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A Comedian's Take on How to Save Democracy | Jordan Klepper | TED

Video vocabulary

election

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US / ɪ'lekʃn /

UK / ɪˈlɛkʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • Process of choosing someone by voting

throw

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US / θrəʊ /

UK / θroʊ /

A1
  • noun
  • Arm movement to make a thing fly through the air
  • Loose cloth or blanket (usually over a chair)
  • Forcibly putting someone on the ground
  • verb
  • To use your arm to make something fly in the air
  • To move part of your body suddenly and forcefully
  • To confuse or upset someone
  • (E.g. judo) to forcibly put someone on the ground
  • To put something somewhere suddenly and roughly

their

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US / ðɛː /

UK / ðer /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to them

everything

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US / 'evrɪθɪŋ /

UK / ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ /

A1
  • pronoun
  • All of the things mentioned

take

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US / teɪk /

UK / tek /

A1
  • noun
  • Filming of a single scene for TV or the movies
  • verb
  • To accept something that is offered
  • To use a method of traveling, e.g. a bus or train
  • To use a camera to make (a photo)
  • To pick up something and go away with it
  • To study a subject in school
  • To attempt to pass (an exam)
  • To require a certain amount of time, money, space

police

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US / pəˈli:s /

UK / pəˈlis /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the police and its business
  • noun
  • People, often in uniforms, who solve crimes
  • verb
  • To control an area, or group with a police force

who

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US / hu: /

UK / hu /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Which person
  • Used to introduce information about people

ohio

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US / əuˈhaiəu /

UK / oˈhaɪo /

A1
  • noun
  • A midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

work

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US / wɜ:k /

UK / wɚk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Activity completed in order to make money
  • noun
  • The product of some artistic or literary endeavor
  • Everything created by an author, artist, musician
  • Activity you do in order to make money
  • Place of employment
  • Final product or result of a some labor or effort
  • verb
  • To bring into a specific state of success
  • To be functioning properly, e.g. a car
  • To do your job in your company or workplace
  • To make an effort to do something
  • To operate a machine or device

old

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US / əʊld /

UK / old /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Having existed for a long time, not young or new
  • Age of a person since birth

they

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US / ðeɪ /

UK / ðe /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Two or more people, animals, or things

incapable

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US / ɪnˈkeɪpəbl /

UK / ɪnˈkepəbəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Not capable or able to do something

theodore

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US / ˈθiːədɔː /

UK / ˈθiəˌdɔr /

A1

chance

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US / tʃɑ:ns /

UK / tʃæns /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Happening by luck; not planned
  • Taking a risk to try something
  • noun
  • The way something happens without planning
  • An opportunity; favorable circumstances, situation
  • The possibility that something will happen
  • verb
  • To occur just through luck; happen
  • To take a risk to try something

thank

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US / θæŋk /

UK / θæŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To tell someone you are grateful to them

pay

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US / peɪ /

UK / pe /

A1
  • noun
  • Money you receive from your job, work, etc.
  • verb
  • To give money for goods or work done
  • To give (attention, respect, etc.) to
  • To be punished or suffer for something you did
  • To make (a visit) to a person or place

consensus

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US / kənˈsensəs /

UK / kənˈsɛnsəs /

B1
  • noun
  • A decision that is shared by most of a group

everyone

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US / ˈevriwʌn /

UK / ˈɛvriˌwʌn /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Every person; everybody

attention

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US / əˈtenʃn /

UK / əˈtɛnʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Taking notice of someone or something
  • (Soldiers) Standing with straight backs

america

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US / ə'merɪkə /

UK / əˈmɛrɪkə /

A1
  • noun
  • The United States of America; North America and/or South America

forum

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US / 'fɔ:rəm /

UK / ˈfɔrəm /

B1
  • noun
  • Meeting where people can openly discuss a subject

between

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US / bɪˈtwi:n /

UK / bɪˈtwin /

A1
  • preposition
  • From one person, thing, or place, to another
  • In the space that separates two objects
  • Among two or more people who share something

concession

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US / kən'seʃn /

UK / kənˈsɛʃən /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • A discount (e.g. for a bus) for being young, old
  • noun
  • Special right granted, as by someone in authority
  • Giving something up to reach an agreement

volume

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US / ˈvɒlju:m /

UK / ˈvɑljum, -jəm /

A2
  • noun
  • Number or amount of something e.g. sales
  • Amount of space that something takes up
  • One book that is part of a set of books
  • Level of sound produced by radio or television

very

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US / 'verɪ /

UK / ˈvɛri /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning a large degree or amount
  • adverb
  • A lot; much; many
  • Used to stress or emphasize a noun

way

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US / weɪ /

UK / we /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to emphasize the amount of something
  • noun
  • Particular aspect of something being thought about
  • One of various choices that could be made
  • Particular existing condition or state
  • (Often long) distance or length of time
  • How something is done
  • Route to go to a place
  • Small street
  • Usual behavior, emotions or habits of someone

space

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US / speɪs /

UK / spes /

A1
  • noun
  • Empty area kept for a specific reason, like a car
  • Empty area with nothing in it
  • Area in the sky where the stars are
  • Area between written words on a page
  • verb
  • To make a certain distance or time between

else

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US / els /

UK / ɛls /

A1
  • adverb
  • Otherwise; if you fail to
  • (Of person place thing etc.) besides; in addition

crucial

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US / 'kru:ʃl /

UK / ˈkruʃəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Extremely important or necessary

naturally

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US / ˈnætʃrəli /

UK / ˈnætʃərəli, ˈnætʃrə- /

A2
  • adverb
  • In the expected or usual way
  • Without the aid of someone or something

believe

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US / bɪ'li:v /

UK / bɪˈliv /

A1
  • verb
  • To think or accept that something is true
  • To have a particular opinion about something

loser

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US / 'lu:zə(r) /

UK / ˈluzɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Someone who fails to win a game or other contest
  • Someone unsuccessful in work/relationships/life

human

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US / 'hju:mən /

UK / ˈhjumən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning or characteristic of people
  • noun
  • A person; a man, woman or child

country

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US / ˈkʌntri /

UK / ˈkʌntri /

A1
  • noun
  • An area of land that is controlled by a government
  • Open land that is away from towns and cities

agree

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US / əˈgri: /

UK / əˈɡri /

A1
  • verb
  • To have the same opinion as someone else

travel

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US / ˈtrævl /

UK / ˈtrævəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Going to other places, esp. distant places
  • verb
  • To go to a place that is far away

all

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US / ɔ:l /

UK / ɔl /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally
  • determiner
  • Being every one of something
  • pronoun
  • 100% of something; the complete amount

loss

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US / lɒs /

UK / lɔ:s /

A2
  • noun
  • Friend, family, or other loved person's death
  • Decrease or decline in quantity or amount
  • Experience or state of failing to have or keep
  • A situation when you lose a game
  • Process of failing to have or keep something
  • Difficulty or trouble caused by someone's leaving
  • Situation when more money is spent than is earned

part

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US / pɑ:t /

UK / pɑ:rt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To some degree; half; not fully
  • noun
  • Division of a book
  • Ratio of something, e.g. 3 of gin, 1 of tonic
  • A line in a person's hair, made with a comb
  • Character an actor plays on stage, movie, or TV
  • Some, but not all of a specific thing
  • Role in causing something to happen
  • verb
  • To make a line in a person's hair, by using a comb
  • To move two things apart creating a space
  • To leave someone, or to break off a relationship

challenge

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US / 'tʃælɪndʒ /

UK / ˈtʃæləndʒ /

A2
  • noun
  • An activity you wish to try that may be hard to do
  • Act of formally inviting someone to compete
  • A question to determine correctness of something
  • verb
  • To formally invite someone to compete at something
  • To question the correctness of something

see

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US / si: /

UK / si /

A1
  • verb
  • To go on a date with someone
  • To predict whether something is, or will be true
  • To understand what someone says
  • To use your eyes to look at something
  • To visit a place often for sightseeing or pleasure
  • To visit or meet with someone
  • To find out by waiting or looking
  • To watch (a game, movie or TV show)

remember

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US / rɪ'membə(r) /

UK / rɪˈmɛmbɚ /

A1
  • verb
  • To give someone a gift, e.g. birthday, wedding
  • To hold a thought in your mind to not forget it
  • To bring a previous image or idea to your mind

away

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US / ə'weɪ /

UK / əˈwe /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not present
  • adverb
  • Disappear completely
  • Doing something with a lot of energy
  • Not here; far from here; in a different direction
  • To a different area, location

