halfway
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B1 adverb /ˌhæfˈweɪ/

halfway

Meaning
at or to a point equal in distance between two points
Example
We met halfway between the two towns.
B2 adjective /hɑːrʃ/

Harsh

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

Hypocritical

Meaning
behaving in a way that contradicts one's stated beliefs or values
Example
It's hypocritical to preach honesty while lying yourself.
C1 adjective /ˈheɪt.fəl/

Hateful

Meaning
causing or deserving hatred; extremely unpleasant or offensive
Example
His hateful comments hurt everyone's feelings.
B1 noun /ˈhɛdˌlaɪn/

headline

Meaning
The title of a newspaper article printed in large letters.
Example
The scandal made front-page headlines.
C1 noun /ˈhɑː.stɪdʒ/

Hostage

Meaning
a person seized or held as security for the fulfillment of a condition; captive
Example
The police negotiated carefully to secure the release of all hostages unharmed.
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.
C1 noun ˌhaɪ.drəˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl ˈsaɪ.kəl

hydrological cycle

Meaning
The cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land.
Example
The hydrological cycle ensures continuous water movement in nature.
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 /ˈhɔːtɪnəs/

haughtiness

Meaning
The appearance or quality of being arrogantly superior and disdainful.
Example
His haughtiness made him unpopular among his peers.
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 noun /ˈhæz.ərd/

Hazard

Meaning
a danger or risk; something that poses a threat to safety
Example
Smoking is a serious health hazard that can lead to lung cancer and heart disease.
B2 adjective ˈhæzədəs

hazardous

Meaning
Dangerous, risky, or potentially harmful
Example
Hazardous pollutants increase health risks.
C2 noun /ˈhɪl.sə fɪʃ/

Hilsa fish

Meaning
a popular fish species found in South Asian rivers, especially prized in Bengali cuisine
Example
Hilsa fish is considered a delicacy in Bengali culture.
C1 noun (plural) /ˈhɪntərlændz/

hinterlands

Meaning
Plural of hinterland; remote or less developed regions.
Example
Explorers traveled deep into the hinterlands of the country.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪndmoʊst/

hindmost

Meaning
Farthest back; last in position.
Example
The hindmost car in the convoy broke down first.
A1 interjection /hɑː/

ha

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

Heavenly

Meaning
relating to heaven; extremely pleasant or beautiful
Example
The chocolate cake had a heavenly taste that melted in my mouth.
B2 adjective /ˌhaɪ ˈtɛk/

high-tech

Meaning
using or involving advanced technology.
Example
The company produces high-tech medical devices.
A1 noun /hænd/

Hand

Meaning
the end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the palm, fingers, and thumb
Example
He raised his hand to ask a question.
C2 adjective /heɪl/

hale

Meaning
strong and healthy, especially of an elderly person
Example
Despite his age, the man remained hale and active.
C1 adjective /ˈhɪd.i.əs/

Hideous

Meaning
extremely ugly or unpleasant; causing shock or disgust
Example
The monster in the movie had a hideous appearance.
A2 noun /ˈherˌdrɛsər/

hairdresser

Meaning
a person whose job is to cut, style, and treat hair
Example
The hairdresser gave me a stylish haircut before the wedding.
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.
B2 noun /ˈhedʒhɒɡ/

Hedge-hog

Meaning
a small mammal with a spiny coat that can roll into a ball for defense
Example
The hedgehog rolled into a ball when it felt threatened.
C2 noun /hɔːɡ plʌm/

Hog plum

Meaning
tropical fruit with yellow skin and sour taste
Example
Hog plums are often used to make pickles and chutneys.
B1 noun /ˈhaʊswaɪf/

housewife

Meaning
a married woman who manages a household and whose main occupation is caring for her family and home
Example
She chose to work as a housewife while raising her children.
C2 adjective /ˌhæfˈhɑːr.tɪd/

halfhearted

Meaning
lacking enthusiasm or determination; unenthusiastic
Example
His halfhearted attempt to study did not bring good results.
C1 noun /ˈɛər.luːm/

heirloom

Meaning
a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations
Example
The ring is a family heirloom passed down from her grandmother.
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.
A1 noun /hɔːrs/

