hackneyed
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C1 adjective /ˈhæk.nid/

hackneyed

Meaning
Used too often and therefore lacking originality or freshness.
Example
The speech was filled with hackneyed phrases that failed to inspire the audience.
B1 noun /ˈhɔːlweɪ/

hallway

Meaning
a corridor in a building that connects rooms
Example
The kids left their shoes in the hallway.
B2 noun ˈhoʊmˌskuː.lɪŋ

homeschooling

Meaning
The practice of educating children at home rather than sending them to a school.
Example
Homeschooling allows parents to tailor education to their child's needs.
B1 adverb /ˌhæfˈweɪ/

halfway

Meaning
at or to a point equal in distance between two points
Example
We met halfway between the two towns.
B1 noun /ˈhɑːrdˌwɛr/

hardware

Meaning
the physical parts of a computer or electronic system, such as the monitor, keyboard, and processor
Example
The company upgraded its computer hardware to improve performance.
C2 adjective /heɪl/

hale

Meaning
strong and healthy, especially of an elderly person
Example
Despite his age, the man remained hale and active.
C1 noun /hɪˈstɪəriə/

hysteria

Meaning
An uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrational behavior.
Example
The crowd was in a state of hysteria during the concert.
B2 noun ˈhæbɪtæt lɒs

Habitat Loss

Meaning
The destruction or disappearance of natural environments where organisms live.
Example
Habitat loss is one of the biggest threats to butterflies.
C1 noun /ˌhaɪ.roʊˈɡlɪf.ɪks/

hieroglyphics

Meaning
a system of writing using pictures or symbols, used especially by ancient Egyptians
Example
The tomb walls were covered with Egyptian hieroglyphics.
C2 noun /ˈhʌk.stər/

huckster

Meaning
A person who sells small items aggressively, often in a showy or dishonest way.
Example
The huckster loudly promoted his goods in the busy marketplace.
A1 interjection /haɪ/

hi

Meaning
a friendly greeting used when meeting someone
Example
Hi, it's nice to meet you!
C1 noun /heɪz/

Haze

Meaning
a slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine suspended particles; confusion
Example
The morning haze lifted gradually as the sun rose higher in the sky.
A2 adverb /ˈhɑːd.li/

Hardly

Meaning
scarcely; barely; almost not at all
Example
I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
C2 adjective /ˌhaɪ ˈfloʊn/

high-flown

Meaning
Using fancy or pretentious language; lofty in style but often overblown.
Example
The politician gave a high-flown speech full of promises.
C2 noun /ˈhɛptɑːrki/

heptarchy

Meaning
A group of seven rulers or governments, especially the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in early England.
Example
The history book described the heptarchy of Anglo-Saxon England.
B2 adjective /hɑːrʃ/

Harsh

Meaning
unpleasantly hard or rough in texture; cruel or severe
Example
The teacher gave harsh criticism about my work.
C1 noun /ˈhaɪdəweɪ/

hideaway

Meaning
A place used as a retreat or a place to hide.
Example
The cabin in the woods was their secret hideaway.
A2 noun ˈhɪs.tər.i

History

Meaning
The study of past events; a chronological record of events and heritage.
Example
The history of ancient civilizations fascinates scholars.
C2 adjective /ˈhiːðənɪʃ/

heathenish

Meaning
Lacking culture or religion; barbaric or uncivilized.
Example
They considered the ancient tribe’s rituals heathenish.
C1 noun /ˈhɛzɪtənsi/

hesitancy

Meaning
The tendency to pause or delay due to uncertainty or fear.
Example
His hesitancy in answering made everyone doubt his confidence.
B2 noun /hʌt/

hut

Meaning
a small simple shelter or house
Example
They lived in a small wooden hut near the river.
A2 adjective /ˈhelp.fəl/

Helpful

Meaning
giving or providing assistance; useful; beneficial
Example
She was very helpful in organizing the event.
B2 noun /həˈræsmənt/

harassment

Meaning
aggressive pressure or intimidation; unwanted and repeated behavior causing discomfort
Example
The company has a strict policy against workplace harassment.
C1 adjective /ˈhæɡ.ərd/

