What does “series” mean?

“series” means A set of television episodes with the same characters and story.. Pronounced /ˈsɪriz/. Close synonyms: show. For example: My favorite series has eight seasons.

What does “episode” mean?

“episode” means One part of a television or radio series.. Pronounced /ˈɛpɪˌsoʊd/. Close synonyms: installment, part. For example: Have you seen the last episode yet?

What does “season (of a series)” mean?

“season (of a series)” means A group of episodes of a series shown in the same period.. Pronounced /ˈsizən/. Close synonyms: run, series. For example: The new season starts in October.

What does “channel” mean?

“channel” means A television station that you choose with numbers or a menu.. Pronounced /ˈtʃænəl/. Close synonyms: station. For example: Which channel is the match on tonight?

What does “program” mean?

“program” means A show on television or radio.. Pronounced /ˈproʊˌɡræm/. Close synonyms: show. For example: There is an interesting program about history at nine.

What does “screen” mean?

“screen” means The flat surface where you see images on a TV, phone or computer.. Pronounced /skrin/. Close synonyms: display, monitor. For example: We watched the match on a big screen in the square.

English B1 — Media & Culture — 250 Words with English Definitions and Audio

Word	Translation	Example
seriesneutral /ˈsɪriz/ A set of television episodes with the same characters and story. Synonyms: show	a show with episodes	My favorite series has eight seasons.
Same form in the singular and the plural: one series, three series, never 'serieses'. In American English people usually just say 'show' for this; 'series' sounds slightly more written. It also works outside television: 'a series of meetings'.
episodeneutral /ˈɛpɪˌsoʊd/ One part of a television or radio series. Synonyms: installment, part	one part of a series	Have you seen the last episode yet?
Episodes are numbered inside a season: 'season 2, episode 5', often shortened to 'S2E5'. The word also covers a single event in someone's life, usually an unpleasant one: 'an embarrassing episode'. The adjective is 'episodic'.
season (of a series)neutral /ˈsizən/ A group of episodes of a series shown in the same period. Synonyms: run, series	a year's set of episodes	The new season starts in October.
Americans say 'season' where British English often says 'series', and the number follows the noun: 'season 4'. The fixed terms are 'season premiere' for the first episode and 'season finale' for the last. Not the same as a weather season, though the spelling is.
channelneutral /ˈtʃænəl/ A television station that you choose with numbers or a menu. Synonyms: station	TV station	Which channel is the match on tonight?
Something is 'on' a channel, and you 'change' or 'switch' channels. The word now also covers a creator's page on a video site: 'subscribe to her channel'. It never means the program itself — a channel carries programs.
programneutral /ˈproʊˌɡræm/ A show on television or radio. Synonyms: show	TV or radio show	There is an interesting program about history at nine.
British English writes 'programme'; American English writes 'program' and in speech usually prefers 'show'. A program is 'on' a channel and 'airs' at a set time. 'Program' is also the word for software, so context decides which sense you have.
screenneutral /skrin/ The flat surface where you see images on a TV, phone or computer. Synonyms: display, monitor	flat display surface	We watched the match on a big screen in the square.
Something appears 'on screen' or 'on the screen', and 'screen time' is how long you spend looking at one. 'The big screen' means movies and 'the small screen' means television. As a verb, screen means to show a film publicly or to test people.
remote controlneutral /rɪˈmoʊt kənˈtroʊl/ A small object you use to change channels from your sofa. Synonyms: remote	handheld TV controller	Can you pass me the remote control, please?
In everyday American speech it shortens to 'the remote': 'pass me the remote'. It is countable, so two remote controls. Separately, 'remote' as an adjective means far away or done from a distance, as in 'remote work'.
documentaryneutral /ˌdɑkjəˈmɛntəri/ A film or program that gives facts about real life. Synonyms: nonfiction film, doc	factual film	We watched a documentary about the ocean last night.
A documentary is 'about' or 'on' a subject, and you 'watch', 'shoot' or 'make' one. In industry talk it shortens to 'doc'. As an adjective it means based on real records: 'documentary evidence'.
cartoonneutral /kɑrˈtun/ A film or program made with drawings, often for children. Synonyms: animation, animated show	animated film	My little brother watches cartoons every morning.
Used for animated shows, mostly children's, and also for a single funny drawing in a newspaper. Longer or more serious animated work is normally called 'animation' instead. Calling an adult film a cartoon can sound dismissive.
soap operaneutral /ˈsoʊp ˌɑpərə/ A television story about the daily lives of the same group of people. Synonyms: soap	long-running TV drama	My grandmother has watched the same soap opera for twenty years.
In conversation it shortens to 'a soap'. The name comes from the soap companies that paid for the early radio versions. Applied to real life it is a put-down: calling a family situation 'a soap opera' means it is needlessly dramatic.
reality showneutral /riˈæləti ˌʃoʊ/ A program that shows real people, not actors, in different situations. Synonyms: reality TV, unscripted show	unscripted TV program	She took part in a reality show two years ago.
The genre as a whole is 'reality TV'. People 'appear on' or 'go on' a reality show, not 'in' one. The term often carries a hint of scorn, the implied complaint being that very little of it is real.
to voteneutral /ˈvoʊt/ To choose someone or something officially, for example in a competition. Synonyms: choose, elect	choose officially	Viewers can vote for their favorite singer by phone or online.
You vote 'for' someone you support and 'against' what you oppose; you vote 'on' a question and 'in' an election. 'Vote to' plus a verb states the decision: 'they voted to cancel the show'. The noun is the same word: 'cast a vote'.
to skipneutral /ˈskɪp/ To not watch or read a part because you are not interested. Synonyms: pass over, leave out	jump past; leave out	I always skip the adverts when I watch videos online.
Skip takes a direct object — 'skip the ads' — or pairs with 'over' for part of something and 'ahead' for a later point. It also means to miss what you should attend: 'skip class'. A separate sense is to move along with light jumps.
viewerneutral /ˈvjuər/ A person who watches television. Synonyms: spectator, watcher	person watching TV	Millions of viewers watched the final episode.
Use 'audience' for the group as a whole and 'viewers' when the people are counted one by one: 'two million viewers', 'viewer numbers'. Readers read, listeners listen, viewers watch, so a podcast has listeners, not viewers.
presenterneutral /prɪˈzɛntər/ The person who introduces a television or radio program. Synonyms: host	show host	The presenter who does the morning show is very funny.
Chiefly British: American English says 'host', or 'anchor' for news. A presenter 'hosts' or 'presents' a program. At a conference the presenter is simply the person giving the talk, which is a different sense.
advertinformal /ˈædvɜrt/ A short video or text that tries to sell you something. Synonyms: ad, advertisement, commercial	commercial; ad	There are too many adverts during films on TV.
'Advert' is British. American English says 'ad' almost every time, or 'commercial' for the television kind. The full word 'advertisement' is stressed on the third syllable in the United States: /ˌædvərˈtaɪzmənt/. Ads 'run' or 'air' during a break.
subtitlesneutral /ˈsʌbˌtaɪtəlz/ Words at the bottom of the screen that show what people say. Synonyms: captions, closed captions	on-screen text of speech	I watch English series with subtitles to learn faster.
Normally plural: 'turn on the subtitles', 'with English subtitles'. Americans often say 'captions' or 'closed captions', which also mark sounds and speaker names for deaf viewers. A subtitled film is the opposite of a dubbed one.
trailerneutral /ˈtreɪlər/ A short video that shows parts of a new film or series. Synonyms: preview, teaser	movie preview	We saw the trailer before the film started.
A trailer is 'for' a film or show, and it 'drops' or is 'released' weeks before the film itself. Americans also call it a 'preview'. The same word means a vehicle towed behind a car, so the setting decides the sense.
subscriptionneutral /səbˈskrɪpʃən/ Money you pay every month to use a service. Synonyms: membership, plan	regular payment for access	How much does your streaming subscription cost?
You 'have', 'take out' or 'cancel' a subscription 'to' a service. Before another noun it stays singular: 'a subscription service', 'subscription fees'. Content locked behind payment is 'subscription-only'.
spoilerneutral /ˈspɔɪlər/ Information that tells you the end of a story before you see it. Synonyms: giveaway, plot reveal	plot-revealing detail	Don't tell me the ending, I hate spoilers!
Usually plural, or inside the warning 'spoiler alert', which you write before revealing an ending. The verb is 'spoil the ending for someone'. It started as internet slang but now appears in reviews and news without apology.
streamingneutral /ˈstrimɪŋ/ Watching or listening to something online without downloading it. Synonyms: online viewing, webcasting	playing media online	Streaming has changed the way we watch television.
Works as a noun and before another noun: 'a streaming service', 'streaming rights'. The verb is 'stream' — you stream a show, or a show streams on a platform. A live broadcast of this kind is 'a livestream'.
to subscribeneutral /səbˈskraɪb/ To pay regularly to use a service or receive content. Synonyms: sign up for, join	sign up; pay regularly	We decided to subscribe to a music service.
Always 'subscribe to' something: a service, a channel, a magazine. Free sign-ups count, so you subscribe to a newsletter without paying anything. A separate sense is to agree with an idea: 'I don't subscribe to that theory'.
to binge-watchinformal /ˈbɪndʒ ˌwɑtʃ/ To watch many episodes of a series one after another. Synonyms: marathon, binge	watch episodes back to back	We binge-watched the whole series in one weekend.
Keep the hyphen, and the past form is 'binge-watched'. You binge-watch a series or a whole season, not a single episode. 'Binge' alone does the same job — 'we binged the new season' — and the noun is 'a binge'.
to judgeneutral /ˈdʒʌdʒ/ To decide how good someone or something is in a competition. Synonyms: assess, rate	rate contestants; assess	Three famous singers judge the contestants every Saturday night.
In a contest, judges judge entries or contestants, and the person doing it is also 'a judge'. Applied to people in general it sounds critical: 'don't judge me' means stop forming a bad opinion of me. 'Judging by' introduces evidence: 'judging by the reviews'.
violentneutral /ˈvaɪələnt/ Showing a lot of fighting, blood or people hurting each other. Synonyms: brutal, bloody, graphic	brutal; bloody	Some viewers complained that the series was too violent.
Of media it describes content, so a film, scene or game is violent, and the noun is 'violence'. Of weather or feeling it means very strong instead: 'a violent storm', 'a violent argument'. The adverb is 'violently'.
on demandneutral /ˌɑn dɪˈmænd/ Available to watch at any time you choose. Synonyms: anytime, at will	whenever you choose	You can watch all the episodes on demand.
Two words after the verb or noun it belongs to: 'watch it on demand', 'video on demand'. Hyphenated before a noun: 'an on-demand service'. Outside media it means made only when asked for, as in 'printing on demand'.
social medianeutral /ˈsoʊʃəl ˈmidiə/ Websites and apps where people share photos, videos and opinions. Synonyms: social networks, social platforms	online sharing networks	Teenagers spend hours on social media every day.
Treated as uncountable in American English: 'social media is everywhere', with no article and no plural 's'. You are 'on social media', never 'in' it. For one site, say 'a social media platform' or name the site.
profileneutral /ˈproʊfaɪl/ Your personal page with your name and photo on a website. Synonyms: user page, account page	personal page online	She changed her profile photo yesterday.
