advantage star_border
/ad-van-tage/ [ae0.d.v.ae1.n.t.ih0.jh] play_circle_filledThe definition of the noun advantage reads as follows: An advantage is a quality or condition that puts something in a favorable or superior position. Simply said, an advantage is a characteristic that makes something better than something else.
We often use "advantage" to talk about the benefits of a thing or person. For instance, the following three sentences use "advantage" to describe the benefits of living in a big city:
- The advantage of living in a big city is that there is plenty of entertainment.
- One advantage of living in a big city is that there is plenty of entertainment.
- One of the advantages of living in a big city is that there is plenty of entertainment.
However, only if "advantage" is used at the very beginning of a sentence do we say "advantage of something". When using expletive constructions like “There are/is” it would sound wrong or unnatural to say "There are many advantages of living in a big city". Many students make this mistake. Here you should use the preposition "to" as in the following sentence:
- There are many advantages to living in a big city
- There are many advantages in living in a big city
Often we simply paraphrase here and say:
Living in a big city has many advantages.
Okay! Now! If we want to specify the alternatives we are comparing to, we normally use the preposition over as in “have an advantage OVER sth.” Since advantage refers to a position superior to another thing, it is kind of natural to use OVER here to say that is is higher than the other thing. So 'A has an advantage over B'. means that A is in a favorable or superior position compared to B. This phrase is commonly used when talking about competition in business, sports or even evolution.
Let me give you some examples here:
- Our company has an advantage over our competitors.
- The New York Knicks have a clear advantage over Miami Heat
- Humans have an evolutionary advantage over other animals.
Instead of using “to have an advantage” all the time you can say “to be at an advantage” as well... In this case, how could you change the three sentences? You can pause this video and try it yourself… It's not too complicated. :) We can change the phrasing as follows:
Our company is at an advantage over our competitors.
The New York Knicks are at a clear advantage over Miami Heat
Humans are at an evolutionary advantage over other animals.
Especially in business, "advantage" is often used together with the adjective “competitive” to highlight the competitive environment businesses are in. For example, if you say
Our company has a competitive advantage over Google.
That would mean your company is in a certain field better than Google.
There are many other verbs that can be used together with advantage. For instance, you can “gain an advantage”, “win an advantage”, and “develop an advantage” or “sth. Can give or offer you an advantage” and you can “take advantage of sth.”
To make these more specific, let's have a look at some more examples.
- Our company gained/won a competitive advantage over our competitors by reducing costs.
- During the process of evolution, humans developed an intellectual advantage over other animals.
- By reducing costs we could develop a competitive advantage over our competitors.
- My English skills gave/offered me a clear advantage over other applicants..
- You should take advantage of all the resources bestmytest.com offers to improve your English.
Advantage is often used with “to” as well, as in the following phrases.
- To one's advantage
If something is 'to one's advantage' it means that something gives an advantage or is beneficial to someone. Here are example sentences
- The ice cream store was able to turn the hot weather to its advantage.
- It is to your advantage to invest wisely.
- The new regulations will work to our advantage.
advantageous star_border
/ad-van-ta-geous/ [ae2.d.v.ah0.n.t.ey1.jh.ah0.s] play_circle_filledThe adjective "advantageous" means good or useful in a particular situation. It is often used with the preposition "to", for example,
- The new tax system is advantageous to higher-rate taxpayers.
- Living in university dormitories is advantageous to students.
- The company believes the new location is advantageous to the growth of its business.
enrollment star_border
/en-roll-ment/ [eh0.n.r.ow1.l.m.ah0.n.t] play_circle_filledThe noun of ‘enroll’ is ‘enrollment’. The noun "enrollment" has two meanings:
The first meaning of enrollment is the process of officially joining a course, school, or a service. Here are examples:
- Enrollment is in the first week of September.
- Fees must be paid in full at the time of enrollment.
- Enrollment will take place in the main hall.
The second meaning of enrollment is the number of people who signed up for a school. Here are examples:
- Our college had an enrollment of 2000 students last year.
- The enrollment of international students has increased over the past 3 years. = The number of international students who signed up for schools has increased over the past 3 years.
We often add words like ‘college’, ‘high school’, ‘undergraduate’, and ‘international’ ..etc before the noun “enrollment” to give more details about the type of enrollment. Look at the following example sentences:
- College enrollment across the country has been steadily decreasing for five years.
