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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All 27,899 words

C2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.

68 words

Psychology & Behavior

68 words

/əˈtɛn.ʃn̩/ The act of carefully watching, listening, or thinking about something. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈmɛm.ə.ri/ The ability of the mind to store and recall past experiences. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈlɝnɪŋ/ The process of gaining knowledge or skills. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɹɪˈwɔɹd/ Something you are given for doing something good or useful. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/ Something unpleasant done to someone because they have done something wrong. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈθɛɹ.ə.pi/ Treatment intended to cure or relieve a health problem. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈhæb.ɪt/ Something you do often and almost without thinking. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtɹɔ.mə/ A deep emotional shock or wound that has lasting effects. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkaʊn.səl/ Advice or guidance, especially when serious or careful. Meaning Off Sound Off

/sə(ɡ)ˈd͡ʒɛs.t͡ʃən/ An idea or plan put forward for others to consider. Meaning Off Sound Off

consciousness B2

/ˈkɑnʃəsnəs/ The state of being awake and able to think and notice things. Meaning Off Sound Off

/koʊp/ To deal successfully with something difficult. Meaning Off Sound Off

/əbˈsɛʃən/ A state of thinking about something or someone all the time, in an unhealthy way. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɪmpʌls/ A sudden strong wish to do something without thinking first. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈmoʊ.tə.veɪ.ʃən/ The desire and willingness to do something. Meaning Off Sound Off

/pɚˈsɛpʃ(ə)n/ The way you understand or think about something. Meaning Off Sound Off

/oʊˈbidiəns/ The act of doing what you are told to do by someone in authority. Meaning Off Sound Off

/pɹəˈd͡ʒɛkʃən/ A prediction or estimate based on current information. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɑptɪmɪzəm/ A tendency to expect the best, or to believe that things will turn out well. Meaning Off Sound Off

/pɚˈsweɪʒən/ The act of getting someone to do or believe something by giving reasons. Meaning Off Sound Off

/saɪˈkoʊsɪs/ a severe mental state involving impaired contact with reality, often including delusions or hallucinations Meaning Off Sound Off

/kəmˈpʌl.ʃən/ A strong, often irresistible urge to do something. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈstɛɹ.i.əˌtaɪp/ A fixed, oversimplified idea about what a person or group is like. Meaning Off Sound Off

reinforcement B2

/ˌɹiɪnˈfɔɹsmənt/ The act of making something stronger or more solid. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈstɪm.jə.ləs/ Something that encourages activity or growth, especially in the economy. Meaning Off Sound Off

/n(j)ʊˈɹoʊ̯.sɪs/ A mental illness, less serious than psychosis, in which a person feels strong anxiety or fear. Meaning Off Sound Off

psychotherapy C1

/ˌsaɪkoʊˈθɛɹəpi/ the treatment of mental or emotional problems by psychological means Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɹɪˈzɪl.ɪ.əns/ The ability to recover quickly from difficulties, illness, or misfortune. Meaning Off Sound Off

/kənˈfɔɹmɪti/ behaviour that follows the accepted rules or standards of a group or society Meaning Off Sound Off

introspection C2

/ɪntɹəˈspɛkʃən/ A looking inward; specifically, the act or process of self-examination, or inspection of one's own thoughts and feelings; the cognition which the mind has of its own acts and states. Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈæpəθi/ lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɛmpəθi/ the ability to understand and share another's feelings Meaning Off Sound Off

/kɑɡˈnɪʃən/ the mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding Meaning Off Sound Off

/dɪˈluʒən/ a false belief held despite evidence to the contrary Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈraʊzəl/ the act of awakening or the state of being stirred to activity or excitement Meaning Off Sound Off

hallucination C2+

/həˌluːsəˈneɪʃən/ a perception of something not actually present, often from illness or drugs Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈpɛsɪmɪzəm/ a tendency to expect the worst outcome Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfoʊ.bi.ə/ an intense fear of a particular object, activity, or situation that is disproportionate to its actual danger Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈnɑɹsəˌsɪzm/ excessive admiration of oneself and preoccupation with one's own importance or image Meaning Off Sound Off

to adjust to new conditions or demands Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to want or seek something with a particular aim in mind Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to have experience of many people, places, or situations Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

blossom forth B2

to develop in a successful or promising way Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

clown around A2

to behave in a silly or playful way to amuse people Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to change an opinion and begin to agree with another view Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to deal successfully or manageably with difficulty Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

decide against A2

to choose not to do something after deliberation Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to behave playfully or foolishly instead of acting seriously Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to disapprove of something Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to stay in a place without doing much or having an obvious purpose Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to demand something firmly or refuse to accept an alternative Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to enter or interfere with someone's activity or private affairs without being welcome Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to joke or tease playfully Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

knuckle under C2

to give in reluctantly to pressure or authority Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to spend time resting without doing anything active or useful Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to spend time lying or sitting lazily without doing much Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

lounge around C2+

to spend time relaxing idly in a place Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to choose not to take part in something Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to continue doing something despite difficulty or opposition Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

play off against A1

to set people or groups against one another to gain an advantage Phrasal-prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to avoid something through reluctance or fear Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to dismiss something as unimportant or refuse to be troubled by it Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

shy away from B1

to avoid something because of fear, discomfort, or reluctance Phrasal-prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

slobber over C2

to show excessive envy or eager desire for something Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to make someone look away or yield by staring steadily at them Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to promise firmly to stop doing or using something Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to become involved in a difficult conflict or encounter with someone Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

to silently approve or knowingly overlook something improper Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off