at war
US /æt wɔr/
UK /æt wɔ:/
- Phrase
- Engaged in a war; fighting
A2Moreatmosphere
US /ˈætməˌsfɪr/
UK /'ætməsfɪə(r)/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Air around us
- Feeling or mood of a place
A2Morebehind the scenes
US
UK
- Phrase
- Secretly or without being known to the public.
- In a position to influence events without any public knowledge.
A1Moreblast
US /blæst/
UK /blɑ:st/
- Transitive Verb
- To attack someone with words
- To destroy something with explosives
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Destructive wave of air from an explosion
- Strong current of wind
B1Morecatastrophe
US /kəˈtæstrəfi/
UK /kə'tæstrəfɪ/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Very bad disaster causing much suffering, etc.
- A complete failure; a fiasco.
B2Morecatastrophic
US /ˌkætəˈstrɑfɪk/
UK /ˌkætə'strɒfɪk/
- Adjective
- Causing a lot of damage or suffering
B2Morecause
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
A2Morecheck out
US /tʃɛk aʊt/
UK /tʃek aut/
- Phrase
- Phrasal Verb
- To find out information about something
- To take books out of a library
A1Morecosmic
US /ˈkɑzmɪk/
UK /'kɒzmɪk/
- Adjective
- Concerning space and the universe
B2Morecrisis
US /ˈkraɪsɪs/
UK /'kraɪsɪs/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
- A turning point in a disease.
B1Morecritical
US /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
UK /ˈkrɪtɪkl/
- Adjective
- Making a negative judgment of something
- Being important or serious; vital; dangerous
A2Moredestruction
US /dɪˈstrʌkʃən/
UK /dɪ'strʌkʃn/
- Noun
- Act of destroying; damaging beyond repair
- The state of being destroyed or ruined.
B1TOEICMoredevastate
US /ˈdɛvəˌstet/
UK /'devəsteɪt/
- Transitive Verb
- To cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
- To cause (someone) to feel extreme emotional pain.
B1Moredisaster
US /dɪˈzæstɚ, -ˈsæs-/
UK /dɪ'zɑ:stə(r)/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- State of extreme ruin and misfortune
- A complete failure.
- Uncountable Noun
- A situation that has gone terribly wrong.
A2Moredramatic
US /drəˈmætɪk/
UK /drəˈmætɪk/
- Adjective
- Gripping the attention; causing an effect
- (Of an event) sudden and extreme
B1Moredrastically
US /ˈdræstɪkl:ɪ/
UK /'drɑ:stɪklɪ/
- Adverb
- In a sudden, extreme or severe manner
B2TOEICMoredrill
US /drɪl/
UK /drɪl/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- A machine that makes holes with a metal bit
- Exercise done to learn military skills
- Transitive Verb
- To make a deep hole to find oil, gas etc.
- To put a hole in something by using a boring tool
B1TOEICMoreenormous
US /ɪˈnɔrməs/
UK /iˈnɔ:məs/
- Adjective
- Huge; very big; very important
- Very great in size, amount, or degree.
A2Moreentire
US /ɛnˈtaɪr/
UK /ɪn'taɪə(r)/
- Adjective
- Complete or full; with no part left out; whole
- Undivided; not shared or distributed.
A2TOEICMoreexplode
US /ɪkˈsplod/
UK /ɪk'spləʊd/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To express an emotion in a sudden and loud way
- To increase in number or amount very quickly
B1Morefar worse
US
UK
- Adjective
- Significantly more unpleasant, serious, or severe.
- In a much poorer state of health or physical condition.
- Adverb
- To a much greater degree of inferiority or unsuitability.
A2Morefor days
US /fɔr dez/
UK /fɔ: deɪz/
- Phrase
- For a long period of time; lasting several days.
fuse
US /fjuz/
UK /fju:z/
- Noun
- Device connected to and making a bomb explode
- Electrical safety device
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- (Metal) to become one through heat contact
- To become combined; unite.
B2Morehorizon
US /həˈraɪzn/
UK /həˈraɪzn/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Line where the earth or sea meets the sky
- Limits of someone's experience or understanding
B1Moreimpact
US /ˈɪmˌpækt/
UK /'ɪmpækt/
- Noun
- A striking effect or result to hit with force
- Act or force of one thing hitting something else
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To hit or strike someone or something with force
- To have a strong effect on someone or something.
A2TOEICMorein flames
US
UK
- Phrase
- Burning fiercely
B2Morein time
US /ɪn taɪm/
UK /in taim/
- Adverb
- Eventually; after a period of time.
- Not late; with enough time to spare.
- Phrase
- Eventually; before it is too late.
- According to the scheduled time; punctual.