- China is the largest sender of international students to the U.S., with Chinese students accounting for 31.5% of all international enrollments in the U.S
- As a result of declining undergraduate enrollments, many colleges are working to increase recruitment efforts to more effectively attract students.
experience star_border
/ex-pe-ri-ence/ [ih0.k.s.p.ih1.r.iy0.ah0.n.s] play_circle_filledThe word experience is a noun.
When the noun "experience" refers to a past event, it is countable. For example,
- I have many embarrassing experiences during my childhood.
- The most memorable experience I have ever had is my graduation trip to Europe.
But when its meaning is the length of time that you have spent doing something or when we talk about a skill or knowledge that you get by doing something, it is uncountable. In this case, you will often see the preposition “in”, “with‘, and “of” used with the word experience. Let’s look at how to properly use them.
“Experience in sth.” is used when we refer to a particular field. For example,
- I have a lot of experience in sales and marketing.
- I have experience in teaching.
- I have five years of experience in software engineering.
“Experience with something” is used when we refer to something more specific. For example,
- I have a lot of experience with working with children.
- I have 10 years of experience with managing projects.
Okay! Sometimes you can hear “have experience of something’, it is used to say somebody has done something before. For example,
Do you have the experience of fixing a car? = Have you ever fixed a car?
reason star_border
/rea-son/ [r.iy1.z.ah0.n] play_circle_filledThe following patterns and expressions are commonly used with the noun ‘reason’.
One/The reason why _____ is _____
One/The reason for _____ is ____.
Let’s look at the following examples:
- One reason why the population is growing so fast is that death rates have fallen dramatically
- One reason why the population is growing so fast is the drastic decline in the death rates.
- The reason for overpopulation is that resources are limited.
The adjectives "primary" and "main" are often used with the word "reason". Using this, you can change the last sentence like this:
The primary/main reason for overpopulation is that resources are limited.
symbol star_border
/sym-bol/ [s.ih1.m.b.ah0.l] play_circle_filledDefinition: signs or objects that represent something or somebody
Example senences:
- From spring’s delicate first buds to lush late-summer gardens, green is a symbol not just of life, but of life that is thriving.
- The strange symbols found in Egyptian tombs have intrigued historians for centuries.
contributing star_border
/con-tribut-ing/ [k.ah0.n.t.r.ih1.b.y.uw0.t.ih0.ng] play_circle_filledThe word contributing can be used to describe things that help to bring about results, whether positive or negative.
Ok! Let’s take a look at the sentences below of the word contributing:
- The coach's positive attitude was a contributing factor to the team's success.
- She has been a contributing writer for the magazine for 10 years.
- If you're a contributing voice in the audience at a noisy rock concert, it means you're screaming your head off.
- If you're a contributing member of your friend's fundraising efforts, it means you're giving her money.
When you write cause and effect sentences in TOEFL writing section, you can use the phrase "a contributing factor to" instead of "contribute to". Here is an example:
- Deforestation is a major contributor to climate change = Deforestation significantly contributes to climate change.
contribution star_border
/con-tri-bu-tion/ [k.aa2.n.t.r.ah0.b.y.uw1.sh.ah0.n] play_circle_filledWhen you make a contribution, it means you're giving something away — whether it's your money, your possessions, or your time. A contribution can take many forms. Some contributions are measurable, like a $10 donation to the Salvation Army. Others are less tangible.
Here are more examples using “make a contribution”:
- She made a 100-dollar contribution (This means to make a donation) to breast cancer research.
- He made an important contribution to the debate.
- I made a significant contribution to your group’s project.
- They want to make a monetary contribution to the building of the new stadium.
- As mayor, he made many positive contributions to the growth of the city.
·
demand star_border
/de-mand/ [d.ih0.m.ae1.n.d] play_circle_filledThe word 'demand' has a general meaning of an urgent request, but when the word demand is used in a phrase, the meaning of the phrase varies. Let's look at the following phrases with the word 'demand': (1) Make demands on (2) By popular demand (3) in demand (4) on demand
The first phrase is “make demands on”. When you say A makes demands on B, you mean A is a lot for B to deal with. For example:
- This software program makes heavy demands on the computer's memory.
- Enforcing the current law is making ridiculous demands on police.
The next phrase is “by popular demand”. “By popular demand” means that a lot of people have asked for it. For example,
The circus will be back by popular demand later this summer
essentially means
The circus will be back later this summer because a lot of people have asked for it to come back.