You 'set up', 'update' or 'view' a profile, and the picture on it is a 'profile picture', shortened to 'profile pic'. A written portrait of a person in a magazine is also a profile. 'A high profile' means a lot of public attention.
accountneutral /əˈkaʊnt/ Your personal space on a website that you open with an email. Synonyms: login, user account	personal login; membership	I created a new account to follow my favorite artists.
You 'create', 'log into', 'delete' or 'suspend' an account. The same word covers a bank account and, differently, a report of events: 'her account of the concert'. 'On account of' is an unrelated fixed phrase meaning because of.
to rewindneutral /riˈwaɪnd/ To go back to an earlier part of a video or recording. Synonyms: go back, replay	go back; replay earlier	Can you rewind the video? I missed what he said.
The past form is 'rewound', not 'rewinded'. You rewind a video, a tape or a recording, and the opposite is 'fast-forward'. In speech it can mean go back in a conversation: 'rewind a second — who told you that?'
followerneutral /ˈfɑloʊər/ A person who chooses to see your posts on social media. Synonyms: subscriber, fan	person who sees your posts	The blogger has more than a million followers.
Counted in figures: 'gaining followers', 'a follower count'. The verb is 'follow someone', with no preposition. Away from social media a follower is a supporter of a leader or a belief, and it can suggest someone who never leads.
websiteneutral /ˈwɛbˌsaɪt/ A place on the internet with pages of information. Synonyms: site	internet site	The newspaper's website is updated every hour.
One word and no capital letter. Americans usually shorten it to 'site' in speech. You go 'to' a website and read something 'on' it; a single page inside it is a 'web page', written as two words.
linkneutral /lɪŋk/ Text or an image you click to go to another page. Synonyms: hyperlink, connection	clickable connection	Click on the link that I sent you.
You 'click' or 'follow' a link, and one page 'links to' another. 'The link in my bio' and 'a broken link' are everyday phrases. A separate sense is a connection between facts: 'a link between diet and health'.
to look upneutral /ˌlʊk ˈʌp/ To search for information in a book, list or on the internet. Synonyms: check, search for	find information about	I looked up the actor's name on my phone during the film.
Separable: 'look up a word' or 'look it up', but never 'look up it'. You look something up 'in' a dictionary or 'on' a website. 'Look up to someone' is a different verb altogether and means admire them.
appneutral /æp/ A program you use on your phone to do something. Synonyms: application	phone program	This app lets you listen to podcasts offline.
Short for 'application', and now the normal word in writing as well as speech. You 'download', 'open' and 'delete' an app, and things happen 'in the app' or 'on the app'. The place you get them is 'the app store'.
notificationneutral /ˌnoʊtəfəˈkeɪʃən/ A message from an app that appears on your phone screen. Synonyms: alert	alert from an app	I turn off my notifications when I am studying.
Usually plural on a phone: 'turn notifications on', 'mute notifications'. You 'get' a notification, and an app 'sends' or 'pushes' one; the technical term is 'push notification'. The verb 'notify' is more formal and needs a person after it.
emojineutral /ɪˈmoʊdʒi/ A small picture that shows a feeling in a message. Synonyms: smiley, icon	small picture symbol	She always ends her messages with a funny emoji.
The plural is often 'emoji' unchanged, though 'emojis' is fully accepted in American writing. Do not mix it up with an 'emoticon', which is built from punctuation marks. You 'send' or 'use' an emoji, and you 'react with' one.
selfieinformal /ˈsɛlfi/ A photo that you take of yourself with your phone. Synonyms: self-portrait, self-photo	self-taken photo	They took a selfie in front of the stage.
You 'take' a selfie, never 'make' one, and a 'selfie stick' holds the phone farther away. A group version is a 'group selfie'. The word is light and casual; a formal report would write 'self-portrait photograph' instead.
hashtagneutral /ˈhæʃˌtæɡ/ A word after the symbol # that groups posts about a topic. Synonyms: tag, topic tag	# topic label	The hashtag was used by thousands of people during the festival.
Written with no space after the # and no punctuation inside it: #NewYork. People 'use' or 'add' a hashtag, and a popular one can 'trend'. On its own, the symbol is called the 'pound sign' or 'number sign' in American English.
influencerneutral /ˈɪnfluənsər/ A person with many followers who shares opinions about products and culture. Synonyms: content creator, online personality	popular online promoter	The influencer recommended a book about modern art.
It nearly always implies paid or sponsored promotion, so it can sound faintly critical; 'creator' is the flattering word. Usually qualified by field or size: 'a beauty influencer', 'a micro-influencer'. The verb 'influence' takes no preposition.
blogneutral /blɑɡ/ A website where a person writes regularly about a topic. Synonyms: online journal, web log	personal online journal	He writes a blog about Spanish culture.
You 'write', 'run' or 'start' a blog, and one entry on it is 'a blog post' — the blog is the whole collection. It is also a verb: 'she blogs about food'. The video equivalent is a 'vlog'.
bloggerneutral /ˈblɑɡər/ A person who writes a blog. Synonyms: writer, online columnist	person who writes blogs	The blogger who reviews restaurants has become very famous.
Double the g: blogger, blogging. It usually comes with a field attached — 'a travel blogger', 'a food blogger'. In news writing it can quietly signal that the person is not a professional journalist, so it is not always a compliment.
podcastneutral /ˈpɑdˌkæst/ A radio-style program that you listen to online when you want. Synonyms: audio show, audio series	downloadable audio show	I listen to a podcast while I am driving.
You 'listen to' a podcast and 'host' one, and its parts are 'episodes', as on television. 'On my podcast' is the usual way to say where something was said. It works as a verb too, but 'do a podcast' is commoner in speech.
screenshotneutral /ˈskrinˌʃɑt/ A photo of what you see on your phone or computer screen. Synonyms: screen capture, screen grab	captured screen image	Take a screenshot of the message and send it to me.
You 'take' a screenshot, and in speech the word works as a verb too: 'screenshot it', past 'screenshotted'. Write it as one word, with no hyphen. A moving capture is 'a screen recording', which is not a screenshot.
privacyneutral /ˈpraɪvəsi/ The state of keeping your personal information away from others. Synonyms: confidentiality, personal space	control over personal information	You should check the privacy settings of your account.
Uncountable: no 'a privacy' and no plural. Americans say /ˈpraɪ-/ where the British say /ˈprɪ-/. The usual pairings are 'privacy settings', 'a privacy policy' and 'invade someone's privacy'; the adjective is 'private'.
commentneutral /ˈkɑmɛnt/ A short written opinion that you leave under a post or video. Synonyms: remark, reply	written reaction online	Her video received hundreds of positive comments.
You 'leave' or 'post' a comment 'on' a video or a post, and the section below it is 'the comments'. As a verb it is 'comment on something', never 'comment something'. 'No comment' is the fixed way of refusing to speak to reporters.
contentneutral /ˈkɑntɛnt/ Videos, texts and photos that someone puts on the internet. Synonyms: material, posts	material posted online	The channel uploads new content every week.
Uncountable in this sense: 'a lot of content', never 'a content' or 'contents'. Stress the first syllable for this noun; 'content' meaning satisfied is stressed on the second, /kənˈtɛnt/. 'Contents' with an s means what is inside a box or a book.
to uploadneutral /ˈʌpˌloʊd/ To put a file, photo or video onto the internet. Synonyms: post, put online	put a file online	I have just uploaded the photos from the concert.
You upload something 'to' a site or platform, and the opposite is 'download'. The past form is regular: uploaded. It is also a noun with the same spelling: 'the upload failed'. For social media, people often just say 'post'.
to shareneutral /ˈʃɛr/ To let other people see something you like online. Synonyms: pass on, forward	pass on to others	She shared the article with all her friends.
Online you share something 'with' a person or 'on' a platform, and one such act is 'a share'. Away from the internet, 'share something with someone' means divide it between you. On its own it can mean tell people how you feel: 'thanks for sharing'.
to postneutral /ˈpoʊst/ To put a message, photo or video on social media. Synonyms: publish, upload	publish on social media	He posted a video that got two million views.
You post a photo, post 'on' a platform and post 'about' a topic; the thing published is 'a post'. Older senses survive around it: 'post a letter' is British for mailing it, and a post can be a job or a wooden pole.
to followneutral /ˈfɑloʊ/ To choose to see someone's posts on social media. Synonyms: subscribe to, add	subscribe to someone's posts	I follow several artists whose work I love.
Online you follow a person or an account directly, with no preposition: 'follow me', never 'follow to me'. Someone who follows you is 'a follower', and 'follow back' means return the favor. A separate sense is to understand: 'sorry, I don't follow'.
to unfollowneutral /ˌʌnˈfɑloʊ/ To stop seeing someone's posts on social media. Synonyms: stop following, drop	stop following someone	I unfollowed him because he posted too much.
A direct verb like 'follow': you unfollow someone, not 'unfollow from' them. It is stronger than 'mute', which only hides posts, and much weaker than 'block', which cuts off contact. The noun 'an unfollow' exists but is rare.
to sign upneutral /ˌsaɪn ˈʌp/ To create an account on a website or app. Synonyms: to register	register; open an account	You have to sign up before you can leave comments.
You sign up 'for' a service or a class, and sign up 'to' do something. It splits only around a person: 'she signed me up'. The noun is 'a sign-up' or 'signup'. Do not confuse it with 'sign in', which means log into an account you already have.
to log outneutral /ˌlɑɡ ˈaʊt/ To close your session in an app or website. Synonyms: to sign out	end your session	Remember to log out when you use a public computer.
You log out 'of' an account or a site, and the opposite is 'log in' or 'log into'. Americans also say 'sign out', which means the same thing on most sites. The verb is two words; the noun is one: 'the logout button'.
to clickneutral /ˈklɪk/ To press a button on a mouse or touch a link on a screen. Synonyms: tap, press	press with a mouse	Click here to see the full interview.
You click 'on' a link or a button, though the instruction 'click here' drops the preposition. On a touchscreen people say 'tap' instead. A separate everyday sense is sudden understanding: 'then it clicked'.
to searchneutral /ˈsɜrtʃ/ To try to find information on the internet. Synonyms: to look for	look for information	I searched for the song online, but I couldn't find it.
You search 'for' the thing you want, and you search a place or a site to find it: 'search the archive for her name'. Dropping 'for' changes the meaning that way. The fixed pairings are 'search engine' and 'search results'.
to chatinformal /ˈtʃæt/ To talk with someone by writing short messages online. Synonyms: message, talk online	message back and forth	We chatted online for two hours last night.
You chat 'with' someone and chat 'about' a topic; it takes no direct object, so never 'chat me'. Online, 'a chat' is also the window or the group itself: 'the group chat'. Away from screens it means a short friendly conversation.
to tagneutral /ˈtæɡ/ To add someone's name to a photo or post online. Synonyms: label, mark	label someone in a post	My friend tagged me in a photo from the parade.
Double the g before an ending: tagged, tagging. You tag someone 'in' a photo or a post, and the reverse is 'untag'. The noun 'a tag' is also a keyword attached to a post. 'Tag along' is a separate verb meaning join someone informally.
to scrollneutral /ˈskroʊl/ To move up or down a screen to see more content. Synonyms: swipe, page through	move a screen up or down	I spent the whole evening scrolling through old photos.
