- consider
- deem to be
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:At the moment, artemisinin-based therapies are considered the best treatment, but cost about $10 per dose - far too much for impoverished communities.
— Seattle Times (Feb 16, 2012) - minute
- infinitely or immeasurably small
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The minute stain on the document was not visible to the naked eye. - accord
- concurrence of opinion
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The committee worked in accord on the bill, and it eventually passed. - evident
- clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:That confidence was certainly evident in the way Smith handled the winning play with 14 seconds left on the clock.
— Reuters (Jan 15, 2012) - practice
- a customary way of operation or behavior
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He directed and acted in plays every season and became known for exploring Elizabethan theatrepractices.
— BBC (Feb 16, 2012) - intend
- have in mind as a purpose
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:“Lipstick, as a product intended for topical use with limited absorption, is ingested only in very small quantities,” the agency said on its website.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 15, 2012) - concern
- something that interests you because it is important or affects you
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The scandal broke out in October after former chief executive Michael Woodford claimed he was fired for raising concerns about the company's accounting practices.
— BBC (Feb 15, 2012) - commit
- perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:In an unprecedented front page article in 2003 The Times reported that Mr. Blair, a young reporter on its staff, had committed journalistic fraud.
— New York Times (Feb 15, 2012) - issue
- some situation or event that is thought about
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:As a result, the privacy issues surrounding mobile computing are becoming ever-more complex.
— Time (Feb 16, 2012) - approachmove towards
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Spain’s jobless rate for people ages 16 to 24 is approaching 50 percent.
— New York Times (Feb 15, 2012) - establish
- set up or found
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:A small French colony, Port Louis, was established on East Falkland in 1764 and handed to the Spanish three years later.
— BBC (Feb 16, 2012) - utter
- without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:No one can blame an honest mechanic for holding a wealthy snob in utter contempt.
— Ingersoll, Robert Green - conductdirect the course of; manage or control
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Scientists have been conducting studies of individual genes for years.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 15, 2012) - engage
- consume all of one's attention or time
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:We had nearly two hundred passengers, who were seated about on the sofas, reading, or playing games, or engaged in conversation.
— Field, Henry M. (Henry Martyn) - obtain
- come into possession of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He delayed making the unclassified report public while awaiting an Army review, but Rolling Stone magazine obtained the report and posted it Friday night.
— New York Times (Feb 11, 2012) - scarced
- eficient in quantity or number compared with the demand
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Meanwhile, heating oil could grow more scarce in the Northeast this winter, the Energy Department warned last month.
— New York Times (Jan 21, 2012) - policy
- a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Inflation has lagged behind the central bank’s 2 percent target, giving policy makers extra scope to cut rates.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 15, 2012) - straight
- successive (without a break)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:After three straight losing seasons, Hoosiers fans were just hoping for a winning record.
— Seattle Times (Feb 15, 2012) - stock
- the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest (equity)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:In other words, Apple’s stock is cheap, and you should buy it.
— Forbes (Feb 16, 2012) - apparent
- clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:But the elderly creak is beginning to become apparent in McCartney’s voice.
— Time (Feb 16, 2012) - property
- a basic or essential attribute shared by all members of a class
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Owing to these magic properties, it was often planted near dwellings to keep away evil spirits.
— Parsons, Mary Elizabeth - fancy
- imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:For a time, indeed, he had fancied that things were changed.
— Weyman, Stanley J. - concept
- an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:As a psychologist, I have always found the concept of speed dating fascinating.
— Scientific American (Feb 13, 2012) - court
- an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:When Brown pleaded not guilty to assaulting Rihanna, their violent past came out in court.
— Slate (Feb 16, 2012) - appoint
- assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:In 1863 he was appointed by the general assembly professor of oriental languages at New College.
— Various - passage
- a section of text; particularly a section of medium length
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:His interpretation of many obscure scriptural passages by means of native manners and customs and traditions is particularly helpful and informing.
— Sheets, Emily Churchill Thompson - vain
- unproductive of success
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:An attempt was made to ignore this brilliant and irregular book, but in vain; it was read all over Europe.
— Various - instancean occurrence of something
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:In many instances large districts or towns would have fewer representatives than smaller ones, or perhaps none at all.
