Make things awkward, verb phrase

For example, to cause trouble and make a situation very difficult

She could make things very awkward if she wanted to.

Prison, noun (prisons, imprison, imprisoned)

can, cooler, lockup, pen, penitentiary, reformatory, stockade
For example, a prison is a building where criminals are kept as punishment or where
people accused of crime are kept before their trial.
After being convicted of bank robbery, she was sent to prison.

Favorable, adjective (favors, favorably, favorite)

agreeable, good, grateful, gratifying, nice, pleasing, pleasurable, welcome
For example, if your opinion or your reaction is favorable to something, you agree with it
and approve of it. If something makes a favorable impression on you or is a favorable to
you, you like it and approve of it.
His ability to talk while eating fast made a favorable impression on his dining
companions.

Accuse, verb (accuses, accusing, accused, accusation)

arraign, charge, criminalize, impeach, incriminate, inculpate, indict
For example, if you accuse someone of doing something wrong or dishonest, you say or tell
them that you believe that they did.
My mom was really upset because he was accusing her of having an affair with another
man.

Approve, verb (approves, approving, approved, approval)

accept favor, go for, accredit, certify, endorse, OK (or okay), sanction
For example, if you approve of an action, event, or suggestion, you like it or are pleased.
Not everyone approved of the festival.

Upset, adj (upsets, upsetting, and upset)

agitate, bother, discombobulate, disquiet, disturb, flurry, fluster, perturb, unhinge
For example, if you are upset, you are unhappy or disappointed because something
unpleasant has happened to you.
After she died, I felt very, very upset.
For example, if something upsets you, it makes you feel worried or unhappy.
The whole incident had upset me and my fiancée terribly.
Incident, noun (incidents, incidentally)
occurrence, circumstance, episode, event, happening, occasion, things
For example, an incident is something that happens, especially something that is unusual.
These incidents were the latest in a series of disputes between two nations.

Dispute, noun (disputes, disputing, disputed)

argue, bicker, hassle, quibble, squabble, wrangle
For example, a dispute is an argument or disagreement between people or groups.
They have won previous pay disputes with the government.

(verb) If you dispute a fact, statement, or theory, you say that it is incorrect or untrue.
He disputed the allegations.

Allegation, noun (allegations allege, alleged, allegedly)

For example, an allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong.
The company denied the allegation.

Affair, noun (affairs)

business, concern, matter, shooting match, thing
For example, if an event or series of events has been mentioned and you want to talk about
it again, you can refer to it as the affair.
The government has mishandled the whole affair.

Mishandle, verb (mishandles, mishandling, mishandled)

abuse, misapply, disapprove, misuse, pervert, prostitute
For example, if you say that someone has mishandled something, you are critical of them
because you think the have dealt with it badly.
She completely mishandled an important project purely through lack of attention.

Critical, adjective (criticism, criticize, critique)

acute, climacteric, crucial, desperate, dire
For example, a critical time, factor, or situation is extremely important.
The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign.
For example, a critical situation is very serious and dangerous.
The German authorities are considering an airlift if the situation becomes critical. He is
in critical condition after the auto accident.
For example, to be critical of someone or something means to criticize them.
His report is highly critical of the trial judge.

Campaign, noun (campaign, campaigning, campaigned)

For example, a campaign is a planned set of activities that people carry out over a period of
time in order to achieve something such as social or political change.
During his election campaign he promised to put the economy back on its feet.

(verb) If someone campaigns for something, they carry out a planned set of activities over a
period of time in order to achieve their aim.
We are campaigning to improve the legal status of woman.

Carry out administer, administrate, execute, govern, render

For example, if you carry out a threat, task, or instruction, you do it or act according to it.
Police say that they believe the attacks were carried out by nationalists. Commitments
have been made with little intention of carrying them out.

Election, noun (elections, elect, electioneer, elective)

choice, alternative, option, preference, selection
For example, an election is a process in which people vote to choose a person or group of
people to hold an official position.
The final election results will be announced on Friday.

Legal, adjective (legalize, legality, legally)

lawful, innocent, legitimate, licit
For example, legal is used to describe things that relate to the law.
He vowed to take legal action. I sought legal advice on this.

Threat, noun (threaten, threatened, threatening)

danger, menace, liability
For example, a threat to a person or things is a danger that something unpleasant might
happen to them. A threat is also the cause of this danger.
Some couples see single women as a threat to their relationships.
Secure, verb (secures, securing, secured)

cover, fend, guard, protect, safeguard, screen, shield

For example, if you secure something that you want or need, you obtain it, often after a lot
of effort. Secure is used in a formal context.

