halfhearted
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 adjective /ˌhæfˈhɑːr.tɪd/

halfhearted

Meaning
lacking enthusiasm or determination; unenthusiastic
Example
His halfhearted attempt to study did not bring good results.
C2 adjective /sɪˈdɪʃəs/

seditious

Meaning
Encouraging rebellion against authority.
Example
The activist spread seditious pamphlets among the crowd.
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 /lɔːŋ ˈpepər/

Long pepper

Meaning
a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit which is used as a spice
Example
Long pepper was more valuable than black pepper in ancient times.
C1 noun ɪˌræd.ɪˈkeɪ.ʃən

eradication

Meaning
The complete destruction or elimination of something unwanted.
Example
Carbon eradication is a key goal of the project.
C1 noun /ˈoʊvərˌtʊr/

overture

Meaning
An introduction to something more substantial; a proposal or preliminary action.
Example
The peace overture was welcomed by both nations.
C1 noun /ˈliːniənsi/

leniency

Meaning
The quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected.
Example
The judge showed leniency in his ruling.
B2 noun /ˌsoʊsiˈɑːlədʒi/

sociology

Meaning
the study of society, human relationships, and social institutions
Example
She is studying sociology at university.
C2 noun /ˈplɛdʒiː/

pledgee

Meaning
a person to whom something is pledged or given as security
Example
The bank is the pledgee of the collateral until the loan is repaid.
C1 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/

indistinct

Meaning
Not clear or sharply defined; vague or blurred.
Example
The sound of voices was indistinct in the distance.
C2 noun /ˈhjuːməs/

humus

Meaning
The dark, organic material in soil formed from decayed plants and animals.
Example
The gardener enriched the soil with humus to improve plant growth.
C1 noun /ˌdʒerənˈtɑːlədʒi/

gerontology

Meaning
The scientific study of old age and the process of aging.
Example
She chose to specialize in gerontology after completing medical school.
C1 noun /kɑːrˈtɒɡrəfər/

cartographer

Meaning
A person who makes maps.
Example
The cartographer carefully drew the map of the new territory.
C2 adjective /ˈsteɪ.dʒi/

stagy

Meaning
Overly theatrical, artificial, or exaggerated in manner or style.
Example
Her performance felt stagy and unnatural.
C2 noun /ˈpɒntɪf/

pontiff

Meaning
the pope or a high-ranking bishop in the Christian church
Example
The pontiff addressed the nation in a televised speech.
C1 adjective /oʊˈbiːs/

obese

Meaning
Extremely overweight; having an excessive amount of body fat.
Example
The doctor advised the obese patient to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
C2 adjective /ˈbeɪlfəl/

baleful

Meaning
Threatening harm; menacing or expressing hatred.
Example
She gave him a baleful look after the insult.
C2 adjective /ˈfɔːnɪŋ/

fawning

Meaning
displaying exaggerated flattery or affection
Example
Her fawning compliments made everyone uncomfortable.
C1 noun /tɪf/

tiff

Meaning
a small or petty quarrel or argument
Example
They had a little tiff over what movie to watch.
B2 noun /ˈluː.nər ɪˈklɪps/

Lunar eclipse

Meaning
an eclipse in which the moon appears darkened as it passes into the earth's shadow
Example
We watched the lunar eclipse from our backyard.
B2 noun /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊərɪti/

insecurity

Meaning
lack of confidence or assurance; a state of uncertainty or vulnerability
Example
Her insecurity made her doubt her abilities despite her experience.
B2 adverb /ˈprez.ənt.li/

