illumine
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 verb /ɪˈluːmɪn/

illumine

Meaning
to light up or make clear
Example
The rising sun illumined the mountain peaks.
B1 verb /ɪnˈvɛs.tɪ.ɡeɪt/

investigate

Meaning
to carry out a systematic inquiry to discover facts or information
Example
The police will investigate the incident thoroughly.
B2 adjective /ɪnˈækjərət/

Inaccurate

Meaning
not correct; containing errors; wrong
Example
The weather forecast was inaccurate yesterday.
C2 noun /ˌɪmprəˈpraɪəti/

impropriety

Meaning
Failure to observe standards of honesty or modesty; improper behavior.
Example
The politician was accused of financial impropriety.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkænˈdɛsənt/

incandescent

Meaning
emitting light as a result of being heated; extremely bright or passionate
Example
The incandescent lamp lit up the entire hall.
B1 noun ˈɪmpækt

impact

Meaning
A strong effect or influence; the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.
Example
The decision had great impact.
B2 adjective, noun /ˌɪn.təlˈɛk.tʃu.əl/

intellectual

Meaning
Relating to the intellect; a person who engages in critical thinking and study.
Example
She enjoys intellectual discussions about philosophy.
A2 adjective, noun /ɪˈtæliən/

italian

Meaning
relating to Italy, its people, or its language; a person from Italy
Example
She loves Italian food.
C1 adverb /ˌɪnsɪˈdɛntəli/

incidentally

Meaning
by the way; used to introduce a remark not directly related to the main subject
Example
Incidentally, did you know that she studied in Paris?
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdefɪnət/

Indefinite

Meaning
not clearly defined; uncertain; vague; unlimited in time
Example
The meeting has been postponed for an indefinite period.
B1 verb /ɪnˈvɑːlv/

involve

Meaning
to include as a necessary part, or to engage someone in an activity
Example
The project will involve several departments working together.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɜːrsəneɪt/

impersonate

Meaning
to pretend to be another person in order to entertain or deceive
Example
He was arrested for trying to impersonate a police officer.
C1 verb /ɪˈluːmɪneɪt/

illuminate

Meaning
To light up or make something clearer.
Example
Streetlights illuminate the road at night.
B2 adjective /ɪˈrɛləvənt/

Irrelevant

Meaning
not connected with or relevant to something; having no bearing on the matter
Example
Your past mistakes are irrelevant to this discussion.
B2 noun ɪˈlɪtərəsi

illiteracy

Meaning
The inability to read and write; lack of education or knowledge in a particular area.
Example
Illiteracy often leads to poverty and unemployment.
B1 verb /ɪnˈtend/

intend

Meaning
to plan or have in mind as a purpose; to mean
Example
I intend to finish this project by tomorrow.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdʌstriəs/

industrious

Meaning
Hardworking and diligent in one's duties.
Example
She is an industrious student who always completes her assignments on time.
C1 verb /ˌɪntərˈsɛpt/

intercept

Meaning
to stop, catch, or seize something on its way from one place to another
Example
The police intercepted the stolen car before it crossed the border.
C2 verb /ɪˈmjʊər/

immure

Meaning
to confine or enclose someone against their will
Example
The prisoner was immured in a dark cell.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnkəʊˈhɪərənt/

incoherent

Meaning
Not clear or easy to understand; lacking logical connection.
Example
His explanation was so incoherent that nobody could follow it.
C1 adjective ɪˈneɪt

Innate

Meaning
Existing from birth or natural
Example
She has an innate talent for music.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈsʌf.ər.ə.bəl/

insufferable

Meaning
Too extreme to bear; intolerable.
Example
The heat during the summer was insufferable.
C1 noun /ˈɪntərˌpleɪ/

interplay

Meaning
The way in which two or more things have an effect on each other.
Example
The interplay between culture and technology shapes modern life.
C1 noun /ˈɪŋ.krə.mənt/

