English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
Of little importance or trivial; also describes a person overly concerned with small or unimportant matters.
"She often gets upset over the most petty things."
a distinct period or stage in a process of development
"We are in the final phase of the project."
Observable events or occurrences, especially remarkable ones.
"Auroras are natural phenomena seen near the polar regions."
extraordinary, remarkable, or exceptional in a way that is very impressive
"The team achieved phenomenal success in the tournament."
an observable event, fact, or occurrence, often unusual or remarkable
"The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon."
a person engaged in the study of philosophy or in serious thinking about fundamental questions
"Socrates was a famous philosopher of ancient Greece."
relating to the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence
"She maintained a calm and philosophical attitude during the crisis."
the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence
"Her philosophy emphasizes kindness and empathy."
Deceptive technique for stealing personal information unauthorized
"Phishing emails trick users into revealing passwords."
an extreme or irrational fear of something
"She has a phobia of heights and avoids tall buildings."
not genuine; fraudulent or insincere
"He gave a phony smile to hide his true feelings."
The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water.
"Photosynthesis plays a vital role in oxygen production."
a person qualified to practice medicine; a doctor
"The physician prescribed some medicine to treat the condition."
a scientist who studies or specializes in physics
"The physicist explained the theory of relativity to the students."
to make a hole through something; to penetrate with a sharp object
"The arrow will pierce through the target."
a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons; a traveler
"The pilgrim walked for days to reach the holy shrine."
a strong vertical support or mainstay of a structure or system
"The ancient temple was supported by massive stone pillars."
a small, inflamed elevation of the skin; a spot on the skin, especially on the face
"She was embarrassed about the pimple on her forehead."
to squeeze tightly between the fingers; to take a small amount
"She pinched a bit of salt into the soup."
to long intensely for something or someone; to suffer from longing
"He pined for his hometown after moving abroad."
to locate or identify something with precision
"The detective was able to pinpoint the exact location of the suspect."
a person who is among the first to explore, develop, or innovate in a field
"She is a pioneer in renewable energy research."
Involving new ideas or methods; being the first to develop or use new methods, ideas, or products.
"The scientist made pioneering discoveries."
a long tube through which liquids or gases are transported
"The company is building a new pipeline to transport natural gas."
the practice of attacking and robbing ships at sea; the unauthorized use or reproduction of copyrighted material
"Software piracy costs companies billions of dollars annually."
a person who attacks and robs ships at sea; someone who illegally copies or uses another's work
"The pirate captured the merchant ship and stole its treasure."
a small handheld gun designed to be fired with one hand
"The officer drew his pistol when he saw the suspect."
a large hole in the ground or a hollow area
"The workers dug a deep pit to build the foundation."
the quality of a sound; the level or degree of intensity; a throw or toss
"The singer's pitch was perfect during the performance."
a large container with a handle used for pouring liquids
"She filled the pitcher with cold water for the guests."
deserving or arousing pity; very small or inadequate
"The team's performance was pitiful compared to last year."
the smallest unit of a digital image or display
"The image is blurry because some pixels are missing."
the act of putting something or someone in a particular position or job
"The company arranged job placement for the graduates."
a person who makes plans or a book used for organizing schedules and tasks
"She uses a daily planner to organize her meetings."
a large green banana-like fruit that is usually cooked before eating
"Plantain can be fried, boiled, or baked and is a staple food in many tropical countries."
a large area of land where crops are grown, often for commercial purposes
"The sugarcane plantation stretched for miles across the valley."
a soft mixture applied to walls or used to cover wounds; or to cover or coat with plaster
"The workers plastered the walls to make them smooth."
an elevated flat area of land or a period of little change
"After months of growth, sales reached a plateau."
seeming reasonable or probable
"Her explanation of the event sounded plausible."
full of fun and high spirits; lively
"The puppy was very playful, running around the garden."
a series of games played to determine a champion among top teams
"The team qualified for the playoffs after a strong season."
a request or appeal, especially in a legal context
"The defendant entered a guilty plea in court."
to make an emotional or earnest request; to state in court
"She pleaded with him to stay."
giving pleasure or enjoyment
"Reading a good book is a pleasurable activity."
a solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something
"He gave a pledge to support the cause."
Existing in great quantity; abundant.
"Food and water were plentiful in the village."
a secret plan or scheme, often with bad intentions
"The villain made a plot to steal the treasure."
a large farming tool used to break up and turn over soil before planting crops
"The oxen pulled the heavy plough across the field."
to take hold of and quickly remove; to gather courage or determination
"She plucked a flower from the garden."
a device used to connect or block an opening
"She inserted the plug into the socket."