ability
US /əˈbɪlɪti/
UK /ə'bɪlətɪ/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- The power, resources or skill to do something
- A particular skill or talent.
A2TOEICMoreas well as
US /æz wɛl æz/
UK /æz wel æz/
- Adverb
- Also; in addition to
- Preposition
- In addition to; and also.
A1Morebasically
US /ˈbesɪkəli,-kli/
UK /ˈbeɪsɪkli/
- Adverb
- Used before you explain something simply, clearly
- In essence; when you consider the most important aspects of something.
A2Morebrush up
US /brʌʃ ʌp/
UK /brʌʃ ʌp/
- Phrasal Verb
- To improve your knowledge, skill, or memory of
A2Morecatch up
US /kætʃ ʌp/
UK /kætʃ ʌp/
- Phrasal Verb
- To become equal with another person
- To inform others of the latest news
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To do something that you have not been able to do recently.
- To meet someone you know in order to talk to them and find out what they have been doing.
A1Morechallenge
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
A2Moreconfident
US /ˈkɑnfɪdənt/
UK /ˈkɒnfɪdənt/
- Adjective
- Feeling that you can do well at something
- Having a strong belief in the truth or certainty of something.
- Noun
- A person who is self-assured and believes in their abilities.
A2Moreconversation
US /ˌkɑnvɚˈseʃən/
UK /ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃn/
- Uncountable Noun
- Talking with other people; discussion or chat
- General communication or interaction.
A2Moredescription
US /dɪˈskrɪpʃən/
UK /dɪˈskrɪpʃn/
- Noun
- Explanation of what something is like, looks like
- The type or nature of someone or something.
A2TOEICMorefall behind
US /fɔl bɪˈhaɪnd/
UK /fɔ:l biˈhaind/
- Phrasal Verb
- To get behind or late, because of going slowly
- To do worse than someone else, e.g. in rank
A1Morefor instance
US /fɔr ˈɪnstəns/
UK /fɔ: ˈinstəns/
- Adverb
- As an example.
- Phrase
- As an example.
- As an illustration or case in point
B1Morego back to
US /ɡo bæk tu/
UK /ɡəu bæk tu:/
- Phrasal Verb
- To return to a starting point
A1Moregoing on
US /ˈɡoɪŋ ɑn/
UK /ˈgəʊɪŋ ɔn/
- Phrasal Verb
- To continue doing something
- To happen (usually negative)
A1Morehang
US /hæŋ/
UK /hæŋ/
- Transitive Verb
- To attach a picture, photograph etc. onto a wall
- To kill by putting a rope around neck and dropping
- Intransitive Verb
- To float, move softly, or remain in the air
- To remain undecided, unsolved or unclear
A2Morehave to
US /hæv tu/
UK /ˈhæv tə/
- Auxiliary Verb
- Must do
A1Morein fact
US /ɪn fækt/
UK /in fækt/
- Adverb
- Used to emphasize the truth of a statement, especially one that contrasts with or contradicts something else.
- Used to introduce a more detailed or surprising piece of information.
- Phrase
- Used to emphasize the truth of a statement, especially one that is surprising or contrary to what might be expected.
C1Moreinstance
US /ˈɪnstəns/
UK /'ɪnstəns/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- An example of something; case
- An occurrence of something.
- Transitive Verb
- To give as an example of something else
A2TOEICMorejourney
US /ˈdʒɚni/
UK /'dʒɜ:nɪ/
- Noun
- Act of traveling from one place to another; trip
- Intransitive Verb
- To travel through a place
A2TOEICMorekeep at
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- To continuously try to do something
A1Morelook at
US /lʊk æt/
UK /luk æt/
- Phrasal Verb
- To use your eyes to focus on something
- To focus your eyes on something carefully
A1Moreoff the hook
US /ɔf ði hʊk/
UK /ɔf ðə huk/
- Adjective
- Released from an obligation or responsibility.
- Out of danger or trouble.
B2Moreon a trip
US
UK
- Phrase
- Traveling; away from home for a period of time.
A1Morepaid off
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- To give money to get person to do something; bribe
- To give money to settle a debt
- Transitive Verb
- To have bribed someone.
- To have paid a debt in full.
A1Morephrasal
US
UK
- Adjective
- Concerning or consisting of a phrase
B1Morephrase
US /frez/
UK /freɪz/
- Noun
- Common expression or saying
- Section of musical notes in a piece of music
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To choose words to say what you mean clearly
A2Morepractice
US /ˈpræktɪs/
UK /'præktɪs/
- Noun
- The office and place for legal or medical work
- Doing something many times to become better at it
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To work as a doctor or lawyer
- To live according to the teachings of a religion
A2TOEICMoreprogress
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.
A2TOEICMorepronunciation
US /prəˌnʌnsiˈeʃən/
UK /prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃn/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- How a word is said; how a word sounds
- The manner in which someone utters a word.
B1Moreproperly
US /ˈprɑːpərli/
UK /ˈprɔpəlɪ/
- Adverb
- In an appropriate or correct manner
- In a way that is suitable or appropriate.
