🔤 Vocabulary Bank
Build your English vocabulary — one word at a time.
1475 words found — page 20 of 31
patient
Elementary
/ˈpeɪʃənt/
Able to accept delays or difficulties without getting angry
"My grandmother is very patient when teaching me to cook."
pay
Elementary
/peɪ/
To give money for something you want to buy
"I paid $15 for lunch yesterday."
peak
Intermediate
/piːk/
The highest point or maximum value in a chart or data set.
"Sales peaked in December, reaching their highest level of the year."
peak (verb/noun)
Intermediate
/piːk/
Reach the highest point or level; the highest point in something
"Sales peaked in December when customers bought gifts for Christmas."
peer review
Advanced
/pɪr rɪˈvjuː/
Process where experts evaluate research before publication
"The paper underwent rigorous peer review before appearing in the journal."
peer-reviewed
Intermediate
/ˈpɪər rɪˈvjuːd/
Academic research checked by other experts in the same field before publishing
"This is a peer-reviewed study, so it's been verified by scientists."
pen
Beginner
/pen/
A writing tool that uses ink to make marks on paper
"I write my homework with a blue pen."
penny
Beginner
/ˈpeni/
The smallest unit of British money; one hundredth of a pound
"This costs five pounds and ninety-nine pence."
performance
Intermediate
/pərˈfɔːrməns/
The quality of work or results someone achieves in their job.
"Your performance this quarter has been excellent."
performance review
Intermediate
/pərˈfɔːrməns rɪˈvjuː/
A meeting where your manager discusses your work quality and progress
"I have my annual performance review next week, and I'm a bit nervous about it."
permission
Elementary
/pərˈmɪʃən/
When someone allows you to do something
"Do I have your permission to leave early?"
Persevere
Intermediate
/ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪə/
To continue doing something despite difficulty.
""You must persevere if you want to learn a new language.""
perspective
Upper Intermediate
/pərˈspektɪv/
A particular way of viewing things based on experience and attitude
"From an environmental perspective, the factory's expansion poses significant concerns."
persuasive
Intermediate
/pərˈsweɪsɪv/
Designed to convince someone to believe or do something.
"Travel guides use persuasive language to make destinations sound amazing."
persuasive technique
Upper Intermediate
/pərˈsweɪsɪv tekˈniːk/
A method or strategy used in writing to convince or influence readers to accept a particular viewpoint
"The author employed several persuasive techniques, including emotional appeals and expert testimony, to support her argument."
persuasive (writing)
Upper Intermediate
/pərˈsuːsɪv/
Effective at convincing someone to believe or do something
"Use persuasive language and logical reasoning throughout your essay."
phenomenological
Advanced
/fɛnɒmɪnəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/
Focused on subjective human experience and perception rather than objective facts
"The phenomenological approach to reading emphasizes the reader's lived experience and emotional response to the text."
phonetic variation
Advanced
/fəˈnetɪk ˌveriˈeɪʃən/
Different pronunciations of the same word in different regions or groups
"The phonetic variation between British and American English is most obvious in words like 'tomato' and 'schedule'."
phrasal verb
Intermediate
/ˈfreɪzəl vɜːrb/
A verb combined with a preposition or adverb that has a meaning different from the individual words
"The phrasal verb 'put up with' means to tolerate something unpleasant."
pick out
Elementary
/pɪk aʊt/
To notice and identify something specific among other things.
"Can you pick out the main idea from this conversation?"
picturesque
Intermediate
/ˌpɪktʃəˈresk/
Visually attractive, especially in an old-fashioned or rural way; like a picture
"The picturesque harbor filled with fishing boats made it the perfect place for photos."
piece of cake
Upper Intermediate
/piːs əv keɪk/
Something that is very easy to do
"The exam was a piece of cake; I finished it in half the time."
pinch
Elementary
/pɪntʃ/
A very small amount of something, about what you can hold between your fingers
"Add a pinch of salt — just a little bit!"
plateau
Intermediate
/pləˈtoʊ/
A level that stays stable without increasing or decreasing
"After rapid growth, the company's profits plateaued at $2 million monthly."
platform
Elementary
/ˈplætfɔːm/
The area where passengers wait to board a train or bus
"Excuse me, which platform does the London train leave from?"
play
Elementary
/pleɪ/
To take part in a game or sport, usually against others.
