forerunner
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C1 noun /ˈfɔːrˌrʌnər/

forerunner

Meaning
A person or thing that comes before another; a predecessor or harbinger.
Example
The Wright brothers were the forerunners of modern aviation.
C2 noun /ˈfrɛʃɪt/

freshet

Meaning
A sudden overflow of a stream or river caused by heavy rain or melting snow.
Example
After the storm, the river turned into a raging freshet.
C1 adjective /frəˈtɜːrnəl/

fraternal

Meaning
Relating to brothers or brotherhood; friendly and supportive.
Example
The two nations maintain a fraternal relationship.
C1 noun /fəˈrɒs.ə.ti/

ferocity

Meaning
The state or quality of being ferocious; extreme fierceness or violence.
Example
The storm's ferocity was devastating.
C2 verb /fɔrˈswɛr/

forswear

Meaning
to renounce or reject; to give up completely
Example
He forswore his old habits and started a new life.
C2 verb /ˌfɔːrɔːrˈdeɪn/

foreordain

Meaning
to determine or decree something in advance; to predestine
Example
Some believe that our lives are foreordained by fate.
C2 noun /floʊ/

floe

Meaning
a large sheet of floating ice
Example
The polar bears rested on the ice floe.
C1 noun fɔːlt ˈtɒl.ər.əns

fault-tolerance

Meaning
The ability of a system to continue operating properly in the event of the failure of some of its components.
Example
Fault-tolerance ensures dependable systems.
A2 noun /fæn/

Fan

Meaning
a person who has a strong interest in or admiration for a particular person or thing; a device for creating air current
Example
She is a huge fan of classical music and attends every concert in the city.
B2 noun /ˈfaʊn.tən/

Fountain

Meaning
a natural spring of water; an artificial structure from which water flows
Example
The fountain in the park attracts many visitors.
C2 noun /ˈfʌstɪən/

fustian

Meaning
pompous or pretentious speech or writing; originally a type of thick cloth
Example
The politician's speech was filled with fustian and empty promises.
C1 adjective /ˈfræɡməntɪd/

fragmented

Meaning
Having been broken into fragments; disjointed or incomplete.
Example
The information was fragmented and difficult to understand.
B2 noun /ˈfækəlti/

faculty

Meaning
an inherent mental or physical ability; a division of a university
Example
She has a remarkable faculty for languages.
C2 noun /friːz/

frieze

Meaning
a decorative horizontal band, often sculpted or painted, usually on a wall near the ceiling
Example
The frieze above the entrance depicts scenes from ancient mythology.
B2 adverb /fɔːrθ/

forth

Meaning
forward in place, time, or order
Example
The leader stepped forth to address the crowd.
C2 adjective /ˈfuːlˌhɑːrdi/

foolhardy

Meaning
Recklessly bold or rash; taking foolish risks.
Example
It was foolhardy of him to climb the mountain without proper gear.
C1 noun /ˈfæk.ʃən/

Faction

Meaning
a small organized dissenting group within a larger one
Example
Different factions within the party disagreed about the new policy.
A2 adjective /fænˈtæstɪk/

Fantastic

Meaning
extremely good; wonderful; excellent
Example
The movie was absolutely fantastic!
B2 verb /fɔːrdʒ/

forge

Meaning
to create or shape something, often with effort or skill; also to counterfeit or fake something
Example
The blacksmith forged a strong sword from the iron.
A2 noun /fluː/

flu

Meaning
a contagious viral illness causing fever, aches, and respiratory symptoms; influenza
Example
She stayed home because she had the flu.
A2 noun /ˈfiːtʃər/

feature

Meaning
a distinctive attribute or aspect of something; a characteristic
Example
The new phone has a unique camera feature.
C2 noun /frɒnd/

frond

Meaning
A large, divided leaf of a fern, palm, or similar plant.
Example
The fern's frond stretched gracefully over the garden path.
C2 adjective /ˈfɛstəl/

festal

Meaning
relating to a festival or celebration
Example
The hall was decorated in a festal manner for the wedding.
B1 adjective /ˈfɔːrmər/

former

Meaning
Having been previously in a particular role or position.
Example
He is a former president of the association.
A2 noun /ˈflaɪ.ɪŋ ˈkriː.tʃər/

