Word of the day for students: 366 words with meaning and sentence

Pick a word for the morning assembly: hear it, spell it and read out a ready script. Every word has a meaning and an example sentence, grouped by level. Today’s word is screenshot.

See your level first: vocabulary test

Choose a word

screenshot

noun

Spelling s-c-r-e-e-n-s-h-o-t

A picture of what is on your phone or computer screen at one moment.

I took a screenshot of the receipt.

Assembly script

About 40 seconds to read out

Good morning, everyone. Today’s word of the day is “screenshot”. It is spelled s-c-r-e-e-n-s-h-o-t. It is a noun. It means a picture of what is on your phone or computer screen at one moment. For example: “I took a screenshot of the receipt.” Let’s all try to use the word “screenshot” today.

How to present it

Greet and announce. “Good morning, everyone. Today’s word of the day is…”
Say it slowly, then spell it. Press the speaker to hear it first. Spell it in small groups of letters.
Say what kind of word it is. Noun, verb or adjective: it tells everyone how to use it.
Read the meaning and one sentence. Keep to one meaning and one clear example.
Invite everyone to use it. “Let’s all try to use it today.” Ask the class about it at the end of the day.

366 words of the day with meaning and sentence

Grouped by level, A to Z. Press “Present it” to put a word in the presenter above; open a word for its notes and five practice questions.

B1 words (30)

Word	Type	Meaning	Sentence
afford	verb	To have enough money or time to buy or do something.	We can’t afford a new car this year.
allergic	adjective	Having a bad reaction, such as itching, sneezing or swelling, when you eat, touch or breathe in a particular thing.	I’m allergic to cats.
appointment	noun	A time you arrange to meet a doctor, dentist or other professional.	I have a doctor’s appointment at three o’clock.
bill	noun	A written request for money you must pay for goods or services, such as electricity or a meal.	The electricity bill is higher this month.
boarding pass	noun	A paper or phone ticket you show to get on a plane, with your seat and flight details.	Please have your boarding pass ready at the gate.
budget	noun	The amount of money you have available to spend, or a plan for how to spend it.	We have a small budget for this project.
check-up	noun	A general medical or dental examination to make sure you are healthy, even when you do not feel ill.	I go to the dentist for a check-up twice a year.
chore	noun	A small job you have to do regularly at home, such as washing the dishes or taking out the rubbish. It also means any boring task.	We share the chores: I cook and he does the laundry.
curious	adjective	Wanting to know or learn about something. It can also mean strange or unusual.	Children are curious about everything.
departure	noun	The act of leaving a place, especially at the start of a journey. At an airport or a station, departures are the planes or trains that are leaving.	Please arrive at the airport two hours before departure.
disappointed	adjective	Sad because something was not as good as you hoped or did not happen.	I was disappointed with the film.
download	verb	To copy a file from the internet onto your own phone or computer.	I downloaded the app on my phone.
flavour	noun	How a food or drink tastes, for example sweet, salty or smoky. A flavour is also one kind of taste you can choose, like the flavours of ice cream.	This soup has a lovely smoky flavour.
grateful	adjective	Feeling or showing thanks because someone has helped you or given you something.	I’m so grateful for your help.
hesitate	verb	To pause before you say or do something, often because you are not sure or feel nervous.	She hesitated for a moment before she answered.
leftovers	noun	Food that is not eaten at a meal and is kept to eat later.	We had leftovers from Sunday’s dinner for lunch.
lonely	adjective	Sad because you have no friends or people to be with.	He felt lonely in the big city.
luggage	noun	The bags and suitcases that you take with you when you travel.	The airline lost my luggage on the way to Rome.
nervous	adjective	Slightly afraid or worried about something that is going to happen.	I’m nervous about my driving test tomorrow.
persuade	verb	To make someone agree to do or believe something by giving them good reasons.	I persuaded my brother to come with us.
platform	noun	The raised area next to a railway track where passengers wait for and get on trains.	The train to Leeds leaves from platform 4.
promotion	noun	A move to a more senior job in the same company, usually with more pay and responsibility.	She got a promotion after only two years.
recipe	noun	A set of instructions that tells you how to cook a particular dish.	Can you give me the recipe for this cake?
reliable	adjective	Something reliable works well every time. Someone reliable does what they say they will do, so you can trust them.	My old car is slow but very reliable.
screenshot	noun	A picture of what is on your phone or computer screen at one moment.	I took a screenshot of the receipt.
software	noun	The programs and apps that run on a computer or phone, not the physical parts.	I installed new software on my laptop.
symptom	noun	A sign of an illness, for example a fever, a cough or a headache. It can also mean a sign of a bigger problem.	The most common symptoms are a cough and a sore throat.
tip	noun	A small extra amount of money that you give to a waiter, driver or guide to thank them for good service.	We left a ten percent tip for the waiter.
update	noun	A new version of a program or app that fixes problems or adds small improvements.	There’s a new update for my phone.
visa	noun	An official stamp or document that lets you enter, stay in or work in a foreign country for a time.	Do I need a visa to visit Japan?

