subtract
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 verb /səbˈtrækt/

subtract

Meaning
to take away a number or amount from another number or amount
Example
If you subtract 5 from 10, you get 5.
B2 verb /spɛər/

spare

Meaning
To give something that one has extra of; to refrain from harming or killing.
Example
Could you spare me a few minutes of your time?
B2 verb /skoʊld/

scold

Meaning
to criticize angrily; to rebuke
Example
The teacher scolded the students for being late.
B2 noun /ˈskɒlərʃɪp/

scholarship

Meaning
an award or grant to support a student's education
Example
She received a scholarship to study abroad.
B2 noun /ˈspɒnsəʃɪp/

sponsorship

Meaning
the act of supporting an event, activity, person, or organization financially or through other resources
Example
The event was made possible due to the sponsorship of several big companies.
B2 noun /ˌspeʃiˈælɪti/

Speciality

Meaning
a particular area of activity or interest that someone focuses on; expertise in a specific field
Example
His speciality is Italian cuisine.
B2 adjective /senˈseɪʃənəl/

Sensational

Meaning
causing great excitement or shock; extremely impressive
Example
The sensational performance left the audience speechless.
B2 adverb /səˈfɪʃəntli/

sufficiently

Meaning
to an adequate degree or extent
Example
She studied sufficiently to pass the exam.
B2 verb /snæp/

snap

Meaning
to break suddenly; to speak angrily; to take a photograph quickly
Example
The rope snapped under the weight.
B2 verb /ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪt/

speculate

Meaning
To form a theory or guess without firm evidence; to invest in stocks, property, etc. hoping for profit.
Example
Experts speculate that the company may expand into new markets.
B2 noun /ˈsɛnsər/

sensor

Meaning
a device that detects or measures a physical property and records, indicates, or responds to it
Example
The motion sensor turned on the light automatically.
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 noun /ˈsɛnət/

senate

Meaning
a legislative or governing body, typically the upper chamber in a bicameral legislature
Example
The senate voted in favor of the new healthcare bill.
B2 noun /ˈsmɑːrt.nəs/

Smartness

Meaning
intelligence; cleverness; neat and fashionable appearance
Example
Her smartness in solving problems impressed everyone.
B2 noun /stɔːrk/

Stork

Meaning
large wading bird with long legs and a long neck
Example
The stork built its nest on top of the tall chimney.
B2 verb /smæʃ/

smash

Meaning
to break something into pieces violently
Example
She smashed the glass in frustration.
B2 verb /sʌk/

suck

Meaning
to draw something into the mouth by using the lips and tongue
Example
The baby began to suck her thumb.
B2 verb /sɔːr/

soar

Meaning
to fly or rise high in the air; to increase rapidly or dramatically
Example
The eagle soared high above the mountains.
B2 noun /sɪv/

Seive

Meaning
a utensil consisting of a wire or plastic mesh held in a frame, used for straining solids from liquids
Example
She used a sieve to separate the flour from lumps.
B2 noun ˈsʌbstɪˌtut

substitute

Meaning
A person or thing acting or serving in place of another.
Example
Money cannot be a substitute for genuine happiness.
B2 verb, noun /ʃeɪv/

shave

Meaning
To remove hair from the body, typically using a razor; the act of removing hair
Example
He likes to shave every morning before work.
B2 adverb /ˈstrɪktli/

strictly

Meaning
in a way that follows rules or limits completely
Example
Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the building.
B2 noun /ˈsæb.ə.tɑːʒ/

Sabotage

Meaning
deliberate destruction of equipment or disruption of activities
Example
The factory was shut down due to an act of sabotage.
B2 noun /ˈsaɪd.laɪn/

sideline

Meaning
An activity done in addition to one's main job or area of work.
Example
The sideline discussions led to mutual understanding.
B2 adjective /sɑːrˈkæstɪk/

sarcastic

Meaning
Using irony or mockery to convey contempt or humor.
Example
She made a sarcastic remark about his cooking.
B2 adjective /slɪm/

slim

Meaning
thin in an attractive or healthy way; small in amount or chance
Example
She looked slim in her new dress.
B2 verb /ˈstʌmbəl/

stumble

Meaning
to trip or lose balance while walking or running; to make a mistake or falter
Example
He stumbled on the uneven pavement.
B2 adjective /sɪˈlek.tɪv/

Selective

Meaning
relating to or involving careful selection; choosy about what to accept
Example
The university has a selective admission process for new students.
B2 adverb /ˈsmuːð.li/

