steep
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
B2 adjective /stiːp/

steep

Meaning
Having a sharp inclination or high slope; also can mean excessive (as in price).
Example
The hikers climbed a steep mountain trail.
B1 noun /skɑːrf/

Scarf

Meaning
a length of fabric worn around the neck or head for warmth, protection, or fashion
Example
She wrapped a warm scarf around her neck in the cold weather.
B1 adjective /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/

significant

Meaning
Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.
Example
Social media has a significant impact on relationships.
C1 adjective /ˈstrætɪfaɪd/

stratified

Meaning
arranged or classified in layers or strata
Example
Society in the past was highly stratified based on class and wealth.
A1 verb /sɪŋ/

sing

Meaning
to make musical sounds with the voice
Example
She sings beautifully in the choir.
B2 verb /swel/

swell

Meaning
to become larger, rounder, or thicker; to increase in size
Example
Her ankle began to swell after the injury.
B2 noun /ˌsɛlf rɪˈspɛkt/

self-respect

Meaning
A feeling of pride and confidence in oneself; self-worth.
Example
She refused to compromise her self-respect by accepting unfair treatment.
A2 noun /steɪdʒ/

stage

Meaning
a raised platform or area for performances or presentations
Example
The actor stepped onto the stage to deliver his speech.
C2 noun /ˈsætər/

satyr

Meaning
a creature from Greek mythology depicted as a lustful being, often half-man and half-goat; by extension, a lecherous man
Example
In the museum mural, a satyr plays the panpipes while dancing in the woods.
B2 verb /ˈstɑːrtl/

startle

Meaning
To surprise or frighten someone suddenly.
Example
The loud noise startled the children.
C2 adjective sɑːˈtɔːrɪəl

sartorial

Meaning
Of or relating to clothing or style or manner of dress.
Example
His sartorial choices were always on trend and admired.
B2 noun /ˈspəʊksmən/

spokesman

Meaning
a person who speaks on behalf of others, especially for a group or organization
Example
The spokesman addressed the crowd during the rally.
C1 noun /sɪˈkluːʒən/

seclusion

Meaning
The state of being private, away from other people.
Example
She spent the weekend in complete seclusion in her cabin.
C2 noun /ˈseɪ.ɡoʊ/

Sago

Meaning
starchy foodstuff obtained from the pith of various tropical palm stems
Example
She prepared sago pudding for dessert.
C1 adjective /ˈspɛərɪŋ/

sparing

Meaning
Using or giving only a little of something; economical.
Example
She is sparing in her use of words.
B2 noun /strɪp/

Strip

Meaning
a long narrow piece of cloth, paper, plastic, or other material
Example
She tore a strip of paper from the notebook.
B2 adjective /ˈspaɪ.rəl/

Spiral

Meaning
winding in a continuous curve; helical
Example
The spiral staircase led to the top floor.
C2 adjective /ˌsɒfəˈmɒrɪk/

sophomoric

Meaning
showing immaturity and overconfidence, like a sophomore
Example
His sophomoric behavior embarrassed his friends.
A1 noun /ˈsæləd/

salad

Meaning
a dish consisting of various ingredients, typically including vegetables, which are usually mixed with a dressing
Example
She made a fresh salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
C1 adjective /spəˈrædɪk/

sporadic

Meaning
Occurring irregularly or in scattered instances rather than continuously.
Example
The region experienced sporadic rain showers throughout the week.
B2 noun /ˈsiː.mən/

Seaman

Meaning
a person who works on a ship; sailor
Example
The experienced seaman navigated the ship through the storm.
C2 noun /seɪn/

seine

Meaning
A large fishing net that hangs vertically in the water.
Example
The fishermen cast their seine into the river.
B1 adjective /ʃeɪpt/

shaped

Meaning
having a particular form or appearance
Example
The sculpture was shaped like a human figure.
A2 adjective /skɛrd/

scared

Meaning
feeling afraid or worried
Example
She was scared of the dark.
B1 noun /ˈsʌb.mə.riːn/