You scroll 'through' a feed or a list, and scroll 'up' or 'down' a page. Used alone it suggests aimless phone use, and 'doomscrolling' means reading bad news far too long. As a noun outside computing, 'a scroll' is a rolled-up document.
to muteneutral /ˈmjut/ To turn off the sound or stop messages from someone online. Synonyms: silence, turn off	silence; hide quietly	I muted the group chat because it was too noisy.
You mute a sound, a video, a person or a chat. Online it hides posts without telling the other person, which is what separates it from 'block'. The opposite is 'unmute'. As an adjective, 'mute' describes someone who does not speak.
to deleteneutral /dɪˈlit/ To remove something completely from a phone or computer. Synonyms: to remove, to erase	remove permanently	I deleted my comment because it was unkind.
Delete takes a direct object and no preposition: 'delete the file'. It implies the thing is gone for good, where 'remove' can simply mean taken out of a place. 'Deleted' works as an adjective too: 'a deleted scene'.
to go viralneutral /ˌɡoʊ ˈvaɪrəl/ To become very popular on the internet very quickly. Synonyms: spread fast, blow up	spread very fast online	The dance video went viral in a few hours.
A fixed phrase with 'go': a video goes viral, went viral, has gone viral. The subject is the content, not its maker — 'her post went viral', not 'she went viral'. Before a noun, use 'viral' by itself: 'a viral video'.
trendingneutral /ˈtrɛndɪŋ/ Being talked about by many people on social media right now. Synonyms: popular	popular right now	The singer's name was trending all over the world.
Almost always with 'be' and about the present moment: 'the song is trending'. The subject is a topic, hashtag or name rather than the person behind it. It also sits before a noun — 'trending topics' — and names a tab on many sites.
onlineneutral /ˌɑnˈlaɪn/ Connected to the internet, or happening on the internet. Synonyms: on the internet, web-based	on the internet	The tickets for the festival are only sold online.
Both an adjective and an adverb, so 'an online course' and 'I bought it online' are both correct, with nothing before it. Write it as one word with no hyphen. 'Go online' means start using the internet; 'be online' means be connected right now.
offlineneutral /ˌɔfˈlaɪn/ Not connected to the internet. Synonyms: disconnected, not connected	not connected	You can save the playlist and listen to it offline.
Adjective and adverb, like 'online': 'offline mode', 'it works offline'. A site that stops working is said to 'go offline'. In meetings, 'take this offline' is a figurative request to discuss it privately afterwards.
songneutral /sɔŋ/ A short piece of music with words that you sing. Synonyms: track, tune	piece of music with words	They played my favorite song at the end of the concert.
You 'play', 'sing' or 'write' a song; it is 'by' an artist and 'on' an album. Music with no words is a 'piece' or a 'track', not a song. 'A song about' introduces its subject, and 'the words' of one are its lyrics.
singerneutral /ˈsɪŋər/ A person who sings, especially as a job. Synonyms: vocalist, performer	person who sings	The singer has sold millions of albums.
There is no hard g sound here, unlike in 'finger'. Someone who writes their own material is a 'singer-songwriter', and the front person of a band is its 'lead singer'. 'Vocalist' is the technical word used in credits.
bandneutral /bænd/ A group of musicians who play pop or rock music together. Synonyms: group	music group	The band are playing in Madrid next Saturday.
American English treats it as singular — 'the band is playing tonight' — where British English often uses 'are'. Musicians are 'in a band', and you 'form', 'join' or 'leave' one. A band 'plays' or 'tours'.
concertneutral /ˈkɑnsərt/ An event where musicians play live in front of people. Synonyms: show, gig	live music event	We went to a concert that finished after midnight.
You go 'to' a concert and see a band 'at' one; performers are 'in concert'. For rock and pop, Americans more often say 'a show' or 'a gig'. The phrase 'in concert with' in formal writing just means working together.
to releaseneutral /rɪˈlis/ To make a film, song or product available to the public. Synonyms: to bring out	make publicly available	The band released their second album last month.
In media you release an album, film, game or statement, and the noun covers both the act and the thing: 'their latest release'. 'Released on' takes a date and 'released by' takes the label or studio. Elsewhere it means set free.
lyricsneutral /ˈlɪrɪks/ The words of a song. Synonyms: words, song text	the words sung	I don't understand the lyrics of this song.
Almost always plural: 'the lyrics are great', not 'the lyric'. The singular survives only as a technical term for a short poem. The writer is 'a lyricist', while 'lyrical' means expressive and has nothing to do with words.
melodyneutral /ˈmɛlədi/ The main line of notes in a piece of music. Synonyms: tune	the tune	The melody is easy to remember.
In everyday speech 'tune' does the same job, and 'melody' sounds slightly more musical or formal: 'a simple melody', 'two melodies'. 'Melodic' means pleasant to hear; 'melodious' is the more literary form.
rhythmneutral /ˈrɪðəm/ The regular repeated pattern of sound in music. Synonyms: beat, tempo	beat pattern	It is difficult to dance to this rhythm.
Note the spelling, with no vowel between the r and the th. Countable when it means a particular pattern — 'a fast rhythm' — but uncountable for the sense of timing: 'he has no rhythm'. The adjective is 'rhythmic'.
classicalneutral /ˈklæsɪkəl/ Relating to serious traditional music by composers like Mozart. Synonyms: orchestral, traditional	traditional art music	My father listens to classical music while he cooks.
Keep it apart from 'classic', which means outstanding or typical: a classic film is not classical music. It normally sits before 'music', 'guitar' or 'training'. Of ancient Greece and Rome it means of that period: 'classical literature'.
albumneutral /ˈælbəm/ A collection of songs published together by an artist. Synonyms: record, LP	collection of songs	Their new album will be released in May.
You 'record', 'release' and 'listen to' an album, and individual songs are 'on' it. A shorter collection is 'an EP'. The same word means a book for photographs, which is where the music sense originally came from.
playlistneutral /ˈpleɪˌlɪst/ A list of songs that you save to listen to in order. Synonyms: song list, mix	saved list of songs	I have made a playlist for the party.
You 'make' or 'put together' a playlist, 'add a song to' one, and tracks are 'on' it. Written as one word. At a radio station, the playlist is the set of songs management has approved for airing.
headphonesneutral /ˈhɛdˌfoʊnz/ Small speakers that you wear on or in your ears. Synonyms: earphones	speakers worn on ears	Put your headphones on if you want to listen to music.
Always plural, like 'scissors': 'my headphones are broken', and for one set say 'a pair of headphones'. Small ones worn inside the ear are 'earbuds' or 'earphones'. You 'put on', 'wear' and 'take off' headphones.
volumeneutral /ˈvɑljum/ How loud a sound is. Synonyms: sound level, loudness	sound level	Could you turn the volume down a little?
Uncountable in this sense, and you 'turn it up' or 'turn it down' — never open or close it. 'At full volume' is the usual phrase. Two other senses exist: an amount of something, and one book in a numbered set.
microphoneneutral /ˈmaɪkrəˌfoʊn/ A device that makes your voice louder or records it. Synonyms: mic	device that picks up voices	The microphone wasn't working, so nobody could hear her.
Shortened to 'mic' in speech and writing, said /maɪk/ and sometimes spelled 'mike'. You speak 'into' a microphone, and 'a live mic' warns that it is on. 'Drop the mic' means end with a line nobody can answer.
stageneutral /steɪdʒ/ The raised area where artists perform in a theater or concert. Synonyms: platform, performance area	performance platform	The singer came on stage at ten o'clock.
Performers come 'on stage' and wait 'offstage', usually with no article in those phrases. Do not confuse it with 'scene', which is a part of a play or film. A separate sense is a step in a process: 'the final stage'.
audienceneutral /ˈɔdiəns/ The people who watch a show, film or concert. Synonyms: spectators, viewers	the people watching	The audience clapped for five minutes.
Singular in American English: 'the audience was quiet'. It covers the people at one show or a whole readership, while 'the public' means people in general, which is a different idea. You sit 'in the audience'.
fanneutral /fæn/ A person who loves an artist, team or type of music. Synonyms: follower	devoted admirer	She has been a fan of the group since 2010.
You are a fan 'of' something, and the group as a whole is 'the fans' or 'a fanbase'. It is short for 'fanatic' but carries none of that word's alarm. The same spelling is the machine that blows air.
to cheerneutral /ˈtʃɪr/ To shout happily to show you like something. Synonyms: shout, applaud	shout in approval	The fans cheered when the band came on stage.
Used alone — 'the crowd cheered' — or with 'for' to name the side you support: 'cheer for the home team'. 'Cheer someone on' means encourage them while they perform, and 'cheer up' means become happier.
orchestraneutral /ˈɔrkəstrə/ A large group of musicians who play classical music together. Synonyms: ensemble, symphony	large classical ensemble	The orchestra was conducted by a young woman.
Stress the first syllable, and the 'ch' is a /k/ sound. Players are 'in an orchestra', and the group is 'conducted by' someone. In an American theater, the orchestra is also the name for the ground-floor seating.
musicianneutral /mjuˈzɪʃən/ A person who plays a musical instrument. Synonyms: player, performer	person who plays music	The musicians were still rehearsing when we arrived.
Broader than 'singer' or 'guitarist', since it covers players and often singers too. A 'session musician' is hired for recordings. Stress falls on the second syllable here, unlike in the word 'music'.
loudlyneutral /ˈlaʊdli/ In a way that makes a lot of noise. Synonyms: noisily, out loud	in a noisy way	The people behind us were talking so loudly that we missed half the film.
It goes after the verb or at the end of the clause: 'they talked loudly'. In casual speech people use plain 'loud' with talk, speak and play — 'don't talk so loud' — while 'loudly' is the safer choice in writing. It also describes very public complaining.
hit (song)neutral /hɪt/ A song or film that is very popular and successful. Synonyms: smash, chart-topper	very successful song	This song became a hit in more than twenty countries.
Works as a noun and before another noun: 'a hit', 'a hit song', 'a hit movie'. Something 'becomes' or 'is' a hit. The industry opposite is 'a flop'. As a verb, 'hit number one' means reach that chart position.
single (song)neutral /ˈsɪŋɡəl/ One song that an artist publishes on its own. Synonyms: track, release	song released on its own	The group's new single came out last week.
You 'release' or 'put out' a single, and it 'comes out' on a date. The first one taken from an album is 'the lead single'. Be careful: the ordinary adjective 'single' means only one, or unmarried.
to performneutral /pərˈfɔrm/ To sing, act or play music for an audience. Synonyms: play, appear	play for an audience	They will perform in front of thousands of people.
You perform a song or a play, or perform with no object at all: 'they perform tonight'. 'Perform at' takes the venue and 'perform for' takes the audience. A separate sense is how well something works: 'the film performed badly'.
to recordneutral /rɪˈkɔrd/ To store music, sound or video so you can hear it later. Synonyms: tape, capture	capture sound or video	The band recorded the album in only two weeks.
The verb is stressed on the second syllable, /rɪˈkɔrd/, while the noun 'a record' is stressed on the first, /ˈrɛkərd/. You record a song, an album or a show, and 'recorded live' is a fixed phrase on album covers.
recordingneutral /rɪˈkɔrdɪŋ/ Music or sound that has been stored so you can listen again. Synonyms: tape, track	a captured performance	This is a live recording of the concert.
You 'make' a recording rather than do one, and it is 'of' a concert or a song: 'her early recordings'. A 'live recording' was captured at a performance and a 'studio recording' was not.
to rehearseneutral /rɪˈhɜrs/ To practice a song or play before performing it. Synonyms: practice, run through	practice before performing	We rehearse twice a week before a show.
