🔤 Vocabulary Bank
Build your English vocabulary — one word at a time.
1214 words found — page 20 of 26
restart
Intermediate
/ˌriːˈstɑːrt/
To turn off a device and turn it back on again to fix problems.
"Try restarting your computer if it's running slowly."
restless
Intermediate
/ˈrestləs/
Unable to relax or stay still because you are nervous or anxious
"The kids were restless on the long flight and kept moving around."
retain
Intermediate
/rɪˈteɪn/
To keep or remember information.
"The article showed that students retain information better when they take notes."
return ticket
Elementary
/rɪˈtɜːn ˈtɪkɪt/
A ticket for a round trip (going somewhere and coming back)
"I bought a return ticket to London because I'm staying for a week."
review
Elementary
/rɪˈvjuː/
A written opinion about a product, hotel, or service shared by someone who used it.
"I read the hotel review on Google before booking."
reward
Elementary
/rɪˈwɔːrd/
Money or a gift you receive for doing something good or achieving something
"The woman refused the reward, but the man gave it to a children's charity."
rhetoric
Advanced
/ˈretərɪk/
The art of effective or persuasive speaking and writing, including the use of language techniques
"The politician's rhetoric was carefully crafted to appeal to both conservative and progressive voters."
rhetorical
Advanced
/rɪˈtɒrɪkl/
Relating to the art of effective or persuasive speaking and writing
"His rhetorical questions were designed to make the audience think rather than expect answers."
rhetorical question
Upper Intermediate
/rɪˈtɒrɪkl ˈkwestʃən/
A question asked for effect, not expecting an answer, used to make a point or persuade
"The opinion piece opened with the rhetorical question 'How can we claim to care about the environment while ignoring plastic pollution?'"
ring back
Elementary
/rɪŋ bæk/
Call someone back after they've called you, or call them again
"I'm busy right now, but I'll ring you back in an hour."
root word
Upper Intermediate
/ruːt wɜːrd/
The basic form of a word that can have prefixes or suffixes added to it
"The root word 'play' can become 'replay', 'player', or 'playful'."
routine
Elementary
/ruːˈtiːn/
Regular actions that you do in the same way and at the same time
"My morning routine includes brushing my teeth and eating breakfast."
run into someone
Intermediate
/rʌn ˈɪntə ˈsʌmwʌn/
To meet someone by chance; to encounter someone unexpectedly.
"I ran into my old teacher at the grocery store yesterday!"
running late
Elementary
/ˈrʌnɪŋ leɪt/
Moving or traveling more slowly than planned and arriving after the expected time
"Sorry, I'm running late. I'll be there in 10 minutes."
rush hour
Elementary
/rʌʃ ˈaʊər/
The busiest time of day for travel (usually morning and evening)
"I always avoid traveling during rush hour—the trains are packed!"
salary
Elementary
/ˈsæl.ə.ri/
Money that an employee earns for working, usually paid yearly or monthly
"The salary for this position is $50,000 per year."
sale
Elementary
/seɪl/
A time when items in a store are sold at lower prices
"There's a big sale at the mall this weekend."
salutation
Intermediate
/sæl.juˈteɪ.ʃən/
A polite greeting at the beginning of a letter or message
"The salutation 'Dear Sir or Madam' is commonly used when you don't know the recipient's name."
sandwich
Beginner
/ˈsænwɪtʃ/
Two pieces of bread with food between them
"A cheese sandwich is quick and easy for lunch."
scan
Beginner
/skæn/
To read quickly to find specific information, not every word.
"I scanned the profile to find his phone number."
scanning
Intermediate
/ˈskænɪŋ/
Reading quickly to find specific information without reading every word
"I was scanning the article for the main results of the study."
scattered
Elementary
/ˈskætərd/
A few showers in some places, not everywhere; spread out
"Tomorrow we'll see scattered thunderstorms across the region."
scenic
Intermediate
/ˈsiːnɪk/
Offering beautiful views of landscape or nature; visually impressive
"The scenic train route takes you through mountains and valleys for three hours."
schedule
Beginner
/ˈskedʒuːl/
A plan that shows what happens and when. Similar to timetable.