Federal leaders continued their efforts to secure a ceasefire.

Obtain, verb (obtains, obtaining, obtained)

acquire, annex, chalk up, gain, have, pick up, procure, secure, win

For example, to obtain something means to get it or achieve it.

The perfect body has always been difficult to obtain.

Cease-fire, noun (cease-fires)

truce, armistice

For example, a cease-fire is an agreement in which countries or groups of people that are
fighting each other agree to stop fighting.

They have agreed to a cease-fire after three years of conflict.

Investigate, noun (investigates, investigating, investigated, investigation)

explore, delve (into), dig (into), go (into), inquire (into), look (into), probe, prospect, sift
For example, if someone, especially an official, investigates an event, situation, or claim, he
tries to find out what happened or what the truth is.
Police are still investigating how the accident happened.

Dispatch, verb (dispatches, dispatching, dispatched)

address, consign, forward, remit, route, ship, transmit
For example, if you dispatch someone to a place, you send him there for a particular
reason.
The Italian government was preparing to dispatch 4,000 soldiers to search the
island.

Replacement, noun (replace, replaced)

alternate, backup, fill-in, pinch hitter, stand-in, sub, surrogate
For example, if you refer to the replacement of one thing by another, you mean that second
thing takes the place of the first.
Let’s investigate the problem before we dispatch replacements....the replacement of
damaged or lost books.

Substitute, verb (substitutes, substituting, substituted)

exchange, change, swap, switch, trade
For example, if you substitute one thing for another, or if one thing substitutes for another,
it takes the place or performs the function of the other thing.
They were substituting violence for dialog.

Vague, adjective (vaguer, vaguest)

ambiguous, equivocal, opaque, uncertain, unclear, inexplicit, unintelligible
For example, if something written or spoken is vague, it does not explain or express things
clearly.
A lot of talk was apparently vague and general.

Apparently, adverb (apparent)

ostensibly, evidently, officially, outwardly, professedly, seemingly
For example, you use apparently to indicate that the information you are giving is
something that you have heard, but you are not certain that it is true.
Apparently, the girls are not amused by the whole business.

Amuse, verb (amuses, amusing, amused)

divert, entertain, recreate
For example, if something amuses you, it makes you want to laugh and smile.
The thought seemed to amuse him.

Municipal, adjective (municipality)

urban, city
For example, municipal means associated with or belonging to a city or town.
A new mayor will be elected in the upcoming municipal election.

Upcoming, adjective
approaching, coming, nearing, oncoming, forthcoming
For example, upcoming events will happen in the near future.
We’ll face a tough fight in the upcoming election.
Vintage, adjective (vintages)
old fashioned, antiquated, antique, archaic, dated, old, outdated, outmoded
For example, you can use vintage to describe something which is the best and most typical
of its kind.
Are you interested in vintage automobiles?

Veritable, adjective
authentic, bona fide, genuine, indubitable, real, sure-enough, true, undoubted
For example, you can use veritable to emphasize the size, amount, or nature of something.
There was a veritable army of security guards.

Anthropology, noun (anthropological)

For example, anthropology is the scientific study of people, society, and culture.
My major is Anthropology.

Fascinate, verb (fascinates, fascinating, fascinated, fascination)

grip, hold, mesmerize, spellbind, enthrall
For example, if something fascinates you, it interests and delights you so much that your
thoughts tend to concentrate on it.
Politics fascinated Franklin’s father.

Belongings, noun
effects, goods, movables, things, possessions
For example, your belongings are the things that you own, especially things that are small
enough to be carried.
I collected my belongings and left.

Lease, noun (leases, leasing, leased)

hire, charter, let, rent
For example, a lease is a legal agreement by which the owner of a building, a piece of land,
or a car allows someone else to use it for a period of time in return for money.
We’ve taken out a lease on an office building. (take out a lease = sign a lease so that
you can rent something)
Eviction, noun (evictions)
kicks out
For example, eviction is the act or process of officially forcing someone to leave a house or
piece of land.
He was facing eviction, along with his wife and family.

Along with, preposition

For example, you use along with to mention someone or something else that is also
involved in an action or situation.
He was facing eviction, along with his wife and family.

Vacate, verb (vacates, vacating, vacated)

abandon, give up, part (with or from), relinquish, leave, quit
For example, if you vacate a place or a job, you leave it or give it up, making it available for
another person.
He vacated the apartment and went to stay with an uncle.

Analyze, verb (analyzes, analyzing, analyzed)

divide, part, separate, assort, classify, pigeonhole, examine, inspect, investigate, scrutinize
For example, if you analyze something, you consider it carefully or use statistical methods
in order to fully understand it.
This book teaches you how to analyze what is causing the stress in your life.

