utilize
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B2 verb /ˈjuːtɪlaɪz/

utilize

Meaning
to make practical or effective use of something
Example
The company aims to utilize solar energy for production.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈsɜːrtənli/

uncertainly

Meaning
in a way that shows doubt or lack of certainty
Example
She glanced uncertainly at the complicated instructions.
C2 verb /ʌnˈjoʊk/

unyoke

Meaning
To release from a yoke or to free from restraint or obligation.
Example
The farmer unyoked the oxen after a long day of work.
C2 noun /ˈjuːnɪvəˌlɛns/

univalence

Meaning
The state of having a single valence or combining power, especially in chemistry.
Example
Hydrogen is characterized by its univalence in chemical reactions.
C2 noun /ˈʌmbrɪdʒ/

umbrage

Meaning
A feeling of resentment or offense.
Example
She took umbrage at his rude remark.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈfɔːltərɪŋ/

unfaltering

Meaning
Steady and resolute; not weakening or hesitating
Example
She continued with unfaltering determination.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈbraɪdld/

unbridled

Meaning
Uncontrolled and unrestrained.
Example
The protesters showed unbridled enthusiasm for change.
C2 adverb /ʌnˈɜːrɪŋli/

unerringly

Meaning
Without making any mistakes; always accurate
Example
The archer aimed unerringly at the target.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈdɪvaɪdɪd/

Undivided

Meaning
whole; complete; not separated or split
Example
The team showed undivided attention to the coach's instructions.
B2 noun /ʌnˈkɒnʃəsnəs/

unconsciousness

Meaning
the state of being unaware of and unable to respond to one's surroundings
Example
After the accident, he was in a state of unconsciousness for several hours.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈhɜːd/

Unheard

Meaning
not heard or listened to; not given a hearing; unknown or unfamiliar
Example
His complaints went unheard by the management.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈwiːldi/

unwieldy

Meaning
Difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight.
Example
The box was too unwieldy to carry up the stairs.
C1 noun ˌʌndərˈprɪvəlɪdʒd ɡruːps

underprivileged groups

Meaning
Groups of people who lack basic necessities or advantages that are available to other members of society.
Example
Underprivileged groups benefit from social initiatives.
B1 adjective /ˈjuːnɪfɔːrm/

Uniform

Meaning
consistent; identical; standardized
Example
All students must wear a uniform to school.
B2 verb /ˌʌndərˈteɪk/

undertake

Meaning
to commit to and begin a task or project; to take on responsibility
Example
She decided to undertake a challenging project.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvɪŋ/

unbelieving

Meaning
Not willing or able to believe; skeptical or doubtful
Example
She gave him an unbelieving look when he claimed to have met a celebrity.
B1 adjective /ˌʌndərˈstændəbl/

understandable

Meaning
Able to be understood; reasonable or justifiable.
Example
Her reaction was understandable given the situation.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtʃeɪst/

Unchaste

Meaning
not celibate; having engaged in sexual relations; lacking moral purity
Example
The conservative society considered her behavior unchaste and improper.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈklɪər/

unclear

Meaning
not easy to understand; vague or ambiguous
Example
The instructions were unclear, so I asked for clarification.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈwɪlɪŋli/

unwillingly

Meaning
in a way that shows reluctance or lack of desire; not willingly
Example
She unwillingly agreed to attend the meeting.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈsteɪbəl/

Unstable

Meaning
likely to change; not steady or secure; unsteady
Example
The unstable economy made people worried about their jobs.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnrɪˈfaɪnd/

unrefined

Meaning
not processed or purified; lacking polish or sophistication
Example
The unrefined oil must be processed before it can be used as fuel.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnəˈsweɪdʒd/

unassuaged

Meaning
Not made less intense or relieved; unrelieved.
Example
His grief remained unassuaged despite the passage of time.
B2 verb /ˌʌndərˈskɔːr/

underscore

Meaning
to emphasize or highlight something
Example
The incident underscored the need for better safety measures.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈjuː.ʒu.əl/

