🔤 Vocabulary Bank
Build your English vocabulary — one word at a time.
1475 words found — page 8 of 31
crucial
Intermediate
/ˈkruː.ʃəl/
Extremely important or essential
"The professor said this exam result is crucial for your final grade, so pay attention."
cuisine
Elementary
/kwɪˈziːn/
The style of cooking and food of a particular country or region
"Italian cuisine is famous for pasta and pizza around the world."
culture
Elementary
/ˈkʌltʃər/
The way of life of a group of people, including their beliefs, customs, and art
"Japanese culture includes traditions like tea ceremonies and martial arts."
curly
Elementary
/ˈkɜːli/
Having curves and waves, not straight
"My sister has curly hair, but I have straight hair."
currently
Beginner
/ˈkɜː.rənt.li/
At the present time; right now.
"I'm currently studying French and working part-time."
CV
Elementary
/ˌsiː ˈviː/
A document with information about your education, skills, and work experience
"I updated my CV and sent it to the company yesterday."
date
Beginner
/deɪt/
A specific day of the month or year
"What is the **date** of your birthday?"
daydream
Intermediate
/ˈdeɪdriːm/
A fantasy or pleasant imaginary thought about things you wish would happen.
"If I were a rockstar is just a daydream — use Second Conditional."
deadline
Elementary
/ˈded.laɪn/
The date or time by which work must be completed
"The deadline for this project is Friday at 5 PM."
deadlock
Upper Intermediate
/ˈdedlɒk/
A situation where neither side can agree and talks seem to stop
"The negotiations hit a deadlock when they couldn't agree on payment terms."
deadpan
Advanced
/ˈdedpæn/
Delivering something serious or funny without any facial expression or emotion
"The comedian's deadpan delivery made the absurd joke even funnier than if he'd smiled."
decline
Elementary
/dɪˈklaɪn/
To politely say no to an offer or invitation
"She declined the invitation because she was already busy."
deconstruct
Advanced
/diːkənˈstrʌkt/
To analyze something by breaking it down into constituent parts to reveal underlying assumptions and meanings
"Deconstructing the hero archetype in *Beowulf* reveals how the text reinforces Anglo-Saxon warrior culture."
decorum
Advanced
/dɪˈkɔːrəm/
Propriety and dignity in behavior and speech; socially acceptable conduct
"Using formal register at a funeral shows decorum and respect for the occasion."
defeated
Elementary
/dɪˈfiːtɪd/
Won against someone in a competition or game; beat
"Our team defeated their team 3-1 in the final match."
defective
Intermediate
/dɪˈfektɪv/
Not working properly; broken or faulty
"The headphones I bought were defective, so the right side didn't produce any sound."
defer
Upper Intermediate
/dɪˈfɜːr/
To postpone or put off a decision or discussion to a later time
"We should defer this topic to next week's conference when everyone is present."
defining relative clause
Upper Intermediate
/dɪˈfaɪnɪŋ ˈrelətɪv klɔːz/
A clause that provides essential information to identify which person or thing you're talking about
"The students who scored above 80% will receive a certificate."
definite
Beginner
/ˈdef.ə.nət/
Clearly defined; certain; specific
"The definite article 'the' shows that something is specific and known."
deflate
Advanced
/dɪˈfleɪt/
To suddenly reduce someone's confidence or importance, often used in ironic comedy to puncture pretension
"The straight man's comment deflated the character's grandiose speech, creating the perfect comedic moment."
deictic shift
Advanced
/deɪˈɪktɪk ʃɪft/
The change of perspective words like 'here', 'now', 'I', and 'this' when reporting speech
"In reported speech, deictic shift changes 'I'll do it tomorrow' to 'She said she'd do it the next day'."
delayed
Elementary
/dɪˈleɪd/
Late; happening later than the planned time
"The flight was delayed by two hours due to bad weather."
delicious
Elementary
/dɪˈlɪʃ.əs/
Food that tastes really good; very enjoyable to eat
"This pizza is absolutely delicious!"
delineate
Advanced
/dɪˈlɪnieɪt/
To describe or portray something precisely and clearly, often showing boundaries
"Delineate the scope of your study so readers understand what you did and didn't cover."
democracy
Upper Intermediate
/dɪˈmɒkrəsi/
A system of government where power belongs to the people through voting
"Many countries around the world have adopted democracy as their form of government."
demonstrate
Upper Intermediate
/ˈdemənstreɪt/
To show or prove something clearly with examples or evidence
"Your cover letter should demonstrate your relevant skills and experience."