Presently

Meaning
at the present time; soon; in a little while
Example
The doctor will see you presently.
C1 adjective /ˌmaɪ.krəˈskɑː.pɪk/

microscopic

Meaning
Extremely small and only visible with a microscope.
Example
The sample contained microscopic particles.
C2 adjective /əˈkɪliən/

achillean

Meaning
like or characteristic of Achilles; strong but vulnerable
Example
His achillean pride made him blind to danger.
B1 noun/verb /ˈmætərz/

matters

Meaning
important topics, concerns, or issues; as a verb, to be of importance or significance
Example
What she thinks really matters to me.
C2 adjective /ˈhʌmdrʌm/

humdrum

Meaning
Lacking excitement or variety; dull and monotonous.
Example
She grew tired of the humdrum routine of office life.
B2 adjective /prəˈspɛktɪv/

prospective

Meaning
likely or expected to happen in the future; potential
Example
The company is meeting with prospective clients next week.
A2 adjective /waɪz/

wise

Meaning
having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment
Example
It was wise of him to save money for the future.
B1 verb /əˈfɛkt/

affect

Meaning
to influence or make a difference to something
Example
The weather can greatly affect our mood.
C2 noun /ˌpɜː.spɪˈkæs.ɪ.ti/

perspicacity

Meaning
Sharp insight, keen understanding and discernment.
Example
Her perspicacity in business decisions led to success.
C2 noun /ˈɒbsɪkwi/

obsequy

Meaning
A funeral rite, usually used in plural form obsequies.
Example
The village gathered for the obsequy of their beloved teacher.
C1 noun /ˈmæroʊ/

Marrow

Meaning
A soft fatty substance in the cavities of bones; the essence of something
Example
The bone marrow produces blood cells in the human body.
B2 adverb /ˈbrɔːdli/

broadly

Meaning
in a general or wide manner.
Example
The rules are broadly similar across all regions.
B2 noun /ˈrem.ə.di/

Remedy

Meaning
a medicine or treatment for a disease; a solution to a problem
Example
This herbal remedy helps with headaches.
A1 adverb /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

also

Meaning
in addition; too
Example
She sings beautifully and also plays the guitar.
C2 noun /dɜːrdʒ/

dirge

Meaning
A mournful song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief, often for the dead.
Example
The choir sang a solemn dirge at the funeral.
C1 adjective /ˈpɒs.tʃə.məs/

Posthumous

Meaning
occurring or continuing after death; published after the author's death
Example
The author received a posthumous award for his last novel.
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.
A1 adverb /bɪˈhaɪnd/

Behind

Meaning
at the back of; following; lagging
Example
The car behind us was honking.
B1 noun /ˈbeɡər/

Beggar

Meaning
a person who lives by asking for money or food
Example
The beggar sat by the temple asking for alms.
B2 adjective ˌpaɪəˈnɪə.rɪŋ

pioneering

Meaning
Involving new ideas or methods; innovative and original.
Example
Pioneering efforts often lead to success.
B2 noun /ˈaʊt.saɪ.dər/

Out-sider

Meaning
a person who does not belong to a particular group; someone not accepted by a group
Example
As an outsider, he found it difficult to understand their traditions.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪtəm/ or /ˈdætəm/

datum

Meaning
a single piece of information; a fact used as a basis for reasoning or calculation
Example
Each datum in the survey was carefully analyzed.
A1 noun /breɪk/

break

Meaning
A pause in work or during an activity or event.
Example
Short breaks refresh your mind.
C1 noun /ænˈtæɡənɪzəm/

antagonism

Meaning
active hostility or opposition
Example
There was clear antagonism between the two political parties.
C1 noun /haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/

hypothesis

Meaning
a proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
Example
The scientist tested her hypothesis through multiple experiments.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈspiːʃəs/

specious

Meaning
Superficially plausible but actually false; misleading in appearance.
Example
The politician’s argument was specious, sounding convincing but lacking real evidence.
A2 verb /fərˈɡɪv/

forgive

Meaning
to stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone; to pardon
Example
She decided to forgive him for his mistakes.
C1 noun /ˈhɪr.seɪ/

