Preparing usage notes, please check back later
against nature
US /əˈɡenst ˈnetʃɚ/
UK /əˈgenst ˈneɪtʃə/
- other
- Contrary to the natural order or laws of nature.
B2Moreagainst time
US /əˈɡenst taɪm/
UK /əˈɡenst taim/
- Phrase
- Working under pressure to meet a deadline; in a race to finish something quickly.
aircraft
US /ˈɛrˌkræft/
UK /ˈɛəkrɑ:ft/
- Countable Noun
- Vehicle that can fly
C2TOEICMoreall hands on deck
US /ɔl hændz ɑn dɛk/
UK /ɔ:l hændz ɒn dek/
- other
- A call for everyone to work together in a difficult situation.
B2Morealong with
US /əˈlɔŋ wɪð/
UK /əˈlɔŋ wið/
- Preposition
- In addition to; together with.
- Adverb
- In company or together with someone or something.
- Including; in addition to.
A2Morearound the clock
US /əˈraʊnd ði klɑk/
UK /əˈraund ðə klɔk/
- Phrase
- All day and all night; continuously.
A1Moreas soon as
US /æz sun æz/
UK /æz su:n æz/
- Phrase
- In a short time after (something happens)
- Without any delay; immediately
- Conjunction
- At the moment that, or immediately after.
A1Moreas well as
US /æz wɛl æz/
UK /æz wel æz/
- Adverb
- Also; in addition to
- Preposition
- In addition to; and also.
A1Moreat the moment
US
UK
- Adverb
- At this time; now
A1Moreat the outset
US /æt ði ˈaʊtˌsɛt/
UK /æt ðə ˈautset/
- Phrase
- At the very beginning; from the start.
A1Moreblaze
US /blez/
UK /bleɪz/
- Intransitive Verb
- (Of a fire) to burn brightly
- (Of the sun, etc.) to shine brightly
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Bright light, as from a burning fire
- a sudden show of very strong feeling
B1Morecapital
US /ˈkæpɪtl/
UK /'kæpɪtl/
- Noun
- Writing the first letter of a word in big letters
- Official main city of a country, province or state
- Adjective
- Main, or major
- (Of an offense) liable to the death penalty.
A2Morecause
US /kɔz/
UK /kɔ:z/
- Noun
- Belief, goal or organization that people support
- Reason for
- Transitive Verb
- To make something happen; create effect or result
A2Morechallenge
US /ˈtʃæləndʒ/
UK /'tʃælɪndʒ/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- An activity you wish to try that may be hard to do
- Act of formally inviting someone to compete
- Transitive Verb
- To formally invite someone to compete at something
- To question the correctness of something
A2Moreclamp down on
US /klæmp daʊn ɑn/
UK /klæmp daʊn ɒn/
- other
- To take strict measures to control or limit something.
B2Morecombat
US /kəmˈbæt, ˈkɑmˌbæt/
UK /'kɒmbæt/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To fight someone or something physically
B1Morecome from
US /kʌm frʌm/
UK /kʌm frɔm/
- Phrasal Verb
- To have as your native country or city
A1Morecontain
US /kənˈten/
UK /kənˈteɪn/
- Transitive Verb
- To keep something from spreading
- To hold something inside something else
A2Morecouple
US /ˈkʌpəl/
UK /'kʌpl/
- Transitive Verb
- To join something to something else
- (Two animals) to engage in sexual relations
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Two people in a romantic relationship
- Two of something; two people; a pair
A2Morecrew
US /kru/
UK /kru:/
- Countable Noun
- Organized group of workers (e.g. on a ship)
- Skilled group of people working together on a task
- Intransitive Verb
- To work as part of a crew.
A2TOEICMorecrime
US /kraɪm/
UK /kraɪm/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Act that is believed to be a mistake or foolish
- Act that is against the law; murder, theft etc.
A2Moredepend
US /dɪˈpend/
UK /dɪˈpend/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- Be controlled or determined by (someone/something)
- To rely on someone or something for support, help, or existence.
B1TOEICMoredesperately
US /ˈdɛspərɪtlɪ/
UK /'despərətlɪ/
- Adverb
- In a way that shows you don't have much hope
- In a way that shows despair.