Unusual

Meaning
not typical; strange; different from what is normal
Example
She wore an unusual dress to the party.
B1 noun /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/

Unemployment

Meaning
the state of being unemployed; lack of paid work
Example
The unemployment rate has increased significantly this year.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsaɪtli/

unsightly

Meaning
Unpleasant to look at; ugly.
Example
The garbage pile created an unsightly view in the park.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈfeɪ.vər.ə.bəl/

Unfavourable

Meaning
not helpful or advantageous; adverse
Example
The weather conditions were unfavourable for our outdoor event.
C1 adjective /ʌlˈtɪəriər/

ulterior

Meaning
hidden or secret, often with a selfish motive
Example
He invited her with an ulterior motive.
C1 adjective /ˌjuːnɪˈlætərəl/

Unilateral

Meaning
one-sided; involving only one party
Example
The country made a unilateral decision to withdraw from the treaty.
C2 noun /ɜːrˈbænɪti/

urbanity

Meaning
refined courtesy, elegance, and sophistication in manner
Example
Her urbanity made her popular among diplomats and leaders.
C2 noun /ˈjuːʒəri/

usury

Meaning
The practice of lending money at unreasonably high interest rates.
Example
The law strictly prohibits usury.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈseɪvəri/

unsavory

Meaning
Disagreeable, unpleasant, or morally offensive.
Example
The politician was linked to an unsavory scandal.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈendɪŋ/

Unending

Meaning
continuing forever; without end
Example
The unending rain made the day feel gloomy.
B2 adjective /ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbl/

Undeniable

Meaning
impossible to deny or dispute; clearly true
Example
The evidence of his guilt was undeniable.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈskeɪðd/

unscathed

Meaning
Without suffering any injury, damage, or harm.
Example
She escaped from the accident unscathed.
B1 adjective /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

United

Meaning
joined together for a common purpose; in agreement
Example
The team was united in their goal to win.
C1 adjective ʌnˈpær.ə.leld

Unparalleled

Meaning
Having no equal; unmatched, peerless, and supreme in quality or achievement.
Example
The unparalleled beauty of the Taj Mahal amazes visitors.
C1 noun /ʌnˈfeɪθfʊlnəs/

unfaithfulness

Meaning
the quality of being disloyal or not faithful; breach of trust or fidelity
Example
His unfaithfulness led to the end of their marriage.
C1 noun /ˌʌl.tɪˈmeɪ.təm/

Ultimatum

Meaning
a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation
Example
The boss gave him an ultimatum: improve or be fired.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈprɒf.ɪ.tə.bl̩/

Unprofitable

Meaning
not yielding profit or gain; not producing financial benefit
Example
The unprofitable business was forced to close down after three years.
A1 pronoun /ʌs/

us

Meaning
used to refer to the speaker and one or more other people as the object of a verb or preposition
Example
She gave us a gift.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈwel/

Unwell

Meaning
not in good health; feeling sick or ill
Example
She has been feeling unwell since yesterday.
B2 noun /juːˈtɪl.ə.ti/

Utility

Meaning
the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial; a public service
Example
The utility of solar panels increases with rising electricity costs.
B1 noun /juːˈten.səlz/

Utensils

Meaning
tools or implements used for cooking, eating, or serving food
Example
Please wash all the cooking utensils after preparing dinner.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈɜːrθli/

unearthly

Meaning
Strange or unnatural in a way that seems not of this world
Example
The forest was filled with an unearthly glow.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkleɪmd/

Unclaimed

Meaning
not claimed by anyone; not demanded or requested; abandoned or ownerless
Example
The unclaimed luggage was stored in the airport's lost property department.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli/

undoubtedly

Meaning
without a doubt, certainly
Example
He is undoubtedly the best player on the team.
B2 noun /ˌʌndəˈɡrædʒuət/

undergraduate

Meaning
a student who has not yet earned a bachelor's degree
Example
She is an undergraduate studying computer science.
B2 noun /ˈjuː.sɪdʒ/

