B2 noun
C2 verb /ˈpælpɪˌteɪt/
palpitate
Meaning
to beat rapidly and strongly, often because of fear, excitement, or illness
Example
Her heart began to palpitate with fear.
C1 noun ˌpriːˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən
preoccupation
Meaning
The state of being absorbed in thought; mental distraction.
Example
His preoccupation with work led to neglecting his personal life.
C2 adjective /ˌpɪkəˈrɛsk/
picaresque
Meaning
relating to a style of fiction depicting the adventures of a roguish hero
Example
The novel is a picaresque tale of a clever vagabond.
B2 noun /ˌprɒb.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
Probability
Meaning
the likelihood that something will happen; a mathematical measure of how likely something is to occur
Example
There is a high probability of rain tomorrow.
C1 noun ˌprɒf.ɪ.təˈbɪl.ɪ.ti
profitability
Meaning
The degree to which a business or activity yields profit or financial gain.
Example
Increasing sales and reducing costs boosted profitability.
C1 noun /plaɪt/
Plight
Meaning
a dangerous, difficult, or unfortunate situation
Example
The refugees were in a desperate plight.
C2 noun /prɒɡˌnɒstɪˈkeɪʃən/
prognostication
Meaning
The act of foretelling or predicting future events.
Example
The astrologer's prognostication fascinated the audience.
B2 noun /ˈprɛfəs/
preface
Meaning
an introduction to a book, speech, or other written work
Example
The author explained his motivation in the preface.
C2 adjective /ˈpɪd.lɪŋ/
Piddling
Meaning
trivial; insignificant; small in amount
Example
He was annoyed by the piddling amount of money he received.
C2 verb /pəˈræmbjʊˌleɪt/
perambulate
Meaning
To walk through or travel around, especially for leisure.
Example
They perambulated the old town, enjoying the sights.
C2 noun /pɪˈnɒlədʒi/
penology
Meaning
The study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation.
Example
He decided to specialize in penology to help improve the prison system.
A1 noun /pɪɡ/
Pig
Meaning
a domestic farm animal with a short curly tail and a flat nose
Example
The farmer fed the pig in the pen.
B1 adverb /prɪˈsaɪs.li/
precisely
Meaning
In an exact and accurate manner, with attention to detail.
Example
The robotic arm performed the operation precisely.
C1 noun /prəˈpraɪəti/
propriety
Meaning
Conformity to accepted standards of behavior or morality.
Example
He always behaved with the utmost propriety in public.
B2 verb /prɪˈzjuːm/
presume
Meaning
To suppose something is true without proof; to take for granted.
Example
I presume she has already left for the meeting.
C1 noun /ˈpærəˌlɛlɪzəm/
parallelism
Meaning
The state of being parallel or similar; in literature, the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same or similar in construction.
Example
The writer used parallelism to give rhythm to his prose.
B1 verb /ˈpʌnɪʃ/
punish
Meaning
to give a penalty for wrongdoing; to discipline
Example
The teacher will punish students who cheat.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛndjʊləs/
pendulous
Meaning
hanging down loosely; drooping
Example
The pendulous fruit weighed down the branch.
B2 adjective + noun ˈpraɪməri əbˈdʒektɪv
primary objective
Meaning
The main goal or chief aim of an activity, project, or endeavor.
Example
The primary objective of the event was to promote recycling.
C1 noun /ˈpiː.kɒk ˈflaʊ.ər/
Peacock flower
Meaning
a tropical tree with bright orange and red flowers that resemble a peacock's tail
Example
The peacock flower tree blooms with stunning orange flowers in summer.
B2 noun /pəˈzeʃ.ən/
Possession
Meaning
something that belongs to someone; the state of having or owning something
Example
The house has been in their family's possession for generations.
A2 noun /ˈprɪzən/
prison
Meaning
a building where people are kept as punishment for a crime or while waiting for trial
Example
He was sent to prison for his crimes.
B2 verb /pəˈluːt/
pollute
Meaning
to make air, water, or land dirty and harmful to people, animals, and plants
Example
Factories pollute the environment with toxic chemicals.
C1 noun /ˈprɒmɪnəns/
prominence
Meaning
The state of being important, famous, or easily noticed.
Example
Her work gained prominence after the award.
