forthright
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C1 adjective /ˈfɔːrθˌraɪt/

forthright

Meaning
Direct and honest in speech or behavior; straightforward.
Example
She was forthright in her criticism of the policy.
C2 noun /flæks/

flax

Meaning
a plant whose fibers are used to make linen and whose seeds are edible
Example
Flax is often used in making linen fabrics.
C2 noun /foʊ ˈpɑː/

faux pas

Meaning
a social blunder or mistake in etiquette
Example
He committed a major faux pas by forgetting her birthday.
A2 adjective, adverb /ˈfæstər/

faster

Meaning
moving or able to move quickly; more quickly than usual
Example
This car is faster than the old one.
B1 verb /ˈfɛri/

ferry

Meaning
to transport by boat; to carry back and forth
Example
The boat ferried passengers across the river.
C1 adjective /ˈflæɡɪŋ/

flagging

Meaning
becoming tired, weaker, or less enthusiastic
Example
After hours of work, his energy was flagging.
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.
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.
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.
C1 noun, verb /fɔːrd/

ford

Meaning
A shallow place in a river where one can cross; to cross a river at such a place.
Example
The travelers decided to ford the river at dawn.
C2 adjective /ˈflʌməksd/

flummoxed

Meaning
Completely confused or bewildered.
Example
He looked flummoxed after hearing the strange question.
C1 adjective /ˌfʊl ˈbɒd.id/

full-bodied

Meaning
Having a strong, rich, and robust quality, especially of wine, coffee, or voice.
Example
He prefers a full-bodied red wine with his dinner.
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.
C2 verb /ˌfɔːrɔːrˈdeɪn/

foreordain

Meaning
to determine or decree something in advance; to predestine
Example
Some believe that our lives are foreordained by fate.
C1 adjective /ˈflaʊəri/

flowery

Meaning
Full of flowers or overly elaborate in style or language.
Example
She wrote a flowery letter filled with poetic phrases.
C2 noun /ˈflætʃələns/

flatulence

Meaning
the accumulation of gas in the digestive system; excessive gas in the stomach or intestines
Example
Eating beans can sometimes cause flatulence.
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.
B1 noun /ˈfes.tə.vəl/

Festival

Meaning
a day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasons; an organized series of concerts, films, etc.
Example
The music festival attracted thousands of visitors from around the world.
C1 adjective /ˈfɛrəl/

feral

Meaning
existing in a wild or untamed state; not domesticated
Example
The feral cat roamed the streets at night.
B2 noun /ˌfiː.ɑːnˈseɪ/

Fiance

Meaning
a man who is engaged to be married
Example
Sarah introduced her fiance to her parents during the family dinner.
C2 adjective /ˈfer.əs/

ferrous

Meaning
containing or consisting of iron
Example
Ferrous metals are commonly used in construction.
C1 adjective /ˈfrɪdʒɪd/

Frigid

Meaning
extremely cold; freezing; icy
Example
The frigid weather made it difficult to go outside.
B2 noun ˈfrʌn.tɪərz

frontiers

Meaning
The extreme limit of settled land beyond which lies wilderness; the limits of knowledge or achievement in a particular field.
Example
The project pushes the frontiers of space exploration.
C1 noun /ˈfiːtəs/

fetus

Meaning
an unborn or unhatched offspring in the womb or egg
Example
The doctor explained the development of the fetus during pregnancy.
B1 noun /ˈfiːdbæk/

feedback

Meaning
information or opinions about how well someone is doing something
Example
She asked her teacher for feedback on her essay.
C2 noun /ˈfʌŋkʃəˌnɛri/

functionary

Meaning
a person who has official duties in an organization, especially one with little authority
Example
The minor functionary was responsible for filing reports.
A1 noun /fʊt/