Demonstrate
Intermediate
/ˈdemənstreɪt/
Show clearly that you have a skill or quality by giving proof or examples.
"Use specific examples to demonstrate your leadership abilities."
denotation
Advanced
/ˌdenəʊˈteɪʃən/
The literal, dictionary definition of a word without emotional or cultural associations
"The denotation of 'thrifty' is economical, though some find the connotation slightly negative."
density
Advanced
/ˈdɛnsɪti/
The degree to which information, ideas, or words are closely compacted or concentrated
"Information density increases when writers use nominalised forms instead of full clauses."
departure
Beginner
/dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/
The time when a bus, train, or plane leaves a place.
"The train departure is at 15:30 from Platform 2."
departure lounge
Elementary
/dɪˈpɑːtʃə laʊndʒ/
The waiting area in the airport before you board your flight
"We sat in the departure lounge reading magazines until boarding started."
derivative
Intermediate
/dɪˈrɪvətɪv/
Copied or imitated from something else; not original or creative
"The film felt derivative of similar superhero movies I've already seen multiple times."
derive
Upper Intermediate
/dɪˈraɪv/
to get or obtain something from a source or origin
"The word 'bicycle' is derived from Latin roots meaning 'two' and 'wheel'."
describe
Elementary
/dɪˈskraɪb/
To say or write what someone or something is like.
"The postcard describes the beach as beautiful and peaceful."
desk
Beginner
/desk/
A table where you sit to write, study, or work
"I sit at my desk during English lessons."
dessert
Beginner
/dɪˈzɜːrt/
A sweet food you eat after a meal, like cake or ice cream
"For dessert, I ordered apple pie and ice cream."
destination
Elementary
/ˌdes.təˈneɪ.ʃən/
The place you are traveling to
"My destination was Rome, and I stayed there for one week."
detail
Elementary
/ˈdiːteɪl/
A specific fact or piece of information that supports the main idea
"Include details like examples and reasons in your supporting sentences."
details
Elementary
/ˈdiːteɪlz/
Small pieces of information that add to the main facts
"The headline gave the main news, but the details explained why it happened."
devastated
Intermediate
/ˈdevəsteɪtɪd/
Extremely shocked and upset by something bad that happened.
"She was devastated when she didn't get into her first-choice university."
diagnosis
Intermediate
/daɪˈæɡnəsɪs/
The identification of a disease or condition by a medical professional
"The doctor's diagnosis confirmed that I had pneumonia."
dialect
Elementary
/ˈdaɪəlekt/
A way of speaking a language used in a specific region or group
"In some dialects, people say 'cannot' instead of 'can't'."
dialectal features
Advanced
/daɪˈlektəl ˈfiːtʃəz/
Specific characteristics that identify a particular dialect or regional variety
"Dropping the 'g' in '-ing' words is one of the most recognizable dialectal features of American Southern speech."
dialectic
Advanced
/daɪˈæl.ek.tɪk/
A method of arguing through opposing ideas to reach truth or synthesis
"Hegel's dialectic presents thesis and antithesis converging into synthesis."
dialectical
Advanced
/daɪəˈlektɪkəl/
Relating to the tension between opposing ideas or forces that drives change
"The author employs a dialectical approach, presenting the thesis and antithesis before arriving at a synthesis."
dialogue
Intermediate
/ˈdaɪəlɒg/
Conversation between characters in a book, film, or play
"The sharp dialogue between the two main characters made their relationship feel authentic and funny."
dictate
Beginner
/ˈdɪk.teɪt/
To say words slowly so someone can write them down.
"The teacher will dictate the spelling words while you write."
did
Elementary
/dɪd/
Past tense of 'do'; used in questions and negatives
"Did you watch the movie? I did not see it."