Haggard

Meaning
looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering
Example
After working three nights without sleep, he looked haggard.
B2 verb /ˈhʌvər/

hover

Meaning
to remain in the air in one place without moving forward or backward
Example
The helicopter hovered over the city.
C1 verb /ˈhaɪbərˌneɪt/

hibernate

Meaning
To spend the winter in a dormant state, as some animals do.
Example
Bears hibernate in caves during the winter.
C2 noun /ˈhɑː.mə.li/

Homily

Meaning
a religious discourse delivered as part of a church service; a tedious moralizing lecture
Example
The priest delivered an inspiring homily about compassion and forgiveness during Sunday service.
A1 pronoun /hiː/

he

Meaning
used to refer to a male person or animal already mentioned or easily identified
Example
He is my best friend.
A1 pronoun /hɜːr/

her

Meaning
used to refer to a female person or animal already mentioned or easily identified
Example
I saw her at the park yesterday.
B2 noun/verb /hɜːrd/

herd

Meaning
a large group of animals of the same type that live and feed together; or to gather animals into a group.
Example
The shepherd herded the sheep into the pen.
A1 noun /hoʊˈtɛl/

hotel

Meaning
A building where people pay to stay and sleep, usually for short periods.
Example
We stayed at a hotel near the beach.
A2 verb /hʌnt/

hunt

Meaning
to chase and kill wild animals; to search for something
Example
The tigers hunt their prey at night.
C2 adjective /ˌhæfˈbeɪkt/

half-baked

Meaning
poorly thought out or badly planned
Example
The manager quickly rejected his half-baked proposal.
B1 noun /ˈhaʊshoʊld/

household

Meaning
All the people living together in one house, considered as a unit.
Example
There are five people in our household.
A2 noun /ˈhɑː.bi/

Hobby

Meaning
an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure; a pastime or recreation
Example
Photography became her favorite hobby after she received a camera for her birthday.
C1 noun /ˈhɛrəsi/

heresy

Meaning
belief or opinion that goes against established religious doctrine or accepted beliefs.
Example
In medieval times, heresy was often punished severely.
A1 pronoun /hɪm/

him

Meaning
Used to refer to a male person or animal already mentioned.
Example
I saw him at the park yesterday.
B2 noun /həˈraɪ.zənz/

horizons

Meaning
The limit of a person's mental perception, experience, or interest.
Example
The telescope opens new horizons for astronomy.
C2 noun /ˈhaɪərlɪŋ/

hireling

Meaning
A person who works for payment only, often with little loyalty or principle.
Example
The mercenary was dismissed as just a hireling with no real loyalty.
B2 adjective /ˈhɒs.taɪl/

Hostile

Meaning
unfriendly; aggressive; antagonistic;
Example
The hostile environment made it difficult to work.
B2 noun /heɪl/

Hail

Meaning
pellets of frozen rain that fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds; a greeting or acclaim
Example
The sudden hailstorm damaged many cars in the parking lot with large ice pellets.
C2 noun /ˈhɔɪdən/

hoyden

Meaning
a boisterous or tomboyish girl
Example
The hoyden preferred climbing trees to playing with dolls.
C2 adverb /hərˈmɛtɪkli/

hermetically

Meaning
In a way that is completely airtight or sealed off.
Example
The jars were hermetically sealed to preserve freshness.
A2 adjective /ˈhɛl.θi/

healthy

Meaning
Good physical and mental condition, free from disease or illness.
Example
Regular exercise and a balanced diet keep the body healthy.
C2 verb /həˈmɑː.dʒə.naɪz/

homogenize

Meaning
To make uniform or similar by blending or mixing different elements.
Example
The company tried to homogenize its products across global markets.
C1 adjective ˌhaɪ.pəˈθet.ɪ.kəl

hypothetical

Meaning
Based on or serving as a hypothesis; supposed but not necessarily real or true.
Example
The discussion was based on hypothetical scenarios.
B2 noun hɛdʒ

hedge

Meaning
A way of protecting oneself against financial loss or other adverse circumstances.
Example
Investors use hedging strategies to protect against market volatility.
C2 verb /hjuː/

hew

Meaning
To chop or cut something, especially wood or stone, with a tool.
Example
The workers hewed logs to build the cabin.
C2 noun /ˈhænd ˌrɪŋɪŋ/

hand-wringing

Meaning
excessive worry or concern expressed in a visible or dramatic way.
Example
There was much hand-wringing over the political crisis.
B1 noun /hel/

