English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
a person who writes plays
"Shakespeare is one of the greatest dramatists in history."
to present a story in a dramatic way, or to exaggerate something
"The novel was dramatized into a popular TV series."
a current of cool air in a room or another confined space; also a portion of liquid, especially beer, served from a barrel or cask
"She closed the window to keep out the cold draught."
dull, bleak, and lifeless; depressing
"The long, dreary winter made everyone feel gloomy."
to make someone or something completely wet
"The sudden rain drenched the players on the field."
A person who makes or alters women's clothing professionally.
"The dressmaker crafted a beautiful gown for the bride."
to let liquid flow slowly in drops or to move a ball skillfully with repeated small kicks or bounces
"The baby dribbled milk on his shirt."
to rain lightly with very small drops
"It began to drizzle just as we left the house."
to bend or hang downward; to become weak or tired
"The flowers began to droop in the heat."
Able to survive and grow despite limited water availability or drought conditions.
"Drought-resistant crops can survive in arid conditions."
Feeling sleepy or half-asleep.
"The warm room made him feel drowsy."
Hard, menial, or dull work.
"She wanted to escape the drudgery of her daily routine."
dried chili peppers used as spice for adding heat to food
"The recipe calls for two dry chillies to make it spicy."
fish that has been preserved by drying in the sun or by other dehydration methods
"Dry fish is a popular preserved food in many coastal regions."
to give a name or label to something; to add a soundtrack to a film or recording
"The movie was dubbed into several languages for international release."
Hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon.
"She gave him a dubious look after hearing his excuse."
a musical performance by two singers or instrumentalists
"They sang a beautiful duet together on stage."
in accordance with what is required or appropriate; at the proper time
"The documents were duly signed and submitted."
A hill or ridge of sand formed by the wind, usually found in deserts or near beaches.
"The children played on the sand dune by the beach."
A house or apartment divided into two separate residences.
"They live in a duplex near the city center."
the ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; lasting quality
"The durability of the new smartphone impressed customers with its resistance."
threats, violence, or pressure used to force someone to do something
"She signed the contract under duress."
a large spiky tropical fruit known for its strong smell and creamy custard-like flesh
"Durian is known as the king of fruits in Southeast Asia despite its pungent odor."
the period of the day when daylight is fading; twilight
"They walked along the beach during dusk, watching the sunset."
Willingly obedient and responsible in performing one's duty.
"She is a dutiful daughter who always takes care of her parents."
To gradually decrease in size, amount, or strength.
"Their savings began to dwindle after months of unemployment."
Gradually reducing in number, size, or strength.
"The villagers relied on dwindling water supplies."
A machine that generates electricity; a person with great energy and enthusiasm.
"She is the real dynamo behind the success of the company."
a sequence of rulers from the same family or line; a powerful family or group
"The Ming dynasty ruled China for nearly three centuries."
An infection of the intestines resulting in severe diarrhea with blood and mucus.
"Many soldiers suffered from dysentery during the war."
Not operating normally or properly.
"The dysfunctional system led to numerous delays and errors."
A learning disorder characterized by difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and decoding words.
"The teacher used special methods to help the student with dyslexia."
To designate funds, resources, or time for a particular purpose.
"The government has earmarked funds for education."
showing sincere and intense conviction
"She spoke in an earnest voice about the importance of honesty."
a device inserted into the ear to block out noise or water
"He wore earplugs to sleep during the noisy night."
made of earth or clay; relating to pottery or ceramic materials
"The kitchen had beautiful earthen pots for storage."
a container made of baked clay or earth, used for cooking or storing
"The earthen pot keeps water naturally cool in summer."
pottery made of clay and hardened by heat
"The shop displayed beautiful earthenware pots and bowls."
relating to the physical world as opposed to the spiritual or heavenly; worldly
"He was more concerned with earthly pleasures than spiritual matters."
resembling or suggestive of earth or soil; simple, natural, and sometimes coarse
"The dish had a rich, earthy flavor from the mushrooms."
a frame for supporting an artist's canvas while painting or drawing
"The artist placed the canvas on the easel before starting to paint."
towards the east; in an eastern direction
"The river flows eastwards into the ocean."
a comfortable chair with arms and a back that reclines
"He relaxed in his favorite easy-chair after work."
to secretly listen to a conversation
"She stood near the door to eavesdrop on their conversation."
to recede, decline, or lessen gradually, often referring to the tide or emotions
"Her confidence began to ebb after the repeated failures."
the quality of being unconventional or slightly strange
"His eccentricity made him both admired and misunderstood."
A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society.
"She quickly rose to the upper echelon of the company."
Selecting or deriving ideas, styles, or tastes from a broad and diverse range of sources.
"Her taste in music is eclectic, ranging from classical to hip-hop."
The blocking of light from one celestial body by another; to overshadow or outshine something.
"The solar eclipse drew thousands of spectators to the field."
The development of cities in a way that is not harmful to the environment.
"Eco-friendly urbanization reduces environmental degradation."