C1 Verbs
C1 verb vocabulary in alphabetical order with definitions and example sentences.
abolish
To officially end a law, a system or an institution.
Example
This tax should be abolished.
abuse
To make bad use of something, or to use so much of something that it harms your health.
Example
to abuse alcohol/drugs
accelerate
To happen faster or earlier; to make something happen faster or earlier.
Example
Inflation continues to accelerate.
accumulate
To gradually get more and more of something over a period of time.
Example
I seem to have accumulated a lot of books.
adhere
To stick to something.
Example
Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria adhere to the surface of the red cells.
administer
To manage and organize the affairs of a company, an organization, a country, etc.
Example
to administer a charity/fund/school
advocate
To support something publicly.
Example
The group does not advocate the use of violence.
alert
To warn somebody about a dangerous situation or one that requires immediate action.
Example
Neighbours quickly alerted the emergency services.
align
To arrange something in the correct position, or to be in the correct position, in relation to something else, especially in a straight line.
Example
Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.
allege
To state something as a fact but without giving proof.
Example
The prosecution alleges (that) she was driving carelessly.
allocate
To give something officially to somebody/something for a particular purpose.
Example
A large sum has been allocated for buying new books for the library.
amend
To change a law, document, statement, etc. slightly in order to correct a mistake or to improve it.
Example
He asked to see the amended version.
applaud
To show your approval of somebody/something by clapping your hands (= hitting your open hands together several times).
Example
He started to applaud and the others joined in.
appoint
To choose somebody for a job or position of responsibility.
Example
They have appointed a new head teacher at my son's school.
articulate
To express or explain your thoughts or feelings clearly in words.
Example
She struggled to articulate her thoughts.
assemble
To come together as a group; to bring people or things together as a group.
Example
All the students were asked to assemble in the main hall.
assert
To state clearly and definitely that something is true.
Example
She continued to assert that she was innocent.
attain
To succeed in getting something, usually after a lot of effort.
Example
Most of our students attained five ‘A’ grades in their exams.
attribute
To say or believe that something is the result of a particular thing.
Example
She attributes her success to hard work and a little luck.
authorize
To give official permission for something, or for somebody to do something.
Example
I can authorize payments up to £5 000.
await
To wait for somebody/something.
Example
He is in custody awaiting trial.
bat
To hit a ball with a bat, especially in a game of baseball or cricket.
Example
He bats very well.
betray
To give information about somebody/something to an enemy.
Example
He was offered money to betray his colleagues.
bind
To tie somebody/something with rope, string, etc. so that they/it cannot move or are held together strongly.
Example
She was bound to a chair.
bleed
To lose blood, especially from a wound or an injury.
Example
My finger's bleeding.
blend
To mix two or more substances together.
Example
blend A with B, Blend the flour with the milk to make a smooth paste.
bless
To ask God to protect somebody/something.
Example
They brought the children to Jesus and he blessed them.
bounce
If something bounces or you bounce it, it moves quickly away from a surface it has just hit or you make it do this.
Example
The ball bounced twice before he could reach it.
bow
To move your head or the top half of your body forwards and downwards as a sign of respect or to say hello or goodbye.
Example
He bowed low to the assembled crowd.
breed
To have sex and produce young.
Example
Many animals breed only at certain times of the year.
burst
To break open or apart, especially because of pressure from inside; to make something break in this way.
Example
That balloon will burst if you blow it up any more.
carve
To make objects, patterns, etc. by cutting away material from a piece of wood or stone, or another hard material.
Example
a carved doorway
cater
To provide food and drinks for a social event.
Example
(British English), cater for somebody/something, Most of our work now involves catering for weddings.
cease
To stop happening or existing; to stop something from happening or existing.
Example
Welfare payments cease as soon as an individual starts a job.
characterize
To be typical of a person, place or thing.
Example
the rolling hills that characterize this part of England
circulate
When a liquid, gas or air circulates or is circulated, it moves continuously around a place or system.
Example
The condition prevents the blood from circulating freely.
clash
To come into open conflict, argument, or violent opposition with someone or something.
Example
Police clashed with protesters outside the courthouse.
coincide
To take place at the same time.
Example
It's a pity our trips to New York don't coincide.
collaborate
To work together with somebody in order to produce or achieve something.
