peevish
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
C1 adjective /ˈpiːvɪʃ/

peevish

Meaning
Easily irritated, especially by unimportant things.
Example
The child grew peevish when denied candy.
C2 verb /ˌaʊtməˈnuːvər/

outmaneuver

Meaning
to gain an advantage over an opponent by skillful or clever action
Example
The smaller company managed to outmaneuver its larger rival.
A2 noun /əˈraɪvəl/

Arrival

Meaning
the action or process of arriving; the reaching of a destination
Example
The arrival of the train was delayed by two hours.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnˌkɒnsɪˈkwɛnʃəl/

inconsequential

Meaning
Not important or significant; too small to matter.
Example
The mistake was minor and inconsequential.
A2 adjective /pjʊər/

Pure

Meaning
clean; clear; untainted; without discrimination;
Example
The water from the mountain spring is pure.
C1 verb /ˈvɪn.dɪ.keɪt/

vindicate

Meaning
To clear someone of blame or suspicion; to show or prove to be right, reasonable, or justified.
Example
The new evidence helped vindicate the wrongly accused man.
C1 adjective ˈriːdʒən spəˈsɪfɪk

region-specific

Meaning
Relating to or characteristic of a particular region or area.
Example
Climate change impacts are region-specific.
C2 verb /ˌfɔːrɔːrˈdeɪn/

foreordain

Meaning
to determine or decree something in advance; to predestine
Example
Some believe that our lives are foreordained by fate.
C2 noun /ˈhʌm.ək/

hummock

Meaning
A small hill, mound, or ridge of earth or ice.
Example
The hikers rested on a grassy hummock by 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.
B2 noun /ɪkˈspen.dɪ.tʃər/

expenditure

Meaning
The action of spending funds; an amount of money spent.
Example
Managing expenditure is critical for budgeting.
B1 noun /vɒlˈkeɪ.noʊ/

Volcano

Meaning
a mountain with an opening through which lava, gas, and ash can escape
Example
The volcano erupted after being dormant for decades.
C1 noun ˌdjʊə.rəˈbɪl.ə.ti

durability

Meaning
The ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing.
Example
The durability of materials affects performance.
B2 verb /ˌoʊvərˈsiː/

oversee

Meaning
to supervise or watch over something; to manage and direct
Example
The manager will oversee the entire construction project.
C1 noun /təˈbuː/

taboo

Meaning
a social or cultural prohibition against certain practices or discussions
Example
Talking about money is considered a taboo in some cultures.
C1 noun /əˈdʒeɪsənsi/

adjacency

Meaning
The state of being next to or adjoining something else.
Example
The adjacency of the two buildings made it easy to connect them.
A2 noun /ˈmɒn.stər/

Monster

Meaning
a large, ugly, and frightening imaginary creature; a cruel person
Example
The children were scared of the monster under the bed.
C1 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈskrɪmɪnət/

indiscriminate

Meaning
Done without careful judgment; random or haphazard.
Example
The indiscriminate use of pesticides harms the environment.
C2 adjective /ˈɛrənt/

errant

Meaning
behaving wrongly or straying from the proper course or standards
Example
The teacher disciplined the errant student.
C1 noun /ˌɪn.trəˈvɜːr.ʒən/

introversion

Meaning
The tendency to be inward-looking and shy, preferring solitary activities.
Example
Her introversion made it difficult for her to enjoy large parties.
C1 noun /kwɪnˈtɛt/

quintet

Meaning
A group of five people or things, especially musicians.
Example
The jazz quintet performed beautifully.
B2 verb /ɪˈnækt/

enact

Meaning
to make into law; to perform or act out
Example
The government decided to enact a new policy on education.
C2 adjective /ˌkloʊs ˈhɔːld/

close-hauled

Meaning
of a sailing ship, sailing as nearly as possible towards the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Example
The yacht was close-hauled as it cut through the waves.
A2 noun ˈmuːv.mənts

movements

Meaning
Organized efforts by groups of people working together to advance their shared political, social, or artistic ideas.
Example
Freedom movements paved the way for independence.
C2 noun /prəˈpɪŋkwɪti/

propinquity

Meaning
the state of being close to someone or something; proximity
Example
The propinquity of their houses made them close friends.
B2 adjective /ˈpɛti/

petty

Meaning
Of little importance or trivial; also describes a person overly concerned with small or unimportant matters.
Example
She often gets upset over the most petty things.
C2 noun /bəˈkuːl/