behind

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US / bɪˈhaɪnd /

UK / bɪˈhaɪnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning a later or slower time than expected
  • Being in a losing position in a sporting event
  • Being in the past; old fashioned
  • adverb
  • Remaining
  • noun
  • The part of the body that one sits on
  • preposition
  • At or toward the back of someone or something
  • Supporting or helping someone

break

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US / breɪk /

UK / brek /

A1
  • noun
  • Time you stop an activity before continuing
  • End of a relationship
  • An escape from a place such as a jail
  • (Lucky) advantage or benefit from something
  • Find a solution or answer to a problem or crime
  • Change in the weather
  • verb
  • To create a new record e.g. running the 100m dash
  • To form a crack in something
  • To burst or become damaged
  • To end a relationship
  • To escape from a place such as a jail
  • To train a wild animal e.g. a horse
  • To separate into pieces by force, or by dropping
  • To act against a law, rule, or promise
  • To become known suddenly, as in the news
  • To not do what you promised e.g. not keep promises
  • To solve a crime, or answer a problem
  • To stop functioning properly
  • To suddenly start, open or commence
  • To change in pitch suddenly, as in a voice
  • To fall on the shore, as in waves
  • To begin or change suddenly; the dawn or weather
  • To defeat by causing the person to lose their will

mark

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US / mɑ:k /

UK / mɑrk /

A2
  • noun
  • Person's name
  • A dirty spot or line on something
  • Grade or score given for homework
  • Line or symbol made when writing
  • Particular point on a scale of measurement
  • Grade, such as a student receives in school
  • Stain or spot on something
  • Sign or symbol of a quality of feeling
  • Written sign or symbol
  • verb
  • To put a dirty spot or line on something
  • To give a grade for homework
  • To indicate something with a sign or symbol
  • To make or leave a visible sign of (path, etc.)
  • (Animals) to go to the toilet to show your area
  • To write or draw a line on something

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

conversation

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US / ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃn /

UK / ˌkɑnvɚˈseʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Talking with other people; discussion or chat

traumatic

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US / trɔ:ˈmætɪk /

UK / traʊˈmætɪk /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Causing upsetting emotional effects over time
  • Causing an injury

with

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US / wɪð /

UK / wɪð, wɪθ /

A1
  • preposition
  • As an employee of a certain company
  • Against something or someone
  • By using something as a means
  • Due to; because of
  • Including
  • Possessing as a feature
  • Related to
  • (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
  • Used to express that people or things are together

percent

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US / pə'sent /

UK / pɚˈsɛnt /

A2
  • adverb
  • One one-hundredth of a whole; the symbol %

could

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US / kəd /

UK / kʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Past form of 'can' to mean have ability
  • Used to ask for something politely, or to offer

next

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US / nekst /

UK / nɛkst /

A1
  • adverb
  • The one that follows another in time or order
  • At a time or place directly after the present one
  • noun
  • The one that follows after
  • adjecitve
  • Immediately after the previous one
  • First occurrence after the present one

know

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US / nəʊ /

UK / noʊ /

A1
  • verb
  • To be familiar with a person or place, thing
  • To feel sure or be convinced about something
  • To discover or be aware of something
  • To be able to distinguish
  • To have knowledge of things

childcare

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US / ˈtʃaɪldkeə(r) /

UK / ˈtʃaɪldker /

C1
  • adjecitve
  • Looking after children and babies
  • noun
  • Looking after children and babies

soften

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US / 'sɒfn /

UK / ˈsɔfən, ˈsɑfən /

A2
  • other
  • To make something less hard or firm
  • verb
  • To make more sympathetic or less strict
  • To make something less hard or firm

entertainment

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US / ˌentəˈteɪnmənt /

UK / ˌɛntɚˈtenmənt /

A2
  • noun
  • Act or process of providing service for someone
  • Singing, dancing, telling jokes to amuse people

hear

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US / hɪə(r) /

UK / hɪr /

A1
  • verb
  • To be aware of sound; to perceive with the ear
  • To be told or find out information or facts
  • To consider or listen to a court case

clear

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US / klɪə(r) /

UK / klɪr /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Empty; without anything in it or on it
  • Being certain and without doubt
  • Being without any streaks, spots, or cracks
  • Easy to understand; well-explained; obvious
  • adverb
  • Completely; entirely; through the whole of
  • Away from; free from
  • verb
  • To recover from or remove a problem
  • To get rid of the entire contents of
  • To give permission for something to happen
  • To make a place or surface empty by removing
  • To prove that someone is not guilty or to blame

social

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US / ˈsəuʃəl /

UK / ˈsoʃəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Involving activity with people, e.g. in free time
  • Liking being with other people; friendly
  • Living together and depending on each other

canada

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US / 'kænədə /

UK / ˈkænədə /

A1
  • proper noun
  • A country in northern North America, the second largest country in the world; population 35,900,000

full

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US / fʊl /

UK / fʊl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Containing all the parts; complete
  • Containing or holding as much as possible
  • Having had enough food
  • adverb
  • In a direct manner; completely

gesture

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US / 'dʒestʃə(r) /

UK / ˈdʒɛstʃɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Bodily movement expressing a particular meaning
  • Something you do to express gratitude, regret etc.
  • verb
  • To move your body to convey a message e.g. wave

hypnotize

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US / ˈhɪpnətaɪz /

UK / ˈhɪpnəˌtaɪz /

C2
  • verb
  • To put someone in a mental state like sleep

legally

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US / 'li:ɡəlɪ /

UK / ˈliɡl:ɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • In a way that is allowed by or related to laws

counsel

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US / ˈkaʊnsl /

UK / ˈkaʊnsəl /

B1
  • verb
  • To listen and give expert advice to someone

slightly

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US / ˈslaɪtli /

UK / ˈslaɪtli /

B1
  • adverb
  • Only a little

fool

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US / fu:l /

UK / ful /

A2
  • noun
  • An idiot; someone who does something stupid
  • Person kept by royalty to entertain with jokes
  • verb
  • To trick someone; to deceive

awful

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US / ˈɔ:fl /

UK / ˈɔfəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Very bad; horrible; terrible

loud

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US / laʊd /

UK / laʊd /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being very bright with colors, clothes etc.
  • Making a lot of noise

weak

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US / wi:k /

UK / wik /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not having a strong character
  • Less valuable compared to money of other countries
  • Ineffective; unconvincing; not strong
  • Having little power or ability
  • Not having the necessary or proper amount
  • Having little power; not strong; easy to break
  • (Of a drink) having lots of water and little taste

last

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US / lɑ:st /

UK / læst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Most recent; the latest
  • The one before
  • adverb
  • Final; with nothing following; after all others
  • Most recent; the latest
  • determiner
  • The one at the end
  • verb
  • To remain or continue for a certain period of time

dictate

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US / dɪk'teɪt /

UK / ˈdɪkˌtet /

B1
  • verb
  • To speak while someone writes down your words
  • To make a thing necessary
  • To order that something should happen

machine

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US / mə'ʃi:n /

UK / məˈʃin /

A1
  • noun
  • Piece of equipment used to do work
  • Powerful group who control and organize things
  • verb
  • To shape, work on something, using a device

bear

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US / bɛː /

UK / bɛr /

A2
  • noun
  • Large brown animal with fur that lives in forests
  • Someone who expects stock market to fall
  • verb
  • To accept (responsibilities or duties)
  • To give birth to a child; to produce fruit
  • To accept or suffer the weight of difficulties
  • To keep moving left or right while going forward
  • To show (sign of something)
  • To support the weight of something, e.g. a bridge

economic

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US / ˌi:kəˈnɒmɪk /

UK / ˌɛkəˈnɑmɪk, ˌikə- /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning trade, industry, and money

shit

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US / ʃɪt /

UK / ʃɪt /

A1
  • noun
  • A coarse term for defecation

guard

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US / ɡɑ:d /

UK / ɡɑrd /

A2
  • noun
  • Someone who watches a place or prevents escapes
  • verb
  • To keep watch over something to protect it

guess

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US / ɡes /

UK / ɡɛs /

A1
  • noun
  • Answer given when you don't know if it is correct
  • verb
  • To give an answer without knowing if it is correct

afraid

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US / əˈfreɪd /

UK / əˈfred /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Worried that something bad will happen; scared

will

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US / wɪl /

UK / wɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Desire or choice of someone
  • Document saying who gets your money when you die
  • Strong desire to do something; determination
  • Desire to do something; strong wish to do
  • other
  • Used with verbs to express the future
  • verb
  • To leave property to someone after your death
  • To use mental effort to make something happen
  • Am (is, are) likely to do
  • To influence someone to do something
  • To make something happen by strongly wanting it

inside

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US / ˌɪn'saɪd /

UK / ɪnˈsaɪd, ˈɪnˌsaɪd /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being in something
  • Being in a building
  • adverb
  • Into a house; indoors
  • noun
  • Inner part or surface of something

