbarred for unethical conduct.
C2 adjective /ɑːrˈθʊr.i.ən/

arthurian

Meaning
Relating to the legendary King Arthur and the stories surrounding him.
Example
The novel is set in an Arthurian world of knights and castles.
B1 noun /ˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃən/

composition

Meaning
the act of creating a piece of writing, music, or art; the way parts are arranged
Example
Her composition won first prize in the contest.
C1 adjective /ˈwɪm.zɪ.kəl/

Whimsical

Meaning
playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way
Example
The artist created whimsical sculptures that delighted children.
C1 verb /ˌkaʊntərˈbæləns/

counterbalance

Meaning
to offset or balance the effect of something
Example
Exercise can counterbalance the negative effects of stress.
B1 noun /ˈneɪbərˌhʊd/

neighborhood

Meaning
a district or area around or near a particular place
Example
I grew up in a quiet neighborhood.
A1 pronoun /hɪz/

his

Meaning
belonging to or associated with a male person previously mentioned
Example
This is his book on the table.
B1 noun /flæʃ/

Flash

Meaning
a sudden brief burst of bright light; a very brief moment
Example
There was a bright flash of lightning followed by thunder.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈsɒlvənt/

solvent

Meaning
a liquid that dissolves other substances; also means able to pay debts
Example
Acetone is a common solvent used in laboratories.
B1 noun /ˈref.ər.əns/

Reference

Meaning
the action of mentioning or alluding to something; a source of information
Example
Please provide references to support your research claims.
C2 noun /ɪmˈbroʊlioʊ/

imbroglio

Meaning
An extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation.
Example
The political imbroglio lasted for months without resolution.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv/

inquisitive

Meaning
Curious or eager to learn and ask questions.
Example
The inquisitive child asked endless questions about the stars.
A2 verb /klaɪm/

climb

Meaning
to go up using hands and feet; to ascend
Example
We decided to climb the mountain.
C1 verb /ˈɒfsɛt/

offset

Meaning
To counterbalance or compensate for something.
Example
The company's losses were offset by gains in other departments.
A2 verb /ˈpræktɪs/

practise

Meaning
to do something repeatedly to improve skill; to work in a profession
Example
She practises piano for two hours daily.
B2 noun /ˈɔr.fən/

Orphan

Meaning
a child whose parents are dead; someone without protective support
Example
The orphan was adopted by a loving family.
B2 noun /ˈdɔːr.mæt/

Door-mat

Meaning
a mat placed in front of a door for wiping feet
Example
Please wipe your feet on the door-mat before entering the house.
B2 noun ɑːmd ˈkɒn.flɪkt

armed conflict

Meaning
A contest of armed forces; warfare between opposing military forces.
Example
Armed conflict resulted in widespread devastation.
C1 noun əˌkred.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən

accreditation

Meaning
The action or process of officially recognizing someone or something as having a particular status or being qualified to perform a particular activity.
Example
Accreditation ensures institutional credibility.
B2 adjective /ˈpɑːr.ʃəl/

Partial

Meaning
incomplete; showing bias or prejudice
Example
The judge gave a partial decision in favor of the defendant.
C2 noun /səbˈmɜːrʒən/

submersion

Meaning
the state of being under water
Example
The submersion of the fields lasted for several days after the heavy rain.
C2 adjective /ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt/

maladroit

Meaning
clumsy or awkward in movement or behavior
Example
His maladroit attempt at fixing the chair made it worse.
C1 preposition /ˈbɑːrɪŋ/

barring

Meaning
except for; if not for
Example
Barring a miracle, the team will not win the championship.
C1 verb /ˈpɪlɪdʒ/

pillage

Meaning
to rob or plunder a place, especially during war
Example
The invading army pillaged the village and took all valuables.
C1 adjective /ɪkˈsaɪtəbl̩/

excitable

Meaning
easily excited or emotionally aroused
Example
The child was excitable and laughed at every small thing.
B2 noun /drɪl/

drill

Meaning
a tool or exercise used for making holes or practicing skills
Example
The students took part in a fire drill at school.
C1 noun /ˈriːkɔːrs/

recourse

Meaning
a source of help or protection in a difficult situation
Example
The students had no recourse but to appeal to the principal.
B2 noun /ˈsiː.krə.si/

Secrecy

Meaning
the practice of keeping something secret; the state of being kept hidden
Example
The project was conducted in complete secrecy.
C1 verb /ɪnˈɡreɪv/

engrave

Meaning
to cut or carve a design, letter, or pattern into a hard surface
Example
The craftsman engraved her name on the silver ring.
C2 noun /hæɡ/