B2 words (150)

Word	Type	Meaning	Sentence
accommodation	noun	A place to stay while you travel, such as a hotel, a hostel or an apartment.	The price includes flights and accommodation.
acknowledge	verb	To accept or admit that something is true. It can also mean to show that you have noticed someone or received something.	He acknowledged that he had made a mistake.
agenda	noun	A list of the things to be discussed at a meeting, in the order you will discuss them.	Please send the agenda before the meeting starts.
apologise	verb	To say sorry for something you did wrong.	I apologised to her for being late.
applicant	noun	A person who formally asks for a job, a place on a course or something else, usually in writing.	There were over a hundred applicants for the job.
attachment	noun	A file that you send with an email.	I’ve sent the contract as an attachment.
awkward	adjective	Making you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. It can also mean difficult to do, use or deal with.	There was an awkward silence after his joke.
back up	phrasal verb	To make an extra copy of your files or data, so you do not lose them if something goes wrong.	Back up your phone before you update it.
backpacker	noun	A person who travels cheaply, carrying a rucksack and staying in simple places.	The hostel was full of young backpackers.
baggage claim	noun	The area in an airport where you collect your bags after a flight.	Meet me at baggage claim after you land.
bargain	noun	Something you buy for less than its normal price.	At ten euros, the jacket was a bargain.
bleed	verb	To lose blood from the body.	My finger is bleeding. Do you have a plaster?
bookmark	noun	A saved link to a web page that lets you return to it quickly.	I made a bookmark of the recipe page.
brainstorm	verb	To think of many ideas quickly, often in a group, before you decide which ones are good.	Let’s brainstorm some names for the new café.
brunch	noun	A meal in the late morning that replaces both breakfast and lunch.	Let’s meet for brunch on Sunday.
buffering	noun	The short stops in a video or song while your device waits for more data to load.	The video keeps buffering, so I’ll watch it later.
bug	noun	A mistake in a program that makes it behave in the wrong way.	The update fixed a bug in the login screen.
clarify	verb	To make something easier to understand by giving more detail or by explaining it again.	Could you clarify what you mean by next week?
commute	verb	To travel regularly between your home and your work or school. As a noun, a commute is that journey.	I commute to the city by train every day.
competitor	noun	A person or company that tries to win the same customers or prizes as you.	Our main competitor just lowered its prices.
compromise	noun	An agreement in which each side gives up something it wanted so that both can accept the result.	We found a compromise on the price.
cope	verb	To deal successfully with something difficult.	How do you cope with stress?
cosy	adjective	Warm, comfortable and relaxing, especially a small place.	We spent a cosy evening by the fire.
crash	verb	When a program or a computer suddenly stops working and closes.	The app crashed when I opened the file.
craving	noun	A very strong wish for a particular food or thing.	I have a craving for chocolate.
currency	noun	The money used in a country, such as the euro, the dollar or the yen.	What is the local currency in Thailand?
customs	noun	The place at a border or airport where officers check what you are bringing into the country.	We went through customs and picked up our bags.
deadline	noun	The latest time or date by which you must finish something.	The deadline for applications is 30 November.
delay	noun	A period of time when something happens later than planned.	There was a two-hour delay at the airport.
delivery	noun	Bringing goods to a person’s home or workplace.	The delivery will arrive between nine and noon.
deposit	noun	Money you pay at the start, to keep a flat, a hotel room or a product, which you may get back later.	I paid a month’s rent as a deposit.
destination	noun	The place where a person or thing is going, especially at the end of a journey.	Our final destination is Lisbon.
discount	noun	A reduction in the usual price of something.	Students get a ten percent discount.
DIY	noun	Making or repairing things in your home yourself, instead of paying a professional.	He loves DIY and built the shelves himself.
dizzy	adjective	Feeling as if everything is spinning, and that you might fall.	I felt dizzy when I stood up too fast.
embarrassed	adjective	Feeling shy, awkward or ashamed because of something that happened in front of other people.	I was so embarrassed when I forgot his name.
emoji	noun	A small picture, like a smiling face, that you add to a message to show a feeling or an idea.	She ended her text with a smiley emoji.
errand	noun	A short trip to do a small job, such as posting a letter or buying milk.	I have a few errands to run this afternoon.
exchange rate	noun	The value of one country’s money compared with another’s.	The exchange rate is good for tourists this month.
expense	noun	Money that you spend on something, especially for your job, your home or your business.	Hotel and food are at the company’s expense.
expire	verb	To stop being valid because the date for using it has passed.	My passport expires next month.
feature	noun	A useful or interesting part of a product, such as a camera on a phone or a search tool in an app.	The new feature lets you edit a message after sending it.
feedback	noun	Comments about someone’s work or actions that tell them what was good and what could be better.	Thanks for the feedback on my presentation.
fever	noun	A body temperature that is higher than normal, usually because of an infection.	She has a high fever and needs rest.
flatmate	noun	A person you share a flat or apartment with, who is not your family.	My flatmate and I split the rent.
follow up	phrasal verb	To do something more after a first step, for example to contact someone again about an email, a meeting or a job application.	I’ll follow up with an email after the call.
forgive	verb	To stop being angry with someone who has done something wrong.	I’ll never forgive him for what he said.
freelance	adjective	Working for yourself and being paid by the job, instead of working for one company all the time.	She works as a freelance photographer.
freeze	verb	When a screen or program stops moving and does not respond to anything you do.	My laptop keeps freezing when I type.
frustrated	adjective	Annoyed because you cannot do or change what you want.	I’m frustrated because the website keeps crashing.
