hostility
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C1 noun /hɒˈstɪləti/

hostility

Meaning
hostile behavior; unfriendliness or opposition
Example
The negotiations ended in an atmosphere of hostility.
C1 noun /haɪˈeɪtəs/

hiatus

Meaning
A pause or break in continuity of a process or activity.
Example
The show returned after a long hiatus.
C1 adjective /həˈbɪtʃuəl/

habitual

Meaning
Done or doing constantly or as a habit; customary.
Example
He was a habitual latecomer to class.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈhæloʊd/

hallowed

Meaning
regarded as holy or greatly respected
Example
They walked across the hallowed halls of the old university.
C1 noun /ˈhaɪ.drəʊˌpaʊər ˌdʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

hydropower generation

Meaning
The production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water.
Example
Hydropower generation promotes green energy.
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.
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.
C1 noun /ˈhɜː.mɪt/

Hermit

Meaning
a person living in solitude as a religious discipline; someone who withdraws from society
Example
The old hermit lived alone in a small cabin deep in the mountains, away from civilization.
C1 verb /hiːd/

heed

Meaning
to pay attention to; to take notice of
Example
You should heed the teacher's advice.
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.
C1 verb ˈhɪndər

hinder

Meaning
To obstruct or delay the progress of something
Example
Excessive rain hinders vegetable growth.
C1 adjective /ˌhæpi ɡoʊ ˈlʌki/

happy-go-lucky

Meaning
cheerfully unconcerned about the future; carefree
Example
She has a happy-go-lucky attitude and never worries about tomorrow.
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.
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 verb /hjuːˈmɪlieɪt/

humiliate

Meaning
to make someone feel ashamed or foolish by injuring their dignity
Example
He was humiliated by his public failure.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈhær.oʊ.ɪŋ/

harrowing

Meaning
extremely distressing or upsetting
Example
It was a harrowing experience to witness the accident.
C1 verb /ˈhaɪdʒæk/

hijack

Meaning
to take control of a vehicle or situation illegally or by force
Example
The criminals attempted to hijack the airplane.
C1 noun /ˈhaɪndsaɪt/

hindsight

Meaning
Understanding of a situation only after it has happened.
Example
With the benefit of hindsight, we realized the decision was a mistake.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈhɑːrdi/

hardy

Meaning
Strong, robust, and capable of enduring difficult conditions.
Example
Hardy plants can survive the harsh winter.
C1 adverb /ˈhɒtli/

hotly

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

Hypocrite

Meaning
a person who acts in contradiction to their stated beliefs or feelings; a pretender
Example
Don't be a hypocrite by demanding honesty from others while lying yourself.
C1 adjective /ˈheɪ.nəs/

Heinous

Meaning
extremely wicked or evil; abominable; morally reprehensible
Example
The heinous crime shocked the entire community.
C1 adjective /ˈheɪt.fəl/

Hateful

Meaning
causing or deserving hatred; extremely unpleasant or offensive
Example
His hateful comments hurt everyone's feelings.
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.
C1 noun /ˈhiːdənɪst/

hedonist

Meaning
A person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life.
Example
She was called a hedonist because she always prioritized enjoyment over duty.
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.
C1 noun /ˈhɛksəˌɡɒn/

hexagon

Meaning
A six-sided polygon.
Example
A honeycomb cell is shaped like a hexagon.
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.
C1 verb /hɔːl/

haul

Meaning
to pull or drag something heavy with effort
Example
The workers hauled the boxes into the truck.
C1 verb /ˈhjuːmənaɪz/

humanize

Meaning
To make something more humane, kind, or relatable.
Example
The teacher tried to humanize the lesson with personal stories.
C1 adjective /ˈhæb.ɪ.tə.bəl/

Habitable

Meaning
suitable or good enough to live in
Example
The planet Mars may become habitable in the future.
C1 noun /ˈhɛzɪtəns/

hesitance

Meaning
The quality or state of being reluctant or uncertain.
Example
Her hesitance to speak up delayed the decision.
C1 adjective /hɔːrs/

