heterodox
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C2 adjective /ˈhɛtərəˌdɒks/

heterodox

Meaning
not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs
Example
The professor was known for his heterodox views on religion.
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 adjective /ˈhɔːri/

hoary

Meaning
gray or white with age; very old and respected
Example
The hoary oak tree stood as a witness to centuries of history.
B2 adjective /ˈhændi/

handy

Meaning
convenient to use or easily accessible; skillful with the hands
Example
This pocket knife is very handy when you go camping.
C1 noun /hɑːrp/

Harp

Meaning
a large triangular musical instrument with strings that are plucked
Example
The angel played a beautiful melody on the harp.
B1 noun/verb /ˈhʌntɪŋ/

hunting

Meaning
the activity of chasing and killing wild animals
Example
Hunting is strictly regulated in many countries.
C2 noun /oʊˈtɜːr/

hauteur

Meaning
disdainful pride; arrogance
Example
His hauteur made it difficult for others to approach him.
B2 noun, adjective /hjuːˌmænɪˈtɛəriən/

humanitarian

Meaning
A person who seeks to promote human welfare, or something relating to human welfare and compassion.
Example
The organization provides humanitarian aid to disaster victims.
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.
B1 adjective /ˈhæn.səm/

handsome

Meaning
attractive in appearance, usually referring to men; also can mean generous or impressive in size.
Example
He looked very handsome in his new suit.
A2 verb /hɑːrm/

harm

Meaning
to cause damage, injury, or hurt to someone or something
Example
Smoking can harm your health.
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 /hɪˈroʊɪk/

heroic

Meaning
showing great bravery or courage; relating to a hero or heroes
Example
The firefighter made a heroic effort to save the child.
C1 adjective /hjuːˈmeɪn/

humane

Meaning
Showing compassion or benevolence.
Example
The doctor provided humane treatment to the injured animals.
B1 noun /ˈhɔːlweɪ/

hallway

Meaning
a corridor in a building that connects rooms
Example
The kids left their shoes in the hallway.
A2 noun /ˈhæn.dəl/

Handle

Meaning
the part by which a thing is held, carried, or controlled; to manage or deal with something
Example
The suitcase has a sturdy handle that makes it easy to carry through the airport.
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 /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 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.
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.
C1 adjective /həˈred.ɪ.ter.i/

Hereditary

Meaning
passed down through family genes; inherited from ancestors
Example
The hereditary disease was passed down through generations.
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 adjective /ˈhɪd.i.əs/

Hideous

Meaning
extremely ugly or unpleasant; causing shock or disgust
Example
The monster in the movie had a hideous appearance.
C1 adjective /hɜːrˈbɪv.ər.əs/

Herbivorous

Meaning
feeding on plants; plant-eating
Example
Cows are herbivorous animals that graze on grass.
C1 adjective /ˈhɛlθfəl/

healthful

Meaning
Promoting good health; beneficial to health.
Example
A healthful diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables.
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.
C2 adjective /ˌhaɪpərˈkrɪtɪkl/

hypercritical

Meaning
Excessively or unreasonably critical.
Example
The teacher was often hypercritical of small mistakes.
A1 noun, adjective /hæf/

half

Meaning
one of two equal parts of something
Example
He ate half of the cake.
B2 adjective /ˈhʌm.bəl/

Humble

Meaning
modest; not proud; unassuming;
Example
Despite his success, he remained humble and kind.
C1 noun /ˈhiːdəˌnɪzəm/

hedonism

Meaning
The pursuit of pleasure and self-indulgence as the highest goal.
Example
The lifestyle of the rich is often criticized as pure hedonism.
C1 adjective /ˈhæpləs/

hapless

Meaning
unfortunate, unlucky, deserving pity
Example
The hapless traveler lost his passport on the very first day.
A2 noun /ˈhɒki/

hockey

Meaning
a sport played with sticks and a ball or puck on ice or a field
Example
He plays hockey for the national team.
A2 adverb /ˈhæpɪli/

happily

Meaning
in a happy manner; with pleasure or satisfaction
Example
The children played happily in the garden.
C1 verb /ˈhæɡəl/

haggle

Meaning
to argue about the price; to bargain persistently
Example
They haggled over the price for an hour.
C2 verb /haɪ/

hie

Meaning
to go quickly; hasten
Example
He hied to the station to catch the train.
C1 adjective /ˈhiːdləs/

heedless

Meaning
showing a reckless lack of care or attention
Example
He drove with heedless disregard for the rules.
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 noun /hoʊks/