Example
Researchers around the world are collaborating to develop a new vaccine.
combat
To stop something unpleasant or harmful from happening or from getting worse.
Example
measures to combat crime/inflation/unemployment/disease
commence
To begin to happen; to begin something.
Example
The meeting is scheduled to commence at noon.
compel
To force somebody to do something; to make something necessary.
Example
The law can compel fathers to make regular payments for their children.
compensate
To provide something good to balance or reduce the bad effects of damage, loss, etc.
Example
Nothing can compensate for the loss of a loved one.
compile
To produce a book, list, report, etc. by bringing together different items, articles, songs, etc.; to collect information in order to produce a book, list, etc.
Example
We are trying to compile a list of suitable people for the job.
complement
To add to something in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive.
Example
The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list.
comply
To obey a rule, an order, etc.; to meet particular standards.
Example
They refused to comply with the UN resolution.
compromise
To give up some of your demands in order to reach an agreement after disagreeing with somebody.
Example
Neither side is prepared to compromise.
compute
To calculate something.
Example
The losses were computed at £5 million.
conceal
To hide somebody/something.
Example
The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster.
concede
To admit that something is true, logical, etc. after first denying it or resisting it.
Example
‘Not bad,’ she conceded grudgingly.
conceive
To form an idea, a plan, etc. in your mind.
Example
He conceived the idea of transforming the old power station into an arts centre.
condemn
To say very strongly that you think something is bad, usually for moral reasons.
Example
The government issued a statement condemning the killings.
confer
To discuss something with somebody, in order to exchange opinions or get advice.
Example
He wanted to confer with his colleagues before reaching a decision.
confine
To keep somebody/something inside the limits of a particular activity, subject, area, etc.
Example
The work will not be confined to the Glasgow area.
confront
To appear and need to be dealt with by somebody.
Example
What is to be done about the economic problems confronting the country?
conquer
To take control of a country or city and its people by force.
Example
The Normans conquered England in 1066.
conserve
To protect something and prevent it from being changed or destroyed.
Example
new laws to conserve wildlife in the area
consolidate
To make a position of power or success stronger so that it is more likely to continue.
Example
With this new movie he has consolidated his position as the country's leading director.
constitute
To be considered to be something.
Example
Does such an activity constitute a criminal offence?
contemplate
To think about whether you should do something, or how you should do something.
Example
You're too young to be contemplating retirement.
contend
To say that something is true, especially in an argument.
Example
I would contend that the minister's thinking is flawed on this point.
convict
To decide and state officially in court that somebody is guilty of a crime.
Example
He was convicted of fraud.
cooperate
To work together with somebody else in order to achieve something.
Example
The two groups agreed to cooperate with each other.
coordinate
To organize the different parts of an activity and the people involved in it so that it works well.
Example
They appointed a new manager to coordinate the work of the team.
correlate
If two or more facts, figures, etc. correlate or if a fact, figure, etc. correlates with another, the facts are closely connected and affect or depend on each other.
Example
The figures do not seem to correlate.
correspond
To be the same as or match something.
Example
Your account and hers do not correspond.
counter
To reply to somebody by trying to prove that what they said is not true.
Example
Such arguments are not easily countered.
craft
To make something using special skills, especially with your hands.
Example
All the furniture is crafted from natural materials.
crawl
To move forward on your hands and knees or with your body close to the ground.
Example
Our baby is just starting to crawl.
creep
To move slowly, quietly and carefully, because you do not want to be seen or heard.
Example
I crept up the stairs, trying not to wake my parents.
crush
To press something so hard that it is damaged or injured, or loses its shape.
Example
The car was completely crushed under the truck.
cultivate
To prepare and use land for growing plants or crops.
Example
The land around here has never been cultivated.
deem
To have a particular opinion about somebody/something.
Example
The evening was deemed a great success.
delegate
To give part of your work, power, or responsibility to another person, usually someone less senior.
Example
A good manager knows how to delegate tasks effectively.
denounce
To strongly criticize somebody/something that you think is wrong, illegal, etc.
Example
She publicly denounced the government's handling of the crisis.
depict
To show an image of somebody/something in a picture.
Example
a painting depicting the Virgin and Child
deploy
To move soldiers or weapons into a position where they are ready for military action.
