gainsay
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
C2 verb /ˌɡeɪnˈseɪ/

gainsay

Meaning
To deny, contradict, or speak against.
Example
No one could gainsay the evidence presented in court.
B2 verb /ˈfæsən/

fasten

Meaning
To attach or secure something firmly in place
Example
Please fasten your seatbelt before the plane takes off.
C2 adverb /ˌðeərˈwɪð/

Therewith

Meaning
together with that; in addition to that
Example
He handed me the contract and the pen therewith.
B1 noun /ˈrezɪdənt/

Resident

Meaning
a person who lives somewhere permanently or on a long-term basis; living in a particular place
Example
She has been a resident of this city for over ten years.
A1 noun /mɑːm/

mom

Meaning
an informal word for mother
Example
My mom makes the best homemade food.
B2 noun /ˈliːf.lət/

Leaflet

Meaning
a printed sheet of paper containing information or advertising and usually distributed free
Example
She handed out leaflets about the environmental campaign.
C1 adjective /ˈmjuːtɪd/

muted

Meaning
softened in sound, color, or effect; subdued
Example
The room was painted in muted shades of blue and grey.
C2 verb /ˈɪŋkʌlpeɪt/

inculpate

Meaning
To blame or accuse someone of wrongdoing.
Example
The evidence seemed to inculpate the suspect in the crime.
C1 noun /ɪˈlɛk.trəʊ.laɪts/

electrolytes

Meaning
Minerals in body fluids that carry an electric charge and are essential for many bodily functions.
Example
Electrolytes help maintain proper fluid balance in the body.
B2 noun /ˈɑːrm.pɪt/

Armpit

Meaning
the hollow area under the arm where it joins the shoulder
Example
He applied deodorant to his armpit.
C1 noun /ˈsʌn.stroʊk/

Sunstroke

Meaning
a serious condition caused by overheating from prolonged exposure to high temperatures
Example
The worker suffered from sunstroke after working outside all day.
C1 noun /riˈæktənt/

reactant

Meaning
A substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a chemical reaction.
Example
Oxygen is a reactant in the process of combustion.
B2 noun /ˈhæn.di.krɑːft/

Handicraft

Meaning
an activity involving the making of decorative domestic or other objects with the hands; handmade artistic work
Example
The local market featured beautiful handicrafts made by skilled artisans from the region.
C1 adjective /ˌeɪ.bəlˈbɒd.id/

able-bodied

Meaning
physically strong and healthy, not disabled
Example
The company is looking for able-bodied workers for the construction site.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛnʃənt/

insentient

Meaning
Lacking perception, consciousness, or sensation.
Example
The rock is an insentient object with no awareness.
C1 noun /ˈbaɪoʊˌsfɪr/

Biosphere

Meaning
the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the earth occupied by living organisms
Example
Climate change is affecting the entire biosphere.
C1 noun /ˈdʒɛpərdi/

jeopardy

Meaning
Danger of loss, harm, or failure.
Example
His careless driving put everyone in jeopardy.
B2 noun /ˈkreɪ.dəl/

Cradle

Meaning
a small bed for a baby, especially one that rocks from side to side
Example
The baby sleeps peacefully in the cradle.
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.
B1 noun /ɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/

instructions

Meaning
Detailed information on how something should be done or operated.
Example
Please follow the instructions on the box.
C2 noun /ˈθɔːməˌtɜrdʒɪst/

thaumaturgist

Meaning
A worker of miracles or magician.
Example
The thaumaturgist amazed the audience with his tricks.
B2 verb /smæʃ/

smash

Meaning
to break something into pieces violently
Example
She smashed the glass in frustration.
B1 adjective ˈlɔːŋ.tɜːrm

long-term

Meaning
Occurring over or involving a relatively long period of time.
Example
Long-term planning is necessary for environmental conservation.
C2 adjective /ˈsæpɪd/

sapid

Meaning
Having a pleasant taste; flavorful.
Example
The chef prepared a sapid dish that delighted everyone at the table.
B2 adjective /swɪft/

swift

Meaning
moving very quickly; happening promptly
Example
The river current was swift after the heavy rain.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒnstənt/

inconstant

Meaning
frequently changing; not consistent or dependable
Example
His inconstant moods made it difficult to work with him.
B1 noun /kəˈnuː/