Here is another example
By popular demand, HBO has promised fans 4 spin-off TV series from Game of Thrones.
Okay! The next phrase is”in demand”. When we say A is in demand, we mean A is wanted by a lot of people. So for example:
Our products are in demand all over the world.
Basically means
Our products are wanted by a lot of people all over the world.
Often people are confused about “in demand” and “on demand”. As we just said,“In demand” means “something is wanted by a lot of people”. On the other hand, “On-demand” means “whenever people want it”. Look at the following examples
- Some people believe that wifi should be available on demand at school
- We can't simply make cosmetic surgery available on demand.
Another word you often see is the adjective 'on-demand'. It describes something that is available whenever a customer asks for it. Notice there is a hyphen in the middle. Let's look at some examples
- Our company will sell a voice recognition product as an on-demand service for our users.
- Most people in Africa do not have television, let alone on-demand movies.
On-demand can also be a noun. It means a service for watching films and TV programs at any time. For example,
Cable customers pay $9.95 a month for on-demand
The word 'demand' is often used as an economic term, meaning "the amount of an item that is asked for in the market. In this case, it is often used with the preposition 'for'. Here are example sentences:
- Demand for organic food is increasing
- With the increasing population, we need to find out ways to cope with the increasing demand for food and water.
- Apple sold almost 5 million iPads during its March quarter and it still couldn't keep up with the demand for iPads.
The word demand can be a verb. When you demand, you request urgently.
The following two patterns are often used: (1) A demands that B does something (2) A demands to do something. Here are examples
- I demand that teachers give no homework on the weekend
- My boss demanded that the work to be done tonight.
- The customer demands to see our manager.
disadvantage star_border
/dis-ad-van-tage/ [d.ih2.s.ah0.d.v.ae1.n.t.ih0.jh] play_circle_filledThe definition of the noun "disadvantage" reads as follows: A disadvantage is a quality or condition that puts something or someone in an unfavorable or inferior position compared to others.
We often use “disadvantage” to talk about the shortcoming of a thing or a person. For instance, the following three sentences use disadvantage to describe a shortcoming of living in the countryside:
- The disadvantage of living in the countryside is the poor quality of education.
- One disadvantage of living in the countryside is the poor quality of education.
- One of the disadvantages of living in the countryside is the poor quality of education.
However, only if disadvantage is used in the very beginning of a sentence we say ‘disadvantage of something’. When using expletive constructions like “There is/are” it would sound wrong or unnatural to say “There are many disadvantages of living in the countryside. Many students make this mistake. Here you should use the prepositions in/to as in the following two sentences:
- There are many disadvantages to living in the countryside.
- There are many disadvantages in living in the countryside.
To make it easier, we often paraphrase here and simply say:
Living in the countryside has many disadvantages.
The word disadvantage is often used in the following phrases:
- At a disadvantage
- To one’s disadvantage (= work to one’s disadvantage)
The phrase “at a disadvantage” means being in an unfavorable position in comparison to others. We often use adjectives like ‘competitive’, ‘clear’ and ‘distinct’ before the word "disadvantage". For example,
- At a clear disadvantage
- At a distinct disadvantage
- At a competitive disadvantage
Notice ‘competitive’ is often used when the subject is related to the business world.
Alright! So how do we use the phrase ‘at a disadvantage’? The phrase ‘at a disadvantage’ can be used in the following sentence patterns:
- _____ (something) puts/places ____ (someone or something) at a disadvantage.
- ____ (someone or something) is at a disadvantage.
Here are example sentences for the first sentence pattern:
- His lack of formal education puts him at a clear disadvantage in the business world.
- The new tariff policy will place my company at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace.
And, here are example sentences for the second sentence pattern:
- You'll be at a disadvantage playing tennis against someone as skilled as Jimmy.
- Children from poor families are at a distinct disadvantage in education.
Okay! Now let’s look at the phrase ‘to one’s disadvantage’. If something is to your disadvantage or works to your disadvantage, it creates difficulties for you. So
___ (something) is to ___(one’s) disadvantage = ___ (something) works to ___(one’s) disadvantage = ___ (something) puts ___(someone) at a disadvantage
Here are examples
- My lack of formal education is to my disadvantage in the business world.
- I hope my lack of experience won't be to my disadvantage.
- It is to your disadvantage to not take this opportunity.