Flying creature

Meaning
any animal that has the ability to fly through the air
Example
Birds, bats, and insects are all examples of flying creatures.
A1 noun/verb /fɪʃ/

fish

Meaning
an aquatic animal with gills, or to try to catch such animals
Example
He went to the lake to fish early in the morning.
A1 noun ˈfjuː.tʃər

future

Meaning
The time or a period of time following the moment of speaking or writing; time regarded as still to come.
Example
Future projects depend on strategic planning.
C1 adjective ˈfæʃ.ɪst

fascist

Meaning
Relating to or characteristic of fascism; extremely authoritarian.
Example
Fascist governance undermines freedom.
C2 adverb /ˈfɔːrbi/

forby

Meaning
In addition; besides (archaic Scottish/English word).
Example
He is kind and generous, and wise forby.
B1 noun /fəˈsɪl.ɪ.ti/

facility

Meaning
A place, amenity, or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose.
Example
The facility was well-maintained.
C1 noun /ˈfren.zi/

Frenzy

Meaning
a state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior; intense activity
Example
The announcement of the sale created a shopping frenzy at the mall.
C1 adjective /ˈfiːbl/

feeble

Meaning
lacking physical strength or vigor; weak
Example
After the illness, she felt too feeble to stand.
C1 noun /fɪˈnænʃɪər/

financier

Meaning
a person who manages large amounts of money or investments
Example
The financier advised the company on its investments.
C1 noun /ˈfænsiər/

fancier

Meaning
a person who has a special interest in a particular thing or activity, especially animals or hobbies
Example
He is a fancier of rare birds.
B2 noun /fraɪt/

Fright

Meaning
a sudden intense feeling of fear; a shock or surprise that causes fear
Example
The loud thunder gave her such a fright that she dropped her coffee cup.
B2 noun /ˈfer.i boʊt/

Ferry-boat

Meaning
a boat that carries passengers and vehicles across water
Example
We took the ferry-boat to cross the river.
B2 adjective /ˈfræʤaɪl/

fragile

Meaning
Easily broken or damaged; delicate.
Example
Be careful with that vase, it's very fragile.
A2 verb /faʊnd/

found

Meaning
to establish or create something; to discover
Example
They founded the company in 1995.
C1 noun /ˌfɪɡjʊˈriːn/

figurine

Meaning
a small ornamental statue or model of a human or animal
Example
She bought a porcelain figurine of a dancing ballerina.
C2 verb /ˈfjuːmɪˌɡeɪt/

fumigate

Meaning
to disinfect or purify an area by using chemical fumes
Example
They fumigated the warehouse to kill the insects.
C1 adjective /ˈfruːt.ləs/

Fruitless

Meaning
unsuccessful; futile; pointless;
Example
After hours of searching, their efforts proved fruitless.
C1 verb /ˈfæbrɪkeɪt/

fabricate

Meaning
to invent or concoct something, often with the intent to deceive; or to construct or manufacture
Example
The witness fabricated his testimony to protect himself.
B1 adverb /ˈfɔːtʃənətli/

fortunately

Meaning
by good luck; luckily
Example
Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident.
B2 adjective /ˈfæktʃuəl/

Factual

Meaning
based on facts; accurate; true
Example
The report contains only factual information.
C1 adjective /frəˈnɛtɪk/

frenetic

Meaning
Fast and energetic in a wild or uncontrolled way.
Example
The stock market experienced frenetic trading after the announcement.
B1 adjective /ˈfəʊkəst/

focused

Meaning
Directing a great deal of attention or effort toward a particular activity, situation, or person.
Example
Staying focused during work hours enhances productivity.
A1 noun /ˈfriː taɪm/

free time

Meaning
time when a person is not working or occupied and can do activities they enjoy
Example
She likes to read books in her free time.
A2 adjective /flæt/

