English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
a detailed description or assessment of something
"The product specification includes all the necessary details."
to state or describe something clearly and exactly
"Please specify the time and place of the meeting."
an individual animal, plant, piece of a mineral, etc., used as an example of its species or type for scientific study
"The museum has a rare butterfly specimen."
a visually striking performance or display
"The fireworks display was a grand spectacle."
very impressive, exciting, or dramatic in appearance or effect
"The fireworks display was absolutely spectacular."
A person who watches an event, show, or game without taking part.
"Thousands of spectators gathered to watch the football match."
A range of different things, often related to colors, ideas, or classifications.
"The festival attracted people from across the political spectrum."
To form a theory or guess without firm evidence; to invest in stocks, property, etc. hoping for profit.
"Experts speculate that the company may expand into new markets."
the forming of ideas or theories without firm evidence; guesswork
"There is a lot of speculation about who will win the election."
Unable to speak because of shock, surprise, or strong emotion.
"She was speechless when she received the award."
moving or happening quickly; fast
"The speedy delivery service arrived within an hour."
a round, three-dimensional shape that is perfectly symmetrical around its center; an area of activity or knowledge
"The Earth is almost a perfect sphere."
a substance used to add flavor to food
"She added a pinch of spice to the curry for extra flavor."
a container used to store various spices and seasonings
"She opened the spice box to find cumin for her curry."
to cause liquid to flow or fall out of a container by accident
"Be careful not to spill your coffee."
To turn around quickly or cause something to rotate
"The dancer began to spin gracefully on the stage."
the backbone; a series of bones extending from the skull to the lower back
"The doctor examined her spine after the accident."
winding in a continuous curve; helical
"The spiral staircase led to the top floor."
relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul
"She practices spiritual meditation every morning."
to force liquid, especially saliva, out of the mouth
"He spat on the ground in anger."
a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone
"She refused the gift out of spite."
a person who speaks on behalf of others, especially for a group or organization
"The spokesman addressed the crowd during the rally."
a person who speaks on behalf of others or an organization
"The spokesperson addressed the press conference on behalf of the company."
a woman who speaks on behalf of a group or organization
"The spokeswoman for the company announced the new product."
a person or organization that provides funds for a project or activity in exchange for publicity or support
"The company became the main sponsor of the event."
the act of supporting an event, activity, person, or organization financially or through other resources
"The event was made possible due to the sponsorship of several big companies."
Happening naturally without planning or external cause; impulsive or unplanned.
"Their spontaneous trip to the mountains turned out to be the highlight of the summer."
A person who is skilled in sports or enjoys participating in athletic activities.
"He is a true sportsman, always fair and respectful to his opponents."
a strong beam of light directed onto a particular area; figuratively, public attention
"The singer stood proudly in the spotlight."
having spots or marks; noticed or seen
"The spotted leopard moved silently through the jungle."
a person's husband or wife
"Each employee may include their spouse in the health insurance plan."
to apply liquid to something in a fine mist
"She sprayed perfume on her wrist before leaving."
to scatter small drops or particles of a substance over a surface
"She sprinkled sugar on top of the cake."
a small group of people organized for a specific purpose or task, often in the military or sports
"The football squad trained hard before the championship match."
to crush or squeeze something with force so that it becomes flat or broken
"She accidentally squashed the bug with her shoe."
to press something firmly, especially from all sides in order to extract or compress it
"She squeezed the toothpaste to get the last bit."
to pierce or wound with a pointed weapon or object
"He was stabbed in the back during the altercation."
the quality of being steady and unchanging over time
"The stability of the economy is crucial for growth."
to make something steady, secure, or unlikely to change suddenly
"The government took measures to stabilize the economy."
to arrange things in a neat pile or one on top of another
"He stacked the books neatly on the shelf."
a large structure with seating for sports, concerts, or other events
"Thousands of fans filled the stadium to watch the final match."
to mark or discolor something permanently; a spot or mark left behind
"The coffee spilled and stained the tablecloth."
A share or interest in a business or venture; to risk or support something of value.
"He has a major stake in the new company."
A strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end, driven into the ground.
"The stakes were high for the success of the project."
no longer fresh; lacking originality or novelty
"The bread became stale after sitting out for three days."
to stop or cause to stop temporarily; a small shop or stand
"The car stalled on the way to the office."
The physical or mental strength to sustain prolonged effort or activity.
"Marathon runners need great stamina to finish the race."
a person's attitude, opinion, or position on an issue
"The company took a strong stance on environmental protection."
a marine echinoderm with five or more radiating arms, typically found on the sea floor
"The starfish slowly moved across the ocean floor searching for food."
Severe, sharp, or clearly defined; plain and without any decoration.
"The stark contrast between poverty and wealth was evident in the city."