encounter
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
B2 verb /ɪnˈkaʊntər/

encounter

Meaning
to unexpectedly meet someone or experience something, especially something difficult or new
Example
During the hike, we encountered a wild bear.
C2 adjective /ˈæfəbəl/

affable

Meaning
friendly, easy to talk to, and pleasant in manner
Example
He is such an affable host that everyone feels comfortable at his parties.
C1 noun /ˌæntiˈklaɪmæks/

anticlimax

Meaning
A disappointing end after a big build-up of excitement or expectation.
Example
The movie's ending was an anticlimax after such a thrilling story.
C2 noun, verb /əˈfrʌnt/

affront

Meaning
An action or remark that causes outrage or offense.
Example
He took her criticism as a personal affront.
C2 adjective /ˌpriːtərˈnætʃərəl/

preternatural

Meaning
Beyond what is normal or natural; extraordinary or supernatural.
Example
She had a preternatural ability to remain calm in any crisis.
B2 noun /ˈækni/

acne

Meaning
a skin condition in which pores become inflamed and clogged, causing pimples and spots
Example
Regular cleansing and a balanced diet can help reduce acne.
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 noun /ˌpɒl.iˈtek.nɪk/

polytechnic

Meaning
an educational institution offering practical and technical courses
Example
She studied engineering at a well-known polytechnic in her city.
B2 noun /ˈmɔɪs.tʃər/

Moisture

Meaning
water or dampness that exists in small amounts in the air or on a surface
Example
The skin cream helps retain moisture.
B2 verb /ˌoʊvərˈduː/

overdo

Meaning
to do something too much; to exaggerate or carry to excess
Example
Don't overdo the exercise on your first day at the gym.
C2 noun /ˈmɒkəsɪn/

moccasin

Meaning
A soft leather shoe, traditionally worn by Native Americans, often made from deerskin.
Example
He slipped on a pair of comfortable moccasins before going outside.
C1 noun /ˈpɔɪ.nən.si/

poignancy

Meaning
the quality of evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; emotionally touching
Example
The poignancy of the farewell brought tears to everyone's eyes.
B2 noun /prɪˈkɔː.ʃən/

Precaution

Meaning
an action taken in advance to prevent something dangerous or unpleasant from happening
Example
As a precaution, we should bring extra water on the hike.
C2 noun /ˈpaʊ.waʊ/

powwow

Meaning
an informal meeting or conference to discuss something
Example
The team held a quick powwow before the presentation.
C1 noun /kəmˈprɛʃn̩/

compression

Meaning
The act of pressing or squeezing something into a smaller space.
Example
File compression helps reduce storage requirements.
C1 noun ˌlɪb.ər.ə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

liberalization

Meaning
The removal or loosening of restrictions on something, typically an economic or political system.
Example
The liberalization of trade policies attracted foreign investments.
B2 adjective /ˈɑːrbɪˌtrɛri/

arbitrary

Meaning
based on random choice or personal whim, rather than reason or system
Example
The teacher's arbitrary grading upset many students.
C1 adjective /ˈsek.j ə.l ər/

Secular

Meaning
not connected with religious or spiritual matters; worldly
Example
The country maintains a secular government that separates religion from politics.
C1 verb /rɪŋ/

wring

Meaning
to squeeze and twist something to force liquid out; to extract with effort
Example
She had to wring the towel after washing it.
C2 adjective /ˈɒfɪʃ/

offish

Meaning
Unfriendly, distant, or reserved in manner.
Example
He seemed offish at the party and avoided most conversations.
B2 verb /rɪˈkʌvərɪŋ/

recovering

Meaning
the process of getting better after illness, loss, or difficulty
Example
She is still recovering from the flu.
A2 noun/verb /ˈbʌdʒɪt/

budget

Meaning
An estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time; to plan expenses and income.
Example
The family created a budget to manage their expenses.
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.
C2 noun /ˈæktʃuˌɛri/

actuary

Meaning
A professional who analyzes financial risk using mathematics, statistics, and financial theory, especially in insurance and pensions.
Example
The actuary calculated the risk before finalizing the insurance policy.
A2 adjective /ˈsɪŋɡəl/

single

Meaning
only one; not one of several
Example
She bought a single ticket for the concert.
B1 noun /ˈætməsˌfɪər/

