Common English Words With Clear Definitions and Examples

Common English Vocabulary

HANG

"to fasten something at the top"

Example: "The curtains hung in thick folds."

WRAP

"to surround something with paper"

Example: "Wrap the chicken in foil and cook it for two hours."

SHELTER

"a building designed to give protection from bad weather, danger, or attack"

WATCH

"to look at something for a period of time"

Example: "I had dinner and watched TV for a couple of hours."

BEYOND

"further away in the distance than something"

Example: "In the distance, beyond the river, was a small town."

WIDE

"something that includes a large amount or many types of things"

Example: "They sell a wide range of skin-care products."

STEAM

"the hot gas that is produced when water boils"

Example: "Steam rose from the simmering stew."

CHALLENGE

"something that needs great mental or physical effort"

Example: "You know me - I like a challenge."

IMPROVE

"to cause something to get better"

Example: "He did a lot to improve conditions for factory workers."

MACHINE

"a device that uses power to do a particular type of work"

Example: "The different sizes of eggs are sorted by a machine."

REGRET

"a feeling of sadness about something"

Example: "I left school at 16, but I've had a great life and I have no regrets."

SHAKE

"to move backwards and forwards"

Example: "The explosion shook buildings for miles around."

HAUL

"to pull something heavy slowly and with difficulty"

Example: "She hauled herself up into the tree."

PLOUGH

"a large farming implement that digs the earth in fields"

Example: "These fields have been under the plough for centuries."

CRUSH

"to press something very hard"

Example: "Add three cloves of crushed garlic."

CHANGE

"to make or become different"

Example: "That was 20 years ago and things have changed since then."

IGNITE

"to (cause to) start burning or explode"

Example: "The fuel spontaneously ignites because of the high temperature."

PASS

"to go past something or someone"

Example: "I passed him on the stairs this morning."

SPEND

"to give money as a payment for something"

Example: "How much did you spend?"

CHILD

"a boy or girl from the time of birth until he or she is an adult"

Example: "As a child I didn't eat vegetables."

THOUGH

"despite the fact that"

Example: "She hasn't phoned, even though she said she would."

CARRY

"to hold something and transport it from one place to another"

LARGE

"big in size or amount"

Example: "the world's largest computer manufacturer"

BETTER

"of a higher standard"

Example: "The book was better than I expected."

GREAT

"large in amount, size, or degree"

Example: "A great many people would agree."

THROUGHOUT

"in every part, or during the whole period of time"

Example: "He yawned throughout the performance."

GROWN UP

"to gradually become an adult"

Example: "I grew up in Scotland."

SEARCH

"to look somewhere carefully in order to find something"

Example: "The police searched the woods for the missing boy."

CURATOR

"a person in charge of a museum, library, etc."

Example: "the curator of the Clark County Museum."