flat

Meaning
Smooth and level, without raised areas or curves.
Example
The road ahead was completely flat.
A2 noun /ˈfɑː.loʊ.ɪŋ/

following

Meaning
a group of supporters or people who admire something or someone
Example
The singer has a large following around the world.
B2 verb ˈfɔːr.mjə.leɪt

formulate

Meaning
To create or develop a plan or idea clearly and specifically, to construct an idea or strategy clearly.
Example
The company must formulate a strategy for expansion.
B2 verb /fjuːz/

fuse

Meaning
To join or blend two or more things together into one.
Example
The two metals fused under high heat.
B2 verb /ˈfrʌsˌtreɪt/

frustrate

Meaning
to prevent from accomplishing; to make someone feel annoyed
Example
The traffic jam frustrated all the commuters.
A2 noun /ˈfɔːrɪst/

Forest

Meaning
a large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth
Example
We went hiking in the dense forest yesterday.
C1 adverb /ˈfɪksɪdli/

Fixedly

Meaning
in a steady, unmoving manner; with intense concentration
Example
He stared fixedly at the painting.
C1 verb /ˈfɔːrtɪˌfaɪ/

fortify

Meaning
To strengthen a place, person, or thing physically or mentally.
Example
They fortified the city walls to protect against invasion.
C2 noun /ˈfuːləri/

foolery

Meaning
Silly or foolish behavior or actions.
Example
His constant foolery made the meeting hard to take seriously.
B2 verb, adjective /ˈfɒstər/

foster

Meaning
to encourage the development of something; to raise a child that is not one's own
Example
The program aims to foster creativity in young students.
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.
A2 noun /ˈfɔːrənər/ or /ˈfɑːrənər/

foreigner

Meaning
A person from another country.
Example
The city welcomes every foreigner with kindness.
C2 verb /ˌfɔːrˈrʌn/

forerun

Meaning
To go before; to precede in time, place, or action.
Example
Dark clouds often forerun a storm.
C1 noun /frəˈdʒɪl.ɪ.ti/

fragility

Meaning
The quality of being fragile; delicateness.
Example
The cornea's fragility increases with rubbing.
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 /fiːf/

fief

Meaning
an estate of land held under the feudal system; a domain or area of control
Example
The knight was granted a fief by the lord for his service.
B2 noun /ˈfɔːr.kæst/

Forecast

Meaning
a prediction or estimate of future events, especially coming weather conditions
Example
The weather forecast predicted heavy rain for the entire weekend.
B2 noun /ˈfɪŋ.ɡər.prɪnt/

Fingerprint

Meaning
an impression or mark made on a surface by a person's fingertip; unique identification pattern
Example
The police found his fingerprints on the door handle at the crime scene.
C2 noun /fiːˈkʌndɪti/

fecundity

Meaning
the ability to produce an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertility
Example
The fecundity of the river delta supports diverse wildlife.
B1 adverb /ˈfriːli/

Freely

Meaning
without restriction; openly; willingly
Example
She spoke freely about her experiences during the interview.
C1 adjective /ˈflʌstərd/

flustered

Meaning
in a state of confusion or agitation
Example
She appeared flustered after being asked so many questions.
B1 noun /ˈfeɪ.vər/

Favour

Meaning
approval, support, or liking for someone or something; a kind or helpful act
Example
Could you do me a favour and help me move this heavy box?
C1 noun /ˈfɪʃˌmʌŋ.ɡər/

fishmonger

Meaning
a person or store that sells fish
Example
I bought fresh salmon from the local fishmonger.
B2 noun /ˈfɪlmˌmeɪkər/

filmmaker

Meaning
a person who makes films, typically as a profession
Example
He is a well-known filmmaker in the industry.
B1 noun /ˈfɔːr.mæt/