Sub-marine

Meaning
a warship with a streamlined hull designed to operate completely submerged in the sea
Example
The submarine dived deep into the ocean to avoid detection.
C1 noun ˌsɛlf.rɪˈstreɪnt

self-restraint

Meaning
The practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically an impulse or desire.
Example
Practicing self-restraint helps in avoiding impulsive decisions.
C1 verb /skwɪnt/

squint

Meaning
to look with partly closed eyes
Example
She squinted at the bright sunlight.
C1 adjective /ˈseɪ.li.ənt/

salient

Meaning
Most important, prominent, or noticeable
Example
The report highlighted the salient points of the discussion.
B2 noun /ˌsɛlf əˈwɛə.nəs/

self-awareness

Meaning
Conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives, and desires.
Example
Self-awareness helps in understanding one's emotions and actions.
B2 adjective /senˈseɪʃənəl/

Sensational

Meaning
causing great excitement or shock; extremely impressive
Example
The sensational performance left the audience speechless.
A2 noun ˈsaɪəns

science

Meaning
The intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.
Example
Science continues to explore the unknown.
B1 noun /slaɪs/

Slice

Meaning
a thin, flat piece cut from something larger
Example
Would you like a slice of pizza?
A2 adjective /ˈspænɪʃ/

spanish

Meaning
relating to Spain or the Spanish language
Example
She is fluent in Spanish and French.
B2 noun/verb /ˈsɜːveɪ/

survey

Meaning
noun: an examination or inspection; verb: to examine or measure (an area or subject)
Example
They conducted a survey to understand customer preferences.
C1 adjective /səbˈmɪs.ɪv/

Submissive

Meaning
ready to obey others; yielding to authority; humble and compliant
Example
She became submissive after years of harsh treatment.
C1 adjective /ˈsted.fæst/

Steadfast

Meaning
firm in belief, determination, or adherence; unwavering
Example
She remained steadfast in her commitment to helping the poor.
C2 adjective /sɪˈlæbɪk/

syllabic

Meaning
Relating to or based on syllables.
Example
The teacher explained the syllabic structure of the word.
C1 adjective ˌsəʊsɪəʊpəˈlɪtɪkəl

sociopolitical

Meaning
Combining social and political factors.
Example
Sociopolitical factors often influence public policy decisions.
C2 noun /ˌspoʊliˈeɪʃən/

spoliation

Meaning
The act of destroying or ruining something, often evidence or property.
Example
The court punished the company for the spoliation of evidence.
B1 noun ˈsɛʃənz

sessions

Meaning
A meeting of an official body, especially a court of law, to conduct its business; a period devoted to a particular activity.
Example
The sessions lasted for three hours.
B2 adverb /sɪˈvɪərli/

severely

Meaning
to a great degree; very seriously or harshly
Example
The patient was severely injured in the accident.
A1 noun /ˈsekənd/

second

Meaning
a unit of time equal to one sixtieth of a minute; also the position after first
Example
He finished the race in second place.
C1 verb/noun /ˈswæɡ.ər/

swagger

Meaning
To walk or behave in a very confident and arrogant way.
Example
He swaggered into the room as if he owned the place.
C1 adjective /ˌsæŋktɪˈmoʊniəs/

sanctimonious

Meaning
Making a show of being morally superior to others; hypocritically pious.
Example
He gave a sanctimonious speech about honesty while he himself was corrupt.
C1 noun /ˈsɛmbləns/

Semblance

Meaning
the outward appearance or apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different
Example
There was only a semblance of order in the chaotic office.
C1 verb /spɔːn/

spawn

Meaning
to produce or generate, often in large numbers
Example
The video game has spawned many sequels.
B1 noun səˈluː.ʃənz

solutions

Meaning
A means of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.
Example
Biotechnology provides solutions to environmental challenges.
B2 adjective səˈsteɪ.nə.bəl

sustainable

Meaning
Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level; conserving an ecological balance.
Example
Sustainable practices mitigate environmental impact.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛm.iˈæn.ju.əl/

semiannual

Meaning
Occurring twice a year; every six months.
Example
The company holds a semiannual meeting with all employees.
C1 noun /ˈʃeɪvɪŋ/

shaving

Meaning
the act of removing hair with a razor; a thin strip or piece shaved from something
Example
He bought a new cream for shaving.
B2 adjective /steɪl/