Hoax

Meaning
a humorous or malicious deception; something intended to trick or deceive people
Example
The news about aliens landing turned out to be an elaborate hoax created by pranksters.
B2 adjective /hoʊˈlɪs.tɪk/

holistic

Meaning
Understanding or analyzing something through a comprehensive, integrated whole perspective.
Example
A holistic approach to health considers both body and mind.
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 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.
C1 adjective /ˈheɪt.fəl/

Hateful

Meaning
causing or deserving hatred; extremely unpleasant or offensive
Example
His hateful comments hurt everyone's feelings.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/

hawthorn

Meaning
A thorny shrub or small tree with white or pink flowers, often used for hedges.
Example
The garden was lined with blooming hawthorn bushes.
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.
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.
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.
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 /hɪpˈnɒtɪk/

hypnotic

Meaning
Producing sleep or a trance-like state; mesmerizing.
Example
The music had a hypnotic effect on the audience.
B1 verb /hʊk/

hook

Meaning
to catch with a hook; to fasten
Example
He hooked the fish successfully.
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 noun ˈhɪn.drəns

hindrance

Meaning
Something that creates difficulties or delays in progress.
Example
Lack of funds was a major hindrance to the project.
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 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.
B2 adjective /ˈhɜː.bəl/

herbal

Meaning
Made from or containing herbs, especially for medicinal purposes.
Example
Herbal remedies were widely used here.
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 /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 adverb /ˈhɛdˌlɔŋ/

headlong

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

heathenish

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

hallmark

Meaning
a typical characteristic or feature of someone or something
Example
Honesty is the hallmark of a good leader.
C2 noun /hɜːrs/

Hearse

Meaning
a vehicle for conveying the coffin at a funeral; a funeral car
Example
The black hearse slowly made its way to the cemetery, followed by a procession of mourners.
C1 verb /ˈhɔːrɪfaɪ/

horrify

Meaning
to fill with horror; to shock or disgust greatly
Example
The violent scene horrified the audience.
B1 noun /ˈhjuː.mər/

humor

Meaning
The quality of being amusing or entertaining.
Example
His sense of humor always lightens the mood.
C2 noun /hɜːrˈbɛəriəm/

herbarium

Meaning
A collection of preserved plant specimens and associated data used for scientific study.
Example
The university maintains a large herbarium for research and education.
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.
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.
C1 verb /hiːd/

heed

Meaning
to pay attention to; to take notice of
Example
You should heed the teacher's advice.
C2 adjective /ˈhæl.si.ən/

halcyon

Meaning
calm, peaceful, and happy; denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful
Example
She often reminisces about the halcyon days of her childhood.
C2 noun /ˈhæŋ.kər.ɪŋ/

hankering

Meaning
a strong desire or craving for something.
Example
She had a hankering for chocolate late at night.
C1 noun/verb /ˈhɛmərɪdʒ/

hemorrhage

Meaning
A significant loss of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, or to lose blood heavily.
Example
The patient suffered a severe brain hemorrhage.
A2 noun /hɛn/

Hen

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

habitude

Meaning
a customary condition or mode of life; habitual practice
Example
He lived in a quiet habitude, avoiding the noise of the city.
C2 noun /ˈhɪlək/

hillock

Meaning
A small hill or mound.
Example
The children climbed up the grassy hillock to watch the sunset.
B2 noun /hʌm/

Hum

Meaning
a low continuous sound; to make a low continuous droning sound
Example
The constant hum of the air conditioner helped her fall asleep peacefully.
C1 adverb /ˈheɪs.tɪ.li/