Atmosphere

Meaning
the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet; the pervading tone or mood of a place
Example
The atmosphere protects us from harmful solar radiation.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnəˈweər/

Unaware

Meaning
not knowing or realizing; having no knowledge of something
Example
She was completely unaware of the danger.
B1 verb /ˈpʌblɪʃ/

publish

Meaning
to print and distribute books, magazines, etc.; to make information available
Example
The author will publish her new novel next month.
B2 noun /ˈɡʌv.ən.əns/

governance

Meaning
The action or manner of governing and controlling a state or organization.
Example
Effective governance ensures sustainable development.
A1 adjective /oʊld/

old

Meaning
having lived for a long time; not new or young
Example
He still drives his old car.
B2 noun /ˈɛθɪk/

ethic

Meaning
a set of moral principles, especially ones relating to a particular group, system, or profession
Example
He has a strong work ethic and always meets deadlines.
C2 noun ˌpɜː.pɪˈtʃuː.ɪ.ti

perpetuity

Meaning
Permanence, eternity, continuity.
Example
The contract ensures payments in perpetuity.
C1 verb /rɪˈpʌls/

repulse

Meaning
to drive back an attack or attacker by force; to cause intense dislike or disgust
Example
The army managed to repulse the enemy attack.
B1 verb /rɪˈliːs/

release

Meaning
to set free; to allow something to escape or go away
Example
The prisoner was released after ten years.
B2 verb, noun /dɒn/

don

Meaning
to put on (an article of clothing); also used as a title for a respected person
Example
She donned her coat before leaving.
A2 noun /ˈsɒftweə/

software

Meaning
the programs and other operating information used by a computer
Example
He installed the software to enhance the performance of his computer.
B1 adjective /ˈlaɪv.li/

Lively

Meaning
full of life and energy; animated; cheerful
Example
The children had a lively discussion about their favorite books.
A2 verb /rɪˈtɜːrn/

return

Meaning
to come or go back to a place; to give back
Example
I will return home tomorrow.
B2 adjective /saʊər/

Sour

Meaning
having an acid taste like lemon or vinegar; unpleasant or disagreeable
Example
The milk has gone sour and smells terrible.
B2 verb /ˈbænɪʃ/

banish

Meaning
to send someone away from a place as punishment; to get rid of
Example
The king banished the traitor from the kingdom.
C1 verb /trəˈvɜːrs/

traverse

Meaning
To travel across or through something.
Example
They traversed the desert on camels.
A2 noun /ˈtæksi/

taxi

Meaning
A car licensed to transport passengers in exchange for payment of a fare.
Example
We hailed a taxi to get to the airport.
C2 adjective /əˈsiːtɪk/

acetic

Meaning
relating to or containing acetic acid; sour or vinegary in taste or smell
Example
The acetic smell of vinegar filled the kitchen.
C1 adjective /ˈlʌʃəs/

luscious

Meaning
deliciously sweet or rich; highly appealing to the senses
Example
She served a luscious chocolate cake.
C1 noun /ɔːˈtɒkrəsi/

autocracy

Meaning
A system of government in which one person has absolute power.
Example
The country suffered under decades of autocracy.
A2 noun /smɔːl boʊl/