Usage

Meaning
the action of using something; the way in which words are used in a language
Example
The dictionary explains the correct usage of difficult words.
B2 adjective /ˌʌn.kəʊˈɒp.ər.ə.tɪv/

uncooperative

Meaning
not willing to help or work with others; unhelpful
Example
The witness was uncooperative and refused to answer questions.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈlɪmɪtɪd/

unlimited

Meaning
without any limits or restrictions
Example
The internet plan offers unlimited data for the whole month.
C2 adjective /ˈɜːrsaɪn/

ursine

Meaning
Relating to or resembling a bear.
Example
The man’s ursine strength amazed everyone.
C1 noun /ˈʌp.ʃɒt/

Upshot

Meaning
the final result or outcome of a series of events; conclusion
Example
The upshot of the meeting was a decision to postpone the project.
B2 adjective /ʌn.rɪˈleɪ.tɪd/

Unrelated

Meaning
having no connection or relationship; not connected by family ties
Example
The two incidents were completely unrelated to each other.
C2 adjective /juːˈnɪsənənt/

unisonant

Meaning
Sounding together or in harmony.
Example
The unisonant voices created a powerful effect.
C1 verb /ʌnˈrævəl/

unravel

Meaning
To undo twisted or knitted threads; to solve or explain something complicated.
Example
The detective worked hard to unravel the mystery.
A1 adjective /juːzd/

used

Meaning
having already been used
Example
This is a used car.
C1 adjective /ˌʌn.əˈdʌl.tə.reɪ.tɪd/

Unadulterated

Meaning
not mixed or diluted with any different or extra elements; pure
Example
She felt unadulterated joy when she heard the news.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈspɛərɪŋ/

unsparing

Meaning
Showing no mercy or generosity; harsh or severe.
Example
The critic was unsparing in his review of the play.
A2 noun /ʌmˈbrɛlə/

umbrella

Meaning
A device used for protection against rain or sun, typically consisting of a collapsible canopy mounted on a central rod.
Example
She opened her umbrella as it started to rain.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərˌstʌdi/

understudy

Meaning
An actor who learns another's role to act as a replacement if needed.
Example
The understudy performed when the lead actor fell ill.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnˈɪntɪmeɪtɪŋ/

unintimating

Meaning
Not giving a hint or suggestion; not indicating.
Example
His unintimating tone gave no clue of his true feelings.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsəʊʃəbl/

unsociable

Meaning
not enjoying the company of others; avoiding social interaction
Example
He became unsociable after moving to a new city.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtaɪmli/

Untimely

Meaning
happening at an inappropriate or inconvenient time; premature
Example
His untimely death at the age of thirty shocked everyone.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈbæləns/

Unbalanced

Meaning
not balanced; lacking stability or equilibrium; mentally unstable
Example
The unbalanced table kept wobbling.
C2 noun /ˌjuːnɪˈtɛəriən/

unitarian

Meaning
A person who believes that God exists as one entity rather than as a Trinity; a member of a religious denomination that emphasizes individual freedom of belief.
Example
The Unitarian church is known for its inclusive and open-minded approach.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈkɒnʃənəbl/

unconscionable

Meaning
shockingly unfair or unreasonable
Example
The company made unconscionable profits from the crisis.
C1 adjective ʌnˈskruːpjʊləs

unscrupulous

Meaning
Having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.
Example
Unscrupulous peers can lead adolescents to delinquency.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈiːkwəl/

Unequal

Meaning
not the same in quantity, size, or value; not fair or just
Example
The distribution of wealth is unequal in many countries.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnˈpeɪd/

