TOEFL® Vocabulary Flashcard

When something is common, it means something is done by many people or occurs or appears frequently. Here are example sentences:

• In some countries, it is quite common for teenagers to have a job. 
• One of the most common uses of computers has been for quick and easy communication.

Common can also mean belonging to or shared by two or more people or groups. Here are example sentences:

• They have a common ancestor.

The following phrases with the word 'common' are often used:

• a common sight
• It is common practice for someone to do something
• in common
• is common to

Here are examples:

• Buffalo were once a common sight on the American plains.
• It is common practice for some students to take a gap year between high school and university in order to do charitable work abroad in underdeveloped countries
• The two cultures have a lot in common.
• The problem is common to laptop computers. = It's common for laptop computers to have this problem.

Consume can mean to eat or drink (something). Here are example sentences:

• The dogs consume (meaning eat) a bag of dog food each week.
• It's become accepted wisdom that wine consumed with a meal is healthier than wine consumed on an empty stomach. 
• Fat tends to be considered bad for us because it is often associated with weight gain and high blood cholesterol levels. However, certain types of fat give protective benefits to the heart if consumed in moderation.

Consume can mean to use (fuel, time, resources, etc). Here are example sentences:

• The new lights consume less electricity.
• Though hybrid cars consume less fuel than conventional cars and are now growing in popularity, there is still an issue regarding the environmental damage of the hybrid car battery.

Consumer- A consumer is someone who buys or consumes, or uses up, something. An economy could not continuously function without consumers. If you buy goods and services for your personal use you are a consumer. We're all consumers when we go through the checkout line at the grocery store. 

Example sentences using consumer

• A study shows that Generation X consumers made more online purchases than any other age group, averaging nearly 20 transactions per year.
• I think there is a growing trend among consumers for mushrooms. In fact, change in consumer preferences toward vegan food and rise in demand for meat substitutes are expected to propel the mushroom market growth in the future.
• Our company saw an opportunity and launched a new product in the summer of 2021 that speaks directly to health concerns consumers have during the pandemic. 

Consumer goods/products mean products that people buy for personal use or for use at home. Consumer spending is what households buy to fulfill everyday needs. This private consumption includes goods and services.

Let's look at this example:

• In order to reduce the need for warehouse space, more and more grocery retailers now require suppliers to deliver consumer goods "just in time" to replenish stocks on the sales floor.
• Consumer spending declined 0.1 percent year-on-year in November.
• The drop in consumer spending reflects concern about the economy.
• U.S. consumer spending rose more than expected in April as households boosted purchases of goods and services.

The verb "decrease" means to make or become smaller or fewer in size, amount, intensity, or degree.

• To decrease the risk of illness, he decided to exercise more frequently.

• The population of the town has begun to decrease due to lack of employment opportunities.

The noun "decrease" means the process of becoming smaller or the amount by which something becomes smaller.

• The company has seen a steady decrease in profits over the last quarter.

The word "expand" is a verb and means to increase in size. Companies usually expand their product lines by introducing new products to the market. Expand can also be used when talking or writing about something. This means to explain more or write in detail, elaborate giving thorough descriptions.

The word "expand" can be used with or without an object. Example sentences:

• I never dreamed that our company would expand its business to Germany.
• The company has plans to expand into the international market.
• The Coca-Cola Company started with one product and expanded its product line to more than 3,500 beverages worldwide, including Sprite, Fanta and Minute Maid.
• BMC is expanding its partnership with the Red Bull Formula 1 team. What started as a technical collaboration back in 2018 has become a full partnership between the bike builder and the Oracle Red Bull Racing Team.

The phrasal verb, “expand on/upon” means to speak or write about (something) in a more complete or detailed way. Let's look at the example below:

• Would you care to expand on that a bit?
• The prime minister used today's speech to expand on remarks he made last week.

The verb "increase" means to become or make greater in size, amount, intensity, or degree.

• The company aims to increase its sales by 20% next year.

• To increase productivity, we need to improve our working methods.

• The population of the city has increased by 20% in the last decade.

• The demand for renewable energy is increasing every year.

The noun "increase" means an instance of growing or making greater.

• The company has seen an increase in profits this year.

• There has been a steady increase in the cost of living.

The verb "inform" means to give knowledge or information to someone. The following usages are common

(1) inform + object + of/about + things

(2) inform + object  + noun clause

(3) inform + object 

• Newcastle Council have informed us of a series of road closures. 