Format

Meaning
the way in which something is arranged or set out; the shape, size, and presentation of a book or document
Example
Please submit your report in PDF format by the end of the week.
B2 verb /fʊlˈfɪl/

fulfill

Meaning
to complete or accomplish something, especially a task or promise
Example
He worked hard to fulfill his dreams.
B1 noun /ˈfɪkʃən/

fiction

Meaning
Literature created from the imagination, not presented as fact.
Example
She enjoys reading science fiction novels.
B2 adjective /ˈfʌŋkʃənl/

functional

Meaning
designed to be practical and useful, rather than just decorative
Example
The design of the chair is simple but highly functional.
C1 noun /ˈfɛləni/

felony

Meaning
a serious crime, usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year
Example
He was convicted of a felony and sentenced to ten years in prison.
A2 noun /fɑːrm/

farm

Meaning
an area of land used for growing crops and raising animals
Example
They live on a farm with many animals.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːrˌseɪl/

foresail

Meaning
The principal sail set on the foremast of a sailing vessel.
Example
The crew adjusted the foresail to catch the wind.
C2 adjective /ˈfrɪski/

Frisky

Meaning
lively; energetic; playful; mischievous
Example
The frisky puppy ran around the garden playfully.
B2 noun /fɜːr/

Fur

Meaning
thick hair covering the body of animals
Example
The cat's fur was soft and warm to touch.
C2 adjective /ˈfraʊzi/

frowsy

Meaning
Scruffy and neglected in appearance; musty or stale in smell.
Example
He wore a frowsy old jacket that smelled of damp.
B2 noun /fliːt/

fleet

Meaning
a group of ships, vehicles, or aircraft operating together under one command
Example
The navy deployed its entire fleet for the exercise.
C2 noun /ˈfɜːrlɔːŋ/

furlong

Meaning
a unit of distance equal to 220 yards or about 201 meters
Example
The horse ran a furlong before slowing down.
C2 noun, verb /ˈfɪlɪˌbʌstər/

filibuster

Meaning
a tactic of delaying legislative action by prolonged speech; to use such a tactic
Example
The senator filibustered for hours to prevent the bill from passing.
B2 adjective /flɔːd/

flawed

Meaning
having a mistake or fault that reduces its value or quality
Example
The flawed design of the car led to a recall.
C2 noun /ˈfriːˌθɪŋkər/

freethinker

Meaning
A person who forms opinions based on reason and independent thought rather than tradition or authority.
Example
Voltaire was considered a great freethinker of his time.
B2 adjective /fɪərs/

Fierce

Meaning
violent; aggressive; showing strong feeling or determination
Example
The fierce storm destroyed many houses in the village.
A2 adjective, noun /ˈfeɪvərɪt/

favorite

Meaning
Preferred over all others; something or someone especially liked.
Example
Chocolate is my favorite ice cream flavor.
B2 verb /ˈfæs.ɪ.neɪt/

fascinate

Meaning
to attract and hold the attention of someone; to charm or captivate
Example
The magician's performance fascinated the audience.
B2 noun /ˈfjuːʒən/

fusion

Meaning
the process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity
Example
The restaurant offers a unique fusion of Asian and European cuisines.
B2 noun /ˈfluː.ən.si/

fluency

Meaning
The ability to speak or write a language smoothly and effortlessly.
Example
She speaks English with remarkable fluency.
A2 verb /friːz/

freeze

Meaning
to become solid due to cold; to preserve by cold
Example
Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.
A1 preposition /fɔːr/

for

Meaning
used to indicate purpose, destination, or recipient
Example
This gift is for you.
A2 noun /fraɪd raɪs/

Fried rice

Meaning
a dish of cooked rice that has been stir-fried in a wok or frying pan
Example
We ordered chicken fried rice from the Chinese restaurant.
B2 noun /flɛkˈsɪbɪləti/

flexibility

Meaning
The quality of bending easily without breaking; willingness to change or compromise.
Example
The flexibility of the working hours made it easier to balance work and personal life.
C1 adjective /ˈflæɡɪŋ/

flagging

Meaning
becoming tired, weaker, or less enthusiastic
Example
After hours of work, his energy was flagging.
C2 adjective /ˈflaɪti/