gadget	noun	A small electronic or mechanical device that does a useful job.	He loves new gadgets like smart watches.
genuine	adjective	Real and true, not fake. A genuine person is honest and means what they say.	Is this genuine leather?
glitch	noun	A small fault that stops something, usually a machine or an app, from working properly for a short time.	A glitch in the app logged everyone out.
groceries	noun	The food and other things you buy in a supermarket for your home.	I put the groceries on the kitchen table.
guilty	adjective	Feeling bad because you think you have done something wrong.	I feel guilty about forgetting her birthday.
hacker	noun	A person who gets into other people’s computers or accounts without permission.	A hacker stole thousands of passwords.
hashtag	noun	A word or phrase with the # sign in front of it, used on social media to group posts about one topic.	She added a hashtag to her photo.
heal	verb	To become healthy again, or to make something healthy again, when talking about a wound, a bone or a feeling.	The cut will heal in a few days.
hike	noun	A long walk in the countryside or in the mountains.	We went on a hike up the hill.
homesick	adjective	Sad because you are away from home and miss your family, friends and familiar places.	I felt homesick during my first week abroad.
hostel	noun	A cheap place to stay where you often share a room with other travellers.	We stayed in a youth hostel near the beach.
immigration	noun	The place where officers check your passport when you enter a country, and also the process of moving to live in a new country.	The queue for immigration was very long.
impatient	adjective	Annoyed because you have to wait or because something is slow.	The customers got impatient in the long queue.
ingredient	noun	One of the foods that you use to make a dish.	Flour, eggs and sugar are the main ingredients.
injury	noun	Damage to a part of your body, for example from an accident or a fall.	He missed the match because of a knee injury.
install	verb	To put a program or app on a device so that you can use it.	I installed the new game last night.
insurance	noun	An arrangement where you pay regular money to a company, and it pays you if something bad happens, such as an accident or a lost bag.	Do you have travel insurance for your trip?
internship	noun	A short job, often unpaid or low-paid, that a student or new graduate does to gain experience.	She did a three-month internship at a design studio.
invoice	noun	A document that lists the goods or services you provided and the money the customer must pay.	I’ll send you the invoice by the end of the week.
itinerary	noun	A detailed plan of a journey: where you will go, when, and how you will travel.	The travel agent emailed us the full itinerary.
jealous	adjective	Feeling unhappy because someone has something you want, or because you are afraid of losing someone’s love.	I’m jealous of your new bike.
jet lag	noun	The tired, confused feeling you get after a long flight across time zones, because your body clock has not caught up.	I had terrible jet lag for three days after flying to Tokyo.
landlord	noun	A person who owns a house or flat and rents it to someone else.	My landlord is fixing the heating this week.
landmark	noun	A building or place that is easy to see and recognise, often a famous one. It can also mean an important event or change.	The Eiffel Tower is the most famous landmark in Paris.
laundry	noun	Clothes that need to be washed, or that have just been washed.	I do the laundry every Sunday.
layover	noun	A stop between two flights on the same journey, when you wait at an airport for your next plane.	We have a three-hour layover in Doha.
mental health	noun	The state of your thoughts and feelings, and how well you are coping with life.	Mental health is as important as physical health.
negotiate	verb	To talk with someone to reach an agreement, for example about a price, a salary or a deal.	We negotiated a better price for the flat.
neighbourhood	noun	The part of a town where you live and the people who live there.	It’s a quiet neighbourhood with a small park.
notification	noun	A short message that appears on your phone or computer to tell you something new has happened.	I got a notification from my bank.
offline	adjective	Not connected to the internet.	You can read these articles offline.
optimistic	adjective	Expecting good things to happen in the future.	I’m optimistic about the interview.
outgoing	adjective	Friendly, open and enjoying meeting people.	She’s outgoing and makes friends easily.
overtime	noun	Time you work after your normal hours, or the extra pay you get for it.	I worked overtime every day before the launch.
overwhelmed	adjective	Feeling that you have too much to deal with, or feeling an emotion so strongly that it is hard to control.	I felt overwhelmed in my first week at the new job.
owe	verb	To have to pay money back to someone, or to be in debt to someone.	I owe my brother twenty euros.
painkiller	noun	A medicine that reduces pain.	I took a painkiller for my headache.
parcel	noun	Something wrapped in paper or put in a box, to be sent by post.	A parcel arrived for you this morning.
patch	noun	A small piece of code added to a program to fix a problem or close a security hole.	The company released a patch to fix the crash.
plumber	noun	A person whose job is to fit and repair pipes, taps and toilets.	We called a plumber to fix the leak.
pop-up	noun	A small window that suddenly appears on a screen, often with an advert or a question.	A pop-up asked me to subscribe to the newsletter.
postpone	verb	To move an event or a task to a later time than planned.	The match was postponed because of heavy rain.
prescription	noun	A doctor’s written instruction that lets you get a particular medicine from a pharmacy.	The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics.
prioritise	verb	To decide which things are most important and deal with them first.	I need to prioritise my work this week.
privacy	noun	The right to keep your personal information and your private life away from other people.	I care about my online privacy.
productivity	noun	How much good work a person, a team or a machine can do in a given time.	Our productivity went up when we changed the schedule.
punctual	adjective	Arriving or doing something at exactly the time agreed, neither late nor early.	She is always punctual for meetings.
queue	noun	A line of people waiting for something, one behind the other.	There was a long queue at the passport desk.