Term (in terms of), prepositional phrase

If you explain or judge something in terms of a particular fact or event, you are only
interested in its connection with that fact or event.
US foreign policy tended to see everything in terms of the Vietnam War.

Challenging, adjective
arduous, effortful, labored, laborious, strenuous, toilsome, uphill
For example, a challenging task or job requires great effort and determination.
Mike found a challenging job as a computer programmer.

Unrestrained, adjective
excessive, immoderate, inordinate, intemperate, overindulgent
For example, if you describe someone’s behavior as unrestrained, you mean that it is
extreme or intense because he/she is expressing his/her feelings strongly or loudly.
There was unrestrained joy on the faces of people.

Intense, adjective
concentrated, desperate, exquisite, fierce, furious, terrible, vehement, vicious, and violent
For example, intense is used to describe something that is very great or extreme in strength
or degree.
Suddenly, the room filled with intense light.

Hypertension, noun
For example, hypertension is a medical condition in which a person has high blood
pressure.
He suffered from hypertension and accompanying heart problems.

Accompany, verb (accompanies, accompanying, accompanied, accompaniment)

attend, bear, bring, carry, chaperon, companion, company, conduct, convoy, escort
For example, if one thing accompanies another, it happens or exists at the same time, or as
a result of it. (Formal)
The proposal was instantly voted through with two to one in favor, accompanied by
enthusiastic applause.

Proposal, noun (proposals)

invitation, proffer, proposition, suggestion
For example, a proposal is a plan or an idea, often a formal or written one, which is
suggested for people to think about and decide upon.
A proposal outlining how the new voting district would be drawn up was submitted to
the City Council.

In favor, prepositional phrase

For example, if someone or something is in favor, people like or support it. If they are out
of favor, people no longer like or support them.
She’s very much in favor with the management at the moment.

Applause, noun (applaud, applauded)

cheers, hand, ovation, round, cheering, clapping, rooting
For example, applause is the noise made by a group of people clapping their hands to show
approval.
They greeted him with thunderous applause.
Constitution, noun (constitutions)
The constitution of a country or organization is the system of laws which formally states
the people’s rights and duties.
The Constitution of the United States was written in 1776.

Cope, verb (copes, coping, coped)

deal with, overcome
For example, if you cope with a problem or a task, you deal with it successfully.
It was amazing how my mother coped with bringing up three children on less than three
hundred dollars a week.

Deal with, verb phrase

treat, handle, play, serve, take, use
For example, when you deal with something or someone that needs attention, you give
your attention to it, and often solve a problem or make a decision concerning it.
The president said the agreement would allow other vital problems to be dealt with.

Vital, adjective (vitally, vitality, vitalize, vitalized)

essential, cardinal, constitutive, fundamental
For example, if you say that something is vital, you mean that it is necessary or important.
The port is vital to supply relief to millions of droughts victims.

Pupil, noun (pupils)

students
For example, the pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
I teach private pupils on Wednesday.

Standardize, verb (standard, standardizes, standardizing, standardized)

For example, to standardize things means to change them so that they all are the same.
He feels standardized education does not benefit those children who are either below or
above overage.
Concrete, adjective
For example, you use concrete to indicate that something is definite and specific.
There were no concrete proposals on the table.

Incentive, noun (incentives)

stimulus, catalyst, goad, impetus, impulse, incitation, incitement, motivation, stimulant
For example, if something is an incentive to do something, it encourages you to do it.
There is little or no incentive to adopt such measures.

Definite, adjective (definitely, definiteness, definitive)

circumscribed, determinate, fixed, limited, narrow, precise, restricted
Definite evidence or information is true, rather than being someone’s opinion or guesses.
We didn’t have any definite proof.

Assumption, noun (assume, assumed, assumptions)

presumption, presupposition
If you make an assumption that something is true, or will happen, you accept that it is true
or will happen, often without any real proof.
Dr. Subroto questioned the scientific assumption on which the global warming theory is
based.

Mediate, verb (mediates, mediating, mediated, mediator)

interpose, intercede, interfere, intermediate, intervene, step in
For example, if someone mediates between two groups of people, he tries to settle an
agreement by talking to both groups to find out which things they can both agree.
United Nations officials have mediated a serious of peace meetings between the two sides.

Settle, verb (settles, settling, settled, settlement)

calm, allay, becalm, compose, lull, quiet, quieted, soothe, still, tranquilize
If people settle an argument or problem, or if someone settles it, they solve it, for example
by making a decision about who is right or about what to do.
They agreed to try to settle their dispute by negotiation.