marriage

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US / ˈmærɪdʒ /

UK / ˈmærɪdʒ /

A2
  • noun
  • Relationship between a husband and a wife
  • A wedding ceremony
  • Close union between two things

always

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US / 'ɔ:lweɪz /

UK / ˈɔlwez,-wɪz,-wiz /

A1
  • adverb
  • For a very long time
  • At all times; in every situation
  • For ever

totally

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US / ˈtəʊtəli /

UK / ˈtotl:ɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • In a complete way; completely; absolutely

here

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US / hɪə(r) /

UK / hɪr /

A1
  • adverb
  • In this place; at this location, position or time

skeptical

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US / 'skeptɪkəl /

UK / 'skeptɪkəl /

C2
  • adjecitve
  • Doubting that something is true/probable/useful

akron

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US / ˈækrən /

UK / ˈækrən /

A1
  • proper noun
  • A city in northeastern Ohio; population 207,510 (est. 2008). Noted as a center for the rubber indust

four

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US / fɔ:(r) /

UK / fɔr, for /

A1
  • number
  • 4

day

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US / deɪ /

UK / de /

A1
  • noun
  • A period of 24 hours beginning at midnight
  • The period of time when it is light outside
  • Person's name

feel

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US / fi:l /

UK / fil /

A1
  • verb
  • To be aware of or experience an emotion, sensation
  • To sense through direct contact; touch

speak

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US / spi:k /

UK / spik /

A1
  • verb
  • To be able to use a certain language
  • To use words to tell information, express thoughts

folk

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US / fəʊk /

UK / fok /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • (Of ordinary people) not sophisticated
  • noun
  • Ordinary common people

many

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US / 'menɪ /

UK / ˈmɛni /

A1
  • determiner
  • Used to refer a large number of things

someone

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US / ˈsʌmwʌn /

UK / ˈsʌmˌwʌn, -wən /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person who is not known or named

ever

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US / 'evə(r) /

UK / ˈɛvɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At any time; at all times in the future

eat

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US / i:t /

UK / it /

A1
  • verb
  • To put food in your mouth

use

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US / ju:s /

UK / ju:s /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to employ something
  • Need to enable it to work
  • Permission to do something with something
  • Act of spending money
  • Operation of a machine for its function
  • verb
  • To have; to eat, drink, consume etc.
  • To need to operate or work
  • To operate a machine, e.g. a computer
  • To treat a person badly
  • To do something with, for a task or purpose

tax

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US / tæks /

UK / tæks /

A2
  • noun
  • Money taken by a government from its people
  • verb
  • To require a lot of physical or mental effort
  • (Government) to take money from a country's people

point

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US / pɔɪnt /

UK / pɔɪnt /

A1
  • noun
  • An item to be discussed
  • Small spot or dot
  • Fact or detail
  • Feature of something
  • The size of the text on a page or screen
  • A certain time or stage in a process
  • Certain position in time or space
  • Idea or fact you try to convince people about
  • Measurement of scores in a game, sport
  • Sharp end of something, e.g. a pen or pin
  • verb
  • To face a certain direction, e.g. north
  • To indicate something with your finger to others

should

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US / ʃʊd /

UK / ʃʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Used to indicate what is proper or reasonable

consider

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US / kən'sɪdə(r) /

UK / kənˈsɪdər /

A1
  • verb
  • To think carefully about something

lose

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US / lu:z /

UK / luz /

A1
  • verb
  • To be unable to keep in check or control something
  • To decrease in value or quantity (e.g. weight)
  • To stop having certain qualities or abilities
  • To stop having or being entitled to
  • To fail to win something that is being contested
  • To be unable to find something you once had
  • To be dependent on someone (used with 'not')

too

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition, also; with emphasis
  • Say that something is more than you want

uncertainty

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US / ʌn'sɜ:tntɪ /

UK / ʌnˈsə:tn:ti /

B2
  • noun
  • Feeling of not really knowing what will happen

either

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US / ˈaɪðə(r) /

UK / ˈiðɚ, ˈaɪðɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One of two (used when there is a choice of two)
  • adverb
  • (After negative statements) likewise, in addition
  • conjunction
  • Used as the first of two connected things
  • determiner
  • Used as the first of two connected things
  • pronoun
  • The one or the other

population

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US / ˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃn /

UK / ˌpɑpjəˈleʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Number of people who live in a country, area etc.

popular

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US / ˈpɒpjələ(r) /

UK / ˈpɑ:pjələ(r) /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Liked or enjoyed by many people

position

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US / pəˈzɪʃn /

UK / pəˈzɪʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's opinion or attitude about something
  • Specific location where someone or something is
  • Where you play or your role on a sports team
  • Person's job or status level
  • Set of conditions affecting what you can (not) do
  • verb
  • To put in a particular location or direction

biggie

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US / ˈbɪgi /

UK / ˈbɪɡi /

A1
  • noun
  • A big, important, or successful person or thing.

this

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US / ðɪs /

UK / ðɪs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used to indicate something already been discussed
  • Used to indicate something happening around now
  • adverb
  • An indication by a physical motion or gesture
  • A specific amount of
  • determiner
  • Person, thing, or idea near you
  • pronoun
  • Person, thing that has already been discussed

run

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US / rʌn /

UK / rʌn /

A1
  • noun
  • Journey between two places made by ship or car
  • Series of similar things or successes and failures
  • Act of running; exercise of running
  • verb
  • To depart or travel according to a schedule
  • To cause an animal to move in a certain direction
  • (Of an engine) to be operating
  • To start or use a computer program
  • To flow in a certain direction, like a liquid
  • To manage or operate a business
  • To operate or drive something
  • (Of a road) to go from one place to another
  • To move your legs faster than walking

distract

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US / dɪ'strækt /

UK / dɪˈstrækt /

B1
  • verb
  • To draw someone's attention away from something

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

opt

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US / ɒpt /

UK / ɑ:pt /

B1
  • verb
  • To choose one thing rather than other choices

person

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US / 'pɜ:sn /

UK / 'pɜ:rsn /

A1
  • noun
  • Man, woman or child

three

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US / θri: /

UK / θri /

A1
  • number
  • Number 3

may

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US / meɪ /

UK / me /

A1
  • noun
  • 5th month of the year
  • other
  • Used to express a desire
  • Expresses permission, possibility or probability
  • Used to show that a thing could be true

climate

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US / ˈklaɪmət /

UK / ˈklaɪmɪt /

A2
  • noun
  • Typical weather conditions in a particular place

sexy

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US / ˈseksi /

UK / ˈsɛksi /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Tending to arouse sexual desire or interest

finger

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US / ˈfɪŋgə(r) /

UK / ˈfɪŋɡɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • One of the five long parts of the hand
  • verb
  • To touch something with the ends of the hands
  • To identify the person guilty of a crime

than

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US / ðən /

UK / ðən /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to compare two things that are not equal

invent

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US / ɪnˈvent /

UK / ɪnˈvɛnt /

A2
  • verb
  • To create something such as a story or excuse
  • To create something useful for the first time

obligate

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US / 'ɒblɪgeɪt /

UK / ˈɑblɪˌɡet /

B2
  • verb
  • To force someone to do something, as a duty

certainty

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US / ˈsɜ:tnti /

UK / ˈsɜ:rtnti /

A2
  • noun
  • Feeling that you really know something; being sure

potty

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US / 'pɒtɪ /

UK / ˈpɑti /

C1
  • noun
  • (Child's) portable toilet

latin

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US / ˈlætɪn /

UK / ˈlætn /

C2
  • adjecitve
  • Of or typical of a Spanish-speaking culture
  • noun
  • Ancient Roman language affecting many languages

answer

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US / 'ɑ:nsə(r) /

UK / ˈænsɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Reply to a question someone asks
  • Solution to a problem or test question
  • verb
  • To reply to a question someone asks
  • To solve a test question or a problem

maximum

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US / ˈmæksɪməm /

UK / ˈmæksəməm /

A2
  • noun
  • Largest or highest number or amount of something

outside

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US / ˌaʊtˈsaɪd /

UK / aʊtˈsaɪd, ˈaʊtˌsaɪd /

A2
  • adverb
  • Beyond the limits or edges of some place, thing
  • noun
  • Area around or near something, such as a building
  • preposition
  • Beyond the limits or edges of some place, thing

partisanship

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US / 'pɑ:tɪzænʃɪp /

UK / 'pɑ:tɪzænʃɪp /

A1
  • noun
  • Showing affiliation to your side, argument

love

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US / lʌv /

UK / lʌv /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's name
  • A very strong feeling of affection
  • The person you care very deeply about
  • Strong, deep emotional and sexual attraction
  • verb
  • To care for and like someone very strongly, deeply
  • To like doing very much; enjoy greatly
  • To feel a strong emotional and romantic attraction