• Fortune Investments informed its shareholders of the proposed merger and acquisition.  

• The company informed me that I didn't get the job.

• Please inform us about any changes to your schedule.

• The teacher informed the students about the upcoming exam.

• The boss informed Camille that she would be promoted next month. 

• Please inform the manager if you encounter any problems.

• You will be informed by email once your order has been shipped.

• The school must inform parents about the changes to the curriculum.
  
  

The adjective "suitable" describes something that is appropriate or fitting for a particular purpose, person, or situation. 

• This dress is suitable for the wedding.

• He is looking for a job that is suitable for his skills.

• The movie is not suitable for children.

Absence is the state of not being someplace, like school. It can also refer to the amount of time something has been or plans to be gone. We most commonly think of absence as the opposite of present in places like school, but really it can refer to anything that's missing or something that's lacking. Darkness is an absence of light, and cold is an absence of heat.

Example sentences of using the word absence to refer to the amount of time something has been or plans to be gone:

• Mary is going to be on maternity leave next month. Who do you think will take her place during her absence?
• I'm deputizing for the director during his absence.
• She has so many absences from work this year. I think the boss is thinking about letting her go.
• Every workplace should have its own absence policy. 

Please note that when someone gets the permission from their boss to be away from a job for a period of time; it is called leave of absence. The phrase leave of absence is used with words such as granted or given. For example:

• ​I am going to ask for a two-day leave of absence to attend my brother's wedding.
• Joseph took a two-month leave of absence to finish his dissertation.

Let's look at some example sentences where the word absence is used to show that something is missing or something that's lacking.

• The absence of oxygen in the water is causing the fish to die. 
• A lot of young people moved out of the city. In the absence of young talents, many tech companies have no choice but to outsource to India. 
• In the absence of an agreement, the court will decide according to the child's best interests. 

Consumption means using, buying or eating something. Here are example sentences:

• The doctor recommended that she reduce her consumption of sugar. 
• Excessive alcohol consumption can cause major health problems.
• Excessive consumption of soft drinks in childhood has been shown to lead to calcium deficiency and more broken bones.
• The daily consumption of red meat should be no more than 80 grams.

Let’s look at some other meanings of the word “consumption” and how it can be used in sentences:

First meaning - the use of something (such as fuel). Here are some example sentences:

• The world's energy consumption is expected to increase considerably as a result of population growth (electricity consumption = the consumption of electricity)
• The jet's high fuel consumption makes it expensive to operate.
• If we don't reduce our energy consumption, we will run out of fuel. 

Second meaning - use by a particular group of people

Here is an example sentence:

• The governor said that the report was not for public consumption ( This means it was not meant to be seen by the general public; it was intended only for a few people.)

One interesting phrase you can learn is "not fit for human consumption". When something is "not fit for human consumption" it means you risk getting sick, or even dying, if you eat or drink it. Here is an example:

• This food is not fit for human consumption. [=not fit to be eaten by people]

Another term we often heard is "Conspicuous consumption". Conspicuous consumption is buying something to show off. Here is an example sentence:

• A classic example of conspicuous consumption is buying a thousand-dollar smartphone.

Crucial means very important. Example sentences:

• This is a crucial moment for the company.
• Early detection is crucial in the fight against breast cancer.
• Knowing how many products we have in stock is crucial to our shipping procedures.
• Price will be a crucial factor in the success of this new product.
• If no one is purchasing the product you are selling, you can keep waiting, or start asking questions. Is your packaging effectively showcasing the benefit of your product? Is your price point off? Ask retailers and your customers what was wrong. Their feedback is absolutely crucial. 

The adjective "decreased" describes something that has been reduced in size, quantity, or intensity. 

• The company's profits decreased by 15% last quarter.

• The number of tourists has decreased significantly due to the pandemic.

• The decreased interest in the product led to lower sales.

The adjective "decreasing" describes something that is becoming smaller or less in amount, degree, or size. 

• The number of endangered species is decreasing thanks to new conservation efforts.

• The decreasing popularity of this product has led to a drop in profits.

• The company has noticed a decreasing interest in their traditional products.

• There has been a decreasing trend in smoking rates over the past decade.

• The company reported decreasing profits due to lower sales.

To emerge means to come out into view or come forth. Emerge is a verb that might bring to mind the image of a whale rising up from the depths of the sea. It is often used with the preposition "from". Let's look at example sentences

• The moon emerged from behind a cloud. 
• The whale emerged from the water.
• New sea floor originates from the upwelling rock as it emerges from the depths of the mantle.