Canoe

Meaning
a narrow boat pointed at both ends and moved with a paddle
Example
They paddled their canoe down the peaceful stream.
B2 noun /səˈspɪʃən/

Suspicion

Meaning
a feeling or thought that someone is guilty of an illegal or dishonest activity
Example
The police arrested him on suspicion of theft.
C1 verb /ˈrʌf.l̩/

ruffle

Meaning
to disturb the smoothness of something; to annoy or upset someone
Example
The wind ruffled her hair.
B1 noun, verb /ˈbændɪdʒ/

bandage

Meaning
a strip of material used to cover or protect a wound; to cover or wrap a wound with such material
Example
The nurse carefully bandaged his injured arm.
B1 adjective /ˈpɜːrmənənt/

Permanent

Meaning
lasting; unchanging; enduring
Example
The tattoo is a permanent mark on his skin.
B2 adjective /rɪˈsɔːrsfəl/

resourceful

Meaning
Having the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.
Example
She is very resourceful when it comes to solving unexpected problems.
B2 verb /ˈtaɪtən/

Tighten

Meaning
to make something more secure or less loose
Example
He tightened the screws to secure the shelf.
B1 noun /paɪp/

pipe

Meaning
a tube used for conveying liquids or gases
Example
The plumber fixed the broken pipe.
C2 noun /ˈtændʒənsi/

tangency

Meaning
the condition of touching but not intersecting, especially in geometry
Example
The circle and the line are in a state of tangency at one point.
B2 noun /ˈsætaɪər/

satire

Meaning
The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people's stupidity or vices.
Example
The play was a brilliant satire on modern politics.
C2 noun /ˈbɜːrɡər/

burgher

Meaning
A citizen of a town, typically a member of the wealthy middle class.
Example
The burgher was respected as a prosperous merchant in the city.
B2 adjective /ˈpraɪs.ləs/

Priceless

Meaning
extremely valuable; invaluable; beyond price
Example
Her grandmother's antique jewelry is absolutely priceless.
C2 noun /ˈnɒn.ɪʤ/

Nonage

Meaning
the period of being under the legal age of majority; youth or immaturity
Example
During his nonage, all legal decisions were made by his guardian.
C1 noun /ɡeɪl/

Gale

Meaning
a very strong wind; a wind of force 7 to 10 on the Beaufort scale
Example
The fishing boats returned to harbor early due to the approaching gale.
B1 noun /ˈæbsəns/

Absence

Meaning
the state of being away from a place or person; lack or non-existence
Example
His absence from the meeting was noticed by everyone.
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.
B2 noun /ˈɔːltər/

Altar

Meaning
a raised structure on which offerings or sacrifices are made to a deity
Example
The bride and groom stood before the altar during the ceremony.
C2 verb /diːˈmoʊbəlaɪz/

demobilize

Meaning
To release from military service or to disband troops.
Example
The government decided to demobilize the army after the war.
C2 verb /ʌpˈhiːv/

upheave

Meaning
to lift or raise something forcefully; to cause to rise suddenly
Example
The workers had to upheave the heavy stone to clear the path.
B1 noun prɪˈven.ʃən

prevention

Meaning
The action of stopping something from happening or arising.
Example
Prevention of fascism ensures democracy.
C1 noun /diːˈkrɪp.ʃən/

decryption

Meaning
The process of converting encrypted data back into its original form so it can be understood.
Example
Hackers attempted decryption of classified data.
C1 verb /ˈkwɪkən/

quicken

Meaning
to make or become faster; to accelerate
Example
His pulse began to quicken as he approached the finish line.
B1 noun; gerund /ˈnɪtɪŋ/

knitting

Meaning
the craft or activity of making fabric by interlocking loops of yarn with needles; the act of forming something closely or firmly together
Example
She spends her evenings knitting scarves for her family.
C2 adjective /ˌkɒnsæŋˈɡwɪniəs/

consanguineous

Meaning
Related by blood; descended from the same ancestor.
Example
The study focused on genetic disorders in consanguineous families.
B1 noun /ˈpɪ.ti/