B1 noun /ˈpɑːrləmənt/
parliament
Meaning
the highest legislative body in a country
Example
The bill was passed in parliament after a long debate.
B2 noun /ˈpleɪˌɔːf/
playoff
Meaning
a series of games played to determine a champion among top teams
Example
The team qualified for the playoffs after a strong season.
C2 noun /prɪˈfɜːrmənt/
preferment
Meaning
promotion or advancement in rank, position, or office
Example
He hoped for preferment in the government office.
B2 verb /plaʊ/
plough
Meaning
to break up and turn over soil using a plough; to move through something with difficulty
Example
The farmer ploughs the field every spring.
C1 noun /ˈplɛθərə/
plethora
Meaning
an excessive amount of something
Example
She has a plethora of books on her shelf.
C2 noun /pəˈnʌmbrə/
penumbra
Meaning
a partially shaded area around the shadow of an object, especially during an eclipse
Example
The moon’s penumbra created a dim shadow over the Earth.
C1 adjective /pəˈmɪs.ɪv/
permissive
Meaning
Allowing or characterized by great or excessive freedom of behavior; very lenient or indulgent.
Example
Permissive parenting can sometimes lead to a lack of discipline in children.
C2 noun /prɪˈsɛʃən/
precession
Meaning
The slow movement of the axis of a spinning body around another axis, often referring to Earth's rotation.
Example
Astronomers study the precession of the equinoxes.
C1 noun /ˌtɛrəˈdæktɪl/
pterodactyl
Meaning
An extinct flying reptile of the Jurassic period, with a long slender head and wings formed by a membrane stretching along the body.
Example
The museum displayed a fossil of a giant pterodactyl.
C1 noun /ˈprɒvənəns/
provenance
Meaning
The origin or source of something.
Example
The museum verified the provenance of the ancient manuscript.
C2 verb /ˈpɛkjʊˌleɪt/
peculate
Meaning
To embezzle or steal money, especially public funds.
Example
The corrupt official was found guilty of peculating government funds.
C2 noun /ˌfɪziˈɑːɡrəfi/
physiography
Meaning
the study of the physical features of the earth's surface
Example
He specialized in physiography to understand the landscape of the region.
B1 noun /ˈpælɪs/
palace
Meaning
a large and impressive building that is the official home of a king, queen, or other ruler
Example
The royal family lives in a magnificent palace.
C2 adjective /pruːˈdɛnʃəl/
prudential
Meaning
involving or showing prudence, especially in financial or business matters
Example
The bank has set prudential rules to protect depositors.
C1 noun /ˈpʌndɪt/
pundit
Meaning
An expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called upon to give opinions to the public.
Example
Political pundits debated the election results on television.
C2 noun /ˈpɛrɪstaɪl/
peristyle
Meaning
A continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the perimeter of a building or courtyard.
Example
The Roman villa featured a beautiful peristyle garden.
B2 adverb /ˈpjʊərli/
purely
Meaning
only and completely; entirely
Example
The decision was purely based on economic factors.
C1 noun /prɪˈrɒɡətɪv/
prerogative
Meaning
a special right or privilege exclusive to a particular person or group
Example
It is the manager’s prerogative to make the final decision.
A2 noun /ˈpɛni/
penny
Meaning
a small coin of low value; a very small amount of money
Example
He found a penny on the sidewalk and smiled.
B1 noun /ˈpraɪ.və.si/
Privacy
Meaning
the state of being alone and not watched or disturbed by other people; the right to keep your personal information secret
Example
Everyone has the right to privacy.
C1 adjective /ˈprɪvi/
privy
Meaning
having access to secret or private knowledge
Example
She was privy to the confidential discussions.
B1 noun /ˈpiː.nʌt/
Peanut
Meaning
an edible seed that grows underground and is commonly eaten as a snack or used in cooking
Example
Roasted peanuts are a popular snack in many countries.
B2 noun /proʊˈbeɪʃən/
probation
Meaning
a period of testing or supervision, especially for offenders or new employees
Example
He was placed on probation for six months.
B1 noun /ˈprɛzəns/
presence
Meaning
The fact or condition of being present; a person's impressive manner or appearance.
Example
His presence in the meeting made everyone feel at ease.