Example
2 000 troops were deployed in the area.
deposit
To put money into a bank account.
Example
Millions were deposited in Swiss bank accounts.
deprive
To prevent someone from having or doing something, especially something important or necessary.
Example
The new law would deprive citizens of their basic rights.
descend
To come or go down from a higher to a lower level.
Example
The plane began to descend.
designate
To say officially that somebody/something has a particular character or name; to describe somebody/something in a particular way.
Example
This area has been designated (as) a National Park.
detain
To keep somebody in an official place, such as a police station, a prison or a hospital, and prevent them from leaving.
Example
One man has been detained for questioning.
devastate
To completely destroy a place or an area.
Example
The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city.
devise
To invent something new or a new way of doing something.
Example
A new system has been devised to control traffic in the city.
diagnose
To say exactly what an illness or the cause of a problem is.
Example
The test is used to diagnose a variety of diseases.
dictate
To tell somebody what to do, especially in an annoying way.
Example
They are in no position to dictate terms (= tell other people what to do).
differentiate
To recognize or show that two things are not the same.
Example
differentiate (between) A and B, It's difficult to differentiate between the two varieties.
diminish
To become smaller, weaker, etc.; to make something become smaller, weaker, etc.
Example
The world's resources are rapidly diminishing.
dip
To put something quickly into a liquid and take it out again.
Example
He dipped the brush into the paint.
discard
To get rid of something that you no longer want or need.
Example
The room was littered with discarded newspapers.
discharge
To give somebody official permission to leave the police or the armed forces; to make somebody leave the police or the armed forces.
Example
He was discharged from the army following his injury.
disclose
To give somebody information about something, especially something that was previously secret.
Example
The spokesman refused to disclose details of the takeover to the press.
displace
To take the place of somebody/something.
Example
Gradually factory workers have been displaced by machines.
dispose
To arrange things or people in a particular way or position.
Example
The visitors disposed themselves in a circle round the statue.
disrupt
To make it difficult for something to continue in the normal way.
Example
Demonstrators succeeded in disrupting the meeting.
dissolve
To mix with a liquid and become part of it.
Example
Salt dissolves in water.
distort
To change the shape, appearance or sound of something so that it is strange or not clear.
Example
a fairground mirror that distorts your shape
divert
To make somebody/something change direction.
Example
be diverted, The course of the stream has now been diverted.
drain
To make something empty or dry by removing the liquid from it; to become empty or dry in this way.
Example
Drain and rinse the pasta.
drift
To move along smoothly and slowly in water or air.
Example
Clouds drifted across the sky.
drown
To die because you have been underwater too long and you cannot breathe; to kill somebody by holding them underwater.
Example
Two children drowned after falling into the river.
dub
To give somebody/something a particular name, often in a humorous or critical way.
Example
The media dubbed anorexia ‘the slimming disease’.
ease
To become less unpleasant, painful or severe; to make something less unpleasant, etc.
Example
The pain immediately eased.
elevate
To give somebody/something a higher position or rank, often more important than they deserve.
Example
He elevated many of his friends to powerful positions within the government.
embark
To get onto a ship or plane; to put somebody/something onto a ship or plane.
Example
We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked.
embed
To fix something in a substance or solid object.
Example
an operation to remove glass that was embedded in his leg
embody
To express or represent an idea or a quality.
Example
a politician who embodied the hopes of black youth
empower
To give somebody the power or authority to do something.
Example
The courts were empowered to impose the death sentence for certain crimes.
enact
To pass a law.
Example
(be) enacted (by somebody/something), legislation enacted by parliament
encompass
To include a large number or range of things.
Example
The job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities.
endeavor
Try hard to do or achieve something.
Example
We endeavor to provide the best possible service.
endure
To experience and deal with something that is painful or unpleasant without giving up.
Example
They had to endure a long wait before the case came to trial.
enforce
To make sure that people obey a particular law or rule.
Example
It's the job of the police to enforce the law.
enrich
To improve the quality of something, often by adding something to it.
Example
The study of science has enriched all our lives.
enroll
Officially register as a participant or member.
Example
I decided to enroll in a language course.
ensue
To happen after or as a result of another event.
Example
An argument ensued.
entitle
To give somebody the right to have or to do something.
Example
You will be entitled to your pension when you reach 65.
erect
To build something.
