B2 Level Vocabulary
rhetorical
A question or statement that doesn't expect an answer, used for effect
Example sentence
The politician asked, "Do we really want to accept failure?" knowing the crowd would never say yes.
connotations
The implied or suggested meanings of a word beyond its literal definition
Example sentence
The word "cheap" has negative connotations of poor quality, while "affordable" sounds much more positive.
unambiguous
Clear and having only one possible meaning
Example sentence
The traffic light gives unambiguous signals: red means stop, green means go.
context dependent
Something whose meaning changes based on the situation
Example sentence
A smile is context dependent—it can show happiness at a wedding or nervousness during an exam.
acutely aware
Very conscious or sensitive to something
Example sentence
After the food poisoning incident, the restaurant manager became acutely aware of kitchen hygiene.
miscommunication
Failure to communicate clearly, leading to misunderstanding
Example sentence
The flight delay was caused by miscommunication between the pilot and air traffic control.
clueless
Having no knowledge or understanding about something
Example sentence
My grandfather is completely clueless about social media and still thinks Instagram is a weight measurement.
genuinely
Really, truly, authentically
Example sentence
She was genuinely surprised when her colleagues threw her a retirement party.
proceeded
Continued with an action after something else happened
Example sentence
After checking his passport, the border guard proceeded to stamp it and wave him through.
vented
Expressed strong emotions, especially anger or frustration
Example sentence
After the terrible customer service experience, she vented her anger on social media.
frustration
The feeling of being upset because you cannot achieve something
Example sentence
His frustration grew as the computer crashed for the third time that morning.
snarky
Sarcastic and mildly insulting in a clever way
Example sentence
Her snarky comment about his cooking skills made everyone laugh, but hurt his feelings.
sarcastic
Using irony to mock or show contempt
Example sentence
When his friend arrived two hours late, he said, "Oh great, perfect timing!" in a sarcastic tone.
implying
Suggesting something without saying it directly
Example sentence
By mentioning the mess in the kitchen, she was implying that her roommate should clean up.
begrudging
Reluctantly accepting or giving something with resentment
Example sentence
He gave begrudging approval to his daughter's tattoo, clearly wishing she hadn't gotten it.
paradox
A situation that seems contradictory but may actually be true
Example sentence
It's a paradox that the busiest people often have the most time to help others.
intercultural
Between or involving different cultures
Example sentence
The intercultural marriage celebration included traditions from both families' backgrounds.
encode and decode
To put information into a system/format and then translate it back
Example sentence
Computers encode text into binary numbers, then decode it back into readable words.
pre-existing concepts
Ideas or beliefs that already exist before new information arrives
Example sentence
Her pre-existing concepts about vegetarian food prevented her from trying the delicious plant-based burger.
ultimately
In the end; finally
Example sentence
After months of debate, the city council ultimately decided to build the new park.
distinct
Clearly different and separate
Example sentence
Each twin has a distinct personality despite looking identical.
filtered
Passed through something that changes or removes certain parts
Example sentence
The news was filtered through several sources before reaching the public, losing some accuracy.
reconstruct
To build or create something again from pieces
Example sentence
Archaeologists tried to reconstruct the ancient vase from the pottery fragments they found.
distorted
Changed from the original form in a way that is not accurate
Example sentence
The funhouse mirror distorted her reflection, making her look impossibly tall and thin.
mounts
Increases or builds up
Example sentence
As the deadline approaches, pressure mounts on the students to finish their projects.
delegation
A group of people representing others, or the act of giving responsibility to someone
Example sentence
The trade delegation from Japan visited three factories during their business trip.
hierarchy
A system with different levels of importance or authority
Example sentence
In the hospital hierarchy, surgeons rank higher than nurses, who rank higher than orderlies.
humiliated
Made to feel deeply embarrassed or ashamed
Example sentence
She felt humiliated when she tripped and spilled coffee on herself during the job interview.
reconsidering
Thinking again about a decision
Example sentence
After reading the negative reviews, he's reconsidering his choice of vacation hotel.
