English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
to recommend or authorize the use of something, especially medicine
"The doctor prescribed medication for my cold."
A written order from a doctor for the preparation and administration of a medicine; also, a recommendation or authoritative rule.
"The doctor gave her a prescription for antibiotics."
neat and suitable for being seen in public; acceptable in appearance
"Make sure you look presentable for the job interview."
at the current moment; now
"Presently, I am working on a new project."
The act of keeping something in its original state or protecting it from harm or decay.
"The preservation of old books is important for cultural heritage."
to keep something safe from harm, decay, or loss
"We must preserve our cultural heritage."
the office or position of being a president
"He was elected to the presidency in 2020."
relating to a president or presidency
"The presidential election is scheduled for next month."
Requiring immediate attention or urgent action.
"The manager had to deal with several pressing issues at once."
a sealed cooking pot that uses steam pressure to cook food faster
"Using a pressure cooker reduces cooking time by more than half."
Widespread respect and admiration felt for someone or something based on their achievements or quality.
"Winning the award gave the company international prestige."
having a high reputation; respected
"Harvard University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world."
used to convey that something is assumed to be true though not known for certain
"Presumably, he forgot to send the email."
To suppose something is true without proof; to take for granted.
"I presume she has already left for the meeting."
an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true
"He made no pretence of being interested in the conversation."
A false appearance or claim; an act of pretending.
"His kindness was only a pretense to gain trust."
To prove more powerful or superior; to be widespread or common.
"Justice will always prevail over injustice."
designed to prevent something from happening; protective against disease
"Regular exercise is a preventive measure against heart disease."
an animal hunted by another for food; to hunt and feed on
"Lions prey on zebras in the wild."
extremely valuable; invaluable; beyond price
"Her grandmother's antique jewelry is absolutely priceless."
The main goal or chief aim of an activity, project, or endeavor.
"The primary objective of the event was to promote recycling."
Of the best quality; most important; peak condition.
"She is in the prime of her career."
Relating to an early stage of development; simple and basic.
"The tribe lived in primitive huts made of mud and straw."
existing or coming before something in time or order
"He had no prior knowledge of the event."
To designate or treat something as more important than other things.
"Always prioritize tasks to avoid delay."
a teacher who gives individual instruction to a student outside of regular school
"The private tutor helped the student improve his math skills."
in a private way; not in public or not shared with others
"She spoke to him privately about the issue."
A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.
"Education is considered a privilege in many developing countries."
having special advantages; favored; elite
"She comes from a privileged background with many opportunities."
Taking action by causing change and not only reacting to change when it happens.
"Proactive strategies are needed to combat scarcity."
the likelihood or chance of something happening
"The probability of rain tomorrow is high according to the forecast."
likely to happen or be true, but not certain
"Rain is probable tomorrow according to the forecast."
a period of testing or supervision, especially for offenders or new employees
"He was placed on probation for six months."
to investigate thoroughly; a device used for exploration or examination
"The journalist probed into the politician’s past."
The process of working through details of a problem to reach a solution.
"Effective problem-solving is critical in overcoming challenges."
Difficult to solve or deal with; presenting a problem or challenge.
"His problematic behavior made teamwork very difficult."
a course of action; often used for a legal process or event
"The court proceedings lasted for several hours."
An event or a series of activities involving a formal or set procedure.
"The proceedings discussed language issues."
Foods that have been altered from their natural state through various methods such as canning, freezing, refrigeration, dehydration and aseptic processing.
"Excessive consumption of processed foods leads to health issues."
a group of people or vehicles moving forward in an organized way, especially as part of a ceremony
"The wedding procession walked slowly to the church."
a machine or device that processes something, especially a computer's central processing unit (CPU)
"The new laptop has a faster processor."
to announce something publicly or officially, especially something important
"The president proclaimed a national day of mourning."
producing or achieving a significant amount of results, work, or output
"She had a very productive day at the office."
the rate at which work is done or goods are produced, especially in relation to the time and resources used
"Improving employee productivity is vital for business growth."
a high degree of skill or expertise in a particular field
"She has great proficiency in English grammar."
skilled and competent in doing something
"She is proficient in both English and Spanish."
yielding profit or financial gain
"The company has become highly profitable after the new strategy was implemented."
very great or intense; showing deep insight or understanding
"Her speech had a profound impact on the audience."
A gradual movement or development towards a more advanced state.
"The disease follows a slow progression over many years."
favoring or implementing new and modern ideas or policies; moving forward or improving
"She holds progressive views on social justice and equality."