Bakul

Meaning
a fragrant white flower native to South Asia, scientifically known as Mimusops elengi
Example
The sweet fragrance of bakul flowers filled the evening air in the village.
A2 noun /ɪŋk/

Ink

Meaning
a colored fluid used for writing, drawing, or printing; a dark liquid ejected by cuttlefish
Example
The old fountain pen leaked ink all over his white shirt during the meeting.
C2 noun /dɪnt/

dint

Meaning
an impression or hollow made by a blow; force or power
Example
By dint of hard work, he achieved success.
A2 noun /ˈtʃer.i/

Cherry

Meaning
a small round red or black fruit with a hard seed inside
Example
She picked fresh cherries from the tree in her garden.
B1 noun /ˈref.ər.əns/

Reference

Meaning
the action of mentioning or alluding to something; a source of information
Example
Please provide references to support your research claims.
C1 adverb /ˈfeɪ.təl.i/

Fatally

Meaning
in a way that causes death; with deadly consequences; critically
Example
The accident fatally injured two passengers.
C1 verb /ˈkɒnsɔːrt/

consort

Meaning
To associate with someone, typically with disapproval; also, a spouse of a reigning monarch.
Example
He was criticized for consorting with criminals.
C1 noun dɪˈsʌɪsɪvnɪs

decisiveness

Meaning
The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
Example
His decisiveness during the crisis saved the company.
B2 noun steɪks

stakes

Meaning
A strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end, driven into the ground.
Example
The stakes were high for the success of the 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.
B1 noun ˈbæl.ənst daɪ.ət

balanced diet

Meaning
A diet consisting of the proper quantities and proportions of foods needed to maintain health or growth.
Example
A balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health.
B1 adjective /ˈbrɪliənt/

brilliant

Meaning
Exceptionally clever, talented, or impressive; very bright or radiant.
Example
She gave a brilliant performance on stage.
C2 noun /ˌdɛspəˈrɑːdoʊ/

desperado

Meaning
A bold, reckless, or dangerous person, often a criminal.
Example
The sheriff was determined to capture the desperado who terrorized the town.
C2 noun /ˈlɪniəmənt/

lineament

Meaning
A distinctive feature or characteristic, especially of the face.
Example
Her delicate lineaments revealed her noble birth.
C2 adverb /əˈθwɔːrt/

athwart

Meaning
Across or in opposition to something.
Example
A fallen tree lay athwart the road, blocking traffic.
C2 verb /bɪˈdɛk/

bedeck

Meaning
to decorate or adorn something in a showy way
Example
The hall was bedecked with flowers for the wedding.
B1 noun /trænzˈleɪtər/

translator

Meaning
a person or tool that converts words or text from one language into another
Example
The translator helped the tourists understand the guide.
B2 verb /ɪkˈstrækt/

extract

Meaning
to remove or take out something, often with effort
Example
The dentist had to extract the damaged tooth.
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.
A1 verb, noun /tʃɛk/

check

Meaning
To examine, inspect, or verify something; also a written order to a bank to pay money.
Example
Please check the report before submitting it.
A1 noun /ˈhoʊmwɜːrk/

homework

Meaning
schoolwork that a student does at home
Example
I need to finish my math homework before dinner.
C2 noun /ˈθrɛnədi/

threnody

Meaning
A song, poem, or speech of mourning for someone who has died; a lament.
Example
The poet composed a moving threnody for the fallen soldiers.
C1 noun/verb /ˈtʌtʃ.ʌp/

touch-up

Meaning
Small corrections or improvements made to something.
Example
The artist gave a quick touch-up to the painting.
C1 adjective /ˌtræn.zətˈlæn.tɪk/