make

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US / meɪk /

UK / mek /

A1
  • noun
  • Product made by a particular company; brand
  • verb
  • To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
  • To get to (a place) on time
  • To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
  • To create something by putting things together
  • To earn a certain amount of money at a job
  • To cause or force a person to do something
  • To cause something to happen or be formed

also

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US / 'ɔ:lsəʊ /

UK / ˈɔlso /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition; too; in a similar way

pro

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US / prəʊ /

UK / proʊ /

A2
  • noun
  • Reason given in support of something
  • Someone experienced and very good at something
  • Playing a golf, tennis etc. as a job

how

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US / haʊ /

UK / haʊ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To what degree? in what amount?
  • adverb
  • (Used to explain the way to do something)
  • exclamation
  • For what purpose or reason?
  • (Used to ask someone or something's condition)

bad

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US / bæd /

UK / bæd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not good; wrong
  • Lacking in good morals; evil
  • No longer fresh; spoiled

accept

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US / ək'sept /

UK / ækˈsɛpt /

A1
  • verb
  • To agree to receive or take something offered
  • To admit that something is true or correct

misinformation

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US / ˌmɪsɪnfə'meɪʃn /

UK / ˌmɪsɪnfə'meɪʃn /

B1
  • noun
  • Information that is incorrect

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

little

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US / 'lɪtl /

UK / ˈlɪtl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being short in length of time
  • Not great in size, amount, or degree; small
  • Being very young or younger than others
  • adverb
  • By an amount or degree that is not very much
  • Not often; rarely
  • noun
  • A person's name

year

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US / jə: /

UK / jɪr /

A1
  • noun
  • Unit of time equal to 12 months or 365 or 366 days
  • Used to refer to the age of a person

big

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US / bɪɡ /

UK / bɪɡ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Popular
  • Serious
  • Large

concede

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US / kən'si:d /

UK / kənˈsid /

B2
  • verb
  • To admit that something is true

order

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US / 'ɔ:də(r) /

UK / ˈɔrdɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Religious or social group, as of nuns
  • Instructions to others to do what you want
  • State in which things are neat and organized
  • What you ask to buy, e.g. food in restaurant
  • Social or political control of an area
  • verb
  • To put things in a sequence, e.g. a, b, c
  • To give instructions to others to do what you want
  • To ask for something you want to buy, e.g. a meal

stand

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US / stænd /

UK / stænd /

A1
  • noun
  • Effort to fight against something
  • Piece of furniture; device to hold or support
  • Place in a stadium where spectators watch
  • Table where things are sold at a fair or market
  • verb
  • To be a candidate in an election
  • To be able to accept someone, something; bear
  • To last for a long time
  • To be upright; not be sitting or lying down
  • To place something in a particular position; place
  • To be (as stated)
  • To still be valid
  • To have an opinion about something

vulnerability

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US / ˌvʌlnərə'bɪlətɪ /

UK / ˌvʌlnərə'bɪlətɪ /

B1
  • noun
  • Being weak and able to be easily hurt or damaged

one

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US / wʌn /

UK / wʌn /

A1
  • pronoun
  • You; we; people in general; someone
  • The thing or person previously referred to
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to people generally
  • Being a strong example of (something mentioned)
  • number
  • Number 1

other

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US / 'ʌðə(r) /

UK / ˈʌðər /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A thing different from that mentioned
  • determiner
  • (Something) else; not the first (one)
  • pronoun
  • Being the one and only thing of that category

compromise

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US / 'kɒmprəmaɪz /

UK / ˈkɑmprəˌmaɪz /

B1
  • noun
  • When you lessen your demands to get agreement
  • verb
  • To weaken your position or views
  • To lessen your demands so as to reach agreement
  • To put something at risk or in danger

question

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US / 'kwestʃən /

UK / ˈkwɛstʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Issue or problems you are dealing with
  • What you ask about; issue
  • verb
  • To ask for or try to get information
  • To have or express concerns or uncertainty

trap

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US / træp /

UK / træp /

A2
  • noun
  • Device used for catching animals
  • Vehicle pulled by a single horse
  • Area or hazard on a golf course
  • Someone's mouth
  • Uncomfortable event that is hard to escape
  • verb
  • To use a device to catch animals or people
  • To hold, e.g. a nerve, so that it cannot move
  • To catch or prevent someone from escaping
  • To trick someone
  • To put into a situation you can't escape from

short

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US / ʃɔ:t /

UK / ʃɔrt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Less than what is needed
  • Suddenly stopping what you are saying or doing
  • verb
  • (Of electric circuit) to spark because faulty
  • adjecitve
  • Measuring a small distance
  • Happening for a small amount of time
  • Unfriendly or rude

vaccine

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US / 'væksi:n /

UK / vækˈsin,ˈvækˌsin /

B2
  • noun
  • Shot using weak disease cells to stop same disease

impediment

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US / ɪmˈpedɪmənt /

UK / ɪmˈpedɪmənt /

B1
  • noun
  • Obstruction; hindrance; obstacle

few

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US / fju: /

UK / fju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Not many, a small number

just

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US / dʒʌst /

UK / dʒʌst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper or appropriate; as is deserved
  • Doing or being what is right or fair
  • Legally correct; having enough evidence
  • adverb
  • Almost; nearly
  • Exactly at the time of
  • Exactly (the same as, like)

since

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US / sɪns /

UK / sɪns /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a point before the present time
  • conjunction
  • For this reason; because
  • preposition
  • From the time in the past that

discussion

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US / dɪˈskʌʃn /

UK / dɪˈskʌʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Any long communication about a particular topic

well

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US / wel /

UK / wɛl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being in a fortunate, good condition or state
  • Healthy and in good condition
  • adverb
  • In an acceptable, proper, or successful manner
  • In a complete, total, or full manner
  • A great and considerable degree
  • In a successful way, in a good or satisfactory way
  • exclamation
  • Used to begin or continue a particular statement
  • Used to show you want to start saying something
  • Used to express that you are waiting for a reply
  • You say this to change the topic of a conversation
  • Used to indicate you are making a final remark
  • noun
  • Long deep hole in the ground to get water
  • verb
  • To cause your eyes to fill with tears

time

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US / taɪm /

UK / taɪm /

A1
  • noun
  • Speed at which music is played; tempo
  • Point as shown on a clock, e.g. 3 p.m
  • Number of hours, minutes needed to do something
  • Occasion when something happens
  • Period or occasion that something occurred
  • Period in history or the past
  • Something measured in minutes, hours, days, etc.
  • How long an event takes; duration
  • verb
  • To check speed at which music is performed
  • To choose a specific moment to do something
  • To measure how long an event takes, e.g. a race
  • To schedule something to occur at a specific moment

set

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US / set /

UK / sɛt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Prepared for something; ready
  • noun
  • Complete group of something
  • Place where a television show or movie is filmed
  • Group of games in a tennis match
  • Device that receives radio or television signals
  • verb
  • To make a clock state or ring at a particular time
  • To decide upon or choose something
  • To make something ready for use (e.g. table)
  • To decide on a price for something
  • To become hard (of glue, concrete etc.)
  • To be located in a specific place or time
  • To put (e.g. a vase) down carefully in a place
  • To put someone in a certain condition or state
  • (Of the sun) to go lower than the horizon

pov

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US / /

UK / /

A1
  • abbreviation
  • Point of view.

