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Society, work and rules: vocabulary list

Academic words about organisations, resources and fairness: allocate, criteria, hierarchy, tradition, compensate. 96 words with meanings and example sentences.

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acquire verb level 1

to gain or obtain something, often through effort. Children acquire language by listening long before they speak.

adequate adj level 1

good enough for a particular need. Three hours is adequate time to finish the exam.

advocate verb level 1

to publicly support a cause or plan. Doctors advocate regular exercise for people of all ages.

allocate verb level 1

to give out a share of something for a particular use. The council will allocate more money to the library next year.

appropriate adj level 1

suitable for a particular situation. Formal clothes are appropriate for the ceremony.

attain verb level 1

to succeed in reaching or achieving something. Few climbers attain the summit in winter.

attribute verb level 1

to regard something as caused by or belonging to a person or thing. Scientists attribute the rise in sea level to melting ice.

authority noun level 1

the power to give orders or make decisions. Only the manager has the authority to approve refunds.

bias noun level 1

an unfair leaning toward or against something. The judge stepped aside from the case because of a clear bias.

categorize verb level 1

to put things into groups according to type. Librarians categorize books by subject.

clarify verb level 1

to make something easier to understand. Could you clarify what you meant by that last sentence?

cohesive adj level 2

forming a united whole. The team became a cohesive group over the season.

compensate verb level 1

to make up for a loss or pay someone for harm. The company agreed to compensate the families for the damage.

complement verb level 1

to go well with something and make it complete. The sour sauce will complement the sweet fruit.

conduct verb level 1

to organize and carry out an activity. Researchers conduct tests in a sealed laboratory.

conflict noun level 1

a serious disagreement or struggle. The conflict between the two towns lasted for years.

confront verb level 1

to face a problem or person directly. She decided to confront the problem before it grew worse.

considerable adj level 1

fairly large in size, amount or importance. The project saved a considerable amount of money.

constrain verb level 1

to limit or restrict what someone can do. A small budget will constrain the choices available to the team.

contemplate verb level 1

to think about something deeply. He sat by the river to contemplate his next step.

contrast noun level 1

a clear difference seen when two things are compared. The contrast between the quiet village and the busy city surprised her.

controversy noun level 1

a public argument about something many people disagree on. The new law caused a controversy in the town.

convey verb level 1

to make an idea or feeling known. A single photograph can convey a powerful message.

correspond verb level 1

to match or be closely connected with something. The numbers on the map correspond to the entries in the key.

criteria noun level 1

the standards used to judge or decide something. The main criteria for the prize are originality and effort.

cultivate verb level 1

to prepare land for crops, or to develop a skill or habit. Farmers cultivate rice in the flooded fields.

dearth noun level 2

a lack or scarcity of something. There is a dearth of affordable housing in the city.

deprive verb level 1

to take something away from someone. A lack of sleep can deprive you of your best thinking.

distribute verb level 1

to give out or spread among many people or places. Volunteers distribute food to local families every Friday.

dominant adj level 1

most powerful or most common in a group or situation. English is the dominant language in international aviation.

emphasize verb level 1

to give special importance to something. The coach tried to emphasize teamwork over personal glory.

enable verb level 1

to make it possible for someone to do something. New software will enable doctors to share records instantly.

ensure verb level 1

to make certain that something happens. Check the locks to ensure that the house is secure.

equate verb level 1

to regard one thing as equal to another. Do not equate speed with skill.

factor noun level 1

something that helps to produce a result. Weather was a major factor in the team's late arrival.

function noun level 1

the purpose or job of a thing. The function of the heart is to pump blood around the body.

guarantee verb level 1

to promise that something will happen or be true. The shop will guarantee the repair for a year.

hence adv level 1

for this reason; as a result. The road was flooded, hence the long delay.

hierarchy noun level 1

a system that ranks people or things from highest to lowest. The company has a clear hierarchy, from interns to the director.

impartial adj level 2

treating all sides equally; not biased. An impartial referee does not favour either team.

implement verb level 1

to put a plan or decision into action. The school will implement the new schedule in September.

implication noun level 1

a likely result, or something suggested but not said. The report's implication is that costs will rise.

impose verb level 1

to force something on people. The city plans to impose a limit on traffic.

incentive noun level 1

something that encourages a person to act. A bonus is a strong incentive to work harder.

inhibit verb level 1

to hold back or slow the growth of something. Deep shade can inhibit the growth of grass.

initial adj level 1

happening at the beginning; first. Her initial reaction was surprise, and anger came later.

insight noun level 1

a deep and clear understanding of something. The book offers real insight into how bees live.