transatlantic

Meaning
crossing or spanning the Atlantic Ocean
Example
They took a transatlantic flight from New York to London.
C1 noun /səˈnɑːtə/

sonata

Meaning
A musical composition for one or more instruments, typically in several movements.
Example
She performed a beautiful Beethoven sonata on the piano.
A2 noun /ˈprɛzɪdənt/

president

Meaning
the elected head of a republican state
Example
The president addressed the nation last night.
C1 adjective /prɪˈtɛnʃəs/

pretentious

Meaning
Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.
Example
The restaurant was stylish but far too pretentious for my taste.
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.
C2 noun /ˈmæn.li.nəs/

manliness

Meaning
The quality of being manly; courage, strength, and honor associated with men.
Example
His manliness was admired by his peers.
B2 noun /ˈpredʒ.ə.dɪs/

Prejudice

Meaning
preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience
Example
We must fight against prejudice and discrimination in our society.
B1 noun, verb /ɡrɪl/

grill

Meaning
a metal frame used for cooking food over an open fire; to cook food on such a frame
Example
We grilled some chicken for dinner.
C1 noun /ˈfeɪvərɪtɪzəm/

favoritism

Meaning
the practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group
Example
The manager was accused of favoritism towards certain employees.
C1 noun /veɪl/

vale

Meaning
A valley, often used in a poetic or literary sense.
Example
The village lay hidden in a quiet green vale.
C2 verb /ˈdʌv.teɪl/

dovetail

Meaning
to fit or combine perfectly together
Example
Her plans dovetail perfectly with our goals.
A1 adjective /ˈjuːs.fəl/

Useful

Meaning
having a beneficial purpose; practical
Example
This tool is very useful for fixing problems.
C2 noun /ˌpriːdɪˈlɛkʃən/

predilection

Meaning
A strong liking or preference for something.
Example
She has a predilection for classical music.
B2 noun, verb /ˈblɒsəm/

blossom

Meaning
a flower or mass of flowers on a tree or plant; to develop or flourish
Example
The small garden began to blossom in spring.
B1 noun /ˈɪn.flu.əns/

Influence

Meaning
the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something
Example
The teacher's positive influence helped the student overcome his learning difficulties.
B2 adjective /ˌɪnfluˈenʃəl/

Influential

Meaning
having great influence on someone or something; powerful; persuasive
Example
She is an influential leader in the community.
C1 noun /frɪndʒ/

fringe

Meaning
A decorative border of threads; the outer edge or margin of something.
Example
The festival had a fringe of small independent performances.
C2 verb /breɪz/

braze

Meaning
To join two pieces of metal by heating and melting a filler metal into the joint.
Example
The mechanic brazed the broken pipe to fix the leak.
B2 verb /ˈræm.bəl/

ramble

Meaning
to talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way; to walk for pleasure without a fixed route.
Example
He rambled on about his childhood for hours.
C2 adjective /ˌæn.θrə.pəˈdʒen.ɪk/

anthropogenic

Meaning
Originating in human activity; caused by humans.
Example
Climate change is largely due to anthropogenic activities.
C2 noun /kɒɡˈnoʊmən/

cognomen

Meaning
A family name or surname; an additional name or nickname.
Example
His cognomen became widely known in literary circles.
A2 noun /ˈbʊkstɔːr/

bookstore

Meaning
a shop where books are sold
Example
She spent an entire afternoon browsing in the bookstore.
B2 noun /ɪkˈskluːʒən/

exclusion

Meaning
The process or state of being left out or denied access.
Example
The policy led to the exclusion of certain groups.
C1 adjective /pəˈdæntɪk/

pedantic

Meaning
Excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overly academic or bookish.
Example
Her pedantic explanations made the lecture dull.
B1 noun /ˈmɪs.tər.i/