Hoarse

Meaning
rough or harsh in sound; having a rough voice from shouting or illness
Example
His voice became hoarse after shouting at the concert.
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.
C1 adjective /ˌhɑːrdˈhɑːrtɪd/

hard-hearted

Meaning
showing no kindness or sympathy; cruel
Example
The landlord was hard-hearted and refused to help the poor family.
C1 adjective /hjuːˈmeɪn/

humane

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

hypnotic

Meaning
Producing sleep or a trance-like state; mesmerizing.
Example
The music had a hypnotic effect on the audience.
C1 noun /ˈhaɪbrɪd/

hybrid

Meaning
a mixture of two different things, often combining the best qualities of both
Example
The car is a hybrid that runs on both electricity and fuel.
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.
C1 verb /ˈhɔːrɪfaɪ/

horrify

Meaning
to fill with horror; to shock or disgust greatly
Example
The violent scene horrified the audience.
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 noun ˈhɛroʊˌɪzəm

heroism

Meaning
Great bravery; the qualities or attributes of a hero.
Example
The heroism of freedom fighters inspires the nation.
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.
C1 verb /ˈhæɡəl/

haggle

Meaning
to argue about the price; to bargain persistently
Example
They haggled over the price for an hour.
C1 noun /ˈhjuːbrɪs/

hubris

Meaning
excessive pride or self-confidence
Example
His hubris led to his downfall.
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 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 noun /həˌluː.sɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Hallucination

Meaning
an experience involving the apparent perception of something not present; a false or distorted perception
Example
The patient experienced visual hallucinations as a side effect of the medication.
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.
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 noun /helm/

Helm

Meaning
a tiller or wheel for steering a ship or boat; a position of leadership or control
Example
The experienced captain took the helm and expertly navigated the ship through the storm.
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.
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 /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.
C1 noun /hɪˈpɑː.krə.si/

Hypocrisy

Meaning
the practice of claiming to have moral standards that one does not actually possess; insincerity
Example
His hypocrisy was exposed when he criticized others for the same mistakes he had made.
C1 noun /ˈhæm.lət/

Hamlet

Meaning
a small rural settlement, smaller than a village; a small community
Example
The tiny hamlet nestled in the valley had only a dozen houses and one small church.
C1 adjective /hɜːrˈbɪv.ər.əs/

Herbivorous

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

healthful

Meaning
Promoting good health; beneficial to health.
Example
A healthful diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables.
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.
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.
C1 noun /ˈhɔːr.nət/

Hornet

Meaning
a large wasp that can sting and is often aggressive
Example
The hornet built its nest under the roof.
C1 adjective /həˈmɑː.dʒə.nəs/

homogenous

Meaning
Similar or uniform in nature; often used interchangeably with 'homogeneous'.
Example
The class was made up of a homogenous group of students.
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.
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 adverb /ˈhɛdˌlɔŋ/

headlong

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

Hound

Meaning
a dog bred for hunting, typically having a keen sense of smell
Example
The bloodhound tracked the scent through the dense forest.
C1 noun /ˈhɒməˌfoʊn/

homophone

Meaning
A word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning, and often spelling.
Example
The words 'pair' and 'pear' are homophones.
C1 verb /ˈhæmpər/

hamper

Meaning
to hinder or impede the movement or progress of
Example
The heavy rain hampered our travel plans.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈheɪ.zi/

Hazy

Meaning
covered with haze; unclear or vague; lacking clarity
Example
The mountain tops were hazy in the morning mist.
C1 noun /huːf/

Hoof

Meaning
the hard part covering the foot of horses, cattle, sheep, and other animals
Example
The horse's hoof was injured after stepping on a sharp rock.
C1 noun /ˈhɑː.mə.nɪm/

homonym

Meaning
A word that is spelled and pronounced like another word but has a different meaning.
Example
The word 'bat' is a homonym because it can mean an animal or a sports tool.
C1 adjective /ˌhɒməˈdʒiːniəs/

homogeneous

Meaning
Of the same kind; alike.
Example
The team was not homogeneous in their skills.
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 noun /ˌhoʊmiˈɑːpəθi/

homeopathy

Meaning
a system of alternative medicine based on treating diseases with highly diluted substances
Example
He believes in homeopathy for treating common colds.
C1 noun /ˈhæv.ək/

