This week on The Missing Workbook
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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
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View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
503 words
hibernate
C1
[ˈhɑɪbəˌnɛɪt]
(Of some animals) to spend the winter in a deep sleep-like state to save energy.
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interject
C1
/ɪn.tɚˈd͡ʒɛkt/
To break into a conversation to say something.
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misplace
C1
/mɪsˈpleɪs/
To put something somewhere and then forget where it is; to lose temporarily.
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dismemberment
C1
/dɪsˈmɛmbɚmənt/
the act of cutting, tearing, or otherwise removing the limbs or parts of a body
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dislodge
C1
/dɪˈslɑːdʒ/
To force or knock something out of its position
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sprawl
C1
/spɹɔl/
To sit or lie with your arms and legs spread out in a relaxed or careless way.
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misfire
C1
/ˌmɪsˈfaɪɹ/
to fail to fire, ignite, or detonate properly
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commemoration
C1
/kəˌmɛməˈreɪʃən/
the act of formally remembering and honoring a person or event, often through a ceremony
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shuck
C1
/ʃʌk/
to remove the husk, pod, or shell from food such as corn, nuts, or oysters
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heighten
C1
/ˈhaɪ̯.tən/
To make a feeling, effect, or quality stronger or more intense.
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allocate
C1
/ˈæl.əˌkeɪt/
To give out or set aside money, time, or resources for a particular purpose.
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extricate
C1
/ˈɛks.tɹɪ.keɪt/
release from entanglement of difficulty
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enrichment
C1
/ɛnˈɹɪtʃmənt/
the act or process of improving the quality, value, or interest of something
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perjure
C1
/ˈpɝdʒɚ/
to knowingly make a false statement under oath and thereby commit perjury, usually used reflexively
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ventilate
C1
/ˈvɛntɪleɪt/
To let fresh air move through a room or building.
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proofread
C1
/ˈpruːfriːd/
to read written or printed material carefully and correct errors before it is published or submitted
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deflection
C1
/dəˈflɛkʃən/
The act of deflecting or something deflected.
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glean
C1
/ɡlin/
To gather information or knowledge slowly, bit by bit and often with effort.
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decapitate
C1
/diˈkæpəteɪt/
to cut off or otherwise remove the head of a person, animal, or figure
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reenact
C1
/ɹi.ɪnækt/
To act out a past event, especially a historical one, in order to show how it happened.
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stiffness
C1
/ˈstɪfnəs/
firm resoluteness in purpose or opinion or action
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impale
C1
/ɪmˈpeɪl/
to pierce something with a long, sharp object so that it is fixed or held on the point
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croon
C1
/kruːn/
to sing or hum softly in a low, gentle, or sentimental voice
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stiffen
C1
/ˈstɪfən/
To become stiff, hard, or tense.
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ensue
C1
/ɪnˈsuː/
To happen afterwards as a result or consequence.
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pertain
C1
/pərˈteɪn/
to relate to or be relevant to a particular subject or situation
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shipbuilding
C1
/ˈʃɪpˌbɪl.dɪŋ/
the activity, craft, or industry of designing and constructing ships
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crisscross
C1
/ˈkrɪsˌkrɔːs/
to cross an area repeatedly in different directions, or to form a pattern of intersecting lines
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fermentation
C1
/ˌfɝmənˈteɪʃən/
a metabolic process in which microorganisms or enzymes convert organic substances, often sugars, without oxygen
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comprise
C1
/kəmˈpɹaɪz/
to consist of or be made up of
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mitigation
C1
/ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/
the action of reducing the severity, harm, or painfulness of something
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subjugate
C1
/ˈsʌb.dʒə.ɡeɪt/
to defeat a people or country and bring it under controlling rule, usually with little or no freedom
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warble
C1
/ˈwɔːr.bəl/
to sing with trills or rapid, smooth variations in pitch, like a bird
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gape
C1
/ˈɡeɪp/
To stare with your mouth open in surprise or wonder.
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innovate
C1
/ˈɪnəveɪt/
To create or introduce new ideas, methods, or products.
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ratify
C1
/ˈræt.ə.faɪ/
to give formal approval to an agreement, treaty, or decision so that it becomes officially valid
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gurgle
C1
/ˈɡɝɡəl/
to make a low bubbling sound, especially as liquid moves through a narrow space
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dramatize
C1
/ˈdræmətaɪz/
to adapt a story or event for performance as a play, film, radio work, or television program
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fragmentation
C1
/ˌfɹæɡmənˈtæɪt͡ʃən/
The act of breaking something into small, separate pieces, or the state of being broken up.
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elopement
C1
/ɪˈloʊpmənt/
the act of secretly running away with a partner in order to marry, often without family approval
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allege
C1
/əˈlɛd͡ʒ/
To claim that someone has done something wrong, usually without proof yet.
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scrutinize
C1
/ˈskɹutn̩ˌaɪz/
To examine something very carefully and in detail.
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outflank
C1
/ˌaʊtˈflæŋk/
to move around the side of an opposing force in order to attack from behind or gain an advantage
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reshuffle
C1
/ˌriːˈʃʌf.əl/
to reorganize positions, responsibilities, or elements by distributing them differently
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sidestep
C1
/ˈsaɪd.step/
to step quickly to one side in order to avoid someone or something
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muffle
C1
/ˈmʌfəl/
to make a sound quieter or less distinct, especially by covering its source
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incorporation
C1
/ɪnˌkɔrpəˈreɪʃən/
the act of including something as part of a larger whole, or the state of being included
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ail
C1
/eɪl/
to cause someone pain, illness, or persistent trouble, often used in questions
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unsettle
C1
/ʌnˈsɛtəl/
To make someone feel worried, nervous, or uncomfortable.