Hearsay

Meaning
information received from other people that one cannot adequately substantiate; rumor
Example
The accusations were based on hearsay rather than concrete evidence or eyewitness testimony.
C1 verb /ˈtrɛspəs/

trespass

Meaning
to enter someone's land or property without permission
Example
He was fined for trespassing on private land.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈkɒŋɡruəs/

incongruous

Meaning
Not fitting in with or suitable for the surroundings.
Example
His jokes were incongruous during the serious meeting.
B2 noun /ˈæŋkər/

Anchor

Meaning
a heavy object used to moor a vessel to the sea bottom; a person or thing that provides stability or confidence
Example
The ship dropped its anchor in the harbor.
B1 adjective /ˌwel bɪˈheɪvd/

Well-behaved

Meaning
conducting oneself in a proper and polite manner; showing good manners
Example
The children were well-behaved during the ceremony.
C2 noun /ˈmeɪdənˌhʊd/

maidenhood

Meaning
The state of being a maiden; girlhood or virginity.
Example
The poem celebrated the innocence of maidenhood.
A2 noun /trʌk/

truck

Meaning
a large motor vehicle for transporting goods
Example
The truck was loaded with boxes for the warehouse.
C1 noun /ˈfɒdər/

fodder

Meaning
food for livestock such as cattle, horses, or sheep; also something considered of little value but used to supply a demand
Example
The farmer stored enough fodder for the cattle to last through winter.
B1 noun ˈmɪlɪteri

military

Meaning
The armed forces of a country.
Example
The military was called for assistance.
C1 noun /ˈfɔː.nə/

fauna

Meaning
The animal life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.
Example
The fauna of the African savannah includes lions and elephants.
C1 noun /ˈkʌl.ən.dər/

Colander

Meaning
a bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes in it used for draining food such as pasta or rice
Example
She drained the pasta using a colander.
C1 adjective /ɒˈstɛnsəbl/

ostensible

Meaning
stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so
Example
His ostensible reason for leaving was illness, but many doubted it.
B1 adjective; verb (past and past participle of prepare) /prɪˈpɛrd/

prepared

Meaning
made ready in advance; having made plans or taken steps beforehand
Example
She was fully prepared for the final exam.
C2 adjective /ˈfæsaɪl/

Facile

Meaning
easily achieved; superficial; lacking depth
Example
His facile explanation didn't address the real problem.
C1 adjective /səˈtɪrɪkəl/

satirical

Meaning
containing or using satire to criticize or mock
Example
The satirical cartoon mocked the government's new policy.
B2 noun /dɪˌskrɪm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Discrimination

Meaning
the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people; recognition of difference
Example
The company was sued for racial discrimination in their hiring practices.
B2 verb /ədˈmɪnɪstər/

administer

Meaning
to manage or control the running of; to give or apply medicine or treatment
Example
The nurse will administer the vaccine to all patients.
A1 noun /ˈvɛdʒ.tə.bəl/

vegetable

Meaning
a plant or part of a plant used as food
Example
I eat vegetables every day for health.
B2 noun /ˈkaʊ.ərd/

Coward

Meaning
a person who lacks the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things
Example
He called himself a coward for not standing up to the bully.
C1 verb /dɪˈpɔːrt/

deport

Meaning
To expel a foreigner from a country, usually for legal or political reasons.
Example
The government decided to deport the illegal immigrants.
B1 adjective /ˈtʃaɪl.dɪʃ/

Childish

Meaning
immature and silly; behaving in a way that is typical of a child but inappropriate for an adult
Example
His childish behavior during the meeting was quite embarrassing.
C1 noun ˌrɛk.əˈlɛk.ʃən