A2Moredestroy
US /dɪˈstrɔɪ/
UK /dɪ'strɔɪ/
- Transitive Verb
- To damage so badly that something no longer exists
- To defeat someone or something easily
A2TOEICMoredevastation
US /ˌdevəˈsteɪʃn/
UK /ˌdevəˈsteɪʃn/
- Uncountable Noun
- Act of ruining or destroying something
- A feeling of being extremely shocked and sad.
B1Moredraft
US /dræft/
UK /drɑ:ft/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Withdrawal of money from the bank
- System for selecting people to join the military
- Transitive Verb
- To order people to join the army in time of war
- To select people for a task or team
B1TOEICMoredraft in
US /dræft ɪn/
UK /drɑ:ft ɪn/
- other
- To bring in people for help, especially temporarily or urgently.
B2Moredramatic
US /drəˈmætɪk/
UK /drəˈmætɪk/
- Adjective
- Gripping the attention; causing an effect
- (Of an event) sudden and extreme
B1Moredue to
US /du tu/
UK /dju: tu:/
- Preposition
- Because of; owing to
- Adjective
- Attributable to; caused by.
A1Moredurable
US /ˈdʊrəbəl, ˈdjʊr-/
UK /ˈdjʊərəbl/
- Adjective
- Able to stay in good condition for a long time
B2TOEICMoreengage in
US /ɪn'gedʒ ɪn/
UK /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ in/
- Phrasal Verb
- To participate or become involved in something.
B1Moreevacuation
US /ɪˌvækjuˈeʃən/
UK /ɪˌvækjʊ'eɪʃn/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Sending to a safer place because of danger
- The process of removing people from a dangerous place.
B2Morefor days
US /fɔr dez/
UK /fɔ: deɪz/
- Phrase
- For a long period of time; lasting several days.
for now
US /fɔr naʊ/
UK /fɔ: nau/
- Phrase
- Temporarily; for the present time.
- In the short term; for the immediate future.
A1Morefor too long
US
UK
- Phrase
- For an excessively extended period.
A1Moreforecast
US /ˈfɔ:rkæst/
UK /ˈfɔ:kɑ:st/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Prediction of some future thing, e.g. the weather
- A prediction or estimate of future events, especially weather.
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To predict some future thing, e.g. the weather
- Alternative past tense and past participle of 'forecast'.
B1TOEICMoregrateful
US /ˈɡretfəl/
UK /ˈgreɪtfl/
- Adjective
- Feeling or showing thanks; thankful
B1TOEICMoreguard
US /ɡɑrd/
UK /ɡɑ:d/
- Transitive Verb
- To keep watch over something to protect it
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Someone who watches a place or prevents escapes
- A player in basketball whose primary role is to handle the ball and initiate the offense.
A2Morehave to
US /hæv tu/
UK /ˈhæv tə/
- Auxiliary Verb
- Must do
A1Moreidentify
US /aɪˈdɛntəˌfaɪ/
UK /aɪ'dentɪfaɪ/
- Transitive Verb
- To indicate who or what someone or something is
- To say exactly what something is
B1TOEICMorein effect
US /ɪn ɪˈfɛkt/
UK /in iˈfekt/
- Phrase
- In reality; in practice; virtually
A1Morein force
US /ɪn fɔrs/
UK /in fɔ:s/
- Phrase
- In large numbers or with great strength
B1Morein need
US /ɪn nid/
UK /in ni:d/
- Phrase
- Not having the necessary things, such as food
A1Morein the air
US
UK
- Phrase
- Present or circulating in the atmosphere.
- Felt or sensed by many people; circulating as a rumor or feeling.
- Adjective
- Being broadcast on radio or television.
A1Morein the past
US
UK
- Phrase
- During a former period of time; previously.
A1Morein the wind
US /ɪn ðə wɪnd/
UK /ɪn ðə wɪnd/
- other
- Something likely to happen or be revealed soon.
B2Morein times
US
UK
- Phrase
- During periods or moments of.
- During a particular era or period in history.
A1Moremass
US /mæs/
UK /mæs/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Religious ceremony in some Christian churches
- Large amount or number of something
- Transitive Verb
- To gather people or things into a large group
B1Morenumber of people
US /ˈnʌmbɚ ʌv ˈpipəl/
UK /ˈnʌmbə ɔv ˈpi:pl/
- Phrase
- The total count of individuals within a group or gathering.