Small bowl

Meaning
a round, shallow container of small size used for serving food or liquids
Example
She served the soup in a small bowl.
C2 noun /koʊˈæɡjələnt/

coagulant

Meaning
a substance that causes blood or another liquid to clot
Example
The doctor applied a coagulant to stop the bleeding quickly.
C2 noun ˌæɡ.roʊˈfɔːr.ɪ.stri

agroforestry

Meaning
A land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland.
Example
Agroforestry improves soil quality and crop yield.
B2 noun /dɪˈstrækʃənz/

distractions

Meaning
Things that prevent someone from concentrating on something else.
Example
Eliminate distractions for better productivity.
C1 verb /ˈiːkwəlaɪz/

equalize

Meaning
To make equal or level in status, value, or amount.
Example
The team equalized the score in the last minute.
B1 verb /ʃɪft/

shift

Meaning
To move or change from one place, position, or situation to another.
Example
She had to shift her focus to the new project.
B2 noun/verb /kəˈmjuː.tɪŋ/

commuting

Meaning
Regular travel to and from workplace, daily journey for work.
Example
He spends two hours commuting to work every day.
B2 adjective /ˈneɪ.kɪd/

Naked

Meaning
without clothes or covering; bare; exposed; unclothed
Example
The naked truth about the situation shocked everyone.
C1 noun /hjuː/

hue

Meaning
A color or shade.
Example
The artist chose a soft blue hue for the background.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈɛlɪdʒəbəl/

Ineligible

Meaning
not qualified or entitled to participate or be chosen; unsuitable
Example
Students with poor grades are ineligible for the scholarship program.
B1 adjective /ˈblʌdi/

bloody

Meaning
covered in, involving, or containing blood; also used informally for emphasis in British English.
Example
The soldier returned from battle with a bloody arm.
B2 noun /ɡriːf/

Grief

Meaning
deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone's death; trouble or suffering
Example
The family was overwhelmed with grief after losing their beloved pet.
C2 noun /hɪˈdʒɛməni/ or /ˈhɛdʒəmoʊni/

hegemony

Meaning
leadership or dominance, especially by one state or group over others
Example
The empire maintained its hegemony over neighboring states.
C2 noun /kwɪˈɛsəns/

quiescence

Meaning
A state of quietness, inactivity, or dormancy.
Example
The volcano has been in a state of quiescence for decades.
C2 verb /ˈsɛreɪt/

serrate

Meaning
To make a saw-toothed edge or notched margin.
Example
The craftsman serrated the knife blade for better cutting.
C1 verb /əˈliː.vi.eɪt/

alleviate

Meaning
To make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe; to relieve or ease.
Example
Meditation can alleviate stress and improve focus.
C1 adjective /ˈmaɪzərli/

miserly

Meaning
Unwilling to spend money; stingy.
Example
She lived a miserly life, refusing to buy anything new.
B1 verb /rɪˈkʌvər/

recover

Meaning
To return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength; to regain or save something.
Example
The world is struggling to recover from the pandemic.
C1 adjective /ɪˈfɛm.ər.əl/

ephemeral

Meaning
Lasting for a very short time; temporary or transitory.
Example
The beauty of cherry blossoms is ephemeral.
A2 noun /əˈdʌlt/

Adult

Meaning
a person who is fully grown or developed; mature
Example
Only adults are allowed to enter this area.
B1 verb rɪˈdjuːst

reduced

Meaning
Make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
Example
Singapore has reduced plastic usage significantly.
B2 noun /rɪˈdʒɛkʃən/

rejection

Meaning
the action of refusing or dismissing something or someone
Example
Her rejection of the offer surprised everyone.
C2 noun /ˈdɔɪən/

doyen

Meaning
The most respected or prominent person in a particular field.
Example
He is regarded as the doyen of modern literature in the country.
A2 verb /prɪˈpɛər/

prepare

Meaning
to make ready; to get something ready for use
Example
She needs to prepare dinner for her family.
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 adjective /ˈbleɪmləs/

blameless

Meaning
innocent of wrongdoing; not deserving blame
Example
She remained calm and blameless throughout the investigation.
A2 verb /ɪˈmædʒɪn/

imagine

Meaning
to form a mental image of; to believe something unreal to be true
Example
Can you imagine living in a different country?
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpæsɪv/

impassive

Meaning
Not showing or feeling emotion; expressionless.
Example
Despite the shocking news, she remained impassive.
B1 verb /dɪˈtɜːrmɪn/

determine

Meaning
to decide; to find out exactly
Example
We must determine the cause of the problem.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpɜːrviəs/

impervious

Meaning
Not allowing fluid to pass through; unable to be affected by something.
Example
The jacket is impervious to rain.
C2 noun /kjuːˈpɪdəti/

cupidity

Meaning
Excessive desire for wealth or possessions; greed.
Example
The king's downfall was caused by his cupidity.
C1 noun /ˈpiː.kɒk ˈflaʊ.ər/