- The new tariff policy will work to our disadvantage.
disadvantaged star_border
/dis-ad-van-taged/ [d.ih0.s.ah0.d.v.ae1.n.t.ih0.jh.d] play_circle_filledThe adjective ‘disadvantaged’ describes someone or something lacking the things (such as money or education) that are considered necessary for an equal position in society.
Therefore, people who are disadvantaged or live in disadvantaged areas live in bad conditions and lack a good education, resources, or reasonable standards of living.
Let’s look at some examples.
- Research shows that men from disadvantaged backgrounds experience lower rates of marriage.
- Nowadays employers are reaching beyond their usual networks and hire more people from disadvantaged populations.
- Aborigines are the most disadvantaged ethnic group in Australia.
- Scholarships, grants, and financial aid make studying abroad affordable for disadvantaged students.
Also, ‘disadvantaged’ is often used with adverbs like ‘socially’ and ‘economically’ as in the following sentences
- Research shows economically disadvantaged children enter school with less developed cognitive skills than their peers.
- In addition to higher smoking prevalence, socially disadvantaged workers smoke more heavily and are less successful in quitting smoking compared to other workers.
disadvantageous star_border
/dis-ad-van-ta-geous/ [d.ih2.s.ae2.d.v.ae2.n.t.ey1.jh.ah0.s] play_circle_filledThe adjective “disadvantageous” describes things that cause somebody or something to be in a worse situation compared to others. Here are examples:
- We have to resell the property at a disadvantageous time.
- Minority groups find themselves in a disadvantageous position.
Also, we often see the phrase ‘be disadvantageous to’. For example,
- Living off campus is disadvantageous to students.
- The company believes the new regulation is disadvantageous to the growth of its business.
estimate star_border
/es-ti-mate/ [eh1.s.t.ah0.m.ah0.t] play_circle_filledLet’s have a look at some other meanings of the word “estimate” in the noun form and example sentences.
1 (countable): a guess that you make based on the information you have about the size, amount, etc., of something. Example sentences are as follows:
- According to government estimates, current oil reserves are 10 percent lower than they were a year ago.
- One conservative estimate is that he stole two million dollars.
- At a (very) rough estimate, the job will take three months.
2 (countable): a statement about how much a job will cost
- We solicited several estimates for the project.
- The contractor's estimate for the job seemed high.
3: an opinion or judgment about how good or bad something is
(singular)
He has a high estimate (means opinion, estimation) of his own abilities.
(non-countable)
The company's products are, by general estimate, poorly made.
Let’s have a look at some other meanings of the word “estimate” in the verb form and example sentences.
In the verb form, the word “estimate” means to give or form a general idea about the value, size, or cost of (something): to make an estimate of (something).
Example sentences include:
- They estimated the distance at/as about three miles.
- We need to estimate how much paint we'll need for the job.
- The cost of the project has been estimated at/as about 10 million dollars.
estimation star_border
/es-ti-ma-tion/ [eh2.s.t.ah0.m.ey1.sh.ah0.n] play_circle_filledThe noun estimation can mean opinion. Look at the following examples:
My estimation of his films was never very high. [= I never thought his films were very good]
This is not, in my estimation, an efficient use of our resources.
Another definition of estimation is an approximate calculation of something's value, size, amount ..etc. For example:
- If you go to an auction, you can often review a catalog that will have an estimation of the value of each item for sale. Sometimes the items sell for more than the estimation and sometimes less.
- You may ask a contractor for an estimation before you decide to build a deck on the back of your house.
- The analysis of ancient DNA in bones and teeth is now the most widely used method for age estimation in the field of archaeology.
influence star_border
/in-flu-ence/ [ih1.n.f.l.uw0.ah0.n.s] play_circle_filledInfluence in the noun form means the power to change or affect, move someone or something. For example:
- Recent years have seen a decline in the company's influence within the industry.
There are many other verbs which can be used together with the word influence. For instance, you can “have an influence on/over/upon sth”, “gain influence”, and "use/wield/exert influence".
"Exert/wield influence" means to use influence, authority, or power in order to affect or achieve something.
Note: If you wield a tool or a weapon, you handle it effectively. Picture a knight wielding a sword. You don't just have to wield something physical; you can also wield or exert influence/power/authority.
Okay! Here are examples :
- She claims that her personal problems had no/little influence upon her decision to resign.
- His health problems may have had some influence on his decision.
- Her parents still have a great deal of influence over her.
