CEFR Level
partial or total darkness; a state of dejection or despondency
"The thick clouds cast a gloom over the valley, making everything appear dark and dreary."
to praise or honor someone or something; to make something seem better than it is
"The movie glorifies war heroes."
a shiny surface or an explanation of a word or phrase
"The table had a beautiful gloss after polishing."
to avoid discussing something unpleasant or make it seem less important
"The report glossed over the company's financial problems."
an alphabetical list of terms with definitions, often found at the end of a book
"The textbook includes a glossary of key terms at the back."
an informal or non-standard variant of 'gloss over', meaning to ignore or minimize something
"He tried to glossover his mistakes during the meeting."
Looking or feeling sad, gloomy, or dejected.
"She felt glum after hearing the bad news."
Relating to the presence of glucose in the blood and how foods affect blood sugar levels.
"High-glycemic foods cause a rapid increase in blood sugar."
a small mythical creature, often depicted as a bearded man living underground; also a figurine used in gardens
"The garden was decorated with a gnome statue."
to eat something quickly and greedily
"The children gobbled their food in minutes."
a person who makes or repairs articles of gold
"The goldsmith crafted a beautiful wedding ring."
small raised bumps on the skin caused by cold, fear, or excitement
"The horror movie gave me goosebumps."
to eat greedily; a narrow valley between mountains or hills
"They gorged themselves on pizza after the hike."
involving or showing a lot of bloodshed and violence
"The movie was too gory for children."
A large fruit with a hard shell, often used as food or for making containers.
"The farmer harvested several gourds from the field."
A person who appreciates fine food and drink; also refers to high-quality food.
"They went to a gourmet restaurant to celebrate their anniversary."
Lacking elegance, charm, or social refinement.
"His graceless behavior embarrassed everyone at the party."
A gradual slope, or the degree of inclination of a surface.
"The cyclist struggled up the steep gradient of the hill."
writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place
"The subway walls were covered with colorful graffiti created by local street artists."
To join or insert a part of one plant or tissue into another; also refers to corruption or bribery
"The surgeon performed a skin graft to treat the burn victim."
Impressive beauty, scale, or magnificence
"The grandeur of the palace left the visitors speechless."
Impressive or magnificent in appearance or style, often pretentiously so.
"He had grandiose plans of building a futuristic city in the desert."
To seek attention or applause by behaving or speaking in a showy way.
"The actor was accused of grandstanding during the charity event."
Consisting of small grains or particles; detailed and specific.
"The report provided a granular analysis of the market data."
to struggle or wrestle with something, often a problem or opponent
"The company is grappling with financial difficulties."
Holding firmly; or (as an adjective) excessively greedy.
"The child was grasping her mother’s hand tightly."
to shred food into small pieces using a grater; to irritate or annoy
"She grated the cheese for the pasta dish."
a kitchen utensil with a rough surface for grating food into small pieces
"Use the grater to grate cheese for the pizza."
the feeling of pleasure or satisfaction when something is achieved or received
"She felt great gratification after completing the project."
to give pleasure or satisfaction to someone
"It gratified him to know his work was appreciated."
Unnecessary, unwarranted, or given freely without reason or cause.
"The movie was criticized for its gratuitous violence."
A sum of money given as a tip or a retirement benefit.
"The waiter received a generous gratuity for his excellent service."
Small stones and pebbles, often mixed with sand, used for paths, roads, and construction.
"The driveway was covered with gravel."
A stone that marks a grave, usually inscribed with the name of the deceased.
"The gravestone had her name carved beautifully."
Dignity, seriousness, or solemnity of manner or speech.
"The judge spoke with great gravitas."
a young coconut with green outer shell containing refreshing coconut water
"We drank fresh water from a green coconut on the beach."
a tall, thin dog with long legs that can run very fast
"The greyhound won the race at the dog track."
a flat heating surface for cooking food, typically made of metal
"She cooked pancakes on the hot griddle."
Complete traffic jam or standstill condition where vehicles cannot move.
"A major accident led to gridlock in the city center."
A real or imagined cause for complaint, especially unfair treatment.
"The workers voiced their grievances to the management."
Causing great pain, suffering, or sorrow.
"The accident was a grievous blow to the community."
to make an ugly, twisted expression on one's face, usually in disgust or pain
"He grimaced when he tasted the sour fruit."
to complain about something in an annoying way
"He is always griping about the weather."
causing horror or disgust
"The police discovered a grisly scene at the crime site."
Courage and resolve; strength of character; passion and perseverance.
"Grit is necessary to achieve success."
a long narrow cut or depression, or a rhythmic pattern in music
"The DJ kept the crowd dancing to the groove."
a team of people who maintain and service aircraft on the ground
"The ground crew prepared the plane for takeoff."