— Clarke, Helen Archibald - coastthe shore of a sea or ocean
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Martello towers must be built within short distances all round the coast.
— Wingfield, Lewis - projecta planned undertaking
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The funds are aimed at helping build public projects including mass transit, electricity networks, water utility and ports, it said.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 17, 2012) - commissiona special group delegated to consider some matter
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The developers are now seeking approval from the landmarks commission.
— New York Times (Feb 16, 2012) - constanta quantity that does not vary
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:In 1929, Hubble independently put forward and confirmed the same idea, and the parameter later became known as the Hubble constant.
— Nature (Nov 15, 2011) - circumstancesyour overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The circumstances leading up to the shootings was not immediately available.
— Chicago Tribune (Feb 19, 2012) - constituteto compose or represent:"This wall forms the background of the stage setting"
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Oil and natural gas constituted almost 50 percent of Russian government revenue last year.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 19, 2012) - levela relative position or degree of value in a graded group
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Only last month did the men’s and women’s unemployment rates reach the same level.
— New York Times (Feb 19, 2012) - affecthave an effect upon
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The central bank will start distributing low-interest loans in early March to individuals and small- and medium-sized companies affected by the flooding.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 19, 2012) - instituteset up or lay the groundwork for
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Corporations have to be more and more focused on instituting higher labor standards.
— Washington Post (Feb 7, 2012) - rendergive an interpretation or rendition of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:But authorities had rendered the weapon and the explosive device inoperable, officials said.
— Chicago Tribune (Feb 17, 2012) - appealbe attractive to
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:To get traditional women’s accessories to appeal to men, some designers are giving them manly names and styles.
— New York Times (Feb 19, 2012) - generatebring into existence
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Qualities such as these are not generated under bad working practices of any sort.
— Hungerford, Edward - theorya well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Testing that theory begins Saturday night, as the Capitals take on Tampa Bay in another important contest.
— Washington Post (Feb 18, 2012) - rangea variety of different things or activities
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Like American community colleges, admission at an open university is not competitive, but the schools offer a range of programs, including doctoral degrees.
— Time (Feb 19, 2012) - campaigna race between candidates for elective office
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:At the same point in 2004 — as an incumbent facing re-election — Mr. Bush had taken in about $145.6 million for his campaign.
— New York Times (Feb 18, 2012) - leaguean association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:"When I broke into the big leagues until a month ago, Gary kept in touch," Mets third baseman David Wright said.
— Seattle Times (Feb 17, 2012) - laborany piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:More labor is entailed, more time is required, greater delay is occasioned in cleaning up, and the amount of water used is much greater.
— Hoskin, Arthur J. - conferhave a conference in order to talk something over
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Ms. Stewart said Mrs. Bachmann conferred with her family and a few aides after her disappointing showing on Tuesday evening.
— New York Times (Jan 4, 2012) - grantallow to have
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He had been granted entry into the White House only for the daily briefing, later that afternoon.
— New York Times (Feb 17, 2012) - dwellthink moodily or anxiously about something
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:But it is hardly necessary to dwell on so normal an event.
— Vinogradoff, Paul - entertainprovide entertainment for
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The first Super Bowl in 1967 featured college marching bands entertaining the crowds at halftime.
— Reuters (Feb 6, 2012) - contracta binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Contracts with utilities will be signed starting next month, he said.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 16, 2012) - earnestcharacterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Too much praise cannot be given to the earnest and efficient missionaries who founded and have maintained this mission.
— Miller, George A. - yieldgive or supply
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:It is a very important honey plant, as it yields an exceptionally pure nectar and remains in bloom a long time.
— Parsons, Mary Elizabeth - wanderto move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:While each animal wandered through the maze, its brain was working furiously.
— New York Times (Feb 16, 2012) - insistbe emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Interior Department officials insisted that they had conducted an extensive scientific inquiry before moving ahead with the spill response plan.
— New York Times (Feb 17, 2012) - knightoriginally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The knight was gallant not only in war, but in love also.
— Crothers, Samuel McChord - convincemake (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:But though he listened he was not convinced.
— Reade, Charles - inspireserve as the inciting cause of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:His surprising performance inspired an outpouring of fan adoration that has been dubbed "Linsanity."
