ingratiate
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 /ɪnˈɡreɪʃiˌeɪt/

ingratiate

Meaning
To gain favor or approval by deliberate effort, often in a flattering way.
Example
She tried to ingratiate herself with her boss by complimenting him often.
C1 adjective /ɪˈnɒkjuəs/

innocuous

Meaning
Not harmful or offensive.
Example
His remark was completely innocuous and not meant to offend anyone.
B1 noun/adjective /ˈɪnstənt/

instant

Meaning
A very short period of time; happening immediately.
Example
He replied in an instant without hesitation.
C2 verb /ˌɪmpɔːrˈtuːn/

importune

Meaning
To ask someone persistently or pressingly for something
Example
The child importuned his mother for a new toy.
C1 noun /ɪmˈpjʊərəti/

impurity

Meaning
the state of being unclean or contaminated; a substance that makes something impure
Example
The scientist removed every impurity from the water sample.
C1 adjective /ˌɪn.səˈbɔːr.dɪ.nət/

insubordinate

Meaning
Defiant of authority; disobedient to orders.
Example
The insubordinate employee refused to follow the manager's instructions.
B2 verb /ˈɪmɪɡreɪt/

immigrate

Meaning
to come to live permanently in a foreign country
Example
He immigrated to Canada five years ago.
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.
C1 noun /ɪnˈvɜːrʒən/

inversion

Meaning
A reversal of the normal order, position, or relationship.
Example
In poetry, inversion is often used to create emphasis.
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 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv/

Indecisive

Meaning
unable to make decisions quickly; hesitant; wavering
Example
She was indecisive about which university to attend.
C1 noun /ɪnˈsaɪtmənt/

incitement

Meaning
the action of provoking unlawful or violent behavior
Example
He was arrested for incitement to riot.
C2 noun /ɪnˈfriːkwəns/

infrequence

Meaning
The state of occurring rarely or at long intervals.
Example
The infrequence of their meetings made it hard to maintain close ties.
B2 adjective aɪˈkɒnɪk

iconic

Meaning
Very famous or popular, especially being considered to represent particular opinions or a particular time.
Example
The line "It was the best of times..." is iconic.
C2 adjective /ˈɪnfəntaɪl/

infantile

Meaning
characteristic of an infant; childish
Example
His infantile behavior embarrassed everyone at the meeting.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈsɪdiəs/

insidious

Meaning
Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way but with harmful effects.
Example
The insidious spread of misinformation can damage trust.
B2 verb /ɪnˈveɪd/

invade

Meaning
to enter a place or country forcefully, especially as an enemy
Example
The army invaded the neighboring country.
B2 adjective /ɪnˈfɪə.ri.ər/

inferior

Meaning
Of lower quality, rank, or status.
Example
This material is inferior to the one we used before.
C2 noun /ɪnˌtɜːrpəˈleɪʃən/

interpolation

Meaning
The act of inserting something into a text or estimating values within a sequence of data.
Example
The scientist used interpolation to predict the missing data points.
C1 noun /ɪnˈkɜːrʒən/

incursion

Meaning
A sudden attack or invasion into a place or territory.
Example
The army repelled the enemy incursion at the border.
C2 noun /ˌɪkθiˈɒlədʒi/

ichthyology

Meaning
The branch of zoology that deals with fish.
Example
He pursued a degree in ichthyology at the university.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃ/

impoverish

Meaning
To make someone poor or reduce the quality or richness of something.
Example
The long war impoverished the entire nation.
C1 adjective /ˈɪnfəməs/

infamous

Meaning
well known for some bad quality or deed
Example
The dictator was infamous for his cruelty.
C1 noun /ɪmˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪti/

impossibility

Meaning
the state or fact of being impossible; something that cannot be done or achieved
Example
Finishing the project in one day was an impossibility.
B1 noun ɪˈnɪʃətɪv

initiative

Meaning
An act or strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation; a fresh approach to something.
Example
NASA's initiative to return humans to the Moon is ambitious.
B2 noun /ɪnˈtɪəriər/