Hastily

Meaning
in a hurried or rushed manner; quickly and carelessly
Example
She hastily packed her bags before leaving for the airport.
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.
C1 noun /ˈhɔːrtɪˌkʌltʃər/

horticulture

Meaning
The art or practice of garden cultivation and management.
Example
Horticulture plays a vital role in producing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.
C2 verb /ˈhæroʊ/

harrow

Meaning
to cause distress or torment; also to break up and smooth soil with a farm tool
Example
The tragic news harrowed the entire family.
C1 noun /ˈhɜːrniə/

hernia

Meaning
A medical condition where an organ pushes through the muscle or tissue holding it in place.
Example
The doctor diagnosed him with an inguinal hernia.
C1 noun /ˈhɛksəˌɡɒn/

hexagon

Meaning
A six-sided polygon.
Example
A honeycomb cell is shaped like a hexagon.
B1 noun /ˈhaɪ.weɪ/

highway

Meaning
A main road, especially one connecting major towns or cities.
Example
The highway was blocked due to an accident.
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.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈhæŋ.dɔːɡ/

hangdog

Meaning
looking or feeling ashamed, guilty, or defeated.
Example
He gave me a hangdog look after being caught lying.
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.
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.
C2 noun /ˈheɪ.deɪ/

Hey day

Meaning
the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor; prime time
Example
During her heyday as a singer, she performed in sold-out concerts around the world.
A2 noun /ˈhæb.ɪt/

habit

Meaning
A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.
Example
Eye rubbing is a harmful habit.
C1 noun /ˈheɪˌdeɪ/

heyday

Meaning
The period of greatest success, popularity, or power.
Example
In its heyday, the company dominated the market.
C2 noun ˌhiː.məˈfɪl.i.ə

hemophilia

Meaning
A medical condition in which the ability of the blood to clot is severely reduced, causing the sufferer to bleed severely from even a slight injury.
Example
Hemophilia treatment benefits from genetic editing.
C1 verb /hjuːˈmɪlieɪt/

humiliate

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

Haste

Meaning
swiftness of motion; urgent need of quick action; excessive speed or urgency
Example
In his haste to catch the train, he forgot to take his wallet from the table.
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.
B2 noun /ˈhoʊmlænd/

homeland

Meaning
a person's native country or region
Example
She returned to her homeland after ten years abroad.
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.
A1 adverb /hɪr/

here

Meaning
in, at, or to this place
Example
Please come here quickly.
C2 adjective /ˈhɜːrsuːt/

hirsute

Meaning
Having a lot of hair, especially in an unusual place.
Example
The hirsute man stood out in the crowd with his long beard.
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.
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.
C1 noun /haɪˈpɜːrbəli/

hyperbole

Meaning
Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Example
Saying he could run a thousand miles in a day is pure hyperbole.
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.
C1 noun /haɪˈpɒtənjuːs/

hypotenuse

Meaning
the longest side of a right-angled triangle, opposite the right angle.
Example
In a right triangle, the hypotenuse is always longer than the other two sides.
A2 adverb /ˈhɑːd.li/

Hardly

Meaning
scarcely; barely; almost not at all
Example
I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
C1 adjective /ˌhaɪəˈrɑː.kɪ.kəl/

hierarchical

Meaning
arranged in order of rank or authority
Example
The company has a strict hierarchical structure.
B2 noun /ˌhɑː.spɪˈtæl.ə.ti/

Hospitality

Meaning
the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests or strangers
Example
The hotel staff's exceptional hospitality made our vacation truly memorable and enjoyable.
C2 adjective /ˌhæfˈbeɪkt/

half-baked

Meaning
poorly thought out or badly planned
Example
The manager quickly rejected his half-baked proposal.
C1 noun /hjuːˈmɪl.ɪ.ti/

humility

Meaning
The quality of having a modest or low view of one's importance.
Example
She accepted the award with grace and humility.
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.
B2 noun /ˈhændlɪŋ/

handling

Meaning
the act of managing or dealing with something or someone
Example
His handling of the situation was impressive.
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.
C2 noun /ˌhjuː.mɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

humification

Meaning
The process of organic matter decomposition to form humus in soil.
Example
Humification enhances soil structure and fertility.
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 noun ˈhɛr.ɪ.tɪdʒ

heritage

Meaning
Property that is or may be inherited; something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor; cultural traditions and practices that are passed down.
Example
Bangladesh has a rich cultural heritage.
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.
C2 adjective /ˌhɪstriˈɒnɪk/

histrionic

Meaning
Overly dramatic or theatrical in behavior or style.
Example
Her histrionic reaction to the small problem surprised everyone.
A2 noun /ˈhɛdeɪk/

headache

Meaning
a continuous pain in the head; something that causes worry or difficulty
Example
Too much screen time can give you a terrible headache.
C2 noun /ˈhɑːdɪhʊd/

hardihood

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