displays of hierarchy
Actions that show differences in rank or status
Example sentence
Bowing in Japanese culture is one of many displays of hierarchy that show respect for authority.
culturally comfortable
Feeling at ease within the social norms of a culture
Example sentence
Americans are culturally comfortable with casual greetings, while some cultures prefer formal introductions.
add insult to injury
To make a bad situation even worse
Example sentence
First they fired him without warning, then to add insult to injury, they asked him to train his replacement.
overcome our bias
To move past our unfair preferences or prejudices
Example sentence
The judge had to overcome her bias against young defendants to make a fair decision.
controllables
Things that can be managed or influenced
Example sentence
In sports psychology, athletes focus on controllables like their effort and attitude, not the weather.
myriad
A very large number; countless
Example sentence
The museum offered myriad activities for children, from art workshops to science experiments.
vital background information
Essential knowledge needed to understand something
Example sentence
Without vital background information about the conflict, the peace negotiations made no sense.
implications
The possible results or consequences of something
Example sentence
The implications of the new tax law could affect every small business owner in the country.
dismissive
Treating something as unworthy of serious consideration
Example sentence
His dismissive attitude toward her suggestions made her feel unvalued at work.
suggestive
Hinting at something, often something inappropriate
Example sentence
The comedian's suggestive jokes made some audience members uncomfortable.
considerably
To a large degree; much
Example sentence
House prices have risen considerably in the past five years.
superiority
The state of being better or higher in quality, rank, or importance
Example sentence
His attitude of superiority made him unpopular with his coworkers.
emphasizing
Giving special importance or attention to something
Example sentence
The teacher kept emphasizing the importance of citing sources in research papers.
boils down to
Can be simplified to; the essential point is
Example sentence
All his relationship problems boil down to his inability to communicate his feelings.
multifaceted
Having many different aspects or sides
Example sentence
Climate change is a multifaceted problem requiring solutions in energy, transportation, and agriculture.
subconscious
Existing in the mind but not actively thought about
Example sentence
Her subconscious fear of flying made her feel nervous even before reaching the airport.
preconceptions
Ideas formed beforehand without evidence or experience
Example sentence
His preconceptions about country music changed completely after attending the concert.
marginalize
To treat as unimportant or push to the edges of society
Example sentence
The new policy would marginalize low-income families by making healthcare less accessible.
discriminate
To treat unfairly based on prejudice
Example sentence
It's illegal for employers to discriminate against job candidates because of their age.
C1+ Level Vocabulary
Schrödinger's cat
A thought experiment showing how something can exist in multiple states simultaneously
Example sentence
The startup's future is like Schrödinger's cat—both successful and failed until investors make their decision.
vastly different
Extremely different in almost every way
Example sentence
Teaching kindergarten and university students requires vastly different approaches and skills.
gladiator in the arena
A fighter in ancient Rome; metaphor for someone facing a difficult challenge
Example sentence
Facing the hostile board of directors, she felt like a gladiator in the arena, fighting for her project's survival.
seemingly
Appearing to be true but possibly not actually true
Example sentence
The seemingly simple recipe actually required advanced cooking techniques.
visibly excited
Showing excitement in a way others can clearly see
Example sentence
The children were visibly excited when the magician pulled a rabbit from his hat.
proceeded to give me the cold shoulder
Continued to ignore someone deliberately
Example sentence
After their argument, her best friend proceeded to give her the cold shoulder for two weeks.
intercultural communication
Communication between people from different cultural backgrounds
Example sentence
The workshop on intercultural communication helped the international team work more effectively together.
shared set of pre-existing concepts
Common ideas or beliefs that people already have
Example sentence
The therapy group worked well because they had a shared set of pre-existing concepts about healing.
verbal and nonverbal signals
Messages sent through words and through body language/actions
Example sentence
The politician's verbal and nonverbal signals contradicted each other—she said yes but shook her head no.
likelihood of invisible misunderstandings
The probability that misunderstandings will occur without people realizing
Example sentence
In remote work, the likelihood of invisible misunderstandings increases when people can't see each other.