"My work schedule shows I'm off on Sundays."
school
Beginner
/skuːl/
A place where children go to learn with teachers
"I go to school five days a week."
scroll
Intermediate
/skroʊl/
To move your finger or mouse up and down on a screen to see more content.
"I scrolled through Instagram for an hour instead of doing my homework!"
Season
Beginner
/ˈsiːzən/
One of the four periods of the year: spring, summer, autumn, or winter.
"My favorite season is summer because the weather is warm and sunny."
security
Elementary
/sɪˈkjʊrəti/
The safety checkpoint where officials check passengers and bags
"You need to go through security before reaching the gates."
security checkpoint
Elementary
/sɪˈkjʊərəti ˈtʃekpɔɪnt/
The place where security staff check your documents and bag before you board
"Please have your passport ready at the security checkpoint."
security gate
Elementary
/sɪˈkjʊərɪti ɡeɪt/
The checkpoint where officers check your ID and bags before boarding
"Please remove your shoes at the security gate."
See you later
Beginner
/siː juː ˈleɪtər/
A casual way to say goodbye to someone you'll see again soon
"My friend said 'See you later!' as she left the café."
semantics
Advanced
/səˈmæntɪks/
The study of meaning in language; how words convey different meanings
"The semantics of 'argue' versus 'discuss' reveal subtle differences in attitude."
semantic shift
Advanced
/səˌmæntɪk ʃɪft/
A change in a word's meaning over time due to usage or cultural changes
"The word 'awful' underwent semantic shift from 'full of awe' to 'very bad.'"
sensationalism
Upper Intermediate
/senˈseɪʃənəlɪzəm/
The practice of presenting information in an exaggerated way to shock or excite
"The tabloid's sensationalism about the scandal turned out to be mostly false."
sentence
Beginner
/ˈsen.tens/
A group of words that expresses a complete thought with a capital letter and full stop.
"This is a sentence. It has a subject and verb and makes sense."
sentiment
Intermediate
/ˈsentɪmənt/
A feeling or emotional reaction; an opinion or attitude
"The book captures the sentiment of loss and grief in a way that feels real."
separable
Intermediate
/ˈsepərəbəl/
Able to be divided or split, used to describe phrasal verbs where an object can go between the verb and particle
"In the phrasal verb 'turn down', the object is separable: 'turn the offer down'."
sequence
Beginner
/ˈsiːkwəns/
A series of things in a particular order; the order in which things happen
"It's important to remember the sequence of steps."
serve
Elementary
/sɜːrv/
Give food to someone to eat
"Serve the soup in bowls while it is still hot."
server down
Intermediate
/ˈsɜrvər daʊn/
When a computer system that provides a service stops working; the service is unavailable.
"Instagram was down this morning, so nobody could post anything."
Shape
Beginner
/ʃeɪp/
The outline or form of something (circle, square, triangle, etc.)
"This pizza is a perfect circle shape."
sharp decline
Intermediate
/ʃɑːrp dɪˈklaɪn/
A sudden, steep drop or decrease in something
"There was a sharp decline in office attendance after the company allowed remote work."
shattered
Intermediate
/ˈʃætərd/
(British) Extremely tired; exhausted.
"After the 12-hour flight, I was absolutely shattered and went straight to bed."
shift
Elementary
/ʃɪft/
A period of time during which a person works, like morning or night shift
"I work the evening shift, from 3 PM to 11 PM."
should
Intermediate
/ʃʊd/
Modal verb expressing advice, recommendations, or what you think is the right thing to do
"You should eat breakfast before your exam."
sibling
Beginner
/ˈsɪblɪŋ/
Your brother or sister; the word for both together.
"I have two siblings — one brother and one sister."
sign
Beginner
/saɪn/
A written or visual message displayed publicly to give information or instructions.
"The sign on the door says 'CLOSED'."
signal word
Intermediate
/ˈsɪɡnəl wɜːrd/
A word that shows connection or importance (however, therefore, but, shows)
"The word 'however' is a signal word that introduces a contrast."