Example
The church was erected in 1582.
escalate
To become greater, worse, more serious, etc.; to make something greater, worse, more serious, etc.
Example
the escalating costs of healthcare
evacuate
To move people from a place of danger to a safer place.
Example
Police evacuated nearby buildings.
evoke
To bring a feeling, a memory or an image into your mind.
Example
The music evoked memories of her youth.
exaggerate
To make something seem larger, better, worse or more important than it really is.
Example
The hotel was really filthy and I'm not exaggerating.
execute
To kill somebody, especially as a legal punishment.
Example
He was executed for treason.
exert
To use power or influence to affect somebody/something.
Example
He exerted all his authority to make them accept the plan.
exit
To go out; to leave a building, stage, vehicle, etc.
Example
The bullet entered her back and exited through her chest.
expire
To be no longer legally acceptable because the period of time for which it could be used has ended.
Example
When does your driving licence expire?
extract
To remove or obtain a substance from something, for example by using an industrial or a chemical process.
Example
a machine that extracts excess moisture from the air
facilitate
To make an action or a process possible or easier.
Example
The new trade agreement should facilitate more rapid economic growth.
fade
To become or to make something become paler or less bright.
Example
The curtains had faded in the sun.
filter
To pass liquid, light, etc. through a special device, especially to remove something that is not wanted.
Example
All drinking water must be filtered.
flee
To leave a person or place very quickly, especially because you are afraid of possible danger.
Example
She burst into tears and fled.
flourish
To develop quickly and become successful or common.
Example
Few businesses are flourishing in the present economic climate.
forge
To put a lot of effort into making something successful or strong so that it will last.
Example
a move to forge new links between management and workers
formulate
To create or prepare something carefully, giving particular attention to the details.
Example
The team worked hard to formulate a new marketing plan.
foster
To encourage something to develop.
Example
The club's aim is to foster better relations within the community.
gaze
To look steadily at somebody/something for a long time, either because you are very interested or surprised, or because you are thinking of something else.
Example
She gazed at him in amazement.
glance
To look quickly at something/somebody.
Example
She glanced at her watch.
grasp
To take a strong hold of somebody/something.
Example
He grasped my hand and shook it warmly.
grin
To smile widely.
Example
They grinned with delight when they heard our news.
grind
To break or press something into very small pieces between two hard surfaces or using a special machine.
Example
to grind coffee/corn
grip
To hold something tightly.
Example
‘Please don't go,’ he said, gripping her arm.
hail
To describe somebody/something as being very good or special, especially in newspapers, etc.
Example
The conference was hailed as a great success.
halt
To stop; to make somebody/something stop.
Example
She walked towards him and then halted.
harvest
To cut and gather a crop; to catch a number of animals or fish to eat.
Example
The nuts are ready to harvest in September.
haunt
If the ghost of a dead person haunts a place, people say that they have seen it there.
Example
A headless rider haunts the country lanes.
heighten
If a feeling or an effect heightens, or something heightens it, it becomes stronger or increases.
Example
Tension has heightened after the recent bomb attack.
hook
To fasten or hang something on something else using a hook; to be fastened or hanging in this way.
Example
We hooked the trailer to the back of the car.
imprison
To put somebody in a prison or another place from which they cannot escape.
Example
They were imprisoned for possession of drugs.
incarcerate
Imprison or confine.
Example
They were incarcerated for violating the law.
induce
To persuade or influence somebody to do something.
Example
Nothing would induce me to take the job.
indulge
To allow yourself to have or do something that you like, especially something that is considered bad for you.
Example
They went into town to indulge in some serious shopping.
infect
To make a disease or an illness spread to a person, an animal or a plant.
Example
It is not possible to infect another person through kissing.
inflict
To make somebody/something suffer something unpleasant.
Example
They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team.
inhibit
To prevent something from happening or make it happen more slowly or less frequently than normal.
Example
A lack of oxygen may inhibit brain development in the unborn child.
initiate
To make something begin.
Example
to initiate legal proceedings against somebody
inject
To put a drug or other substance into a person’s or an animal’s body using a syringe.
Example
Adrenaline was injected into the muscle.
inspect
To look closely at something/somebody, especially to check that everything is as it should be.