— Chicago Tribune (Feb 19, 2012) - conventiona large formal assembly
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Last year, the industry’s main trade convention, the Inside Self-Storage World Expo, organized workshops in Las Vegas focusing on lien laws and auction sales.
— New York Times (Feb 17, 2012) - skillan ability that has been acquired by training
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He says many new drivers are terrified of motorway driving because they do not have the skills or confidence needed.
— BBC (Feb 20, 2012) - harryannoy continually or chronically
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:There’s something uplifting about hearing a string instrument when I’m feeling ragged or harried.
— New York Times (Feb 9, 2012) - financialinvolving financial matters
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Meanwhile, universities have raised tuition every year, putting many students in a financial bind.
— New York Times (Feb 20, 2012) - reflectshow an image of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Teens ranting over chores and whatnot can often reflect deeper feelings of alienation or perceived uncaring on the part of parents.
— Time (Feb 17, 2012) - novelan extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Before Robert Barr publishes a novel he spends years in thinking the thing out.
— Anonymous - furnishprovide or equip with furniture
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Instead, according to court documents, the money went toward furnishing mansions, flying in private jets, and retaining a $120,000-a-year personal hairstylist.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 1, 2012) - compelforce somebody to do something
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:But the flames grew too large, compelling firefighters to call off the rescue.
— New York Times (Feb 18, 2012) - ventureproceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Clearly he would not venture to descend while his enemy moved.
— Strang, Herbert - territorythe geographical area under the jurisdiction of a sovereign state
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:On Friday, West Africa regional group Ecowas condemned the rebels, urging them to end hostilities and surrender all occupied territory.
— BBC (Feb 18, 2012) - tempera characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Oscar Wilde, to do him justice, bore this sort of rebuff with astonishing good temper and sweetness.
— Anonymous - bentfixed in your purpose
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The business-oriented constituency of the Republican Party, Jacobs said, has been weakened by a faction bent on lowering taxes and cutting spending.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 17, 2012) - intimatemarked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The female spider can choose when to cut off intimate relations by eating her partner, or kicking him out.
— Scientific American (Jan 31, 2012) - undertakeenter upon an activity or enterprise
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:An autopsy has reportedly been undertaken but the results are not expected for several weeks.
— The Guardian (Feb 13, 2012) - majority(elections) more than half of the votes
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Republicans need just four seats in the Senate to take control as the majority party.
— Reuters (Feb 7, 2012) - assertto declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:In your talk you asserted the pill's risks of blood clotting, lung artery blockage, heart attack and stroke are minimal.
— Science Magazine (Feb 18, 2012) - crewthe men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Several pilots and crew members would have to escape at once, while safety divers watched, ready to rescue anyone who became stuck.
— New York Times (Feb 6, 2012) - chambera natural or artificial enclosed space
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:"Today," said the old man, "you must push through with me into my most solitary chamber, that we may not be disturbed."
— Carlyle, Thomas - humblemarked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:“Challenging yourself, playing up against stronger, tougher, and overall better competition will keep you humble.”
— Washington Post (Jan 17, 2012) - schemean elaborate and systematic plan of action
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Some companies in the Globe District of Arizona have started extensive underground schemes for mining large tonnages very cheaply by "caving" methods.
— Hoskin, Arthur J. - keenhaving or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Not one of his movements escaped her keen observation; she drank in every shiver.
— Wingfield, Lewis - liberalhaving political or social views favoring reform and progress
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Romney’s actually done well in open primaries where fiscally conservative yet socially liberalindependents have backed him over his opponents.
— Time (Feb 14, 2012) - despaira state in which all hope is lost or absent
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:There were wounded love, and wounded pride, and despair, and coming madness, all in that piteous cry.
— Reade, Charles - tidethe periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:In the case of mobile connectivity, a rising tide does not lift all boats.
— Slate (Feb 9, 2012) - attitudea complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:"Behaviours have changed and attitudes have changed," Mr Taylor said.
— BBC (Feb 16, 2012) - justifyshow to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He felt sure that if the circumstances justified it, the necessary proceedings could be taken.”
— Anonymous - flagemblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning and ordered flags flown at half staff.