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goggle
C1
/ˈɡɑɡəl/
to stare with the eyes wide open, especially in surprise or amazement
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amplification
C1
/ˌæmplɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
The act of making something larger, fuller, or more detailed.
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unfurl
C1
/ʌnˈfɝl/
to unroll, unfold, or spread out something that was tightly rolled or folded, or to become spread out in this way
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ordination
C1
/ˌɔːr.dənˈeɪ.ʃən/
the ceremony or process by which someone is officially made a priest, minister, or other religious leader
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inoculate
C1
/ɪˈnɑːkjəleɪt/
to introduce a vaccine or antigen into a person or animal in order to produce immunity
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iteration
C1
/ˌɪt.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
the repetition of a process, statement, or sequence, or one cycle within that repetition
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reappearance
C1
/ˌriːəˈpɪrəns/
the act of someone appearing again or an event happening again
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envisage
C1
/ɛnˈvɪzɪd͡ʒ/
To imagine or picture something as a future possibility.
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uncork
C1
/ʌnˈkɔrk/
to remove the cork or stopper from a bottle or other container
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immortalize
C1
/ɪˈmɔː(ɹ).təˌlaɪz/
To make someone or something famous and remembered forever.
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quickness
C1
/ˈkwɪknəs/
rapidity of movement or activity; agility or dexterity
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gaslight
C1
/ˈɡæslaɪt/
to manipulate someone into doubting their own memory, perceptions, or judgment
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corrode
C1
/kəˈɹoʊd/
to destroy or be gradually destroyed by a chemical reaction, especially oxidation or acid
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personalize
C1
/ˈpɝ.sə.nəˌlaɪz/
To adapt something to suit the needs or tastes of a particular person.
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hanker
C1
/ˈhæŋkər/
to have a strong or persistent desire for something, usually followed by for or after
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inlay
C1
/ɪnˈleɪ/
to decorate a surface by setting pieces of another material into it
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trudge
C1
/trʌdʒ/
to walk slowly and heavily because one is tired or conditions are difficult
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drawl
C1
/dɹɔl/
to speak slowly, prolonging vowel sounds
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venerate
C1
/ˈvɛnəɹeɪt/
To deeply respect and honour someone or something.
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egoism
C1
/ˈiːɡoʊˌɪzəm/
the practice of giving one's own interests and welfare priority over those of others
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transact
C1
/ˌtɹænˈzækt/
conduct business
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infest
C1
/ɪnˈfest/
of pests or parasites, to occupy a place or host in harmful or troublesome numbers
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misrepresentation
C1
/ˌmɪsˌrɛprɪzɛnˈteɪʃən/
the act or an instance of giving a false, inaccurate, or misleading account of someone or something
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incubate
C1
/ˈɪŋkjʊbeɪt/
to keep eggs warm under conditions that allow embryos to develop and hatch
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embarkation
C1
/ˌɛmbɑrˈkeɪʃən/
the act or process of going aboard a ship or aircraft
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miscarry
C1
/ˌmɪsˈker.i/
to lose an embryo or fetus spontaneously before it can survive independently
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optimize
C1
/ˈɑptɪmaɪz/
to make something as effective, efficient, or useful as possible
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ratification
C1
/ˌrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the act of formally approving and making an agreement, treaty, or decision valid
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moneymaking
C1
/ˈmʌniˌmeɪkɪŋ/
the activity of earning money or making a profit
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domestication
C1
/dəˌmɛstəˈkeɪʃən/
The act of taming wild animals or adapting plants for human use.
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socialization
C1
/ˌsoʊʃəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
The process of learning the behaviour and customs of one's society, especially as a child.
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diverge
C1
/dɪˈvɝd͡ʒ/
To separate and go off in different directions.
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refurbish
C1
/ɹiˈfɝbɪʃ/
To repair and improve something so it looks or works like new again.
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sheathe
C1
/ʃiːð/
to put a knife, sword, or similar blade into its sheath
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embalm
C1
/ɪmˈbɑːm/
to preserve a dead body by treating it with chemicals, oils, or spices
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dither
C1
/ˈdɪðɚ/
To hesitate and be unable to decide what to do.
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proliferate
C1
/pɹəˈlɪf.əɹ.eɪt/
To increase quickly in number and spread widely.
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formalize
C1
/ˈfɔɹməlaɪz/
to make an arrangement, rule, or process official or definite
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unseat
C1
/ˌʌnˈsit/
to remove someone from an elected office, position of power, or established role
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double-team
C1
/ˌdʌbəlˈtiːm/
to join with one other person in dealing with a task, person, or situation
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perforate
C1
/ˈpɝːfəreɪt/
to pierce something and make one or more holes through it
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salivate
C1
/ˈsæləveɪt/
To produce saliva in your mouth, especially at the thought or smell of food.
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smolder
C1
/ˈsmoʊldɚ/
to burn slowly with heat and smoke but little or no flame
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adjudication
C1
/əˌdʒuːdɪˈkeɪʃən/
the formal process of settling a dispute or deciding a legal case
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exhalation
C1
/ˌɛkshəˈleɪʃən/
the act of breathing air out of the lungs, or a breath that is breathed out
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fluster
C1
/ˈflʌstɚ/
to make someone agitated, nervous, or confused
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induct
C1
/ɪnˈdʌkt/
to formally bring someone into an organization, position, or group, often in a ceremony
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