Increment

Meaning
an increase or addition, especially one of a series on a fixed scale; a regular increase in salary
Example
He received an annual increment of five percent in his salary this year.
C2 adverb /ˌɪnəzˈmʌtʃ/

inasmuch

Meaning
To the extent that; considering that.
Example
Inasmuch as you are their teacher, you should guide them carefully.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpɜːrsənl/

impersonal

Meaning
not influenced by, showing, or involving personal feelings; lacking human warmth or emotion
Example
The letter was written in a very impersonal style.
C1 verb /ɪˈmɔːrtəlaɪz/

immortalize

Meaning
to preserve the memory of someone or something forever
Example
The statue was built to immortalize the hero’s sacrifice.
B2 adjective /ɪmˈpɜːrfɪkt/

imperfect

Meaning
Not perfect; having faults or flaws.
Example
The painting was beautiful despite being imperfect.
A1 preposition/adverb/adjective/noun /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/

inside

Meaning
Situated within something; the inner part of something.
Example
She waited inside the house until the rain stopped.
C2 verb /aɪˈdɒləˌtraɪz/

idolatrize

Meaning
To worship idols; to regard with excessive devotion or admiration.
Example
They began to idolatrize the statue as a deity.
B2 noun ˌɪn.tɪˈɡreɪ.ʃən

integration

Meaning
The action or process of integrating; the process of combining or adding parts to make a unified whole.
Example
Integration of networks will improve global communication.
C2 noun /ɪkˈsɔːr.ə/

Ixora

Meaning
a tropical flowering shrub with clusters of small bright red, orange, or yellow flowers
Example
The bright red ixora bushes lined the pathway to the tropical garden.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɑːrt/

impart

Meaning
to make information known; to bestow or communicate
Example
The teacher imparted valuable knowledge to her students.
B2 adjective /ɪˈmens/

Immense

Meaning
extremely large or great; huge
Example
The immense mountain range stretched across the horizon.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈtræn.sɪ.dʒənt/

intransigent

Meaning
Unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something.
Example
His intransigent stance delayed the agreement.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdʌktɪv/

inductive

Meaning
characterized by the inference of general laws from particular instances; reasoning from specific cases to general principles
Example
The scientist used inductive reasoning to form a hypothesis.
C2 adjective /ˌɪmpəˈmɪsəbl/

impermissible

Meaning
Not permitted or allowed.
Example
Such behavior is impermissible in the workplace.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈfleɪtɪd/

inflated

Meaning
excessively increased in size, value, or importance; filled with air or gas
Example
The company faced criticism for its inflated prices.
B2 noun /ˌɪn.dɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Indication

Meaning
a sign or piece of information that indicates something; a suggestion or hint
Example
The dark clouds were a clear indication that a storm was approaching the area.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈprɛɡnəbl̩/

impregnable

Meaning
Unable to be captured, broken into, or defeated.
Example
The fortress was considered impregnable by the enemy.
C1 adjective /ˌɪməˈtɪəriəl/

immaterial

Meaning
Not important or relevant; lacking physical substance.
Example
The judge ruled that the argument was immaterial to the case.
B2 noun /ˈaɪrəni/

irony

Meaning
a situation that is strange or amusing because it is the opposite of what is expected; the use of words to convey the opposite meaning
Example
The irony of the situation was that the winner forgot his own prize.
B2 adverb /ˌɪndəˈrɛktli/

indirectly

Meaning
in a way that is not direct; through an intermediate means or influence
Example
The policy affected small businesses indirectly.
B2 noun /ɪnˈdʒɛkʃən/

injection

Meaning
the act of introducing a substance into the body through a needle
Example
The nurse gave me an injection to prevent the infection.
A1 pronoun /aɪ/

i

Meaning
used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself
Example
I am learning English every day.
C1 verb /ˌɪn.trəˈspekt/

introspect

Meaning
To examine one's own thoughts, feelings, or mental state.
Example
He often introspects before making important decisions.
C1 verb /ɪmˈbɛd/

imbed

Meaning
To fix firmly or deeply in a surrounding mass.
Example
The journalist imbedded himself with the troops to report firsthand.
C2 noun /ˈɪnroʊd/

inroad

Meaning
An advance or significant progress, often at the expense of something else.
Example
The company made significant inroads into the mobile market.
B1 adjective /ɪnˈkrɛdəbl/