Dispute, noun (disputes)

argue, bicker, hassle, quibble, squabble, wrangle
A dispute is an agreement or disagreement between people or groups.
For example, negotiators failed to resolve the bitter dispute between the European
Community and the United States.

Capital, adjective (capitalize, capitalism)

chief, dominant, main, major, number one, outstanding, predominant, principal
For example, a capital offense is one that is so serious that the person can be put to death.
His assassinating the Senator of New York was a capital crime, which, if found guilty,
will qualify him for the death penalty.

Offense, noun (offenses)

attack, aggression, assailment, assault, offensive, downfall, onset, onslaught
For example, an offense is a crime that breaks a particular law and requires a punishment.
A criminal offense is an act committed by someone which is in direct violation of the laws
of a particular country.

Instill, verb (instills, instilling, instilled)

implant, inculcate, infix, inseminate
For example, if you instill an idea or feeling into someone, especially over a period of
time, you make them think it or feel it.
They hope that their work will instill a sense of responsibility in children.

Execute, verb (executes, executing, executed, execution, executively)

assassinate, bump off, cool, do in, dust off, finish, knock off, liquidate, put away
For example, to execute someone means to kill him/her as a punishment for a serious
crime.
This boy’s father had been executed for conspiring against the throne.

Conspire, verb (conspires, conspiring, conspired)

plot, cogitate, collogue, collude, connive, contrive, devise, intrigue, machinate, scheme
For example, if two or more people or groups conspire to do something illegal of harmful,
they make a secret agreement to do it.
They’d conspired to overthrow the government.

Pilot, verb (plots, plotting, plotted)

collude, connive, conspire, contrive, devise, intrigue, machinate, scheme
For example, if people plot to do something or plot something illegal or wrong, they
plan secretly to do it.
Prosecutors in the trial allege the defendants plotted to overthrow the government.
Throne, noun (thrones)
The throne: the position and power of being a king or queen.
In 1913 when George V was on the throne, his country’s people suffered from poverty.

Overthrow, verb (overthrows, overthrowing, overthrew, overthrown)

overturn, knock over, overset, tip (over), topple, turn over, upset
For example, when a government or leader is overthrown, he/she is removed by force.
That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.

Coup, noun (coups)

overthrow, revolution, insurrection, revolt
For example, when there is a coup, a group of people seizes power in a country.
Bolivia has experienced several military coups over the last few decades.

Prosecutor, noun (prosecutors)

For example, in some countries, a prosecutor is a lawyer or official who brings charges
against someone or tries to prove in a trial that he/she is guilty.
Due to a preponderance of evidence presented by the prosecutor, the man was found
guilty of murder.

Allege, verb (alleges, alleging, alleged)

adduce, advance, cite, lay, offer, present
For example, if you allege that something bad is true, you say it but do not prove it.
It was alleged that policeman had accepted bribes.
Defendant, noun (defendants)
For example, a defendant is a person who has been accused of breaking the law and is
being tried in court.
We find the defendant not guilty of the charges brought against him by the prosecutor.

Seize, verb (seizes, seizing, seized)

appropriate, annex, arrogate, commandeer, confiscate, expropriate, preempt, sequester
For example, when a group or people seize a place or seize control of it, they take control
of it quickly and suddenly, using force.
Army officers plotted a failed attempt yesterday to seize power.
Charge, noun
For example, an official statement made by the police saying that someone is guilty of a
crime.
The charge against her was arson.

Arson, noun
For example, arson is the crime of deliberately setting fire to a building or vehicle.
They vented their anger by carrying out arson attacks.

Bribe, noun (bribes, bribing, bribed)

buy, buy off, fix, have
For example, a bribe is a sum of money or something valuable that one person offers or
gives to another in order to persuade him or her to do something.
He was being investigated for receiving bribes.

Prescription, noun (prescriptions)

For example, a prescription is a medicine which a doctor has told you to take.
Can I discontinue taking my prescription? I feel fine now.

Relapse, verb (relapses, relapsing, relapsed)

lapse, backslide, recidivate
For example, if a sick person relapses, his health suddenly gets worse after it had been
improving.
In 90 percent of cases, the patient will relapse within six months.

Surgery, noun (surgeries)

For example, surgery is medical treatment in which someone’s body is cut open so that a
doctor can repair, remove, or replace a diseased or damaged part.
The doctor performed surgery on the heart-diseased patient.

Medical, adjective (medically, medicals)

physician, doc, doctor, medico
For example, medical means relating to illness and injuries and to their treatment or
prevention.
Several police officers received medical treatment for cuts and bruises.
Treatment, noun (treatments)
For example, treatment is medical attention given to a sick or injured person or animal.
Many patients are not getting the medical treatment they need.