B2 adjective /prəˈpoʊzd/
proposed
Meaning
suggested or put forward for consideration or discussion
Example
The proposed changes will improve the system.
C2 noun /ˈprɒsɪlaɪt/
proselyte
Meaning
A person who has converted from one belief, opinion, or religion to another.
Example
She became a proselyte after converting to a new faith.
A2 noun /pæn/
Pan
Meaning
a wide, flat-bottomed cooking utensil used for frying, searing, and browning foods
Example
Heat the oil in a large pan before adding the vegetables.
C1 noun /ˈpɛndənt/
pendant
Meaning
a piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain worn around the neck
Example
She wore a silver pendant around her neck.
C1 adjective /ˈpʌlməˌneri/
pulmonary
Meaning
relating to the lungs
Example
The patient suffered from a serious pulmonary infection.
C1 noun /ˌpeɪ.li.ɒnˈtɒl.ə.dʒi/
paleontology
Meaning
the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants
Example
She decided to study paleontology at university.
C1 noun /ˌpɜːrmjuˈteɪʃən/
permutation
Meaning
An arrangement or reordering of elements, often in mathematics or logic.
Example
The puzzle can be solved by trying all possible permutations of the tiles.
A2 adjective /ˈplɛzənt/
pleasant
Meaning
giving a sense of happiness, enjoyment, or satisfaction
Example
We had a pleasant evening at the park.
A1 noun /ˈpiːpl/
people
Meaning
a group of human beings collectively
Example
The people in the town gathered for the festival.
B2 noun /ˈpɑːrtɪkəl/
particle
Meaning
a very small piece or amount of something
Example
Dust particles floated in the air near the window.
B1 noun, verb /paʊnd/
pound
Meaning
a unit of weight equal to 16 ounces or a unit of currency
Example
The price of the book is five pounds.
B2 adjective /ˈprɪv.ə.lɪdʒd/
Privileged
Meaning
having special advantages; favored; elite
Example
She comes from a privileged background with many opportunities.
A2 verb /prɪˈtɛnd/
pretend
Meaning
To act as if something is true when it is not.
Example
The children pretended to be superheroes.
B2 noun /ˈpæm.flət/
pamphlet
Meaning
a small booklet or brochure containing information or arguments about a subject
Example
The health department distributed a pamphlet about nutrition.
C2 adjective /ˈpɑːrtəbl/
partible
Meaning
capable of being divided or separated
Example
The estate was partible among the heirs.
B2 noun /ˈpraɪ.vət ˈtuː.tər/
Private tutor
Meaning
a teacher who gives individual instruction to a student outside of regular school
Example
The private tutor helped the student improve his math skills.
B2 noun /fəˈnɒmɪnən/
phenomenon
Meaning
an observable event, fact, or occurrence, often unusual or remarkable
Example
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon.
B2 adjective /ˈpraɪ.ər/
Prior
Meaning
existing or coming before in time; previous; earlier
Example
You need prior approval before making any changes to the system.
C2 adjective /ˌpəʊstˈprændɪəl/
postprandial
Meaning
Occurring after a meal.
Example
He went for a postprandial walk after dinner.
B2 noun /pəˈnɪn.sjə.lə/
Peninsula
Meaning
a piece of land that is almost completely surrounded by water but connected to the mainland
Example
The Korean Peninsula is located in East Asia.
C1 adjective /ˈpɪθ.i/
pithy
Meaning
concise and meaningful; full of substance
Example
She gave a pithy comment that summarized the issue perfectly.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɔːrˈdeɪn/
preordain
Meaning
To decide or determine an outcome in advance, especially by fate or divine will.
Example
They believed their meeting was preordained by destiny.
C2 verb /prəˈpɪʃieɪt/
propitiate
Meaning
to win or regain the favor of someone by doing something that pleases them
Example
He offered gifts to propitiate the angry gods.
C2 adjective /prɪˈhɛnsɪbəl/
prehensible
Meaning
capable of being grasped or seized
Example
The tool has a prehensible handle that improves safety.
A2 noun /ˈpɑːsˌpɔːrt/
passport
Meaning
an official government document that identifies a person and allows them to travel internationally
Example
She renewed her passport before traveling abroad.
