English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
the quality of being humble and not boastful about achievements
"Despite his success, he showed great modesty."
the act or process of changing or altering something slightly
"The architect suggested a modification to the design."
Changes made to something to improve it or make it more suitable.
"Modifications improve policy frameworks."
Employing or involving a module or modules as the basis of design or construction.
"The modular design allows for easy customization and scalability."
to adjust or regulate the degree, pitch, or intensity of something
"The teacher modulated her voice to keep the students engaged."
The act of changing or controlling something, such as tone, pitch, or frequency.
"The singer’s modulation of her voice captivated the audience."
A powerful or influential person, especially in business or media.
"He became a tech mogul by founding a billion-dollar company."
A decorative strip or design, often used on walls, ceilings, or furniture.
"The wooden molding gave the room a classic look."
a small burrowing mammal with tiny eyes and soft fur
"The mole dug tunnels under the garden."
to assault or abuse someone, especially in a sexual or physical way
"The criminal was arrested for attempting to molest a child."
Made into liquid by heat; melted.
"The blacksmith poured molten metal into the mold."
Lasting for only a short time.
"There was a momentary silence in the room."
Of great importance or significance, especially in its effect on the future.
"The signing of the agreement was a momentous event."
a sovereign ruler, especially a king or queen
"The monarch addressed the nation on television."
A building or complex where monks or nuns live, work, and worship.
"The old monastery was surrounded by high stone walls."
Relating to monks, monasteries, or a life of religious seclusion.
"He chose to live a monastic life away from the city."
The process of converting assets or services into money, involving commercialization, profit generation, and revenue creation.
"The monetization of digital content has created new income streams."
a small carnivorous mammal known for its ability to kill venomous snakes
"The mongoose quickly attacked the cobra to protect its young."
A photograph, painting, or screen image in black and white or varying tones of one color.
"The old film was shot entirely in monochrome."
Growing the same species of crop in a particular area for a long time.
"Monoculture can lead to soil depletion and pest outbreaks."
The practice of being married to or in a relationship with only one person at a time.
"Many cultures encourage monogamy as the ideal form of marriage."
A large single upright block of stone, or a large, powerful, indivisible organization or system.
"The ancient monolith stood in the desert for centuries."
Massive, uniform, and indivisible; resembling a large single stone or structure.
"The company maintained a monolithic structure resistant to change."
A long speech by one person, often in a play or performance.
"The actor delivered a powerful monologue on stage."
Control exclusively, dominate market.
"The company tried to monopolize the market."
Exclusive control over a market, product, or service.
"The company gained a monopoly over the mobile phone industry."
The belief in the existence of only one God.
"Islam and Christianity are religions based on monotheism."
A continuous sound, especially of a person's voice, that does not rise and fall in pitch.
"The teacher's monotone made the lecture hard to follow."
Dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest.
"The monotonous routine of office work tired him out."
Lack of variety and interest; tedious repetition and routine.
"He was tired of the monotony of daily commuting."
extremely large; shockingly evil or wrong; abnormal or unnatural
"The monstrous crime shocked the entire community."
A sequence of film editing or a composite image made by combining several separate pictures.
"The film opened with a montage of city life."
Great in importance, extent, or size; resembling or serving as a monument.
"The project was a monumental achievement for the team."
The state of being frequently subject to changes in mood, especially irritability or sadness.
"Her moodiness made it difficult to predict how she would react."
As a verb: to tie a ship so that it stays in place. As a noun: open, uncultivated land.
"The sailors moored the ship at the dock."
Adjective: subject to debate or irrelevant. Verb: to suggest an idea for discussion.
"The issue of funding became a moot point after the project was canceled."
The confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time.
"The team's morale improved after their recent victory."
A temporary suspension or delay of an activity, law, or obligation.
"The government announced a moratorium on new mining licenses."
Having an abnormal interest in disturbing or unpleasant subjects such as death or disease.
"She had a morbid fascination with crime stories."
a place where dead bodies are kept, especially to be identified or claimed
"The police took the body to the morgue for identification."
to change smoothly from one form, shape, or character into another
"The caterpillar will morph into a butterfly."
the study of the form and structure of things, especially in language and biology
"Morphology studies the structure of words and how they are formed."
subject to death; having a limited lifespan; human
"All human beings are mortal and will eventually die."
the state of being subject to death; the death rate of a population
"Advancements in medicine have reduced child mortality significantly."
a mixture used in building to bond bricks or stones together; also, a small cannon for firing shells
"The workers applied mortar between the bricks."
a bowl and grinding tool used to crush and grind spices, herbs, and other substances
"She ground the spices using a mortar and pestle."
a legal agreement where a person borrows money to buy property and pays it back over time
"They applied for a mortgage to buy their new house."
A picture or pattern produced by arranging together small pieces of stone, tile, or glass.
"The church ceiling was decorated with a beautiful mosaic."