To emerge can also mean to become known or regarded as something. In this case, it is often used with the preposition "as".  For example,

•  He has emerged as a leading contender in the field.
• The movie has emerged as one of the year's most surprising hits.
• Plate tectonics has emerged as one of the grand unifying theories of geology

Emergence is when something becomes known. For example:

• The emergence of e-books causes the paper book sales to decline.
• The emergence of the Internet as an important means of communication revolutionized how we communicate.

Emergence can also mean when something comes into view.

• The Mesozoic Era saw the emergence of the dinosaurs, more specifically, the Cretaceous Period. 
•  This fossil is the earliest evidence for the emergence of dinosaurs.

When there's an emergency, the stakes are high and you may need to act quickly. There's a tornado! Someone's collapsed! The cat's stuck in a tree! It's an emergency! Call 911! You can see the word emerge in emergency, and an emergency suddenly emerges — it happens all of a sudden and can take you by surprise. Governments declare a "state of emergency" if there is a disaster that they can't handle, and they need support.

Emergent is an adjective that describes something that is emerging, or suddenly coming into existence. It's often used in phrases like “emergent technologies.” These are brand-new technologies that we can expect to be widely used in the near future. For example:

• The Internet was an emergent technology in the early 1990s.

Emergent sometimes implies that what is coming into being is surprising and demands a response.  In this sense, emergent is related to emergency.  For example:

• An emergent disease would send scientists scrambling to find a cure.
• If you have an emergent talent for science, your teacher might bump you up to an advanced science class. 

The word “ensure”, means to make “something” sure, certain, or safe. Our head office will liaise with the suppliers to ensure delivery. Ensure can also mean safeguard or to protect by making certain a problem will not occur. 

The word “ensure” is often used with an object. Take a look at these example sentences with the word ensure:

• The company's sole concern is to ensure the safety of its employees.
• To ensure a safe and enjoyable visit, the museum continues to work within government guidelines. All visitors are advised to book a timed slot in advance to guarantee entry and help control the numbers of individuals in the exhibition halls.  
• I really believe that everyone can do their bit to ensure (that) we have a healthy environment for now and the future, including the government, businesses, and communities.
• General Motors and other automakers have had to idle vehicle plants intermittently this year because they have been unable to get enough computer chips. They are currently working on a strategy to ensure long-term supply-demand balance.

The verb "exist" means to live, to have reality. It's not only "live" things that exist. The government exists, as does your fear of heights. Anything that can be acknowledged in the present exists. Another meaning for the verb exists is to support oneself or survive. If someone doesn't have a job, they may have to exist on unemployment benefits until they find one.

Let’s take a look at some sentences where the verb "exist" means to live, to have reality:

• She believes that ghosts really do exist.
• It's the largest galaxy known to exist.
• Does life exist on Mars?
• The Internet didn't exist then 200 years ago.
• Dinosaurs existed for about 150 million years during three geologic periods
• Those ideas only exist in your mind.

In the last sentence: Those ideas only exist in your mind; means that the ideas are only in your mind.

Now, here are some example sentences where the verb "exist" means to support oneself or survive. It is used with the preposition "on":

•  I can barely exist on this wage.

This sentence means that the individual’s wage is not enough to survive on or support oneself. He/she may have to find a better job which pays higher wages to survive on or support himself/herself.

• Villagers existed on rainwater in the jungle = Villagers subsisted on rainwater in the jungle.

This sentence means that villVillagers survived on rainwater in the jungle. You can also use "subsist on".

Existence is the state of being alive or being real. Here are examples:

• She began to doubt the existence of God.
• It was not until 1822 that scientists learned about the existence of dinosaurs.
• The greatest chance for the existence of extraterrestrial life is on a planet beyond our solar system.
• The tiger may not be in existence in a few decades.

The phrase "in existence" is often used. It means "currently existing". Here are example sentences:

• The tiger may not be in existence in a few decades.
• All the oil in existence will not last the world for another century.

Another phrase "come into existence" is also often used. It means "begin to exist". Here is an example sentence:

• Dinosaurs came into existence during the Mesozoic era.

Existence can also mean a particular way of living whereby, in this definition, the word existence is usually used in singular form.

Example sentences include:

• They enjoyed a comfortable existence.
• They pursued their meager existence in a poor rural area.
• Until recently, the Inuit people led a nomadic existence, sheltering in igloos, the ice-block domes that are peculiar to north-central Canada.