— New York Times (Feb 16, 2012) - meritany admirable quality or attribute
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Thus far in our inquiry extraordinary merits have been offset by extraordinary defects.
— Ayres, Harry Morgan - manifestreveal its presence or make an appearance
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:A too rapid transformation of existing conditions might very easily lead to an economic crisis, symptoms of which are already beginning to manifest themselves.
— Vay, P?ter - notiona general inclusive concept
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Does that old notion that defense wins championships still hold up these days?
— Seattle Times (Jan 13, 2012) - scalerelative magnitude
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:And there might not be much money, so fashion shows are done on a much smaller scale.
— Seattle Times (Feb 17, 2012) - formalcharacteristic of or befitting a person in authority
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:A formal decision to call off the search is likely on Wednesday, rescue officials said.
— New York Times (Jan 31, 2012) - resourceavailable source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:“Economists assume that, under normal conditions, markets will allocate resources efficiently,” he added.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 17, 2012) - persistcontinue to exist
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Old ideas, long after the conditions under which they were produced have passed away, oftenpersist in surviving.
— Ingersoll, Robert Green - contemptlack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:And with his backhanded contempt for all things ordinary, Blake is making some of the catchiest, most difficult music in recent memory.
— Time (Dec 20, 2011) - toura journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He typed in “South Park” and took senior executives on a tour of Web sites offering pirated episodes.
— New York Times (Feb 8, 2012) - pleadenter a plea, as in courts of law
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Aria pleaded not guilty, but he acknowledged that he had violated some laws.
— New York Times (Feb 18, 2012) - weighto be oppressive or burdensome
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:So far, the political turmoil has not appeared to have discouraged visitors, but prolonged strife could weigh on tourism.
— New York Times (Feb 11, 2012) - modehow something is done or how it happens
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Speaking of science, he says, in language far in advance of his times: ‘There are two modes of knowing—by argument and by experiment.
— Adams, W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport) - distinctiona discrimination between things as different and distinct
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:But such a distinction is quite external; at heart the men may be very much alike.
— Anonymous - inclinedat an angle to the horizontal or vertical position
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Such an inclined passage following a seam of coal is known as a slope.
— Hoskin, Arthur J. - attributean abstraction belonging to or characteristic of an entity
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The authors found that when the available prospects varied more in attributes such as age, height, occupation and educational background, people made fewer dating proposals.
— Scientific American (Feb 13, 2012) - exertmake a great effort at a mental or physical task
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:School boards may come to exert even greater influence over what students read.
— Forbes (Jan 23, 2012) - oppresscome down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Those who managed to survive were later oppressed by Poland's post-war communist authorities.
— Reuters (Jan 18, 2012) - contendcompete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:But eight men, however bold and stout-hearted, could not long contend with an enemy at least four times their number.
— Strang, Herbert - stakea strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end so it can be driven into the ground
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:His remains were buried in Cannon Street, and a stake was driven through the body.
— Andrews, William - toilwork hard
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He toiled in the sweat of his brow, tilling the stubborn ground, taking out stones, building fences.
— Adler, Felix - perishpass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Simon Wiesenthal's parents are long since deceased, with his father dying in World War I and his mother perishing in the Holocaust.
— BBC (Feb 14, 2012) - dispositionyour usual mood
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Melancholia — the state of mind — can hide behind seemingly sunny dispositions.
— Seattle Times (Dec 28, 2011) - railcomplain bitterly
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Mr. Gray railed against lengthy stage directions, saying he crossed them out in scripts before he would begin rehearsals with his actors.
— New York Times (Feb 7, 2012) - cardinal(Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Each time he names cardinals he puts his stamp on Roman Catholicism's future by choosing men who share his views.
— Chicago Tribune (Feb 18, 2012) - boastshow off
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Mr. Estes was also well connected politically, boasting that the president of the United States took his calls.
— New York Times (Dec 10, 2011) - advocatea person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Well, safety advocates, consumers and the government dragged the automobile industry toward including seat belts, air bags, more visible taillights and other safety features.
— New York Times (Feb 19, 2012) - bestowpresent
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He bestowed public buildings and river improvements in return for votes.
— Gilbert, Clinton W. (Clinton Wallace) - allegereport or maintain
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:It is being fired into enclosed areas and homes, the human rights group alleges.