Used for performances specifically: actors and bands rehearse, while students practice. It works with or without an object — 'rehearse the scene', 'we rehearse on Tuesdays'. The noun is 'a rehearsal', and the last one is 'the dress rehearsal'.
to catch up onneutral /ˌkætʃ ˈʌp ɑn/ To do or watch something you did not have time for before. Synonyms: get through, get up to date on	get through a backlog	At the weekend I catch up on the episodes I have missed.
All three parts stay together and the object comes last: 'catch up on the news', 'catch up on sleep'. 'Catch up with someone' is different and means meet them for news. With no object, 'catch up' means reach the point others have reached.
to applaudneutral /əˈplɔd/ To hit your hands together to show you liked something. Synonyms: to clap	clap for	Everyone stood up and applauded at the end.
More formal than 'clap': a report says 'the audience applauded', while a friend says 'everyone clapped'. It works with or without an object. Figuratively it means praise a decision: 'we applaud the change'.
noisyneutral /ˈnɔɪzi/ Making a lot of noise. Synonyms: loud	full of noise	The street was too noisy to sleep during the festival.
It describes a place, a thing or a person, never the sound itself, so 'a noisy sound' is wrong. It is usually a complaint, where 'lively' would be approving. The adverb is 'noisily' and the noun 'noise' is uncountable here.
to entertainneutral /ˌɛntərˈteɪn/ To keep people interested and give them a good time. Synonyms: to amuse	amuse; keep interested	The street artists entertained the crowd for hours.
It takes a person or a group as its object: 'entertain the crowd', never 'entertain to them'. A second sense is to have guests at home: 'they entertain a lot'. In formal writing, 'entertain an idea' means consider it.
DJneutral /ˌdi ˈdʒeɪ/ A person who plays recorded music at parties or on the radio. Synonyms: disc jockey, host	person who plays records	The DJ played music until three in the morning.
Said as two letters and written in capitals: 'a DJ'. It works as a verb too — 'she DJs on weekends', past 'DJed'. The full form 'disc jockey' now sounds dated. A DJ 'plays' or 'spins' a set.
soundtrackneutral /ˈsaʊndˌtræk/ The music of a film or series. Synonyms: score, film music	a film's music	The soundtrack was composed by a British musician.
A soundtrack is 'to' or 'for' a film, and the album version is 'the soundtrack album'. Music written specially for a film is 'the score', so a soundtrack made of borrowed pop songs is not a score. Written as one word.
catchyneutral /ˈkætʃi/ Easy to remember and pleasant, like a good song. Synonyms: memorable, infectious	easy to remember	The chorus is so catchy that I sing it all day.
Used of tunes, choruses, titles and slogans, not of people or films. It praises memorability rather than quality, which is why 'catchy but empty' makes sense. Safe in a review or in speech, but too light for formal writing.
crowdneutral /kraʊd/ A large group of people together in one place. Synonyms: throng, mass of people	large group of people	The crowd started singing before the band appeared.
Singular in American English: 'the crowd was on its feet'. A crowd is defined by size and being packed together, while 'audience' is defined by watching, so the two overlap only at events. The adjective is 'crowded'.
novelneutral /ˈnɑvəl/ A long book that tells an invented story. Synonyms: book, work of fiction	long invented story	I am reading a novel which is set in Seville.
A novel is book-length fiction, not a short story. The adjective 'novel', spelled and said the same way, means new and unusual — 'a novel approach' has nothing to do with books. A novel is 'by' an author and 'about' a subject.
authorneutral /ˈɔθər/ The person who wrote a book or text. Synonyms: writer	the person who wrote it	The author of this book has won several prizes.
'Author' points to the person behind a particular text, so a report, a study or even a post has an author, while 'writer' names the occupation. Note the /θ/ sound in the middle. As a verb it is formal and used mostly of reports and bills.
writerneutral /ˈraɪtər/ A person who writes books, stories or articles. Synonyms: author	person who writes	She became a full-time writer after her first novel.
This is the job word: 'she is a writer'. 'Author' would sound odd there unless a particular book is in view. It is often narrowed by field — 'a travel writer', 'a screenwriter', 'a sportswriter' — and 'a ghostwriter' writes under someone else's name.
poetneutral /ˈpoʊət/ A person who writes poems. Synonyms: verse writer, bard	person who writes poems	Lorca is the poet whose poems I like best.
Two syllables in American English, /ˈpoʊ-ət/. No separate feminine form is used today; 'poetess' is dated and avoided. A 'poet laureate' is a poet given an official national role.
poemneutral /ˈpoʊəm/ A short piece of writing with rhythm and feeling. Synonyms: verse, piece of verse	short piece of verse	We had to learn a poem by heart at school.
Two syllables: /ˈpoʊ-əm/. You 'write', 'read' or 'recite' a poem, and it is 'by' its poet and 'about' its subject. 'Learn a poem by heart' is the usual phrase for memorizing one. Countable, unlike 'poetry'.
poetryneutral /ˈpoʊətri/ Poems in general, as a type of literature. Synonyms: verse, poems	verse as a genre	Poetry is more popular than people think.
Uncountable: 'I like poetry', never 'a poetry' or 'poetries'. For a single piece, say 'a poem'. Stress the first syllable. 'Poetic' can describe a style far outside literature: 'a poetic description'.
chapterneutral /ˈtʃæptər/ One of the parts that a book is divided into. Synonyms: section, part	numbered section of a book	I read two chapters before going to sleep.
You are 'in' or 'on' chapter three, and a book is 'divided into' chapters. Figuratively it means a period in a life or a story: 'a new chapter'. 'Chapter and verse' means in exact detail.
characterneutral /ˈkɛrəktər/ A person in a story, film or series. Synonyms: role, part	person in a story	The main character is a doctor who lives in London.
The central one is 'the main character' or 'the lead', and an actor 'plays' a character. Two other senses share the spelling: someone's personality, and a single written letter or symbol. 'In character' means staying inside the role.
plotneutral /plɑt/ The events that form the story of a book or film. Synonyms: story	the story's events	The plot was so complicated that I got lost.
Neutral about quality — the plot is simply what happens — while 'storyline' suggests one thread among several. A plot 'thickens' or 'twists', and 'a plot hole' is a gap in its logic. As a verb it also means to plan something secretly.
bestsellerneutral /ˌbɛstˈsɛlər/ A book that many people buy. Synonyms: hit book, big seller	a top-selling book	Her second novel became an international bestseller.
Usually one word, sometimes hyphenated. A book 'becomes' a bestseller or 'hits the bestseller list'. The adjective keeps the hyphen: 'a best-selling author'. It measures sales only, so it is not a claim about quality.
bookshopneutral /ˈbʊkˌʃɑp/ A shop that sells books. Synonyms: bookstore, bookseller	store that sells books	There is a small bookshop near my house where they order any book for you.
'Bookshop' is British; Americans nearly always say 'bookstore'. One selling used stock is 'a used bookstore' or 'a secondhand bookstore'. You buy something 'at' or 'from' a bookstore, and browse 'in' one.
e-bookneutral /ˈiˌbʊk/ A book that you read on a screen, not on paper. Synonyms: digital book, digital edition	digital book	E-books are cheaper than printed books.
Written with a hyphen or as 'ebook' with none; both appear in American publishing. You 'download' or 'read' an e-book on a device called 'an e-reader'. The paper version is 'a print book' or 'a physical book'.
audiobookneutral /ˈɔdioʊˌbʊk/ A book that you listen to instead of reading. Synonyms: spoken book, recorded book	book read aloud	I listen to audiobooks while I do the housework.
You 'listen to' an audiobook, and the person reading it is 'the narrator'. 'I read the audiobook' is common in speech, but 'I listened to it' is the safer choice in writing. Written as one word.
to give awayneutral /ˌɡɪv əˈweɪ/ To tell people a secret or the end of a story. Synonyms: reveal, let slip, spoil	reveal; let slip	Please don't give away the ending of the book!
Separable: 'give away the ending' or 'give it away', but never 'give away it'. A second sense is to hand something over for free. The noun 'a giveaway' covers both a free gift and an accidental clue.
cover (of a book)neutral /ˈkʌvər/ The outside front part of a book or magazine. Synonyms: jacket, front	outside front of a book	Don't judge a book by its cover.
Something is printed 'on the cover', and the two sides are the 'front cover' and 'back cover'. A softbound book is 'paperback' and a stiff one is 'hardcover'. In music, 'a cover' is a new recording of someone else's song.
publisherneutral /ˈpʌblɪʃər/ A company that produces and sells books or magazines. Synonyms: publishing house, press	company that issues books	The publisher rejected the novel three times before it became famous.
It covers both the company and the person who heads it. A publisher 'accepts', 'rejects' or 'brings out' a book, while the writing belongs to the author. 'Published by' names it, and 'self-published' means no publisher was involved.
grippingneutral /ˈɡrɪpɪŋ/ So exciting that you cannot stop reading or watching. Synonyms: exciting	impossible to put down	The novel is so gripping that I read it in two days.
Used of stories, films and accounts, never of people. It is always approving, and it describes tension rather than enjoyment — a grim documentary can be gripping. It comes from 'grip', which literally means hold tightly.
biographyneutral /baɪˈɑɡrəfi/ A book about the life of a real person. Synonyms: life story, account of a life	life story of someone	I am reading a biography of a famous painter.
A biography is 'of' its subject and 'by' its writer. One the subject wrote themselves is 'an autobiography', and a short factual note about a person is 'a bio'. The adjective is 'biographical'.
fictionneutral /ˈfɪkʃən/ Books and stories about invented people and events. Synonyms: invented stories, made-up writing	invented stories	She reads a lot of historical fiction.
Uncountable here: 'she writes fiction', never 'a fiction'. It covers novels and short stories together, and subgenres attach in front: 'crime fiction', 'historical fiction'. Outside books it means something untrue: 'that is pure fiction'.
non-fictionneutral /ˌnɑnˈfɪkʃən/ Books about real facts, people and events. Synonyms: factual writing, fact books	factual writing	The shop has separate sections for fiction and non-fiction.
American publishing usually writes it 'nonfiction', with no hyphen. Uncountable, like 'fiction', and it works before a noun: 'a nonfiction bestseller'. 'Creative nonfiction' means true material told with the techniques of storytelling.
science fictionneutral /ˈsaɪəns ˈfɪkʃən/ Stories about the future, space or imaginary technology. Synonyms: sci-fi	future and space stories	Science fiction helps us imagine the future.
Shortened to 'sci-fi' in speech, and to 'SF' by enthusiasts who often prefer it. Uncountable, and it works before a noun: 'a science fiction novel'. Keep it apart from 'fantasy', which runs on magic rather than technology.
comicneutral /ˈkɑmɪk/ A magazine that tells stories with drawings. Synonyms: comic book, graphic story	picture-story magazine	He has collected comics since he was a child.
The magazine is 'a comic' or 'a comic book', and a book-length one is 'a graphic novel'. As an adjective it means relating to comedy: 'comic timing'. Newspaper strips together are 'the comics' or 'the funnies'.
magazineneutral /ˈmæɡəˌzin/ A thin publication with articles and photos that appears regularly. Synonyms: periodical, journal	periodical with articles	She buys a fashion magazine every month.
Something appears 'in' a magazine, and you 'subscribe to' one. 'A magazine article' and 'a fashion magazine' are ordinary pairings, with the topic going straight in front. Stress the first syllable in American English.
readerneutral /ˈridər/ A person who reads books, newspapers or magazines. Synonyms: book lover, bookworm	person who reads	Readers who enjoyed her first book will love this one.
Often plural for an audience: 'our readers', 'a million readers'. Someone who reads a great deal is 'a keen reader' or 'an avid reader'. In publishing, a reader can also be a person paid to assess manuscripts.