Mystery

Meaning
something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain
Example
The disappearance of the plane remains a mystery.
B2 noun /ˈtrɔːmə/

trauma

Meaning
a deeply distressing or disturbing experience; physical injury or emotional shock
Example
The accident left her with lasting emotional trauma.
B1 adverb /spəˈsɪfɪkli/

specifically

Meaning
in a clear and exact way
Example
He was specifically asked to handle the finances.
C1 verb /ɪˈdʒɛkt/

eject

Meaning
to force someone or something out, usually from a place or position
Example
The referee had to eject the player for unsportsmanlike behavior.
B2 noun /ˈlaɪ.nər/

liner

Meaning
A large ship used for transporting people or goods regularly, or a material used as a lining inside something.
Example
The luxury liner docked at the port yesterday.
C2 verb /əˈdʌltəreɪt/

adulterate

Meaning
to make something poorer in quality by adding another substance, usually of lower quality
Example
The company was fined for adulterating its products with cheap chemicals.
B2 noun /ˌmɪsˈfɔːrtʃən/

misfortune

Meaning
Bad luck or an unfortunate event.
Example
He suffered the misfortune of losing his job during the recession.
A2 verb /swɪm/

swim

Meaning
to move through water using body movements
Example
I love to swim in the ocean during summer.
B2 noun ˈmoʊ.baɪl sɪˈkjʊr.ə.ti

mobile security

Meaning
Protection of mobile devices and the data stored on them from security threats.
Example
Strong mobile security protects personal information.
B1 noun /sɔːrs/

Source

Meaning
a place, person, or thing from which something originates; the origin of information
Example
The river's source is high in the mountains.
A1 noun /kiː/

Key

Meaning
a small piece of shaped metal used to operate a lock; something that provides a means of access
Example
She lost her house key and couldn't get inside until the locksmith arrived.
C2 noun /ˌpɜːrspɪˈkjuːəti/

perspicuity

Meaning
Clarity and ease in speech or writing; the quality of being clearly expressed.
Example
The perspicuity of his lecture made it easy for students to understand complex topics.
B2 noun /ˌkɒmplɪˈkeɪʃən/

complication

Meaning
A problem or difficulty that makes a situation harder to deal with.
Example
His illness led to serious complications after surgery.
C1 noun prəˈpʌl.ʃən

propulsion

Meaning
The action of driving or pushing forward.
Example
Jet engines provide propulsion for aircraft to travel long distances.
C1 adjective /ˈfliː.tɪŋ/

fleeting

Meaning
Lasting for a very short time; passing quickly.
Example
Happiness can be fleeting, so cherish every moment.
C1 adjective ˈser.ɪ.brəl

cerebral

Meaning
Of the cerebrum of the brain.
Example
Cerebral functions regulate thoughts.
C2 noun ˈdɒɡ.ɪd.nəs

doggedness

Meaning
Stubborn persistence in achieving something without giving up.
Example
His doggedness in pursuing his goals was inspiring.
B2 verb /sweɪ/

sway

Meaning
To move or cause to move slowly or rhythmically back and forth; to influence someone's opinion or decision.
Example
The trees swayed gently in the breeze.
C2 verb /ˈpɛrəɡrɪˌneɪt/

peregrinate

Meaning
To travel or wander from place to place.
Example
He loved to peregrinate across the countryside during summer.
C2 noun, adjective /ˈɡɒsəmər/

gossamer

Meaning
Something light, thin, and delicate, like a fine fabric or cobweb.
Example
The bride's veil was made of delicate gossamer fabric.
C1 noun /krəˈvæs/

crevasse

Meaning
a deep crack in a glacier or the earth’s surface
Example
The climbers carefully crossed the icy crevasse.
C1 verb /ɪnˈtæŋɡəl/

entangle

Meaning
to become twisted together or caught in something; to involve in difficulties
Example
The fish got entangled in the net.
C1 noun /prɒɡˈnoʊsɪs/

prognosis

Meaning
A forecast of the likely outcome of a disease or situation.
Example
The doctor gave a positive prognosis for the patient's recovery.
C2 noun /ˈnaɪəlɪst/

nihilist

Meaning
A person who rejects all religious and moral principles, often believing that life is meaningless.
Example
He was called a nihilist for rejecting all social norms.
C2 noun /ˈsɪkəfənt/

sycophant

Meaning
A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
Example
The manager was surrounded by sycophants who agreed with everything he said.
B2 adjective /ˈreɪʃəl/

racial

Meaning
relating to a race of people
Example
Racial equality is an important issue in many societies.
C2 noun /ˈplɛdʒiː/

pledgee

Meaning
a person to whom something is pledged or given as security
Example
The bank is the pledgee of the collateral until the loan is repaid.
C2 noun /ˌmæk.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Machination

