Most Common English Words 4,401–4,500: Meanings & IPA

RankWord Definition PronunciationPart of speech LevelExample

4401 spectrum a full range of colours, ideas or types /ˈspɛktɹəm/ noun C1 The party draws voters from across the political spectrum.

4402 segment one of the parts into which something is divided /ˈsɛɡmənt/ noun C1 This segment of the show is about food.

4403 eleven the number 11 /ɪˈlɛvən/ numeral A1 The film starts at eleven.

4404 praised past of praise /ˈpɹeɪzd/ verb · praise B2 The teacher praised her work.

4405 paths narrow tracks for walking, more than one /ˈpæðz/ noun · path B1 Two paths lead to the lake.

4406 ruined past of ruin /ˈɹuənd/ verb · ruin B2 The rain ruined our picnic.

4407 eliminated past participle of eliminate /ɪˈlɪməˌneɪtɪd/ verb · eliminate B2 Our team was eliminated in the first round.

4408 importantly used to mark a point that matters greatly /ˌɪmˈpɔɹtəntli/ adverb B2 More importantly, nobody was hurt.

4409 skull the bone of the head /ˈskʌl/ noun B2 The skull protects the brain.

4410 invitation a request to come to an event /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/ noun A2 Thank you for the invitation.

4411 dare to be brave enough to do something /ˈdɛɹ/ verb B2 I did not dare to tell him.

4412 tales stories, often imaginary ones, more than one /ˈteɪlz/ noun · tale B2 Grandma told us tales of her childhood.

4413 dominated controlled, or had the most power over /ˈdɑməˌneɪtəd/ verb C1 One team dominated the whole game.

4414 instant happening at once /ˈɪnstənt/ adjective B2 The film was an instant success.

4415 boxing the sport of fighting with the fists /ˈbɑksɪŋ/ noun B1 He took up boxing at school.

4416 destiny what will happen to a person in the future; fate /ˈdɛstəni/ noun C1 She believed it was her destiny to be a singer.

4417 finals the last games of a competition, more than one /ˈfaɪnəlz/ noun · final B2 The team reached the finals.

4418 curve a line that bends smoothly /ˈkɝv/ noun B2 The road follows the curve of the river.

4419 disappear to go out of sight /ˌdɪsəˈpɪɹ/ verb B1 The sun began to disappear behind the hills.

4420 reportedly according to what people say /ɹɪˈpɔɹtədli/ adverb C1 The singer is reportedly very ill.

4421 cancel to stop something planned from happening /ˈkænsəl/ verb A2 We had to cancel the trip.

4422 transformed past of transform /tɹænˈsfɔɹmd/ verb · transform B2 The new owners transformed the house.

4423 adopt to take another's child as your own; or to start using /əˈdɑpt/ verb B2 They plan to adopt a child.

4424 females women, or animals of that sex, more than one /ˈfiˌmeɪlz/ noun · female B2 The females look after the young.

4425 pit a deep hole in the ground /ˈpɪt/ noun C1 They dug a deep pit.

4426 infected having germs that cause disease /ˌɪnˈfɛktɪd/ adjective B2 The wound became infected.

4427 observe to watch carefully; or to notice /əbˈzɝv/ verb B2 Scientists observe the birds every day.

4428 contacted past of contact /ˈkɑnˌtæktɪd/ verb · contact B1 She contacted the police at once.

4429 unemployment the state of having no paid job /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ noun B2 Unemployment rose again this year.

4430 crews teams working together, as on a ship, more than one /ˈkɹuz/ noun · crew B2 Rescue crews worked through the night.

4431 witch a woman believed to have magic powers /ˈwɪtʃ/ noun B1 The witch flew away on her broom.

4432 resolved found an answer to a problem or dispute /ɹiˈzɑlvd/ verb C1 The problem was resolved quickly.

4433 buses large road vehicles for passengers, more than one /ˈbʌsɪz/ noun · bus A1 Buses run every ten minutes.