Recollection

Meaning
Remembering past events or information
Example
His recollection of childhood memories was vivid.
A1 preposition /ˈdjʊərɪŋ/

during

Meaning
throughout the course of a period of time
Example
I fell asleep during the movie.
B1 verb /ʌnˈpæk/

unpack

Meaning
to remove items from a container; to explain or analyze something in detail
Example
After arriving home, she began to unpack her suitcase.
C1 verb /lʊər/

lure

Meaning
to attract or tempt someone, often by offering something appealing
Example
The advertisement lured customers with promises of discounts.
C2 noun /fluːk/

fluke

Meaning
A stroke of luck; an unexpected piece of good fortune.
Example
Winning the lottery was a complete fluke.
B1 verb /ˈɪndɪkeɪt/

indicate

Meaning
to point out; to show or suggest; to be a sign of
Example
The red light indicates that you should stop.
B2 noun /ˈɛθɪks/

ethics

Meaning
moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conduct of an activity
Example
Business ethics require companies to act fairly and responsibly.
C2 adjective /bɪˈsɒtɪd/

besotted

Meaning
strongly infatuated or obsessed with someone or something
Example
He was completely besotted with her charm.
C2 noun /ˈtɪl.ər/

Tiller

Meaning
a person who tills or cultivates land; a farmer
Example
The tiller worked hard in the fields every morning.
B1 adjective /ˈɪnəsənt/

Innocent

Meaning
free from guilt or sin; pure; harmless; naive
Example
The innocent child had no idea that her parents were planning a surprise party.
A2 verb /prɪˈfɜːr/

prefer

Meaning
to like better; to choose as more desirable
Example
I prefer tea over coffee in the morning.
B2 noun /əˌbriːviˈeɪʃən/

abbreviation

Meaning
a shortened form of a word or phrase
Example
NASA is an abbreviation for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
B1 verb /dæm/

damn

Meaning
to condemn or criticize strongly; used as an expletive to express anger or emphasis
Example
He damned the unfair system in his speech.
A2 adjective /ˈhelp.fəl/

Helpful

Meaning
giving or providing assistance; useful; beneficial
Example
She was very helpful in organizing the event.
B1 preposition/adverb /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

according

Meaning
As stated by or in agreement with.
Example
According to the report, sales increased last quarter.
B1 noun rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪlɪti

responsibility

Meaning
The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.
Example
Taking responsibility for one's actions is a sign of maturity.
A1 pronoun /hɪz/

his

Meaning
belonging to or associated with a male person previously mentioned
Example
This is his book on the table.
C1 adjective /ˈpruː.dənt/

Prudent

Meaning
wise; careful; cautious;
Example
It's prudent to save money for the future.
C1 adjective ˌmɒn.jʊˈmɛn.təl

monumental

Meaning
Great in importance, extent, or size; exceptionally great; forming or serving as a monument.
Example
The discovery of electricity was a monumental achievement.
C1 adjective /ˈɔːrəl/

aural

Meaning
Relating to the ear or the sense of hearing.
Example
The lecture was an aural experience as well as an intellectual one.
C1 noun esˈθet.ɪks

aesthetics

Meaning
A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in art and design.
Example
Interior design focuses on aesthetics and functionality.
A2 noun /ɡlʌv/

glove

Meaning
A covering for the hand with separate parts for the fingers and thumb.
Example
She wore gloves to protect her hands from the cold.
C1 noun /bɒmˈbɑːrdmənt/

bombardment

Meaning
a continuous attack with bombs or other projectiles
Example
The city endured a heavy bombardment during the war.
C1 noun /brɛdθ/

breadth

Meaning
The distance or measurement from side to side; width; a wide range.
Example
The breadth of his knowledge impressed everyone.
C1 adverb /əˈlɜːrtli/

alertly

Meaning
in a watchful, attentive, and quick-to-notice manner
Example
She listened alertly to every sound in the dark forest.
C2 verb /ˈsnʌfəl/

snuffle

Meaning
to breathe noisily through the nose, often because of crying or a cold
Example
The child began to snuffle after crying for a long time.
C1 adjective /ˈpʌlməˌneri/

pulmonary

Meaning
relating to the lungs
Example
The patient suffered from a serious pulmonary infection.
B1 verb /pɔːr/

pour

Meaning
to flow or cause to flow in a steady stream; to rain heavily
Example
Please pour the water into the glass carefully.
B2 verb /dɪˈtɜːr/

deter

Meaning
to discourage someone from doing something by instilling doubt or fear
Example
High fines are meant to deter people from breaking the law.
B2 noun /skɑːr/