- Her ideas have gradually gained influence in the company.
- He exerted/wielded his influence to reform the company's policies.
- A well-funded national organization would be able to exert/wield more influence in Parliament.
- Common in ancient cultures, the sovereign wielded much power and influence over the people
Let’s look at another phrase "under the influence". It means affected by alcohol. Here is an example sentence:
- He was arrested for driving under the influence.
Influence in the verb form means to affect or change (someone or something) in an indirect but usually important way: to have an influence on (someone or something).
Example sentences:
- I was deeply/greatly influenced by my parents.
- Nowadays children are greatly influenced by the sportsperson they see on the television
- No one knows how this decision will influence the outcome of the election.
influential star_border
/in-flu-en-tial/ [ih2.n.f.l.uw0.eh1.n.sh.ah0.l] play_circle_filledInfluential means having or exercising influence or power over someone or something. Here are example sentences:
- An influential newspaper will make people change their opinions about something.
- The bible is considered a very influential book.
- Influential books can affect someone’s outlook on life.
- Self-help books are usually very influential.
If your grandfather worked his whole life in hospitals and inspired you to become a doctor, you could describe your grandfather as very influential in your life.
The phrase "be influential in" is often used. Here is an example
- She has been influential in establishing programs to help the poor.
In addition, sometimes measure words such as highly/very or enormously/extremely are used before the word: influential. Some example sentences include:
- a highly/very influential book
- She became an (enormously/extremely) influential critic/writer.
overestimate star_border
/over-es-ti-mate/ [ow2.v.er0.eh1.s.t.ah0.m.ey2.t] play_circle_filledWhen you estimate something, you make a calculation or a judgment of its value. So, when you overestimate, you assign too much value to the thing you are judging. If you overestimate how much time you have left to get to school, you could be late. Likewise, if you overestimate how prepared you are for a test; you might end up with a poor grade. This verb is the opposite of underestimate, or “to assign too little value.”
Here are some example sentences using the word “overestimate”:
- I overestimated the number of chairs we would need for the party. (This means I thought we would need more chairs than we actually did)
- We overestimated the value of the coins.
Please be aware that in the above examples the word “overestimate” is followed by an object.
The word overestimate can also mean to think of (someone or something) as being greater in ability, influence, or value than that person or thing actually is. Example sentences are as follows:
- She overestimated his ability to do the job.
- The importance of a good education cannot be overestimated. (This means a good education is very important)
Overestimate can also be used in the plural form: overestimates which is a countable noun.
Example sentence:
- Cost overestimates in the budget left us with extra money in the end.
underestimate star_border
/un-der-es-ti-mate/ [ah1.n.d.er0.eh1.s.t.ah0.m.ey2.t] play_circle_filledTo underestimate is to guess that something is worth less or is smaller than it really is.
Example sentences include:
- The city underestimated the cost of the new building.
- The number of people in the crowd was underestimated by 5,000.
The word “underestimate” can also mean to think of (someone or something) as being lower in ability, influence, or value than that person or thing actually is.
Example sentences include:
- Never underestimate the importance of a good education.
- Her talent has always been underestimated.
Please note that the overestimate is the opposite of underestimate.
advance star_border
/ad-vance/ [ah0.d.v.ae1.n.s] play_circle_filledThe word advance can be a verb and a noun. The original meaning of the verb "advance" is “to go or move forward”. This can be used to describe actual physical movement but is more often used to describe progress or improvement. Here is an example for each:
To advance = moving forward
- Physical movement: The troops advance towards the capital.
- Progress or Improvement: Technology advances so quickly, I can hardly keep track.
Advance can also be used as "to bring something forward". In this case, "advance" is a transitive verb, so there must be an object after it. We often use this to describe topics or skills we personally “make progress in” The following sentences are quite useful and often heard in daily conversations.
- I advanced my knowledge of English by studying abroad.
- I want to advance my career in banking.
Finally, "advance" can have a more timely focus as well. So, when something advances it could mean that it is progressing in time, or when we advance something we are bringing it forward in time. Let me give you two examples for a more time-focused use of“advance”
- As the twentieth century advanced, other forms of entertainment rapidly took over.
- The bank advanced me 500USD today.
The latter means that the bank gave or lend you money before a due date. The bank basically brought the money forward in time. If you wanted to ask someone for an advance payment you could ask: “Could you advance me 500USD until Tuesday?”