Bruise, noun (bruises, bruising, bruised)

boo-boo, abrasion, scrape, scratch
For example, a bruise is an injury which appears as a purple mark on your body,
although the skin is not broken.
How did you get that bruise on your cheek?

Symptom, noun (symptoms)

indication, evidence, index, indicia, mark, sign, significant, token.
For example, a symptom of an illness is something wrong with your body or mind that is
a sign of the illness.
I thought I ought to let you know my symptoms have already been relieved.

Specify, noun (specifies, specifying, specified, specific, specifically)

cite, instance, name
For example, if you specify something, you give information about what is required or
should happen in a certain situation.
He has not specified what action he would like them to take.

Estate, noun (estates)

acres, land, manor
For example, someone’s estate is all the money and property that he/she leaves behind
them when he/she dies.
Mrs. Green’s specified that her estate be auctioned off for her charity.

Executor, noun (executors)

For example, an executor is someone whose name you write in your will when you want
him to be responsible for dealing with your affairs after your death.
Who is the executor?

Committee, noun (committees)

For example, a committee is a group of people who meet to make decisions or plans for
a large group or organization that they represent.
Has the acquisition committee decided which precision cutting machines to buy?
Acquisition, noun (acquisitions)
acquirement, accomplishment, achievement, attainment, finish
For example, if a company or business person makes an acquisition, he/she buys
another company or part of that company.
What will turn around our business is the acquisition of a profitable paper
recycling company.

Precision, noun (preciseness, precise)

accuracy, correctness, definiteness, definitiveness, definitude, exactitude, exactness,
preciseness
For example, if you do something with precision, you do it exactly as it should be done.
The interior is planned with a precision the military would be proud of.
Adjective: made or done in a very exact way
The wheat is milled with precision grinding.

Profitable, adjective
advantageous, gainful, good, lucrative, moneymaking, paying, remunerative, well-paying,
worthwhile
For example, a profitable organization or practice makes a profit.
Drug manufacturing is the most profitable business in America.

Interior, noun (interiors)

inner, inner more, inside, internal, intestine, inward
For example, the interior of a country or continent is the central area or it.
The Yangzi River would give access to much of China’s interior.

Grind, verb (grinds, grinding, and ground)

drudge, grub, muck, plod, slave, slog, toil
For example, if you grind a substance such as corn, you crush it between two hard
surfaces or with a machine until it becomes a fine powder.
Store the peppercorns in an airtight container and grind the pepper as you need it.

Clarify, verb (clarifies, clarifying, clarified)

clear, clear up, elucidate, explain, illuminate, illustrate, explain
For example, to clarify something means to make it easier to understand, usually by
explaining it in more detail. (Formal)
Thank you for writing and allowing me to clarify the present position.
Specification, noun (specifications)
requirement, guideline
For example, a specification is a requirement which is clearly stated, for example about the
necessary features in the design of something.
I’d like to buy some land and have a house built to my specification.

Contender, noun (contenders)

competitor
For example, a contender is someone who takes part in a competition.
Her trainer said yesterday that she would be a strong contender for a place in Britain’s
Olympic squad.

Retard, verb (retards, retarding, retarded)

delay, decelerate, detain, hang up, mire, set back, slacken, slow (up or down)
For example, if something retards a process, or the development of something, it makes it
happen more slowly. (Formal)
Continuing violence will retard negotiations over the country’s future.

Extinction, noun
For example, the extinction of a species of animal or plant is the death of all its remaining
living members.
An operation is beginning to try to save a species of crocodile from extinction.

Encroach, verb (encroaches, encroaching, encroached)

trespass, entrench, infringe, invade
For example, if one thing encroaches on another, the first thing spreads or becomes
stronger, and slowly begins to restrict the power, range, or effectiveness of the second.
Any attempt to encroach upon presidential prerogatives in this domain was quickly and
firmly resisted.

Spread, verb (spreads, spreading, spread)

circulate, diffuse, disperse, disseminate, distribute, propagate, radiate, strew
For example, if something spreads or is spread by people, it gradually reaches or affects a
larger and larger area or more and more people.
News of the large earthquake quickly spread across the nation.
Restrict, verb (restricts, restricting, restricted)
limit, bar, circumscribe, confine, delimit, delimitate
For example, if you restrict something, you put a limit on it in order to prevent it from
becoming too great.
The French, I believe, restrict Japanese imports to a maximum of three percent or their
market.

Presidential, adjective
For example, Presidential activities or things relate or belong to a president.
There are several presidential candidates.