grow

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US / ɡrəʊ /

UK / ɡro /

A1
  • verb
  • To get bigger and more mature; make plants do this
  • To improve; to develop better skills over time
  • To develop and become bigger or taller over time

head

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US / hed /

UK / hɛd /

A1
  • noun
  • Counter for the number of cattle
  • Natural mental ability or intelligence
  • Leader or person with the greatest authority
  • Mind; mental ability; mental state
  • Side of a coin with a head on it
  • Top part of your body with eyes and a mouth
  • Starting point of something, e.g. a river
  • verb
  • To hit a ball with your head in a game
  • To be first or at the front or top (e.g. a list)
  • To travel or move toward a particular place; To go in a particular direction
  • To become the leader of something
  • To lead or be responsible for something

much

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US / mʌtʃ /

UK / mʌtʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Very; to a high level or degree
  • adverb
  • A lot; large amount; a high degree of
  • Nearly; basically
  • On many occasions; often
  • noun
  • A large amount; a great quantity

ask

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US / ɑ:sk /

UK / æsk /

A1
  • verb
  • To say to someone that you want something

difficult

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US / 'dɪfɪkəlt /

UK / ˈdɪfɪˌkʌlt, -kəlt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Hard; not easy; you need to work hard to do it

flatter

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US / 'flætə(r) /

UK / ˈflætɚ /

B2
  • verb
  • To praise in a rather false way, to get something

sorry

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US / ˈsɒri /

UK / ˈsɑ:ri /

A1
  • exclamation
  • What you say to admit you were wrong
  • adjecitve
  • Causing others to feel pity; poor
  • Feeling regret or sympathy about wrong thing

disagree

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US / ˌdɪsə'ɡri: /

UK / ˌdɪsəˈɡri /

B2
  • verb
  • To have a different opinion; to fail to agree

myself

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US / maɪˈself /

UK / maɪˈsɛlf /

A1
  • pronoun
  • The same person who did the action mentioned
  • My regular, usual, or healthy self

therapy

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US / 'θerəpɪ /

UK / ˈθɛrəpi /

B2
  • noun
  • Treatment to help cure an illness

start

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US / stɑ:t /

UK / stɑrt /

A1
  • noun
  • First time or place that a thing exists; beginning
  • First opportunity to achieve something, e.g. a job
  • Sudden action or movement because you are scared
  • other
  • Beginning of something in place or time
  • verb
  • To do, be or happen for the first time; begin
  • To turn something on

lecture

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US / 'lektʃə(r) /

UK / ˈlɛktʃɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Telling someone off for doing something wrong
  • Talk or speech about a particular subject
  • verb
  • To speak to someone to show anger or warn them
  • To give a talk or speech about a subject

talk

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US / tɔ:k /

UK / tɔk /

A1
  • noun
  • Style of speaking
  • Discussion between two countries
  • Giving information in front of people; lecture
  • Saying things or ideas to someone with words
  • verb
  • To make a formal speech about something
  • To say things or ideas to someone with words

news

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US / nju:z /

UK / nu:z /

A1
  • noun
  • Broadcast on radio or TV about recent events
  • Information about recent events

pause

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US / pɔ:z /

UK / pɔz /

A2
  • noun
  • A temporary break before continuing
  • Function on a device to stop and restart it
  • Sign to hold a musical note a bit longer
  • verb
  • To stop doing for a while before continuing

depend

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US / dɪˈpend /

UK / dɪˈpend /

B1
  • verb
  • Be controlled or determined by (someone/something)

fact

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US / fækt /

UK / fækt /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that is known or proved to be true

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

smart

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US / smɑ:t /

UK / smɑ:rt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Fashionable; well-dressed; well-groomed
  • Looking clean, neat and stylish
  • (Of phones, weapons) with clever features
  • Associated with rich, popular and stylish people
  • Clever; with intelligence
  • adverb
  • Energetic or quick in motion or movement
  • In a clever way; with intelligence
  • noun
  • Feeling of being hurt and upset
  • Sharp, burning pain
  • verb
  • To feel hurt or upset
  • To hurt with an unexpected sharp or burning pain

earth

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US / ɜ:θ /

UK / ɚθ /

A1
  • noun
  • Wire connecting an electrical device to the ground
  • The planet we live on
  • Soil in which we grow plants

catastrophe

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US / kə'tæstrəfɪ /

UK / kəˈtæstrəfi /

B2
  • noun
  • Very bad disaster causing much suffering, etc.

communicate

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US / kə'mju:nɪkeɪt /

UK / kəˈmjunɪˌket /

A2
  • verb
  • To give and exchange information

face

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US / feɪs /

UK / fes /

A1
  • noun
  • Side or outer surface of something
  • An expression using mouth, nose, eyes etc.
  • Front part of the head where eyes, mouth etc. are
  • Characteristics you show in public
  • verb
  • To cover a surface with something like paint
  • To deal with a problem or responsibilities
  • To look toward; point in a certain direction

field

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US / fi:ld /

UK / fild /

A1
  • noun
  • Area of study, such as physics or biology
  • Piece of land used to grow crops/raise animals
  • Open area of land, especially without buildings
  • Grassed area where you play some sports
  • verb
  • To respond to something or answer a question
  • To catch or stop a ball during a game

yourself

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US / jɔ:ˈself /

UK / jʊrˈsɛlf, jɔr-, jor-, jə- /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Reflexive form of 'you', used for an emphasis

begin

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US / bɪ'ɡɪn /

UK / ˈbeɡɪn /

A1
  • verb
  • To do the first part of an action; to start

destroy

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US / dɪ'strɔɪ /

UK / dɪˈstrɔɪ /

A2
  • verb
  • To damage so badly that something no longer exists
  • To defeat someone or something easily
  • To kill a sick or unwanted animal

those

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US / ðəʊz /

UK / ðoz /

A1
  • determiner
  • The people or things we are talking about
  • pronoun
  • The objects far from the speaker

cow

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US / kaʊ /

UK / kaʊ /

A2
  • noun
  • Large farm animal from which we get milk and beef
  • verb
  • To make afraid or ashamed; intimidate

strong

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US / strɒŋ /

UK / strɔŋ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • (Of tea or beer) dark or thick
  • Having big muscles; physically powerful

negotiate

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US / nɪˈgəʊʃieɪt /

UK / nɪˈgoʊʃieɪt /

B1
  • verb
  • To have a formal discussion to reach an agreement
  • To manage a difficult task or path successfully

our

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US / 'aʊə(r) /

UK / aʊr /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to us

gun

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US / ɡʌn /

UK / ɡʌn /

A2
  • noun
  • Weapon which fires bullets down a tube
  • verb
  • To suddenly make an engine run faster

somebody

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US / 'sʌmbədɪ /

UK / ˈsʌmˌbɑdi, -ˌbʌdi, -bədi /

A1
  • noun
  • Important well-respected person
  • pronoun
  • Person who is not known or named

would

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US / wʊd /

UK / wʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Used to indicate something imagined
  • Used to ask or request something politely
  • Verb used to indicate possibility, request etc.
  • Used to indicate a preference
  • Used to indicate a reaction
  • Indicates something that occurred repeatedly
  • Used to indicate willingness or ability to do

liberate

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US / 'lɪbəreɪt /

UK / ˈlɪbəˌret /

B2
  • verb
  • To free someone or something that was captured

seven

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US / ˈsevn /

UK / ˈsɛvən /

A1
  • number
  • Number 7

maybe

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US / ˈmeɪbi /

UK / ˈmebi /

A1
  • adverb
  • Possibly but not certainly; perhaps

twain

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US / tweɪn /

UK / tweɪn /

B2
  • noun
  • (Literary) two of something; two people

but

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US / bət /

UK / bʌt,bət /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used before you say something different, opposite

themselves

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US / ðəmˈselvz /

UK / ðɛmˈsɛlvz, ðəm- /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Reflexive form of 'they'

reform

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US / rɪ'fɔ:m /

UK / rɪˈfɔrm /

A2
  • noun
  • An improvement, especially in a person's behaviour or in the structure of something
  • verb
  • To re-shape something to a better condition
  • To (cause to) lead a non-criminal life
  • To improve society by removing abuse/injustice
  • To re-shape something into a different form

outburst

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US / ˈaʊtbɜ:st /

UK / ˈaʊtˌbə:st /

B2
  • noun
  • Sudden expression of anger or increase of activity

want

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US / wɔnt /

UK / wɑnt, wɔnt /

A1
  • noun
  • Something you desire or wish for
  • State or condition of poverty
  • verb
  • To desire or wish for something; hope for a thing

tough

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US / tʌf /

UK / tʌf /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • (Of food) difficult to chew or bite through
  • Very difficult to do or deal with
  • Having strict standards
  • Being firm and not easily bent or broken
  • Being strong physically or mentally
  • Being difficult to persuade
  • Capable of violence

become

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US / bɪ'kʌm /

UK / bɪˈkʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To begin to be; grow to be; develop into
  • To be suitable for a particular job or role

not

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US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Word indicating the negative
  • (Used to form the negative of verbs)

safety

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US / ˈseɪfti /

UK / ˈsefti /

A1
  • noun
  • Device on a gun to prevent accidental shooting
  • State of being free from harm or danger

bipartisan

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US / ˌbaɪpɑ:tɪˈzæn /

UK / ˌbaɪˈpɑ:rtɪzn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Supported by both sides

towards

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US / tə'wɔ:dz /

UK / 'təuədz, twɔ:dz /

A1
  • preposition
  • In the direction of someone or something

give

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US / ɡɪv /

UK / ɡɪv /

A1
  • noun
  • Degree of flexibility in something, a material
  • verb
  • To hand over or present something to someone
  • To cause someone to have or experience something

can

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US / kæn /

UK / kən,kæn /

A1
  • noun
  • A metal container for storing food
  • other
  • Able to; have the skill to; have the time to
  • verb
  • To have permission to
  • To be possible to do
  • To preserve food by sealing it in a metal container