translationneutral /trænzˈleɪʃən/ A text changed from one language into another. Synonyms: translated version, rendering	text put into another language	I read the book in translation because my English wasn't good enough.
You read a book 'in translation', and a version is 'a translation of' the original 'into' a language. Countable for a version, uncountable for the activity: 'she works in translation'. 'Lost in translation' is a fixed phrase.
confusingneutral /kənˈfjuzɪŋ/ Difficult to understand because it is not clear. Synonyms: unclear, muddled	hard to follow	The plot was confusing because there were too many characters.
The thing is confusing and the person is 'confused'; swapping those two is the classic error. It describes an explanation, a plot or a sign, not a feeling. It can also mean easy to mistake for something else.
to translateneutral /trænzˈleɪt/ To change words from one language into another. Synonyms: put into another language, render	put into another language	The book has been translated into thirty languages.
You translate something 'from' one language 'into' another; 'to' another language is loose in careful writing. The person is 'a translator' for text, while spoken work is done by 'an interpreter'. 'Translate into' also means turn into a result.
actorneutral /ˈæktər/ A person who acts in films, series or plays. Synonyms: performer, player	person who acts	The actor who plays the doctor is Scottish.
Now used of men and women alike in American English, so 'she is a great actor' is normal. An actor 'plays' a role, 'stars in' a film and 'appears in' a show. In news writing, 'a bad actor' means a wrongdoer, not a poor performer.
actressneutral /ˈæktrɪs/ A woman who acts in films, series or plays. Synonyms: female actor, performer	female actor	The actress thanked her family when she won the award.
Still standard in award categories such as 'Best Actress', but many performers prefer 'actor' for everyone and news writing increasingly follows them. Safe inside a title or a quotation, mildly dated elsewhere. The plural is 'actresses'.
directorneutral /dɪˈrɛktər/ The person who decides how a film is made. Synonyms: filmmaker, moviemaker	person who directs films	The director asked the actors to repeat the scene.
A film is 'directed by' its director, who 'directs' the actors. Keep it apart from 'producer', who arranges the money and the schedule. The other everyday sense is a senior manager: 'the director of marketing'.
sceneneutral /sin/ One short part of a film or play that happens in one place. Synonyms: sequence, segment	one part of a film	The first scene was filmed in an old castle.
Do not confuse it with 'stage', which is the physical platform performers stand on. Scenes are 'shot' or 'filmed' and numbered in a script. 'Behind the scenes' means out of public view, and 'make a scene' means cause an embarrassing fuss.
scriptneutral /skrɪpt/ The written text of a film with all the words the actors say. Synonyms: screenplay, text	written text of a film	The actors received the script a month before filming.
You 'write', 'read' or 'rewrite' a script, and its author is 'a screenwriter' or 'a scriptwriter'. Something 'scripted' was planned in advance, the opposite of 'unscripted'. The word also means a style of handwriting.
castneutral /kæst/ All the actors in a film, series or play. Synonyms: actors, lineup	all the actors	The film has a very international cast.
Singular in form even though it names many people: 'the cast is strong', not 'are strong'. As a verb it means choose actors — 'she was cast as the doctor' — and the past form is also 'cast'.
special effectsneutral /ˈspɛʃəl ɪˈfɛkts/ Images and sounds made with technology to show impossible things. Synonyms: effects, visual effects	technical screen illusions	The special effects were created by computer.
Normally plural, shortened to 'effects' or 'FX' in credits; computer-made ones are 'CGI'. You 'create' or 'do' special effects. Watch the spelling of 'effect', the noun, against 'affect', the verb.
animationneutral /ˌænəˈmeɪʃən/ Films made with drawings or computer images. Synonyms: animated film, cartoon	animated filmmaking	Animation is not only for children.
Uncountable for the art form — 'he works in animation' — and countable for one piece of work. It is the broader and more respectful word, where 'cartoon' hints at children's material. The verb is 'animate' and the maker is 'an animator'.
comedyneutral /ˈkɑmədi/ A funny film or program that makes people laugh. Synonyms: funny film, humor	a funny film or show	We chose a comedy because we wanted to relax.
Countable for one work and uncountable for the genre: 'she does comedy'. Subtypes attach in front: 'a romantic comedy', shortened to 'a rom-com'. The adjective is 'comic' or 'comedic', and a 'comedian' performs it.
dramaneutral /ˈdrɑmə/ A serious film or series about emotions and relationships. Synonyms: serious film, play	serious film or play	She prefers dramas to action films.
Countable for one work and uncountable for the field: 'she studied drama'. In everyday speech it also means needless emotional trouble — 'I don't want any drama' — which is disapproving. 'Dramatic' means striking rather than serious.
thrillerneutral /ˈθrɪlər/ An exciting film or book full of tension and surprises. Synonyms: suspense story, page-turner	tense, suspenseful story	The thriller kept us nervous until the final scene.
Note the /θ/ at the start. Used of films and books, often with a qualifier: 'a psychological thriller', 'a legal thriller'. It promises suspense, not fright — a horror film sets out to scare, a thriller to keep you tense.
horror filmneutral /ˈhɔrər ˌfɪlm/ A film made to frighten people. Synonyms: horror movie, scary movie	a film made to scare	I can't watch horror films alone.
Americans usually say 'horror movie', and the genre on its own is just 'horror'. Before a noun, 'horror' never takes an 's'. As an ordinary noun it means great shock: 'to my horror, the theater was full'.
to advertiseneutral /ˈædvərˌtaɪz/ To tell people about a product or show so they buy or watch it. Synonyms: to promote	promote publicly	The new series was advertised on every bus in the city.
Always spelled with an s, even in American English. You advertise a product, or advertise 'for' someone you want to hire. Stress falls on the first syllable here, unlike in the noun 'advertisement'.
romanticneutral /roʊˈmæntɪk/ About love, or making you think about love. Synonyms: loving, sentimental	about love	The film has a romantic ending that everybody loves.
Of films it names the genre — 'a romantic comedy' — and of a gesture it means loving. Capitalized, 'Romantic' refers to a period in art and literature, a quite different meaning. The related noun is 'romance'.
musicalneutral /ˈmjuzɪkəl/ A show or film that tells a story with songs and dancing. Synonyms: musical play, song-and-dance show	story told in songs	The musical has been performed in London for over ten years.
As a noun it is the show itself: 'we saw a musical'. As an adjective it means relating to music, or good at it: 'a musical family'. A film version is 'a movie musical', and the individual songs in one are 'numbers'.
premiereneutral /prɪˈmɪr/ The first public showing of a film or play. Synonyms: opening night, first showing	first public showing	Hundreds of fans waited outside the premiere.
Note the final e, and no accent mark in American usage. It works as a verb too: 'the film premieres Friday'. Keep it apart from 'premier', meaning first in rank. 'The season premiere' is the opening episode of a television season.
box officeneutral /ˈbɑks ˌɔfɪs/ The place where cinema tickets are sold, or the money a film earns. Synonyms: ticket sales, ticket counter	ticket sales; ticket window	The film broke records at the box office.
Two words as a noun, hyphenated before another noun: 'a box-office hit'. In the money sense it is uncountable and takes no plural: 'strong box office'. A film 'does well at the box office'.
awardneutral /əˈwɔrd/ A prize given for doing something very well. Synonyms: prize	prize for excellence	The film won three awards at the festival.
You 'win' or 'receive' an award and someone 'presents' it. 'Award-winning' before a noun always keeps the hyphen, and 'an awards ceremony' keeps the s. As a verb it takes two objects: 'they awarded her the prize'.
ceremonyneutral /ˈsɛrəˌmoʊni/ A formal public event, for example when prizes are given. Synonyms: formal event, official occasion	formal public event	The ceremony was watched by millions of people around the world.
You 'hold' or 'attend' a ceremony, and it takes place 'at' a venue. The usual pairings are 'an awards ceremony' and 'an opening ceremony'. 'Without ceremony' means abruptly and with no fuss; the adjective is 'ceremonial'.
to actneutral /ˈækt/ To play a character in a film or play. Synonyms: perform, play a role	play a part	She started acting when she was seven.
Used with no object for the profession — 'she acts' — while you 'play' a named character rather than act one. 'Act in' takes the film or show. Other senses: to take action, and to behave, as in 'stop acting like a child'.
to appearneutral /əˈpɪr/ To be seen in a film, program or public place. Synonyms: show up, feature	be seen in something	She has appeared in more than twenty films.
Performers appear 'in' a film or show and appear 'on' television or a stage. A second sense is to seem, followed by an adjective or 'to': 'the plot appears simple'. That sense is rarely used in the progressive.
to produceneutral /prəˈdus/ To organize and pay for the making of a film, show or album. Synonyms: make, oversee	fund and organize	The film was produced by a small company in Ireland.
In media the producer arranges the money, schedule and staff while the director makes the creative calls; confusing the two is a common mistake. 'Produced by' names the company or person. Elsewhere it simply means make or bring out.
to shootneutral /ˈʃut/ To record a film or video with a camera. Synonyms: to film	film with a camera	They shot most of the film in Scotland last summer.
The past form is 'shot', never 'shooted'. You shoot a film, a scene or a video, and a session is 'a shoot'. 'Shot on location' and 'shot in Scotland' are the usual phrases. The gun sense shares all the same forms.
roleneutral /roʊl/ The character that an actor plays. Synonyms: part	part an actor plays	She got the main role in the new series.
You 'play', 'get' or 'land' a role, and the biggest one is 'the lead role' or 'the title role'. It is also a person's function in a group: 'her role on the team'. Do not spell it 'roll', which is the bread or the turning movement.
dramaticneutral /drəˈmætɪk/ Exciting and full of strong emotion, like in a drama. Synonyms: striking, intense	striking; full of emotion	The series ends with a dramatic scene at the airport.
Of events it means striking or sudden: 'a dramatic change'. Of a person it means overreacting, and 'don't be so dramatic' is a mild rebuke. Only in theater talk does it simply mean relating to drama. The adverb is 'dramatically'.
costumeneutral /ˈkɑstum/ The special clothes an actor or performer wears. Synonyms: outfit, stage clothes	performer's outfit	The costumes were designed by a famous artist.
You 'wear' a costume and 'are in costume' when dressed for a role. In American English it also covers Halloween outfits, so 'a costume party' is a dress-up party. The person who plans them is 'a costume designer'.
to star (in a film)neutral /ˈstɑr/ To have someone as the main actor of a film. Synonyms: headline, lead	be the main actor	The film stars an unknown young actor.
It works in both directions: an actor stars 'in' a film, and a film stars an actor. Both patterns are normal, but 'star of a film' is a noun phrase, not this verb. 'A co-star' is an equal lead, and 'the star' is the famous performer.
endingneutral /ˈɛndɪŋ/ The way a story finishes. Synonyms: conclusion, finish	how a story finishes	The ending was so sad that everybody was crying.
It takes 'a happy ending' or 'a twist ending'. Use 'ending' for that part of the story and 'end' for the point where it stops: 'at the end of the film'. Revealing one to someone is 'giving it away' or 'spoiling it'.
paintingneutral /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/ A picture made with paint. Synonyms: picture	a painted picture	This painting was stolen from the museum in 1990.
Countable for one work — 'three paintings' — and uncountable for the activity: 'she took up painting'. A painting is 'by' its artist and 'of' its subject. It hangs 'on' a wall and sits 'in' a collection.