Stale

Meaning
no longer fresh; lacking originality or novelty
Example
The bread became stale after sitting out for three days.
B1 adverb /səkˈsɛsfəli/

successfully

Meaning
in a way that achieves a desired result
Example
She passed the exam successfully after weeks of studying.
B2 noun /skʌl/

Skull

Meaning
the bony framework of the head that protects the brain
Example
The doctor examined the skull X-ray carefully.
C1 adjective /ˈspɑːrtn/

spartan

Meaning
showing simplicity and lack of luxury; austere
Example
He lived in a spartan room with just a bed and a chair.
B2 noun /ˈsæŋk.tʃuˌɛr.i/

sanctuary

Meaning
A place of safety, refuge, or protection; a sacred place.
Example
The forest is a sanctuary for endangered animals.
C1 adjective /ˈskeɪðɪŋ/

scathing

Meaning
severely critical; harshly scornful
Example
The critic wrote a scathing review of the movie.
C1 verb /siːð/

seethe

Meaning
To be filled with intense but unexpressed anger or agitation.
Example
She was seething with anger after the unfair decision.
C2 noun /səbˈsɜːviəns/

subservience

Meaning
the condition of being too willing to obey or serve others
Example
His subservience to authority annoyed his colleagues.
C2 verb /səˈbɔːrn/

suborn

Meaning
to bribe or induce someone unlawfully to perform an act, especially to commit perjury
Example
The lawyer was accused of trying to suborn a witness.
C1 adjective /ˈskrʌfi/

Scruffy

Meaning
untidy or unkempt in appearance; shabby and worn
Example
The scruffy old dog wandered through the streets looking for food.
B2 noun, verb /striːk/

streak

Meaning
a long, thin line or mark; to move very quickly in a specified direction
Example
Lightning streaked across the night sky.
B2 verb /ˈskroʊlɪŋ/

scrolling

Meaning
Moving through content on a screen by sliding up or down.
Example
Scrolling through feeds wastes a lot of time.
B2 adverb ˌsɪməlˈteɪnɪəsli

simultaneously

Meaning
At the same time; occurring or existing at the same time.
Example
He worked on two projects simultaneously.
C1 noun /sɪˈsɛʃən/

secession

Meaning
The action of formally withdrawing from membership of a federation or body.
Example
The secession of the southern states led to the Civil War.
C1 adjective /səkˈsɪŋkt/

succinct

Meaning
Briefly and clearly expressed; characterized by clear, precise expression in few words.
Example
His speech was succinct and impactful.
C1 noun /spæt/

spat

Meaning
a short, petty quarrel or argument
Example
They had a brief spat about who should do the dishes.
B2 adjective /ˈskætərd/

Scattered

Meaning
spread widely apart; dispersed; occurring here and there
Example
Scattered showers are expected throughout the day.
A2 noun /stɛp/

step

Meaning
a movement made by lifting one foot and putting it down in a new position
Example
She took a step towards the door.
B2 noun /ˈsɪmbəl/

Symbol

Meaning
a mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process
Example
The dove is a symbol of peace.
B2 adjective /ˈspeɪ.ʃəs/

Spacious

Meaning
having a lot of space; roomy and comfortable
Example
The house has a spacious living room with high ceilings.
C2 adjective /ˌsɛm.iˈkɒn.ʃəs/

semiconscious

Meaning
Only partly conscious; not fully aware of surroundings.
Example
He was semiconscious after the accident and could barely respond.
C2 noun /ˈsiːkənt/

secant

Meaning
A straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points.
Example
In geometry, a secant cuts the circle at two distinct points.
C1 adjective /ˈstɪndʒi/

stingy

Meaning
unwilling to spend or give; miserly
Example
He is too stingy to buy a gift for his friend.
B2 adjective /ˌsʌp.lɪˈmen.tər.i/