Peacock flower

Meaning
a tropical tree with bright orange and red flowers that resemble a peacock's tail
Example
The peacock flower tree blooms with stunning orange flowers in summer.
C2 adjective /ˌɔːfˈkiː/

off-key

Meaning
out of tune; not in accordance with expected standards
Example
The singer was slightly off-key during the performance.
B2 noun /reɪˈʒiːm/

regime

Meaning
a system or form of government, often authoritarian
Example
The military regime controlled the country for decades.
C1 verb /tʃaɪd/

chide

Meaning
to scold or rebuke; to express disapproval
Example
The teacher chided the student for being late.
C1 noun ˈpɑː.sɪŋ

parsing

Meaning
The process of analyzing sentence structure to understand grammatical relationships.
Example
The AI model performs parsing to understand syntax.
C1 noun /ˈænəɡræm/

anagram

Meaning
A word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase.
Example
The word 'listen' is an anagram of 'silent'.
C1 adjective ˈfjuː.taɪl

futile

Meaning
Incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.
Example
His attempts to change the situation were futile.
B1 verb /tɛmpt/

tempt

Meaning
to entice or attract someone to do something, often something wrong or unwise
Example
The smell of fresh bread tempted him to enter the bakery.
B2 noun /ˈsɛnət/

senate

Meaning
a legislative or governing body, typically the upper chamber in a bicameral legislature
Example
The senate voted in favor of the new healthcare bill.
A2 adjective /ˈiː.stərn/

Eastern

Meaning
relating to or situated in the east; from or characteristic of the eastern part of the world
Example
She studied Eastern philosophy at the university.
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.
C2 verb /fɪˈlændər/

philander

Meaning
to engage in casual or frivolous romantic or sexual relationships
Example
He was known to philander with many women in town.
C1 noun rɪˌkuːpərˈeɪʃən

recuperation

Meaning
The process of gradually recovering from illness or fatigue
Example
Rest is essential for recuperation after illness.
C2 adjective /rɪˈflɛksəbl/

reflexible

Meaning
Capable of being reflected or bent back.
Example
The surface was highly reflexible, bouncing light in different directions.
B2 adjective /ˈɪmɪnənt/

imminent

Meaning
About to happen; likely to occur very soon.
Example
Dark clouds signaled that a storm was imminent.
C1 verb /dɪˈbɑːr/

debar

Meaning
To officially prevent someone from doing something.
Example
He was debarred from entering the competition due to cheating.
C1 verb /ˌpriːdɪˈspoʊz/

predispose

Meaning
To make someone more likely to behave in a certain way or be affected by something.
Example
His genetics may predispose him to diabetes.
C2 noun /ˈlæriət/

lariat

Meaning
A long rope with a noose at one end used to catch animals such as cattle or horses.
Example
The cowboy threw his lariat to catch the stray horse.
C1 adjective liːst prɪˈpeərd

least prepared

Meaning
Having the minimum level of readiness or equipment to handle a situation.
Example
Bangladesh is among the least prepared for climate adaptation.
B2 verb /ˈflʌrɪʃ/

flourish

Meaning
To grow or develop in a healthy or successful way.
Example
Her business began to flourish after she introduced online sales.
B2 noun /ˈbɒmər/

