ability
US /əˈbɪlɪti/
UK /ə'bɪlətɪ/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- The power, resources or skill to do something
- A particular skill or talent.
A2TOEICMoreadopt
US /əˈdɑ:pt/
UK /əˈdɒpt/
- Transitive Verb
- To legally take a child into your family
- To take on responsibility for something
A2TOEICMoreafter all
US /ˈæftɚ ɔl/
UK /ˈɑ:ftə ɔ:l/
- Adverb
- In spite of what was expected; used to introduce a statement that supports a previous statement or explains why it was made
- Considering everything; used to indicate that something is happening or is true despite some difficulty or obstacle
- Phrase
- Despite what was expected or thought; in spite of everything.
- Taking everything into consideration; considering that.
B1Moreambition
US /æmˈbɪʃən/
UK /æmˈbɪʃn/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Desire to win or be successful in life, work
A2TOEICMorearound the world
US /əˈraʊnd ði wɜrld/
UK /əˈraund ðə wɜː(r)ld/
- Phrase
- In or to many countries.
- In various places throughout the world.
A2Moreat least
US /æt list/
UK /æt li:st/
- Adverb
- As a minimum
- Not less than
- Phrase
- No less than; at the minimum
- Used to indicate that something is positive in a bad situation.
C2Moreblind
US /blaɪnd/
UK /blaɪnd/
- Adjective
- Unable to see; with eyes that cannot see
- Lacking in judgment or awareness
- Transitive Verb
- To cause someone to lose the ability to see
- To be unable to see the truth about a situation
A2Morecanon
US /ˈkænən/
UK /'kænən/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- General rule of how to behave or do things
- Literary works considered to be the most important
C2TOEICMorecatastrophe
US /kəˈtæstrəfi/
UK /kə'tæstrəfɪ/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Very bad disaster causing much suffering, etc.
- A complete failure; a fiasco.
B2Moreclassic
US / ˈklæsɪk/
UK /'klæsɪk/
- Adjective
- Having a simple, basic design or style
- (Of song, etc.) popular and famous for a long time
- Noun
- Something popular or famous for a long time
A2Morecritical
US /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
UK /ˈkrɪtɪkl/
- Adjective
- Making a negative judgment of something
- Being important or serious; vital; dangerous
A2Morecrossroad
US /'krɔ:sˌroʊd/
UK /'krɔ:srəʊd/
- Noun
- Junction where one street or road crosses another
C2Moreculminate in
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- To reach the highest point or final stage; to result in.
downfall
US /ˈdaʊnˌfɔl/
UK /'daʊnfɔ:l/
- Noun
- Sudden loss of status/reputation/money
C1Moreelevated
US /ˈɛləˌvetɪd/
UK /ˈelɪveɪtɪd/
- Transitive Verb
- To make something higher
- To raise a thing in status, importance or feeling
- Adjective
- Shortened form of elevated, especially referring to an elevated train or railway.
- Situated or placed higher than the surrounding area.
B2Moreevoke
US /ɪˈvok/
UK /ɪ'vəʊk/
- Transitive Verb
- To bring forth a certain feeling or memory
B1TOEICMoreexcess
US /ˈɛkˌsɛs/
UK /ɪkˈses/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Amount that is more than necessary or over a limit
- An extra amount.
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To be more than or go beyond.
B1Moreexcessive
US /ɪkˈsɛsɪv/
UK /ɪkˈsesɪv/
- Adjective
- Beyond what is usual or proper
B2Moreextraordinary
US /ɪkˈstrɔ:rdəneri/
UK /ɪkˈstrɔ:dnri/
- Adjective
- Beyond what is ordinary; very unusual; remarkable
- Additional to or different from what is usual or regular.
B1TOEICMorefate
US /fet/
UK /feɪt/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- What will happen to you in the future, often bad
- Power that determines what happens; destiny
B1Moreflaw
US /flɔ/
UK /flɔ:/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Quality that makes something imperfect
- A weakness or undesirable quality.
- Transitive Verb
- To impair, damage, or spoil.
B1TOEICMoreforget about
US /fɚˈɡɛt əˈbaʊt/
UK /fəˈɡet əˈbaut/
- Phrasal Verb
- To stop thinking about something; to ignore something.