Hell

Meaning
a place regarded in various religions as a spiritual realm of evil and suffering; an extremely unpleasant experience
Example
Working in the factory during summer was absolute hell due to the extreme heat.
C1 noun ˈhʌz.bən.dri

husbandry

Meaning
The care, cultivation, and breeding of crops and animals; farming and agriculture.
Example
Proper husbandry techniques improve livestock health.
C1 noun /ˈhɑː.mɪ.saɪd/

Homicide

Meaning
the deliberate and unlawful killing of one person by another; murder
Example
The detective was assigned to investigate the homicide that occurred downtown last night.
A2 noun ˈhæpɪnəs

happiness

Meaning
The feeling or state of being happy; a pleasurable or satisfying experience; contentment and joy.
Example
Happiness lies in enjoying the small things in life.
C2 noun, verb /ˈhæmstrɪŋ/

hamstring

Meaning
a tendon at the back of the thigh; as a verb, to cripple or severely restrict the effectiveness of someone or something.
Example
Budget cuts hamstrung the organization’s plans.
C2 adjective /ˈhæm ˌhændɪd/

ham-handed

Meaning
clumsy or inept in handling things or situations
Example
His ham-handed attempt to fix the computer made it worse.
C2 noun /hʊˈzɑːr/

hussar

Meaning
a member of a light cavalry regiment in European armies, especially the Hungarian cavalry
Example
The hussar rode swiftly across the battlefield.
C1 adverb /ˈhɒtli/

hotly

Meaning
in an intense, angry, or passionate way
Example
She hotly denied the accusations.
C1 noun /ˈhɜːrbɪsaɪd/

herbicide

Meaning
A chemical substance used to kill unwanted plants, especially weeds.
Example
Farmers used herbicide to protect their crops from invasive weeds.
A1 noun /hæt/

Hat

Meaning
a covering for the head, typically with a brim and worn outdoors
Example
He always wears a hat when working in the garden.
C1 noun /ˈhæŋ.ər/

Hangar

Meaning
a large building with extensive floor area, typically for housing aircraft; an aircraft shelter
Example
The airplane was stored safely in the hangar during the severe thunderstorm.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊməˈkænɪks/

hydromechanics

Meaning
The study of the mechanical properties and behavior of fluids in motion and at rest.
Example
Hydromechanics provides the foundation for naval architecture.
B1 adjective /ˈhɪd.ən/

Hidden

Meaning
concealed from view; kept secret; not visible or apparent
Example
There was a hidden camera in the room.
C1 adverb /ˌhɛdˈfɜrst/

headfirst

Meaning
With the head leading; in a reckless or hasty manner.
Example
He dived headfirst into the pool.
B2 verb /hæk/

hack

Meaning
to cut or chop roughly; to gain unauthorized access to a computer system
Example
The programmer managed to hack into the system.
B1 adjective /ˈhoʊpləs/

Hopeless

Meaning
feeling or causing despair about something; without hope; desperate
Example
The situation seemed hopeless until help arrived.
B2 adjective /ˈhɑːrti/

Hearty

Meaning
enthusiastic and friendly; substantial and nourishing
Example
He gave us a hearty welcome when we arrived at his home.
C1 verb /ˈheɪsən/

hasten

Meaning
To move or act quickly; to cause something to happen sooner.
Example
He hastened to finish his work before the deadline.
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.
B2 verb /hætʃ/

hatch

Meaning
to emerge from an egg; to devise or create a plan
Example
The bird will hatch from its egg soon.
B1 noun /ˈhændˌraɪ.tɪŋ/

handwriting

Meaning
the style or manner of writing by hand.
Example
Her handwriting is very neat and easy to read.
C2 noun /ˈhoʊʒəri/

hosiery

Meaning
Stockings, socks, and other knitted clothing for the legs and feet.
Example
She bought new hosiery for the winter season.
C1 verb /ˈhʌsəl/

hustle

Meaning
to move quickly and energetically; to push or work hard to achieve something
Example
She had to hustle to finish the project on time.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊˈfoʊbiə/