If something is existing it’s real. When you make a list of existing mammals, you can't include unicorns, because they don't really exist. Something that's real can be said to exist or to be existing. The existing laws in your state are the ones that are actually on the books, and your existing friends are the ones you really have, and who are all alive and well. 

Example sentences using existing

• The company plans to ignore existing problems and move forward with their plans
• Changing the existing formation can improve the team’s performance
• Please don't ignore existing problems
• making changes to the existing structure (This means the structure that is there now)

Something that is expanded has been increased in size. It can also be an increase in content.  For example,

• If you want the expanded edition of the DVD, it would probably have behind the scene features.

Expansion means the act of becoming bigger or of making something bigger. It is the act of expanding. The word can be used be used in a noncountable or count form.  Let's look at the examples below:​

• This map shows the territorial expansion of Rome.
• The league is undergoing expansion.
• The hotel is undergoing expansion.
• The Philippines needs a strong fiscal performance to keep the pace of the country's economic expansion
• The rapid growth of American cities in the nineteenth century led to a rapid expansion of urban school systems.
• The westward expansion of the United States is one of the defining themes of 19th-century American history.
• The recent expansion of our manufacturing plant in Detroit has made it possible for us to increase the production capacity and manpower at this facility. 
• In 2017, Line Friends, one of Asia's most popular tech companies, collaborated with Korean idol group BTS on a line of characters called BT21, playing a considerable part in the company's expansion. 

The adjective "increased" describes something that has grown in size, number, degree, or intensity. 

• The company has reported increased profits this quarter.

• There has been an increased interest in learning about sustainable living.

• The increased traffic in the city center is due to the ongoing festival.

The adjective "increasing" describes something that is growing or becoming greater in size, amount, intensity, or degree. 

• Sales have been increasing over the last three quarters.

• There has been an increasing interest in learning foreign languages among young people.

• The increasing complexity of smartphones requires more advanced technology.

The adjective informative is used to describe something that gives you useful information. When something is informative, it's usually educational and full of facts — like an informative text book, an informative documentary, or an informative tour of the Hindu temples of northern India. This word comes in handy in TOEFL independent writing and speaking 1 tasks.

The adjective "informed" describes someone who is knowledgeable or enlightened about a particular subject. 

• It's important to make an informed decision, especially on such a critical matter.

• She is one of the most informed experts in this field.

• She is an informed participant in the debate, always bringing valuable insights.

Use the verb overcome when you talk about someone who has triumphed over adversity. You can also be overcome with emotions, or overwhelmed by your feelings. Many people feel so overcome with sadness at a movie — or happiness at a wedding. The verb overcome also means to win or surpass. If you are going to win the marathon, you are going to have to overcome the five runners still ahead of you.

Example sentences of the word overcome:

• After a tough battle, they overcame the enemy.
• She overcame a leg injury and is back running again.
• He overcame his fear of heights and climbed the ladder.
• To succeed, one must overcome obstacles.

The phrases “to be overcome by” and “to be overcome with” are often used.

The phrasal verb “be overcome with” means to be strongly affected by an emotion or a feeling. For example:

• After his dog died, Danny was overcome with grief.
• The whole team was overcome with the joy of winning and being champions.
• He was suddenly overcome with remorse for the harm he had done.

For the phrasal verb “be overcome by”,  if you are overcome by a feeling or event, it is so strong or has such a strong effect that you cannot think clearly. For example:

• The night before the test I was overcome by nervousness.
• The family was overcome by grief.

If you are overcome by smoke or a poisonous gas, you become very ill or die from breathing it in.  For example:

• The residents were trying to escape from the fire but were overcome by smoke. 
• Several firefighters had been overcome by smoke and fumes.
• Five employees were overcome by smoke.

Difficulties/obstacles can be overcome by efforts. For example:

• These difficulties were overcome by the efforts of devoted officers.

The adjective "suited" describes something that is appropriate or well-fitted for a particular purpose or condition. 

• This climate is particularly suited to growing grapes.

• She is well-suited to a career in medicine because of her attention to detail and compassion.

• He is well-suited for the job because of his extensive experience.

• The software is perfectly suited for beginners who need simple and intuitive tools.

Definition: The practice of regularly staying away from work or school without good reason.