Supplementary

Meaning
completing or making an addition to something; additional; extra
Example
Students need to buy supplementary books for the course.
B2 adjective /ˈstæt.ɪk/

static

Meaning
Lacking in movement, action, or change; stationary.
Example
Static ideas hinder progress.
A2 noun, verb, adjective /saʊnd/

sound

Meaning
a sensation perceived by the ear; to make or cause to make a noise; in good condition
Example
The bell sounded across the valley.
C2 verb /ˈstjuːpɪˌfaɪ/

stupefy

Meaning
to make someone unable to think clearly, usually because of surprise or shock
Example
The magician's tricks stupefied the audience.
C1 adjective /ˈswɛltərɪŋ/

sweltering

Meaning
uncomfortably hot
Example
The sweltering heat made it hard to work.
B2 noun /ˌsɛlf ɪˈstiːm/

self-esteem

Meaning
confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect
Example
Building self-esteem takes time and consistent effort.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌmp.tʃu.əs/

sumptuous

Meaning
Splendid and expensive-looking; luxurious.
Example
The guests were treated to a sumptuous banquet.
B2 noun, verb /stɛm/

stem

Meaning
Noun: The main stalk of a plant. Verb: To stop or restrict the flow or development of something.
Example
The gardener cut the stem of the rose; New policies aim to stem the flow of pollution.
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.
B1 verb /sərˈvaɪv/

survive

Meaning
To continue to live or exist after a difficult event or situation.
Example
He managed to survive the storm.
B2 adjective strəˈtiː.dʒɪk

strategic

Meaning
Relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them.
Example
Strategic policies enhance competitiveness.
B2 adverb /ˈsiː.mɪŋ.li/

seemingly

Meaning
appearing to be true, but not necessarily so
Example
He was seemingly calm despite the chaos around him.
B2 noun /ˈsɒr.oʊ/

Sorrow

Meaning
a feeling of deep distress caused by loss or disappointment
Example
His heart was filled with sorrow after the tragedy.
C2 noun /ˈsɪnəd/

synod

Meaning
An assembly of the clergy in a Christian church convened to decide on issues of doctrine or administration.
Example
The synod gathered to discuss reforms in the church.
C2 noun /səˈɡæs.ə.t̬i/

sagacity

Meaning
The quality of being sagacious; having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment.
Example
His sagacity made him a great leader.
C1 noun /ˌsɛnsɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən/

sensitization

Meaning
The process of becoming sensitive to a substance, situation, or influence.
Example
The doctor warned about the sensitization caused by repeated exposure to chemicals.
C2 adjective /ˈsɪnjuːi/

sinewy

Meaning
Lean and muscular; strong and tough.
Example
The athlete had a sinewy build that showed his strength.
C1 verb/noun /snɑːrl/

snarl

Meaning
to growl aggressively with bared teeth; a tangle or mess
Example
The dog snarled at the stranger near the gate.
C1 noun /sʌˈmeɪʃən/

summation

Meaning
The process of adding things together; a summary of points.
Example
The lawyer gave a powerful summation of the case.
A1 verb /stænd/

stand

Meaning
to be in an upright position; to tolerate or endure
Example
Please stand up when the teacher enters.
B2 verb, noun /stɔːl/

stall

Meaning
to stop or cause to stop temporarily; a small shop or stand
Example
The car stalled on the way to the office.
B2 noun, verb /steɪk/

stake

Meaning
A share or interest in a business or venture; to risk or support something of value.
Example
He has a major stake in the new company.
B1 verb /sɪŋk/

sink

Meaning
to go down below the surface; to descend
Example
The ship sinks in the deep ocean.
C2 verb /slʌf/ or /sluː/

slough

Meaning
To shed or cast off (like dead skin); also a swampy or muddy area.
Example
The snake sloughed off its old skin.
C1 adjective /ˈskræpi/