— BBC (Feb 7, 2012) - notwithstandingdespite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He seems to have taken things easily enough, notwithstanding the sorrow and suffering that surrounded him on every side.
— Adams, W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport) - loftyof imposing height; especially standing out above others
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He found himself in an enormous hall with a lofty ceiling.
— Blasco Ib??ez, Vicente - multitudea large indefinite number
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Department store chains in general have been strained in recent years as a " multitude" of alternatives has emerged, all competing for customers.
— Chicago Tribune (Dec 28, 2011) - steephaving a sharp inclination
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:It was narrow and very steep, and had precipices in all parts, so that they could not mount upward except one at a time.
— Various - heedpay close attention to; give heed to
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:But Cain was already too far gone to heed the warning voice.
— Adler, Felix - modestnot large but sufficient in size or amount
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:A healthy person living in an unfashionable city with no student loans to pay off can get by on a fairly modest income.
— Slate (Feb 17, 2012) - partialbeing or affecting only a part; not total
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Generalizations of this sweeping order are apt to contain only partial truth.
— Clarke, Helen Archibald - apt(usually followed by `to') naturally disposed toward
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Another reason to display beds at an electronics show: consumers are apt to use high-tech devices while tucked in.
— New York Times (Jan 9, 2012) - esteemthe condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Despite being held in the highest esteem by his fellow poets, Redgrove never quite achieved the critical reception or readership he deserved.
— The Guardian (Feb 10, 2012) - credibleappearing to merit belief or acceptance
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Mike Mullen, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has acknowledged receiving the memo but said he ignored it as not credible.
— New York Times (Dec 19, 2011) - provokeprovide the needed stimulus for
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:It provoked a bigger reaction than we could ever have anticipated.
— The Guardian (Feb 10, 2012) - treada step in walking or running
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The farmer went down, his clumsy boots making no sound on the uncarpeted stairway, so careful was his tread.
— Woolson, Constance Fenimore - ascertainlearn or discover with certainty
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Health care providers and manufacturers can ascertain alternative treatment more effectively by tackling predicted drug shortage incidences early in the process.
— Forbes (Feb 13, 2012) - fareproceed or get along
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:A recent study breaks down how graduates with various college degrees are faring in today’s difficult job market.
— Washington Post (Feb 17, 2012) - cederelinquish possession or control over
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Some militia chiefs say they will only cede command of their fighters once an organized military and security apparatus is in place.
— Reuters (Jan 3, 2012) - perpetualcontinuing forever or indefinitely
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The river is a perpetual enjoyment, always something going on.
— Waddington, Mary King - decreea legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:While the decree takes effect immediately, it requires Parliament’s approval within 60 days to remain in force.
— BusinessWeek (Jan 28, 2012) - contrivemake or work out a plan for; devise
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The wily Roc, never taken much by surprise, contrived to escape, but old Tributor and his men were all captured.
— Thornbury, Walter - derivedformed or developed from something else; not original
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Modern kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi are all members of the same species, derived from a single prehistoric plant variety.
— Slate (Feb 21, 2012) - elaboratemarked by complexity and richness of detail
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:But the tobacco industry and owners of other convenience stores say tribal cigarette manufacturing is just an elaborate form of tax evasion.
— New York Times (Feb 22, 2012) - substantialhaving substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Defence lawyers said the large number of forensic tests which had been carried out had failed to find any substantial evidence linked to the accused.
— BBC (Feb 23, 2012) - frontiera wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Adding to the precarious security situation, tribesmen kidnapped 18 Egyptian border guards along the frontier with Israel in Sinai Peninsula.
— New York Times (Feb 9, 2012) - facilearrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:As one teacher remarks about a troubled student, “There is no facile solution.”
— New York Times (Oct 11, 2011) - citemake reference to
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The Federal Reserve has pledged low interest rates until late 2014, citing in part the weakness of the job market.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 21, 2012) - warrantshow to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:In the United Kingdom and Europe the devices are not used unless the need is warranted by the patient's medical condition.
— US News (Jan 17, 2012) - sobweep convulsively
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He cried and trembled, sobbing, while they spoke, like the child he was.