Foot

Meaning
the lower extremity of the leg that is in direct contact with the ground in standing or walking
Example
She hurt her foot while running.
B1 verb /fəʊld/

fold

Meaning
to bend something, especially paper or cloth, so that one part covers another
Example
She folded the letter neatly before placing it in the envelope.
C1 noun ˈflɔː.rə ænd ˈfɔː.nə

flora and fauna

Meaning
The plants and animals of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.
Example
The Galápagos Islands have unique flora and fauna.
C1 noun, verb /ˈfɛrɪt/

ferret

Meaning
a small domesticated animal used for hunting; to search or uncover something persistently
Example
He ferreted out the hidden documents.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːr.tɪ.tjuːd/

fortitude

Meaning
Courage in pain or adversity; mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty.
Example
She faced adversity with great fortitude.
C2 noun /ˈfuːləri/

foolery

Meaning
Silly or foolish behavior or actions.
Example
His constant foolery made the meeting hard to take seriously.
C2 noun /ˈfiːæt/

fiat

Meaning
an official order or decree; authoritative command
Example
The new policy was enacted by royal fiat.
B2 verb /fʊlˈfɪl/

fulfil

Meaning
to complete or achieve something that was expected or promised; to satisfy a requirement or desire
Example
She worked hard to fulfil her dream of becoming a doctor.
A1 adjective /ˈfeɪ.məs/

famous

Meaning
Known about by many people; renowned.
Example
This area is famous for its unique heritage.
C1 noun /ˈfeɪvərɪtɪzəm/

favoritism

Meaning
the practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group
Example
The manager was accused of favoritism towards certain employees.
C1 verb/noun ˈfæð.əm

fathom

Meaning
To understand after much thought; to measure the depth of water; to comprehend.
Example
It is difficult to fathom the depths of the ocean.
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 /fɜːr/

Fur

Meaning
thick hair covering the body of animals
Example
The cat's fur was soft and warm to touch.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrmən/

foreman

Meaning
a person in charge of a group of workers, especially in a factory or construction site
Example
The foreman supervised the workers on the construction site.
B1 noun /ˈfɪnɪʃ laɪn/

finish line

Meaning
The line or point at the end of a race or competition where participants complete it.
Example
She sprinted towards the finish line and won the race.
B2 noun /fluːt/

Flute

Meaning
a musical wind instrument with holes along its length that is played by blowing across a hole at one end
Example
He played a sweet melody on his flute.
C1 verb /ˈflaʊndər/

flounder

Meaning
To struggle or stagger clumsily; to experience difficulty or confusion.
Example
He floundered in the interview when asked difficult questions.
C2 verb /ˌfɔːrˈrʌn/

forerun

Meaning
To go before; to precede in time, place, or action.
Example
Dark clouds often forerun a storm.
B2 adverb /ˈfɔːrmərli/

Formerly

Meaning
in the past; previously; at an earlier time
Example
The building was formerly a school but is now a community center.
C2 noun /flɛk/

fleck

Meaning
a small spot or mark, often of a different color
Example
There was a fleck of paint on the floor.
A2 noun /ˈfɔːrənər/ or /ˈfɑːrənər/

foreigner

Meaning
A person from another country.
Example
The city welcomes every foreigner with kindness.
C1 verb /ˈfrɒlɪk/

frolic

Meaning
to play and move about cheerfully, energetically, or playfully
Example
The children frolicked in the garden all afternoon.
C2 adjective /ˈflɪpənt/

flippant

Meaning
not showing a serious or respectful attitude
Example
His flippant remarks annoyed the teacher.
B1 verb /floʊt/

float

Meaning
to rest or move on the surface of a liquid or in the air without sinking
Example
The boat began to float gently down the river.
C2 adjective /ˈfraɪəbl/

friable

Meaning
Easily crumbled or reduced to powder.
Example
The old brick wall was friable and broke apart at a touch.
C1 adjective ˈfɔːr.mɪ.də.bəl

formidable

Meaning
Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.
Example
The boxer was a formidable opponent in the ring.
B2 noun /ˈfjuː.nər.əl/

Funeral

Meaning
a ceremony typically held shortly after a person's death, usually including burial or cremation
Example
Hundreds of people attended the funeral to pay their respects to the beloved teacher.
A2 noun /fɔːrk/

Fork

Meaning
a tool with two or more prongs used for eating or serving food
Example
Please use a fork to eat your salad.
B2 noun /ˈfreʃmən/

freshman

Meaning
a first-year student at a high school, college, or university
Example
The freshman felt nervous on his first day at university.
B1 noun/verb /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/

fighting

Meaning
the act of engaging in a physical or verbal conflict
Example
The soldiers were fighting bravely on the battlefield.
B1 adverb /ˈfriːli/