Domain, noun (domains)

field, dominion, province, sphere, terrain, territory, walk
For example, a domain is a particular field of thought, activity, or interest, especially one
over which someone has control, influence, or rights. (Formal)
This information should be in the public domain.

Resist, verb (resists, resisting, resisted)

buck, combat, contest, dispute, duel, fight, oppose, repel, traverse, withstand; if you resist
something such as a change, you refuse to accept it and try to prevent it.
They resisted our attempt to modernize the distribution of books.

Candidate, noun (candidates)

applicant, aspirant, hopeful, seeker
For example, a candidate is someone who is being considered for a position, for example
someone who is running in an election or applying for a job.
He is a candidate for the office of Governor.

Deliberate, adjective (deliberates, deliberating, deliberated)

planned, projected, schemed, calculated, careful, meticulous, scrupulous, foresighted,
forethoughtful, provident, prudent
For example, if you do something that is deliberate, you planned or decided to do it
beforehand, and so it happens on purpose rather than by chance.
Witnesses say the firing was deliberate and sustained.
Straighten up, straighten (straightens, straightening, straightened)
order, arrange, array, dispose, marshal, methodize, systemize
For example, if you straighten something, you make it tidy or put it in its proper position.
She sipped her coffee and straightened a picture on the wall.

Sip, verb (sips, sipping, sipped)

drink, imbibe, quaff, sup (off or up), swallow, toss
For example, if you sip a drink or sip at it, you drink by taking just a small amount at a
time.
He sipped at the glass and then put it down.

Branch, noun (branches, branching, branched) limb, bough

For example, the branches of a tree are the parts that grow out from its trunk and have
leaves, flowers, or fruit, growing on them.
They’re cutting a branch off the tree.

Trunk, noun (trunks)

For example, the trunk of a tree is the large main stem from which the branches grow.
The house was built beside the gnarled trunk of a birch tree.

Stem, noun (stems, stemming, stemmed)

For example, the stem of a plant is the thin, upright part on which the flowers and leaves
grow.
He stepped down, cut the stem for her with his knife, and handed her the flower.

Gnarled, adjective
For example, a gnarled tree is twisted and strangely shaped because it is old.
There is a large and beautiful garden full of ancient gnarled trees.

Ancient, adjective
aged, age-old, antediluvian, antique, hoary, old, timeworn, venerable, obsolete
For example, ancient means very old or something which has existed for a long time.
They have practiced ancient Jewish traditions all of their lives.
Ladder, noun (ladders)
For example, a ladder is a piece of equipment used for climbing up something or down
from something. It consists of two long pieces of wood, metal, or rope with steps fixed
between them.
He is doing some work on a ladder.

Put out, verb

extinguish, douse, out, quench, squelch
For example, if you put out a fire, candle, or cigarette, you make it stop burning.
Fireman tried to free the injured and put out the blaze.

Blaze, noun (blazes, blazing, blazed)

blare, flame, flare, glare, glow
For example, a blaze is a large fire which is difficult to control and which destroys a lot of
things.
Two firemen were hurt in a blaze which swept through a tower clock last night.

Sweep, verb (sweeps, sweeping, swept)

circulate, diffuse, disperse, disseminate, distribute
For example, if events, ideas, or beliefs sweep through a place, they spread quickly.
A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow.

Polish, noun (polishes, polishing, polished)

luster, glaze, glint, gloss, sheen, shine
For example, polish is a substance that you put on the surface of an object in order to clean
it and make it shine.
She used furniture polish to restore her dance shoes back to their original color.

Rub, verb (rubs, rubbing, rubbed)

buff, burnish, furbish, glance, glaze, gloss, shine
For example, if you rub an object or a surface, you move a cloth backward and forward
over it in order to clean or dry it.
She took off her glasses and rubbed them hard.

Participant, noun (participants)

actor, partaker, participator, party, sharer
For example, the participants in an activity are the people who take part in it.
The speaker gave all participants an opportunity to voice their opinions.

Instrument, noun (instruments)

implement, tool, utensil
For example, a musical instrument is an object such as a piano, guitar, or flute, which you
play in order to produce music.
Learning a musical instrument introduces a child to an understanding of music.

Make a point, verb phrase

For example, to make a point is to give a fact, idea, or opinion.
One person is making a point to the others.

Row, noun (rows)

line, file, queue, rank, string, tier
For example, a row of things or people is a number of them arranged in a line.
The men are arranging school desks and chairs into neat rows.
Neat, adjective (neater, neatest)
orderly, prim, shipshape, snug, spick-and-span, tidy, trim, uncluttered, well-groomed
For example, a neat object, part of the body, or shape is quite small and has a smooth
outline.
He folded his clothes in a neat pile on the chair.