incredible

Meaning
so extraordinary that it is hard to believe; amazing
Example
The view from the mountain was incredible.
C2 adjective /ɪˈrædɪkəbəl/

irradicable

Meaning
not able to be eradicated; impossible to destroy or remove completely
Example
The love of a mother for her child is irradicable.
C2 noun /ˈaɪ.kɒn/

ikon

Meaning
A religious image or symbol, especially in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Example
The church displayed a beautifully painted ikon of the Virgin Mary.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈstɛnsəbl/

inextensible

Meaning
Not capable of being stretched or extended.
Example
This rope is made of an inextensible material.
B2 adjective /ˌɪn.trəˈdʌk.tər.i/

introductory

Meaning
Serving as an introduction; preliminary or preparatory.
Example
The professor gave an introductory lecture on economics.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnsəˈluːbriəs/

insalubrious

Meaning
Unhealthy or not conducive to well-being.
Example
They moved out of the insalubrious neighborhood for the sake of their health.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpɜːmiəbl/

impermeable

Meaning
Not allowing fluid or gas to pass through.
Example
The container is made of impermeable plastic.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərˈrɛɡnəm/

interregnum

Meaning
A period between rulers or governments when normal leadership is suspended.
Example
The country faced instability during the interregnum after the king’s death.
C1 adverb /ɪnˈdɛfɪnətli/

indefinitely

Meaning
for an unlimited or unspecified period of time
Example
The project has been postponed indefinitely.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈflɛksəbl/

inflexible

Meaning
Not able to bend or change; unwilling to change ideas or behavior.
Example
His inflexible attitude made negotiations difficult.
C2 noun /ˈɪn.fɪ.del/

Infidel

Meaning
a person who does not believe in religion or whose religious beliefs differ from one's own
Example
In historical contexts, crusaders often referred to their enemies as infidels.
B2 noun /aɪˈdiː/

id

Meaning
identification; a document or number used to prove who someone is
Example
Please show your ID at the entrance.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛptɪv/

inceptive

Meaning
Relating to or marking the beginning or initial stage of something.
Example
The inceptive phase of the project was marked by enthusiastic planning.
C2 noun /ɪnˈkwɪzɪtər/

inquisitor

Meaning
A person who asks many questions, often in an official or harsh manner.
Example
The inquisitor demanded detailed answers from the witness.
C2 verb /ˈɪmprɪkeɪt/

imprecate

Meaning
To utter a curse or invoke evil upon someone.
Example
The old woman imprecated her enemies with dark words.
C1 noun /ˈɪntərˌluːd/

interlude

Meaning
A short period of time that comes between two events; an interval.
Example
There was a brief musical interlude between the two acts of the play.
C1 adjective /ˈɪnbɔːrn/

Inborn

Meaning
existing from birth; natural; inherent
Example
She has an inborn talent for music.
C1 noun ˌɪn.toʊˈneɪ.ʃən

intonation

Meaning
The rise and fall of tone in speech and pronunciation.
Example
Proper intonation enhances the clarity of a speech.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈedəbəl/

Inedible

Meaning
not suitable or safe for eating; not edible
Example
The mushrooms were poisonous and completely inedible.
C1 noun /ˌɪntɪˈmeɪʃən/

intimation

Meaning
A subtle or indirect hint or suggestion.
Example
She gave no intimation of her plans.
C2 adjective /ˌɪntərˈniːsaɪn/

internecine

Meaning
Relating to conflict within a group, often causing mutual destruction.
Example
The internecine conflict weakened the organization from within.
A1 preposition /ɪn ˈfrʌnt əv/

in front of

Meaning
positioned before or ahead of something; facing or located at the forward side of a person or object
Example
She stood in front of the building.
C2 verb /ˌɪntərˈpoʊz/

interpose

Meaning
To place or insert between one thing and another; to intervene in a situation.
Example
He quickly interposed himself between the fighters to stop the quarrel.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈspiːdiənt/