Pity

Meaning
a feeling of sadness or sympathy for someone's misfortune; something that causes regret or disappointment
Example
I felt pity for the homeless man in the rain.
C1 adjective /əˌpɒk.əˈlɪp.tɪk/

apocalyptic

Meaning
Describing the end of the world, or something catastrophic and disastrous.
Example
The movie depicts an apocalyptic future after a nuclear war.
B2 adjective /ˈlɛŋθi/

lengthy

Meaning
long in duration or extent
Example
The meeting was lengthy, lasting over three hours.
C1 adjective /ˈwaɪ.li/

Wily

Meaning
clever; cunning; sly
Example
The wily fox escaped from the trap using his cunning intelligence.
A2 noun /dʒoʊk/

Joke

Meaning
a thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter; something not to be taken seriously
Example
Everyone laughed at his funny joke during the dinner party.
C2 verb /ɪˈfjuːz/

effuse

Meaning
To pour out or express feelings freely and openly.
Example
She effused gratitude for the help she received.
C1 noun /ˈkɒndjuɪt/ or /ˈkɑːnduɪt/

conduit

Meaning
a channel or pipe for conveying water, electricity, or information
Example
The cable was placed inside a protective conduit.
C2 noun /lɔːŋ ɡɔːrd/

Long gourd

Meaning
an elongated green vegetable belonging to the cucumber family, used in cooking
Example
She sliced the long gourd thinly for the stir-fry dish.
B1 noun /trʌŋk/

Trunk

Meaning
a large box or chest, typically used for storage or travel
Example
She packed her clothes in the trunk.
C1 noun /ɡeɪt/

gait

Meaning
A person's manner of walking.
Example
His slow gait showed that he was tired.
C1 noun /ˈpoʊl.stɑːr/

Polestar

Meaning
a bright star that appears to stay in the same position in the sky and is used for navigation
Example
Sailors used the polestar to navigate across the ocean.
B1 verb /ˈstɒpɪŋ/

stopping

Meaning
Coming to a halt or pause.
Example
The ship is stopping at the Falkland Islands.
B2 noun /ˈblɒkˌtʃeɪn/

blockchain

Meaning
A system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system
Example
Blockchain technology ensures transparency in financial transactions.
B2 adverb /ˈsɒftli/

softly

Meaning
in a gentle or quiet way.
Example
She spoke softly so as not to wake the baby.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsˈnoʊmər/

misnomer

Meaning
A wrong or inaccurate name or designation.
Example
Calling the tiny dog a 'giant' is a misnomer.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈhɔːltɪŋ/

halting

Meaning
slow and hesitant, especially due to lack of confidence
Example
She gave a halting reply during the interview.
C1 noun /ˈfɛlən/

felon

Meaning
a person who has committed a serious crime
Example
The felon was sentenced to ten years in prison.
A2 verb /rɪˈmuːv/

remove

Meaning
to take something away; to eliminate or delete
Example
Please remove your shoes before entering the house.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbəl/

Unbelievable

Meaning
impossible to believe; extremely surprising or remarkable
Example
The magician's performance was absolutely unbelievable.
B2 adjective /pəˈθet.ɪk/