A1Moreintense
US /ɪnˈtɛns/
UK /ɪn'tens/
- Adjective
- Very strong, great or extreme in degree
- Experiencing or showing great force or strength; extreme.
A2TOEICMoreinto space
US
UK
- Phrase
- Toward or entering the region beyond Earth's atmosphere.
- Figuratively, entering a realm of imagination or abstraction.
A1Morelunar
US /ˈlunɚ/
UK /ˈlu:nə(r)/
- Adjective
- Concerning, about, or from the moon
- Determined by the moon's cycles.
B2Moremassive
US /ˈmæsɪv/
UK /ˈmæsɪv/
- Adjective
- Very big; large; too big
- Large or imposing in scale or scope.
B1Morematerial
US /məˈtɪriəl/
UK /məˈtɪəriəl/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Cloth; fabric
- Supplies or data needed to do a certain thing
- Adjective
- Relevant; (of evidence) important or significant
- Belonging to the world of physical things
A2Moremeteor
US /ˈmitiɚ, -ˌɔr/
UK /ˈmi:tiə(r)/
- Noun
- Rock from space that enters the Earth's atmosphere
B2Morenew level
US
UK
- Noun
- A higher or improved stage of achievement or quality.
- A different or more advanced degree of expertise or understanding.
A1Moreoccur
US /əˈkɚ/
UK /əˈkɜ:(r)/
- Intransitive Verb
- To come to pass or to happen
- To be found to exist; to be present.
A2TOEICMoreoil and water
US /ɔɪl ənd ˈwɔtɚ/
UK /ˈɔil ənd ˈwɔ:tə/
- other
- Two things that are very different and do not mix well.
B2Moreon earth
US /ɑn ɚθ/
UK /ɔn ə:θ/
- Phrase
- Used to emphasize a question expressing surprise or anger.
- Used to emphasize that something is not possible or will not happen.
A1Moreon fire
US /ɑn faɪr/
UK /ɔn ˈfaiə/
- Adjective
- Very successful or popular
- Burning
A2Moreoxygen
US /ˈɑksɪdʒən/
UK /'ɒksɪdʒən/
- Uncountable Noun
- A gas in the air that we need to breathe
- Oxygen administered as a medical treatment.
B1Morepotential
US /pəˈtɛnʃəl/
UK /pəˈtenʃl/
- Adjective
- Capable of happening or becoming reality
- Having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future.
- Uncountable Noun
- someone's or something's ability to develop, achieve, or succeed
A2TOEICMoreprevent
US /prɪˈvɛnt/
UK /prɪ'vent/
- Transitive Verb
- To stop something from happening or existing
A2TOEICMoreradiation
US /ˌrediˈeʃən/
UK /ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃn/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Energy transmitted as rays, waves or particles
- Harmful waves of energy from nuclear activity
B1Moreradioactive
US /ˌredioˈæktɪv/
UK /ˌreɪdɪəʊ'æktɪv/
- Adjective
- Emitting harmful energy from nuclear activity
B2Moreremain
US /rɪˈmen/
UK /rɪˈmeɪn/
- Intransitive Verb
- To be left behind; to continue to exist
- To stay in a place when other people have gone
A2TOEICMoreroughly
US /ˈrʌflɪ/
UK /ˈrʌfli/
- Adverb
- Approximately; (of numbers) about; around
- In a manner that is violent or not careful
B1Moreset off
US /sɛt ɔf/
UK /set ɒf/
- Phrasal Verb
- To start a journey
- To cause something to explode or start working.
- Transitive Verb
- To cause to explode.
A1Morespill
US /spɪl/
UK /spɪl/
- Noun
- Accident when someone falls
- Act of allowing a fluid to escape
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To come out of and spread beyond limits
- To tell secrets or let information escape
B1Morespin
US /spɪn/
UK /spɪn/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To make a ball rotate when throwing it
- To move something in a rapid turning motion
- Intransitive Verb
- To feel dizzy/confused, as in my head is spinning
B1Morespread
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
A2TOEICMorestellar
US /ˈstɛlɚ/
UK /ˈstelə(r)/
- Adjective
- Very brilliant; very successful or good
C1Morestrike
US /straɪk/
UK /straɪk/
- Transitive Verb
- To hit something
- To remove or erase.
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- A punch or hit
- Fact of not hitting the ball when playing baseball
A2TOEICMoresupernova
US /ˌsu:pərˈnoʊvə/
UK /ˌsu:pəˈnəʊvə/
- Noun
- Large exploding star that is extremely bright
C2Moretrigger
US /ˈtrɪɡɚ/
UK /'trɪɡə(r)/
- Noun
- Lever on a gun that you pull to fire
- Device that starts a process
- Transitive Verb
- To start a process off e.g. a memory
- To cause something to begin or happen.