4434 ash the grey powder left after something burns /ˈæʃ/ noun B2 Ash from the volcano covered the town.

4435 conventional traditional and ordinary /kənˈvɛnʃənəl/ adjective C1 They prefer conventional medicine.

4436 farming growing crops and raising animals as a job /ˈfɑɹmɪŋ/ noun B1 Farming is hard work.

4437 react to behave in response to something /ɹiˈækt/ verb B1 How did she react to the news?

4438 slavery the system of owning people as property /ˈsleɪvɚi/ noun C1 Slavery was abolished in 1833.

4439 travels present of travel, for he, she or it /ˈtɹævəlz/ verb · travel A2 He travels a lot for work.

4440 detect to notice or discover something hidden /dɪˈtɛkt/ verb B2 The test can detect the disease early.

4441 pie a baked dish of fruit or meat covered in pastry /ˈpaɪ/ noun A2 She baked an apple pie.

4442 controversy strong public disagreement /ˈkɑntɹəˌvɝsi/ noun C1 The decision caused great controversy.

4443 rolled past of roll /ˈɹoʊld/ verb · roll B1 The ball rolled under the car.

4444 layers sheets of material lying one on another, more than one /ˈleɪɚz/ noun · layer B2 Wear several layers in cold weather.

4445 respected admired by many people for good qualities /ɹɪˈspɛktɪd/ adjective B2 He is a highly respected doctor.

4446 bridges structures built across rivers or roads, more than one /ˈbɹɪdʒəz/ noun · bridge A2 The city has many old bridges.

4447 residential having houses rather than shops or offices /ˌɹɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl/ adjective C1 They live in a quiet residential area.

4448 toll the number of deaths; or money paid to use a road /ˈtoʊl/ noun C1 The death toll has risen to fifty.

4449 ratings measures of how good or popular something is, more than one /ˈɹeɪtɪŋz/ noun · rating C1 The show has high ratings.

4450 railroad a system of tracks on which trains run /ˈɹeɪlˌɹoʊd/ noun B2 The railroad crosses the desert.

4451 stranger a person you do not know /ˈstɹeɪndʒɚ/ noun B1 Never get into a car with a stranger.

4452 wished past of wish /ˈwɪʃt/ verb · wish B1 She wished him good luck.

4453 affects present of affect, for he, she or it /əˈfɛkts/ verb · affect B1 The disease affects the lungs.

4454 pal a friend, in informal speech /ˈpæl/ noun B2 He is an old pal from school.

4455 invested past of invest /ˌɪnˈvɛstəd/ verb · invest B2 She invested all her savings in the shop.

4456 observation careful watching over time; or a remark /ˌɑbzɚˈveɪʃən/ noun B2 The patient is under observation.

4457 gentle kind and calm, not rough /ˈdʒɛntəl/ adjective B1 He spoke in a gentle voice.

4458 nominated officially put forward for a prize or job /ˈnɑməˌneɪtəd/ verb C1 She was nominated for an Oscar.

4459 reflected past of reflect /ɹɪˈflɛktɪd/ verb · reflect B2 The lake reflected the mountains.

4460 minority a smaller part of a group, less than half /maɪˈnɔɹəti/ noun B2 Only a minority of people voted.

4461 musician a person who plays an instrument or sings for a living /mjuˈzɪʃən/ noun A2 Her father is a jazz musician.

4462 deer a wild forest animal; the male has antlers /ˈdɪɹ/ noun B1 A deer ran across the road.

4463 significance importance or meaning /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/ noun C1 Few people saw the significance of the event.

4464 snap to break suddenly with a sharp sound /ˈsnæp/ verb C1 I heard the dry branch snap.

4465 replied past of reply /ɹɪˈplaɪd/ verb · reply B1 He replied to my email at once.

4466 excess an amount that is more than needed /ˈɛkˌsɛs/ noun C1 Cut away any excess fat from the meat.

4467 faculty the teaching staff of a college or university /ˈfækəlti/ noun C1 She joined the faculty of the law school.