Freely

Meaning
without restriction; openly; willingly
Example
She spoke freely about her experiences during the interview.
C1 noun /frəˈdʒɪl.ɪ.ti/

fragility

Meaning
The quality of being fragile; delicateness.
Example
The cornea's fragility increases with rubbing.
B2 adjective, noun /ˈfeɪʃəl/

facial

Meaning
Relating to the face; a beauty treatment for the face
Example
She booked a facial at the spa.
C1 adjective /ˈfeɪl.seɪf/

fail-safe

Meaning
designed to prevent failure or accidents; guaranteed to work correctly
Example
The engineers installed a fail-safe mechanism in the nuclear plant.
A1 adjective /fɑːst/

Fast

Meaning
moving or happening quickly; rapid; swift
Example
She runs very fast in the morning.
C1 adjective /ˈfiːbl/

feeble

Meaning
lacking physical strength or vigor; weak
Example
After the illness, she felt too feeble to stand.
B2 noun /foʊm/

Foam

Meaning
a mass of small bubbles formed on or in liquid; frothy white mass
Example
The waves crashed against the rocks, creating white foam on the shore.
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.
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.
A1 number /ˌfɪfˈtiːn/

fifteen

Meaning
the number 15
Example
There are fifteen students in the class.
C1 adjective /ˈfɔːrsəbl/

forcible

Meaning
Done by force; using physical strength or power.
Example
The police made a forcible entry into the house.
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 /ˈfeɪt.fəl/

fateful

Meaning
having significant or disastrous consequences
Example
Their fateful decision changed the course of history.
B1 noun /ˈfjuː.əl/

Fuel

Meaning
a material such as coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or power
Example
The rising cost of fuel has affected transportation and heating expenses worldwide.
C1 adjective /ˈfɑːð.ər.ləs/

fatherless

Meaning
without a father
Example
The fatherless child relied on the support of his community.
B2 noun /ˈfæbrɪk/

fabric

Meaning
Cloth or material produced by weaving or knitting fibers.
Example
The tailor used silk fabric to make the dress.
C2 adjective /fəˈlɪsɪtəs/

felicitous

Meaning
well-chosen, appropriate, or pleasing; marked by good fortune or happiness
Example
She made a felicitous remark that lightened the mood.
B2 noun /ˈfaɪ.bər/

fibre

Meaning
A thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue, mineral substance, or textile is formed; dietary material that aids digestion.
Example
Eating foods rich in fibre can improve your digestion.
C1 adjective /ˈfruːt.ləs/

Fruitless

Meaning
unsuccessful; futile; pointless;
Example
After hours of searching, their efforts proved fruitless.
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 /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.
C2 adjective /ˈfiːbəlˌmaɪndɪd/

feebleminded

Meaning
lacking intelligence or mental capacity; foolish or weak-minded
Example
The feebleminded man struggled to understand basic instructions.
B1 noun /fiː/

fee

Meaning
A payment made for a service or privilege.
Example
The lawyer charged a high fee for his services.
B2 noun /ˈfʊtɪdʒ/

footage

Meaning
a recorded film or video, especially one that is used for news or documentaries
Example
The footage of the protest was shown on television all day.
C1 verb /fɔːˈbɛər/

forbear

Meaning
To refrain from doing something; to show patience or self-control.
Example
She forbore from commenting on his mistake.
C2 noun /ˌfoʊ.mənˈteɪ.ʃən/

fomentation

Meaning
The action of instigating or stirring up; also the application of warm substances to the body to ease pain.
Example
His speech led to the fomentation of violence in the region.
C1 adjective /ˈfrɛn.zid/

frenzied

Meaning
Wildly excited or uncontrolled
Example
The frenzied crowd cheered as the band took the stage.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrwɜːrd/

foreword

Meaning
a short introduction at the beginning of a book, typically written by someone other than the author
Example
The foreword of the book was written by a famous historian.
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.
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.
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.
A2 adjective /ˈfraɪtənd/

frightened

Meaning
feeling fear or anxiety; scared
Example
The child was frightened by the loud noise.
B2 noun ˈfreɪm.wɜːks

frameworks

Meaning
A basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text; an essential supporting structure.
Example
Frameworks define the basis of systems.
C1 noun ˌflʌk.tʃuˈeɪ.ʃən

