Glossary of 1,500 Common English Words
Browse the glossary using this index
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A |
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a (an) | ||
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one; any; each | ||
able | ||
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having the power to do something | ||
about | ||
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almost ("about half"); of or having a relation to ("We talk about the weather.") | ||
above | ||
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at a higher place | ||
accept | ||
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to agree to receive | ||
accident | ||
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something that happens by chance or mistake; an unplanned event | ||
accuse | ||
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to say a person is responsible for an act or crime; to make a statement against someone | ||
across | ||
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from side to side; to the other side | ||
act | ||
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to do something | ||
activist | ||
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one who seeks change through action | ||
actor | ||
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someone acting in a play or show | ||
add | ||
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to put (something) with another to make it larger; to say more | ||
administration | ||
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the executive part of a government, usually headed by a president or prime minister | ||
admit | ||
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to accept ("admitted to the United Nations"); to express one's guilt or responsibility ("He admitted that what he did was wrong.") | ||
adult | ||
|---|---|---|
a grown person | ||
advise | ||
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to help with information, knowledge or ideas in making a decision | ||
affect | ||
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to produce an effect on; to influence ("A lack of sleep affected the singer's performance.") | ||
afraid | ||
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feeling fear | ||
after | ||
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later; behind | ||
again | ||
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another time; as before | ||
against | ||
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opposed to; not agreeing with something | ||
age | ||
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how old a person or thing is | ||
agency | ||
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an organization that is part of a larger group ("an agency of the United Nations") | ||
aggression | ||
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an attack against a person or country; the violation of a country's borders | ||
ago | ||
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of time past; before now | ||
agree | ||
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to have the same belief as someone; to be willing to do something | ||
agriculture | ||
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farming | ||
aid | ||
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to help; to support; n. help, assistance | ||
aim | ||
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to point a gun at; n. a goal or purpose | ||
air | ||
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the mixture of gases around the earth, mostly nitrogen and oxygen, that we breathe | ||
air force | ||
|---|---|---|
a military organization using airplanes | ||
airplane | ||
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a vehicle with wings that flies | ||
airport | ||
|---|---|---|
a place where airplanes take off and land | ||
album | ||
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a collection of recorded music | ||
alcohol | ||
|---|---|---|
a strong, colorless liquid, usually made from grain, used as a drug or in industrial products | ||
alive | ||
|---|---|---|
having life; not dead | ||
all | ||
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everything; everyone; the complete amount | ||
ally | ||
|---|---|---|
a nation or person joined with another for a special purpose | ||
almost | ||
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a little less than completely | ||
alone | ||
|---|---|---|
separated from others | ||
along | ||
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near or on ("along the road") | ||
already | ||
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before now; even now | ||
also | ||
|---|---|---|
added to; too | ||
although | ||
|---|---|---|
even if it is true that | ||
always | ||
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at all times; every time | ||
ambassador | ||
|---|---|---|
a nation's highest diplomatic representative (to another government) | ||
amend | ||
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to add to or to change (a proposal or law) | ||
ammunition | ||
|---|---|---|
the bullets or shells fired from guns | ||
among | ||
|---|---|---|
in or part of (a group) | ||
amount | ||
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the number, size or weight of anything | ||
anarchy | ||
|---|---|---|
a lack of order; lawlessness | ||
ancestor | ||
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a family member from the past | ||
ancient | ||
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very old; long ago | ||
and | ||
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also; in addition to; with | ||
anger | ||
|---|---|---|
a strong emotion against someone or something | ||
animal | ||
|---|---|---|
a living creature that moves, such as a dog or cat | ||
anniversary | ||
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a yearly celebration or observance of an event that happened in the past | ||
announce | ||
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to make known publicly; to declare officially | ||
another | ||
|---|---|---|
one more; a different one | ||
answer | ||
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a statement produced by a question; v. to make a statement after being asked a question | ||
any | ||
|---|---|---|
one or more of no special kind | ||
apologize | ||
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to express regret for a mistake or accident for which one accepts responsibility | ||
appeal | ||
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to take to a higher court, person or group for a decision; to call on somebody for help | ||
appear | ||
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to show oneself; to come into sight; to seem | ||
appoint | ||
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to name; to choose ("appoint a judge") | ||
approve | ||
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to agree with; to agree to support | ||
archeology | ||
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the scientific study of past human life and activities | ||
area | ||
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any place or part of it | ||
argue | ||
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to offer reasons for or against something; to dispute; to disagree | ||
arms | ||
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military equipment; weapons | ||
army | ||
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military ground forces | ||
around | ||
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on every side (of) | ||
arrest | ||
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to seize a person for legal action; to take as a prisoner | ||
arrive | ||
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to come to a place, especially at the end of a trip | ||
art | ||
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expressions or creations by humans, such as paintings, music, writing or statues | ||
artillery | ||
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big guns | ||
as | ||
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equally ("as fast as"); when; while | ||
ash | ||
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the part left after something burns | ||
ask | ||
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to question; to say something is wanted ("We ask the teacher questions every day.") | ||
assist | ||
|---|---|---|
to help | ||
astronaut | ||
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a person who travels in space | ||
astronomy | ||
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the scientific study of stars and the universe | ||
asylum | ||
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political protection given by a government to a person from another country | ||
at | ||
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in or near ("at the edge"); where ("look at"); when ("at noon") | ||
atmosphere | ||
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the gases surrounding any star or planet | ||
atom | ||
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a very small part of all things; the smallest part of an element that can join with parts of other elements | ||
attach | ||
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to tie together; to connect | ||
attack | ||
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a violent attempt to damage, injure or kill; v. to start a fight | ||
attempt | ||
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to work toward something; to try; to make an effort | ||
attend | ||
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to be present at | ||
automobile | ||
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a vehicle with wheels used to carry people; a car | ||
autumn | ||
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the time of the year between summer and winter | ||
average | ||
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something (a number) representing the middle; ad. common; normal | ||
avoid | ||
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to stay away from | ||
awake | ||
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not sleeping | ||
award | ||
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an honor or prize for an act or service | ||
away | ||
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not near | ||