A1Moreget at
US /ɡɛt æt/
UK /ɡet æt/
- Phrasal Verb
- To criticize someone, often personally
- To imply something; hint at
A1Moreget out of
US /ɡɛt aʊt ʌv/
UK /ɡet aut ɔv/
- Phrasal Verb
- To leave or escape responsibilities, troubles
- To leave a small, enclosed vehicle
A1Moregrave
US /ɡrev/
UK /ɡreɪv/
- Countable Noun
- Hole in the ground in which you place a dead body
- Uncountable Noun
- Poetic death; being dead
A2TOEICMoreheight
US /haɪt/
UK /haɪt/
- Noun
- Distance of something from the bottom to the top
A2Morehero
US /ˈhɪroʊ/
UK /ˈhɪərəʊ/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Person of great courage/strength who saves others
- Main male character in a book, play or story
A2Morehomeless
US /ˈhomlɪs/
UK /ˈhəʊmləs/
- Adjective
- Having no home; living on the streets
- Noun (plural)
- People who do not have a home.
A2Moreidentify
US /aɪˈdɛntəˌfaɪ/
UK /aɪ'dentɪfaɪ/
- Transitive Verb
- To indicate who or what someone or something is
- To say exactly what something is
B1TOEICMoreignorance
US /ˈɪɡnərəns/
UK /ˈɪgnərəns/
- Uncountable Noun
- Lack of information or knowledge about something
- Deliberate avoidance of knowledge or information.
B1TOEICMorein action
US
UK
- Phrase
- Actively doing something; performing a task or duty.
in rank
US
UK
- Phrase
- Arranged in a line or specific order according to status or position.
- Advancing through the levels of a hierarchical system, especially in the military.
C1Moreinfluence
US / ˈɪnfluəns/
UK /'ɪnflʊəns/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To affect or change something indirectly
- To persuade someone to do something.
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- The power to affect what happens, to persuade etc.
- A person or thing that affects someone or something in an important way.
A2TOEICMorejester
US /ˈdʒɛstɚ/
UK /ˈdʒestə(r)/
- Countable Noun
- Professional clown employed to entertain a king
B2Morelead to
US /lid tu/
UK /li:d tu:/
- Phrasal Verb
- To result in some action
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To have something as a consequence or result.
A1Morelook to
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- Be looking to. be planning to (do something)
- To expect someone to do something for you; rely on
A1Moremonstrous
US /ˈmɑ:nstrəs/
UK /ˈmɒnstrəs/
- Adjective
- Abnormally large or bad
- Shockingly brutal or cruel.
B1Moremurder
US /ˈmɚdɚ/
UK /'mɜ:də(r)/
- Noun
- Something that is difficult or painful to do
- Crime of deliberately killing a person
- Transitive Verb
- To intentionally kill a person
- To spoil, ruin something by doing it poorly
A2Moreno matter
US
UK
- Conjunction
- Regardless of; it does not matter.
- Adverb
- Regardless of; it is not important
A1Moreof course
US /ʌv kɔː(r)s/
UK /ɔv kɔː(r)s/
- Adverb
- Sure ; Certainly
- Phrase
- For sure; certainly
A2Moreoracle
US /ˈɔrəkəl, ˈɑr-/
UK /'ɒrəkl/
- Countable Noun
- Wise person who tells the future
B2Morepattern
US /ˈpætən/
UK /'pætn/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Model to follow in making or doing something
- Colors or shapes which are repeated on objects
- Transitive Verb
- To copy the way something else is made
- To decorate with a pattern.
A2TOEICMorepity
US /ˈpɪti/
UK /'pɪtɪ/
- Uncountable Noun
- Feeling very sorry for someone, e.g. in trouble
- A cause for regret or disappointment.
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To feel sorry for someone in trouble
- To have no compassion or mercy.
A2Moreplague
US /pleɡ/
UK /pleɪɡ/
- Transitive Verb
- To cause to have continual problems with something
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- (Deadly) disease passing rapidly between people
- An unusually large number of insects or animals infesting a place and causing damage.
B1Morepride
US /praɪd/
UK /praɪd/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Sense of your own importance and worth
- A feeling of pleasure and satisfaction that you get when you or people connected with you have done something well.
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To be proud of something you did
A2Moreprophesy
US /ˈprɑfɪˌsaɪ/
UK /'prɒfəsaɪ/
- Intransitive Verb
- To state that something will happen in the future
C1Morepurification
US /ˌpjʊrəfɪˈkeʃən/
UK /ˌpjʊərɪfɪ'keɪʃn/
- Uncountable Noun
- Act of removing unwanted substances
- Ceremonial cleansing from sin
B2Morequeen
US /kwin/
UK /kwi:n/
- Proper Noun
- Person's name
- Noun
- Playing card, with the image of a queen on it
- Piece in chess has the most freedom of movement
A2Morerank
US /ræŋk/
UK /ræŋk/
- Transitive Verb
- To rate or class things
- To assign a level or status, as of importance, to
- Noun
- Group of people with a certain level of status
- Level or position, as in society/sport competition
B1TOEICMoreregardless of
US /rɪˈɡɑrdlɪs ʌv/
UK /riˈɡɑ:dlis ɔv/
- Phrase
- Preposition
- Without being affected or influenced by something; despite.