desire

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US / dɪ'zaɪə(r) /

UK / dɪˈzaɪr /

A2
  • noun
  • Thing that is wished for or wanted
  • verb
  • To wish for, hope or want something

survive

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US / sə'vaɪv /

UK / sɚˈvaɪv /

A2
  • verb
  • To continue to live despite illness or trouble

now

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US / naʊ /

UK / naʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At the present time or moment
  • Right away or in the next possible moment
  • Used to refer to something that just happened
  • Time between the present and a moment in the past
  • conjunction
  • Resulting from or because of something

really

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US / ˈri:əli /

UK / ˈriəˌli, ˈrili /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to stress something that is said; definitely
  • In a true or accurate manner
  • Very

avoid

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US / ə'vɔɪd /

UK / əˈvɔɪd /

A2
  • verb
  • To prevent from happening
  • To stay away from

globally

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US / 'ɡləʊbəlɪ /

UK / 'ɡloʊbəlɪ /

B1
  • adverb
  • Throughout the world

round

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US / raʊnd /

UK / raʊnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being in the shape of a circle or ball
  • Consisting of curved and not straight lines
  • Somewhat fat or curved in physical appearance
  • Being a whole number, not a fraction, decimal
  • adverb
  • From beginning to end (e.g. of the year)
  • noun
  • One of the three-minute periods in boxing
  • Drinks bought by one person for a group
  • Series regular visits, routes, or stops at places
  • Single shot or bullet fired from a gun
  • An object with a circular shape
  • One stage in a series of games, e.g. football
  • One's turn in a game such as cards
  • preposition
  • Going around
  • verb
  • To cause or make a circular or curved shape
  • To go or pass around the bend or corner
  • To change from a fraction to nearest whole number

sport

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US / spɔ:t /

UK / spɔː(r)t /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that is done for fun, e.g. football
  • Game or physical exercise with rules
  • Someone with a good attitude when things go badly
  • verb
  • To do something for fun, e.g. playing with animals
  • To wear, or show something off by wearing it

weigh

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US / weɪ /

UK / weɪ /

A2
  • verb
  • To balance things against each other
  • To consider something carefully to form an opinion
  • To determine the weight of, using scales

politic

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US / ˈpɒlətɪk /

UK / ˈpɑlɪtɪk /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Careful what you say; diplomatic

tune

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US / tju:n /

UK / tun, tjun /

A2
  • noun
  • Group of musical notes that make a pleasant sound
  • verb
  • To make adjustments to equipment to make it better
  • To adjust to be at the right musical pitch
  • To modify how something operates, looks, e.g. car

book

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US / bʊk /

UK / bʊk /

A1
  • noun
  • Thing made of pages with writing on that you read
  • verb
  • (Police) to officially record someone's crimes
  • To reserve (hotel room, etc.) in advance
  • To produce a red or yellow card to a soccer player

good

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US / ɡʊd /

UK / ɡʊd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper, appropriate or right
  • (Of an amount) enough; plenty
  • Excellent; high quality
  • Acting well or properly; of moral character
  • In a positive or happy emotional state
  • noun
  • Advantage or benefit

gamesmanship

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US / ˈɡeɪmzmənʃɪp /

UK / ˈɡeɪmzmənʃɪp /

A1
  • noun
  • Use of dubious (although not technically illegal) methods to win a game

smell

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US / smel /

UK / smɛl /

A2
  • noun
  • Ability to notice a particular odor
  • A particular odor
  • verb
  • To have a particular odor
  • To sense that something is not right
  • To notice a particular odor
  • To use the nose to sense something

understand

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US / ˌʌndə'stænd /

UK / ˌʌndɚˈstænd /

A1
  • verb
  • To know the meaning of language, what someone says

phrase

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US / freɪz /

UK / frez /

A2
  • noun
  • Common expression or saying
  • Section of musical notes in a piece of music
  • A set of words used together
  • verb
  • To choose words to say what you mean clearly

food

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US / fu:d /

UK / fud /

A1
  • noun
  • What people and animals eat to live
  • Things taken in by plants to maintain life
  • A particular style or type of cooking, e.g. Asian

another

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US / əˈnʌðə(r) /

UK / əˈnʌðɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One more, but not this
  • determiner
  • One more added
  • pronoun
  • One more (thing)

over

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US / 'əʊvə(r) /

UK / ˈovɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Finished; no longer happening
  • Towards the ground/away from a standing position
  • noun
  • A set of six consecutive balls bowled in cricket
  • other
  • Finished
  • preposition
  • Showing the relation when a thing is above another
  • On or covering something
  • Above or across something
  • More than you need
  • From one side to the other
  • In the direction of; toward

game

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US / ɡeɪm /

UK / ɡem /

A1
  • noun
  • Activity with rules that people play to have fun
  • Birds and animals people hunt to kill and eat
  • Match between two teams

invite

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US / ɪnˈvaɪt /

UK / ɪnˈvaɪt /

A2
  • noun
  • An invitation
  • verb
  • To ask someone to go somewhere or do something

forty

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US / 'fɔ:tɪ /

UK / ˈfɔrti /

A1
  • number
  • 40

think

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US / θɪŋk /

UK / θɪŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To have an idea about something without certainty
  • To have an idea, opinion or belief about something

defensive

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US / dɪˈfensɪv /

UK / dɪˈfɛnsɪv /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Protecting something, yourself from attack

two

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • number
  • 2

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

reduce

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US / rɪ'dju:s /

UK / rɪˈdus, -ˈdjus /

A2
  • verb
  • To try to decrease, e.g. your weight if overweight
  • To boil a liquid until it has decreased in amount
  • To make something smaller in size, amount, level

agreement

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US / əˈgri:mənt /

UK / əˈɡrimənt /

A2
  • noun
  • Sharing the same opinion or reach a decision

portland

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US / ˈpɔ:tlənd /

UK / ˈpɔrtlənd, ˈport- /

A1
  • proper noun
  • The largest city in Maine, on Casco Bay off the Atlantic Ocean, in the southwestern part of the stat
  • An industrial port in northwestern Oregon, on the Willamette River near its confluence with the Colu

ten

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US / ten /

UK / tɛn /

A1
  • number
  • 10

call

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US / kɔ:l /

UK / kɔl /

A1
  • noun
  • A order or request for action
  • The sound an animal makes, often when in danger
  • A correct prediction, e.g. a decision in a game
  • A short visit to a place or person
  • A decision by a referee or umpire in a game
  • verb
  • To make a request or order for action
  • (Animal) to make sounds to warn of danger
  • To announce the date of an election
  • To make a judgment about something
  • To give someone or something a name
  • To guess in advance the result or outcome
  • To visit a place or person for a short time
  • To phone someone
  • To speak, announce or shout in a loud voice

milk

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US / mɪlk /

UK / mɪlk /

A1
  • noun
  • White liquid produced by females to feed babies
  • verb
  • To take white liquid from cows etc. to drink
  • To take as much from a person/situation as you can

hate

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US / heɪt /

UK / het /

A1
  • noun
  • Severe, deep sense of dislike or anger
  • An object that you hate
  • verb
  • To have a very strong feeling of dislike for

out

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US / aʊt /

UK / aʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • No longer stylish (e.g. fashion)
  • Away from home, business, or the usual place
  • In a direction/movement away from inside or center
  • noun
  • Act when a batter cannot continue playing
  • verb
  • To tell people a secret

screen

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US / skri:n /

UK / skrin /

A2
  • noun
  • Wire net in a door or window to keep insects out
  • Displays in a theater on which movies are shown
  • Flat surface on a computer or TV showing images
  • verb
  • To hide or block something from being seen
  • To examine to find something, e.g. best candidate

propagate

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US / 'prɒpəɡeɪt /

UK / ˈprɑpəˌɡet /

B2
  • verb
  • To make an idea known by many people
  • To make new plants from parts of another one

come

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US / kʌm /

UK / kʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To arrive at a place
  • (Of mail) to be delivered
  • To move toward someone; go with someone
  • To reach a certain point or state

couple

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US / 'kʌpl /

UK / ˈkʌpəl /

A2
  • noun
  • Two people in a romantic relationship
  • Two of something; two people; a pair
  • verb
  • To join something to something else
  • (Two animals) to engage in sexual relations
  • To put two people or things together

culture

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US / 'kʌltʃə(r) /

UK / ˈkʌltʃɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Beliefs and customs of a particular group

perhaps

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US / pəˈhæps /

UK / pɚˈhæps /

A1
  • adverb
  • Possibly, but not certainly; maybe

only

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US / ˈəunli /

UK / ˈonli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Just one; just that amount or thing; not more than
  • Not very important or serious
  • Just that type of thing, person
  • Short time ago; not before a certain time
  • conjunction
  • Except; but