The noun advance has the same underlying meaning as “to advance”, so “an advance” is “a certain move forward” or “a specific improvement”. It is a countable noun and is normally used with the preposition 'in'. Here are some example sentences
- Scientific advances in diagnostic tools make it possible to identify new diseases more quickly.
- Advances in technology led to the industrial revolution.
- Recent advances in technology now make the smartphone more popular than the desktop computer.
- Huge advances in the development of anti-depressants greatly help people who suffer from depression.
As I told you before “to advance” can be used for money as well. The same is true for the noun, so “an advance” can also be the money paid before its due date. In business, we often take “advance payments” for security reasons in international trade. The following examples can help you understand.
- She asked for an advance on her salary.=
- The bank will give you an advance of 95% of the purchase price.
advancement star_border
/ad-vance-ment/ [ah0.d.v.ae1.n.s.m.ah0.n.t] play_circle_filledStudents are often confused about the difference between “advance” and “advancement”. Although they are very similar, it should be not too complicated to differentiate them with the right definition in your mind. The difference is that “advance” describes individual and tangible improvements, while advancement refers to the overall process of improvement. Also, the advancement is more used with the preposition “of”. For example,
Our company has made significant advances in our mobile phone technology.
BUT:
- Advancement of technology is a crucial factor for national growth.
- The advancement of modern medicine has lengthened many people's lives.
align star_border
/align/ [ah0.l.ay1.n] play_circle_filledDefinition: Lie in a straight line, or in correct relative positions
Example sentences:
- On this rear elevation, you can also see the repetition of the glass block pattern, which now fully frames a perfectly square window that aligns with the front door on the other side of the house.
anticipate star_border
/an-tic-i-pate/ [ae0.n.t.ih1.s.ah0.p.ey2.t] play_circle_filledDefinition: Regard as probable; expect or predict
Example senences:
- No one can anticipate the results of the games
- Given what is at stake the winners can anticipate a probable quarter-final against Wales.
anticipated star_border
/an-tic-i-pat-ed/ [ae0.n.t.ih1.s.ah0.p.ey2.t.ah0.d] play_circle_filledDefinition: expected hopefully
Example senences:
- It was the fourth year of a war whose devastation no one had anticipated and which no one could have imagined.
arise star_border
/arise/ [er0.ay1.z] play_circle_filledOne word you can use to introduce the cause of something is the verb arise, which means to get up or come up. It is followed by the preposition from to say that something comes up from a certain cause.
Take a look at the following examples
- Accidents arise from carelessness.
- These problems arise from the widening of the gap between the rich and poor.
- Mental disorders arise from the complex interplay of heredity, biology, and environment
caution star_border
/cau-tion/ [k.aa1.sh.ah0.n] play_circle_filledDefinition: warn strongly; put on guard
Example sentences:
- The association cautioned that escaping moths could contaminate nearby farms and endanger their organic certification.
consistently star_border
/con-sis-tent-ly/ [k.ah0.n.s.ih1.s.t.ah0.n.t.l.iy0] play_circle_filledDefinition: in a systematic or consistent manner
Example sentences:
- The show seems as if it will build to some towering finale, but instead it keeps teetering along at the same consistently high mark.
contradictory star_border
/con-tra-dic-to-ry/ [k.aa2.n.t.r.ah0.d.ih1.k.t.er0.iy0] play_circle_filledIf two or more facts, pieces of advice, etc. are contradictory, they are very different from each other.
Example sentences using the word contradictory:
- I keep getting contradictory advice - some people tell me to keep it warm and some tell me to put ice on it.
- The evidence is completely contradictory.
- The argument is internally contradictory (meaning contradicts itself).
- The two studies came to contradictory conclusions.
culprit star_border
/cul-prit/ [k.ah1.l.p.r.ih0.t] play_circle_filledWhen you want to talk about something that causes something bad to happen, we often use the word “culprit” instead of “cause”
For example.
- Ultraviolet A rays are often the real culprit for health problems related to too much sun exposure.
- A banana left on the steps can be a culprit for making you slip and fall.
likelihood star_border
/like-li-hood/ [l.ay1.k.l.iy0.hh.uh2.d] play_circle_filledDefinition: The state or fact of something’s being likely; probability
Example sentences:
- Young people who can see no likelihood of finding employment.
outcome star_border
/out-come/ [aw1.t.k.ah2.m] play_circle_filledPeople often confuse outcome and result.