Bomber

Meaning
military aircraft designed to drop bombs on targets
Example
The bomber squadron flew over the city at dawn.
C1 noun ɪmˈpɛə(r)mənt

impairment

Meaning
The state of being damaged or weakened; a disability or handicap.
Example
Hearing impairment can be caused by long-term exposure to loud noise.
B2 noun /ˈrɪə.lɪ.zəm/

realism

Meaning
The quality of representing things as they are; a practical or factual view.
Example
Her paintings are admired for their realism.
B2 adjective ˌrev.əˈluː.ʃən.ər.i

revolutionary

Meaning
Involving or causing a complete or dramatic change.
Example
Revolutionary ideas are reshaping the industry.
C1 adjective ˈɛl.ə.kwənt

eloquent

Meaning
Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing; clearly expressing or indicating something.
Example
Her eloquent speech inspired the entire audience.
B1 adverb /ˈkɒmənli/

commonly

Meaning
usually or by most people
Example
This phrase is commonly used in everyday speech.
C1 adjective /ˈpɒlɪtɪk/

politic

Meaning
shrewd, prudent, or tactful in practical matters
Example
It was politic of him to remain silent during the argument.
C2 adjective /ɪkˌstɛmpəˈreɪniəs/

extemporaneous

Meaning
Spoken or done without preparation.
Example
He gave an extemporaneous speech at the meeting.
C2 noun /rɪˈkɒɡnɪzəns/

recognizance

Meaning
A legal obligation or bond entered into before a court, especially to ensure future appearance.
Example
He was released on his own recognizance.
B1 verb /kəmˈpiːt/

compete

Meaning
to try to win or be more successful than others in a contest or activity
Example
Several companies compete for dominance in the market.
B2 adjective /ˈliː.fi/

Leafy

Meaning
having many leaves; covered with leaves
Example
The leafy green vegetables are very nutritious.
C1 noun ˌdʒɛriˈætrɪk səˈsaɪəti

geriatric society

Meaning
A society or community where elderly people make up a large proportion of the population
Example
A geriatric society demands specialized healthcare systems.
A1 noun /ˈsændwɪtʃ/

sandwich

Meaning
two pieces of bread with food such as meat, cheese, or salad between them
Example
I made a chicken sandwich for lunch.
B2 noun /ˈbærəl/

barrel

Meaning
a large cylindrical container used to hold liquids
Example
The wine was stored in a wooden barrel.
B2 noun /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

Liberty

Meaning
the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views
Example
The Statue of Liberty represents freedom and democracy.
C2 adjective /kəˈrɛlətɪv/

correlative

Meaning
having a mutual relationship; corresponding
Example
The increase in temperature is correlative with the melting of glaciers.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈwəʊntɪd/

unwonted

Meaning
Unusual, uncommon, or out of the ordinary.
Example
She spoke with an unwonted gentleness that surprised everyone.
C1 verb /θræʃ/

thrash

Meaning
to beat someone or something violently; to move wildly or violently
Example
The angry man threatened to thrash his opponent.
A1 adjective /ˈfʌn.i/

Funny

Meaning
humorous; strange; amusing;
Example
He told a funny joke that made everyone laugh.
A2 noun /stɛps/

steps

Meaning
A measure or action, especially one of a series taken in order to deal with or achieve a particular thing.
Example
Taking small steps reduces overwhelm.
C2 adjective /dʒərˈmeɪn/

germane

Meaning
Relevant and appropriate to the subject being considered.
Example
Her comments were not germane to the discussion.
B2 verb /ˈsɜːrkjəˌleɪt/

circulate

Meaning
to move continuously or freely through a closed system or area
Example
Air circulated freely in the open hall.
C2 adjective /ˈfɪnɪki/

finicky

Meaning
difficult to please; very particular about details
Example
He is so finicky about his food that he only eats organic vegetables.
C2 noun /ˌdɪspjuːˈteɪʃən/

disputation

Meaning
a formal debate or argument
Example
The disputation between the two scholars lasted for hours.
C1 noun /kənˈteɪdʒən/

contagion

Meaning
The communication of disease from one person to another by close contact; also the spread of harmful ideas or behaviors.
Example
Fear spread like a contagion through the crowd.