any

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US / 'enɪ /

UK / ˈɛni /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One, or some, no matter which
  • pronoun
  • One (thing) of many; some

charismatic

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US / ˌkærɪzˈmætɪk /

UK / ˌkærɪzˈmætɪk /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Able to attract and make them like you

brainer

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US / 'eɪdʒənsɪ /

UK / ˈedʒənsi /

A1

kid

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US / kɪd /

UK / kɪd /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Made from young goat skin
  • noun
  • Child or young person
  • Young goat
  • verb
  • To make fun of someone in a gentle way; to tease

from

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US / frəm /

UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /

A1
  • preposition
  • Starting at a particular place, time or level

most

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US / məʊst /

UK / most /

A1
  • adverb
  • Very; extremely
  • Greatest possible degree
  • pronoun
  • Nearly all of something

mountie

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US / ˈmaʊnti /

UK / ˈmaʊnti /

A1
  • noun
  • Member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

guy

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US / ɡaɪ /

UK / ɡaɪ /

A1
  • noun
  • Man; boy; any person

policy

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US / 'pɒləsɪ /

UK / ˈpɑlɪsi /

A2
  • noun
  • Document stating terms of an insurance agreement
  • Course of action proposed by an organization, etc.

humility

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US / hju:ˈmɪləti /

UK / hjuˈmɪlɪti /

B2
  • noun
  • Quality of not feeling better than others

proof

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US / pru:f /

UK / pruf /

A2
  • noun
  • Act of showing that something exists or is true
  • Version of a document to be checked for errors
  • Special coating that protects something
  • Something which shows that something else is true
  • verb
  • To read a written work to check for mistakes
  • To protect by painting on a special coating

presidential

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US / ˌprezɪ'denʃl /

UK / ˌprɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the president

imperfect

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US / ɪmˈpɜ:fɪkt /

UK / ɪmˈpə:fɪkt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Not being perfect or complete; having a mistake

failure

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US / ˈfeɪljə(r) /

UK / 'feɪljər /

A1
  • noun
  • When things go wrong; lack of function
  • Act or result of not achieving your goals

chocolate

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US / ˈtʃɒklət /

UK / ˈtʃɑ:klət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being made from cocoa beans
  • noun
  • Hard brown candy made from cocoa beans

flat

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US / flæt /

UK / flæt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Level; even; without curves or bumps
  • Lifeless; lacking energy or vitality
  • adverb
  • In a certain, direct or absolute manner
  • Against a surface without lifting or curving away
  • noun
  • Apartment; set of rooms for living in
  • The smooth or level part of something
  • Musical tone lower than another by a small degree
  • verb
  • To share an apartment with someone

leave

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US / li:v /

UK / liv /

A1
  • noun
  • Permission to do something
  • Vacation time; time off work
  • verb
  • To go away from; depart
  • To gift property to someone after you die
  • To allow something to continue happening
  • To let something remain unused or available
  • To let something or someone remain somewhere

anything

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US / ˈeniθɪŋ /

UK / ˈɛniˌθɪŋ /

A1
  • pronoun
  • A thing of any kind

something

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US / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

UK / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

A1
  • adverb
  • In some degree or measure
  • noun
  • a person or thing of some value or consequence
  • pronoun
  • Thing that is not yet known or named
  • Approximately

gift

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US / gɪft /

UK / ɡɪft /

A2
  • noun
  • Something given to another for a reason; present
  • Special skill or natural ability to do something

beyond

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US / bɪ'jɒnd /

UK / biˈɑnd, bɪˈjɑnd /

A2
  • adverb
  • On or to the farther side
  • In addition to
  • preposition
  • Later in time than
  • Out of the limits of

medium

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US / 'mi:dɪəm /

UK / ˈmidiəm /

A2
  • noun
  • Method of expressing ideas or feelings
  • Something available in a middle size or condition
  • Person who claims to communicate with the dead

win

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US / wɪn /

UK / wɪn /

A1
  • noun
  • Success in beating the other team or competitors
  • Success in a game or contest
  • verb
  • To get something as a prize because of a success
  • To gain something you want because of your efforts
  • To succeed in a game or contest

fire

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US / 'faɪə(r) /

UK / faɪr /

A1
  • noun
  • Heat and the flame produced when burning
  • Intense energy for or about something
  • verb
  • To apply heat to something to make it hard
  • To make a person leave their job; dismiss
  • To shoot a gun or weapon
  • To launch something into the sky, e.g. a rocket
  • To start working on something e.g. a project

shut

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US / ʃʌt /

UK / ʃʌt /

A2
  • verb
  • To stop being open for business
  • To close something, e.g. a door

least

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US / li:st /

UK / list /

A1
  • adverb
  • In the smallest or lowest way
  • noun
  • Something that is of the lowest or smallest degree

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

even

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US / 'i:vn /

UK / ˈivən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in influence, power, possibility etc.
  • Being divided equally or fairly
  • (Of teams/contest) with similar chances of success
  • Smooth, level, or regular
  • Can be divided by 2; ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0
  • At a regular, equally steady manner
  • Remaining steady and unchanging
  • adverb
  • (When this is surprising) as well; too
  • (Used to compare two things/stress the difference)
  • verb
  • To make something level; to flatten
  • To make something equal

suck

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US / sʌk /

UK / sʌk /

B1
  • noun
  • Drawing of liquid into a tube or hole
  • phrasal verb
  • To trick or deceive someone into doing something
  • verb
  • To be very bad, undesirable or unpleasant
  • To be very bad, undesirable, or unpleasant
  • To pull or remove something with great power
  • To attract someone; make someone interested
  • To draw into your mouth through a small hole

tell

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US / tel /

UK / tɛl /

A1
  • verb
  • To (strongly) advise a person to do something
  • To be able to guess
  • To say or communicate information to someone
  • To inform, but without speaking; indicate
  • To have a negative effect on someone
  • To order someone to do something; command
  • To recognize something based on certain signs
  • To report something to an authority
  • To explain something or teach someone something

irrefutable

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US / ˌɪrɪˈfju:təbl /

UK / ɪˈrɛfjətəbəl, ˌɪrɪˈfju- /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Impossible to deny or disprove

right

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US / raɪt /

UK / raɪt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Correct or true
  • The south side of you looking at the rising sun
  • adverb
  • Exactly in a place or time
  • Being appropriate for a particular event
  • In a straight or direct manner
  • noun
  • Something you are legally or morally allowed to do
  • Ideal of what is just and good
  • Political view based on conservatism
  • verb
  • To fix something previously wrong or unjust
  • To make upright, as a boat that has turned over

aphrodisiac

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US / ˌæfrəˈdɪziæk /

UK / ˌæfrəˈdɪziˌæk, -ˈdizi- /

C1
  • noun
  • Exciting sexual desire

people

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US / 'pi:pl /

UK / ˈpipəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Persons sharing culture, country, background, etc.
  • Men, Women, Children

then

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US / ðen /

UK / ðɛn /

A1
  • adverb
  • A time that is not now
  • Following another thing in time or arrangement
  • Following on reasonably from what was just stated
  • At that time, not now

own

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US / əʊn /

UK / on /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Belong to oneself
  • determiner
  • Yours, his, hers, etc.; not belonging to another
  • pronoun
  • (Something) belong to myself
  • verb
  • To have something as your property

about

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US / ə'baʊt /

UK / əˈbaʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • To be ready to; going to
  • Nearly; approximately; roughly
  • Near; next to; close to
  • In every direction; in the area of
  • preposition
  • Concerning or of (a topic)

different

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US / ˈdɪfrənt /

UK / ˈdɪfrənt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not of the same kind; unlike other things

step

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US / step /

UK / stɛp /

A1
  • noun
  • Movement done as part of a particular dance
  • Distance covered by one movement of a leg; stride
  • One part or stage in a process
  • Sound made by the feet while walking; footstep
  • Flat horizontal piece that forms stairs
  • verb
  • To raise and moving the foot to put it down

like

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US / laɪk /

UK / laɪk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in status or kind to something else
  • Similar; the same
  • adverb
  • For example
  • preposition
  • Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
  • In a way similar to the way something is done
  • Such as; for example
  • verb
  • To want to
  • To find something pleasing; to prefer something

hard

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US / hɑ:d /

UK / hɑː(r)d /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Difficult to do; difficult to understand
  • (Of facts) not able to be misunderstood; clear
  • (Of alcohol) strong
  • Involving or requiring lots of work, effort, care
  • Being full of pain, trouble, and problems
  • Strong
  • (Of edge) clear; sharp
  • Difficult to bend, break or cut; solid
  • adverb
  • With lots of force, power, or impact