- A statistical figure representing the population size or a subset thereof.
A1Moreof course
US /ʌv kɔː(r)s/
UK /ɔv kɔː(r)s/
- Adverb
- Sure ; Certainly
- Phrase
- For sure; certainly
A2Moreon deck
US /ɑn dɛk/
UK /ɔn dek/
- Adjective
- In baseball, being the next batter to come up to bat.
- Next in line; ready or available.
- Adverb
- Located or situated on the deck of a ship.
B2Moreon the ground
US
UK
- Phrase
- Located on the surface of the earth.
- Present and available in a particular place, especially to deal with a situation.
on the street
US /ɑn ði strit/
UK /ɔn ðə stri:t/
- Phrase
- Located on or along a public road in a town or city.
- Available or circulating, especially illegally or unofficially.
A1Morepiece together
US /pis təˈɡɛðɚ/
UK /pi:s təˈɡeðə/
- Transitive Verb
- To assemble or put together from fragments or parts.
- Phrasal Verb
- To assemble or construct something from individual parts or pieces.
- To try to understand something by considering all the separate facts or pieces of information that you have.
A1Morepipe in
US /paɪp ɪn/
UK /paɪp in/
- other
- To suddenly interrupt or add to a conversation.
B2Moreprogress
US /ˈprɑɡˌrɛs, -rəs, ˈproˌɡrɛs/
UK /'prəʊɡres/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To move forward or toward a place or goal
- To make progress; develop or improve.
- Uncountable Noun
- Act of moving forward
- The process of improving or developing something over a period of time.
A2TOEICMoreput back
US /pʊt bæk/
UK /put bæk/
- Phrasal Verb
- To return something to the proper place
A1Moreput out
US /pʊt aʊt/
UK /put aut/
- Phrasal Verb
- To publish, e.g. a book
- To cause someone to be troubled or inconvenienced
A1Moreremain
US /rɪˈmen/
UK /rɪˈmeɪn/
- Intransitive Verb
- To be left behind; to continue to exist
- To stay in a place when other people have gone
A2TOEICMorereputation
US /ˌrɛpjəˈteʃən/
UK /ˌrepjuˈteɪʃn/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Common opinion that people have about someone
- A widespread belief that someone or something has a particular characteristic.
B1TOEICMorescramble
US /ˈskræmbəl/
UK /ˈskræmbl/
- Intransitive Verb
- To cause war planes to take off quickly
- Transitive Verb
- To mix up
B2TOEICMorescrub
US /skrʌb/
UK /skrʌb/
- Transitive Verb
- To clean with hard rubbing
- Noun
- Act of cleaning with hard rubbing
- An insignificant or contemptible person; someone who thinks they are cool but has no money, job, or prospects.
B2Moreserve
US /sɚv/
UK /sɜ:v/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To act in a particular position or office
- To hit the first ball to an opponent in tennis etc.
A2TOEICMorespread
US /sprɛd/
UK /spred/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- A big meal, often laid out as a buffet
- The distance between two things
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To place over a large area; to cover a large area
- (Of ideas, gossip) to pass to and affect others
A2TOEICMoresquare
US /skwɛr/
UK /skweə(r)/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Shape with 4 equal length sides and 4 equal angles
- The result of multiplying Length by the width
- Adjective
- Being fair or honest
- Multiply a number by itself e.g. 2x2 or 6x6
A2TOEICMoresuch as
US /sʌtʃ æz/
UK /sʌtʃ æz/
- Preposition
- For example; like
A1Moreunprecedented
US /ʌnˈprɛsɪˌdɛntɪd/
UK /ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/
- Adjective
- Not having happened before, or to such a degree
B1Moreup against
US /ʌp əˈɡenst/
UK /ʌp əˈɡenst/
- Phrase
- Facing or contending with something difficult or challenging.
- In close proximity or contact with something.
up in the air
US
UK
- Adjective
- Not yet decided or resolved; uncertain.
- Idiom
- In an uncertain state; unresolved.
wipe out
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- To destroy or be destroyed
- To fall off a surfboard or skis.
A2More