Pathetic

Meaning
arousing pity; extremely poor or inadequate
Example
His pathetic attempt to apologize made things worse.
C1 noun ˈkɒnfluəns

confluence

Meaning
An act or process of merging.
Example
The confluence of ideas from different cultures created a rich discussion.
C1 verb /ɡliːn/

glean

Meaning
to collect or gather slowly and bit by bit, especially information or crops left after harvest
Example
The journalist gleaned facts from several sources.
B1 adjective /ɪˈmiːdiət/

immediate

Meaning
happening or done without delay
Example
The doctor gave her immediate attention.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈvɪdiəs/

invidious

Meaning
likely to arouse resentment, envy, or anger in others
Example
The manager's invidious remarks created tension among the employees.
C1 verb /səbˈmɜːrdʒ/

submerge

Meaning
to put under water or cover with liquid
Example
The floodwaters threatened to submerge the village.
C2 noun /ˈdɒkɪt/

docket

Meaning
a list or schedule of cases to be tried in a court or items to be done
Example
The judge reviewed the docket before starting the session.
C1 adjective /ˌeɪsɪˈmɛtrɪk/

asymmetric

Meaning
Not having equal or corresponding parts; lacking symmetry.
Example
The design of the building is asymmetric and unusual.
C2 adjective /ˈluːsənt/

lucent

Meaning
shining or glowing with light
Example
The lucent stars brightened the night sky.
B1 verb kleɪmz

claims

Meaning
To take someone's life, to cause death
Example
Workplace pollution claims thousands of lives annually.
B2 verb /blʌʃ/

blush

Meaning
to become red in the face due to embarrassment or shyness
Example
She blushed when he complimented her.
B2 verb /skwiːz/

squeeze

Meaning
to press something firmly, especially from all sides in order to extract or compress it
Example
She squeezed the toothpaste to get the last bit.
B2 noun /streɪn/

Strain

Meaning
pressure or tension; excessive demand on strength or resources
Example
Working long hours put a strain on his health.
B1 noun /rɪˈwɔːd/

reward

Meaning
something given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement
Example
He received a reward for returning the lost wallet.
C1 noun /ˈheɪl.stɔːrm/

Hailstorm

Meaning
a violent storm with hail falling from the sky
Example
The hailstorm damaged many cars in the parking lot.
B2 verb /dɪˈprɛs/

depress

Meaning
To make someone feel sad or without hope; to reduce the level or strength of something.
Example
The gloomy weather tends to depress people.
B2 noun /ˌɛksɪˈkjuːʃən/

execution

Meaning
the act of carrying out a plan, order, or legal sentence
Example
The success of a project depends on its proper execution.
B2 noun, verb /ˈɪnstɪˌtjuːt/

institute

Meaning
as a noun, an organization founded for a specific purpose; as a verb, to establish or initiate
Example
The university decided to institute new rules for the library.
B1 adjective /dɪsˈɒnəst/

Dishonest

Meaning
not honest; fraudulent; deceitful
Example
The dishonest salesman tried to sell them a broken car.
B2 noun /ˈmɒlɪkjuːl/

molecule

Meaning
The smallest unit of a chemical compound that retains its chemical properties.
Example
A water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
C1 adverb /ˈfɪksɪdli/

Fixedly

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

preen

Meaning
To groom or dress oneself with care; to show pride in one's appearance.
Example
She preened in front of the mirror before leaving for the party.
C2 noun /lækˈteɪʃən/

lactation

Meaning
the secretion of milk by the mammary glands of female mammals
Example
The doctor explained that lactation is a natural process after childbirth.
B2 verb /dɪˈnaʊns/

denounce

Meaning
To publicly declare something to be wrong, evil, or condemn strongly.
Example
The leader denounced corruption in his speech.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈmænɪdʒəbəl/