interior

Meaning
the inside part of something; inner area of a place or object
Example
The interior of the hotel was beautifully decorated.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpɜːrviəs/

impervious

Meaning
Not allowing fluid to pass through; unable to be affected by something.
Example
The jacket is impervious to rain.
C1 verb /ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/

intimidate

Meaning
To frighten or overawe someone, especially to make them do what one wants.
Example
The bully tried to intimidate the smaller kids.
A2 adjective /ɪmˈpɑːsəbl/

impossible

Meaning
not able to occur, exist, or be done
Example
It is impossible to finish this work in one day.
C1 noun /ɪnˈdem.nə.ti/

Indemnity

Meaning
security or protection against a loss or other financial burden; compensation for damage or loss
Example
The insurance company provided full indemnity for the damages caused by the flood.
B1 noun /ɪnˌvɛs.tɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

investigation

Meaning
the process of inquiring into or examining something carefully to find the truth
Example
The investigation revealed new evidence about the fraud.
C1 noun /ˌɪm.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/

Imposition

Meaning
the action or process of imposing something or of being imposed; an unfair burden or demand
Example
The imposition of new taxes without consultation angered the citizens greatly.
C2 verb /ɪnˈtɜːr/

inter

Meaning
To bury a dead body in the ground.
Example
They decided to inter the soldier with full honors.
C1 adjective /ɪˈrɛvəkəbl/

irrevocable

Meaning
Not able to be revoked, changed, or undone.
Example
She made an irrevocable decision to leave the company.
C1 noun /ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/

indignation

Meaning
Strong displeasure or anger caused by something unjust, offensive, or insulting.
Example
Public indignation grew after the unfair verdict.
B2 verb /ɪnˈspekt/

inspect

Meaning
to examine something carefully to check for problems or faults
Example
The engineer will inspect the building for structural damage.
B2 verb /ɪnˈfɛkt/

infect

Meaning
To contaminate with a disease-causing organism.
Example
The virus can infect healthy people quickly.
B2 adjective /ˈɪmɪnənt/

imminent

Meaning
About to happen; likely to occur very soon.
Example
Dark clouds signaled that a storm was imminent.
C1 adverb /ˌɪn.dɪˈskrɪm.ɪ.nət.li/

Indiscriminately

Meaning
without making careful distinctions; randomly; without discrimination
Example
The company fired employees indiscriminately without considering their performance.
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.
B2 adjective /ɪˈmɒrəl/

immoral

Meaning
Not conforming to accepted standards of morality; unethical or wicked.
Example
He was fired for his immoral behavior.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnəˈfɛnsɪv/

inoffensive

Meaning
Not likely to offend or provoke; harmless.
Example
His inoffensive remarks kept the conversation friendly.
C1 adjective ɪnˈkʌm.bənt

incumbent

Meaning
necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility.
Example
It is incumbent upon all citizens to obey the law.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈɛstɪməbl/

inestimable

Meaning
Too great or valuable to be measured or estimated.
Example
Her contribution to the project was of inestimable value.
C1 noun /ˈɪnˌmeɪt/

inmate

Meaning
a person confined to an institution such as a prison or hospital
Example
The prison has over a thousand inmates.
C2 verb /ˌɪn.trəˈmɪt/

intromit

Meaning
To insert or introduce something into a place or body.
Example
The doctor carefully intromitted the instrument into the wound.
B1 noun /ɪmˈpruːvmənt/

improvement

Meaning
the act of making something better
Example
There has been a significant improvement in his health.
C1 noun /ɪˈnɜː.ʃə/