potential buyer
Someone who might purchase something
Example sentence
The real estate agent showed the house to three potential buyers last weekend.
considered it a done deal
Believed something was definitely going to happen
Example sentence
He considered the promotion a done deal after his excellent performance review.
loss of face
Damage to one's reputation or dignity
Example sentence
Admitting his mistake publicly would mean a significant loss of face for the proud CEO.
steering clear of potentially confusing idioms
Avoiding expressions that might be misunderstood
Example sentence
When teaching international students, she focused on steering clear of potentially confusing idioms like "raining cats and dogs."
paraphrase
To express the same meaning using different words
Example sentence
Could you paraphrase that technical explanation in simpler terms for the general audience?
clarifying questions
Questions asked to make something clearer or more understandable
Example sentence
The journalist asked several clarifying questions to ensure she understood the scientist's research correctly.
blown away by
Extremely impressed or amazed by something
Example sentence
The judges were blown away by the young pianist's incredible performance.
often subconscious lens of cultural norms and biases
The usually unnoticed way cultural background affects how we see things
Example sentence
We all view the world through the often subconscious lens of cultural norms and biases shaped by our upbringing.
unintentional ignorance
Not knowing something without meaning to be uninformed
Example sentence
His unintentional ignorance about dietary restrictions embarrassed him when he served pork to his Muslim guests.
productive collaboration
Working together effectively to achieve good results
Example sentence
The productive collaboration between the two companies led to a breakthrough in renewable energy.
Complex Phrases/Idioms Above B1
"up yours"
A very rude way to tell someone you're angry with them
Example sentence
When the customer became aggressive, the store clerk wanted to say "up yours" but remained professional instead.
"cold shoulder"
Deliberately ignoring someone to show displeasure
Example sentence
After forgetting her birthday, his girlfriend gave him the cold shoulder for a week.
"done deal"
Something that is definitely decided or agreed upon
Example sentence
Once both lawyers signed the contract, buying the house was a done deal.
"loss of face"
Damage to one's reputation or dignity, especially in public
Example sentence
The politician suffered a major loss of face when his lies were exposed on national television.
"add insult to injury"
To make a bad situation even worse
Example sentence
The airline lost his luggage, then to add insult to injury, charged him extra for filing a complaint.
"blown away by"
Extremely impressed or amazed
Example sentence
The critics were blown away by the rookie quarterback's performance in his first game.
"on the same page"
Having the same understanding or agreement about something
Example sentence
Before starting the project, let's make sure we're all on the same page about the deadline.
"in a nutshell"
Summarized briefly; the main point
Example sentence
In a nutshell, the new policy means employees can work from home two days per week.
Collocations
A2 Level Collocations
make a good impression
To cause others to think well of you
Example sentence
She chose her outfit carefully to make a good impression at the job interview.
get by (with something)
To manage or survive using limited resources
Example sentence
During college, he had to get by with just part-time work and student loans.
set off (on a journey)
To begin traveling
Example sentence
The hikers set off on their mountain adventure at dawn to avoid the afternoon heat.
strike someone
To suddenly occur to someone; to make an impression
Example sentence
It struck her that she had never seen her boss smile in three years of working there.
hunt for work
To actively search for employment
Example sentence
After graduation, she spent six months hunting for work in her field of environmental science.
have an encounter
To meet or experience something, often unexpectedly
Example sentence
While camping, they had an unexpected encounter with a family of deer near their tent.
share news
To tell others about recent events or information
Example sentence
She couldn't wait to share the news of her engagement with her family.
turn away
To move away from someone or refuse to look at them
Example sentence
Embarrassed by the compliment, she turned away and pretended to study the menu.
crack the code
To solve a mystery or figure out how something works
Example sentence
After months of research, the marketing team finally cracked the code of reaching teenage customers.
break into (a market)
To successfully enter and establish oneself in a business area
Example sentence
The small coffee company hopes to break into the competitive European market next year.
sign a contract/deal
To formally agree to terms by putting your signature on a document
Example sentence
After weeks of negotiation, both companies were ready to sign the deal.