painterneutral /ˈpeɪntər/ A person who paints pictures. Synonyms: artist	artist who paints	The painter used very bright colors in his last works.
It covers both the artist and the tradesperson who paints walls, so the setting decides which is meant; in a gallery 'the painter' is the artist. 'A house painter' makes the trade sense explicit.
artistneutral /ˈɑrtɪst/ A person who makes art, for example paintings or sculptures. Synonyms: creator, maker	person who makes art	The artist whose work we saw yesterday lives in Barcelona.
Broad: it covers painters and sculptors, and in music it means a recording performer — 'a solo artist'. The adjective 'artistic' describes talent or style. Do not confuse it with 'artificial', which is unrelated.
sculptureneutral /ˈskʌlptʃər/ Art made by shaping stone, metal or wood. Synonyms: statue, carving	shaped three-dimensional art	The garden is full of modern sculptures.
Countable for one piece and uncountable for the art form: 'he studies sculpture'. The maker is 'a sculptor', not 'a sculpturer', and the verb is 'sculpt'. A sculpture is 'of' its subject and made 'in' or 'out of' a material.
modernneutral /ˈmɑdərn/ Of the present time or recent times; not old. Synonyms: current, present-day	of the present time	The gallery mixes modern art with older paintings.
In art history 'modern art' names a period roughly a century old, so it is not the same as 'contemporary art', which is being made now. Of technology it simply means up to date. There is no verb; the closest is 'modernize'.
portraitneutral /ˈpɔrtrət/ A painting or photo of a person, especially the face. Synonyms: likeness, study of a person	picture of a person	The portrait shows a young woman in a blue dress.
A portrait is 'of' the person shown and 'by' the artist. One an artist makes of themselves is 'a self-portrait'. It also names the taller of the two page and screen shapes, the opposite of 'landscape'.
landscapeneutral /ˈlændˌskeɪp/ A painting of the countryside, or the land you can see around you. Synonyms: scenery, countryside scene	countryside view or scene	He is famous for his landscapes of the English countryside.
It covers both the painting and the land itself: 'a flat landscape'. For pages and screens it means the wider of the two shapes, against 'portrait'. Figuratively it means an overall situation: 'the media landscape'.
exhibitionneutral /ˌɛksəˈbɪʃən/ A show of art or objects that people can visit. Synonyms: show, display	public show of art	The exhibition will be open until the end of March.
The h is silent here. Americans often shorten it to 'an exhibit' or just 'a show'. An exhibition is 'of' works and is 'held' or 'put on' at a gallery; you see something 'at' or 'in' one.
galleryneutral /ˈɡæləri/ A building or room where art is shown. Synonyms: art space, showroom	place where art is shown	We visited a gallery where you can see works by Picasso.
A gallery shows art and often sells it, while a museum keeps a permanent collection. You go 'to' a gallery and see work 'at' or 'in' it. It also names an upper seating level in a theater, and a set of photos online.
masterpieceneutral /ˈmæstərˌpis/ A work of art of the highest quality. Synonyms: great work, classic	outstanding work of art	This painting is considered a masterpiece.
Strong praise, so it is best kept rare: something is 'considered' or 'hailed as' a masterpiece. It applies to books, films and music as well as paintings. 'A minor masterpiece' softens the claim without withdrawing it.
to admireneutral /ədˈmaɪr/ To look at something with pleasure because it is beautiful or good. Synonyms: appreciate, take pleasure in	look at with pleasure	We stopped to admire the paintings in the main room.
Two senses share the one form: you admire an object by looking at it with pleasure, and you admire a person by respecting them. It takes a direct object with no preposition. The noun is 'admiration' and the adjective 'admirable'.
collectionneutral /kəˈlɛkʃən/ A group of objects or works of art kept together. Synonyms: set, holdings	set of works kept together	The museum's collection includes objects from ancient Egypt.
A collection is 'of' the things in it, and an object is 'in' a collection. The person who builds one is 'a collector'. In fashion it means a season's designs, and a collection can also be money gathered for a cause.
to inspireneutral /ɪnˈspaɪr/ To give someone the idea or desire to create something. Synonyms: motivate, spark	spark someone's creativity	The Spanish landscape inspired many of his best paintings.
It takes a person or a work as its object, and 'inspire someone to' plus a verb names the result. A film 'inspired by' true events borrows from them, a phrase common in credits. 'Inspiring' describes the source; 'inspired' describes what came out of it.
to paintneutral /ˈpeɪnt/ To make a picture using paint. Synonyms: depict, portray	make a picture in paint	She has been painting since she was a little girl.
You paint a picture, a portrait or a wall, and you paint 'in' oils or watercolors. It also works with no object at all: 'she paints'. 'Paint a picture of' figuratively means describe something vividly.
to displayneutral /dɪˈspleɪ/ To put something where people can see it. Synonyms: to show	put on show	The old photographs are displayed on the first floor.
Often passive when describing exhibits: 'the photographs are displayed upstairs'. The noun 'a display' is the arrangement itself, and 'on display' means visible to the public. Slightly more formal than 'show'.
colorfulneutral /ˈkʌlərfəl/ Full of bright colors. Synonyms: bright, vivid	full of bright colors	The dancers wore colorful dresses during the parade.
American English writes 'colorful'; British English writes 'colourful'. Of a person or a story it means lively and full of incident, and 'colorful language' is a polite way of saying someone swore. The opposite is 'colorless' or 'drab'.
to editneutral /ˈɛdɪt/ To change or cut a video, photo or text to make it better. Synonyms: cut, revise	cut and improve	She edits her videos before uploading them to her channel.
One t before endings: edited, editing. You edit video, photos or text, and the professional is 'an editor'. 'Edit out' means remove a part. In film, 'the edit' is the finished version of the cutting work.
hilariousneutral /hɪˈlɛriəs/ Extremely funny. Synonyms: funny	laugh-out-loud funny	The comedy was hilarious; everybody was laughing out loud.
Much stronger than 'funny', so 'very hilarious' sounds wrong. Used of things and situations, and of people only through what they do. Said flatly it can be sarcastic and mean exactly the opposite.
abstractneutral /ˈæbstrækt/ Art that shows ideas and shapes, not real things. Synonyms: non-realistic, showing shapes rather than objects	not showing real things	I don't really understand abstract art.
As an art term it sits before the noun: 'abstract art', 'an abstract painting'. Stress the first syllable for the adjective and the noun, the second for the verb. A short summary at the head of a paper is also 'an abstract'.
glamorousneutral /ˈɡlæmərəs/ Attractive and exciting in a rich, fashionable way. Synonyms: stylish, dazzling	stylishly attractive	The actress looked glamorous in her long silver dress.
Watch the spelling: 'glamour' keeps the u but 'glamorous' drops it. It suggests wealth and surface appeal, so calling a job glamorous can quietly suggest the appeal is only on the surface. The adverb is 'glamorously'.
designneutral /dɪˈzaɪn/ The way something is planned and made to look. Synonyms: styling, layout	planned look or layout	The building is worth visiting just for its design.
Countable for one plan and uncountable for the field: 'she works in design'. The verb is spelled the same, and the person is 'a designer'. 'By design' means on purpose, the opposite of 'by accident'.
photographyneutral /fəˈtɑɡrəfi/ The art of taking photos. Synonyms: picture-taking, camera work	taking photographs	She is studying photography at art school.
Uncountable and never plural; for one image say 'a photograph' or 'a photo'. Stress the second syllable here, while 'photograph' is stressed on the first. In film credits, 'the director of photography' runs the camera work.
photographerneutral /fəˈtɑɡrəfər/ A person who takes photos, especially as a job. Synonyms: camera operator, photojournalist	person who takes photos	The photographer took hundreds of pictures during the ceremony.
Stress the second syllable, /fəˈtɑɡ-/, not the first. A news one is 'a press photographer'. The verb is 'photograph', stressed on the first syllable, and the adjective is 'photographic'.
newspaperneutral /ˈnuzˌpeɪpər/ Large printed pages with news that appear every day. Synonyms: paper	daily printed news	My father still buys a newspaper every morning.
You read something 'in' a newspaper, and in speech Americans usually just say 'the paper'. The company and the product share the name. 'A daily' and 'a weekly' name one by how often it comes out.
articleneutral /ˈɑrtɪkəl/ A piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine. Synonyms: piece, story	a written news piece	I have just read an article about Spanish festivals.
An article is 'in' a publication, 'by' a writer and 'about' or 'on' a topic. In grammar, 'article' means the words 'a' and 'the', a completely separate sense. An opinion piece is 'an op-ed' rather than a plain article.
front pageneutral /ˌfrʌnt ˈpeɪdʒ/ The first page of a newspaper with the most important news. Synonyms: page one, cover page	a paper's first page	The story appeared on the front page of every newspaper.
A story appears 'on the front page', and 'front-page news' takes a hyphen before the noun. 'It made the front page' means editors judged it important enough. The opposite in importance is being 'buried inside'.
reporterneutral /rɪˈpɔrtər/ A person who finds news and writes or talks about it. Synonyms: journalist, correspondent	person who gathers news	The reporter was sent to cover the floods.
A reporter 'covers' a story and 'reports on' a subject or 'reports from' a place. It names a working role, while 'journalist' is broader and takes in editors and columnists. One posted abroad is 'a correspondent'.
editorneutral /ˈɛdətər/ The person who decides what appears in a newspaper or magazine. Synonyms: copy editor, news editor	person who decides content	The editor decided not to publish the photo.
At a newspaper the editor chooses what runs, and the one in charge of everything is 'the editor-in-chief'. In film and publishing an editor shapes material someone else made. 'A letter to the editor' is a reader's published opinion.
tabloidneutral /ˈtæˌblɔɪd/ A small newspaper with short stories, big photos and celebrity gossip. Synonyms: popular paper, scandal sheet	sensational popular newspaper	My dad reads a tabloid on the train every morning.
Strictly it names the smaller page size, but the word now carries a judgment: 'tabloid journalism' means sensational and thin on fact. The serious opposite is 'a broadsheet' or 'the quality press'. It also works before a noun: 'tabloid headlines'.
newsneutral /nuz/ Information about things that have just happened. Synonyms: reports, current information	reports of recent events	The news was so surprising that nobody believed it.
Uncountable and singular despite the s: 'the news is on at six', never 'a news' or 'newses'. For one item say 'a piece of news' or 'a news story'. 'Good news' and 'bad news' take no article.
breaking newsneutral /ˈbreɪkɪŋ ˈnuz/ Very important news that is happening right now. Synonyms: urgent news, late-breaking news	news happening right now	We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news.
Uncountable, like 'news', and it describes something still unfolding, so a story stops being breaking news within hours. 'We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news' is the fixed broadcast formula.
fake newsneutral /ˌfeɪk ˈnuz/ False information that looks like real news. Synonyms: false reporting, disinformation	deliberately false reporting	Fake news spreads faster than real news.
It first named invented stories dressed up as reporting, but it is now also thrown at real reporting someone dislikes, so the phrase carries an argument with it. Uncountable, with no plural. In careful writing, 'disinformation' is the neutral term.
current affairsneutral /ˈkɜrənt əˈfɛrz/ Political and social events happening now. Synonyms: news	today's public events	We discuss current affairs in our English class.