— Weyman, Stanley J. - ridera traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:In horseback riding, a rider will give commands by squeezing or lengthening the reins and altering the position of his legs.
— Time (Jan 5, 2012) - densepermitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Dense black smoke rose in the distance as demonstrators burned tires in Shiite villages.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 14, 2012) - afflictcause physical pain or suffering in
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Melanoma globally afflicts nearly 160,000 new people each year.
— Reuters (Dec 16, 2011) - flourishgrow vigorously
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:His business had been all along steadily flourishing, his patrons had been of high social position, some most illustrious, others actually royal.
— Petherick, Horace William - ordaininvest with ministerial or priestly authority
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:One of the present bishops was consecrated when quite a young boy, and deacons are oftenordained at sixteen, and even much earlier.
— Bird, Isabella L. (Isabella Lucy) - pioushaving or showing or expressing reverence for a deity
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Mother, you see, is a very pious woman, and she attributes it all to Providence, saying that it was the Divine interference in her behalf.
— Various - vexcause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:There are vexing problems slowing the growth and the practical implementation of big data technologies.
— Forbes (Oct 21, 2011) - gravity(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Once captured, the combined object will have a new center of gravity and may be spinning in an uncontrolled way.
— Science Magazine (Feb 15, 2012) - suspended(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Frustrating enough at ground level, but can you imagine the agony about a stranded, ever-soggier Oreo being suspended 11 feet above the ground?
— Washington Post (Feb 21, 2012) - conspicuousobvious to the eye or mind
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Its bright scarlet fruits are conspicuous in late autumn.
— Anonymous - retorta quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Having put him in ill humour with this retort, she fled away rejoicing.
— Coster, Charles Th?odore Henri de - jetan airplane powered by one or more jet engines
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Typhoon fighter jets, helicopters, two warships and bomb disposal experts will also be on duty to guard against security threats.
— Seattle Times (Feb 20, 2012) - boltrun away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The blare of bugles was heard, and a few seconds afterwards Jackson, still facing the enemy, shouted: "By Jupiter, they're bolting, sir."
— Strang, Herbert - assentto agree or express agreement
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:His two companions readily assented, and the promise was mutually given and received.
— Keightley, Thomas - pursea sum of money spoken of as the contents of a money purse
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:She watched over her husband, kept his accounts, held the family purse, managed all his affairs.
— Shorter, Clement K. - plusthe arithmetic operation of summing; calculating the sum of two or more numbers
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The survey’s margin of error was plus or minus four percentage points.
— BusinessWeek (Dec 29, 2011) - sanctiongive authority or permission to
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The Securities and Exchange Commission said last year it had sanctioned 39 senior officers for conduct related to the housing market meltdown.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 19, 2012) - proceeding(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Chu attended the special court-martial proceeding on Monday in Hawaii, Hill said.
— Reuters (Jan 30, 2012) - exaltpraise, glorify, or honor
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Some exalt themselves by anonymously posting their own laudatory reviews.
— New York Times (Jan 26, 2012) - siegethe action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Rebellion broke out, and finally the aged Caliph, after enduring a siege of several weeks, was murdered in his own house.
— Nicholson, Reynold - malicefeeling a need to see others suffer
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He viewed the moths with malice, their fluttering wings fanning his resentment.
— Lyman, Olin L. - extravagantrecklessly wasteful
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Advisers say new millionaires are prone to mistakes, like making extravagant purchases or risky deals with friends.
— Reuters (Feb 2, 2012) - waxincrease in phase
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Carols had existed for centuries, though their popularity waxed and waned as different governments and religious movements periodically declared them sinful.
— Time (Dec 12, 2011) - throngpress tightly together or cram
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Deafening cheers rent the air as he landed; hundreds thronged around him to clasp his hand.
— Strang, Herbert - venerateregard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He venerated me like a being descended from an upper world.
— Blasco Ib??ez, Vicente - assailattack someone physically or emotionally
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:His campaign even issued a press release assailing other rivals for, in Mr. Paul’s view, taking Mr. Romney’s quote about firing people out of context.
— New York Times (Feb 16, 2012) - sublimeof high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He was uneven, disproportioned, saying ordinary things on great occasions, and now and then, without the slightest provocation, uttering the sublimest and most beautiful thoughts.