Example
The teacher walked around inspecting their work.
instruct
To tell somebody to do something, especially in a formal or official way.
Example
The letter instructed him to report to headquarters immediately.
insult
To say or do something that offends somebody.
Example
I have never been so insulted in my life!
intensify
To increase in degree or strength; to make something increase in degree or strength.
Example
Violence intensified during the night.
intervene
To become involved in a situation in order to improve or help it.
Example
She might have been killed if the neighbours hadn't intervened.
invoke
To mention or use a law, rule, etc. as a reason for doing something.
Example
It is unlikely that libel laws will be invoked.
kidnap
To take somebody away illegally and keep them as a prisoner, especially in order to get money or something else for returning them.
Example
Two businessmen have been kidnapped by terrorists.
leak
To allow liquid or gas to get in or out through a small hole.
Example
a leaking pipe
leap
To jump high or a long way.
Example
A dolphin leapt out of the water.
license
To give somebody official permission to do, own, or use something.
Example
The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US.
linger
To continue to exist for longer than expected.
Example
The faint smell of her perfume lingered in the room.
lobby
To try to influence a politician or the government and, for example, persuade them to support or oppose a change in the law.
Example
Farmers will lobby Congress for higher subsidies.
loom
To appear as a large shape that is not clear, especially in a frightening way.
Example
A dark shape loomed up ahead of us.
manipulate
To control or influence somebody/something, often in a dishonest way so that they do not realize it.
Example
She uses her charm to manipulate people.
maximize
To increase something as much as possible.
Example
to maximize efficiency/fitness/profits
merge
To combine or make two or more things combine to form a single thing.
Example
The banks are set to merge next year.
minimize
To reduce something, especially something bad, to the lowest possible level.
Example
Good hygiene helps to minimize the risk of infection.
mobilize
To work together in order to achieve a particular aim; to organize a group of people to do this.
Example
The unions mobilized thousands of workers in a protest against the cuts.
neglect
To fail to take care of somebody/something.
Example
She denies neglecting her baby.
net
To catch fish or other animals in a net; or to obtain or earn an amount of money as a final figure after deductions.
Example
The company netted a record profit last year.
nominate
To formally suggest that somebody/something should be chosen for an important role, prize, position, etc.
Example
She has been nominated for the presidency.
notify
To formally or officially tell somebody about something.
Example
Competition winners will be notified by post.
oblige
To force somebody to do something, by law, because it is a duty, etc.
Example
Parents are obliged by law to send their children to school.
obsess
To completely fill your mind so that you cannot think of anything else, in a way that is not reasonable or normal.
Example
He's obsessed by computers.
opt
To choose to take or not to take a particular course of action.
Example
After graduating she opted for a career in music.
originate
To happen or appear for the first time in a particular place or situation.
Example
The disease is thought to have originated in the tropics.
overlook
To fail to see or notice something.
Example
He seems to have overlooked one important fact.
oversee
To watch somebody/something and make sure that a job or an activity is done correctly.
Example
United Nations observers oversaw the elections.
overturn
If something overturns, or if somebody overturns it, it turns into a position in which the top of it is where the bottom of it normally is or on its side.
Example
The car skidded and overturned.
overwhelm
To have such a strong emotional effect on somebody that it is difficult for them to resist or know how to react.
Example
She was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt.
patch
To repair something by adding a piece of material over a hole or weak area.
Example
He patched the hole in his jeans with a piece of denim.
patrol
To go around an area or a building at regular times to check that it is safe and that there is no trouble.
Example
Troops patrolled the border day and night.
persist
To continue to do something despite difficulties or opposition, in a way that can seem unreasonable.
Example
Why do you persist in blaming yourself for what happened?
plug
To fill a hole with a substance or piece of material that fits tightly into it.
Example
He plugged the hole in the pipe with an old rag.
plunge
To move or make somebody/something move suddenly forwards and/or downwards.
Example
She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death.
portray
To show somebody/something in a picture; to describe somebody/something in a piece of writing.
Example
The painting portrays the duke’s third wife.
postpone
To arrange for an event, etc. to take place at a later time or date than originally planned.
Example
The game has already been postponed three times.
preach
To give a religious talk in a public place, especially in a church during a service.
Example
She preached to the congregation about forgiveness.
prescribe
To tell somebody to take a particular medicine or have a particular treatment; to write a prescription for a particular medicine, etc.