hydrophobia

Meaning
Extreme or irrational fear of water; historically, another name for rabies.
Example
After being bitten by a stray dog, the man was treated for hydrophobia.
C1 noun/verb /ˈhɛrəld/

herald

Meaning
A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of something; to announce or signal.
Example
The blooming flowers herald the arrival of spring.
C1 adjective /ˈhæpləs/

hapless

Meaning
unfortunate, unlucky, deserving pity
Example
The hapless traveler lost his passport on the very first day.
C1 noun ˌhaɪ.pɚˈten.ʃən

hypertension

Meaning
Abnormally high blood pressure.
Example
High sodium intake leads to hypertension.
B1 noun /hjuːˈmænɪti/

humanity

Meaning
the quality of being human; kindness or compassion towards others; all human beings collectively
Example
Kindness is one of the greatest expressions of humanity.
C2 adjective /həˈrɛtɪkəl/

heretical

Meaning
Relating to or characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards, especially in religion.
Example
The priest condemned the book as heretical.
C1 noun /ˈheəˌkʌtər/

haircutter

Meaning
a person whose job is to cut and style hair; barber or hairdresser
Example
The haircutter gave me a neat and stylish haircut.
B2 adjective /ˈhoʊm.sɪk/

Homesick

Meaning
experiencing a longing for one's home during a period of absence from it; missing home
Example
After three months studying abroad, Maria felt increasingly homesick for her family.
B2 noun /ˈhɔːr.ər/

Horror

Meaning
an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust; something that causes such feelings
Example
The survivors described the horror of the earthquake that destroyed their entire village.
C1 noun /ˈherən/

Heron

Meaning
large wading bird with long legs and neck that feeds on fish
Example
The heron stood motionless by the water's edge, waiting for fish.
C1 noun /ˈhaɪ.nəs/

Highness

Meaning
a title given to a person of royal rank; the quality or state of being high or elevated
Example
Your Highness, the royal carriage is ready to take you to the state banquet this evening.
C1 adjective /hjuːˈmeɪn/

humane

Meaning
Showing compassion or benevolence.
Example
The doctor provided humane treatment to the injured animals.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪˌbraʊ/

highbrow

Meaning
intellectually superior or cultured; often describing art, literature, or activities appealing to intellectual tastes
Example
The museum is known for its highbrow exhibitions.
C2 adjective /ˌhæɡ.i.əˈɡræf.ɪk/

hagiographic

Meaning
Excessively flattering or idealized, often in a biography or portrayal of someone.
Example
The documentary was criticized for its hagiographic portrayal of the leader.
C1 adjective /ˈhɔː.ti/

Haughty

Meaning
arrogantly superior and disdainful; showing excessive pride
Example
She gave him a haughty look and walked away.
C1 noun /hɪpˈnoʊsɪs/

hypnosis

Meaning
A trance-like state of consciousness usually induced by suggestion.
Example
She underwent hypnosis to overcome her fear of flying.
A1 interjection /həˈloʊ/

hello

Meaning
a greeting or expression used when meeting someone or starting a conversation
Example
She answered the phone with a cheerful hello.
B2 noun /ˈɑːnər/

honor

Meaning
high respect; great esteem
Example
He received an award in honor of his achievements.
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.
B2 noun /ˌhez.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/

Hesitation

Meaning
the action of pausing or delaying; uncertainty or unwillingness to act
Example
After a moment of hesitation, she decided to accept the challenging job offer from the company.
C1 noun /hɪm/

hymn

Meaning
A religious song or poem of praise to God or a deity.
Example
The congregation sang a hymn during the morning service.
C2 noun /ˈhæŋ.kər/

Hanker

Meaning
a feeling of yearning or craving; a strong desire for something
Example
After years abroad, she developed a deep hanker for her homeland's traditional cuisine.
C1 verb /hɔːrd/

hoard

Meaning
to accumulate and hide away a large supply of something, often secretly
Example
During the crisis, many people began to hoard food and water.
A2 noun /hɛlθ/

health

Meaning
The state of being free from illness or injury.
Example
Exercise is important for good health.
B2 adjective haɪˈdʒiː.nɪk

hygienic

Meaning
Conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially by being clean.
Example
Maintaining hygienic conditions in hospitals is crucial.
C2 noun /ˈhen.ə/