— Ingersoll, Robert Green - exploitdraw from; make good use of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:As humans increasingly exploit the deep seas for fish, oil and mining, understanding how species are dispersed is crucial, Copley said.
— Scientific American (Jan 3, 2012) - exertionuse of physical or mental energy; hard work
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:One day overcome by exertion, she fainted in the street.
— Ingersoll, Robert Green - kindlecatch fire
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Then a match was kindled and fire applied.
— Warner, Susan - endowfurnish with an endowment
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The grammar school here, founded in 1533, is liberally endowed, with scholarships and exhibitions.
— Various - imposedset forth authoritatively as obligatory
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The Arab League has already suspended Syria and imposed economic sanctions.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 22, 2012) - humiliatecause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The letter claims pensioners are too often patronised, humiliated, denied privacy or even medical treatment.
— BBC (Feb 22, 2012) - suffragea legal right guaranteed by the 15th amendment to the US Constitution; guaranteed to women by the 19th amendment
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:There has been a great deal said in this country of late in regard to giving the right of suffrage to women.
— Ingersoll, Robert Green - ensueissue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:An uproar ensued months after the approval, when opponents realized the online gambling measure had been slipped in.
— New York Times (Feb 16, 2012) - brooka natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He walked across the little bridge over the brook and at once his mood changed.
— Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley) - galea strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The gale was accompanied, as usual, by incessant rain and thick weather, and a heavy confused sea kept our decks always flooded.
— Fitzroy, Robert - musereflect deeply on a subject
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Musing about the Big Picture may be a lot more gratifying than focusing on the details of the specific policies that aren’t working.
— Time (Jan 24, 2012) - satirewitty language used to convey insults or scorn
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:There’s plenty of humor on Russian television, though not much political satire; Mr. Putin put a stop to that long ago.
— New York Times (Feb 13, 2012) - intriguecause to be interested or curious
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Designing and building models that intrigue and educate without overwhelming has been challenging.
— Science Magazine (Nov 24, 2011) - indicationsomething that serves to indicate or suggest
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Authorities said an autopsy found no indications of foul play or obvious signs of trauma on Houston.
— Seattle Times (Feb 15, 2012) - dispatchsend away towards a designated goal
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:More than one assassin was dispatched by the Turkish authorities to murder Napoleon.
— Various - cowercrouch or curl up
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:The knaves lowered their weapons and shrank back cowering before him.
— Weyman, Stanley J. - wontan established custom
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:He made his customary slick feeds to open teammates, but as is their wont, the Nets struggled at times to convert points on his passes.
— New York Times (Feb 20, 2012) - tracta system of body parts that together serve some particular purpose
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:When probiotics flourish in the digestive tract, nutrients are better absorbed and bad bugs are held at bay, research suggests.
— Seattle Times (Jan 10, 2012) - canona collection of books accepted as holy scripture especially the books of the Bible recognized by any Christian church as genuine and inspired
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:For me, all novels of any consequence are literary, and they take their place, high and low, in thecanon of English literature.
— The Guardian (Jan 10, 2011) - impelcause to move forward with force
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Some power beyond his comprehension was impelling him toward the neighboring city.
— Blasco Ib??ez, Vicente - latitudefreedom from normal restraints in conduct
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Great employees often get more latitude to bring up controversial subjects in a group setting because their performance allows greater freedom.
— Inc (Feb 21, 2012) - vacateleave behind empty; move out of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Their number diminished sharply after Villaraigosa announced last week that he wanted protesters to vacate the grounds by Monday or be forcibly removed.
— Chicago Tribune (Nov 30, 2011) - undertakingany piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:"Let my epitaph be, Here lies Joseph, who was unsuccessful in all his undertakings."
— Marvin, Frederic Rowland - slaykill intentionally and with premeditation
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:"It were shame," said Lancelot, "for an armed to slay an unarmed man."
— Unknown - predecessorone who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Heller fills in the blanks about Taft, overshadowed by colorful predecessor Teddy Roosevelt.
— Seattle Times (Feb 22, 2012) - delicacythe quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:This refinement appears in his works, which are full of artistic grace and dainty delicacy.