A2Morereel
US /ril/
UK /ri:l/
- Transitive Verb
- To wind something in on a reel; pull something in
C1Moreregularly
US /ˈregjələrli/
UK /ˈregjələli/
- Adverb
- At the usual time each day, week, or month
- In a normal or customary way.
B1TOEICMoresponsor
US /ˈspɑ:nsə(r)/
UK /ˈspɒnsə(r)/
- Noun
- Person that supports the passage of a new law
- Person giving money for someone's education
- Transitive Verb
- To support the passage of a new law
- To help someone succeed by giving them money
B1TOEICMorestick
US /stɪk/
UK /stɪk/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To push a sharp or pointed object into something
- To join together using glue or paste
- Countable Noun
- Long thin piece of wood from a tree
A2Morestick with
US /stɪk wɪð/
UK /stik wið/
- Phrasal Verb
- To continue to support or stay loyal to someone or something.
- To continue doing or using something; to persevere.
A1Moretalking about
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- To discuss a particular topic.
- To be constantly mentioning or bringing up a subject.
A1Morethumbs up
US
UK
- Noun
- A gesture of approval or agreement, indicated by holding a fist with the thumb extended upwards.
- A positive rating or vote on social media or online platforms.
- Noun (plural)
- Multiple gestures of approval or agreement made by extending the thumbs upward.
A1Moretrack
US /træk/
UK /træk/
- Transitive Verb
- To use marks to follow a wild animal
- To move a certain way/follow a particular course
- Noun
- A circular course for running
- Course or way someone takes, e.g. in education
A2TOEICMoretrack with
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- To follow or keep up with something, such as a conversation or a line of reasoning.
- To be in alignment or agreement with something.
A1Moretutor
US /ˈtu:tə(r)/
UK /ˈtju:tə(r)/
- Noun
- A teacher who deals with students personally
- Transitive Verb
- To give private instruction to someone
B1Morewith it
US /wɪð ɪt/
UK /wið it/
- Adjective
- Intelligent, alert, and up-to-date.
- Understanding and knowledgeable about current trends or information.
A1Morework at
US /wɚk æt/
UK /wə:k æt/
- Phrasal Verb
- To have a job at a particular place or organization.
- To make an effort to improve something.
A1Morework out
US /wɚk aʊt/
UK /wə:k aut/
- Phrasal Verb
- To find a way to do something, by thinking
A1More
Vocabulary
- keep at: To continuously try to do something
- stick with: To continue to support or stay loyal to someone or something.
- with it: Intelligent, alert, and up-to-date.
- fall behind: To get behind or late, because of going slowly
- have to: Must do
- brush up: To improve your knowledge, skill, or memory of
- catch up: To become equal with another person
- talking about: To discuss a particular topic.
- look at: To use your eyes to focus on something
- for instance: As an example.
- work at: To have a job at a particular place or organization.
- off the hook: Released from an obligation or responsibility.
- track with: To follow or keep up with something, such as a conversation or a line of reasoning.
- going on: To continue doing something
- on a trip: Traveling; away from home for a period of time.
- as well as: Also; in addition to
- work out
- in fact: Used to emphasize the truth of a statement, especially one that contrasts with or contradicts something else.
- paid off: To give money to get person to do something; bribe
- go back to: To return to a starting point
- thumbs up: A gesture of approval or agreement, indicated by holding a fist with the thumb extended upwards.
- stick: To push a sharp or pointed object into something
- pronunciation: How a word is said; how a word sounds
- phrase: Common expression or saying
- properly: In an appropriate or correct manner
- progress: To move forward or toward a place or goal
- practice: The office and place for legal or medical work
- basically: Used before you explain something simply, clearly
- journey: Act of traveling from one place to another; trip
- description: Explanation of what something is like, looks like
- improve: To make, or become, something better
- instance: An example of something; case
- conversation: Talking with other people; discussion or chat
- confident: Feeling that you can do well at something
- track: To use marks to follow a wild animal
- ability: The power, resources or skill to do something
- bit: Device put in a horse's mouth to control it
- simply: In an easy or clear manner
- challenge: An activity you wish to try that may be hard to do
- hang: To attach a picture, photograph etc. onto a wall
- fall: Season after summer and before winter; Autumn
- strange: Unusual or odd; surprising because unexpected
- regularly: At the usual time each day, week, or month
- haven: Place where people can feel safe and happy
- notice: To become aware by sight, touch, or hearing
- lot: What happens to a person in life from chance; fate
- place: To put someone in a particular type of situation
- phrasal: Concerning or consisting of a phrase
- learn: To get knowledge or skills by study or experience
- continue: To do something without stopping, or after pausing
- catch: Amount of something that has been caught
- sponsor: Person that supports the passage of a new law
- drive: A person's ambition and motivation to do something
- great: Very good; better than before
- find: To become aware of something that is happening
- tutor: A teacher who deals with students personally
- reel: To wind something in on a reel; pull something in
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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
12 English Phrases about Improving Your English!
0
Susan posted on 2026/10/06Ready to take your English to the next level? This video breaks down 12 essential phrases for talking about improvement, like how to 'get the hang of' a new skill or when to 'brush up on' your knowledge. It is a fantastic way to learn how to describe your own progress and stay on track with your learning goals!
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