Example senences:

• You should keep records of absences and introduce a trigger mechanism that alerts you to look into regular absenteeism and the reasons for it. Employees in buildings with healthy interiors have less absenteeism and tend to stay in their jobs longe

The advent of an important event, invention, or situation is the fact of it starting or coming into existence. Generally, the noun advent is used for the introduction of something important.

Here are example sentences:

• The twentieth century saw the advent of many important inventions — including television, computers, and microwave dinners.
• The advent of color television in the 1960s proved to be an innovation which gained virtually universal acceptance during the 1970s.
• The leap forward in communication was made possible by the advent of the mobile phone.
• before the advent of the Internet, information was not yet so readily available to the general public.
• The Information explosion has made a profound impact in the 21st century due to the advent of the Internet.
• With the advent of the Internet, information is readily available through computers and other smart devices.

Commonplace has the same meaning of ‘common’, but it carries a negative meaning of being dull and unchallenging or tired and clichéd.  For example:

• Coffee shops in cities are commonplace.
• Nowadays, distance-learning programs are commonplace, but some people argue that they are not as good as those attending college in person.
• Drug use has become commonplace at rock concerts.
• A commonplace job is a boring, mind-numbing task. 
• In contrast to the United States, where surrogacy is increasingly commonplace and accepted, the practice is generally illegal in Australia.
• In 2017, it is commonplace to see people constantly checking their phones.

Commonplace can be a noun. Things that are common can be found all over the place — they're commonplace! For example:

• We now accept cell phones and laptop computers as commonplaces of everyday life.

We often use the phrase 'It is a commonplace that' to say an idea, expression, remark, etc. that is not new or interesting. In other words, "It is a commonplace that = Everyone knows that" Look at the following example sentences:

• It is a commonplace that we only use a small part of our brain's capacity.
• It is a commonplace that the history of civilization is largely the history of weapons.
• It is a commonplace that American consumers have kept the world economy spinning. 

Definition: Be composed or made up of

Example sentences:

Definition: Be (a part) of a whole

Example sentences:

• Europe was increasingly concentrating power into the hands of elite groups, who constituted a very small proportion of the total population.

Definition: Similar in character, form, or function:

Example sentences:

• We discussed our corresponding viewpoints

Things that are emerging are just being born — or they're reaching an adult state. The important thing is they're growing and developing.

You could say an improved baseball team is an emerging force in the National League, or a new disease is an emerging threat.

Emerging things can be brand new but aren't necessarily: they could just be beginning to develop. Emerging means something close to sprouting — when you think of this word, think "growing." Used in a sentence, “It is a weird thing when you realize your children are emerging into adulthood right in front of you.”

Let's look at more example sentences:

• Social media marketing is an emerging trend in marketing.
• Artificial intelligence is one of the emerging technologies in 2017.

Definition: Surround and have or hold within: Include comprehensively:

Example sentences:

• This policy must encompass all aspects of waste management, including waste minimisation, recycling, re-usage and waste disposal.
• The course encompasses all the literature of the eighteenth century.

Definition: The action of establishing something or being established

Example sentences:

• Wahid proposed the establishment of an independent monitoring commission to work toward peace, but was ousted in July 2001.

Definition: making a strong or vivid impression

Example sentences:

• Eric showed impressive speed in the open field, rushing for 184 yards on just eight carries in his college debut.
• This very early and inventive way for flowering plants to manage their reproduction so early in their evolution is impressive.

The word "indispensable" is a strong adjective for something that you couldn't do without. For example, if you have asthma and you're packing for summer vacation, your inhaler is indispensable. The word dispensable means something you can go without, so indispensable is something you absolutely cannot go without. Used simply, “Food is indispensable to humans.” The phrase "be indispensable to" is often used.

Example sentences with the word indispensable:

• She is an indispensable (meaning essential) part of the team.
• Water is indispensable to life.
• To most teenagers, their mobile phones are indispensable to their happiness

Definition: a component of a mixture or compound

Example sentences:

• Restaurant owners say healthy-eating initiatives should focus on diet as a whole, not on particular ingredients or foods.
• Firing up the grill can be one of the simplest strategies for delicious, healthy summer eating – if you use the right ingredients and techniques.

Definition: The action or process of innovating:

Example sentences:

• Innovation is crucial to the continuing success of any organization.

Definition: something newly introduced; ahead of the times

Example sentences:

• The innovative tool promises to clarify the still-murky details of the initial infection process and may help guide drug, vaccine, and cure research in people.

