English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
To recognize or make a distinction between things.
"It is important to differentiate between fact and opinion."
The action or process of differentiating or distinguishing between two or more things or people.
"Strong differentiation sets brands apart from competitors."
in a way that is not the same as another or as expected
"She approached the problem differently than her colleagues."
Needing much effort or skill to do or understand.
"The exam was so difficult that many students failed."
the state or condition of being hard to do, deal with, or understand
"He faced great difficulty in learning a new language."
Lack of self-confidence; shyness or modesty.
"Her diffidence made it hard for her to speak in public."
Shy or lacking confidence in one's own abilities.
"He was too diffident to ask a question in class."
to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people
"The smell of fresh bread diffused through the entire house."
able to spread or be spread through a medium
"Oxygen is diffusible through cell membranes."
the spreading of something more widely or the movement of particles from high to low concentration
"The diffusion of information on social media is rapid."
to break up and move earth with a tool or machine, or with hands, paws, etc.
"They decided to dig a hole for the new tree."
to break down food in the body; to think about and understand
"It takes time to digest a heavy meal."
Relating to the digestion of food.
"Digestive enzymes help break down food."
a numeral from 0 to 9; also a finger or toe
"You must enter a four-digit code to unlock the phone."
relating to technology that uses signals or data in the form of numbers (0s and 1s)
"She prefers digital books over printed ones."
A period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic devices such as smartphones or computers, regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world.
"A digital detox can help improve mental clarity and reduce stress."
A format in which information is stored as electronic data.
"A digital format family tree can be shared online."
Electronic software and applications used for learning and educational purposes.
"Schools are integrating digital tools to enhance learning."
a person considered to be important because of high rank or office
"Several foreign dignitaries attended the state banquet."
the state or quality of being worthy of respect or honor
"He faced the difficult situation with calm and dignity."
A pair of letters representing a single sound, such as 'sh' in 'ship'.
"In the word 'phone', the letters 'ph' form a digraph."
To leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing.
"The professor began to digress from the main topic of the lecture."
A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
"Her story was full of interesting digressions."
Tending to depart from the main subject in speech or writing.
"The speaker's digressive style made the lecture difficult to follow."
To cause something, especially a building, to fall into ruin or disrepair.
"The abandoned house began to dilapidate over the years."
Fallen into disrepair or ruin due to neglect or age.
"The family lived in a dilapidated house at the edge of town."
The state of disrepair or ruin as a result of neglect.
"The old temple was in a state of dilapidation."
To make wider, larger, or more open.
"The doctor used drops to dilate the patient's pupils."
Tending to cause delay; slow to act.
"The committee was criticized for its dilatory response to the crisis."
A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives.
"She faced a dilemma about whether to accept the job offer or continue her studies."
A person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a superficial way.
"He was dismissed as a dilettante in the art world because he lacked formal training."
Careful and persistent work or effort.
"Through diligence and determination, she completed her research on time."
Showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.
"She is a diligent student who always finishes her assignments on time."
To make a liquid thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent.
"You should dilute the juice with water before serving it to children."
not bright; having little light; not clearly visible
"The room was dim because the curtains were closed."
a small coin, especially a U.S. coin worth ten cents
"He gave me a dime for the phone call."
A measurable extent of a particular kind, such as length, breadth, depth, or height.
"The room’s dimensions are larger than we expected."
Aspects or features of a situation, problem, or thing.
"New dimensions of space exploration are being uncovered."
to make or become less; to reduce in size, importance, or value
"Over time, his influence in the company began to diminish."
a reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something
"The report showed a steady diminution of resources over the last decade."
extremely or unusually small
"Despite his diminutive size, he was a powerful leader."
in a faint or unclear way; with little light
"The room was dimly lit by a single candle."
a small depression in the flesh, either one that exists permanently or one that forms when smiling
"Her charming dimples appeared whenever she smiled at the children."
a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise
"The din of traffic outside made it hard to concentrate."
to eat a meal, especially the main meal of the day
"We usually dine at seven o'clock in the evening."
a small boat, often carried or towed by a larger vessel, used for short trips or as a lifeboat
"They rowed the dinghy back to the yacht."
gloomy and drab; dirty or discolored
"The old hotel room looked dark and dingy."
the act of eating a meal, especially in a formal setting
"We enjoyed fine dining at the new restaurant."
the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening
"We had a lovely dinner at a new restaurant last night."
an impression or hollow made by a blow; force or power
"By dint of hard work, he achieved success."