Always plural in form and treated as plural: 'current affairs are covered nightly'. Americans more often say 'current events', especially in schools. 'Current' here means happening now, not the flow of water or electricity.
reviewneutral /rɪˈvju/ An article that gives an opinion about a film, book or concert. Synonyms: critique, write-up	published opinion piece	The film received excellent reviews from the critics.
A review is 'of' the work and 'by' the person who wrote it: 'a review of her novel'. Works 'receive' or 'get' reviews, which can be 'good', 'mixed' or 'scathing'. The verb is the same word, and the writer is 'a reviewer'.
criticneutral /ˈkrɪtɪk/ A person whose job is to give opinions about films, books or art. Synonyms: reviewer, commentator	professional reviewer	The critics loved the play, but the public didn't.
A critic reviews work for a living, where 'a reviewer' may do it once; both are more respectful than calling someone a hater. Outside the arts, 'a critic of' something is an opponent. 'Critical' can mean fault-finding or crucial, which are different senses.
medianeutral /ˈmidiə/ Television, radio, newspapers and the internet as a group. Synonyms: the press, news outlets	news and broadcast outlets	The media have shown great interest in the case.
Strictly the plural of 'medium', and American usage now allows both 'the media is' and 'the media are'. It names the industry as a whole, never one company: for that, say 'a news outlet'. 'Social media' is the same word narrowed.
press conferenceneutral /ˈprɛs ˌkɑnfərəns/ A meeting where someone answers questions from journalists. Synonyms: news conference, media briefing	meeting with journalists	The director answered questions at a press conference.
You 'hold', 'call' or 'give' a press conference, and reporters 'attend' one; something is said 'at' one. Americans also say 'a news conference'. 'The press' here means reporters collectively, not printing.
to printneutral /ˈprɪnt/ To put words or images on paper with a machine. Synonyms: publish, run off	put on paper by machine	Fewer newspapers are printed every year.
You print a document, a photo or a newspaper, and 'print out' means make a paper copy from a file. 'In print' means published and still available; 'out of print' means no longer sold. 'Printed' also means written in separate letters.
informativeneutral /ɪnˈfɔrmətɪv/ Giving you a lot of useful information. Synonyms: instructive, educational	packed with useful facts	The documentary was informative and easy to follow.
Used of talks, documentaries and articles, not of people. It praises the content rather than the style, which is why 'informative but dull' makes sense. It belongs to 'information', which is uncountable.
to announceneutral /əˈnaʊns/ To tell people something officially or publicly. Synonyms: declare, make known	make public officially	The radio station announced the winner of the competition.
'Announce that' plus a clause is the normal frame. It never takes two objects: say 'announce it to them', not 'announce them it'. The noun is 'an announcement'. It implies the news is official, so a rumor is not announced.
journalismneutral /ˈdʒɜrnəˌlɪzəm/ The work of writing news for newspapers, TV or the internet. Synonyms: news writing, reporting	the news-writing trade	She studied journalism because she wanted to travel.
Uncountable: 'she studied journalism'. The person is 'a journalist', and 'investigative journalism' digs into facts someone wanted hidden. The adjective 'journalistic' can hint at plain, quick writing rather than literary writing.
celebrityneutral /səˈlɛbrəti/ A famous person, especially from TV, music or cinema. Synonyms: star, public figure	a famous public figure	Several celebrities were invited to the opening of the museum.
Countable for a person and uncountable for the condition: 'she disliked celebrity'. It is cooler and faintly dismissive beside 'star', which admires the talent; 'celeb' is the casual short form. It works before a noun too: 'a celebrity chef'.
fameneutral /feɪm/ The state of being known by many people. Synonyms: renown, public recognition	being widely known	Fame changed his life completely.
Uncountable: no 'a fame' and no plural. You 'achieve', 'find' or 'seek' fame, and 'rise to fame' names the process. It says nothing about being admired. 'Notoriety' is fame for the wrong reasons.
famousneutral /ˈfeɪməs/ Known by many people. Synonyms: well-known	widely known	She became famous after appearing in a talent show.
You are famous 'for' what you did and famous 'as' what you are: 'famous for her novels', 'famous as a director'. 'World-famous' keeps the hyphen. 'Infamous' is not a stronger form — it means famous for something bad.
gossipneutral /ˈɡɑsəp/ Talk about other people's private lives, often not completely true. Synonyms: rumors, idle talk	talk about private lives	I never believe the gossip that I read online.
Uncountable for the talk, with 'a piece of gossip' for one item, and countable for a person who gossips. It is disapproving: calling information gossip signals you doubt it. You gossip 'about' someone, and the verb doubles the p: gossiping.
rumorneutral /ˈrumər/ A story that people repeat but that may not be true. Synonyms: hearsay, unconfirmed report	unconfirmed story	There is a rumor that the band is going to separate.
American English writes 'rumor'; British English writes 'rumour'. Countable, and the usual frames are 'there is a rumor that' and 'rumor has it that'. The passive is common too: 'he is rumored to be leaving'.
to criticizeneutral /ˈkrɪtəˌsaɪz/ To say what is bad or wrong about something. Synonyms: find fault with, attack	point out faults in	The newspapers criticized the film for being too long.
American English spells it 'criticize', with a z. You criticize someone 'for' doing something, and the noun 'criticism' is uncountable in general use. It always means finding fault, never simply analyzing.
to praiseneutral /ˈpreɪz/ To say that something or someone is very good. Synonyms: commend, speak well of	say something is good	The critics praised the young director's first film.
You praise someone 'for' something, and 'praised as' names what it was called: 'praised as a classic'. The noun is uncountable — 'high praise', never 'a praise'. It is the direct opposite of 'criticize'.
overratedneutral /ˌoʊvərˈreɪtɪd/ Considered better than it really is. Synonyms: overpraised, overhyped	not as good as claimed	In my opinion, the series is overrated; the book is much better.
Almost always after 'be', and used to disagree with other people: 'the series is overrated'. The opposite is 'underrated'. It judges reputation rather than quality alone, so it only works for something already popular.
addictiveneutral /əˈdɪktɪv/ Very difficult to stop using, watching or playing. Synonyms: compulsive, hard to put down	hard to stop	This app is so addictive that I check it every ten minutes.
Of shows and apps this is often light praise, as in 'addictive television'; of drugs it is literal and serious. The pairing runs one way only: the series is addictive, and you are 'addicted to' it.
scandalneutral /ˈskændəl/ An event that shocks people because it seems wrong or immoral. Synonyms: public outrage, controversy	shocking public wrongdoing	The scandal was on the front page for a week.
A scandal 'breaks', then 'erupts', and later 'blows over'. The field goes straight in front: 'a corruption scandal'. 'Scandalous' means shocking, and 'a scandal sheet' is a newspaper that trades in them.
reputationneutral /ˌrɛpjəˈteɪʃən/ The opinion that people have about someone or something. Synonyms: standing, name	what people think of you	The hotel has a reputation for excellent service.
You have a reputation 'for' something, and it can be good, bad or simply 'a reputation'. You 'build', 'earn', 'damage' or 'ruin' one. 'Reputable' means trustworthy, and 'by reputation' means known about but never met.
red carpetneutral /ˌrɛd ˈkɑrpɪt/ The long red floor covering where famous people walk at big events. Synonyms: press line, arrivals walkway	celebrity arrivals walkway	The stars walked down the red carpet in elegant dresses.
Stars 'walk' or 'arrive on' the red carpet, and 'a red-carpet event' takes a hyphen before the noun. 'Roll out the red carpet for someone' means give them a grand welcome, with no actual carpet involved.
festivalneutral /ˈfɛstəvəl/ A series of concerts, films or celebrations, often once a year. Synonyms: fair, celebration	organized series of events	The music festival is held in July every year.
A festival is 'held' or 'takes place', and you go 'to' one and see something 'at' it. The common types are 'a film festival', 'a music festival' and 'a food festival'. In speech it shortens to 'a fest'.
traditionneutral /trəˈdɪʃən/ Something that people in a place have done for many years. Synonyms: custom, practice	long-standing practice	It is a tradition to eat twelve grapes at midnight.
The usual frame is 'it is a tradition to' plus a verb. You 'keep', 'follow' or 'break' a tradition, and something done that way is done 'by tradition'. 'Traditional' is the adjective and 'traditionally' the adverb.
traditionalneutral /trəˈdɪʃənəl/ Following customs that have existed for a long time. Synonyms: customary, time-honored	following old customs	The dancers wore traditional costumes from the region.
It sits before the noun in fixed pairings: 'traditional music', 'traditional dress', 'a traditional recipe'. Of a person it can mean unwilling to change, a mild criticism. 'Traditionally' often opens a sentence about past habit.
customneutral /ˈkʌstəm/ A way of behaving that is normal in a place or group. Synonyms: tradition	normal local practice	In Britain it is the custom to queue for everything.
The frame is 'it is the custom to' plus a verb. Two related words do different jobs: 'customs' with an s is the border service, and 'custom-made' means built to order. The adjective is 'customary'.
celebrationneutral /ˌsɛləˈbreɪʃən/ A special event to show that a day or occasion is important. Synonyms: festivity, party	festive special event	The celebrations lasted until the early morning.
Countable for an event, and uncountable inside 'in celebration of', which names the reason. Often plural for something spread over days: 'the celebrations lasted all night'. The verb is 'celebrate' and the adjective 'celebratory'.
to celebrateneutral /ˈsɛləˌbreɪt/ To do something special because a day is important. Synonyms: mark, observe	mark a special day	How do you celebrate New Year in your country?
It takes a direct object — 'celebrate her birthday' — or stands alone: 'let's celebrate'. You celebrate 'by' doing something and 'with' people. 'Celebrated' as an adjective means famous and admired, a separate sense.
paradeneutral /pəˈreɪd/ A line of people and music moving through the streets to celebrate. Synonyms: procession, march	celebratory street procession	Thousands of people watched the parade go past.
A parade 'goes past' or 'makes its way through' streets; you 'watch' one or 'march in' it. As a verb it means walk showily, often hinting at showing off. 'A parade of' can also mean a long succession of things.
carnivalneutral /ˈkɑrnəvəl/ A public festival with music, dancing and costumes in the streets. Synonyms: street festival, fair	street festival with costumes	During the carnival, everyone dresses up and dances in the street.
In American English it also means a traveling fair with rides and games, which is the commoner everyday sense. Something happens 'at' or 'during' carnival, often with no article. 'A carnival atmosphere' means noisy and joyful.
fireworksneutral /ˈfaɪərˌwɜrks/ Explosions of colored light in the sky during celebrations. Synonyms: pyrotechnics, fireworks display	colored explosions of light	The fireworks started at midnight and lasted twenty minutes.
Normally plural. 'A firework' for one is rare in American English, which prefers 'a fireworks show' or 'a fireworks display'. Fireworks 'go off'. Figuratively, 'fireworks' means a dramatic public argument.
anniversaryneutral /ˌænəˈvɜrsəri/ The date when you remember something important that happened years before. Synonyms: yearly commemoration, jubilee	yearly remembrance date	The city celebrated the 500th anniversary of its cathedral.
An anniversary is 'of' the event: 'the anniversary of the fire'. It counts years, so nothing is a monthly anniversary. Numbers go in front: 'the tenth anniversary'. For a wedding it often stands alone: 'our anniversary'.