Smoothly

Meaning
without problems or difficulties; in an even and regular way
Example
The car runs smoothly on the new highway.
B2 verb /səbˈskraɪb/

subscribe

Meaning
to pay to receive a service regularly; to agree with or support something
Example
I subscribe to several online magazines.
B2 noun /siːdʒ/

siege

Meaning
A military operation in which a place is surrounded to force its surrender.
Example
The castle fell after a long siege.
B2 adjective /stɜːrn/

Stern

Meaning
serious and demanding exact conformity to rules; strict and severe
Example
The teacher gave the students a stern warning about cheating.
B2 verb /səˈspɛnd/

suspend

Meaning
To temporarily stop something from being active or valid.
Example
The company decided to suspend his membership.
B2 noun/verb /swɔːrm/

swarm

Meaning
A large group of insects or people moving together.
Example
A swarm of bees surrounded the tree.
B2 adjective /ˈsoʊpi/

Soapy

Meaning
covered with soap; having the characteristics of soap; foamy
Example
The dishes were still soapy after washing.
B2 verb /stɪŋ/

sting

Meaning
to pierce with a sharp point; to cause sharp pain
Example
The bee stung him on his arm while he was gardening.
B2 noun ˈsækrɪfaɪs

sacrifice

Meaning
An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else.
Example
The country was freed due to the sacrifice of the warriors.
B2 adverb /ˈsiː.krət.li/

secretly

Meaning
in a way that is hidden or not known by others
Example
She secretly planned a surprise party for her friend.
B2 verb ˈstɪmjəleɪt

stimulate

Meaning
To encourage or promote the development or growth of something
Example
Proper sunlight stimulates plant growth.
B2 noun /ʃɪt/

shit

Meaning
a vulgar term for feces or excrement
Example
The dog made a mess by leaving its shit on the floor.
B2 adjective /ˈʃeɪm.fəl/

Shameful

Meaning
causing shame; disgraceful; embarrassing
Example
His shameful behavior embarrassed the entire family.
B2 noun /sɔːrd/

Sword

Meaning
a weapon with a long metal blade and a handle, used for fighting
Example
The knight drew his sword to defend the castle.
B2 adjective /ˌsuː.pəˈfɪʃ.əl/

superficial

Meaning
Existing or occurring at or on the surface; not thorough or deep.
Example
His understanding of the subject was rather superficial.
B2 adjective /ˈsɛkʃʊəl/

sexual

Meaning
relating to the instincts, physiological processes, and activities connected with physical attraction or intimate physical contact between individuals
Example
The sexual health of individuals is an important topic in modern medicine.
B2 noun /sɛnt/

scent

Meaning
a distinctive smell, especially a pleasant one
Example
The scent of roses filled the garden.
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 noun /sɪˈver.ə.ti/

Severity

Meaning
the quality of being extremely serious or harsh; intensity of something bad
Example
The severity of the storm caused widespread damage across the city.
B2 noun /soʊp keɪs/

Soap case

Meaning
a container used to store soap
Example
She bought a beautiful soap case for the bathroom.
B2 noun /ˈsɪnθɪsɪs/

synthesis

Meaning
The combination of ideas to form a theory or system.
Example
The synthesis of ideas from multiple perspectives led to innovation.
B2 noun /səkˈsɛʃ.ən/

succession

Meaning
The process of ecological change in which one community of organisms is gradually replaced by another.
Example
Forest succession occurs when old ecosystems are replaced by new ones.
B2 noun /steɪn/

Stain

Meaning
a colored patch or dirty mark that is difficult to remove; a blemish or damage to reputation
Example
There was a coffee stain on his white shirt.
B2 adjective /ˌsɪm.pəˈθet.ɪk/

Sympathetic

Meaning
showing compassion or understanding for someone's feelings or situation
Example
She was very sympathetic when I told her about my problems.
B2 noun ˈstræt.ɪ.dʒiz

strategies

Meaning
A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim; the art of planning and directing operations.
Example
Effective strategies can mitigate climate change impacts.
B2 adjective /ˈsɜːdʒɪkəl/

surgical

Meaning
relating to or involving surgery
Example
She underwent surgical treatment to repair the damage.
B2 adjective /ˈʃɔːrt ˌtempərd/

Short-tempered

Meaning
quick to lose one's temper; easily angered
Example
She became short-tempered when the traffic made her late for the meeting.
B2 noun /səbˈskraɪbər/

subscriber

Meaning
a person who receives or subscribes to a service, magazine, or service
Example
She is a subscriber to the monthly magazine.
B2 verb /ˈsteɪ.bə.laɪz/

stabilize

Meaning
to make something steady, secure, or unlikely to change suddenly
Example
The government took measures to stabilize the economy.
B2 noun /skɛtʃ/

sketch

Meaning
a simple, rough drawing or outline
Example
He made a quick sketch of the landscape.
B2 adjective ˌsɪm.əlˈteɪ.ni.əs

simultaneous

Meaning
Occurring, operating, or done at the same time.
Example
Simultaneous crop failures affect global food supply.
B2 noun /sɛnˈseɪʃən/