inexpedient

Meaning
Not advisable, suitable, or practical in the circumstances.
Example
It would be inexpedient to invest without proper research.
C2 noun /ˈɪnˌɡreɪt/

ingrate

Meaning
An ungrateful person; someone who shows no appreciation.
Example
He worked hard for his friend, but the ingrate never thanked him.
B2 verb /ɪnˈdʒɛkt/

inject

Meaning
To introduce a substance, especially a drug, into the body using a needle.
Example
The nurse will inject the vaccine into the patient's arm.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəbl/

intelligible

Meaning
Able to be understood; clear enough to be comprehended.
Example
Her speech was barely intelligible over the noise.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpjuːnɪti/

impunity

Meaning
freedom from punishment or harmful consequences for an action
Example
The dictator ruled with impunity, ignoring international laws.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɛl/

impel

Meaning
to drive, force, or urge someone to do something
Example
Her curiosity impelled her to open the mysterious box.
B2 noun ˌɪnɪˈkwɒlɪti

inequality

Meaning
Difference in size, degree, circumstances, etc.; lack of equality.
Example
The theme of inequality is prominent throughout the story.
B1 verb /ɪnˈfɔ:m/

inform

Meaning
to tell someone about something; to give information
Example
Please inform me when you arrive at the airport.
B2 noun /ɪnˈtɒlərəns/

intolerance

Meaning
unwillingness to accept or endure beliefs, behaviors, or conditions different from one's own
Example
The leader was criticized for his intolerance toward other religions.
A2 verb /ˌɪntrəˈduːs/

introduce

Meaning
to present someone; to bring in for the first time
Example
Let me introduce you to my friend.
B2 noun ˈɪnər strɛŋkθ

inner strength

Meaning
Mental or spiritual power that helps a person cope with difficulties.
Example
Community service fosters inner strength in individuals.
A2 verb /ɪnˈkri:s/

increase

Meaning
to become or make something larger in amount, number, or degree
Example
The company plans to increase its production this year.
C1 adjective /ɪˈrɛvəkəbl/

irrevocable

Meaning
Not able to be revoked, changed, or undone.
Example
She made an irrevocable decision to leave the company.
C2 noun /ɪnˌtɛl.ɪˈdʒɛntsi.ə/

intelligentsia

Meaning
The group of people engaged in intellectual and cultural pursuits in a society.
Example
The intelligentsia played a key role in shaping public opinion.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnəˈtɛntɪv/

inattentive

Meaning
not paying attention; lacking focus or concentration
Example
The inattentive student missed several important instructions.
A2 adjective /ɪmˈpɑːsəbl/

impossible

Meaning
not able to occur, exist, or be done
Example
It is impossible to finish this work in one day.
C2 noun /ɪnˈkɒnstənsi/

inconstancy

Meaning
The quality of changing frequently or being unreliable.
Example
The inconstancy of the weather makes planning difficult.
C1 adjective ˌɪm.pəˈsɛp.tɪ.bəl

imperceptible

Meaning
So subtle or gradual that it is difficult to notice or perceive
Example
The changes in his behavior were imperceptible at first.
C1 noun /ɪnˈfɜːrnoʊ/

inferno

Meaning
a large, intense fire that is dangerously out of control
Example
The building turned into an inferno within minutes.
B2 verb /ɪnˈheɪl/

inhale

Meaning
to breathe in; to draw air into the lungs
Example
Take a deep breath and inhale slowly.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈvʌlnərəbl/

invulnerable

Meaning
Impossible to harm, damage, or defeat.
Example
The fortress was thought to be invulnerable to attack.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈseɪʃiət/

insatiate

Meaning
impossible to satisfy; always wanting more
Example
He had an insatiate desire for power.
B2 adjective /ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənl/

institutional

Meaning
Relating to an organization or established practice.
Example
The government made several institutional reforms in education.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtɛmpərəns/

intemperance

Meaning
Lack of moderation or self-control, especially with drinking or eating.
Example
His intemperance in drinking ruined his health.
B2 verb /ˈɪntɪɡreɪt/

integrate

Meaning
To combine or bring together into a unified whole.
Example
The new system integrates data from multiple sources.
B2 noun ɪnˈdʒʌstɪs

