English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
the state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful
"The prisoners were forced into servitude."
to cut off or separate, especially by cutting; to end a connection or relationship
"He had to sever ties with the company after the dispute."
the act of ending something, especially a relationship or employment; compensation paid upon termination
"The company offered him severance pay after his job ended."
a small, roughly built house or hut, often poor or temporary
"They spent the weekend in a small wooden shack by the river."
to chain or restrain; to restrict someone’s actions or freedom
"Outdated regulations shackle small businesses and slow innovation."
a fine-grained sedimentary rock that can be split into thin layers
"The region is rich in shale and natural gas deposits."
something that is not what it appears to be; a false or fake thing; to pretend
"The deal turned out to be a sham."
a state of complete disorder or ruin
"After the storm, the whole town was in shambles."
having no shame; bold and rude; impudent
"The shameless politician refused to apologize for his mistakes."
having no definite or well-defined shape or form
"The fog created a shapeless mass in the distance."
a sweet orange persimmon fruit that can be eaten when firm
"The Sharon fruit is sweet and can be eaten like an apple."
the act of removing hair with a razor; a thin strip or piece shaved from something
"He bought a new cream for shaving."
to cut the wool off a sheep or to cut something with sharp tools like scissors or shears
"The farmer will shear the sheep in the spring."
a sweet flavored drink or a frozen dessert made from sweetened fruit juice
"On hot days, she enjoys a glass of lemon sherbet."
Neat, tidy, and in good order.
"She kept her office shipshape at all times."
to avoid or neglect a duty or responsibility
"He always tries to shirk his responsibilities at work."
a large group of fish swimming together; a shallow place in water
"We saw a shoal of fish near the coast."
badly made or done; of poor quality
"The contractor did a shoddy job on the repairs."
to tear or cut something into small pieces
"She shredded the old documents before throwing them away."
a small mouse-like animal; also a woman with a bad temper
"The play describes a strong-willed woman as a shrew."
having sharp judgment and practical intelligence
"She made a shrewd investment in real estate."
High-pitched and piercing in sound.
"The shrill whistle startled everyone in the room."
A place regarded as holy, often associated with a saint or deity.
"Thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine each year."
The process of becoming smaller in size, amount, or value.
"The company reported a shrinkage in profits this quarter."
To become dry, wrinkled, and smaller due to lack of moisture.
"The flowers shriveled under the hot sun."
to tremble or shake suddenly, often due to fear, cold, or strong emotion
"She shuddered at the thought of walking alone in the dark forest."
to deliberately avoid or stay away from someone or something
"He was shunned by his colleagues after the scandal."
to move or turn aside; to push or divert from one track to another
"The train was shunted onto a different track."
a tool with a curved metal blade and short handle used for cutting grain crops
"The farmer harvested wheat using a traditional sickle."
Informal or secondary conversations that occur outside the main agenda of a formal meeting.
"Sideline discussions often lead to agreements."
To avoid something by stepping aside; to evade a problem or question indirectly.
"The politician tried to sidestep the difficult question."
To distract from the main subject or activity.
"She was sidetracked by an unexpected phone call."
An American environmental organization founded in 1892 by John Muir, focused on promoting conservation of the natural environment by influencing public policy decisions.
"John Muir founded the Sierra Club in 1892 to protect wild areas."
a utensil with a mesh or perforated bottom, used for straining or sifting
"She used a sieve to strain the pasta."
to separate or sort through carefully, often using a sieve or by examining closely
"She sifted the flour before adding it to the cake mixture."
unable to see; blind; lacking vision
"The sightless man navigated the street with his guide dog."
fabric made from natural fibers produced by silkworms
"The bride wore a beautiful dress made of silk cloth."
the caterpillar of a moth that produces silk fibers used to make silk fabric
"Silkworms feed on mulberry leaves to produce silk."
made of silk; smooth and soft like silk
"She wore a beautiful silken dress to the party."
Fine sand, clay, or other material carried by running water and deposited as a sediment.
"The river deposited layers of silt along its banks."
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another using 'like' or 'as'.
"She used a simile to describe her eyes as bright as stars."
treating complex issues as if they were much simpler than they really are
"His explanation was too simplistic and ignored key details."
to imitate the appearance, character, or behavior of something; to pretend or reproduce conditions artificially
"The pilot had to simulate an emergency landing during training."
Artificially created to look real but not actually real.
"The pilot trained in a simulated flight environment."
To burn something superficially or lightly, especially at the edges.
"The fire singed his eyebrows."
free from sin; pure and innocent; without moral fault
"The innocent child appeared sinless in her pure white dress."
Having many curves, bends, or turns; winding.
"The hikers followed a sinuous path through the forest."