Horse

Meaning
a large domesticated mammal used for riding and pulling loads
Example
The horse galloped across the field with great speed.
A1 adjective /haɪ/

high

Meaning
At or to a great height; greater than normal in amount, degree, or intensity.
Example
The mountain peak is very high.
A1 noun, numeral /ˈhʌndrəd/

hundred

Meaning
the number 100
Example
There are a hundred students in the hall.
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.
C2 noun /haɪˈdrɒmɪtər/

hydrometer

Meaning
An instrument used to measure the density or specific gravity of liquids.
Example
The brewer used a hydrometer to test the sugar content of the solution.
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.
B2 verb /həˈræs/

harass

Meaning
to persistently annoy or torment someone
Example
The employees complained that their boss harassed them.
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.
A2 noun /ˈheəkʌt/

haircut

Meaning
the act or style of cutting hair
Example
I got a haircut before the wedding.
A1 noun /help/

Help

Meaning
the action of helping someone to do something; assistance or support
Example
The volunteer offered his help to carry the elderly woman's groceries to her car.
C2 adjective /ˈhed.i/

Heady

Meaning
having a strong or exhilarating effect; intoxicating; exciting
Example
The heady perfume of jasmine filled the garden.
C2 adjective /ˌhaɪpərˈbɔːriən/

hyperborean

Meaning
Relating to the extreme north; very cold or frigid.
Example
The explorers prepared for the hyperborean climate of the Arctic.
C2 verb /ˈhʊdwɪŋk/

hoodwink

Meaning
To deceive or trick someone.
Example
The scammer hoodwinked many people with false promises.
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.
A2 noun /hɔːl/

Hall

Meaning
a large room for meetings, concerts, or other events; a corridor in a building
Example
The graduation ceremony was held in the main hall of the university.
B1 noun /ˈhev.ən/

Heaven

Meaning
a place regarded in various religions as the abode of God and the angels; a place of eternal happiness
Example
Many people believe that good souls go to heaven after they pass away from this world.
B2 noun /ˈhaɪəˌrɑːrki/

hierarchy

Meaning
A system in which people or things are arranged in levels of importance or authority.
Example
The corporate hierarchy determines who makes the final decision.
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 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.
C1 noun /ˈhɒl.ə.kɔːst/

holocaust

Meaning
A large-scale destruction, especially by fire; historically, the genocide of Jews during World War II.
Example
Millions of people perished during the Holocaust.
B2 noun /er/

Heir

Meaning
a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death
Example
The young prince was the rightful heir to the throne and would become king someday.
B1 noun /ˈhæm.ər/

Hammer

Meaning
a tool with a heavy metal head for hitting nails or breaking things
Example
She used a hammer to nail the picture frame to the wall.
C1 verb /hɜːrl/

hurl

Meaning
To throw something with great force.
Example
The boy hurled a stone into the river.
B2 noun /ˈhændlɪŋ/

handling

Meaning
the act of managing or dealing with something or someone
Example
His handling of the situation was impressive.
B1 noun /ˈhel.mət/

Helmet

Meaning
a hard or padded protective hat worn by motorcyclists, construction workers, or soldiers
Example
The cyclist always wore a bright yellow helmet for safety and visibility while riding.
B2 noun /ˈhɑːt.biːt/

heartbeat

Meaning
A pulsation of the heart, especially as perceptible to the touch or audible with a stethoscope.
Example
Rubbing the eyes helps normalize the heartbeat.
A2 interjection /hʌ/

huh

Meaning
used to express confusion, surprise, or that you did not hear something
Example
Huh? What did you say?
C1 adverb /ˈhɛdˌlɔŋ/

headlong

Meaning
With the head leading; in a rush or without thinking.
Example
She rushed headlong into the new project.
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.
C1 verb /hjuːˈmɪlieɪt/

humiliate

Meaning
to make someone feel ashamed or foolish by injuring their dignity
Example
He was humiliated by his public failure.
A1 adjective /hɑːrd/

hard

Meaning
solid, firm, or difficult to do or endure
Example
The exam was very hard for most students.
B2 adjective /hɪˈspænɪk/

hispanic

Meaning
relating to Spain or Spanish-speaking countries, especially Latin America.
Example
She studies Hispanic culture and language.
A1 noun /ˈhɒlɪdeɪ/

holiday

Meaning
A day of celebration or rest when most people do not work.
Example
We are planning a trip during the summer holiday.
C1 verb /hoʊn/

hone

Meaning
To sharpen a blade or to improve a skill through practice.
Example
She honed her presentation skills before the big meeting.
B2 noun /haɪˈiː.nə/