B1Moreturned out
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- To arrive for a public event or entertainment
- To happen to be in the end
- Transitive Verb
- To extinguish or switch off lights.
A1Moreuniverse
US /ˈjunəˌvɚs/
UK /ˈju:nɪvɜ:s/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- All of space that contains planets and stars
- Things surrounding a person, affecting their life
B2Morewere it not for
US /wɚ ɪt nɑt fɚ/
UK /wə ɪt nɒt fɔ:/
- other
- Used to say something would not happen without a particular condition.
B2More
Vocabulary
- into space: Toward or entering the region beyond Earth's atmosphere.
- far worse: Significantly more unpleasant, serious, or severe.
- check out
- set off: To start a journey
- turned out: To arrive for a public event or entertainment
- on earth: Used to emphasize a question expressing surprise or anger.
- new level: A higher or improved stage of achievement or quality.
- in flames: Burning fiercely
- were it not for: Used to say something would not happen without a particular condition.
- oil and water: Two things that are very different and do not mix well.
- on fire: Very successful or popular
- behind the scenes: Secretly or without being known to the public.
- at war: Engaged in a war; fighting
- in time: Eventually; after a period of time.
- for days: For a long period of time; lasting several days.
- intense: Very strong, great or extreme in degree
- entire: Complete or full; with no part left out; whole
- potential: Capable of happening or becoming reality
- massive: Very big; large; too big
- enormous: Huge; very big; very important
- critical: Making a negative judgment of something
- material: Cloth; fabric
- trigger: Lever on a gun that you pull to fire
- evidence: Factual proof that helps to establish the truth
- crisis: Unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
- impact: A striking effect or result to hit with force
- strike: To hit something
- fear: Unpleasant feeling caused by being aware of danger
- catastrophic: Causing a lot of damage or suffering
- atmosphere: Air around us
- roughly: Approximately; (of numbers) about; around
- failure: When things go wrong; lack of function
- drastically: In a sudden, extreme or severe manner
- spread: A big meal, often laid out as a buffet
- prevent: To stop something from happening or existing
- occur: To come to pass or to happen
- blast: To attack someone with words
- dramatic: Gripping the attention; causing an effect
- remain: To be left behind; to continue to exist
- universe: All of space that contains planets and stars
- disaster: State of extreme ruin and misfortune
- drill: A machine that makes holes with a metal bit
- catastrophe: Very bad disaster causing much suffering, etc.
- cause: Belief, goal or organization that people support
- spin: To make a ball rotate when throwing it
- oxygen: A gas in the air that we need to breathe
- radiation: Energy transmitted as rays, waves or particles
- spill: Accident when someone falls
- devastate: To cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
- horizon: Line where the earth or sea meets the sky
- destruction: Act of destroying; damaging beyond repair
- storm: To act violently or angrily
- explode: To express an emotion in a sudden and loud way
- worse: Comparative of 'bad'; more bad
- fail: To be unsuccessful in passing a class or exam
- cosmic: Concerning space and the universe
- land: Region or country
- space: Empty area kept for a specific reason, like a car
- stellar: Very brilliant; very successful or good
- world: All the humans, events, activities on the earth
- fuse: Device connected to and making a bomb explode
- life: All the living things e.g. animals, plants, humans
- problem: Something difficult to deal with or causes trouble
- time: Speed at which music is played; tempo
- happen: To take place or occur
- earth: Wire connecting an electrical device to the ground
- lunar: Concerning, about, or from the moon
- age: To keep food, wine for a long time to improve it
- meteor: Rock from space that enters the Earth's atmosphere
- radioactive: Emitting harmful energy from nuclear activity
- supernova: Large exploding star that is extremely bright
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01:03
She took a brave step forward, leaving behind her comfort zone to chase her dreams.
Vocabulary
- brave
adj. Having courage
- comfort zone
phr. A familiar situation where one feels safe
Explanation
a brave step is a noun phrase, where brave is an adjective modifying the noun step, meaning "a courageous step".
forward is an adverb modifying step, meaning "ahead".
The whole phrase serves as the object, answering the "what" of took (verb) — she took a brave step forward.
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brave
US/brev/
UK/breɪv/
adj.Brave
v.t.To bravely face
A2 Elementary
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80
10 Disasters That Could Have Been Even WORSE
0
林宜悉 posted on 2026/04/20Ever wondered how close we've come to disaster? This video dives into 10 historical near-misses, from nuclear crises to potential ice ages, that could have been way worse! You'll pick up some fascinating vocabulary while learning about these suspenseful moments in history.
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