interact verb level 1

to communicate with or affect one another. Visitors can interact with the exhibits by touching them.

invest verb level 1

to put money, time or effort into something for a later benefit. Many families invest in education for their children.

irrevocable adj level 2

impossible to change or undo. She made an irrevocable decision to leave.

mediate verb level 1

to help two sides reach an agreement. A neutral teacher was asked to mediate the argument.

merge verb level 1

to combine into one. The two rivers merge before reaching the sea.

mutual adj level 1

felt or done by each toward the other. They have a mutual respect for one another.

norm noun level 1

the usual or expected way of doing things. Working from home has become the norm for many people.

objective adj level 1

based on facts, not personal feelings. A good judge stays objective and weighs the evidence.

obtain verb level 1

to get something, especially by asking or trying. You must obtain a permit before building a fence.

occupy verb level 1

to fill or take up space, time or attention. The new exhibit will occupy the entire first floor.

paucity noun level 2

a small or insufficient amount. There is a paucity of evidence for the claim.

perspective noun level 1

a particular way of thinking about something. Travel gave him a wider perspective on life.

pervasive adj level 2

spreading through every part. The pervasive smell of smoke filled the house.

policy noun level 1

a plan of action agreed by a group or government. The school has a strict policy on homework.

preliminary adj level 1

coming before the main part. Preliminary results suggest the treatment works.

prevalent adj level 1

widespread at a particular time or place. Colds are most prevalent in winter.

primary adj level 1

most important; main. The primary reason for the delay was a lack of staff.

priority noun level 1

something that is more important than others. Safety is our first priority.

prohibit verb level 1

to forbid something by rule or law. The rules prohibit phones in the exam room.

promote verb level 1

to support or help something to grow. Exercise helps promote good health.

proportion noun level 1

a part of a whole, or the relationship between two amounts. A large proportion of the students walk to school.

prospect noun level 1

a possibility or something expected in the future. The prospect of rain spoiled our picnic plans.

radical adj level 1

very different from the usual; extreme. The inventor proposed a radical change to the engine.

rational adj level 1

based on clear thinking rather than feeling. She made a rational choice after comparing the costs.

reciprocal adj level 2

given and received in return. They had a reciprocal agreement to share the costs.

regulate verb level 1

to control by rules or by adjusting. A thermostat helps regulate the temperature of a house.

resolve verb level 1

to find a solution to a problem or disagreement. They met to resolve the scheduling conflict.

resource noun level 1

something useful that can be used, such as water or time. Fresh water is a precious resource.

restore verb level 1

to bring back to a former condition. Experts will restore the old painting to its original colors.

restrict verb level 1

to keep within limits; to reduce freedom or amount. The council voted to restrict parking on the narrow street.

reverse verb level 1

to change to the opposite direction or position. The court may reverse the earlier decision.

ruminate verb level 2

to think deeply about something. She would ruminate over the problem for days.

scarce adj level 1

not enough in supply; hard to find. Fresh water is scarce in the desert.

scheme noun level 1

a plan or system for doing something. The town started a scheme to plant ten thousand trees.

sequence noun level 1

a series of things that follow one another in a set order. Follow the sequence of steps shown in the diagram.

sole adj level 1

being the only one. The sole survivor of the voyage told the story.

specific adj level 1

clearly stated or particular rather than general. Please give a specific reason for your choice.

strategy noun level 1

a careful plan for achieving a goal. Our strategy is to save a little money each month.

subsequent adj level 1

coming after something else. Subsequent studies confirmed the first findings.

sufficient adj level 1

as much as is needed. Is there sufficient food for everyone?

supplement noun level 1

something added to complete or improve a thing. She takes a vitamin supplement in the winter.

tendency noun level 1

a likelihood to behave or develop in a certain way. Plants have a tendency to grow toward the light.

thesis noun level 1

a main idea or argument put forward and defended. The author's thesis is that cities help people thrive.

tradition noun level 1

a belief or practice handed down over generations. Lighting candles is a tradition in many cultures.

ubiquitous adj level 2

seeming to be everywhere at once. Smartphones are now ubiquitous.

ultimate adj level 1

final or most important of all. The ultimate goal is a cleaner river.

utilize verb level 1

to make practical use of something. Students can utilize the library after school.

vital adj level 1

needed for life or for success. Water is vital to every living thing.

widespread adj level 1

found or happening over a large area. Concern about the flooding was widespread.

Other topics: People and character · Feelings and attitudes · Speaking, writing and arguing · Thinking and judging · Change, time and action · Size, amount and kind · Science and research

Words to enjoy and learn from. These are original lists, and we do not claim any word appears on any particular test.