B2 adjective /prəˈɡrɛsɪv/
progressive
Meaning
favoring or implementing new and modern ideas or policies; moving forward or improving
Example
She holds progressive views on social justice and equality.
C1 verb /ˈpʌməl/
pummel
Meaning
To strike repeatedly with the fists; to beat or hit forcefully.
Example
The boxer pummeled his opponent in the final round.
C1 noun /pəˈsweɪsɪvnes/
persuasiveness
Meaning
The quality of being good at persuading someone to do or believe something.
Example
Her persuasiveness convinced the team to follow her suggestions.
B2 verb /pərˈsuː/
pursue
Meaning
to follow or chase with the intent to catch or achieve something
Example
She decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a doctor.
C2 noun /ˈprɑːflɪɡəsi/
profligacy
Meaning
reckless wastefulness or extravagance
Example
His profligacy with money led him to bankruptcy.
B2 adjective ˌprəʊˈæk.tɪv
proactive
Meaning
Taking action by causing change and not only reacting to change when it happens.
Example
Proactive strategies are needed to combat scarcity.
C2 noun /ˈpʌlkrɪˌtjuːd/
pulchritude
Meaning
physical beauty
Example
The actress was admired for her pulchritude as well as her talent.
C1 adjective /ˈprevələnt/
Prevalent
Meaning
widespread; existing very commonly; generally occurring
Example
Smoking is still prevalent among teenagers despite health warnings.
C1 verb /prəˈlɪf.ə.reɪt/
proliferate
Meaning
To increase rapidly in numbers; to grow or spread quickly and extensively.
Example
Startups tend to proliferate in a thriving economy.
C2 noun /ˈfærɪsiː/
pharisee
Meaning
A member of an ancient Jewish sect; by extension, a self-righteous or hypocritical person.
Example
He acted like a pharisee, judging others while ignoring his own faults.
C1 verb /ˌpriːˈmɛdɪteɪt/
premeditate
Meaning
to think about and plan something (especially a crime) beforehand
Example
The suspect was accused of premeditating the crime.
C2 noun /ˈplɛdʒɔːr/
pledgeor
Meaning
a person who gives or offers a pledge or security
Example
The bank accepted the jewelry from the pledgeor as collateral for the loan.
C1 noun/verb /ˈprɛdɪkət/ (noun), /ˈprɛdɪkeɪt/ (verb)
predicate
Meaning
noun: the part of a sentence that tells something about the subject; verb: to base or establish something on a particular idea
Example
His theory is predicated on sound research.
A2 adverb /ˈprɒb.ə.bli/
Probably
Meaning
almost certainly; very likely; in all likelihood
Example
He will probably arrive late tonight.
B2 noun /ˈpɔːrɪdʒ/
porridge
Meaning
A soft food made by boiling oats or other grains in milk or water.
Example
She had a bowl of porridge for breakfast.
C1 adjective /ˈpjuːtrɪd/
putrid
Meaning
decayed and emitting a foul smell
Example
The garbage smelled putrid after days in the sun.
C1 adjective /ˈpiːkənt/
piquant
Meaning
having a pleasantly sharp or spicy taste; interestingly provocative
Example
The chef added a piquant sauce to the dish to enhance its flavor.
C2 noun /ˈplɛbɪsaɪt/
plebiscite
Meaning
a direct vote by the electorate on an important public question
Example
The government held a plebiscite to decide on the new constitution.
C1 adjective /pərˈtɜːrbd/
perturbed
Meaning
feeling anxious, unsettled, or disturbed
Example
He looked perturbed after hearing the bad news.
C2 adjective /ˌpaɪroʊˈtɛknɪk/
pyrotechnic
Meaning
Relating to fireworks or spectacular displays involving fire.
Example
The city celebrated with a grand pyrotechnic display on New Year's Eve.
C1 adjective /pɪˈkjuːniˌɛri/
pecuniary
Meaning
relating to money or financial matters
Example
They faced pecuniary difficulties after the business failed.
B1 verb /piːl/
peel
Meaning
to remove the outer covering or skin from a fruit or vegetable
Example
She peeled the mango before eating it.
C2 noun /ˈpɛdəˌɡɒɡ/
pedagogue
Meaning
a teacher, especially a strict or formal one
Example
The old pedagogue insisted on discipline in the classroom.