fluctuation

Meaning
An irregular rising and falling in number or amount; a variation.
Example
The stock market experiences frequent fluctuation.
C2 adjective /fəˈloʊniəs/

felonious

Meaning
relating to or involved in serious criminal activity
Example
He was charged with felonious assault after the incident.
C1 adjective /ˈflʌstərd/

flustered

Meaning
in a state of confusion or agitation
Example
She appeared flustered after being asked so many questions.
B2 noun/verb /ˈfɒs.tər.ɪŋ/

fostering

Meaning
The process of encouraging or promoting the development or growth of something; nurturing and caring for.
Example
Good teachers play a key role in fostering creativity in students.
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 /ˈfʌmbəl/

fumble

Meaning
to handle something clumsily or to make mistakes while doing something
Example
He fumbled with the keys and dropped them on the floor.
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.
B1 verb /fərˈbɪd/

forbid

Meaning
to order someone not to do something
Example
The school forbids smoking on campus.
A2 adjective /ˈfɪnɪʃt/

finished

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

frontier

Meaning
A new area of activity, knowledge, or development; the edge of knowledge or achievement.
Example
Robotic surgery is exploring a new frontier in medicine.
A2 verb /fraɪ/

fry

Meaning
to cook food in hot oil or fat
Example
She fries eggs for breakfast every morning.
A2 noun /ˈfɪɡ.jər/

Figure

Meaning
a number, especially one which forms part of official statistics; the shape of a human body
Example
The sales figure for this quarter exceeded all expectations.
B1 adjective /ˈfæsɪneɪtɪŋ/

Fascinating

Meaning
extremely interesting; captivating; enchanting
Example
The documentary about ocean life was fascinating.
C1 noun /ˈfjuː.tʃə.rɪst/

futurist

Meaning
A person who studies or predicts the future, especially trends in science, technology, or society.
Example
The futurist predicted major changes in transportation within the next decade.
B2 adjective /ˈfjʊə.ri.əs/

Furious

Meaning
extremely angry; violent; fierce;
Example
She was furious when she discovered the mistake.
B2 verb /ˈflætər/

flatter

Meaning
to praise excessively or insincerely to gain favor
Example
He tried to flatter his boss to get a promotion.
A2 number /ˈfɪfti/

fifty

Meaning
the number 50
Example
The stadium can hold fifty thousand people.
C1 noun, verb /ˈfɜːrloʊ/

furlough

Meaning
temporary leave of absence from work, especially that granted to an employee or soldier
Example
Many workers were placed on furlough during the crisis.
C1 adjective /ˈfræɡməntɪd/

fragmented

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

florist

Meaning
A person who sells and arranges flowers.
Example
We bought a bouquet from the local florist.
C2 adjective /fəˈsiːʃəs/

facetious

Meaning
Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor
Example
He was being facetious when he said he wanted to live on the moon.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːls.hʊd/

Falsehood

Meaning
the state of being untrue; a lie
Example
The politician was caught spreading falsehoods about his opponent.
C1 noun /fəˌsɪlɪˈteɪʃən/

facilitation

Meaning
The action of facilitating or making an action or process easier or helping bring about an outcome.
Example
Her facilitation made the meeting run smoothly.
C1 adjective /ˈfɪk.əl/

Fickle

Meaning
changeable; inconstant; liable to sudden unpredictable change
Example
His fickle nature made it hard to trust his promises.
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.
C1 adjective /frəˈnɛtɪk/

frenetic

Meaning
Fast and energetic in a wild or uncontrolled way.
Example
The stock market experienced frenetic trading after the announcement.
C1 adjective /fərˈlɔːrn/

forlorn

Meaning
extremely sad, lonely, or abandoned
Example
The abandoned puppy looked so forlorn in the rain.
A2 adjective /ˈfɔːrməl/

formal

Meaning
done in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette; official or serious in nature
Example
He wore a formal suit to the wedding.
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.
A2 noun/verb /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/

fishing

Meaning
the activity of catching fish
Example
Fishing is a popular activity in coastal villages.
B2 verb /flɪp/

flip

Meaning
to turn over quickly or suddenly; to toss lightly
Example
She flipped the pancake in the pan.
C1 noun /ˈflæt.ər.i/

Flattery

Meaning
excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one's own interests
Example
His constant flattery made everyone suspicious of his true motives.