Overpass, noun (overpasses)

For example, an overpass is a structure which carries one road over the top of another one.
The highway ends at the overpass.

Pull over, verb

For example, when a vehicle or driver pulls over, the vehicle moves closer to the side of the
road and stops there.
Some cars have pulled over to the side of the road.

Pile, noun (piles, piling, piled)

drift, heap, hill, mass, mound, mountain, mow, pyramid
For example, a pile of thing is a quantity of things that have been put neatly somewhere so
that each thing is on top of the one below.
There is a pile of boxes in the garage.
(verb) If you pile things somewhere, you put them there so that they form a pile.
He was piling clothes into the case.

Lean, verb (leans, leaning, leaned, leant)

For example, if you lean on or against someone or something, you rest against it so that it
partly supports your weight. If you lean an object on or against something, you place the
object so that it is partly supported by that thing.
She was feeling tired and was glad to lean against him.

(adjective) Lean can also mean to become thin or to lose weight.

After three weeks of long distance running and weight-lifting, she became very lean.

Mow, verb (mows, mowing, mowed, mown)

clip, crop, cut
For example, if you mow an area of grass, you cut it using a machine called lawn mower.
He continued to mow the lawn and do other routine chores.

Lawn, noun (lawns)

For example, a lawn is an area of grass that is kept cut short and is usually part of
someone’s garden or backyard, or part of a pack.
They were sitting on the lawn under a large beech tree.

Routine, noun (routines)

ordinary, everyday, plain, plain Jane, quotidian, unremarkable, usual, workaday
For example, you use routine to describe activities that are done as a normal part of a job
or process.
The operator has to be able to carry out routine maintenance of the machine.

Chore, noun (chores)

task, assignment, duty, job
For example, chores are tasks such as cleaning, washing, and ironing that have to be done
regularly at home.
My husband and I both go out to work, so we share the household chores.
Due, adjective (dues)
unpaid, mature, outstanding, overdue, owing, payable, unsettled
For example, if something is due at a particular time, it is expected to happen, be done, or
arrive at the time.
The rent is due at the end of the month.

Unlikely, adjective (unlikeliest)

improbable, doubtful, dubious, questionable
For example, if you say that something is unlikely to happen or unlikely to be true, you
believe that it will not happen or that it is not true, although you are not completely sure.
Would Ms. Wines be free to attend this meeting? It’s unlikely.

Tablet, noun (tablets)

For example, a tablet is a small round mass of medicine which you swallow.
It is never a good idea to take sleeping tablets regularly for this kind of wakefulness.

Swallow, verb (swallows, swallowing, swallowed)

down, take
For example, if you swallow something, you cause it go from your mouth down into your
stomach.
You are asked to swallow a capsule containing vitamin B.

Pharmacy, noun (pharmacies)

For example, a pharmacy is a department where medicines are sold or given.
Make sure you understand exactly how to take your medicines before you leave the
pharmacy.

Prospect, noun (prospects, prospecting, prospected)

vista, lookout, outlook, perspective
For example, if there is some prospect of something happening, there is a possibility that it
will happen.
What are my promotion prospects in this job?

In charge, prepositional phrase

For example, if you are in charge in a particular situation, you are the most senior person
and have control over something or someone.
Who’s in charge here?
Anniversary, noun (anniversaries)
For example, an anniversary is a date which is remembered or celebrated because a special
event happened on that date in a previous year.
Vietnam is celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Ho Chi Minh.

Lower, verb (lowers, lowering, lowered)

abate, bate, close, diminish, drain (away), dwindle, lessen, peak (out), peter (out), rebate,
recede, reduce, taper, taper off
For example, if you lower something, you make it less in amount, degree, value, or quality.
The central Bank has lowered interest rates by two percent.

Unanimous, adjective (unanimously)

agreed, agreeing, concordant, concurrent, harmonious
For example, when a group of people are unanimous, they all agree about something or all
vote for the same thing.
The people were unanimous in their condemnation of the proposals.

Editor, noun (editors)

For example, an editor is the person who is in charge of a newspaper or magazine and who
decides what will be published in each edition of it.
The Los Angeles Times newspaper will hire a new editor next month.

Condemnation, noun (condemnations)

For example, condemnation is the act of saying that something or someone is bad and
unacceptable.
There was widespread condemnation of Saturday’s killings.

Be on one’s own, verb phrase

For example, when you are on your own, you are alone.
Speaker A: “Who’s going to the overseas branch with you?”
Speaker B: “I’ll be on my own.”