4468 tobacco dried leaves smoked in cigarettes /təˈbæˌkoʊ/ noun B2 Tobacco is bad for your health.

4469 reactions responses to something that happens, more than one /ɹiˈækʃənz/ noun · reaction B2 The film got mixed reactions.

4470 colony a country ruled by another country /ˈkɑləni/ noun C1 The island was once a British colony.

4471 touching present participle of touch /ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/ verb · touch B1 Stop touching your face.

4472 barrel a large round container for liquids; a unit for oil /ˈbæɹəl/ noun B2 Oil rose to eighty dollars a barrel.

4473 operates present of operate, for he, she or it /ˈɑpɚˌeɪts/ verb · operate B2 The company operates in ten countries.

4474 soap a substance used with water for washing /ˈsoʊp/ noun A2 Wash your hands with soap.

4475 duck a water bird with a flat beak /ˈdʌk/ noun A2 A duck swam across the pond.

4476 firms businesses or companies, more than one /ˈfɝmz/ noun · firm B2 Many firms closed during the crisis.

4477 guilt the feeling of having done wrong /ˈɡɪlt/ noun C1 She felt a lot of guilt about leaving.

4478 acknowledged admitted that something is true /ækˈnɑlɪdʒd/ verb C1 He acknowledged his mistake.

4479 ethnic to do with a group sharing culture and origins /ˈɛθnɪk/ adjective C1 The city has many ethnic groups.

4480 wondering present participle of wonder /ˈwʌndɚɪŋ/ verb · wonder B1 I was wondering if you could help me.

4481 guardian a person legally responsible for a child /ˈɡɑɹdiən/ noun C1 Her uncle became her legal guardian.

4482 legendary very famous and admired for a long time /ˈlɛdʒənˌdɛɹi/ adjective C1 He was a legendary football player.

4483 demonstrated past of demonstrate /ˈdɛmənˌstɹeɪtɪd/ verb · demonstrate B2 The study demonstrated the risks clearly.

4484 worthy deserving respect or attention /ˈwɝði/ adjective C1 The cause is worthy of support.

4485 logical following clear reasoning; sensible /ˈlɑdʒɪkəl/ adjective B2 That is the logical next step.

4486 temporarily for a limited time only /ˌtɛmpɚˈɛɹəli/ adverb B2 The shop is temporarily closed.

4487 planted past of plant /ˈplæntɪd/ verb · plant B1 We planted roses in the garden.

4488 backing support or help, often in the form of money /ˈbækɪŋ/ noun C1 The plan has the full backing of the board.

4489 challenged past of challenge /ˈtʃæləndʒd/ verb · challenge B2 He challenged me to a game of chess.

4490 cow a large farm animal kept for milk /ˈkaʊ/ noun A1 The cow gave a lot of milk.

4491 forgot past of forget /fɚˈɡɑt/ verb · forget A1 I forgot my keys.

4492 sophisticated advanced and complex; or elegant and experienced /səˈfɪstəˌkeɪtɪd/ adjective C1 The system uses sophisticated technology.

4493 ate past of eat /ˈeɪt/ verb · eat A1 We ate pasta for dinner.

4494 resource a supply of something useful, such as oil or money /ˈɹisɔɹs/ noun B2 Water is a precious resource.

4495 format the way something is arranged or presented /ˈfɔɹˌmæt/ noun C1 The book is available in digital format.

4496 barrier something that blocks the way /ˈbæɹiɚ/ noun B2 Language can be a barrier to success.

4497 interference getting involved when not wanted; or noise on a signal /ˌɪntɚˈfɪɹəns/ noun C1 They resented his interference in their lives.

4498 connecting present participle of connect /kəˈnɛktɪŋ/ verb · connect B1 We are connecting the new printer.

4499 feared past of fear /ˈfɪɹd/ verb · fear B2 She feared the worst.

4500 closure the permanent shutting of a business or road /ˈkloʊʒɚ/ noun C1 The closure of the factory cost many jobs.

Most common English words: 4,401–4,500