Sensation

Meaning
a physical feeling or perception resulting from something that happens to or comes into contact with the body; a widespread reaction of interest and excitement
Example
The new singer became an overnight sensation.
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.
B2 verb /ʃriːk/

shriek

Meaning
to make a loud, high-pitched cry
Example
She shrieked when she saw the spider.
B2 noun /ˈsɒlɪtjuːd/

solitude

Meaning
The state or situation of being alone.
Example
Solitude can provide the opportunity for deep reflection.
B2 verb /swer/

swear

Meaning
to use offensive language; to promise solemnly; to take an oath
Example
I swear to tell the truth.
B2 adjective /sə'spɪʃ.əs/

Suspicious

Meaning
having or showing distrust; doubtful; questionable
Example
The police found his behavior very suspicious.
B2 noun /səˈraʊn.dɪŋz/

surroundings

Meaning
The area around a person, place, or thing.
Example
She quickly adapted to her new surroundings.
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.
B2 noun /spaɪs/

spice

Meaning
a substance used to add flavor to food
Example
She added a pinch of spice to the curry for extra flavor.
B2 adjective /ʃɪər/

Sheer

Meaning
complete; absolute; transparent; very steep
Example
It was sheer luck that we found the place.
B2 noun /ˈsleɪvəri/

slavery

Meaning
the system or state of being owned and forced to work for someone else
Example
Slavery was abolished in most countries in the 19th century.
B2 adjective /ˈstʌnɪŋ/

stunning

Meaning
extremely impressive or attractive
Example
The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely stunning.
B2 verb /ʃrɪŋk/

shrink

Meaning
to become smaller in size; to draw back in fear
Example
The sweater shrank after washing in hot water.
B2 noun /ˈspætʃ.ʊ.lə/

Spatula

Meaning
a kitchen utensil with a flat, flexible blade used for mixing, spreading, or lifting food
Example
I used a spatula to flip the pancakes in the pan.
B2 noun /swiːt/

suite

Meaning
a set of rooms designated for one person's or family's use or for a particular purpose
Example
They stayed in the presidential suite at the hotel.
B2 noun /siːdʒ/

Sieze

Meaning
a military operation to capture a place by surrounding it and cutting off supplies
Example
The siege of the castle lasted for three months.
B2 noun /ˈsɪmp.təmz/

symptoms

Meaning
signs or indications of a disease or condition
Example
Fever and cough are common symptoms of the flu.
B2 adjective /ˈsʌb.sɪ.kwənt/

subsequent

Meaning
Coming after something in time; following in time or order.
Example
Subsequent events clarified the outcomes.
B2 adverb /ˈsel.fɪʃ.li/

Selfishly

Meaning
in a selfish manner; caring only about oneself
Example
He selfishly took all the cookies.
B2 noun /ˈsætaɪər/

satire

Meaning
The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people's stupidity or vices.
Example
The play was a brilliant satire on modern politics.
B2 verb /suː/

sue

Meaning
to bring a lawsuit against someone in a court of law
Example
She decided to sue the company for damages.
B2 verb /stɑːv/

starve

Meaning
to suffer or die from lack of food
Example
He was left to starve in the desert.
B2 adjective /ˈʃeɪ.di/

Shady

Meaning
providing shade; dishonest; suspicious
Example
The shady businessman made a suspicious deal.
B2 verb /ˈstrɛŋkθən/

strengthen

Meaning
To make or become stronger.
Example
Communication can strengthen bonds between people.
B2 noun /ˈsliːpər/

sleeper

Meaning
a person or thing that sleeps; something that unexpectedly succeeds
Example
The movie turned out to be a real sleeper hit.
B2 noun/verb /stʌnt/

stunt

Meaning
a daring or unusual action performed for entertainment or publicity; to hinder growth or development
Example
The actor performed a dangerous stunt in the movie.
B2 adjective /ˌsen.tɪˈmen.təl/

Sentimental

Meaning
having tender feelings; being emotional about memories or experiences
Example
She became sentimental when looking at old family photographs.
B2 adjective /stəˈtɪstɪkəl/

statistical

Meaning
relating to the use or analysis of numerical data
Example
The report provides statistical data about population growth.
B2 verb /ˈsmʌɡəl/

smuggle

Meaning
to move goods illegally into or out of a country
Example
The gang tried to smuggle gold across the border.
B2 adjective /ˈskætərd/