Scar

Meaning
a mark left on the skin after a wound has healed; lasting emotional damage
Example
The accident left a permanent scar on his forehead.
B2 verb /spreɪ/

spray

Meaning
to apply liquid to something in a fine mist
Example
She sprayed perfume on her wrist before leaving.
A2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈɡriː/

disagree

Meaning
to have a different opinion; to not agree
Example
I disagree with your assessment of the situation.
B1 noun /ˈkændɪdeɪt/

candidate

Meaning
A person who applies for a job or is nominated for election.
Example
The candidate gave a strong speech during the debate.
A2 noun /ˈen.ə.mi/

Enemy

Meaning
a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
Example
In the story, the hero had to face his greatest enemy.
B2 adjective /ɪˈrɪˌspɑn.sə.bəl/

Irresponsible

Meaning
lacking a sense of responsibility; careless
Example
It was irresponsible of him to leave without telling anyone.
C2 verb /bruːt/

bruit

Meaning
to spread a rumor or report widely
Example
The scandal was quickly bruited about the town.
C1 noun /ˌrɛfəˈrɛndəm/

referendum

Meaning
a general vote by the population on a single political issue
Example
The government held a referendum on the new constitution.
C1 /ʃrɛd/

shred

Meaning
to tear or cut something into small pieces
Example
She shredded the old documents before throwing them away.
C2 noun /ˈtjuːtɪlɪdʒ/

tutelage

Meaning
The act of guarding, protecting, or guiding; instruction or teaching.
Example
She studied painting under the tutelage of a famous artist.
B2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbəl/

Irresistible

Meaning
too attractive and tempting to be resisted; impossible to resist
Example
The chocolate cake was absolutely irresistible.
B1 verb /bʌmp/

bump

Meaning
To hit something or someone by accident; to knock against something.
Example
He accidentally bumped into the door.
A2 noun ˈtem.pər.ə.tʃər

temperature

Meaning
The degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object.
Example
Rising temperatures affect agricultural output.
B2 adjective /ˈθɜːrməl/

thermal

Meaning
Related to heat or temperature.
Example
She wore a thermal jacket to stay warm in winter.
C2 noun /əˈmʊr/

amour

Meaning
A secret or illicit love affair.
Example
The novel tells the story of a forbidden amour between two characters.
A1 verb /set/

set

Meaning
to put or place something in a position; to establish
Example
She set the book on the table.
C2 noun /ˈpɛtjʊləns/

petulance

Meaning
The quality of being childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
Example
His petulance during the meeting annoyed everyone.
B2 noun /ˈbʌn.dəl/

Bundle

Meaning
a collection of things or quantity of material tied or wrapped up together
Example
The mailman delivered a bundle of letters to our house.
C1 adjective /ˌsuːɪˈsaɪdəl/

Suicidal

Meaning
relating to or having thoughts of killing oneself; extremely dangerous or harmful
Example
The reckless driving was suicidal behavior.
B2 adjective /ˌkɒm.plɪˈmen.tər.i/

Complimentary

Meaning
expressing praise or admiration; given or supplied free of charge as a courtesy
Example
The hotel offers complimentary breakfast for all guests.
B2 adjective /sɪˈlek.tɪv/

Selective

Meaning
relating to or involving careful selection; choosy about what to accept
Example
The university has a selective admission process for new students.
B2 adjective /ˈfæktʃuəl/

Factual

Meaning
based on facts; accurate; true
Example
The report contains only factual information.