English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
A person or thing regarded as a symbol of something, or a graphic symbol on a screen.
"The singer became a cultural icon."
Symbolic, legendary, famous, representing something significant or characteristic.
"The Eiffel Tower is an iconic landmark of France."
extremely cold; covered with ice; unfriendly or hostile
"The icy wind made everyone shiver."
Perfect or most suitable conditions for growth or development
"Winter creates an ideal environment for vegetable growth."
the process of recognizing or proving who or what someone or something is
"You need proper identification to enter the building."
To recognize or establish who or what someone or something is.
"The root causes of the issue need to be identified."
a person who acts in a way that is considered very stupid or foolish
"He acted like an idiot at the party last night."
extremely stupid; foolish; senseless
"His idiotic behavior embarrassed everyone at the meeting."
Adjective: not active or in use; lazy. Verb: to spend time doing nothing.
"The workers sat idle during the power outage."
an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship; a person who is greatly admired
"The singer became a teenage idol after her hit song topped the charts worldwide."
lack of knowledge or awareness in general
"His ignorance about the subject was evident."
lacking knowledge, awareness, or education
"He made an ignorant comment about the culture."
The inability to read or write.
"Illiteracy remains a major challenge in many developing countries."
Unable to read or write.
"Many villagers were still illiterate in the past."
a false idea or belief; a deceptive appearance
"The magician created the illusion of a floating woman."
to explain or make something clear by using examples, pictures, or comparisons
"The teacher used diagrams to illustrate the concept."
Capable of being imagined or conceived.
"They offered every imaginable type of food at the festival."
Existing only in the imagination; not real.
"Children often have imaginary friends."
to copy someone's actions, speech, or behavior
"Children often imitate their parents."
the act of copying or mimicking someone or something
"Children learn many skills through imitation."
Not fully developed; childish or lacking maturity.
"His immature behavior annoyed everyone at the meeting."
Extremely large or great in size, amount, or degree.
"The project required an immense amount of effort."
Providing, involving, or characterized by deep absorption or immersion in something.
"The immersive experience of VR makes learning more interactive."
a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country
"The city has welcomed many new immigrants this year."
to come to live permanently in a foreign country
"He immigrated to Canada five years ago."
the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country
"Immigration policies vary from country to country."
About to happen; likely to occur very soon.
"Dark clouds signaled that a storm was imminent."
Not conforming to accepted standards of morality; unethical or wicked.
"He was fired for his immoral behavior."
protected from disease or from the effects of something
"Children who are vaccinated are immune to many diseases."
The state of being protected against disease or harmful influences.
"Vaccination provides immunity against certain infections."
Having a major impact or effect; powerful and forceful.
"Her impactful speech moved the audience to take action."
The state of being quickly irritated or unable to wait calmly.
"His impatience grew as the meeting dragged on."
in a manner showing annoyance or restlessness due to delay or waiting
"She tapped her fingers impatiently while waiting for the reply."
Extremely important or urgent; an essential duty or command.
"It is imperative to wear a seatbelt while driving."
Not perfect; having faults or flaws.
"The painting was beautiful despite being imperfect."
a flaw, defect, or weakness; the state of being imperfect
"She accepted her imperfection as part of being human."
Relating to an empire or emperor; having supreme authority.
"The imperial palace was a symbol of the emperor's power."
To put a decision, plan, or agreement into effect.
"The government decided to implement new health policies."
the process of putting a plan, decision, or idea into effect
"The successful implementation of the new policy improved efficiency."
Put a decision or plan into effect; carried out or executed.
"The master plans were partially implemented."
A possible effect or result of an action or decision; something suggested without being stated directly.
"The new law has serious implications for small businesses."
Suggested or understood without being directly stated.
"Her trust in him was implicit."
To suggest something without directly stating it.
"Her tone seemed to imply that she was upset."
in a rude or discourteous manner; without showing respect or proper manners
"He spoke impolitely to the waiter despite the polite service."
lack of good manners or courtesy; rude behavior
"His impoliteness towards the guests shocked everyone."
in a way that is of great significance or value
"Importantly, the report highlights the need for immediate action."
to force something to be accepted or done
"The government decided to impose new taxes."
forced something to be accepted or put in place
"The government imposed new regulations on the industry."