Meaning
a clever scheme or artful plot, usually with evil intent; crafty designing or plotting
Example
The villain's machinations were finally exposed.
B2 noun /ˈdeb.riː/

debris

Meaning
Scattered pieces of waste or remains.
Example
Debris in the eyes causes irritation.
B2 verb /əˈsend/

ascend

Meaning
to go up or climb to a higher position; to rise
Example
The climbers will ascend the mountain at dawn.
C2 adjective /ˈpruːdɪʃ/

prudish

Meaning
having or revealing a tendency to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity
Example
She was too prudish to watch the movie with her friends.
B2 noun ˈæp.ə.taɪt

appetite

Meaning
A natural desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food.
Example
Junk food increases appetite unnaturally.
B2 noun ˌɪr.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən

irrigation

Meaning
The artificial application of water to land or soil.
Example
Irrigation systems improve crop yields in dry regions.
B2 noun /dəˈmeɪn/

domain

Meaning
An area of knowledge, activity, or territory over which control is exercised.
Example
Mathematics is her main domain of expertise.
C1 adjective /sɑːrˈdɒnɪk/

sardonic

Meaning
Grimly mocking or cynical.
Example
She gave him a sardonic smile after hearing his excuse.
B2 noun/adjective /ˈfluːɪd/

fluid

Meaning
a substance that can flow easily, such as liquid or gas; smooth and adaptable
Example
The artist's fluid movements impressed the audience.
C1 verb /əˈkwɪt/

acquit

Meaning
to declare someone not guilty of a criminal charge; to conduct oneself in a specified way
Example
The jury decided to acquit the defendant of all charges.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈwɪtɪŋ/

unwitting

Meaning
Not aware of what is happening; done without realizing.
Example
She became an unwitting participant in the scam.
B2 verb /ɪnˈdjuːs/

induce

Meaning
to cause or persuade someone to do something; to bring about a result
Example
The doctor induced sleep with a mild sedative.
C1 noun /ˌæntɪˈsiːdənt/

antecedent

Meaning
something that came before; a previous event, condition, or cause
Example
The cultural antecedents of this festival go back centuries.
C2 noun /ˈriːbəs/

rebus

Meaning
a puzzle in which words are represented by pictures, symbols, or letters
Example
The children enjoyed solving the rebus puzzles in the magazine.
C2 noun /blæk ˈkɑːr.də.məm/

Black Cardamom

Meaning
a large aromatic spice pod with a smoky flavor, commonly used in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking
Example
Add black cardamom to the curry for a rich, smoky flavor.
C2 noun /ˈseɪ.li.əns/

salience

Meaning
The quality of being particularly noticeable or important; prominence.
Example
The salience of the issue was highlighted in the debate.
C1 adjective /ˈpʌlməˌneri/

pulmonary

Meaning
relating to the lungs
Example
The patient suffered from a serious pulmonary infection.
B1 noun /kənˈfjuː.ʒən/

Confusion

Meaning
lack of understanding; uncertainty; the state of being bewildered or unclear in one's mind
Example
There was confusion about the meeting time, so half the team arrived late.
B1 noun /ˈkʌˈs.təm/

Custom

Meaning
a traditional practice or behavior; duties levied on imports; habitual practice
Example
It is a local custom to remove shoes before entering someone's home.
B2 noun /ˈrerəti/

Rarity

Meaning
the state of being rare; something that is uncommon or scarce
Example
The antique vase was a rarity worth thousands of dollars.
C1 noun /lɪˈbiːdoʊ/

libido

Meaning
Sexual desire or drive.
Example
Stress can sometimes lower a person's libido.