Scattered

Meaning
spread widely apart; dispersed; occurring here and there
Example
Scattered showers are expected throughout the day.
B2 noun /ˈsɪɡ.nəlz/

signals

Meaning
A gesture, action, or sound conveying information or instructions.
Example
Signals from deep space were detected last week.
B2 adjective /ˈstɪki/

sticky

Meaning
having the quality of adhering or clinging; difficult to remove or deal with
Example
The candy is too sticky to eat with your hands.
B2 verb /ʃʌv/

shove

Meaning
to push someone or something roughly
Example
He shoved the box into the corner.
B2 noun /swɪŋ/

Swing

Meaning
move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on an axis
Example
The children love to swing in the park.
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 /sliːv/

Sleeve

Meaning
the part of a garment that covers the arm
Example
She rolled up her sleeves before starting to cook.
B2 noun /ˈsɛnətər/

senator

Meaning
a member of a senate, especially in a legislative body
Example
The senator spoke passionately about environmental policies.
B2 verb, noun /sniːz/

sneeze

Meaning
to expel air involuntarily from the nose and mouth due to irritation; the act of sneezing
Example
I had to sneeze during the meeting.
B2 noun/verb /ˈsoʊ.ɪŋ/

sewing

Meaning
The activity or skill of joining fabric using a needle and thread
Example
She enjoys sewing her own clothes on weekends.
B2 adjective /suːˈpɜːrb/

superb

Meaning
extremely good; excellent
Example
The hotel provided superb service during our stay.
B2 noun /ˈspɛʃəlti/

specialty

Meaning
a particular area of study, work, or interest; something in which a person or place excels
Example
Her specialty is pediatric medicine.
B2 noun /ˈstrʌk.tʃərz/

structures

Meaning
Buildings or other objects constructed from several parts.
Example
The region has ancient structures.
B2 noun /ˈspəʊkswɪmən/

spokeswoman

Meaning
a woman who speaks on behalf of a group or organization
Example
The spokeswoman for the company announced the new product.
B2 noun /ˈsɛntəmənt/

Sentiment

Meaning
a feeling or opinion, especially one based on emotion; tender feelings of affection
Example
Public sentiment was strongly against the new policy.
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.
B2 adverb /ˈskɪl.fəl.i/

Skilfully/US: Skillfully

Meaning
in a way that shows ability and training; expertly
Example
She skilfully painted the portrait in just two hours.
B2 verb /spɪt/

spit

Meaning
to force liquid, especially saliva, out of the mouth
Example
He spat on the ground in anger.
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.
B2 verb /sniːk/

sneak

Meaning
to move quietly and secretly to avoid being noticed
Example
He tried to sneak into the house without waking anyone.
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 /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 noun /ˌspɛsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

specification

Meaning
a detailed description or assessment of something
Example
The product specification includes all the necessary details.
B2 noun /ˈstɔːrɪdʒ/

storage

Meaning
the action or method of storing something for future use
Example
The warehouse offers plenty of storage space.
B2 noun /ˈspɛktrəm/

spectrum

Meaning
A range of different things, often related to colors, ideas, or classifications.
Example
The festival attracted people from across the political spectrum.
B2 noun /skwɒd/

squad

Meaning
a small group of people organized for a specific purpose or task, often in the military or sports
Example
The football squad trained hard before the championship match.
B2 noun ˌspɛk.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən

speculation

Meaning
Investment in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss.
Example
Stock market speculation can lead to high volatility.
B2 adverb /sɪˈvɪərli/

severely

Meaning
to a great degree; very seriously or harshly
Example
The patient was severely injured in the accident.
B2 noun /ˈstæm.ɪ.nə/

Stamina

Meaning
the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort
Example
Marathon runners need great stamina to complete the race.
B2 adjective /ˈsoʊlər/

solar

Meaning
Relating to or determined by the sun
Example
The house is powered by solar energy.
B2 noun /spaɪn/

Spine

Meaning
the backbone or vertebral column of a vertebrate; the central support of a structure
Example
She injured her spine in the accident.
B2 noun ˈʃɔːtkʌmɪŋz

shortcomings

Meaning
A fault or failure to meet a certain standard; deficiencies.
Example
Institutional shortcomings affect student behavior negatively.
B2 adjective /ˈstuː.di.əs/

Studious

Meaning
characterized by diligent study; devoted to learning
Example
She is a studious student who spends hours in the library.