Hyena

Meaning
a wild animal of Africa and Asia that looks like a dog and makes a sound like laughter
Example
The hyena laughed in the darkness of the night.
C1 verb /ˈhɪpnətaɪz/

hypnotize

Meaning
to put someone into a state of hypnosis; to influence someone's mind deeply
Example
The magician tried to hypnotize the audience.
A1 verb /hoʊld/

hold

Meaning
to grasp or carry something; to maintain a position
Example
Please hold my hand.
C2 noun /hɪˈdʒɛməni/ or /ˈhɛdʒəmoʊni/

hegemony

Meaning
leadership or dominance, especially by one state or group over others
Example
The empire maintained its hegemony over neighboring states.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːrs.liːt͡ʃ/

Horse-leach

Meaning
a large species of leech that was traditionally used in veterinary medicine
Example
The veterinarian explained that horse-leach was once commonly used to treat horses.
B2 adjective /ˈhɪli/

hilly

Meaning
having many hills; characterized by hills or slopes
Example
The village is located in a beautiful hilly region.
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.
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.
B2 adverb /ˈaʊər.li/

Hourly

Meaning
every hour; happening or done each hour; continuously
Example
The weather report is updated hourly.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈheɪ.zi/

Hazy

Meaning
covered with haze; unclear or vague; lacking clarity
Example
The mountain tops were hazy in the morning mist.
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 phrase ˌhjuː.məˈnɪt.ər.i.kəˈtæs.trə.fi

humanitarian catastrophe

Meaning
A widespread disaster affecting human life, health, and well-being on a large scale.
Example
The war created a humanitarian catastrophe.
C2 noun /ˈhʌmbʌɡ/

humbug

Meaning
Deceptive or false talk or behavior; nonsense.
Example
He dismissed the idea as humbug.
B1 noun /ˈhændˌraɪ.tɪŋ/

handwriting

Meaning
the style or manner of writing by hand.
Example
Her handwriting is very neat and easy to read.
C1 adjective /ˈheɪ.nəs/

Heinous

Meaning
extremely wicked or evil; abominable; morally reprehensible
Example
The heinous crime shocked the entire community.
A2 verb /ˈhɜːri/

hurry

Meaning
to move or act with great speed; to rush
Example
We need to hurry or we'll be late.
C2 adjective /ˈhɔːrtətɔːri/

hortatory

Meaning
Intended to encourage or urge to action.
Example
The manager’s hortatory words inspired the team to work harder.
C1 noun /ˈhɛrətɪk/

heretic

Meaning
a person who holds beliefs that go against established religious teachings or accepted beliefs.
Example
The church declared him a heretic for his radical ideas.
C2 noun /ˌhæŋ.ər ˈɒn/

hanger-on

Meaning
a person who spends time with a powerful or famous person to gain benefits.
Example
The celebrity was always surrounded by hangers-on.
C1 noun /ˈhɔː.kər/

Hawker

Meaning
a person who travels about selling goods, typically from door to door or on the street
Example
The hawker sold fresh fruits from his cart.
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.
C1 adverb /ˌhɛdˈfɜrst/

headfirst

Meaning
With the head leading; in a reckless or hasty manner.
Example
He dived headfirst into the pool.
C1 adjective /ˈhæloʊd/

hallowed

Meaning
regarded as holy or greatly respected
Example
They walked across the hallowed halls of the old university.
C1 noun /ˈhed.weɪ/

Headway

Meaning
forward movement or progress, especially when this is slow or difficult
Example
Despite the challenges, the research team made significant headway in developing the new vaccine.
C2 adjective /ˌhɛtərəʊˈmɔːrfɪk/

heteromorphic

Meaning
Having different forms or shapes, especially in the same species or organism.
Example
Butterflies are heteromorphic during their life cycle, changing forms from larva to adult.
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.
B2 noun /ˈhæb.ɪ.tæt/

habitat

Meaning
The natural environment where an organism lives and meets its needs.
Example
The polar bear's natural habitat is the Arctic region.
C2 noun /ˌhoʊ.mi.oʊˈsteɪ.sɪs/

homeostasis

Meaning
The tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes.
Example
The human body maintains homeostasis through temperature regulation.
A2 noun /hɛn/