injustice

Meaning
Lack of fairness or justice; the practice of being unjust or unfair.
Example
The story portrays the injustices faced by the common people.
C1 noun ˌɪnfɛsˈteɪʃən

infestation

Meaning
The presence of an unusually large number of insects or animals in a place, causing damage or disease.
Example
The infestation of ants in the kitchen led to immediate pest control measures.
C1 adjective /ˈɜːrksəm/

irksome

Meaning
annoying or irritating
Example
Waiting in a long line is one of the most irksome tasks.
B1 noun /ˈɪnpʊt/

input

Meaning
information, advice, or data that is put into a system, device, or process
Example
The manager asked for everyone's input on the new project.
C1 noun ɪnˌɛv.ɪ.təˈbɪl.ɪ.ti

inevitability

Meaning
The quality of being certain to happen and impossible to avoid or prevent.
Example
The inevitability of change is a part of life.
B2 verb /ɪnˈkwaɪər/

inquire

Meaning
to ask; to investigate
Example
She inquired about the job opening.
B1 verb /ˌɪntərˈækt/

interact

Meaning
to communicate or work together with someone or something
Example
Students interact with teachers during class discussions.
B2 adjective /ɪnˈvɪz.ə.bəl/

Invisible

Meaning
unable to be seen; not visible to the eye
Example
The bacteria are invisible without a microscope.
B2 adjective /ɪnˈseɪn/

insane

Meaning
mentally ill; extremely foolish or unreasonable
Example
The idea of jumping off the cliff seemed insane.
C1 adjective /ɪˈlʌstriəs/

illustrious

Meaning
Well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.
Example
She had an illustrious career in medicine.
B1 adjective /ɪnkəˈrɛkt/

incorrect

Meaning
not correct or accurate
Example
The information you provided was incorrect.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt/

incontinent

Meaning
lacking control over urination or defecation; lacking self-restraint
Example
The patient was incontinent after surgery.
C1 adjective, noun /ɪnˈdɪkətɪv/

indicative

Meaning
Serving as a sign or expression of something; in grammar, a mood used to make factual statements.
Example
His tone was indicative of his frustration.
B2 adjective /ɪˈlɪt.ər.ət/

Illiterate

Meaning
unable to read or write; lacking education
Example
The program aims to help illiterate adults learn to read and write.
C2 noun /aɪˈoʊtə/

iota

Meaning
An extremely small amount.
Example
He did not show an iota of fear.
B2 noun /ˌɪmɪˈɡreɪʃən/

immigration

Meaning
the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country
Example
Immigration policies vary from country to country.
B2 noun ˌɪn.təˈven.ʃən

intervention

Meaning
The action or process of intervening; involvement in a situation to improve or help it.
Example
The intervention of the UN was crucial in resolving the conflict.
B2 verb /ˈɪl.ə.streɪt/

illustrate

Meaning
to explain or make something clear by using examples, pictures, or comparisons
Example
The teacher used diagrams to illustrate the concept.
C2 noun /aɪˈdɒlətri/

idolatry

Meaning
The worship of idols or extreme admiration for someone or something.
Example
The priest condemned the idolatry practiced in the village.
B2 noun /ˈɪntərvəl/

interval

Meaning
a period of time between two events or points; a pause or break in activity
Example
There was a short interval between the two performances.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdiːsənt/

indecent

Meaning
not conforming to accepted standards of behavior or morality; improper or offensive
Example
He was warned for making an indecent remark during the meeting.
C2 verb /ˌɪntərˈmɪt/

intermit

Meaning
To suspend or stop for a time; to pause intermittently.
Example
The rain would intermit and then start again.
B1 noun ɪnˈven.ʃən

invention

Meaning
The action of inventing something, typically a process or device.
Example
The invention revolutionized communication.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpɛndɪŋ/

impending

Meaning
about to happen soon, usually something unpleasant or threatening
Example
The villagers were worried about the impending flood.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈtɛsteɪt/

intestate

Meaning
Having died without leaving a valid will.
Example
She died intestate, so her assets were distributed by law.