Hag

Meaning
an ugly old woman, especially a vicious or malicious one; a witch
Example
In the fairy tale, the wicked hag lived alone in a cottage deep in the forest.
C1 adjective /ˈækʃənəbl̩/

actionable

Meaning
Able to be acted on or giving sufficient reason for legal action.
Example
The lawyer confirmed that the evidence was actionable in court.
C2 adjective /ˌɪm.pəˈfɛk.tə.bəl/

imperfectible

Meaning
Incapable of being made perfect or complete.
Example
Some human qualities are considered imperfectible.
C2 noun /ˌæprəˈbeɪʃən/

approbation

Meaning
approval or praise
Example
The plan won the approbation of the board members.
B2 noun ˈhɑːrvɪstɪŋ

harvesting

Meaning
The process of gathering a ripe crop from the fields or collecting natural resources.
Example
Unregulated harvesting affects the biodiversity of oceans.
C1 noun /mɔːs/

Moss

Meaning
a small flowerless plant that grows in clumps in moist places
Example
Green moss covered the old stone wall.
C1 adjective ˌkɒn.ʃiˈen.ʃəs

conscientious

Meaning
Wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly.
Example
A conscientious worker always delivers high-quality results.
A2 noun /stʌf/

stuff

Meaning
a collection of things or materials, typically unspecified or uncountable
Example
She packed all her stuff into the suitcase.
C1 noun /rɪˈnaʊn/

Renown

Meaning
the condition of being known or talked about by many people; fame
Example
The scientist achieved international renown for her discoveries.
B2 noun /ˈden.sə.ti/

Density

Meaning
the degree of compactness of a substance; the quantity of something per unit area
Example
The density of population in the city center is extremely high.
B2 adverb /ˈraɪtli/

Rightly

Meaning
correctly; properly; justly
Example
She rightly pointed out the mistakes in the report.
C2 adjective /ˈblæs.fə.məs/

blasphemous

Meaning
showing disrespect or lack of reverence for God or sacred things
Example
The book was banned for its blasphemous content.
C2 noun /ˈɒlɪv brɑːntʃ/

olive-branch

Meaning
A symbol of peace or reconciliation; an offer to end conflict.
Example
He extended an olive-branch to his rival after years of hostility.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtræməld/

untrammeled

Meaning
Not restricted or hampered; free and unrestricted.
Example
She enjoyed untrammeled freedom in her new life abroad.
C1 verb /dɪˈteɪn/

detain

Meaning
to keep someone from proceeding; to hold back, especially by official authority
Example
The police detained the suspect for questioning.
C2 verb /ˈflʌməks/

flummox

Meaning
To confuse or bewilder someone completely.
Example
The complicated puzzle flummoxed the students.
C1 adjective /ˈhæloʊd/

hallowed

Meaning
regarded as holy or greatly respected
Example
They walked across the hallowed halls of the old university.
C1 noun /ˈkwɔːrəm/

quorum

Meaning
The minimum number of members needed to conduct official business in a meeting.
Example
The board meeting was postponed because there was no quorum.
C1 noun /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənsi/

inconsistency

Meaning
The quality of being contradictory, irregular, or not staying the same.
Example
There is an inconsistency between his words and actions.
A1 verb /θɪŋk/

think

Meaning
to have thoughts or ideas; to use your mind to consider something
Example
I think this is a good idea.
C2 adjective /ˈslæp.dæʃ/

slapdash

Meaning
done too quickly and carelessly; hasty and careless
Example
The report was written in a slapdash manner, full of errors.
C2 noun /ˈpælɪˌnoʊd/

palinode

Meaning
a poem or statement in which the writer retracts something said in an earlier work
Example
The poet wrote a palinode to apologize for his earlier harsh words.
B1 noun /feɪm/

Fame

Meaning
the condition of being known or talked about by many people
Example
The young actor achieved international fame with his latest movie.
C2 verb /ˈsnʌfəl/

snuffle

Meaning
to breathe noisily through the nose, often because of crying or a cold
Example
The child began to snuffle after crying for a long time.
A2 noun /ˈweɪtrəs/

waitress

Meaning
a woman who serves food and drinks to customers in a restaurant or café
Example
The waitress took our order with a friendly smile.
C2 noun /ˌhɜːrpəˈtɒlədʒɪst/

herpetologist

Meaning
A scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians.
Example
The herpetologist discovered a new species of frog in the rainforest.
C1 verb /tʃɑːr/

char

Meaning
To burn or scorch something so that it becomes blackened.
Example
The cook accidentally charred the steak.
B2 noun /ˈtɜːr.mər.ɪk ˈpaʊ.dər/

Turmeric Powder

Meaning
ground turmeric root used as a spice and for its medicinal properties
Example
Add a pinch of turmeric powder to the curry for color and flavor.
C1 noun /krʌst/

crust

Meaning
the hard outer surface of something, especially bread or the Earth's outer layer
Example
He cut off the crust of the bread before eating.
B2 noun /bluːz/

blues

Meaning
a feeling of sadness; a style of music with melancholy themes
Example
Listening to blues music always calms him down.