flighty

Meaning
unstable, impulsive, or easily distracted; lacking seriousness or stability
Example
She’s too flighty to stick with one job for long.
C2 adjective /ˈfɪt.fəl/

fitful

Meaning
occurring in irregular bursts; not continuous or steady
Example
He had a fitful sleep due to the storm.
A1 numeral /fɔːr/

four

Meaning
The number equivalent to the sum of two and two; one more than three.
Example
She has four books on her desk.
B2 verb /flɪk/

flick

Meaning
to move or cause to move with a sudden quick motion
Example
He flicked the switch to turn on the light.
A2 noun /ˈfɜːrnɪtʃər/

furniture

Meaning
Objects such as chairs, tables, beds, or cupboards used to make a room suitable for living or working.
Example
The living room was filled with beautiful wooden furniture.
B2 noun /ˈfjʊr.i/

Fury

Meaning
wild or violent anger; extreme intensity of emotion or activity
Example
His fury was evident when he discovered someone had stolen his bicycle.
C1 noun /fɑːrs/

farce

Meaning
a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay, or a ridiculous situation
Example
The meeting turned into a complete farce with everyone arguing.
C2 noun /ˈfɛndər/

fender

Meaning
a part of a vehicle that frames a wheel well to protect against mud or debris
Example
The car's fender was dented in the accident.
C1 verb /fɔːrˈɡoʊ/

forego

Meaning
to decide not to do or have something pleasant or valuable
Example
She decided to forego dessert to maintain her diet.
C1 verb /ˈfɜːr.tɪ.laɪz/

fertilize

Meaning
to make soil or land more fertile by adding substances
Example
Farmers fertilize the fields to increase crop yield.
C2 verb /foʊˈmɛnt/

foment

Meaning
To instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).
Example
The rebel leader tried to foment unrest among the people.
A2 noun /ˈfer.i.teɪl/

Fairy-tale

Meaning
a children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands
Example
Children love listening to fairy-tales before bedtime.
C2 adjective /ˈfɒp.ɪʃ/

Foppish

Meaning
excessively concerned with one's appearance and clothes; vain about dress
Example
His foppish behavior and expensive clothes made him stand out.
C2 noun /fɔːrˈbɛrəns/

forbearance

Meaning
Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance, especially in difficult situations.
Example
She showed remarkable forbearance during the heated argument.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrˌθɔːt/

forethought

Meaning
careful consideration of what will be necessary or may happen in the future
Example
With a little forethought, we could have avoided the problem.
B2 verb /flɜːrt/

flirt

Meaning
to behave as if you are attracted to someone, but not in a serious way
Example
She often flirts with her colleagues at work.
C1 verb /ˈflɪk.ər/

flicker

Meaning
to shine unsteadily or waver between light and dark
Example
The candle flickered in the wind.
C2 adjective /fɪˈdjuːʃəl/

fiducial

Meaning
based on trust or confidence; serving as a standard of reference
Example
The fiducial point on the map ensures accurate measurements.
B1 verb /fərˈbɪd/

forbid

Meaning
to order someone not to do something
Example
The school forbids smoking on campus.
C1 verb /flɪntʃ/

flinch

Meaning
to suddenly move back or away due to fear or pain
Example
He didn’t flinch when the doctor gave him the injection.
C2 adjective /ˈflɒrɪd/

florid

Meaning
Having a red or flushed complexion; or excessively ornate and intricate.
Example
The speaker’s florid style made the lecture hard to follow.
A2 adjective /ˈfɪnɪʃt/

finished

Meaning
completed or brought to an end
Example
The painting is finished and ready to display.
B2 noun /ˈfrɪkʃən/

friction

Meaning
the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another; conflict or tension between people or groups
Example
There was friction between the two departments over resource allocation.
A1 verb /ˈfɪnɪʃ/

finish

Meaning
to complete or bring to an end; to reach the final point
Example
She finished her homework before dinner.
C1 adjective /ˈfɑːð.ər.ləs/

fatherless

Meaning
without a father
Example
The fatherless child relied on the support of his community.