"Do you want to play football this weekend with us?"
play (a sport)
Elementary
/pleɪ/
To take part in a sport or game against others or for exercise
"I play football with my friends on Sundays."
pleased to meet you
Beginner
/pliːzd tə miːt juː/
A polite way to say you're happy to meet someone new
"When she introduced herself, I said, 'Pleased to meet you!'"
pleonasm
Advanced
/ˈpliːənæzəm/
The use of unnecessary words that repeat the same meaning; redundant expression
"Phrases like 'future prospects' contain pleonasm since prospects already means future."
plot
Intermediate
/plɒt/
The main story or sequence of events in a book, film, or play.
"The plot of this mystery novel kept me guessing until the final chapter."
plot hole
Intermediate
/ˈplɑːt hoʊl/
A gap or inconsistency in a story that doesn't make logical sense.
"There's a huge plot hole: the character is in Paris in chapter 3 but in London in chapter 4 with no explanation."
plot twist
Intermediate
/plɒt twɪst/
An unexpected turn in the story that changes what you thought would happen
"The movie had a brilliant plot twist—the villain was actually the hero's brother!"
plummet
Intermediate
/ˈplʌm.ɪt/
To fall suddenly and rapidly; to drop sharply.
"Profits plummeted after the company announced the product recall."
plural
Intermediate
/ˈplʊrəl/
Referring to more than one person or thing; the form of a noun used when talking about multiple items
"The plural form of the word cat is cats."
polarize
Upper Intermediate
/ˈpoʊlərɑɪz/
To divide people into two opposite groups with very different opinions
"The debate on climate change tends to polarize audiences into believers and skeptics."
polemical
Advanced
/pəˈlɛmɪkəl/
Involving heated debate or strong criticism; argumentative in nature
"The historian's polemical interpretation of these events sparked significant academic controversy."
policy
Upper Intermediate
/ˈpɒlɪsi/
An official plan or set of rules for doing something
"The company's strict attendance policy means employees must be on time every day."
politely refuse
Elementary
/pəˈlaɪtli rɪˈfjuːz/
To say no in a respectful way that doesn't hurt someone's feelings
"He politely refused the dessert because he was full."
polysemy
Advanced
/pɒlɪˈsiːmi/
When one word has multiple related meanings derived from the same source
"The word 'book' shows polysemy: it can mean the physical object, the act of reserving, or a record."
portfolio
Upper Intermediate
/pɔːtˈfoʊliəʊ/
A collection of different investments held by a person or company
"She diversified her portfolio by investing in stocks, bonds, and real estate."
position
Elementary
/pəˈzɪʃən/
A job or role in a company
"The position requires two years of experience in marketing."
possessive adjective
Beginner
/pəˈzɛsɪv ˈædʒɪktɪv/
A word that shows who owns or is connected to something (my, your, his, her).
"The possessive adjective 'my' tells us that the bag belongs to me."
possibility
Intermediate
/ˌpɒsəˈbɪləti/
The chance that something could happen or be true; something that might occur
"There is a possibility that the store might close early."
postcard
Elementary
/ˈpəʊst.kɑːrd/
A short message sent while traveling, usually about a vacation or trip.
"I received a postcard from my friend in Italy with beautiful photos."
postcode
Beginner
/ˈpəʊstkəʊd/
A code of letters and numbers showing where you live (British English; ZIP code in US)
"What's your postcode for delivery?"
postcolonial
Advanced
/pəʊstˈkɒlənɪəl/
Related to literature, theory, or culture that addresses the aftermath and legacy of colonial rule
"Postcolonial critics examine how *Heart of Darkness* both critiques and reinforces colonial stereotypes."
posturing
Advanced
/ˈpɒstʃərɪŋ/
Adopting an artificial position or attitude to impress others or gain advantage
"Both governments engaged in posturing before the actual peace talks began."
pour
Elementary
/pɔːr/
To let liquid flow from one container into another
"Pour the milk slowly into the bowl to mix it well."