Inertia

Meaning
a tendency to do nothing or remain unchanged; lack of activity or movement
Example
The team's inertia prevented them from adapting to the rapidly changing market conditions.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnkɒmprɪˈhɛnsəbl/

incomprehensible

Meaning
Impossible or very difficult to understand.
Example
The professor’s lecture was so fast it became incomprehensible.
C1 noun /ɪnˈtruː.ʒən/

intrusion

Meaning
Unauthorized entry into a system or place without permission
Example
The company detected an intrusion in its server.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈtrɛpɪd/

intrepid

Meaning
fearless and adventurous, often used humorously
Example
The intrepid traveler explored the jungle alone.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈɛk.wɪ.tə.bəl/

inequitable

Meaning
Not fair or just; lacking in fairness or equality.
Example
The distribution of resources was inequitable among the workers.
C1 noun /ˌɪməˈrælɪti/

immorality

Meaning
the quality of being immoral; behavior that violates accepted moral standards
Example
The community condemned the immorality of the corrupt officials.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnkənˈsiːvəbl̩/

inconceivable

Meaning
Impossible to imagine or believe; beyond comprehension.
Example
It seemed inconceivable that she could finish the marathon after such little training.
C1 verb /ˈɪtəreɪt/

iterate

Meaning
To repeat a process or statement, often to improve or refine.
Example
The software team will iterate the design until it meets user needs.
C2 noun /ˌɪn.strəˈmɛn.təl.ɪst/

instrumentalist

Meaning
A person who plays a musical instrument.
Example
The instrumentalist played a beautiful solo on the violin.
C1 adjective /ɪˈledʒ.ə.bəl/

illegible

Meaning
Not clear enough to be read; unreadable.
Example
The doctor’s handwriting was almost illegible.
C1 noun /ɪmˈpɒs.tər/

Impostor

Meaning
a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others; a fraud
Example
The impostor convinced everyone he was a doctor until his fake credentials were discovered.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈkrɛdjələs/

incredulous

Meaning
unwilling or unable to believe something
Example
He gave her an incredulous look when she claimed she could fly.
C2 adjective ɪnˈdɒm.ɪ.tə.bəl

indomitable

Meaning
Impossible to subdue or defeat.
Example
Her indomitable spirit helped her overcome adversity.
C2 noun /ˌɪmprəˈpraɪəti/

impropriety

Meaning
Failure to observe standards of honesty or modesty; improper behavior.
Example
The politician was accused of financial impropriety.
B2 adverb /ɪmˈpɒlɪtli/

impolitely

Meaning
in a rude or discourteous manner; without showing respect or proper manners
Example
He spoke impolitely to the waiter despite the polite service.
A2 preposition /ɪnˈkluːdɪŋ/

including

Meaning
used to show that someone or something is part of a larger group
Example
Many people attended the event, including students and teachers.
B2 noun /ɪnˈfek.ʃən/

Infection

Meaning
the process of infecting or the state of being infected; a disease caused by germs
Example
The doctor prescribed antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection in her throat.
B2 adjective /ɪˈmens/

Immense

Meaning
extremely large or great; huge
Example
The immense mountain range stretched across the horizon.
B2 verb /ɪmˈprɪzən/

imprison

Meaning
to put someone in prison; to confine or restrict someone's freedom
Example
The judge imprisoned the criminal for five years.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkrʌˈsteɪʃən/

incrustation

Meaning
a crust or hard coating formed on the surface of something
Example
The old pipes were blocked due to heavy incrustation of minerals.
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 /aɪˌdɛntɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

identification

Meaning
the process of recognizing or proving who or what someone or something is
Example
You need proper identification to enter the building.
C2 noun /ˌɪmprɪˈkeɪʃən/

imprecation

Meaning
A spoken curse or expression of strong condemnation.
Example
The angry crowd hurled imprecations at the corrupt official.
A1 pronoun /ɪts/

its

Meaning
Belonging to or associated with a thing previously mentioned.
Example
The company changed its logo last year.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtɜːrstɪs/

interstice

Meaning
a small space that lies between things
Example
Light filtered through the narrow interstices of the wall.
B2 noun ˈɪn.frəˌstrʌk.tʃər

infrastructure

Meaning
The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.
Example
Digital infrastructure is vital for future advancements.
B1 noun /ɪˌmædʒ.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Imagination