receipt	noun	A piece of paper that shows you have paid for something.	Keep the receipt in case you want to return it.
recover	verb	To get well again after an illness or an injury.	She is recovering from the flu.
recycle	verb	To process used things such as paper, glass or plastic so they can be used again.	We recycle glass and paper at home.
refresh	verb	To load a web page again so that it shows the newest information.	Refresh the page if it doesn’t load.
refund	noun	Money that is given back to you when you return something or cancel a service.	The airline gave us a full refund.
regret	verb	To feel sorry or sad about something that you did or did not do.	I regret not studying harder at school.
relieved	adjective	Feeling calmer and happier because something bad or worrying did not happen or has ended.	I was so relieved when I heard the good news.
reluctant	adjective	Not wanting to do something, so you do it slowly or only because you have to.	He was reluctant to admit he was wrong.
remote	adjective	Far away from towns and other people.	We stayed in a remote village in the mountains.
reschedule	verb	To change the time or date of something that was planned, to a new one.	Can we reschedule our meeting to Thursday?
reservation	noun	An arrangement to keep a hotel room, a table or a seat for you.	I made a reservation for two at eight o’clock.
resign	verb	To tell your employer officially that you are leaving your job.	He resigned last week to start his own company.
revenue	noun	The money a company earns from selling its goods or services, before costs are taken away.	The shop’s revenue rose by ten percent last year.
route	noun	The way you go from one place to another.	Which route do you take to work?
router	noun	A small device at home that connects your computers and phones to the internet.	Unplug the router and plug it in again.
routine	noun	The things you do regularly in the same order every day or week.	My morning routine is the same every day.
savings	noun	Money that you keep in a bank for the future, not spend now.	I’m using my savings to buy a car.
second-hand	adjective	Used before by someone else, not new.	I bought a second-hand bike for forty euros.
sensitive	adjective	Easily upset or hurt, or quick to notice and understand other people’s feelings.	He is very sensitive about his weight.
settings	noun	The options on a phone, app or computer that let you choose how it works.	Open the settings and turn on dark mode.
shortcut	noun	A quicker way to do something on a computer or to get somewhere.	Ctrl+C is a keyboard shortcut for copying.
side effect	noun	An unwanted result of a medicine, in addition to the way it helps you.	One side effect of this medicine is sleepiness.
sightseeing	noun	Visiting interesting places in a town or country as a tourist.	We spent the whole day sightseeing in Prague.
sneeze	verb	To suddenly blow air out of your nose and mouth, because something irritates your nose.	I always sneeze when it’s dusty.
sore	adjective	Painful, especially after exercise or when something is irritated.	My legs are sore after the run.
souvenir	noun	Something you buy or keep to remember a place or a trip.	I bought a small teapot as a souvenir.
spam	noun	Unwanted emails or messages, usually advertising, sent to many people.	My inbox is full of spam.
sprain	verb	To hurt a joint, such as your ankle or wrist, by twisting it suddenly, so it swells and hurts but is not broken.	I sprained my ankle playing football.
stain	noun	A mark that is difficult to remove, made by something like coffee, wine or grease.	I can’t get this coffee stain out of my shirt.
storage	noun	The space on a device or online where files, photos and apps are kept.	My phone has almost no storage left.
stranded	adjective	Left in a place and unable to leave, for example because transport has stopped or you have no money.	We were stranded at the airport for two days.
stream	verb	To watch or listen to something on the internet as it plays, without saving it first.	I stream music on my phone every day.
stress	noun	A feeling of pressure or worry caused by problems in your life.	I’m under a lot of stress at work.
stretch	verb	To pull your muscles or limbs out to make them longer and looser.	I stretch for ten minutes before I run.
stubborn	adjective	Refusing to change your mind or way of doing things, even when other people ask you to.	My father is too stubborn to see a doctor.
subscription	noun	Money you pay regularly to use a service, such as a streaming site or a magazine.	I cancelled my subscription to the music app.
sweat	verb	To produce water on your skin because of heat, exercise or nerves.	I sweat a lot when I run.
takeaway	noun	Hot food that you buy in a restaurant and take home to eat, or the shop that sells it.	Let’s get a takeaway tonight.
thorough	adjective	Done carefully and completely, with attention to every detail.	The police carried out a thorough search of the house.
thrilled	adjective	Extremely happy and excited.	I’m thrilled to see you again.
timetable	noun	A list that shows the times when buses, trains or planes leave and arrive.	According to the timetable, the next bus is at nine.
tourism	noun	The business of providing services for people who travel for pleasure, such as hotels, tours and transport.	Tourism is the main source of income on the island.
treatment	noun	Medical care given to a person to cure an illness or reduce pain.	She is receiving treatment for a back problem.
upload	verb	To send a file from your phone or computer to the internet, for example to a website.	I uploaded my photos to the shared album.
vacancy	noun	A room in a hotel or a job that is free and available.	The sign in the window said “No vacancies”.
vacuum	verb	To clean a floor or carpet with a machine that sucks up dust.	I vacuum the living room on Saturdays.
valid	adjective	Officially acceptable and still allowed to be used, for example a passport or a ticket.	Is your passport valid for six more months?
vivid	adjective	Very clear, bright and full of detail, so it seems real. Used for colours, memories, dreams and descriptions.	I have a vivid memory of my first day at school.
wander	verb	To walk slowly around a place without a plan or a fixed destination.	We wandered through the old town all afternoon.
wearable	noun	A small electronic device that you wear, such as a smartwatch or a fitness band.	Wearables can count your steps and sleep.
workload	noun	The amount of work a person or a team has to do.	My workload has doubled since Anna left.
workout	noun	A session of physical exercise to keep fit.	I do a thirty-minute workout every morning.