A2Morerelief
US /rɪˈlif/
UK /rɪˈli:f/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Aid given to people in need as after war/disaster
- Artwork, e.g. part of wall, that partly sticks out
B1TOEICMorereminder
US /rɪˈmaɪndər/
UK /rɪˈmaɪndə(r)/
- Noun
- Something that causes one to remember something
A2Moreresonate
US /ˈrɛzəˌnet/
UK /'rezəneɪt/
- Intransitive Verb
- (Of ideas) to have a big impact for a long time
- (E.g. of a bell) to sound clearly for a long time
C2TOEICMoreriddle
US /ˈrɪdl/
UK /'rɪdl/
- Countable Noun
- Amusing question that has a clever or funny answer
B1TOEICMorerighteous
US /ˈraɪtʃəs/
UK /ˈraɪtʃəs/
- Adjective
- Regarding what you think is right
- Regarding what you think is right
B2Moreruin
US /ˈruɪn/
UK /'ru:ɪn/
- Transitive Verb
- To damage or completely destroy something
- To cause someone to lose their money or status
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Remains of a building that has been destroyed
- The state of being destroyed or severely damaged.
B1Moresoul
US /sol/
UK /səʊl/
- Noun
- Central or basic part of something
- Strong, deep emotion in speech or performance
A2Morespin
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
B1Morespiral
US /ˈspaɪrəl/
UK /'spaɪrəl/
- Noun
- A continuous curve round a central point
- Intransitive Verb
- To move in a continuous curve round a point
B2Morestool
US /stul/
UK /stu:l/
- Countable Noun
- Single seat without support for the arms or back
- Uncountable Noun
- Med. feces; excrement
B1Morethrone
US /θron/
UK /θrəʊn/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Special elaborate chair on which king/queen sits
- Royal power; sovereignty.
- Transitive Verb
- To place on a throne; to enthrone.
B1Moretragedy
US /ˈtrædʒɪdi/
UK /'trædʒədɪ/
- Noun
- Play that has a sad ending with many deaths
- Very sad event that usually involves death
B1Moretragic
US /ˈtrædʒɪk/
UK /ˈtrædʒɪk/
- Adjective
- (Of a play, movie, or book) with a sad ending
- Causing great sadness, e.g. due to untimely death
B1Moretranscend
US /trænˈsɛnd/
UK /trænˈsend/
- Transitive Verb
- To achieve or go beyond normal limits of
B2TOEICMoretyranny
US /ˈtɪrəni/
UK /'tɪrənɪ/
- Uncountable Noun
- Cruel government by a ruler who has complete power
B2Moreunfold
US /ʌnˈfold/
UK /ʌn'fəʊld/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- (Of a situation) to be told or revealed
- To open something that was folded
- Intransitive Verb
- To happen, be told or be revealed
B1Moreunlucky
US /ʌnˈlʌki/
UK /ʌn'lʌkɪ/
- Adjective
- Unfortunate; having bad things happen by chance
A2Moreunusually
US /ʌnˈjuʒʊəlɪ/
UK /ʌnˈju:ʒuəli/
- Adverb
- To an uncommon degree or extent
B1Morevictim
US /ˈvɪktɪm/
UK /ˈvɪktɪm/
- Noun
- Person/thing affected by an unpleasant event
- Person feeling helpless in times of bad luck
B1TOEICMorewarn
US /wɔrn/
UK /wɔ:n/
- Transitive Verb
- To tell someone about possible danger
A2Morewilderness
US /ˈwɪldənɪs/
UK /'wɪldənəs/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Rural area left natural and largely untouched
B1More
Vocabulary
- in rank: Arranged in a line or specific order according to status or position.
- around the world: In or to many countries.
- look to: Be looking to. be planning to (do something)
- in action: Actively doing something; performing a task or duty.
- get out of: To leave or escape responsibilities, troubles
- after all: In spite of what was expected; used to introduce a statement that supports a previous statement or explains why it was made
- of course: Sure ; Certainly
- culminate in: To reach the highest point or final stage; to result in.
- lead to: To result in some action
- forget about: To stop thinking about something; to ignore something.
- regardless of
- no matter: Regardless of; it does not matter.
