English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
Action taken by a group of people working together toward a common goal or purpose.
"Collective action is needed to mitigate climate change."
a person who collects things as a hobby or job
"He is a stamp collector with thousands of rare items."
to come into violent contact; crash into something
"Two cars collided at the busy intersection."
an instance of two or more objects crashing into each other
"The collision on the highway caused a major traffic jam."
Relating to a colony or to colonialism; characteristic of a colony.
"The country still has many colonial-era buildings."
a territory or community controlled by another country or group of people
"India was once a British colony."
to fight against something, especially to reduce or stop it
"The government is taking steps to combat corruption."
A return to a former status or success after a period of decline.
"The singer made a remarkable comeback after years of silence."
a celestial object consisting of ice and dust that develops a tail when approaching the sun
"Halley's Comet appears in the sky every 76 years."
Funny in a strange or silly way; amusing.
"His comical expressions made everyone laugh."
a person in authority, especially over a military group
"The commander led his troops into battle."
to begin or start something
"The ceremony will commence at noon."
to praise formally or officially
"The teacher commended the students for their hard work."
deserving praise or approval
"Her dedication to the project was truly commendable."
An expression of opinions or explanations about an event, situation, or text.
"The professor's commentary on the novel was insightful."
a person who reports and discusses events, especially on TV or radio
"The commentator described the football match in detail."
the activity of buying and selling goods and services
"International commerce has expanded significantly in recent years."
An instruction, command, or duty given to a person or group; also a fee paid to an agent or employee for a transaction.
"The artist received a commission to paint a portrait."
an official in charge of a particular department or area
"The police commissioner addressed the media about the incident."
Raw materials or primary agricultural products that can be bought and sold.
"The price of commodities fluctuates due to market demand."
a raw material or primary product that can be bought and sold
"Oil is the most traded commodity in the world."
ordinary or unremarkable; something that is usual or commonly found
"Smartphones have become commonplace in modern life."
Shared by all members of a community; for common use.
"The villagers worked together in the communal garden."
a person who supports or believes in the principles of communism
"The communist ideology aims for a classless society."
Verb: to travel regularly between home and work; Noun: the journey to and from work.
"He commutes two hours every day to reach his office."
Regular travel to and from workplace, daily journey for work.
"He spends two hours commuting to work every day."
Adjective: closely and neatly packed together; Noun: a small case or agreement; Verb: to pack closely together.
"The car is small and compact, perfect for city driving."
Able to be likened to something else in size, amount, or quality.
"The two products are comparable in quality but differ in price."
Measured or considered by comparison; relative.
"She lives in comparative comfort after moving to the city."
A separate section or space within a larger structure, such as a train or a container.
"He kept his passport in a small compartment of his bag."
an instrument for finding direction with a magnetic needle pointing to magnetic north
"The hiker used a compass to find the right direction."
Sympathetic concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
"The nurse treated the patients with great compassion."
feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others who are suffering
"The compassionate nurse took extra time to comfort the worried patients."
Able to exist or work together without conflict; harmonious.
"This software is compatible with both Windows and Mac systems."
To force or drive someone to do something.
"The law compels citizens to pay taxes."
Evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerful way.
"She gave a compelling speech about climate change."
To give something, typically money, in recognition of loss, suffering, or work done.
"The company compensated the worker for his injury."
to have been given something, typically money, as a recompense for loss, suffering, or work done
"The workers were compensated for their overtime hours."
something, typically money, given to make up for loss, injury, or work done
"She received financial compensation for the accident."
the ability to do something successfully or efficiently
"Her competence as a manager impressed the board."
having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully
"He is a competent driver who rarely makes mistakes."
The quality of being as good as or better than others of a comparable nature; the ability to compete successfully.
"Competitiveness is vital for economic sustainability."
to collect information or material and put it together in a list, report, or book
"She compiled the research data into a detailed report."
something that completes or goes well with something; to add something that enhances or improves
"The scarf complements her outfit perfectly."
combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each other
"The two partners have complementary skills."
the action or process of finishing something
"The completion of the project will take another few weeks."
the natural color, texture, and appearance of a person's skin, especially on the face
"Her fair complexion glowed beautifully in the morning sunlight."
the state or quality of being intricate or complicated
"The complexity of the problem surprised the engineers."
The act of obeying a rule, law, or request.
"The company improved its compliance with environmental regulations."
To make something more difficult or confusing.
"The new rules will only complicate the process."