Meaning
the faculty or action of forming new ideas or images not present to the senses; creative thinking
Example
Children's imagination allows them to turn a cardboard box into a spaceship or castle.
B2 noun /ˈɪnvənˌtɔːri/

inventory

Meaning
A complete list of items, such as goods in stock or property.
Example
The shopkeeper checked the inventory before opening the store.
C1 noun /ˌɪnkoʊˈhɪrəns/

incoherence

Meaning
The quality of being unclear, confused, or lacking logical connection.
Example
His speech was full of incoherence and difficult to follow.
B2 noun /ˈɪm.pʌls/

Impulse

Meaning
a sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act; a driving force or motivation
Example
She bought the expensive dress on impulse and later regretted the purchase.
B2 adjective /aɪˈrɒnɪk/

ironic

Meaning
happening in the opposite way to what is expected, often amusing or sarcastic
Example
It is ironic that the fire station burned down.
B1 adjective /ɪˈnɪʃəl/

initial

Meaning
Existing or occurring at the beginning.
Example
Her initial reaction was one of surprise.
B2 adjective /ˌɪnəˈproʊpriət/

inappropriate

Meaning
not suitable or proper in the circumstances
Example
It was inappropriate to talk loudly in the library.
A2 adjective /ɪl/

Ill

Meaning
sick; unwell; in poor health
Example
He felt ill and decided to stay home from work.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛnseɪt/

insensate

Meaning
lacking physical sensation or empathy; without feeling or sensitivity
Example
The dictator's insensate cruelty shocked the world.
C1 adjective /ˈɪndɪɡoʊ bluː/

Indigo-blue

Meaning
a deep blue color with a purplish tinge
Example
The indigo-blue sky looked magnificent at twilight.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈfɜːm/

infirm

Meaning
Weak, especially due to old age or illness.
Example
The infirm old man needed assistance to walk.
A2 adjective/noun /ˈɪndiən/

indian

Meaning
Relating to India, its people, or their culture.
Example
She loves Indian food, especially biryani.
C1 adjective /ˌɪn.ɪˈfɛk.tʃu.əl/

ineffectual

Meaning
Not producing any or the desired effect; lacking the ability or qualities to achieve a purpose.
Example
The manager’s ineffectual leadership caused the team to lose motivation.
C1 verb /ˈɪnfɪltreɪt/

infiltrate

Meaning
to secretly enter or gain access to a place or group
Example
The spies managed to infiltrate the enemy base.
C1 noun /ɪmˌpɜː.sənˈeɪ.ʃən/

impersonation

Meaning
The action of pretending to be another person for the purpose of entertainment or fraud.
Example
Online impersonation is a serious cybercrime.
C1 verb /ˌɪn.tɚˈtwaɪn/

intertwine

Meaning
To connect or link closely; to twist together or combine closely.
Example
Their lives became intertwined through years of friendship.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈdjuːsəbl/

irreducible

Meaning
impossible to reduce or simplify further
Example
The fraction 3/7 is irreducible.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈsɛnsəbl/

insensible

Meaning
Unconscious; unaware of or indifferent to something.
Example
He was insensible to the cold as he lay in the snow.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpɛtʃ.u.əs/

impetuous

Meaning
Acting or done quickly and without thought or care; impulsive.
Example
His impetuous decision led to unexpected consequences.
C1 noun /ˈɪŋklɪŋ/

inkling

Meaning
A slight idea, hint, or suspicion about something.
Example
She had an inkling that he was planning a surprise.
C1 verb /ɪmˈploʊd/

implode

Meaning
To collapse or burst inward violently.
Example
The old building imploded during the demolition.
B2 noun ˌɪn.fləˈmeɪ.ʃən

inflammation

Meaning
A localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful.
Example
Chronic inflammation can lead to severe diseases.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈkɒmpɪtənt/

incompetent

Meaning
Lacking the necessary ability or skills to do something successfully.
Example
He was fired because he was incompetent at his job.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpruː.dəns/