folk musicneutral /ˈfoʊk ˌmjuzɪk/ Traditional music from the ordinary people of a region. Synonyms: traditional music, roots music	traditional regional music	Folk music is still played at village festivals.
The l is silent, so 'folk' rhymes with 'joke'. Uncountable. 'Folk' alone names the genre — 'she plays folk' — and as a modifier it means of the ordinary people: 'folk tales', 'folk dance'. 'Folks' with an s means people or family.
to dress upneutral /ˌdrɛs ˈʌp/ To put on special clothes to look like someone else. Synonyms: wear a costume, dress as	put on a costume	The children dressed up as characters from their favorite films.
'Dress up as' takes the character: 'dressed up as a pirate'. A second sense is to put on smarter clothes, so 'dress up for dinner' has nothing to do with costumes. It can also mean make something look better than it is.
to take placeneutral /ˌteɪk ˈpleɪs/ To happen, especially an organized event. Synonyms: to happen	happen; be held	The festival takes place in a different city each year.
Used of arranged events, so an accident does not take place, it happens. It has no passive and takes no object: never 'the festival was taken place'. The past form is 'took place'. 'Take the place of' is a different phrase meaning replace.
cultureneutral /ˈkʌltʃər/ The art, traditions and way of life of a group of people. Synonyms: way of life, civilization	a people's way of life	Learning a language helps you understand another culture.
Uncountable for the arts — 'she is interested in culture' — and countable for a particular group's way of life: 'other cultures'. 'Popular culture', shortened to 'pop culture', covers film, music and television together.
culturalneutral /ˈkʌltʃərəl/ Connected with art, music, literature and traditions. Synonyms: artistic, traditional	relating to arts and customs	The city offers many cultural activities in summer.
It sits before the noun: 'cultural differences', 'a cultural event', 'cultural heritage'. Do not confuse it with 'cultured', which describes a well-read person. 'Culturally' narrows a claim: 'culturally specific'.
entertainingneutral /ˌɛntərˈteɪnɪŋ/ Fun and interesting to watch or listen to. Synonyms: fun	fun to watch	The show was entertaining from start to finish.
Mild, reliable praise about enjoyment rather than depth, which is why 'entertaining but shallow' is a normal verdict. It describes the thing, not your feeling: you are 'entertained'. As a noun it means having guests at home.
disappointingneutral /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ/ Not as good as you hoped or expected. Synonyms: underwhelming, unsatisfying	worse than hoped	The last episode was really disappointing.
Watch the spelling: one s, two p's. You are disappointed 'by' or 'in' something and 'with' someone, while the film itself is what is disappointing.
excitingneutral /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/ Making you feel very interested and full of energy. Synonyms: thrilling, gripping	thrilling; very interesting	The concert was so exciting that nobody wanted to leave.
The thing is exciting and the person is 'excited about' it, so 'I am exciting' claims you excite other people. The c is a /s/ sound here, not /k/. The uncountable noun is 'excitement'.
amusingneutral /əˈmjuzɪŋ/ Funny in a gentle way that makes you smile. Synonyms: funny	mildly funny	He told an amusing story about his first concert.
Gentler than 'funny' and far gentler than 'hilarious', so it can read as faint praise. In speech, 'I don't find that amusing' is a cold way of objecting. A joke is amusing; the listener ends up 'amused'.
movingneutral /ˈmuvɪŋ/ Making you feel strong emotions, often sadness. Synonyms: touching	emotionally affecting	The documentary about the war was deeply moving.
Used of films, books, speeches and music, and it points toward tears rather than excitement. You say you were 'moved by' the ending, and the ending itself was moving. The plain verb 'move' also means change position, so the setting carries the sense.
scaryneutral /ˈskɛri/ Making you feel afraid. Synonyms: frightening, creepy	frightening	The film was too scary for the younger children.
The everyday word: 'frightening' is a little more formal and 'terrifying' much stronger. You are 'scared of' the thing that is scary. It also covers worrying situations, as in 'a scary moment'.
dullneutral /dʌl/ Not interesting or exciting. Synonyms: boring, tedious	boring; flat	The play was so dull that we left before the end.
Of a film or book it is a quiet, slightly bookish criticism — weaker than 'boring' but no kinder. It also means not bright, as in 'a dull gray sky', and not sharp: 'a dull knife'. 'Deadly dull' is the fixed intensifier.
originalneutral /əˈrɪdʒənəl/ New and different, not copied from anything else. Synonyms: inventive, fresh	new; not copied	The story is not very original, but the music is beautiful.
Two senses turn up in reviews: not copied, and first of its kind — 'the original version' means the earliest, not the most inventive. The noun 'an original' is the first copy of a work. The quality is 'originality'.
creativeneutral /kriˈeɪtɪv/ Good at producing new ideas and art. Synonyms: inventive, imaginative	good at making new things	She is one of the most creative artists of her generation.
Used of people, work and whole industries: 'a creative solution', 'the creative arts'. In business English, 'creative accounting' is a polite accusation of dishonesty. The nouns are 'creativity' for the quality and 'creation' for the thing made.
impressiveneutral /ɪmˈprɛsɪv/ So good or big that you admire it. Synonyms: striking, remarkable	admirably good or big	The museum's new building is really impressive.
It praises scale, skill or quality, and suits buildings, numbers and performances alike. What you say of yourself is 'impressed by', never impressive. 'Not impressed' is a dry way of saying you disliked something.
enjoyableneutral /ɪnˈdʒɔɪəbəl/ Giving you pleasure; nice to do or watch. Synonyms: pleasant	pleasant to do	We spent a very enjoyable evening at the theater.
It describes the activity or event, never the person: you 'enjoy' something and it is 'enjoyable'. Mild praise, a step below 'excellent'. Remember that 'enjoy' takes a verb in -ing: 'enjoy watching', not 'enjoy to watch'.
brilliantinformal /ˈbrɪljənt/ Extremely good. Synonyms: great, fantastic	outstandingly good	The concert was absolutely brilliant.
In American English it mostly praises intelligence — 'a brilliant scientist' — while the literal sense is very bright light. Using it to mean simply excellent, as in 'the concert was brilliant', is chiefly British and sounds borrowed in American speech.
predictableneutral /prɪˈdɪktəbəl/ Happening in the way you expect, with no surprises. Synonyms: obvious, formulaic	with no surprises	The plot was predictable, and I guessed the ending.
Of a plot or an ending it is always a criticism. Of a person or a process it can be neutral or even positive: 'predictable results'. The verb is 'predict' and the noun 'prediction'; the opposite is 'unpredictable'.
surprisingneutral /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/ Unexpected and making you feel surprise. Synonyms: unexpected, startling	unexpected	It is surprising that so few people visit this museum.
The frame 'it is surprising that' plus a clause is very common, and 'Surprisingly' can open a sentence: 'Surprisingly, nobody complained'. Of yourself, use 'surprised by' or 'surprised at'.
shockingneutral /ˈʃɑkɪŋ/ Making you feel very surprised and upset. Synonyms: appalling, disturbing	upsettingly surprising	The report contained some shocking images.
Stronger than 'surprising' and always negative, because shock includes distress. A reader who reacts is 'shocked by' the story. 'Shockingly' can intensify an adjective: 'shockingly bad'.
realisticneutral /ˌriəˈlɪstɪk/ Looking or seeming like real life. Synonyms: lifelike, convincing	lifelike; believable	The special effects were so realistic that I forgot it was fiction.
Of effects and acting it means convincingly lifelike. Of plans and people it means sensible about what is possible: 'be realistic'. Keep it apart from 'real', which means actually existing — realistic effects are not real.
old-fashionedneutral /ˌoʊld ˈfæʃənd/ Not modern; belonging to the past. Synonyms: dated, outdated	from an earlier time	Some people say the theater is old-fashioned, but I love it.
Keep the hyphen and the -ed ending; 'old-fashion' is wrong. Usually mildly critical, though 'good old-fashioned' turns it into praise. Of a person it means holding to older values. The opposite is 'modern' or 'up to date'.
talentedneutral /ˈtæləntɪd/ Having a natural ability to do something well. Synonyms: gifted	naturally skilled	She is a talented musician who plays five instruments.
It points to natural ability rather than training, which is why 'talented but lazy' makes sense. You are talented 'at' something. 'A talent show' and 'a talent scout' use the noun, which is uncountable for ability in general.
annoyingneutral /əˈnɔɪɪŋ/ Making you feel a little angry. Synonyms: irritating	mildly irritating	It is annoying when people talk during the film.
The frame 'it is annoying when' plus a clause is very common. Of a person the forms are 'annoyed by' something and 'annoyed with' someone. Milder than 'infuriating', and 'annoyingly' can qualify an adjective.
popularneutral /ˈpɑpjələr/ Liked by many people. Synonyms: well-liked, in demand	liked by many	This series is very popular with teenagers.
Something is popular 'with' or 'among' a group: 'popular with teenagers'. It counts how many people like it and says nothing about quality. Before some nouns it means aimed at ordinary people: 'the popular press', 'popular music'.
successfulneutral /səkˈsɛsfəl/ Getting the result you wanted; very popular. Synonyms: thriving, effective	achieving its aim	The program was so successful that they made three more seasons.
Note the spelling: two c's, two s's, one l at the end. You are successful 'in' doing something or 'at' an activity. It means the goal was reached, which is not the same as being liked or admired.
well-knownneutral /ˌwɛl ˈnoʊn/ Known by most people in a particular place or field. Synonyms: famous	widely recognized	He is a well-known writer in his country, but not abroad.
Hyphenated before a noun — 'a well-known writer' — and often written without the hyphen after the verb: 'she is well known'. Cooler and more measured than 'famous'. 'It is well known that' introduces common knowledge.
to switch offneutral /ˌswɪtʃ ˈɔf/ To stop a machine, light or device working. Synonyms: to turn off	turn off	Please switch off your phones before the show begins.
Separable: 'switch off the light' or 'switch it off', but never 'switch off it'. Americans more often say 'turn off'. Figuratively it means stop paying attention: 'I switched off halfway through the film'.
sold outneutral /ˌsoʊld ˈaʊt/ With no tickets left because everything has been sold. Synonyms: fully booked, unavailable	no tickets left	The tickets for Saturday's concert are already sold out.
Used after the verb: 'the show is sold out'. Before a noun it takes a hyphen: 'a sold-out concert'. As a verb, 'sell out' also means betray your principles for money, and 'a sellout' is the person who did.
prime timeneutral /ˌpraɪm ˈtaɪm/ The evening hours when most people watch television. Synonyms: peak hours, peak viewing time	peak evening TV hours	The debate was shown in prime time and millions watched it.
Two words as a noun, hyphenated before one: 'a prime-time show'. Uncountable, and it takes 'in prime time' with no article. The commercial point behind the word is that advertising costs most then.
to come outneutral /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ To become available to the public, like a film or book. Synonyms: be released, appear	be released	Her new book comes out next month.
Inseparable and with no object: a film comes out, but you cannot 'come out a film'. The present tense often carries future meaning: 'her book comes out next month'. It has other senses, including revealing that you are gay.
to join inneutral /ˌdʒɔɪn ˈɪn/ To start doing an activity that other people are already doing. Synonyms: take part, participate	take part too	Everyone joined in the singing at the festival.
You join in an activity others have already started, or use it with no object at all: 'everyone joined in'. 'Join in with' is also heard. Compare plain 'join', which takes a group: 'join the band'.

English B1 — Media & Culture Official

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