scrappy

Meaning
Determined and willing to fight or argue; also messy or disorganized.
Example
Despite being small, he was a scrappy fighter.
C1 noun /sɪˈnɒpsɪs/

synopsis

Meaning
a brief summary of the main points of a text, film, or research
Example
The publisher asked the author to submit a one-page synopsis of the novel.
B2 noun /ˈsɪɡ.nəlz/

signals

Meaning
A gesture, action, or sound conveying information or instructions.
Example
Signals from deep space were detected last week.
C1 noun ˌskeɪ.ləˈbɪl.ə.ti

scalability

Meaning
The capacity to be changed in size or scale; the ability of a system to handle a growing amount of work.
Example
The new software offers high scalability for large enterprises.
C1 adjective /ʃruːd/

Shrewd

Meaning
having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute
Example
The shrewd businessman made a profitable deal in the competitive market.
B1 adjective /skɪld/

Skilled

Meaning
having or showing the knowledge, ability, or training to perform certain activities or work well
Example
He is a skilled carpenter who can build beautiful furniture.
B2 verb /spɪn/

spin

Meaning
To turn around quickly or cause something to rotate
Example
The dancer began to spin gracefully on the stage.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛlf ˈraɪtʃəs/

self-righteous

Meaning
Having or showing an attitude of moral superiority; believing one’s own beliefs are the only right ones.
Example
His self-righteous comments made everyone uncomfortable.
C1 adjective /ˈspraɪtli/

sprightly

Meaning
full of energy and life; lively
Example
The sprightly old man danced with joy at the wedding.
C2 verb /ˈseɪʃiˌeɪt/

satiate

Meaning
To satisfy fully, especially with food or desire.
Example
The large meal satiated his hunger.
C2 verb /sweɪð/

swathe

Meaning
To wrap or cover closely or completely.
Example
She swathed the baby in a soft blanket.
B2 noun /səˈspens/

Suspense

Meaning
a feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what will happen
Example
The movie kept us in suspense until the very end.
B2 noun /ˈsɛm.iˌsɜːr.kəl/

semicircle

Meaning
Half of a circle or something shaped like half of a circle.
Example
The students sat in a semicircle around the teacher.
B1 adverb /sɪnˈsɪrli/

sincerely

Meaning
with genuine feelings; honestly and truly
Example
I sincerely hope you recover soon.
B1 verb /spaɪ/

spy

Meaning
to secretly collect information about a person, group, or country
Example
He was caught spying on his neighbor through the window.
C1 verb /ˈskruː.tɪ.naɪz/

scrutinize

Meaning
Examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Example
The scientist scrutinized the data before publishing his findings.
C1 adjective /ˈsleɪ.vɪʃ/

slavish

Meaning
showing no originality; completely imitative or overly submissive
Example
His slavish devotion to tradition prevented any innovation.
A2 verb /ʃaɪn/

shine

Meaning
to give out a bright light or glow
Example
The sun will shine brightly tomorrow.
B2 noun speɪs ɪksplɔːˈreɪʃən

space exploration

Meaning
The investigation of outer space by means of manned and unmanned spacecraft.
Example
Space exploration has expanded our knowledge of the universe.
C2 noun /ˈsɪmpəltən/

simpleton

Meaning
a foolish or gullible person
Example
They treated him like a simpleton who could not understand anything complex.
B2 verb /ˈskræmbəl/

scramble

Meaning
to move or climb quickly using hands and feet; to mix or arrange in a hurried way
Example
The kids scrambled up the hill to catch the kite.
A1 noun /ˈʃʊɡər/

Sugar

Meaning
sweet crystalline substance used as a sweetener
Example
Please add two teaspoons of sugar to my coffee.
B1 noun /ˈsʌb.weɪ/

Subway

Meaning
an underground railway system; an underground passage for pedestrians
Example
I take the subway to work every morning because it's faster than driving.
B2 noun /ˈskɒl.ər/

Scholar

Meaning
a person who has studied a subject for a long time and knows a lot about it; an academic
Example
The renowned scholar published several books on ancient history.