C1 words (186)

Word	Type	Meaning	Sentence
accountable	adjective	Having to explain or take responsibility for your actions and decisions.	Managers are accountable for their team’s results.
acquaintance	noun	A person you know a little, but who is not a close friend.	We aren’t friends, just acquaintances from work.
algorithm	noun	A set of steps that a computer follows to solve a problem or make a decision.	The app’s algorithm shows you videos you may like.
ambulance	noun	A vehicle that takes sick or injured people to hospital quickly.	Call an ambulance, please. He’s not breathing.
antibiotic	noun	A medicine that kills bacteria and treats infections.	The doctor gave me antibiotics for my throat.
anxiety	noun	A strong feeling of worry or fear about something that might happen.	She felt a wave of anxiety before the exam.
appetite	noun	The wish to eat food.	I’ve lost my appetite since I got the flu.
appliance	noun	A machine for use in the home, such as a washing machine, fridge or kettle.	We bought a new kitchen appliance.
appraisal	noun	A meeting or report in which a manager looks at how well an employee has done their job.	I have my annual appraisal next Tuesday.
arrogant	adjective	Behaving in a proud, rude way because you think you are better than other people.	He’s so arrogant that he never listens to anyone.
ashamed	adjective	Feeling very bad because of something you did, or something you are, that you think is wrong or bad.	I’m ashamed of how I behaved at the party.
attendee	noun	A person who goes to a meeting, an event or a course.	All attendees must sign in at the front desk.
authentic	adjective	Real and true, not a copy or made to look like something else.	We ate authentic Italian pizza in Naples.
automate	verb	To make a machine or program do a job by itself, without a person.	We automated the weekly report.
bandwidth	noun	The amount of data a connection can carry. At work, it also means the time and energy a person has for more tasks.	Video calls use a lot of bandwidth.
betray	verb	To hurt someone who trusts you by doing something disloyal, such as breaking a promise or telling their secret.	He betrayed his best friend by telling her secret.
bittersweet	adjective	Mixing happiness and sadness at the same time.	Graduation day was bittersweet for all of us.
bland	adjective	Having a mild taste with little flavour.	The soup was bland, so I added salt.
blood pressure	noun	The force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels, measured with a cuff on your arm.	The nurse checked my blood pressure.
bond	noun	A strong connection between people, such as between friends or family.	There is a strong bond between the two sisters.
bottleneck	noun	A point in a process where work slows down because too much has to pass through one narrow place.	The approval step is the bottleneck in our process.
breach	noun	An event where private information is seen or stolen by people who should not have it.	The company reported a data breach last week.
breathtaking	adjective	So beautiful or impressive that it surprises you and takes your breath away.	The view from the top was breathtaking.
bruise	noun	A dark mark on the skin where you have hit it, caused by blood under the skin.	I fell and got a big bruise on my leg.
cache	noun	A place on your device where the browser keeps copies of web pages so they open faster next time.	Clear your cache if the page looks wrong.
cancellation	noun	A decision that something planned will not happen, or the act of ending a booking.	The cancellation of our flight ruined the trip.
chatbot	noun	A computer program that talks with you in writing or speech, for example to answer customer questions.	The bank’s chatbot answered my question in seconds.
chronic	adjective	Lasting for a long time or happening again and again, usually describing an illness.	She has chronic back pain.
commission	noun	Extra money a salesperson earns for each thing they sell, usually a percentage of the price.	He earns a small salary plus ten percent commission.
compassion	noun	A feeling of sympathy for someone who is suffering, with a wish to help.	The nurse treated everyone with compassion.
compatible	adjective	Able to work together or be used together without problems.	This charger is compatible with most phones.
compost	noun	Natural material such as vegetable waste that rots and is used to feed plants in a garden.	We put our vegetable peelings in the compost.
consensus	noun	A general agreement among a group of people.	The team reached a consensus after a long discussion.
considerate	adjective	Careful not to upset other people; thinking about their feelings and needs.	It was considerate of you to call ahead.
contagious	adjective	Easily passed from one person to another by touch or by being close.	The flu is very contagious.
content	adjective	Quietly happy and satisfied with what you have.	She seems content with her life.
courage	noun	The ability to do something difficult or frightening.	It took courage to speak up in the meeting.
cramp	noun	A sudden painful tightening of a muscle.	I got a cramp in my leg while swimming.
culture shock	noun	The confused or uncomfortable feeling you have when you move to a place with a very different way of life.	I had culture shock in my first week in Tokyo.
customise	verb	To change something to suit your own needs or taste.	You can customise the home screen with your photos.
declutter	verb	To remove things you do not need from a room or a space, so it is tidier and easier to use.	I decluttered my wardrobe and gave away three bags of clothes.
default	noun	The setting that is used automatically unless you choose another one.	English is the default language on this phone.
dehydrated	adjective	Not having enough water in your body.	I felt dizzy because I was dehydrated.
delegate	verb	To give part of your work or power to someone else so that they do it for you.	A good manager knows when to delegate.
detour	noun	A longer way to a place that you take because the usual road is closed or because you want to see something.	The road was closed, so we took a detour.
diagnosis	noun	A doctor’s decision about what illness a person has, after examining them or doing tests.	The doctor gave her a diagnosis after the tests.
dose	noun	The amount of medicine you take at one time.	Take one dose every eight hours.
embark	verb	To get on a ship or plane at the start of a journey, or to start a long or important trip or project.	Passengers can embark from two o’clock.
empathy	noun	The ability to understand and share another person’s feelings.	A good nurse shows empathy for patients.