Imprudence

Meaning
the quality of being imprudent; lack of care for consequences; recklessness
Example
His financial imprudence led to bankruptcy within just two years.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈtɜːrmənəbl/

interminable

Meaning
Seemingly endless; having no apparent end.
Example
The meeting felt interminable and exhausting.
C1 noun /ˌɪn.trəˈspek.ʃən/

introspection

Meaning
The examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes; self-reflection.
Example
Through introspection, she gained insight into her emotions.
C1 verb /ɪˈluːmɪneɪt/

illuminate

Meaning
To light up or make something clearer.
Example
Streetlights illuminate the road at night.
C1 adjective /ɪˈnuːmərəbəl/

Innumerable

Meaning
too many to be counted; countless; infinite in number
Example
There are innumerable stars in the night sky that we cannot see with our naked eyes.
A2 adverb /ɪnˈdiːd/

indeed

Meaning
used to emphasize or confirm a statement
Example
It was a long journey indeed.
C1 noun /ˌaɪ.diˈɒl.ə.dʒi/

ideology

Meaning
A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Example
Democracy is based on the ideology of freedom and equality.
B2 noun ˈɪnəveɪtɪv tuːlz

innovative tools

Meaning
Creative devices or advanced technologies that introduce new methods or approaches to accomplish tasks.
Example
Teachers use innovative tools to enhance classroom learning.
C1 noun /ɪnˈfɜːrnoʊ/

inferno

Meaning
a large, intense fire that is dangerously out of control
Example
The building turned into an inferno within minutes.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒrɪdʒəbəl/

incorrigible

Meaning
incapable of being corrected, improved, or reformed
Example
He is an incorrigible optimist who never loses hope.
B2 adjective /ˌɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/

insignificant

Meaning
Too small or unimportant to be worth considering.
Example
The cost was so insignificant that nobody noticed it.
B2 noun /ˈɪɡ.nər.əns/

Ignorance

Meaning
lack of knowledge or information; the state of being uninformed about something
Example
His ignorance about basic computer skills made it difficult for him to find a job.
C1 adjective ɪˈluː.sər.i

illusory

Meaning
Based on illusion; not real although seeming to be.
Example
His sense of security was entirely illusory.
A2 noun/verb /ˈɪntrəst/ or /ˈɪntəˌrɛst/

interest

Meaning
A feeling of curiosity or concern about something; or money paid for the use of borrowed money.
Example
He showed great interest in learning new languages.
B1 adverb /ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli/

increasingly

Meaning
more and more over time
Example
People are increasingly concerned about climate change.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈvɪdiəs/

invidious

Meaning
likely to arouse resentment, envy, or anger in others
Example
The manager's invidious remarks created tension among the employees.
C2 noun /ˈaɪ.ərn.wʊd/

Ironwood

Meaning
a hard, dense wood from various trees; also the tree itself that produces small flowers
Example
The ironwood tree blooms with tiny white flowers.
C1 adverb /ˈɪnwərdli/

inwardly

Meaning
In the mind or spirit; not outwardly visible.
Example
She smiled outwardly but inwardly she was worried.
C2 noun /ˌɪnvəˈluːʃən/

involution

Meaning
a complicated or intricate form or state; in biology, the shrinking of an organ after its function has finished
Example
The story was full of involution, making it hard to follow.
C2 verb /ɪnˈveɪ/

inveigh

Meaning
To speak or write about something with great hostility and criticism.
Example
He inveighed against the corruption in government.
B2 noun /ɪnˈtɜː.prə.tər/

Interpreter

Meaning
a person who translates orally from one language into another; someone who explains meaning
Example
The international conference hired professional interpreters to translate speeches in real time.
C1 noun /ɪnˈdʒʌŋkʃən/

injunction

Meaning
A judicial order restraining a person from an action or compelling a certain act.
Example
The court issued an injunction to stop the company from polluting the river.
C1 noun /ˌɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/

insignificance

Meaning
The quality of being unimportant or trivial.
Example
He felt a sense of insignificance in the vast universe.
C1 adjective /ˈɪrɪtəbl/

irritable

Meaning
easily annoyed or made angry
Example
She became irritable after working long hours without rest.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsuːsiənt/

insouciant

Meaning
Showing a casual lack of concern; carefree.
Example
He gave an insouciant shrug and walked away.