B1 Level Collocations
acutely aware
Very conscious or sensitive to something
Example sentence
Parents of teenagers are acutely aware of the influence of social media on their children.
awkward encounter
An uncomfortable or embarrassing meeting with someone
Example sentence
Running into her ex-boyfriend at the grocery store led to an awkward encounter by the frozen foods.
desperately wanted
Desired something very strongly
Example sentence
She desperately wanted the promotion and worked overtime every day for months.
visibly excited
Showing excitement in a way others can clearly see
Example sentence
The students were visibly excited when the teacher announced the field trip to the zoo.
genuinely happy
Truly pleased or joyful, not pretending
Example sentence
Despite losing the competition, she was genuinely happy for her friend who won first place.
vented frustration
Expressed anger or annoyance about something
Example sentence
After the third computer crash that day, he vented his frustration by calling technical support.
cultural differences
Variations in customs, beliefs, or behaviors between groups
Example sentence
Understanding cultural differences helped the international team communicate more effectively.
highly distorted
Changed significantly from the original form
Example sentence
The witness's memory of the accident was highly distorted by shock and fear.
fine local restaurant
A good quality eating establishment in the area
Example sentence
The hotel concierge recommended a fine local restaurant known for its fresh seafood.
potential buyer
Someone who might purchase something
Example sentence
The real estate agent scheduled appointments with three potential buyers for Saturday morning.
business relationship
A professional connection between companies or people
Example sentence
Their business relationship grew stronger after successfully completing the joint project.
cultural misunderstanding
Confusion caused by different cultural backgrounds
Example sentence
The cultural misunderstanding occurred when the American visitor wore shoes inside the Japanese home.
meaningful communication
Conversation that has real purpose and understanding
Example sentence
The counselor helped the couple achieve meaningful communication about their financial problems.
B2+ Level Collocations
rhetorical question
A question asked for effect, not expecting an answer
Example sentence
"Isn't this weather beautiful?" was just a rhetorical question as they walked through the pouring rain.
rude connotations
Implied offensive or impolite meanings
Example sentence
The phrase has rude connotations in British English, so Americans should avoid using it in London.
context dependent
Meaning that changes based on the situation
Example sentence
The appropriateness of humor is highly context dependent—what's funny at home might offend at work.
decode meaning
To figure out what something really means
Example sentence
Learning to decode meaning in poetry requires understanding symbols and metaphors.
shared worldview
Common way of understanding life and values
Example sentence
The environmental club members had a shared worldview about protecting natural resources.
distinct lens
A particular way of seeing or understanding things
Example sentence
Each generation views technology through a distinct lens shaped by their childhood experiences.
high-end products
Expensive, luxury items of superior quality
Example sentence
The boutique specializes in high-end products for customers who value craftsmanship over price.
junior/senior member
Someone with less/more experience or authority in an organization
Example sentence
As a senior member of the law firm, she mentored junior members during their first year.
displays of hierarchy
Actions that show differences in rank or status
Example sentence
Military displays of hierarchy include saluting superior officers and following chain of command.
loss of face
Damage to one's reputation or dignity
Example sentence
Admitting the error publicly would mean significant loss of face for the government minister.
vital background information
Essential knowledge needed to understand something
Example sentence
The detective was missing vital background information about the suspect's financial troubles.
personal space
The physical area around someone that feels comfortable
Example sentence
Different cultures have varying concepts of personal space during conversations.
social norms and values
Accepted behaviors and beliefs within a society
Example sentence
The exchange student had to learn new social norms and values when studying abroad.
clarifying questions
Questions asked to make something clearer
Example sentence
The student asked several clarifying questions to ensure she understood the assignment requirements.
subconscious lens
The unconscious way our mind filters and interprets information
Example sentence
We all view news events through a subconscious lens shaped by our previous experiences.
cultural norms
Expected behaviors and social rules within a culture
Example sentence
Japanese cultural norms include bowing when greeting someone and removing shoes before entering a home.
cultural biases
Unfair preferences or prejudices that favor one's own culture over others
Example sentence
His cultural biases made him assume that his way of doing business was automatically better than other approaches.