Example
Valium is usually prescribed to treat anxiety.
preside
To lead or be in charge of a meeting, ceremony, etc.
Example
the presiding judge
prevail
To exist or be very common at a particular time or in a particular place.
Example
We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons.
probe
To ask questions in order to find out secret or hidden information about somebody/something.
Example
He didn't like the media probing into his past.
proclaim
To publicly and officially tell people about something important.
Example
The president proclaimed a state of emergency.
prosecute
To officially charge somebody with a crime in court.
Example
The police decided not to prosecute.
provoke
To cause a particular reaction or have a particular effect.
Example
The announcement provoked a storm of protest.
pump
To make water, air, gas, etc. flow in a particular direction by using a pump or something that works like a pump.
Example
The engine is used for pumping water out of the mine.
punch
To hit somebody/something hard with your fist (= closed hand).
Example
He was kicked and punched as he lay on the ground.
rally
To come together or bring people together in order to help or support somebody/something.
Example
The cabinet rallied behind the Prime Minister.
reassure
To say or do something that makes somebody less frightened or worried.
Example
They tried to reassure her, but she still felt anxious.
recount
To tell somebody about something, especially something that you have experienced.
Example
He recounted his adventures since he had left home.
reform
To improve a system, an organization, a law, etc. by making changes to it.
Example
proposals to reform the social security system
regain
To get back something you no longer have, especially an ability or a quality.
Example
I struggled to regain some dignity.
reign
To rule as king, queen, emperor, etc.
Example
It was the first visit by a British reigning monarch to Russia.
render
To cause somebody/something to be in a particular state or condition.
Example
to render something harmless/useless/ineffective
renew
To begin something again after it stopped or was interrupted.
Example
The army renewed its assault on the capital.
reproduce
To make a copy of a picture, piece of text, etc.
Example
It is illegal to reproduce these worksheets without permission from the publisher.
resemble
To look like or be similar to another person or thing.
Example
She closely resembles her sister.
reside
To live in a particular place.
Example
He returned to Britain in 1939, having resided abroad for many years.
resume
If you resume an activity, or if it resumes, it begins again or continues after being interrupted.
Example
The meeting will resume after lunch.
retreat
To move away from a place or an enemy because you are in danger or because you have been defeated.
Example
The army was forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses.
retrieve
To bring or get something back, especially from a place where it should not be.
Example
She bent to retrieve her comb from the floor.
reverse
To change something completely so that it is the opposite of what it was before.
Example
Falling birth rates may reverse the trend towards early retirement.
revive
To become, or to make somebody/something become, conscious or healthy and strong again.
Example
The flowers soon revived in water.
rip
To tear something or to become torn, often suddenly or violently.
Example
I ripped my jeans on the fence.
rotate
To move or turn around a central fixed point; to make something do this.
Example
Stay well away from the helicopter when its blades start to rotate.
seize
To take somebody/something in your hand suddenly and using force.
Example
She tried to seize the gun from him.
shatter
To suddenly break into small pieces; to make something suddenly break into small pieces.
Example
He dropped the vase and it shattered into pieces on the floor.
shed
To get rid of something that is no longer wanted.
Example
The factory is shedding a large number of jobs.
shrink
To become smaller, especially when washed in water that is too hot; to make clothes, cloth, etc. smaller in this way.
Example
My sweater shrank in the wash.
sigh
To take and then let out a long deep breath that can be heard, to show that you are disappointed, sad, tired, etc.
Example
He sighed deeply at the thought.
simulate
To create particular conditions that exist in real life using computers, models, etc., usually for study or training purposes.
Example
Computer software can be used to simulate conditions on the seabed.
skip
To move forwards lightly and quickly making a little jump with each step.
Example
She skipped happily along beside me.
slam
To shut, or to make something shut, with a lot of force, making a loud noise.
Example
I heard the door slam behind him.
slap
To hit somebody/something with the flat part of your hand.
Example
She slapped his face hard.
slash
To make a long cut with a sharp object, especially in a violent way.
Example
Someone had slashed the tyres on my car.
smash
To break something, or to be broken, violently and noisily into many pieces.
Example
Several windows had been smashed.
snap
To break something suddenly with a sharp noise; to be broken in this way.