encrypt	verb	To change information into a secret code so that only the right person can read it.	Messaging apps encrypt your messages.
entrepreneur	noun	A person who starts their own business, often taking a risk to do something new.	She became an entrepreneur at twenty-five.
escalate	verb	To pass a problem to someone with more authority, or to become more serious or more intense.	I’ll escalate this complaint to my manager.
excursion	noun	A short trip made for pleasure, often with a group, usually in one day.	We went on an excursion to the island.
facilitate	verb	To make a process or action easier, for example by leading a discussion or arranging what people need.	She facilitated the workshop and kept everyone on time.
faint	verb	To suddenly lose consciousness for a short time, often because of heat, shock or no food.	She fainted when she saw the blood.
fare	noun	The price you pay for a journey by bus, train, taxi or plane.	The taxi fare to the airport is about thirty euros.
fatigue	noun	Extreme tiredness that does not go away with a little rest.	Fatigue is a common symptom of the flu.
firewall	noun	A security program or device that controls what can enter or leave a network, to keep out harmful traffic.	The firewall blocked the strange website.
flattered	adjective	Feeling pleased and proud because someone has said something very nice about you.	I’m flattered that you asked me.
fond	adjective	Liking someone or something, especially in a warm, gentle way.	I’m very fond of my aunt.
forecast	noun	A statement about what will probably happen in the future, based on information you have now.	The sales forecast for next year is good.
fracture	noun	A break or crack in a bone.	The X-ray showed a small fracture in his wrist.
furnished	adjective	Having furniture, for example a flat that you can rent with a bed, sofa and table.	We rented a furnished flat near the station.
gap year	noun	A year taken out between school and university, or between jobs, often used for travel or work experience.	She took a gap year to travel through Asia.
gloomy	adjective	Dark and sad, or without hope.	It was a gloomy, grey day.
gossip	noun	Talk about other people’s private lives, often not kind and not always true.	There’s a lot of gossip in the office.
grudge	noun	A feeling of anger or dislike towards someone because of something they did to you in the past.	He still holds a grudge against his old boss.
grumpy	adjective	Bad-tempered and easily annoyed, usually for a short time.	I’m always grumpy before my first coffee.
haggle	verb	To argue about a price until you and the seller agree on a lower one.	You have to haggle at the market.
headquarters	noun	The main office of a company or organisation, where the most important decisions are made.	The company’s headquarters is in Munich.
hospitality	noun	Friendly and generous treatment of guests, or the business of hotels, restaurants and tourism.	Thank you for your warm hospitality.
household	noun	All the people who live together in one home, or the home itself with its daily running.	Every household received a leaflet about recycling.
housewarming	noun	A party to celebrate moving into a new home.	We’re having a housewarming on Saturday.
humble	adjective	Not proud or arrogant; knowing that you are not better than other people.	Despite his success, he stayed humble.
hygiene	noun	Keeping yourself and your surroundings clean to stay healthy.	Good hygiene stops germs spreading.
immune	adjective	Protected from a disease because your body can fight it.	You are immune to measles after the vaccine.
improvise	verb	To make or do something without planning, using whatever you have at the moment.	I forgot my notes, so I had to improvise.
inevitable	adjective	Certain to happen, so it cannot be avoided or stopped.	Some mistakes are inevitable when you learn a language.
infection	noun	An illness caused by bacteria or a virus that enters your body.	She has an ear infection.
inflammation	noun	A condition where a part of the body becomes red, hot, swollen and painful, often as a response to injury or infection.	The inflammation in my knee is getting better.
influencer	noun	A person with many followers online who can affect what other people buy or do.	She became a travel influencer on Instagram.
initiative	noun	The ability to decide and act on your own, without waiting to be told what to do.	She showed real initiative by fixing the problem herself.
insecure	adjective	Not confident about yourself, or worried that you are not good enough.	She felt insecure about her accent.
insomnia	noun	A long-term problem with falling asleep or staying asleep.	She suffers from insomnia and wakes at three every night.
interface	noun	The part of a program or device that you see and use, such as the buttons and menus on a screen.	The app has a clean, simple interface.
intuitive	adjective	Easy to understand and use without needing instructions.	The app is intuitive, so I didn’t need a guide.
lag	noun	A delay between what you do and what happens on screen, for example in a game or video call.	There’s too much lag on this video call.
leak	noun	A hole or crack where liquid or gas escapes from something.	There’s a leak in the bathroom ceiling.
lease	noun	A legal contract that lets you use a property for a fixed time in return for rent.	We signed a one-year lease.
leverage	verb	In business English, to use something you already have, such as skills, data or contacts, to get a better result. As a noun, leverage is the power to influence a situation.	We can leverage our customer data to improve the app.
linger	verb	To stay somewhere longer than necessary, because you enjoy it or do not want to leave.	We lingered over coffee after dinner.
loyal	adjective	Staying faithful to a person, a group or a brand, even when things are difficult.	She is a loyal friend who never gossips about you.
malware	noun	Software made to damage a computer or steal information from it.	The email attachment contained malware.
marinate	verb	To leave meat, fish or vegetables in a sauce for some time before cooking, so they take on its flavour.	Marinate the chicken for at least an hour.
mentor	noun	An experienced person who gives advice and support to someone with less experience, especially at work.	My first manager was also my mentor.
migraine	noun	A very bad headache, often with feeling sick and sensitivity to light.	I get a migraine when I’m stressed.
milestone	noun	An important point in a project or in life, used to show progress.	Hitting a million users was a big milestone for the app.
moody	adjective	Having moods that change quickly, often becoming unhappy or angry without a clear reason.	My brother is moody in the morning.