Unpaid

Meaning
not paid for; without payment or salary
Example
She worked as an unpaid intern for six months.
C2 noun /ˈjuːzjuːfrʌkt/

usufruct

Meaning
The legal right to use and enjoy the benefits of someone else’s property without owning it.
Example
The tenant had the usufruct of the land but not its ownership.
C1 noun /ˌʌnriˈælɪti/

unreality

Meaning
the state or quality of being unreal; lack of reality or truth
Example
The dreamlike setting gave the story a sense of unreality.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnɪnˈtenʃənəl/

Unintentional

Meaning
not done on purpose; accidental
Example
The damage to the car was unintentional.
A1 preposition /ˈʌndər/

under

Meaning
in or to a lower position than something
Example
The cat is under the table.
B2 verb /ˌʌndərˈɛstɪmeɪt/

underestimate

Meaning
To judge something as less important or smaller than it really is.
Example
Never underestimate the power of teamwork.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈmaɪndfəl/

Unmindful

Meaning
not paying attention; careless; heedless
Example
She was unmindful of the danger around her.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈɪndʒərd/

uninjured

Meaning
Without injury; not physically harmed.
Example
All the passengers were rescued uninjured.
C2 adjective /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/

ubiquitious

Meaning
Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Example
Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈwɒn.tɪd/

Unwanted

Meaning
not desired or welcome; not wanted
Example
He felt like an unwanted guest at the meeting.
C1 adjective ʌnˈjiːl.dɪŋ

unyielding

Meaning
Not easily broken or giving in to pressure.
Example
Her unyielding determination helped her overcome all challenges.
A1 noun /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːrsɪti/

university

Meaning
an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees
Example
She is studying law at the university.
A2 adjective /ʌnˈhel.θi/

Unhealthy

Meaning
harmful to health; not in good health; detrimental to well-being
Example
Eating too much fast food is unhealthy for your body.
C2 verb /ʌpˈbreɪd/

upbraid

Meaning
To scold or criticize someone harshly.
Example
The teacher upbraided the student for being late again.
B2 adjective /ˈʌl.tɪ.mət/

Ultimate

Meaning
being the best or most extreme example of its kind; final; last
Example
This is the ultimate test of your skills.
C1 verb /ˌʌndəˈreɪt/

underrate

Meaning
to fail to recognize the full value or importance of something or someone
Example
Many people underrate the benefits of regular exercise.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈruːli/

Unruly

Meaning
difficult to control or manage; disorderly and disruptive
Example
The unruly crowd refused to follow the safety instructions.
C2 noun /ˈʌndərlɪŋ/

underling

Meaning
a person of low rank or importance; a subordinate
Example
The manager ordered his underlings to finish the task quickly.
C2 adjective /ˌʌn.təˈwɔːrd/

untoward

Meaning
Unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient.
Example
The meeting ended without any untoward incidents.
C1 verb /ˌʌn.dəˈtʃɑːrdʒ/

undercharge

Meaning
To charge less than the correct or fair amount.
Example
The shopkeeper accidentally undercharged me for the groceries.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈlɔːfl/

Unlawful

Meaning
not authorized by law; illegal
Example
The court declared the search unlawful.
C1 noun /ˌʌnbɪˈliːf/

Unbelief

Meaning
lack of religious belief; skepticism or doubt
Example
His unbelief in the supernatural made him a skeptic.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈkaɪndli/

unkindly

Meaning
in a cruel, harsh, or unsympathetic manner
Example
She spoke unkindly about her colleague during the meeting.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkuːθ/

uncouth

Meaning
Lacking good manners, refinement, or grace; awkward or rough.
Example
His uncouth behavior shocked the guests at the party.
B2 noun ˈjuːnəti

unity

Meaning
The state of being united or joined as a whole.
Example
Unity among people led to victory.
C2 noun /ˈʌŋkʃən/

unction

Meaning
The act of anointing as part of a religious or ceremonial ritual; excessive or insincere flattery.
Example
The priest performed the holy unction with solemnity.
C2 verb /ˈʌndjʊleɪt/

undulate

Meaning
To move with a smooth, wave-like motion.
Example
The snake undulated across the sand.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈnesəserəli/