Example
The wind had snapped the tree in two.
soak
To put something in liquid for a time so that it becomes completely wet; to become completely wet in this way.
Example
I usually soak the beans overnight.
soar
If the value, amount or level of something soars, it rises very quickly.
Example
soaring costs/prices/temperatures
span
To last all through a period of time or to cover the whole of it.
Example
His acting career spanned 55 years.
spark
To cause something to start or develop, especially suddenly.
Example
The proposal would spark a storm of protest around the country.
spin
To turn round and round quickly; to make something do this.
Example
The plane was spinning out of control.
stab
To push a sharp, pointed object, especially a knife, into somebody, killing or injuring them.
Example
He was stabbed to death in a racist attack.
stabilize
To become or to make something become steady and unlikely to change; to make something stable.
Example
The patient's condition stabilized.
steer
To control the direction in which a boat, car, etc. moves.
Example
He steered the boat into the harbour.
stem
To stop something that is flowing from spreading or increasing.
Example
The cut was bandaged to stem the bleeding.
stir
To move a liquid or substance around, using a spoon or something similar, in order to mix it completely.
Example
She stirred her tea.
strip
To take off all or most of your clothes or another person’s clothes.
Example
I stripped and washed myself all over.
strive
To try very hard to achieve something.
Example
We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards.
stun
To make a person or an animal unconscious for a short time, especially by hitting them on the head.
Example
The fall stunned me for a moment.
substitute
To take the place of somebody/something else; to use somebody/something instead of somebody/something else.
Example
Nothing can substitute for the advice your doctor is able to give you.
suck
To take liquid, air, etc. into your mouth by using the muscles of your lips.
Example
to suck the juice from an orange
sue
To make a claim against a person or an organization in court about something that they have said or done to harm you.
Example
They threatened to sue if the work was not completed.
supervise
To be in charge of somebody/something and make sure that everything is done correctly, safely, etc.
Example
She supervises a team of twenty employees.
supplement
To add something to something in order to improve it or make it more complete.
Example
a diet supplemented with vitamin pills
suppress
To put an end, often by force, to a group or an activity that is believed to threaten authority.
Example
The rebellion was brutally suppressed.
surge
To move quickly and with force in a particular direction.
Example
The gates opened and the crowd surged forward.
surrender
To admit that you have been defeated and want to stop fighting; to allow yourself to be caught, taken prisoner, etc.
Example
The rebel soldiers were forced to surrender.
sustain
To provide enough of what somebody/something needs in order to live or exist.
Example
Which planets can sustain life?
swing
To move backwards or forwards or from side to side while hanging from a fixed point; to make something do this.
Example
His arms swung as he walked.
tempt
To attract somebody or make somebody want to do or have something, even if they know it is wrong.
Example
I was tempted by the dessert menu.
terminate
To end; to make something end.
Example
Your contract of employment terminates in December.
testify
To make a statement that something happened or that something is true, especially as a witness in court.
Example
She refused to testify against her husband.
thrive
To become, and continue to be, successful, strong, healthy, etc.
Example
New businesses thrive in this area.
tighten
To hold or fix something more securely in position; to make something or become more difficult to move, open or separate.
Example
Please tighten the lid so the soup doesn't spill.
tolerate
To allow somebody to do something that you do not agree with or like.
Example
Their relationship was tolerated but not encouraged.
torture
To hurt somebody physically or mentally in order to punish them or make them tell you something.
Example
Many of the rebels were captured and tortured by secret police.
toss
To throw something lightly or carelessly.
Example
I tossed the book aside and got up.
total
To reach a particular total.
Example
Imports totalled $1.5 billion last year.
twist
To bend or turn something into a particular shape.
Example
Twist the wire to form a circle.
vanish
To disappear suddenly and/or in a way that you cannot explain.
Example
He turned around and vanished into the house.
verify
To check that something is true or accurate.
Example
We have no way of verifying his story.
violate
To go against or refuse to obey a law, an agreement, etc.
Example
to violate international law
yell
To shout loudly, for example because you are angry, excited, frightened or in pain.
Example
He yelled at the other driver.
yield
To produce or provide a result, profit, or amount; or to give way to pressure, force, or persuasion.
Example
The investment yielded a strong return after five years.