Havoc

Meaning
widespread destruction; great confusion or disorder; chaos
Example
The hurricane wreaked havoc on the coastal towns, destroying homes and businesses.
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.
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 ˌhaɪ.droʊˈpɒn.ɪks

hydroponics

Meaning
Growing plants using nutrient-rich water instead of soil.
Example
Hydroponics allows crops to grow without soil.
C1 adjective /ˈhɑːrtˌrɛndɪŋ/

heartrending

Meaning
Causing great sadness or distress; very moving emotionally.
Example
The documentary showed heartrending scenes of war victims.
C1 verb /ˈhaɪtən/

heighten

Meaning
to make or become greater in intensity or degree
Example
The announcement served to heighten the excitement in the room.
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 /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.
C1 noun ˈhaɪ.drə.dʒən ˈpaʊ.əd bʌsɪz

hydrogen-powered buses

Meaning
Buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells that produce only water vapor as emission.
Example
Hydrogen-powered buses reduce air pollution.
C1 noun /ˈheɪˌdeɪ/

heyday

Meaning
The period of greatest success, popularity, or power.
Example
In its heyday, the company dominated the market.
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.
C1 noun /hjuː/

hue

Meaning
A color or shade.
Example
The artist chose a soft blue hue for the background.
C1 adjective /ˈhæpləs/

hapless

Meaning
unfortunate, unlucky, deserving pity
Example
The hapless traveler lost his passport on the very first day.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈhɔː.ti/

Haughty

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

Head-on

Meaning
directly facing; in direct confrontation or collision
Example
The two cars collided head-on at the intersection.
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.
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.
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.
C1 adjective /ˌhɛtərəˈʤiːniəs/

heterogeneous

Meaning
consisting of different kinds or diverse elements
Example
The classroom was filled with a heterogeneous group of students.
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 adjective /ˈhiːdləs/

heedless

Meaning
showing a reckless lack of care or attention
Example
He drove with heedless disregard for the rules.
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.
C1 adjective /ˌhɔːrtɪˈkʌltʃərəl/

horticultural

Meaning
Relating to the art or practice of garden cultivation and management.
Example
She studied horticultural science at the university.
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 /ˈhɑː.mɪdʒ/

Homage

Meaning
special honor or respect shown publicly; tribute paid to someone in recognition of their merit
Example
The memorial service was a touching homage to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives.
C1 adjective /ˌhaɪ.drəˈpɒn.ɪk/

hydroponic

Meaning
Relating to the process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added nutrients but without soil.
Example
Hydroponic farming allows crops to grow without soil.
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 /ˈheɪl.stɔːrm/

Hailstorm

Meaning
a violent storm with hail falling from the sky
Example
The hailstorm damaged many cars in the parking lot.
C1 adjective /ˈhɛdˌstrɔŋ/

headstrong

Meaning
Determined to do what one wants, even if it is not sensible.
Example
The headstrong child refused to listen to anyone.
C1 noun /ˈhɔːl.mɑːrk/

hallmark

Meaning
a typical characteristic or feature of someone or something
Example
Honesty is the hallmark of a good leader.
C1 noun ˌhaɪ.pɚˈten.ʃən

hypertension

Meaning
Abnormally high blood pressure.
Example
High sodium intake leads to hypertension.
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.
C1 noun /ˈheɪvən/

haven

Meaning
a safe place or shelter
Example
The library became a haven for students during exams.
C1 noun /ˈhɪpnətɪzəm/

hypnotism

Meaning
The practice or act of inducing hypnosis.
Example
He studied hypnotism as part of his psychology degree.
C1 noun /hɔːrd/

horde

Meaning
A large group or crowd, especially one that is disorderly or difficult to control.
Example
A horde of fans gathered outside the stadium.
C1 noun /ˌhɑːmənaɪˈzeɪʃən/

harmonization

Meaning
The process of making things compatible or consistent with one another.
Example
The harmonization of different policies ensures consistent results.
C1 adjective /ˌhæpˈhæz.ɚd/

haphazard

Meaning
Lacking any obvious principle of organization; random.
Example
His haphazard approach led to project failure.