B2 adjective /pɪˈkjuː.li.ər/
Peculiar
Meaning
strange or odd; unusual; belonging exclusively to
Example
She has a peculiar way of speaking.
C1 noun /ˈpaɪ.ə.ti/
Piety
Meaning
the quality of being religious or reverent; devout religious belief and practice
Example
His piety was evident in his daily prayers.
B1 noun /pəˈsɪf.ɪk ˈoʊ.ʃən/
Pacific Ocean
Meaning
The largest and deepest ocean on Earth, stretching from Asia to the Americas.
Example
The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on Earth.
C2 noun /ˈpɪərɪdʒ/
peerage
Meaning
the title or rank of a peer; the nobility as a group
Example
He was elevated to the peerage by the king.
B2 noun /ˈprəʊsesə/
processor
Meaning
a machine or device that processes something, especially a computer's central processing unit (CPU)
Example
The new laptop has a faster processor.
C1 adjective /præɡˈmæt.ɪk/
pragmatic
Meaning
Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than idealistic considerations.
Example
He took a pragmatic approach to solving the financial crisis.
A2 noun /ˌpɒsəˈbɪləti/
possibility
Meaning
something that may happen or be the case; a chance that something exists or might occur
Example
There is a strong possibility of rain tomorrow.
C2 adjective /ˌfoʊtoʊɪˈlɛktrɪk/
photoelectric
Meaning
relating to the emission of electrons or other free carriers when light shines on a material
Example
The photoelectric effect is fundamental in solar panels.
A2 verb /plænt/
plant
Meaning
to put seeds or plants in the ground; to place something firmly
Example
She planted roses in her garden.
C1 noun /ˌprɒpəˈɡeɪʃən/
propagation
Meaning
The action of spreading and promoting an idea, theory, etc.
Example
The propagation of ideas through social media is rapid.
C1 noun /ˌpæl.pɪˈteɪ.ʃən/
Palpitation
Meaning
a noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat due to agitation or medical condition
Example
She experienced palpitations before her job interview.
C2 noun /pəˈlɛmɪk/
polemic
Meaning
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
Example
The article was a fierce polemic against the government's policies.
C2 adjective /ˈpʌdʒi/
pudgy
Meaning
slightly fat or chubby in a way that is often cute
Example
The baby had pudgy cheeks that everyone adored.
A2 noun /ˈprɪn.ses/
princess
Meaning
a female royal family member, especially the daughter of a king or queen; a woman regarded as noble, cherished, or elegant
Example
The princess waved to the crowd from the palace balcony.
C1 verb/noun /pərˈvɜːrt/
pervert
Meaning
As a verb: to distort the meaning or purpose of something; as a noun: a person with abnormal or immoral sexual behavior.
Example
He tried to pervert the truth to escape punishment.
B2 verb /prəˈkleɪm/
proclaim
Meaning
to announce something publicly or officially, especially something important
Example
The president proclaimed a national day of mourning.
A1 verb /peɪ/
pay
Meaning
to give money in exchange for goods or services
Example
I need to pay my bills on time.
A2 noun; adverb /pərˈsɛnt/
percent
Meaning
a proportion out of one hundred; by each hundred
Example
Sales increased by ten percent this year.
B2 noun /ˈprɛsɪdənt/
precedent
Meaning
An earlier event or decision that serves as a guide or example for future similar situations.
Example
The judge’s ruling set a new precedent for similar cases.
C1 adjective /ˈpraɪ.məl/
primal
Meaning
Relating to the earliest stage of development; essential or fundamental.
Example
Fear is one of the most primal emotions humans experience.
C1 noun prəˈpɛn.sə.ti
propensity
Meaning
An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.
Example
He has a propensity for taking risks in business.
A1 noun /ˈpɛnsəl/
pencil
Meaning
an instrument for writing or drawing, typically made of wood with a graphite core
Example
He drew a picture with a pencil.
B2 verb /pruːn/
prune
Meaning
to cut off unwanted parts of a plant or tree to help it grow better
Example
Gardeners prune the trees in spring to encourage growth.
C1 noun ˌpraɪ.vɪ.taɪˈzeɪ.ʃən
privatization
Meaning
The transfer of a business, industry, or service from public to private ownership and control.
Example
The privatization of state-owned companies increased efficiency.