Unnecessarily

Meaning
to a greater extent than is needed; without necessity
Example
Don't worry unnecessarily about the exam.
C2 noun /ˈʌn.dɚˌstɔː.ri/

understory

Meaning
The layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest.
Example
The understory of a rainforest is home to small mammals and insects.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnəkˈnɒlɪdʒd/

unacknowledged

Meaning
Not recognized, admitted, or accepted; ignored or unnoticed
Example
Her contributions to the project went unacknowledged.
C2 verb /ʌnˈkaʊtʃ/

uncouch

Meaning
to remove from a couch or to release from being laid down (rare/archaic usage)
Example
The surgeon attempted to uncouch the cataract.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈdɔːntɪd/

Undaunted

Meaning
not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty, danger, or disappointment
Example
Despite the setbacks, she remained undaunted in pursuing her goals.
C2 adjective /ˈʌŋk.tʃu.əs/

unctuous

Meaning
Excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily in texture.
Example
His unctuous tone made everyone uncomfortable.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtræməld/

untrammeled

Meaning
Not restricted or hampered; free and unrestricted.
Example
She enjoyed untrammeled freedom in her new life abroad.
A1 noun /ˈʌŋkəl/

uncle

Meaning
the brother of one's father or mother
Example
My uncle is visiting us next week.
B2 verb /ʌnˈfəʊld/

unfold

Meaning
to open or spread out something that was folded; to gradually reveal or develop
Example
She unfolded the letter carefully.
B2 noun /ˌʌnəˌveɪləˈbɪləti/

unavailability

Meaning
The state of being not available or not accessible.
Example
The unavailability of the manager caused a delay in the project.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈɡeɪnli/

ungainly

Meaning
Awkward, clumsy, or lacking grace in movement or appearance.
Example
The tall boy moved in an ungainly manner.
B2 verb /ɜːrdʒ/

urge

Meaning
to strongly encourage or try to persuade someone to do something
Example
Doctors urge patients to exercise regularly.
B2 adjective /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːrsəl/

Universal

Meaning
applicable to all cases; existing everywhere
Example
Music is a universal language that everyone understands.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈnoʊn/

Unknown

Meaning
not known or identified; unfamiliar
Example
The author of this letter remains unknown.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈθɪŋkəbl/

Unthinkable

Meaning
impossible to conceive or imagine; beyond belief or consideration
Example
It was unthinkable that such a tragedy could happen in our peaceful town.
B2 noun /ˈʌndərˌteɪkɪŋ/

undertaking

Meaning
A task, project, or responsibility that someone agrees to do.
Example
Starting a new company is a difficult undertaking.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsteɪtɪd/

unstated

Meaning
not expressed directly in words; implied or left unsaid
Example
The contract included several unstated expectations.
C2 verb /juˈzɜrp/

usurp

Meaning
to take someone's position of power illegally or by force
Example
The general tried to usurp the king's throne.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtoʊld/

Untold

Meaning
very great in amount or degree; countless; immeasurable
Example
The earthquake caused untold damage to the city.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈspiːkəbl/

unspeakable

Meaning
too bad or shocking to be expressed in words
Example
The survivors endured unspeakable horrors during the war.
C2 noun /ˈʌm.brə/

Umbra

Meaning
the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object; the dark center of a sunspot
Example
During the eclipse, we stood in the moon's umbra.
A1 verb /juːz/

use

Meaning
to employ something for a purpose; to take advantage of
Example
I use my computer for work and entertainment.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪəbəl/

unemployable

Meaning
Not able to be employed; lacking the skills or qualities necessary for employment
Example
Due to his criminal record, he was considered unemployable in most companies.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈɡreɪt.fəl/

Ungrateful

Meaning
not feeling or showing thanks for something done or given; not appreciating kindness
Example
She felt he was ungrateful for all the help she had given him.