- at least: As a minimum
- get at: To criticize someone, often personally
- mother: Female who has a child or children; female parent
- father: A male parent
- bad: Not good; wrong
- man: Humans in general, including male and female
- send: To cause to behave or respond in a particular way
- tall: High in height
- poor: Inferior; below the normal standard
- mistake: Something done wrong/calculated wrong; error
- king: Person considered the best or top at something
- pity: Feeling very sorry for someone, e.g. in trouble
- story: One of many floors or levels in a building
- marry: To become the husband or wife of someone
- queen: Person's name
- modern: Of the present time; up to date; contemporary
- free: Living, happening without being controlled
- bottle: Container with a narrow neck used to hold liquids
- agree: To have the same opinion as someone else
- marrying: To become the husband or wife of someone
- kill: To cause someone to experience a lot of pain
- soul: Central or basic part of something
- fall: Season after summer and before winter; Autumn
- married: To become the husband or wife of someone
- hero: Person of great courage/strength who saves others
- ambition: Desire to win or be successful in life, work
- height: Distance of something from the bottom to the top
- pattern: Model to follow in making or doing something
- fear: Unpleasant feeling caused by being aware of danger
- ability: The power, resources or skill to do something
- unlucky: Unfortunate; having bad things happen by chance
- monstrous: Abnormally large or bad
- experience: Thing a person has done or that happened to them
- reminder: Something that causes one to remember something
- murder: Something that is difficult or painful to do
- warn: To tell someone about possible danger
- ruin: To damage or completely destroy something
- extraordinary: Beyond what is ordinary; very unusual; remarkable
- blind: Unable to see; with eyes that cannot see
- tragic: (Of a play, movie, or book) with a sad ending
- unusually: To an uncommon degree or extent
- tragedy: Play that has a sad ending with many deaths
- fate: What will happen to you in the future, often bad
- pride: Sense of your own importance and worth
- critical: Making a negative judgment of something
- classic: Having a simple, basic design or style
- crossroad: Junction where one street or road crosses another
- stool: Single seat without support for the arms or back
- grave: Hole in the ground in which you place a dead body
- victim: Person/thing affected by an unpleasant event
- adopt: To legally take a child into your family
- relief: Aid given to people in need as after war/disaster
- identify: To indicate who or what someone or something is
- influence: To affect or change something indirectly
- flaw: Quality that makes something imperfect
- rank: To rate or class things
- spin: To make a ball rotate when throwing it
- unfold: (Of a situation) to be told or revealed
- excessive: Beyond what is usual or proper
- homeless: Having no home; living on the streets
- excess: Amount that is more than necessary or over a limit
- spiral: A continuous curve round a central point
- catastrophe: Very bad disaster causing much suffering, etc.
- wilderness: Rural area left natural and largely untouched
- plague: To cause to have continual problems with something
- ignorance: Lack of information or knowledge about something
- throne: Special elaborate chair on which king/queen sits
- elevated: To make something higher
- relatable: Easy to understand or feel sympathy for.
- downfall: Sudden loss of status/reputation/money
- jester: Professional clown employed to entertain a king
- prophesy: To state that something will happen in the future
- riddle: Amusing question that has a clever or funny answer
- canon: General rule of how to behave or do things
- purification: Act of removing unwanted substances
- righteous: Regarding what you think is right
- evoke: To bring forth a certain feeling or memory
- transcend: To achieve or go beyond normal limits of
- destine: Decree or designate beforehand
- oracle: Wise person who tells the future
- resonate: (Of ideas) to have a big impact for a long time
- tyranny: Cruel government by a ruler who has complete power
Get the full experience in the app
Learn anywhere with detailed sentence and usage analysis
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.
Get the full experience in the app
Look up words anytime with pronunciation, part of speech, and usage
brave
US/brev/
UK/breɪv/
adj.Brave
v.t.To bravely face
A2 Elementary
Get the full experience in the app
Practice speaking anytime and get instant pronunciation feedback
Try this speaking exercise.
Try practicing with this sentence.
80
【TED-Ed】Why tragedies are alluring - David E. Rivas
0
Jacky Avocado Tao posted on 2015/08/21Ever wondered why we're drawn to sad stories like Oedipus Rex or Macbeth? This video dives into the fascinating psychology behind tragedy and catharsis, using concepts from Aristotle to explain why these tales resonate so deeply. You'll pick up some advanced vocabulary and complex sentence structures while exploring the cultural depth of storytelling!
Learn this video on the APP!
The VoiceTube App has more in-depth practice for videos!