Something that is integral is very important or necessary. If you are an integral part of the team, it means that the team cannot function without you. A synonym for integral would be essential.

You will see the collocation "an integral part" a lot.

Example sentences of the word integral:

• She had become an integral part of the team.
• Some would argue that sport is an integral part of the school curriculum.
• Computers are an integral part of life and so is computer education!

The phrase “be integral to” is often used.  Look at the following examples below:

• His character is integral to the story.
• Luck was integral to our success.

The adjective "paramount" means more important than anything else.  Something that is of paramount importance has a great urgency to it - it's at the very top of his to-do list. Let's look at example sentences:

• Safety is of paramount importance. This means safety is paramount.
• Unemployment was the paramount (meaning chief, main) issue in the election.
• The child's welfare must be seen as paramount.
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.
• The ability to teach students to think is paramount to a teacher’s success.

Something problematic poses a problem or causes difficulties. Notice that the root word is “problem”, if something is problematic there is a problem. Example sentences using the word “problematic”:

• Excessive and problematic Internet use has been reported across all age, social, economical, and educational ranges.
• Excessive internet use appears to have been commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic period and young adults were most vulnerable to problematic Internet use.
• Grammar rules are typically more problematic for non-native speakers.
• The Russia-Ukraine war is arguably the most problematic international development for China in years.
• Drugs that are normally required to be taken frequently, such as many antibiotics, can be problematic for the fasting patient.

Definition: A certain, usually specified, amount or number of something; A considerable number or amount of something:

Example sentences:

• If taken in large quantities, the drug can result in liver failure
• This operation is not about finding a large quantity of drugs but to reassure the public and take out middle level dealers
• Many people like to buy in quantity

Definition: get or find back; recover the use of

Example sentences:

• A new study finds that DNA evidence retrieved from elephant dung, tissue and hair can help identify the origins of illegal ivory.

Definition: make visible; to uncover

Example sentences:

• The data reveals how much money students are borrowing in exchange for earnings after graduation.

Definition: A strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound:

Example sentences:

• Whether it's in the form of romantic melody, upbeat Swing Jazz or exotic world rhythms, the live musical experience adds a unique presence and excitement to any event.

Definition: A postulated sequence or development of events:

Example sentences:

• Worst case scenarios predict that hundreds of thousands of Balinese who depend on the tourism sector could lose their livelihood.

Seasonal refers to phenomena that occur at or depend on a particular time of the year. It is often used in contexts like employment, where jobs may only be available during certain times (e.g., holiday or tourist seasons), and in commerce, where products might be sold or services offered predominantly at specific times (e.g., seasonal sales or promotions). The concept of seasonality can also apply to weather-related changes, affecting everything from fashion choices to agricultural practices.

• Seasonal fruits often taste better because they are harvested at the peak of their ripeness.

• Many workers find only seasonal employment, particularly in the tourism and agricultural sectors.

• The store offers seasonal discounts to attract more customers during the holiday season.

Definition: not far form top to bottom; lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious

Example sentences:

• Shallower earthquakes tend to cause more damage at the surface.
• They argues that Facebook is a lot like most reality shows: shallow, narcissistic, digitally or surgically enhanced, but mostly harmless.

Definition: Undergo a sudden severe or prolonged fall in price, value, or amount;Sit, lean, or fall heavily and limply;A sudden severe or prolonged fall in the price, value, or amount of something

Example sentences:

• She slumped against the cushions. As commodities such as coffee or soya flooded into the world market, prices slumped, causing more economic chaos. A slump in property prices could mean your retirement taking a big hit, or being forced to wait until the housing market recovers.

Definition: believed or reputed to be the case

Example sentences:

• Streaming services have recently been reviving supposedly dead series frequently enough to be a legitimate trend, but not just any show can get resuscitated.

Definition: A sudden marked increase in voltage or current in an electric circuit

Example sentences:

• The hardware has been redesigned to prevent damage caused by short circuits or power surges.

The adjective "well-suited" describes something that is appropriately matched or fitted for a particular purpose or situation.

• He is well-suited for the job because of his extensive experience in the field.

• This climate is particularly well-suited to growing grapes.

• They are a well-suited couple, sharing many common interests and values.

Definition: Produce or provide (a natural, agricultural, or industrial product); Produce or generate (a result, gain, or financial return)

Example sentences:

• This method yielded excellent results because there was improvement of 15 to 20 per cent each time a teacher repeated the exercise.