"Result" is often used to talk about things that are caused directly by something else. "Outcome" is more often used to talk about what happens at the end of a process when the exact relation of cause and effect is less clear.
in addition, "result" is often used after an event to talk about what happened. "Outcome" is often used before an action or process to talk about what is likely to happen.”
Take a look at these examples
- The outcome of a pricing strategy may be less profit from a reduced number of sales.
- It's too early to predict the outcome of the meeting.
- We are waiting to hear the final outcome of the negotiations.
- I know that my students worked hard, so I expect a good outcome.
preferable star_border
play_circle_filledWhen one thing seems like a better option than another, it is preferable. Example sentences:
To me, eating at restaurants is certainly preferable to eating at home.
Graduating from high school is usually preferable to dropping out.
recover star_border
/re-cov-er/ [r.ih0.k.ah1.v.er0] play_circle_filledDefinition: to get back; to have something returned
Example sentences:
- You may remember easily recovering from heavy exercise during your teens or twenties, but now in your late 40 a long workout may leave you sore for days.
- He never recovered from an abusive boyhood that included his father putting him in a pit and throwing beer cans at him.
refrain star_border
/re-frain/ [r.ih0.f.r.ey1.n] play_circle_filledDefinition: Stop oneself from doing something
Example sentences:
- To avoid their after taste during dessert, we might have refrained from eating them.
reject star_border
/re-ject/ [r.ih0.jh.eh1.k.t] play_circle_filledDefinition: refuse to accept or acknowledge
Example sentences:
- Airlines for America, a trade group for the airline industry, has rejected the idea of legroom and seat width standards.
solid star_border
/sol-id/ [s.aa1.l.ah0.d] play_circle_filledDefinition: having good quality;being well made;firm
Example sentences:
- He is a solid basketball player.
- When heated this produces methane gas and a solid residue of sodium carbonate
steady star_border
/steady/ [s.t.eh1.d.iy0] play_circle_filledDefinition: firm; in a fixed position; without change
Example sentences:
- Steady growth is projected for companies involved in genetic engineering.
- A steady diet of lecture-based learning was designed to fill students up with facts and test their ability to memorize them.
straightforward star_border
/straight-for-ward/ [s.t.r.ey1.t.f.ao1.r.w.er0.d] play_circle_filledDefinition: without concealment or deception; honest
Example sentences:
- His straightforward approach to his business dealings earned him success and respect.
- So far, the material in the first few lectures is relatively straightforward and students could plow through it with ease.
suspect star_border
/sus-pect/ [s.ah0.s.p.eh1.k.t] play_circle_filledDefinition: regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in
Example sentences:
- If you suspect a gas leak, do not strike a match or even turn on an electric light.
- She suspected that other young researchers could use a reminder that science isn’t all about successful experiments and flashy publications.
tedious star_border
/te-dious/ [t.iy1.d.iy0.ah0.s] play_circle_filledDefinition: long and tiring
Example sentences:
- The lecture was pretty tedious.
tempt star_border
/tempt/ [t.eh1.m.p.t] play_circle_filledDefinition: provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion
Example sentences:
- Investors may be tempted to do some bargain hunting.
- The idea of getting rich quickly tempted him to invest his life savings.
trait star_border
/trait/ [t.r.ey1.t] play_circle_filledDefinition: a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
Example sentences:
- Profundity, simplicity, humanity, fanaticism — these are among the traits that define Apple and its products.
- There are a few broad traits that characterize the comic book films we’ve come to expect every summer.
unlikely star_border
/un-like-ly/ [ah0.n.l.ay1.k.l.iy0] play_circle_filledDefinition: not probable
Example sentences:
- Bears are only relocated if they are in a situation where escape is unlikely or if public safety is threatened.
Words List
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CERF A1-A2
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advantage
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advantageous
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enrollment
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experience
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reason
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symbol
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CERF B1-B2
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contributing
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contribution
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demand
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disadvantage
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disadvantaged
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disadvantageous
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estimate
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estimation
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influence
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influential
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overestimate
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underestimate
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CERF C1-C2
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advance
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advancement
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align
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anticipate
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anticipated
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arise
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caution
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consistently
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contradictory
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culprit
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likelihood
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outcome
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preferable
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-
recover
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refrain
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-
reject
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solid
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steady
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-
straightforward
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-
suspect
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-
tedious
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-
tempt
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-
trait
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unlikely
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