Henna

Meaning
a reddish-brown dye made from the powdered leaves of a tropical shrub, used to color hair and decorate skin
Example
The bride's hands were beautifully decorated with intricate henna patterns for her wedding ceremony.
C1 verb /ˈhæmpər/

hamper

Meaning
to hinder or impede the movement or progress of
Example
The heavy rain hampered our travel plans.
B2 noun /həˈraɪ.zən/

horizon

Meaning
the line where the earth seems to meet the sky; the limit of one's knowledge, experience, or interest
Example
The sun disappeared below the horizon.
A1 noun, numeral /ˈhʌndrəd/

hundred

Meaning
the number 100
Example
There are a hundred students in the hall.
B2 adjective /ˈhʌm.bəl/

Humble

Meaning
modest; not proud; unassuming;
Example
Despite his success, he remained humble and kind.
A1 interjection /hɑː/

ha

Meaning
used to express amusement, surprise, or triumph
Example
Ha! I knew you couldn’t resist joining us.
A2 verb /hæŋ/

hang

Meaning
to suspend or be suspended from above; to attach from a higher point
Example
I hang my coat on the hook.
C2 adjective /ˌhɑːrdˈbɪtn̩/

hard-bitten

Meaning
tough and experienced, not easily affected by emotions or hardship
Example
The hard-bitten detective showed no sign of surprise at the crime scene.
B2 adjective ˈhæzədəs

hazardous

Meaning
Dangerous, risky, or potentially harmful
Example
Hazardous pollutants increase health risks.
C1 adjective /həˈbɪtʃuəl/

habitual

Meaning
Done or doing constantly or as a habit; customary.
Example
He was a habitual latecomer to class.
A1 noun /haʊs/

house

Meaning
A building for people to live in, usually with rooms and a roof.
Example
They bought a new house in the city.
C2 noun /ˈhɑːdɪhʊd/

hardihood

Meaning
Courage, boldness, or daring behavior; also physical robustness.
Example
The mountaineer's hardihood impressed the entire team.
C1 adverb/noun /ˌhɪərˈæftər/

hereafter

Meaning
from now on; in the future; also refers to life after death.
Example
Hereafter, all reports must be submitted electronically.
A2 pronoun /hɪmˈself/

himself

Meaning
Used to emphasize that a male person does something by his own effort.
Example
He fixed the car himself.
C2 noun /ˈhaʊsˌbreɪkɪŋ/

housebreaking

Meaning
the crime of breaking into a house with intent to steal
Example
The thief was arrested for housebreaking.
C2 noun /ˈhɛklər/

heckler

Meaning
A person who interrupts a speaker with rude or aggressive comments.
Example
The politician remained calm despite the heckler shouting from the crowd.
B2 noun /hɔːk/

Hawk

Meaning
a bird of prey with broad wings and strong talons used for hunting
Example
The hawk soared high above the field hunting for prey.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːzər/

hawser

Meaning
A thick rope or cable used in mooring or towing a ship.
Example
The sailors secured the ship to the dock with a heavy hawser.
C1 noun /ˈhʌbʌb/

hubbub

Meaning
a loud noise caused by a crowd of people talking or shouting
Example
There was a hubbub in the market as the sale began.
C1 verb ˈhɪndər

hinder

Meaning
To obstruct or delay the progress of something
Example
Excessive rain hinders vegetable growth.
C1 verb /ˈhæɡəl/

haggle

Meaning
to argue about the price; to bargain persistently
Example
They haggled over the price for an hour.
C2 noun /ˈhɛdʒɪrə/ or /hɪˈdʒaɪrə/

hegira

Meaning
a journey, especially when undertaken to escape from a dangerous or undesirable situation
Example
The refugees began their hegira across the desert.
C1 adverb /ˈhʌŋ.ɡrə.li/

Hungrily

Meaning
in a way that shows hunger; greedily; eagerly
Example
The dog ate hungrily after not eating for hours.
B2 adjective /ˈhoʊmli/

Homely

Meaning
simple and comfortable; unpretentious; plain in appearance; cozy and familiar
Example
She enjoyed the homely atmosphere of the small café.