Hen

Meaning
female chicken
Example
The hen laid fresh eggs in the nest.
C2 noun /ˌhɜːrpəˈtɒlədʒɪst/

herpetologist

Meaning
A scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians.
Example
The herpetologist discovered a new species of frog in the rainforest.
B2 noun /ˈher ˌpɪn/

Hair pin

Meaning
a thin piece of metal or plastic used to hold hair in place
Example
She used several hair pins to secure her elegant updo.
C2 adverb /hərˈmɛtɪkli/

hermetically

Meaning
In a way that is completely airtight or sealed off.
Example
The jars were hermetically sealed to preserve freshness.
C2 noun /ˈhækəlz/

hackles

Meaning
the hairs on the back of an animal’s neck that rise when it is angry or alarmed; figuratively, feelings of anger or resentment
Example
His rude comment raised my hackles.
A2 adjective /ˈɑːnɪst/

honest

Meaning
free of deceit and untruthfulness; sincere
Example
She is known as an honest and trustworthy person.
A1 noun /ˈaʊər/

hour

Meaning
A period of time equal to 60 minutes.
Example
The meeting lasted for two hours.
A2 verb /haɪd/

hide

Meaning
to put or keep out of sight; to conceal from view
Example
Children like to hide during games.
A2 adjective /hjuːdʒ/

huge

Meaning
extremely large in size or amount
Example
The stadium was filled with a huge crowd.
A1 noun /ˈhoʊmwɜːrk/

homework

Meaning
schoolwork that a student does at home
Example
I need to finish my math homework before dinner.
C2 noun /ˈhɒdʒ.pɒdʒ/

hodgepodge

Meaning
A confusing mixture of different things; a jumble.
Example
The essay was a hodgepodge of unrelated ideas.
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.
B2 noun /ˈhɔːrmoʊn/

hormone

Meaning
a chemical substance produced in the body that influences how the body grows or functions
Example
Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels.
C2 noun /ˈhɛʃ.ən/

Hessian

Meaning
a strong coarse fabric made from jute or hemp, used for sacks and wrapping
Example
The farmer stored grain in hessian sacks.
C2 verb /ˈhɑːrpɪŋ/

harping

Meaning
continuously talking or complaining about something in a tiresome way
Example
She kept harping on about the mistakes I made.
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 noun /ˈhæŋ.ər/

Hanger

Meaning
a shaped piece of wood, plastic, or metal with a hook at the top, used to hang up clothes
Example
She hung her dress on a wooden hanger to prevent it from getting wrinkled.
C1 verb /həˈluːsɪneɪt/

hallucinate

Meaning
to see, hear, or sense things that are not actually present, often due to illness or drugs
Example
After taking the medicine, he began to hallucinate strange shapes.
C1 noun /ˈhɪntərlænd/

hinterland

Meaning
The remote or less developed areas away from the coast or a city.
Example
The farmers came from the rural hinterland to sell their produce in the city.
B2 noun /hʊd/

Hood

Meaning
the expandable neck region of certain snakes like cobras; a covering for the head
Example
The cobra spread its hood when it felt threatened.
C2 adjective /ˈhæriːd/

harried

Meaning
feeling strained or stressed due to being overworked or constantly bothered
Example
The harried teacher struggled to calm the noisy classroom.
C2 verb /ˈhæloʊ/

hallow

Meaning
to honor as holy; to make sacred or greatly respected
Example
The ancient temple was hallowed by centuries of worship.
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.
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.
C2 noun /ˈhɑːtʃ.pɑːtʃ/

Hotchpotch

Meaning
a confused mixture; a jumbled assortment of things
Example
The room was a hotchpotch of old furniture, books, and random decorations.
B2 adjective /ˈheɪsti/

Hasty

Meaning
done or acting with excessive speed or urgency; hurried
Example
Don't make hasty decisions when you're angry.