mortgage	noun	A loan from a bank that you use to buy a house and pay back over many years.	We took out a mortgage to buy the flat.
mutual	adjective	Felt or done by two or more people in the same way, or shared by them.	The feeling is mutual.
nausea	noun	The feeling that you are going to be sick.	The medicine can cause nausea.
navigate	verb	To find your way to a place, using a map, a phone or road signs.	I can navigate with a map on my phone.
nostalgia	noun	A happy and slightly sad feeling when you think about good times in the past.	Old songs fill me with nostalgia.
numb	adjective	Not able to feel anything in a part of your body, for example because of cold or an injection.	My fingers went numb in the cold.
nutrition	noun	The food you eat and the way it affects your health and growth.	Good nutrition is important for children.
off-season	noun	The time of year when fewer tourists visit a place, so prices are lower and it is quieter.	Prices are much lower in the off-season.
offend	verb	To hurt someone’s feelings by saying or doing something rude.	I didn’t mean to offend you.
onboarding	noun	The process of helping a new employee or customer get started, with introductions, training and information.	The onboarding for new staff takes about two weeks.
outage	noun	A period when a service, such as electricity, the internet or a website, is not available.	A power outage left the whole street in the dark.
outdated	adjective	Old and no longer useful because newer things have replaced it.	My phone is outdated and slow.
outsource	verb	To pay another company to do some of your work, instead of doing it with your own staff.	The firm outsourced its customer service to another country.
overbooked	adjective	Having more people with reservations than there are seats or rooms available.	Our flight was overbooked, so we waited for the next one.
overdraft	noun	An arrangement with your bank that lets you spend more money than you have in your account.	I’m in my overdraft until payday.
overdue	adjective	Late, because it should have been done, paid or returned before now.	My library book is two weeks overdue.
oversleep	verb	To sleep longer than you planned.	I always oversleep on Mondays.
pharmacy	noun	A shop where you can buy medicine and get prescriptions filled.	I’ll pick up the medicine at the pharmacy.
phishing	noun	Sending fake emails or messages to trick people into giving passwords or money.	The email was a phishing attempt.
picturesque	adjective	Very attractive in a way that looks like a picture, especially a village or a scene.	We stayed in a picturesque village by the lake.
posture	noun	The way you hold your body when you stand or sit.	Sitting at a desk all day is bad for your posture.
potluck	noun	A meal where each guest brings a dish to share.	We’re having a potluck on Friday. Bring a dish!
prescribe	verb	To officially tell a patient to use a medicine or treatment, and write the instructions down.	The doctor prescribed antibiotics for my throat.
proactive	adjective	Acting early to prevent a problem or to make something happen, instead of waiting for it to happen.	Be proactive and ask your boss for feedback.
probation	noun	A short trial period at the start of a new job, when an employer checks if you are right for the role.	I’m still on probation for another two months.
procrastinate	verb	To keep delaying something you should do, usually because it is boring or difficult.	I always procrastinate when I have an essay to write.
proofread	verb	To read a text carefully to find and correct small mistakes before it is published or sent.	Please proofread your CV before you send it.
quarantine	noun	A period when a person or animal that may have a disease is kept away from others so it cannot spread.	Travellers had to go into quarantine for ten days.
rapport	noun	A friendly connection between people in which they understand and like each other.	The new teacher quickly built a rapport with her students.
rash	noun	An area of red, spotty or itchy skin.	I got a rash on my arm after using the cream.
reassure	verb	To say or do something that makes a worried person feel calmer.	The doctor reassured her that the test was normal.
reboot	verb	To turn a computer or device off and on again so that it starts fresh.	Try rebooting your laptop.
recruit	verb	To find and hire new people to work for a company or join an organisation.	We’re recruiting three new teachers this year.
redundancy	noun	The loss of a job because the employer no longer needs the position, not because of anything the worker did wrong.	Fifty people faced redundancy when the factory closed.
regarding	preposition	About, used to name the subject of a letter, an email or a conversation, especially in formal writing.	I’m writing regarding your recent order.
reimburse	verb	To pay someone back money that they spent for you.	The company will reimburse your travel costs.
renovate	verb	To repair and improve an old building so that it looks new again.	They renovated the old farmhouse last year.
resentment	noun	A bitter feeling that stays after you think you were treated unfairly.	She felt resentment towards her boss.
resilient	adjective	Able to recover quickly after something difficult, such as an illness, a shock or a failure.	Children are often more resilient than adults think.
ripe	adjective	Fully grown and ready to eat, usually of fruit.	These peaches are ripe and very sweet.
roam	verb	To walk or travel freely over a large area, often without a clear plan.	Wild horses roam across the valley.
rumour	noun	A story that many people are repeating but that may not be true.	There’s a rumour that the company will close.
sarcastic	adjective	Saying the opposite of what you mean in order to mock or criticise someone.	“Great, another meeting,” he said in a sarcastic voice.
scenic	adjective	Having beautiful views of nature or countryside.	We took the scenic route along the coast.
self-conscious	adjective	Worried about what other people think of you, especially how you look or what you say.	I always feel self-conscious when I speak English in public.
sentimental	adjective	Connected with feelings of love or memories, often about the past.	I keep my grandfather’s watch for sentimental reasons.
setback	noun	Something that stops progress or makes a situation worse for a while.	Losing the first match was a setback, but the team recovered.
shareholder	noun	A person or company that owns shares in a business and so owns a small part of it.	Shareholders voted to accept the new offer.
shiver	verb	To shake slightly because you are cold, ill or afraid.	I was shivering with cold at the bus stop.