bias

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US / 'baɪəs /

UK / ˈbaɪəs /

B1
  • noun
  • Preference to believe things even if incorrect
  • verb
  • To unfairly favor one view over another

ground

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US / graʊnd /

UK / ɡraʊnd /

A1
  • noun
  • Connection of electrical equipment to earth
  • Place where people play particular sports
  • Solid surface of the earth that we stand on
  • verb
  • To break (coffee, etc.) into tiny bits with machine
  • To make loud jarring noise by pressing hard
  • To make sharp or smooth through friction
  • To press together with force making a sound
  • To punish someone by not allowing them to go out
  • To hit the bottom
  • (Of boat) to hit the bottom so it cannot move
  • To prevent a plane from taking off
  • To place the ball over the goal line in rugby

get

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US / ɡet /

UK / ɡɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To become affected by illness or disease
  • To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
  • To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
  • To go somewhere to obtain something
  • To (cause to) do a particular thing
  • To obtain, receive or be given something
  • To currently have
  • To prepare for use
  • To understand something being said or read

what

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US / wɒt /

UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Thing or things that; the same kind as
  • Used to emphasize something you are about to say
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
  • Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
  • adverb
  • To a certain degree
  • determiner
  • Question words used for asking for information
  • exclamation
  • Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
  • Used to ask people to repeat something they said

mean

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US / mi:n /

UK / min /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being good at
  • Nasty; unkind
  • Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
  • noun
  • Average of a set of numbers
  • verb
  • To express a particular idea or thought
  • To intend to do something in particular
  • To have a particular meaning or value

phase

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US / feɪz /

UK / fez /

A2
  • noun
  • Different stages of the moon from new to full
  • Distinct part or step in a process
  • One stage of a process or series of stages
  • verb
  • To make happen in a gradual ordered way

great

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US / ɡreɪt /

UK / ɡret /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Very large in size
  • Very important
  • Very good; fantastic; wonderful
  • adverb
  • Very good; better than before
  • noun
  • Successful and well-admired person

place

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US / pleɪs /

UK / ples /

A1
  • noun
  • Particular location, area or region
  • verb
  • To put someone in a particular type of situation
  • To put something in a certain location or position

cesspit

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US / ˈsespɪt /

UK / ˈsespɪt /

A1
  • noun

expand

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US / ɪk'spænd /

UK / ɪkˈspænd /

A2
  • verb
  • To make something larger in size, number, amount

civil

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US / ˈsɪvl /

UK / ˈsɪvəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Of citizens of a country; not military, criminal
  • Acting in a polite, but not truly friendly manner

frankly

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US / ˈfræŋkli /

UK / ˈfræŋkli /

B2
  • adverb
  • Speaking honestly and directly
  • Subtitles section
  • When Ted asked me to be a part of this democracy event, I was flattered.
  • When they told me it was a pro democracy event, I paused.
  • Like, really?
  • We still think this is a good idea?
  • Giving everyone a voice?
  • Have you talked to everyone?
  • One in ten Americans believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows.
  • We want those people weighing in on foreign policy.
  • I guess if democracy is hearing from the voice of the people, consider me skeptical of that conversation.
  • Because I think we're incapable of having it.
  • Any conversation.
  • And not just in America.
  • Globally, we're tuning people out.
  • Frankly, we're bad at talking to other people.
  • Didn't always used to be this way.
  • In the old days, it came naturally.
  • We would talk to folks, we would negotiate over food or childcare so your kid didn't get eaten by a bear or run off and invent fire.
  • But since then, it's gotten harder, more difficult.
  • Screens have placed an impediment between people and thought.
  • Partisanship has made talking to someone outside of your own POV traumatic.
  • Now, talking to somebody with a different point of view than yourself is to be avoided at all costs.
  • It's like paying taxes.
  • You should do it, but if you can avoid it, it makes you smart.
  • It's an awful time for conversations, so much so that even right now, I've opted for a lecture.
  • I won't be taking questions.
  • I find it easier to speak at you.
  • So how do we get here?
  • Well, as someone in their forties, I'm legally obligated to point the finger at social media.
  • The cultural conversations we have are dictated by the forums we have them in.
  • And all of those forums, they just push us towards short, loud outbursts.
  • Maximum volume, short duration.
  • Now, even right now, this TED Talk is only seven minutes.
  • I remember when TED Talks used to be at ten minutes long.
  • Now you have to communicate the economics between behind climate catastrophe and the time it takes for a potty break.
  • Not great, guys.
  • Not great.
  • I remember the good old days when TED Talks used to be Theodore discussions.
  • A year from now, they're just gonna be T's gifts.
  • So, how do we get better at talking to one another?
  • If democracy depends on discourse, on compromise, how do we have civil conversations?
  • Well, the long answer is destroy the bias of social media and the cesspool of misinformation that is propagated by the entertainment machine that dominates our politics and discourse.
  • I could tell you how to do that, but Ted only gave me seven minutes, so.
  • Sorry, maybe next time it would have cleared everything up.
  • But in the four minutes, well, the four minutes we have left, I'll give you a few tips of what you can do now.
  • The three tips for how to be slightly better at talking to a human you disagree with.
  • One, read a book, easy.
  • You're not as smart as you think you are.
  • Get inside the head of someone else.
  • And make it a long book.
  • We need to expand our attention beyond just TikToks.
  • Two, travel.
  • Mark Twain said it best.
  • Bias is reduced by travel.
  • It's the easiest way.
  • As a kid who grew up in Michigan, I hated Ohio.
  • And then I traveled there.
  • And you know what?
  • I still hate Ohio.
  • but now I know what Akron smells like.
  • So I guess progress, I think.
  • And three, concede something.
  • There's a biggie, concession.
  • You have to give something up.
  • You're not as smart as you think you are.
  • Concession is crucial to democracy.
  • To concede comes from the Latin consensus, which means to find agreement.
  • And if you challenge me on that, I would concede.
  • Because I totally made that up.
  • That's how this thing works, you know?
  • Even upstanding, charismatic people like myself are full of shit.
  • Like many of us, I find my desire to be seen as smart outweighs my desire to shut up when I don't know what I'm talking about.
  • It's hard for Americans to shut up when they don't know what they're talking about.
  • When you make politics a sport, then everything becomes win or lose.
  • Every conversation becomes a negotiation over field position.
  • Our guards are up.
  • We're defensive.
  • We're afraid of getting punched in the face.
  • We think our strongest weapon is our certainty, but the most relatable thing about us is our failure.
  • Has no one here been to therapy?
  • It's all there.
  • And democracy in a bipartisan country is like a marriage.
  • And in America, we are at the couples counseling phase.
  • America, you've made some mistakes.
  • Republicans, maybe vaccines aren't the work of the devil.
  • Democrats, maybe Portland does suck.
  • Canada, Canada, it's twenty twenty three.
  • You can't call your police Mounties, all right?
  • We're imperfect.
  • We have to accept that.
  • It's hard to say you don't know, but it can also be liberating.
  • Like, I don't know how to throw away batteries.
  • I don't.
  • I don't know what forty percent chance of rain means.
  • Does it mean it's a forty percent chance it will rain or that it's going to rain, only forty percent chance it's hard?
  • I don't know.
  • I don't know.
  • I don't.
  • But it's liberating.
  • We need to, we need to concede a little on everything except for gun safety reform.
  • That's a no brainer.
  • But everything else, and climate.
  • See, it's tough.
  • It's hard.
  • It's hard.
  • We're not very good at it.
  • It's not popular to concede.
  • In America, there's a big chunk of the population right now who hasn't conceded the last presidential election.
  • It's hard to give any ground when you can't agree that the earth you stand on is either round or flat.
  • But, but perhaps a gesture of understanding, if not towards irrefutable facts, but to your own uncertainty is a step towards progress.
  • I think the phrase I don't know invites a softening, and the ground is too hard to grow much of anything right now.
  • What I think, in order for American democracy to survive, we need a culture of vulnerability, or at least a space in that culture for vulnerability.
  • The good news is being wrong is sexy.
  • Failure is an aphrodisiac.
  • Every person who has ever loved me has told me how much of a loser I am.
  • The proof is in the pudding.
  • And if conceding is too much for you, if that feels weak, okay, don't think of it as conceding.
  • Think of it as gamesmanship.
  • You're setting a trap.
  • Trap them with your vulnerability.
  • Hypnotize them with your humility.
  • Distract them with your failure.
  • And as they begin to reveal themselves to you in your uncertainty, smash those fools.
  • In the game of democracy, in order to win, we may have to start with a loss.
  • But what do I know?
  • I could be wrong.
  • Thank you.