Shipping, noun
direct, freight, export
For example, shipping is the transporting of cargo as a business, especially on ships.
The international shipping industry performs seventy-five percent of the world’s exports
and imports.
Valid, adjective
cogent, convincing, satisfactory, satisfying, solid, sound, telling
For example, if a ticket or other document is valid, it can be used and will be accepted by
people in authority.
How long is the warranty valid?

Basement, noun (basements)

base, bed, bottom, footing, foundation, ground, groundwork, substructure, understructure
For example, the basement of a building is a floor built partly or completely below ground
level.
They bought an old schoolhouse to live in and built a workshop in the basement.

Invoice, noun (invoices, invoicing, invoiced)

bill, account, reckoning, score, statement, tab
For example, an invoice is a document that lists goods that have been supplied or services
that have been done and says how much money you owe for them.
We will then send you an invoice for the total course fees.

Budget, noun (budgets, budgeting, budgeted)

aggregate, amount, bulk, quantity, quantum, total
For example, your budget is the amount of money that you have available to spend.
This year’s budget for AIDS prevention probably won’t be much higher.

Initiative, noun (initiatives)

enterprise, ambition, drive, get-up-and-go, push
For example, an initiative is an important act or statement that is intended to solve a
problem.
The Government initiative to help young people has been inadequate.

Revision, noun (revisions)

recession, redraft, review, revisal, revise
For example, to make a revision of something that is written or something that has been
decided means to make changes to it in order to improve it, make it more modern, or make
it more suitable for a particular purpose.
The government will also make a number of revisions to reflect better data since the
original figures were released.
Inadequate, adjective (inadequately)
defective, incomplete, insufficient, lacking, incomplete, wanting
For example, if something is inadequate, there is not enough of it or it is not good enough.
Supplies of food and medicines are inadequate.

Reflect, verb (reflects, reflecting, reflected)

think, cerebrate, cogitate, deliberate, reason, speculate
For example, if something reflects an attitude or situation, it shows that the attitude or
situation exists or it shows what it is like.
The low value of the dollar reflects growing concern about the U.S.

Ensure, verb (ensures, ensuring, ensured)

assure, cinch, insure, secure, make sure
For example, to ensure something, or to ensure that something happens, means to make
certain that it happens.
Ensure that it is written into your contract.

Reserve, noun (reserves)

backlog, hoard, inventory, nest egg, reservoir, stock, stockpile, store
For example, a reserve is a supply of something that is available for use when it is needed.
A friend can be a reserve of help in times of trouble.

Subcontractor, noun (subcontractors)

For example, a subcontractor is a person or firm that has a contract to do part of job which
another firm is responsible for.
The company was considered as a possible subcontractor to build the airplane.

Subject, verb (subjects, subjecting, subjected)

expose, lay (open), uncover
For example, if you subject someone to something unpleasant, you make him/her
experience it.
The budget proposal you wrote contains some excellent initiatives, but we made a few
revisions that would ensure we are not subjecting ourselves to unrealistic price
expectations from the subcontractors.
Contract, noun (contracts, contracting, contracted)
agreement, bargain, bond, compact, convention, covenant, pact, transaction
For example, a contract is a legal agreement, usually between two companies or between
an employer and employee which involves doing work for a stated sum of money.
The company won a prestigious contract for work on Europe’s tallest building.

Prestigious, adjective (prestige, prestigiously)

famous, celebrated, distinguished, eminent, famed, illustrious, notable, prominent,
renowned
For example, a prestigious institution, job, or activity is respected and admired by people.
It’s one of the best equipped and most prestigious schools in the country.

Equip, verb (equips, equipping, equipped)

furnish, accouter, appoint, arm, fit out, gear, outfit, rig, turn out
For example, if you equip a person or things with something, you give him/her the tools or
equipment that are needed.
Thanks to some endowments from some private companies, this laboratory is a
well- equipped research building.

Beating, noun (beatings)

defeat, debacle, licking, overthrow, rout, thrashing
For example, if someone is given a beating, he/she is hit hard many times, especially with
something such as a stick.
The team secured pictures of prisoners showing signs of severe beatings.

Abuse, noun (abuses, abusing, abused)

contumely, invective, obloquy, scurrility, vituperation
For example, abuse of something is cruel and violent treatment of it.
The police conducted an investigation of alleged child abuse.

Figure, noun (figures, figuring, figures)

chuffer, cipher, digit, integer, numeral, whole number
For example, a figure is a particular amount expressed as a number, especially a statistic.
It would be very nice if we had a true figure of how many people in this country are
unemployed.