shortlist	verb	To choose a small number of the best people or things from a longer list, before making the final choice.	They shortlisted four candidates for the final interview.
shrink	verb	To become smaller, especially when cloth gets smaller after washing.	Wool can shrink if you wash it too hot.
sibling	noun	A brother or sister.	I have three siblings, two brothers and a sister.
simmer	verb	To cook gently in liquid that is almost, but not quite, boiling.	Let the sauce simmer for twenty minutes.
snooze	verb	To sleep lightly for a short time, or to press the snooze button on an alarm to get a few more minutes of sleep.	I always snooze my alarm twice.
snore	verb	To breathe noisily while you sleep.	My husband snores so loudly that I can’t sleep.
spacious	adjective	Having plenty of room inside.	The living room is bright and spacious.
spill	verb	To let liquid fall out of a container by accident.	I spilled coffee on my laptop.
splurge	verb	To spend a lot of money on something special, often more than you planned.	I splurged on a nice dinner for my birthday.
spontaneous	adjective	Done because you suddenly want to, not planned. A spontaneous person often acts this way.	We took a spontaneous trip to the coast.
stakeholder	noun	A person or group that has an interest in a project or business, or is affected by what it does.	We need to keep all stakeholders informed about the changes.
stale	adjective	No longer fresh, usually describing bread, cake or air.	The bread was stale, so we made toast.
stamina	noun	The physical or mental energy that lets you keep doing something for a long time.	Marathon runners need great stamina.
stopover	noun	A short stay in a place between two parts of a long trip, often for a night or a few days.	We had a two-day stopover in Dubai.
streamline	verb	To make a process simpler and faster by removing steps that waste time.	We streamlined the booking system to save time.
sunburn	noun	Red, sore skin caused by staying too long in strong sun.	I got sunburn on my shoulders at the beach.
supplier	noun	A company or person that provides goods or materials to a business.	We changed our supplier because deliveries were always late.
surgery	noun	A medical operation in which a doctor cuts into the body to repair or remove something.	He had surgery on his knee last year.
surveillance	noun	Careful watching of a person or a place, often with cameras, to see what they do.	The shop uses cameras for surveillance.
swollen	adjective	Bigger than normal because of injury or illness.	My ankle is swollen after the fall.
sync	verb	To make the files on two or more devices match each other, usually over the internet.	My photos sync between my phone and my laptop.
tenant	noun	A person who pays rent to live in a house or flat that belongs to someone else.	The tenants upstairs are very quiet.
therapy	noun	Treatment for a physical or mental problem, often involving regular sessions with a trained professional.	She goes to therapy once a week.
thrifty	adjective	Careful with money and not wasting it.	My grandmother was very thrifty and reused everything.
tolerate	verb	To accept something that you do not like without complaining or taking action.	I can’t tolerate loud music at night.
tourist trap	noun	A place that is crowded and expensive, and made mainly for visitors, not for local people.	The restaurant by the tower was a total tourist trap.
touristy	adjective	Full of tourists and made for them, often expensive and not very real.	The main square is beautiful but very touristy.
troubleshoot	verb	To find out why something is not working and fix it, step by step.	I spent an hour troubleshooting the printer.
turbulence	noun	Sudden, rough movements of air that shake an aircraft in flight.	We hit some turbulence over the mountains.
unwind	verb	To relax and stop feeling tense after work or a busy time.	I like to unwind on the beach with a book.
upgrade	noun	A newer or better version of a product or service that you get or pay for.	I’m waiting for the upgrade to the new model.
utilities	noun	Basic services for a home, such as electricity, gas, water and internet.	Rent includes utilities.
vaccine	noun	A medicine given to people, usually by injection, to protect them from a disease.	The vaccine protects against measles.
verify	verb	To check that something is true or correct, for example your identity or an email address.	Please verify your email address.
versatile	adjective	Able to do many different things well, or useful in many different ways.	Eggs are one of the most versatile foods in the kitchen.
viral	adjective	Spreading very quickly online as many people share it.	Her video went viral overnight.
vulnerable	adjective	Easy to hurt or harm, physically or emotionally.	Children are vulnerable to infection.
warranty	noun	A written promise from a company to repair or replace a product if it breaks within a certain time.	The washing machine has a two-year warranty.
well-being	noun	The state of being comfortable, healthy and happy.	Walking in nature is good for your well-being.

Which words fit your class?

These words are B1 to C1. A free level test or a 4-minute vocabulary test shows where each student is.

Find your English levelGrammar, vocabulary and reading questions that end with your CEFR level, from A1 to C1.24 questions · 10 to 15 minutes · free, no sign-up Take the level test How many English words do you know?Mark the words you know and see the size of your vocabulary, where it drops and 10 words to learn next.About 70 words · 4 minutes · free, no sign-up Count my words

Questions about the word of the day for students

What is a good word of the day for students?

A word students meet in real life but do not yet use with confidence, with one clear meaning and an example they can repeat. The words here are B1 to C1 on the CEFR scale, which suits secondary school students and adults.

How do I present the word of the day in the school assembly?

Greet everyone, say the word slowly, spell it letter by letter, say what kind of word it is, read its meaning and one example sentence, then invite everyone to use it that day. The presenter on this page writes that script for any word in about 40 seconds of speech.

Where can I find the word of the day with meaning and sentence?

This page lists 366 words with a meaning and an example sentence each, grouped by level. Today’s word, with five practice questions, is on the main word of the day page.

Can I print it?

Yes. Choose a word in the presenter and press Print: the word, its spelling, meaning, sentence and the script print on one page.