Unmanageable

Meaning
difficult or impossible to control or handle
Example
The large class became unmanageable without proper supervision.
B2 noun ˈɡloʊbəl kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃən

global collaboration

Meaning
Cooperation and partnership between countries or organizations worldwide to address common challenges.
Example
Global collaboration is necessary to address climate change.
B2 adjective /ˈkɒmp(ə)rəbl/

comparable

Meaning
Able to be likened to something else in size, amount, or quality.
Example
The two products are comparable in quality but differ in price.
A2 verb /dəˈrɛkt/ or /daɪˈrɛkt/

direct

Meaning
to manage or control the course of something; to give instructions
Example
She directed the team to complete the project on time.
C1 noun /hʌl/

hull

Meaning
The outer covering of a seed or fruit; also the main body of a ship.
Example
The sailors inspected the ship’s hull for any damage.
C2 noun /ˈbiːlaɪn/

beeline

Meaning
a straight, direct route to a destination
Example
He made a beeline for the food table as soon as he entered the party.
C1 noun /dɪˈfaɪəns/

defiance

Meaning
Open resistance or bold disobedience.
Example
The protest was an act of defiance against injustice.
B2 noun /kɔːrd/

cord

Meaning
a long, thin, flexible string or rope
Example
He tied the package with a strong cord.
A2 verb /klaɪm/

climb

Meaning
to go up using hands and feet; to ascend
Example
We decided to climb the mountain.
A2 noun ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃən

competition

Meaning
The activity or condition of competing; rivalry for supremacy.
Example
Competition grew between language groups.
C1 noun /speɪt/

spate

Meaning
a large number of things occurring in quick succession
Example
There has been a spate of robberies in the city.
C1 verb /ˌriːˈkɒn.stɪ.tʃuːt/

reconstitute

Meaning
to restore something to its original form or state; to reassemble
Example
The group was reconstituted after the leader returned.
C1 noun ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm ˈsɜːvɪsɪz

ecosystem services

Meaning
The benefits people obtain from ecosystems.
Example
Forests provide valuable ecosystem services, such as purifying air and water.
C1 verb /dɪˈstɪl/

distill

Meaning
To purify a liquid by heating and cooling; to extract the essential meaning or most important aspects.
Example
The factory distills water to make it safe for drinking.
C1 noun ˈprɒdʒ.ə.ni

progeny

Meaning
A descendant or the descendants of a person, animal, or plant; offspring.
Example
The philosopher's teachings have influenced many generations of progeny.
B2 noun /ˈhɑːr.mə.ni/

harmony

Meaning
A pleasing combination of different elements or a state of peaceful coexistence.
Example
A society thrives when there is harmony among its people.
B2 noun daɪˈlem.ə

dilemma

Meaning
A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives.
Example
She faced a moral dilemma at work.
B2 adverb /ˈsiː.mɪŋ.li/

seemingly

Meaning
appearing to be true, but not necessarily so
Example
He was seemingly calm despite the chaos around him.
C2 noun /kɒˈkeɪd/

cockade

Meaning
a rosette or knot of ribbon, usually worn on a hat as a badge of office or party
Example
The soldier wore a red cockade on his cap.
C2 noun /ˌær.əˈbesk/

arabesque

Meaning
a complex, ornate design featuring intertwined flowing lines, often used in architecture or ballet poses
Example
The ceiling was decorated with delicate arabesque patterns.
B2 noun /məˈstɑːʃ/

Moustache

Meaning
hair that grows on the upper lip of men
Example
He grew a thick moustache for the play.
C1 noun /ˌdɪstɪˈleɪʃən/

distillation

Meaning
The process of purifying a liquid by heating and cooling; the extraction of the essential meaning.
Example
Distillation is commonly used to produce alcoholic beverages.
B2 noun /ˈswɒl.oʊ/

Swallow

Meaning
a small migratory bird with long wings and a forked tail
Example
The swallow built its nest under the roof.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈseɪʃəbl̩/

insatiable

Meaning
impossible to satisfy; always wanting more
Example
Her insatiable curiosity drove her to read every book in the library.
B2 verb /əˈweɪkən/

awaken

Meaning
to stop sleeping; to cause to become aware
Example
The loud noise awakened the entire neighborhood.
C2 noun /ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪl/

gargoyle

Meaning
A carved stone figure, often of a grotesque creature, on a building, typically used as a spout to carry water away.
Example
The ancient cathedral had gargoyles on every corner.