— Drake, Samuel Adams - forsakeleave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:"I'm surprised," said Philip, cautiously opening fire, "that you were ever allowed to forsake your native land."
— Hay, Ian - beseechask for or request earnestly
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Utterly distraught, he ran up and down the bank, hunting for his clothes, calling, crying out, imploring, beseeching help from somewhere.
— Frank, Ulrich - philosophicalof or relating to philosophy or philosophers
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:His arguments, like Einstein’s, were qualitative, verging on highly philosophical.
— Scientific American (Jan 30, 2012) - grovea small growth of trees without underbrush
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Soon after we came to Pasadena, father bought an orange grove of twenty-five acres.
— Chamberlain, James Franklin - frustratehinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Frustrated after two years of missed budget targets, finance chiefs demanded Greek officials put their verbal commitments into law.
— BusinessWeek (Feb 13, 2012) - illustriouswidely known and esteemed
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:She will be joining an illustrious list of recipients that include Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II and Princess Diana.
— BBC (Feb 24, 2012) - device
- an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:You’ve probably also noticed that the telephone and computer are no longer the only devices on your employees’ desks.
— Forbes (Feb 26, 2012) - pomp
- cheap or pretentious or vain display
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Throughout U.S. history, Americans have been fascinated by royal pomp -- even on a movie screen.
— Reuters (Feb 21, 2011) - entreat
- ask for or request earnestly
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:"Let me go now, please," she entreated, her eyes unable to meet his any longer.
— Hope, Anthony
- AffluenzaA blend of 'affluence' and 'influenza'.
A social disease resulting from extreme materialism and excessive consumerism: earning more money and consuming more, which can lead to overwork, debt, stress, anxiety, etc.AgritourismA form of tourism in which tourists stay on farms or in agricultural villages, and often participate in farm activities.AlcopopFruit drinks fortified with alcohol, designed and marketed to appeal to young people.AppAbbreviation of 'application', software that performs a specific task.ApplepickSteal someone's iPhone.AudiophilePerson who loves and collects high-quality audio equipment.BaggravationBlend of the words 'bag' and 'aggravation'. A feeling of annoyance and frustration at the airport when your baggage has not arrived but the other passengers' bags have.BlookA blend of 'book' and 'blog' : a book written by a blogger.BreadcrumbingA navigation technique which helps users by displaying a list of links to the pages they have visited when exploring a website,
for example: home >>vocabulary>>transport.BromanceBlend of 'brother' and 'romance'.
A close non-sexual relationship between two men.Burkini or BurquiniBlend of 'burqa' and 'bikini' A swimsuit worn by Muslim women which covers the whole body i.e. the arms to the wrist, the legs to the ankle, with a hood to cover the hair and neck.BuskingPerforming on the streets and other public places, while soliciting donations. Busy urban areas will attract street performers (buskers) who sing, play, juggle, etcBuzzExcited interest or attention surrounding, for example, a new invention, a recent event or something that has become fashionable.BuzzwordA new word or expression that is commonly used in specialized work environments or age-groups, and has become fashionable. Terms used in advertising can often convert into buzzwords and become widely usedCaptchaCompletely Automated Public Turing Test To Tell Computers and Humans Apart. A distorted image of letters and numbers used to ensure that a response is not generated by a computer, in order
to prevent spamming.CarjackingBlend of 'car' and 'hijacking'. When a car driver is forced to give up his vehicle or drive to a destination designated by the attacker.ChatroomAreas on the internet where people can communicate by exchanging typed messagesChick litBooks, usually featuring female characters, written by women on contemporary themes and issues that appeal more to women than to men.ChillaxingBlend of 'chilling' and relaxing'.
Taking a break from stressful activities to rest or relax.Citizen journalismNews collected and reported by ordinary people, especially through the use of blog software.Click baitPut something on a website that will encourage visitors to click on a link.Cloud computingA computing service which enables access to a shared pool of resources (servers, data storage, applications, etc.) over the Internet. Users can access and use tools or applications through
a web browser without having to install them on their computers.Content farmA website that publishes large amounts of low-quality content, or content copied from elsewhere, in order to attract visitors and improve its search-engine rankings.
- A hot potatoSpeak of an issue (mostly current) which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed