What does “to account for” mean?

“to account for” means to be a part of a total; to explain the reason. Pronounced /əˈkaʊnt fɔr/. Close synonyms: make up, represent. For example: Renewable energy now accounts for over 30% of global electricity production.

What does “to bring about” mean?

“to bring about” means to make something happen. Pronounced /ˌbrɪŋ əˈbaʊt/. Close synonyms: cause, produce. For example: The new policy is expected to bring about significant changes in the healthcare system.

What does “to pull off” mean?

“to pull off” means To succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected.. Pronounced /ˌpʊl ˈɔf/. It is informal. Close synonyms: achieve, manage. For example: Nobody thought the small startup could pull off such an ambitious merger.

What does “to get away with” mean?

“to get away with” means to do something wrong without being punished. Pronounced /ˌɡɛt əˈweɪ wɪð/. Close synonyms: escape punishment, avoid blame, go unpunished. For example: He thought he could get away with plagiarising his colleague's work, but he was caught.

What does “to live up to” mean?

“to live up to” means to be as good as what was expected or promised. Pronounced /ˌlɪv ˈʌp tu/. Close synonyms: meet, match. For example: The sequel didn't live up to the expectations set by the original film.

What does “to put up with” mean?

“to put up with” means to accept something unpleasant without complaining. Pronounced /ˌpʊt ˈʌp wɪð/. Close synonyms: tolerate, endure. For example: I can't put up with the noise from the construction site any longer.

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English B2 Official

The core upper-intermediate English words, defined in English. Abstract nouns, reporting verbs, phrasal verbs and the adjectives that carry opinion, each with an English definition, a short gloss, synonyms, IPA and a usage note on register and pattern. Built for learners who no longer want to translate.

CEFR B2 — Upper Intermediate

At this level you can follow news, debate topics, write essays. Vocabulary: ~4,000 words (cumulative).

Words in this deck

What does “to account for” mean?: “to account for” means to be a part of a total; to explain the reason. Pronounced /əˈkaʊnt fɔr/. Close synonyms: make up, represent. For example: Renewable energy now accounts for over 30% of global electricity production.
What does “to bring about” mean?: “to bring about” means to make something happen. Pronounced /ˌbrɪŋ əˈbaʊt/. Close synonyms: cause, produce. For example: The new policy is expected to bring about significant changes in the healthcare system.
What does “to pull off” mean?: “to pull off” means To succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected.. Pronounced /ˌpʊl ˈɔf/. It is informal. Close synonyms: achieve, manage. For example: Nobody thought the small startup could pull off such an ambitious merger.
What does “to get away with” mean?: “to get away with” means to do something wrong without being punished. Pronounced /ˌɡɛt əˈweɪ wɪð/. Close synonyms: escape punishment, avoid blame, go unpunished. For example: He thought he could get away with plagiarising his colleague's work, but he was caught.
What does “to live up to” mean?: “to live up to” means to be as good as what was expected or promised. Pronounced /ˌlɪv ˈʌp tu/. Close synonyms: meet, match. For example: The sequel didn't live up to the expectations set by the original film.
What does “to put up with” mean?: “to put up with” means to accept something unpleasant without complaining. Pronounced /ˌpʊt ˈʌp wɪð/. Close synonyms: tolerate, endure. For example: I can't put up with the noise from the construction site any longer.

English · definitions in English 250 words ~25 days at 10 words/day 0 downloads B2

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Word List — click grammar notes to expand

Word	Translation	Example
to account forneutral /əˈkaʊnt fɔr/ to be a part of a total; to explain the reason Synonyms: make up, represent	make up; explain	Renewable energy now accounts for over 30% of global electricity production.
Inseparable: renewables account for 30%, never account 30% for. With a figure it takes no the: accounts for 30% of sales. The second sense is to explain a fact: that accounts for the delay. Unaccounted for is the common passive form.
to bring aboutneutral /ˌbrɪŋ əˈbaʊt/ to make something happen Synonyms: cause, produce	cause; make happen	The new policy is expected to bring about significant changes in the healthcare system.
The object is nearly always an abstract noun such as change, reform or a collapse, never a person, and it usually follows the whole verb: bring about change. A pronoun still has to sit in the middle, so brought it about. Cause is the plainer word.
to pull offinformal /ˌpʊl ˈɔf/ To succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected. Synonyms: achieve, manage	succeed at something hard	Nobody thought the small startup could pull off such an ambitious merger.
The object is something difficult or unlikely, such as a win, a merger or a stunt. It splits either way, pull off a deal or pull a deal off, and a pronoun must go in the middle: they pulled it off, which on its own means they managed it.
to get away withneutral /ˌɡɛt əˈweɪ wɪð/ to do something wrong without being punished Synonyms: escape punishment, avoid blame, go unpunished	escape punishment for	He thought he could get away with plagiarising his colleague's work, but he was caught.
Three-part and inseparable: get away with it, never get it away with. It is followed by a noun or an -ing form: got away with cheating. Get away with murder is a fixed exaggeration for behaving badly and facing no consequences at all.
to live up toneutral /ˌlɪv ˈʌp tu/ to be as good as what was expected or promised Synonyms: meet, match	match; meet expectations	The sequel didn't live up to the expectations set by the original film.
The object is almost always expectations, a reputation, a promise, the hype or a name, and nothing ever comes between the three parts. It usually appears in the negative or as a question: it never lived up to the hype. Live up to a standard means reach it, not obey it.
to put up withneutral /ˌpʊt ˈʌp wɪð/ to accept something unpleasant without complaining Synonyms: tolerate, endure	tolerate; live with	I can't put up with the noise from the construction site any longer.
Inseparable three-part verb: put up with him, never put him up with. It usually appears with can or in the negative: I cannot put up with it. Tolerate is the one-word equivalent and sounds more formal. Put someone up, with no with, means give them a bed.
to track downneutral /ˌtræk ˈdaʊn/ To find someone or something after a long or difficult search. Synonyms: locate, find	find after searching	It took the journalists months to track down the original source of the leak.
The effort of the search is part of the meaning, so nothing is tracked down by chance; that is stumble on. The object is someone or something hidden: a suspect, a source, a rare part. A pronoun goes in the middle: we tracked him down.
to fend offneutral /ˌfɛnd ˈɔf/ To defend yourself against something unwanted, such as questions, criticism or an attack. Synonyms: ward off, repel	ward off; deflect	The minister spent the whole interview fending off questions about her resignation.
It suggests holding something back rather than defeating it, so the pressure is usually still there afterwards. Common objects are questions, criticism, an attack, competitors and creditors, and the verb splits: fend off questions, or fend them off.
to follow throughneutral /ˌfɑloʊ ˈθru/ To complete something you have started or promised to do. Synonyms: complete, see through	finish what you started	The council announced the reforms but never followed through on its promises.
Usually used without an object, and what was promised comes after on: follow through on a commitment. Nothing separates it, since no object goes before through. Follow up means take a further step later; follow through means complete the step you promised.
to spell outneutral /ˌspɛl ˈaʊt/ To explain something clearly and in detail so there is no confusion. Synonyms: clarify, specify	state clearly; explain fully	The contract should spell out exactly who is responsible for the repairs.
Spell it out for me can sound sharp, since it hints the listener should not have needed the explanation. A wh- clause often follows: spell out exactly who pays. A pronoun goes in the middle. It also means say the letters of a word one by one.
to rule outneutral /ˌrul ˈaʊt/ to decide something is not possible or suitable Synonyms: exclude, dismiss	eliminate; exclude	Doctors ruled out any serious illness after the tests came back normal.
The commonest use is the hedge we cannot rule out a second wave, which promises nothing while leaving the door open. Objects are a possibility, a cause, an option or a candidate, and rule out doing something works too. A pronoun goes in the middle.
to fall apartneutral /ˌfɔl əˈpɑrt/ To break into pieces, or to stop working or existing as a group or plan. Synonyms: collapse, disintegrate	collapse; break down	The coalition fell apart after the smaller parties withdrew their support.
It takes no object, so nothing can follow it directly; things fall apart on their own. Used both of physical objects and of plans, deals, marriages and coalitions. Of a person, he is falling apart means he is losing emotional control.
to map outneutral /ˌmæp ˈaʊt/ To plan something carefully and in detail. Synonyms: plan, outline	plan in detail	Before the launch, the team mapped out every stage of the marketing campaign.
It says more than plan, because it implies stages set out in order: you map out a strategy, a route, a career or the next steps. A pronoun goes in the middle: we mapped it out. Have it all mapped out says the whole path is decided already.
to pin downneutral /ˌpɪn ˈdaʊn/ To identify or describe something exactly, or to make someone give a definite answer. Synonyms: identify, specify	identify exactly	Scientists are still struggling to pin down the exact cause of the outbreak.
Two uses share the form: pin down a cause or a date means state it exactly, and pin someone down means force a clear answer. Often negative: nobody could pin down what went wrong. A pronoun goes in the middle, so hard to pin it down.
to crop upinformal /ˌkrɑp ˈʌp/ To appear or happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Synonyms: arise, come up	arise unexpectedly	Unexpected problems kept cropping up during the final phase of the project.
No object and no passive: problems crop up, never a problem is cropped up. The subject is usually a problem, a question, an issue or a name, and there is no plan behind it. Arise is the neutral written equivalent, and come up is the everyday one.
to draw upformal /ˌdrɔ ˈʌp/ to prepare a written document, like a plan or contract Synonyms: draft, prepare	prepare; write formally	The lawyer drew up a contract that protected both parties equally.
The object is a formal document such as a contract, a list, plans, a will or an agreement, and a pronoun goes in the middle: the lawyer drew it up. A second sense describes a vehicle stopping: a car drew up outside.
to fall behindneutral /ˌfɔl bɪˈhaɪnd/ to make less progress than others or than planned Synonyms: lag behind	lag; lose ground	Students who miss too many classes often fall behind their peers.
With money and work it takes on: fell behind on the rent. It also works with no object, or directly with whoever you trail, and nothing comes between the parts: fell behind her classmates. Be behind names the state; fall behind names the change into it.
to stand up forneutral /ˌstænd ˈʌp fɔr/ To defend or support a person, idea or principle that is being attacked or criticized. Synonyms: defend, speak up for, back	defend; support	She has always stood up for colleagues who were treated unfairly by management.
Inseparable three-part verb: stand up for her, never stand her up for. The object can be a person, a right or a principle. Stand up to someone means confront them, and stand someone up means fail to meet them as arranged.
overwhelmingneutral /ˌoʊvərˈwɛlmɪŋ/ so strong or great that it is hard to deal with Synonyms: immense, crushing	very great; irresistible	The response to the charity appeal was overwhelming, exceeding all expectations.
Common with majority, evidence, support, response and sense: the overwhelming majority. It measures size or force rather than quality, so overwhelming evidence is abundant, not necessarily good. The adverb overwhelmingly is frequent: voted overwhelmingly against.
straightforwardneutral /ˌstreɪtˈfɔrwərd/ simple and easy to understand or do Synonyms: simple, clear	simple; uncomplicated	The instructions were straightforward, so we had no trouble assembling the furniture.
Of a task it means easy; of a person it means honest and direct. Common with fairly, pretty and relatively: a fairly straightforward process. Write it as one word, and keep it apart from straight forward, two words, which means directly ahead.
compellingneutral /kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/ so interesting or convincing that you cannot ignore it Synonyms: convincing, persuasive	convincing; gripping	The documentary presented a compelling case for reforming the prison system.
Two senses share the word: compelling evidence or a compelling argument is hard to resist, while a compelling film is hard to stop watching. Common with case, reason, evidence and reading. A compelling reason is strong enough to force a decision.
subtleneutral /ˈsʌtəl/ not obvious; small and delicate, hard to notice Synonyms: slight, delicate	faint; not obvious	There is a subtle difference between being assertive and being aggressive.
The b is silent. Common with difference, change, hint, shift and flavor. Of a person or a method it praises skill rather than force. The adverb is subtly and the noun is subtlety, both keeping the silent b.
thoroughneutral /ˈθɜroʊ/ done completely, with attention to every detail Synonyms: detailed, in-depth, careful	complete; detailed	The police conducted a thorough investigation before making any arrests.
It describes both the work and the worker: a thorough review, a thorough researcher. Keep it apart from through, which is a preposition and sounds quite different. The adverb thoroughly also works as a plain intensifier: thoroughly enjoyed it.
misleadingneutral /ˌmɪsˈlidɪŋ/ giving a wrong idea or impression Synonyms: deceptive, confusing	giving a false impression	The advertisement was considered misleading because it exaggerated the product's benefits.
Often with deliberately, highly or somewhat: a highly misleading claim. It does not require intent, so a misleading statement may be an honest mistake, while a lie always means to deceive. The verb is mislead, and its past form is misled.
feasibleformal /ˈfizəbəl/ possible to do or achieve Synonyms: possible, workable	practical; workable	The engineers determined that building a bridge at that location was technically feasible.
Common with technically, economically and commercially: technically feasible. It says a thing can be done, not that it is a good idea, so a feasible plan may still be unwise. Possible is wider; feasible claims the means actually exist.
outspokenneutral /ˌaʊtˈspoʊkən/ saying your opinions openly, even when they shock Synonyms: frank, direct	blunt; frankly critical	She has always been outspoken about gender inequality in the workplace.
Almost always outspoken about something, or in a fixed pair such as an outspoken critic or an outspoken supporter. It names a habit of speaking, not one occasion. It admires the courage while hinting that the person creates friction.
widespreadneutral /ˈwaɪdˌsprɛd/ existing or happening in many places or among many people Synonyms: common, extensive	common; found everywhere	There is widespread concern about the impact of artificial intelligence on employment.
Normally before the noun: widespread damage, widespread support. Common with concern, criticism, belief, poverty and use. It measures how far something reaches, not how intense it is. There is no form widespreader; use more widespread.
ground-breakingneutral /ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪkɪŋ/ completely new and changing how things are done Synonyms: innovative, pioneering	pioneering; highly original	Her ground-breaking research on gene therapy has opened new doors in medicine.
The claim is about being first, which makes it easy to overstate. It sits before a noun: ground-breaking research, a ground-breaking study. Both spellings are current, and the one-word groundbreaking is now more common in American English.
thought-provokingneutral /ˈθɔt prəˌvoʊkɪŋ/ making people think seriously about a subject Synonyms: stimulating	makes you think	The exhibition was thought-provoking and challenged visitors to reconsider their assumptions.
It nearly always describes something you read, watch or hear: a thought-provoking essay, exhibition or question. It is praise, and it implies questions raised rather than answers given. Keep the hyphen rather than writing two separate words.
far-fetchedneutral /ˌfɑrˈfɛtʃt/ very unlikely to be true; hard to believe Synonyms: unlikely, implausible	implausible; hard to believe	His excuse for being late sounded far-fetched, and nobody believed him.
Usually after the verb: the story sounds far-fetched. Common with sounds, seems and a bit. It judges an explanation, a theory or a plot, not a person. Keep the hyphen, and note that the second part is fetched, not fetch.
plausibleneutral /ˈplɔzəbəl/ Seeming likely to be true or reasonable, even if not proven. Synonyms: believable, convincing, reasonable	believable; credible	His explanation sounded plausible, but the evidence told a completely different story.
Often paired with but: plausible but wrong. Common with explanation, excuse, theory and deniability. It reports how a claim sounds, not whether it is true, so calling an excuse plausible can quietly signal doubt. The opposite is implausible.
accountableformal /əˈkaʊntəbəl/ responsible for your actions and required to explain them Synonyms: answerable, liable	answerable; responsible	Public officials must be held accountable for how they spend taxpayers' money.
It takes to for the person and for the thing: accountable to voters for the spending. The commonest frame is the passive hold someone accountable. Responsible can mean simply in charge, while accountable adds that you must explain and face consequences.
ambiguousneutral /æmˈbɪɡjuəs/ having more than one possible meaning; unclear Synonyms: unclear, vague	unclear; open to interpretation	The wording of the law is deliberately ambiguous, leaving room for interpretation.
Something ambiguous has more than one possible reading, while something vague has no clear content at all. Common with wording, phrase, results and terms. Do not confuse it with ambivalent, which describes mixed feelings rather than unclear language.
relentlessneutral /rɪˈlɛntləs/ continuing without stopping or getting weaker Synonyms: unstoppable, constant	unceasing; unforgiving	The journalist's relentless pursuit of the truth eventually exposed the scandal.
It describes pressure, rain, criticism, pace and pursuit. Of a person it means refusing to stop, which is praise or complaint depending on the aim. The adverb relentlessly is very common with verbs: pushed relentlessly for reform.
hindsightneutral /ˈhaɪndˌsaɪt/ understanding a situation only after it has happened Synonyms: retrospect, looking back	seeing clearly afterwards	In hindsight, we should have invested more in cybersecurity before the breach occurred.
In hindsight, with hindsight, with the benefit of hindsight: the word barely appears outside those three phrases, and it has no plural and no verb of its own. Foresight is the opposite, judging before the event rather than after it.
outcomeneutral /ˈaʊtˌkʌm/ the final result of a process or event Synonyms: result, consequence	result; end product	The outcome of the negotiations will determine the future of trade relations between the two countries.
Of, not to: the outcome of the talks. Result is the plainer word, while outcome suits something settled by a process such as an election, a trial or negotiations. It is standard in research and policy writing.
drawbackneutral /ˈdrɔˌbæk/ a disadvantage or negative side of something Synonyms: downside, weak point	disadvantage; downside	One major drawback of remote work is the lack of face-to-face interaction with colleagues.
Disadvantage compares two options, while a drawback is a weak point in one thing you otherwise accept. Usually with major, main, one or the only: the main drawback is the cost. A drawback of something, or to doing something.
pitfallneutral /ˈpɪtˌfɔl/ a hidden danger or problem that is easy to fall into Synonyms: trap, hazard	hidden trap; likely mistake	The guide warns about common pitfalls that new entrepreneurs should avoid.
Usually plural and usually in warnings: common pitfalls, avoid the pitfalls of borrowing. A pitfall is a mistake you do not see coming, which is why guides and manuals use the word. A drawback, by contrast, is a weakness you already know about.
breakthroughneutral /ˈbreɪkˌθru/ an important discovery or success after much effort Synonyms: advance, discovery	major advance	Scientists announced a major breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
The noun is one word; the verb is two, as in break through the barrier. It takes in for the field: a breakthrough in cancer research, and it is common with major, significant, medical and scientific. The word claims a lot, so it is often overused.
setbackneutral /ˈsɛtˌbæk/ a problem that delays your progress Synonyms: obstacle, reverse	delay; reverse	The project suffered a major setback when the main investor pulled out.
You suffer or face a setback rather than simply have one. Common with major, serious and temporary. A setback interrupts progress you had already made, while a drawback is a permanent disadvantage of the thing itself.
upheavalneutral /ʌpˈhivəl/ a big sudden change causing confusion or trouble Synonyms: turmoil, disruption	turmoil; major disruption	The country has experienced significant political upheaval in the last decade.
Used both uncountably and countably: political upheaval, a period of upheaval, the upheavals of the 1990s. Common with political, social and economic. It names the disorder that comes with change, so a smooth reform is not an upheaval.
scrutinyformal /ˈskrutəni/ very careful and detailed examination Synonyms: examination, inspection	close examination	The company's finances are under intense scrutiny following the fraud allegations.
Uncountable, with no plural and no article: under scrutiny, not under a scrutiny. Common with close, intense, public, and with come under. It usually implies someone looking for faults, so it is rarely welcome. The verb is scrutinize.
consensusneutral /kənˈsɛnsəs/ general agreement among a group of people Synonyms: agreement, accord	general agreement	After hours of debate, the committee finally reached a consensus on the new regulations.
You reach, build or arrive at a consensus, and there is a consensus that something is so. Spelled with s in the middle, not consencus. It means broad agreement rather than a unanimous vote, so a consensus can survive some dissent.
to acknowledgeneutral /ækˈnɑlɪdʒ/ to accept that something is true or exists Synonyms: admit, accept	admit; recognize	The government acknowledged that its initial response to the crisis had been inadequate.
It takes a that-clause or a noun: acknowledged that the response had failed. Acknowledge doing something is also correct. It admits an unwelcome fact without apologizing for it. A second sense is to confirm receipt: please acknowledge this email.
to advocateformal /ˈædvəˌkeɪt/ to publicly support an idea or plan Synonyms: support, champion	publicly support; call for	Many experts advocate investing more in preventive healthcare rather than reactive treatment.
Use advocate plus an -ing form or a noun: advocate raising taxes, advocate reform. Never advocate to do something. Advocate for a group or cause is also standard. The verb ends in a full /ˌkeɪt/, while the noun ends in a reduced /kət/.
to refuteformal /rɪˈfjut/ to prove that a statement or argument is wrong Synonyms: disprove, rebut	disprove; prove wrong	The scientist refuted the claim that vaccines cause autism with extensive clinical data.
It takes a noun object: refute the claim, refute an argument. To refute something you show with evidence that it is false; to deny it is only to say it is untrue. The two are often mixed up, but careful writing keeps them separate.
to undermineneutral /ˌʌndərˈmaɪn/ to make something weaker, often gradually or secretly Synonyms: weaken, sabotage	weaken gradually	Spreading misinformation on social media can undermine public trust in democratic institutions.
It takes a direct object, usually abstract: undermine trust, authority, confidence, an argument, a peace process. The damage is indirect and often unintended, which is what separates it from attack. Physically it means to dig away the base of something.
to concedeformal /kənˈsid/ to admit something is true after first disagreeing Synonyms: admit, acknowledge	admit; grant a point	I concede that your argument has some merit, but I still disagree with your conclusion.
Followed by a that-clause or a noun: conceded that he was wrong, conceded the point. What you admit helps the other side, so it normally follows resistance. In sport and politics you also concede a goal, a game or an election.
to contendformal /kənˈtɛnd/ to argue or claim that something is true Synonyms: argue, claim	argue; maintain	Critics contend that the new law will disproportionately affect low-income families.
In this sense it needs a that-clause: critics contend that the law is unfair. A separate sense takes with and means cope with: contend with delays. Reporting writers use it to mark a claim as disputed rather than established.
to dismissneutral /dɪsˈmɪs/ to refuse to consider an idea; to remove from a job Synonyms: reject, disregard	reject; wave aside	The judge dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence.
The key frame is dismiss something as plus an adjective or noun: dismissed the idea as naive. Dismiss out of hand means reject without even looking. The employment sense is the formal word for fire, and a court dismisses a case.
to implyneutral /ɪmˈplaɪ/ to suggest something without saying it directly Synonyms: suggest, hint	hint; suggest indirectly	Are you implying that I had something to do with the missing funds?
The speaker or the text implies; the listener infers. It takes a that-clause: are you implying that I lied? Never imply me. Asked as a question it usually sounds like an accusation, which is why it turns up so often in arguments.
to inferformal /ɪnˈfɜr/ to reach a conclusion from evidence, not direct statements Synonyms: deduce, gather, work out	conclude; deduce	From the data presented, we can infer that consumer confidence is declining.
The listener infers and the speaker implies; swapping the two is the classic error. It takes a that-clause, often with from: we infer from the data that demand is falling. The noun is inference, stressed on the first syllable.
to raise awarenessneutral /ˌreɪz əˈwɛrnəs/ to make more people know about an issue Synonyms: publicize, draw attention to, highlight	publicize an issue	The campaign aims to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive screen time for children.
A fixed pairing: raise awareness, never rise awareness or lift awareness. What follows is of or about: raise awareness of the risks. Awareness is uncountable, so no article and no plural, and a campaign or charity is the usual subject.
to allow forneutral /əˈlaʊ fɔr/ To consider something when making a plan or calculation so you are prepared for it. Synonyms: take into account, provide for	take into account	When planning the budget, you should allow for unexpected costs such as repairs.
The object is something uncertain you plan around: allow for delays, allow for inflation, with nothing between allow and for. Allowing for works as a linker: allowing for inflation, sales were flat. Allow someone to do something, with no for, is permission instead.
furthermoreformal /ˈfɜrðərˌmɔr/ in addition to what was said Synonyms: moreover, besides	in addition; moreover	The proposal is too expensive; furthermore, it fails to address the root cause of the problem.
It opens a sentence and takes a comma: Furthermore, the costs are rising. It can also follow a semicolon. It adds a second, separate argument rather than a detail of the first. Common in writing but stiff in speech, where and or also does the work.
neverthelessformal /ˌnɛvərðəˈlɛs/ despite what was just said Synonyms: however, nonetheless	even so; however	The evidence is inconclusive; nevertheless, the findings suggest a strong correlation.
It usually opens the clause with a comma, or follows a semicolon. It concedes the previous point and then goes against it, so something must come before it. Nonetheless is interchangeable, however is the plainer choice, and it is written as one word.
converselyformal /kənˈvɜrsli/ Used to introduce a statement that is the opposite of what was just said. Synonyms: on the other hand, in contrast	the other way round	Higher taxes may reduce spending; conversely, tax cuts tend to stimulate consumption.
It introduces the mirror image of the previous statement, so the two ideas must be genuinely opposite and parallel. It opens the clause with a comma. However marks any contrast, while conversely claims a reversal. Rare in speech, frequent in analysis.
even ifneutral /ˌivən ˈɪf/ Used to say that something will not change the situation, whether or not another thing happens. Synonyms: no matter whether, regardless of whether	no matter whether	Even if the evidence were overwhelming, some people would still refuse to believe it.
Even if concedes a possibility that would change nothing; even though states a fact that is already true. For something unlikely it takes a past form: even if it were free. Do not drop even, since that is the part carrying the force.
regardless ofneutral /rɪˈɡɑrdləs əv/ without being affected or changed by something Synonyms: irrespective of, despite	no matter what	All employees should be treated fairly, regardless of their gender or ethnic background.
It works as a preposition, so a noun or an -ing form follows: regardless of the cost, regardless of what they say. Standing alone, regardless means anyway: she went regardless. Irregardless is widely heard but counts as an error in writing.
milestoneneutral /ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/ An important event or stage in the development of something. Synonyms: landmark, turning point	key stage; landmark event	Securing the first international client was a major milestone for the company.
It marks progress along a path, so it suits a first sale or a fiftieth year rather than a one-off surprise. It takes in or for: a milestone in the company's history. Common with major, important and significant.
appraisalformal /əˈpreɪzəl/ A formal assessment of an employee's performance, or a judgement of the value of something. Synonyms: evaluation, assessment	performance review; valuation	During my annual appraisal, my manager praised my teamwork but questioned my time management.
In American workplaces performance review is the far commoner term for an annual appraisal, and appraisal most often means a valuation of property. The verb appraise means judge the value of, while apprise, with an s, means inform.
to outsourceneutral /ˈaʊtˌsɔrs/ to pay another company to do work for yours Synonyms: contract out	contract work out	Many companies outsource their customer service to reduce operational costs.
The object is the work, and the company doing it follows to: outsource support to a vendor. It is often passive: the work was outsourced. The noun is outsourcing. Offshoring means moving work abroad, which outsourcing does not require.
stakeholderneutral /ˈsteɪkˌhoʊldər/ a person or group with an interest in a project or company Synonyms: interested party, involved group	interested party	All key stakeholders must be consulted before any major decision is made.
It covers anyone affected by a decision, including staff and customers, so it is much wider than shareholder, which means only someone owning shares. Common with key, main and external, and very frequent in business and public-sector writing.
to streamlineneutral /ˈstrimˌlaɪn/ to make a process simpler and more efficient Synonyms: simplify, optimize	simplify; make efficient	The company streamlined its production process, reducing delivery times by 40%.
The object is a process, an operation, a workflow or an organization, never a person. Often passive: the process has been streamlined. In company announcements it is a well-known euphemism for cutting jobs, and listeners hear it that way.
to delegateneutral /ˈdɛləˌɡeɪt/ to give part of your work or authority to someone else Synonyms: assign, entrust	hand over; assign	A good leader knows when to delegate tasks rather than trying to do everything alone.
You delegate a task to someone, or delegate authority. It also works with no object at all: good managers delegate. The noun delegate, meaning a representative, ends in a reduced syllable, while the verb ends in a full -gate.
to liaiseformal /liˈeɪz/ to work closely with someone by sharing information Synonyms: coordinate, cooperate	coordinate; keep in touch	She liaises between the engineering team and the client to ensure smooth communication.
It takes with for the person and between for two sides: liaise with the client, liaise between the teams. There is no direct object. The noun is liaison. It is standard in job ads and reports, and rare in conversation.
to implementformal /ˈɪmpləˌmɛnt/ to put a plan or decision into action Synonyms: carry out, execute	carry out; put in place	The school plans to implement a new curriculum starting next academic year.
The object is a plan, a policy, a system, changes or a recommendation, never a person. Often passive: the policy was implemented in March. The noun implementation is very common in reports. As a noun, an implement is a tool.
to assessneutral /əˈsɛs/ to judge the quality, value or importance of something Synonyms: evaluate, weigh up, estimate	evaluate; judge	Experts were called in to assess the structural damage caused by the earthquake.
It takes a direct object or a wh- clause: assess whether the plan is safe. The noun is assessment and the person is an assessor. Assess weighs evidence to reach a judgment, while measure only records a quantity. Note the double s.
to allocateformal /ˈæləˌkeɪt/ to give resources, money or time for a purpose Synonyms: assign, distribute	assign; set aside	The government allocated additional funds to improve public transport infrastructure.
You allocate something to a person or purpose, or allocate someone something: allocated funds to schools. It is used of limited resources such as money, time, seats and space. Often passive: two hours were allocated for questions. The noun is allocation.
to overseeneutral /ˌoʊvərˈsi/ to watch and direct work to make sure it is done well Synonyms: supervise, monitor	supervise; be in charge of	A senior engineer was appointed to oversee the construction of the new hospital.
Irregular: oversaw, overseen. The object is work, a project, a process or a department rather than the individual worker. It means holding responsibility at a distance, not doing the task. Overlook is unrelated and means fail to notice.
benchmarkneutral /ˈbɛntʃˌmɑrk/ a standard used to compare and measure quality Synonyms: standard, yardstick	standard for comparison	Their customer satisfaction rate has become the benchmark for the entire industry.
You set a benchmark, and something becomes the benchmark for an industry. The same word is a verb meaning compare against that standard, and it takes against: benchmark our prices against theirs.
to comply withformal /kəmˈplaɪ wɪð/ to act according to a rule or law Synonyms: follow, obey	obey; follow rules	All businesses must comply with the new data protection regulations by the end of the year.
Always with, and there is no direct object, so never comply the rules. What follows is a rule, a law, a standard, a request or an order. The adjective is compliant and the noun is compliance, which also takes with.
turnoverneutral /ˈtɜrnˌoʊvər/ the money a business receives; the rate people leave a company Synonyms: churn, revenue	sales revenue; staff churn	High employee turnover is often a sign of poor management or low job satisfaction.
The staff sense is the one heard most in American English, where revenue or sales is preferred for the money sense. Common with high, low and annual, and uncountable either way. The verb is two separate words: turn over.
to fosterformal /ˈfɔstər/ to encourage the growth or development of something Synonyms: encourage, promote	encourage; nurture	The program was designed to foster innovation and creativity among young entrepreneurs.
The object is abstract and desirable: foster innovation, cooperation, growth, a sense of belonging. It suggests creating the conditions rather than forcing the outcome. A separate everyday sense is to raise a child who is not legally yours.
to underpinformal /ˌʌndərˈpɪn/ to form the base that supports an idea or system Synonyms: support, sustain	support; form the basis of	A strong legal framework underpins the democratic system in most Western countries.
The subject is the foundation and the object is what rests on it: research underpins the policy. Often passive: underpinned by strong evidence. Double the n before endings, as in underpinning and underpinned. Literally it means strengthening a wall from below.
to encompassformal /ɪnˈkʌmpəs/ to include many different things Synonyms: include, cover	cover; include fully	The study encompasses a wide range of topics, from economics to environmental science.
It takes a direct object, usually a range, a field or a set of topics, and never a preposition. It suggests taking everything in rather than listing items, so it fits a broad scope. Include leaves room for what is left out; encompass implies the whole.
to addressneutral /əˈdrɛs/ to deal with a problem or question Synonyms: tackle, deal with	respond to an issue	The report addresses the growing issue of income inequality in developed nations.
The object is a problem, an issue, a question or a concern, and nothing comes between: address the problem, never address to it. Address a person means speak formally to them. The noun meaning where you live is stressed at the front.
to elaborateformal /ɪˈlæbəˌreɪt/ to explain something in more detail Synonyms: expand, develop	expand; give detail	Could you elaborate on the methodology you used in your research?
As a verb it usually takes on: elaborate on the method. It can also stand alone: he refused to elaborate. The adjective elaborate means complicated and detailed, and it ends in a reduced syllable while the verb ends in a full -rate.
to constrainformal /kənˈstreɪn/ to limit what someone or something can do Synonyms: limit, curb	limit; restrict	Budget cuts have severely constrained the university's ability to fund new research projects.
Most often passive: severely constrained by the budget. It also works as constrain someone to do something, meaning force. The noun constraint is far commoner than the verb: time constraints, budget constraints. Restrain is about holding back, not limiting scope.
to yieldformal /jild/ to produce a result or profit; to give way Synonyms: produce, generate	produce; give way	The experiment yielded unexpected results that contradicted the initial hypothesis.
Two patterns share the word: yield results or profit, with a direct object, and yield to pressure, with to. On American road signs Yield means give way to other traffic. The noun yield is the amount produced, as in crop yields.
to hinderneutral /ˈhɪndər/ to make it harder for something to happen or progress Synonyms: obstruct, hamper	slow down; impede	Lack of funding continues to hinder scientific progress in many developing countries.
It takes a direct object: hinder progress, hinder development. Often passive: hindered by bad weather. Prevent stops something completely, while hinder only slows it down. The noun drops the e: a hindrance to growth.
to citeformal /saɪt/ to mention something as an example or proof Synonyms: quote, mention	quote; refer to	The article cites several studies that support the link between exercise and mental health.
It takes a direct object: cite a study, cite evidence, cite reasons. Often passive: three papers were cited. In academic writing it means giving a source; more widely it means offering something as proof. The noun is citation.
to stem fromneutral /ˈstɛm frəm/ to be caused by or come from something Synonyms: arise from, originate from	originate in	Many of today's social problems stem from decades of economic inequality.
The subject is the result and what follows from is the cause, which is the reverse of the verb cause: the problem stems from poor planning. There is no passive, nothing comes between the two parts, and the simple present is used rather than the progressive.
to fluctuateneutral /ˈflʌktʃuˌeɪt/ to change often between higher and lower levels Synonyms: vary, swing	go up and down	Oil prices have fluctuated wildly over the past year due to geopolitical tensions.
It takes no object, so prices fluctuate but nothing fluctuates them. Common adverbs are wildly, sharply and slightly, and a range follows between: fluctuate between 10 and 20. The noun fluctuation is usually plural.
to compriseformal /kəmˈpraɪz/ to consist of or be made up of parts Synonyms: consist of, include	consist of; be made of	The board of directors comprises twelve members from different professional backgrounds.
The whole comes first and the parts follow, with no of: the team comprises five people. Is comprised of is very common in speech but many editors treat it as an error, so consist of or be composed of is the safer choice in writing.
to entailformal /ɪnˈteɪl/ to involve something as a necessary part or result Synonyms: require, mean, bring with it	involve; require	Moving abroad for work entails leaving behind your social network and starting over.
It takes a noun or an -ing form: the job entails travel, entails working weekends. Never entail to do. There is no progressive form. It names what necessarily comes with something, which makes it stronger than involve.
to conveyneutral /kənˈveɪ/ to communicate an idea or feeling to someone Synonyms: communicate, express	communicate; get across	Body language often conveys more than words in a job interview.
You convey something to someone: convey the message to the board. The object is usually meaning, a feeling, an impression or information rather than a physical thing. A formal second sense is to transport goods. The noun is conveyance.
to robneutral /rɑb/ To take money or property illegally from a person or place, often using force or threats. Synonyms: hold up, steal from	steal from by force	Two men robbed the bank on the high street, but they stole surprisingly little money.
You rob a person or a place, and you steal the money: they robbed the bank and stole the cash. The thing taken follows of: robbed her of her savings. Double the b before endings, as in robbed, robbing and robber.
to suitneutral /sut/ To be convenient or right for someone, or to make someone look attractive. Synonyms: fit, be convenient for	fit; look good on	Working from home suits me perfectly, although the blue jacket doesn't suit you at all.
It takes a direct object and no preposition: the time suits me, never suits to me. Of clothes and colors it means look good on someone, a sense that fit does not carry. Suit yourself is a set phrase meaning do as you like.
to tellneutral /tɛl/ to give information to a particular person Synonyms: inform, let someone know	inform someone	I told him the meeting had been canceled, but he showed up anyway.
A hearer normally comes first: tell him the news, tell me what happened. Only a short closed list takes no hearer: tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a story, tell a joke, tell the time. Tell someone to do something gives an order. The past form is told.
to sayneutral /seɪ/ to speak words; used without saying who hears them Synonyms: state, mention	speak; state words	She said that the project would be finished by the end of the month.
It reports the words, not the hearer, so a person needs to: said to me, never said me. Say that plus a clause is the normal frame. Compare tell, which takes the hearer directly. The past form is said.
to make a decisionneutral /ˌmeɪk ə dɪˈsɪʒən/ to decide something after considering the options Synonyms: decide, make up your mind, reach a decision	decide	We need to make a decision about the budget before the board meeting next week.
Make, not do or take, in American English, and the topic follows about or on. Reach a decision is a common variant that stresses the process. Decide plus a clause is shorter and often better: decide whether to move.
to do researchneutral /ˌdu rɪˈsɜrtʃ/ to study a subject carefully in order to discover facts Synonyms: look into, conduct a study	study; investigate	Before launching the product, the company did extensive research into consumer preferences.
Do, not make, and conduct research is the formal version. Research is uncountable, so it takes no a and has no plural: a lot of research, two pieces of research. The topic follows into or on: research into consumer habits.
to hearneutral /hɪr/ to notice sound with your ears, without trying Synonyms: catch, make out	perceive sound	I could hear the neighbors arguing through the thin walls of the apartment.
Not normally used in the progressive, so I hear it, not I am hearing it. With can it describes the ability at that moment: I can hear you. Hear about means learn of, and hear from means get a message. The past form is heard.
to listen toneutral /ˈlɪsən tu/ to pay attention to a sound on purpose Synonyms: pay attention to, attend to	pay attention to	You should listen to what the doctor advises rather than searching for symptoms online.
To is required before an object: listen to music, never listen music. With no object the to disappears: just listen. Listening is deliberate while hearing happens by itself, and listen to someone also means take their advice.
to ariseformal /əˈraɪz/ To happen or begin to exist, especially a problem or difficulty. Synonyms: emerge, come up	come up; occur	Serious complications arose when the two departments refused to share their data.
No object and no passive; problems, questions and opportunities arise on their own. Irregular: arose, arisen. Use it for situations rather than physical movement, and use rise for amounts going up.
to riseneutral /raɪz/ to go up or increase, with no object after it Synonyms: go up, climb, grow	go up; increase	Unemployment rates rose sharply during the economic recession.
It takes no object, so prices rise but you cannot rise prices; raise does that job. Irregular: rose, risen. Common adverbs are sharply, steadily and slightly, and the new level follows to: rose to 8%.
to layneutral /leɪ/ To put something down carefully in a flat position. Synonyms: place, put down	place flat; set down	She laid the documents on the desk and then lay down on the sofa, exhausted.
It needs an object: lay the papers on the desk, and its forms are laid and laid. Lie takes no object, and the past of lie is lay: I lay down for an hour yesterday. That is why the past of lie is spelled like this verb. Lay down the rules is a fixed use.
to rememberneutral /rɪˈmɛmbər/ to keep or bring back something in your mind Synonyms: recall	recall; keep in mind	I remember reading somewhere that regular sleep patterns improve cognitive function.
Remember doing looks back at a past event, while remember to do is about a duty still ahead. It is not used in the progressive. It also takes a that-clause or a wh- clause. Remind works the other way: someone reminds you.
ultimatelyneutral /ˈʌltəmətli/ In the end; when everything has been considered. Synonyms: in the end, at the end of the day	in the end; finally	Ultimately, the decision to relocate the factory rests with the board of directors.
It usually opens the sentence with a comma, and it marks the final point of an argument rather than the last event in a sequence. In the end is the everyday equivalent. Eventually is different: it means after a long delay.
casuallyneutral /ˈkæʒuəli/ In a relaxed, informal way, or without seeming to care much. Synonyms: informally, offhandedly	in a relaxed way	He casually mentioned that he had been offered a job in Singapore.
Two uses share the adverb: casually dressed is about clothes, while mentioned it casually is about manner, often hiding real interest. Casualty looks related but is not: it means a person injured or killed.
to assistformal /əˈsɪst/ To help someone do something, especially in a formal or official context. Synonyms: help, support	help; aid	Volunteers assisted the emergency services in evacuating residents from the flooded area.
You assist someone with something, or assist in doing something. It belongs to reports, notices and job descriptions, where help would sound too plain. The noun is assistance, and the person who does it is an assistant.
to pretendneutral /prɪˈtɛnd/ to act as if something is true when it is not Synonyms: fake, act	act as if; feign	He pretended to be interested in the conversation, but his mind was elsewhere.
Pretend to be or to do something, or pretend that plus a clause: pretended that nothing had happened. It does not mean claim or intend, and it takes no plain object, so never pretend a job. The noun is pretense.
comprehensiveneutral /ˌkɑmprɪˈhɛnsɪv/ Including everything or nearly everything that is relevant; complete and thorough. Synonyms: thorough, complete	complete; wide-ranging	The report offers a comprehensive analysis of the housing crisis in major cities.
Common with review, report, study, guide, plan and coverage. It measures breadth of coverage, not depth or understanding. Comprehensible looks similar but means able to be understood. The adverb is frequent with verbs: comprehensively defeated.
actualneutral /ˈæktʃuəl/ Real and existing in fact, rather than what is believed, expected or claimed. Synonyms: real, genuine, exact	real; true	The actual cost of the stadium was almost double the figure quoted to taxpayers.
It goes before the noun and sets what is real against what was claimed or assumed: the actual cost. It never means current or present-day. Actually often works as a mild correction in speech: actually, it was Tuesday.
to resumeformal /rɪˈzum/ To start again after a pause or interruption. Synonyms: restart, continue	start again; continue	Talks between the union and the company will resume once the strike has ended.
It works with an object or without: resume talks, or talks resume. An -ing form can follow: resumed working. The noun resumption is formal. A resume meaning a job history is a separate word, stressed on the first syllable.
it's no useneutral /ɪts noʊ ˈjus/ words meaning that doing something will not help Synonyms: it's pointless	pointless; no help	It's no use complaining about the weather — let's just make the best of it.
An -ing form follows, never an infinitive: it's no use complaining, not it's no use to complain. There's no point is the close equivalent and behaves the same way. The opening it cannot be replaced by the activity itself.
to be on the verge ofneutral /bi ɑn ðə ˈvɜrdʒ əv/ to be very close to doing or experiencing something Synonyms: be about to	about to; very close to	The company was on the verge of bankruptcy before the new CEO turned things around.
A noun or an -ing form follows of: on the verge of collapse, on the verge of giving up. Keep the whole frame, since verge is not used alone this way. What comes next is usually bad, or at least dramatic.
to take for grantedneutral /ˌteɪk fɔr ˈɡræntɪd/ to not value something because you assume it will always be there Synonyms: undervalue, assume without question	undervalue; assume	We often take clean drinking water for granted until there's a shortage.
The object always sits between take and for: take clean water for granted, never take for granted clean water. Granted never changes form and takes no article. The passive is common in writing: clean water is too often taken for granted.
to beat around the bushinformal /ˌbit əˈraʊnd ðə ˈbʊʃ/ to avoid talking about the main point directly Synonyms: stall, avoid the point, talk around it	avoid the main point	Stop beating around the bush and tell me exactly what happened.
Usually in the negative or as an instruction: stop beating around the bush. No object follows. American English says around, where British English says about. It accuses the other person of stalling, so it sounds direct and a little impatient.
to call the shotsinformal /ˌkɔl ðə ˈʃɑts/ To be the person who makes the decisions and has control of a situation. Synonyms: be in control, run the show	be in charge	Although he is officially the assistant, everyone knows he is the one who calls the shots.
A fixed phrase with the and no object: she calls the shots. It names who holds real power rather than who holds the title, which is why it so often contrasts the two. In a workplace it can hint the arrangement is unofficial.
the bottom lineinformal /ðə ˌbɑtəm ˈlaɪn/ the most important fact or the final result Synonyms: the key point	key point; net result	The bottom line is that we can't afford to hire more staff without increasing revenue.
Two senses: in business it is the final profit figure, and in an argument it is the point that settles the matter. The bottom line is that plus a clause is the usual frame. Always with the, and never plural.
to have a sayneutral /ˌhæv ə ˈseɪ/ to have the right to give your opinion in a decision Synonyms: have a voice, have influence	get a voice in	Employees should have a say in decisions that directly affect their working conditions.
It takes in: a say in the decision. Common with much, no, any and some: they had no say at all. Say is a noun here, so the final say means the last word rather than the only one.
to miss the pointneutral /ˌmɪs ðə ˈpɔɪnt/ to not understand the most important part of something Synonyms: misunderstand, fail to grasp it	misunderstand what matters	You're missing the point — the issue isn't the cost, it's the principle.
Almost always with the: you are missing the point. Miss the point of something names what was misunderstood. It says the listener took in the words but not the reason behind them, and it is mildly critical.
to make up forneutral /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp fɔr/ to do something good to balance something bad Synonyms: compensate for, offset, balance out	compensate for	He worked overtime all week to make up for the time he had missed.
Three-part and inseparable when the object is a thing: make up for lost time. Make it up to someone, in that order, is about repairing a relationship instead. The subject can be a person or a thing: the view makes up for the climb.
to keep up withneutral /ˌkip ˈʌp wɪð/ to move or progress as fast as someone or something Synonyms: stay level with	match the pace of	It's hard to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change.
Inseparable three-part verb: keep up with them, never keep them up with. The object may be a person, a pace, demand, the news or the payments. Keep up on its own means continue: keep up the good work.
a matter of timeneutral /ə ˌmætər əv ˈtaɪm/ something certain to happen, only the moment is unknown Synonyms: inevitable, bound to happen	certain to happen eventually	Given the current trends, experts say it's only a matter of time before another financial crisis hits.
The full frame is it is only a matter of time before something happens, with before rather than until. Only or just is almost always present. A matter of minutes is different and simply measures a short period.
the pros and consneutral /ðə ˌproʊz ən ˈkɑnz/ the advantages and disadvantages of something Synonyms: benefits and drawbacks, upsides and downsides	advantages and disadvantages	Before accepting the offer, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons.
Always plural and always in this order, with the or of: the pros and cons of remote work. You weigh, consider or list them. Pro and con hardly appear alone as nouns, so keep the pair intact.
to read between the linesneutral /ˌrid bɪˈtwin ðə ˈlaɪnz/ to understand a hidden meaning that is not said directly Synonyms: infer, guess the real meaning	find the hidden meaning	If you read between the lines of his speech, you'll notice he's hinting at resignation.
Used with no object, or with of plus the text: read between the lines of his statement. It refers to what the writer or speaker chose not to say outright, so it fits careful, guarded language rather than plain speech.
to get to the bottom ofneutral /ˌɡɛt tə ðə ˈbɑtəm əv/ to find the real cause or truth of something Synonyms: uncover, solve	uncover the truth about	The investigation aims to get to the bottom of what caused the data breach.
A fixed frame ending in of, followed by a noun or a wh- clause: get to the bottom of what happened. The object is usually a mystery, a problem or a complaint, and the phrase implies digging past appearances.
to stand outneutral /ˌstænd ˈaʊt/ to be clearly better or more noticeable than others Synonyms: excel, shine	be noticeable; excel	Her application stood out from the rest because of her unique volunteer experience.
No object, and often with from or among: stood out from the other applications. Stand out as plus a noun names the quality. It can be neutral noticing or clear praise, while the adjective outstanding carries only the praise.
to have second thoughtsneutral /ˌhæv ˌsɛkənd ˈθɔts/ to start doubting a decision you already made Synonyms: reconsider, hesitate	start doubting a decision	I'm having second thoughts about moving to another country so far from my family.
Plural, and usually with about: second thoughts about the move. The progressive is normal here, unlike with think: I am having second thoughts. On second thought, singular in American English, introduces the change of mind itself.
allegedlyformal /əˈlɛdʒɪdli/ said to be true but not yet proved Synonyms: supposedly, apparently	supposedly; reportedly	The politician allegedly accepted bribes from a construction company.
It flags a claim as unproven, which is why news writing puts it before naming a crime: allegedly accepted bribes. It has four syllables, stressed on the second. The family is allege, alleged and allegation.
to curbneutral /kɜrb/ to control or limit something harmful Synonyms: restrain, limit	limit; rein in	The government introduced new measures to curb the spread of misinformation online.
It takes a direct object, usually something unwanted: curb inflation, curb spending, curb emissions. It means holding something down rather than ending it. As a noun, curb is the stone edge of a sidewalk in American English.
to pledgeformal /plɛdʒ/ to make a serious public promise Synonyms: promise, vow	promise publicly; vow	World leaders pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 50% before 2030.
It takes an infinitive, a noun, or that plus a clause: pledged to cut emissions, pledged two million dollars. The promise is public and often written, which separates it from promise. A pledge can also be the money itself.
to sparkneutral /spɑrk/ to cause something to start, especially suddenly Synonyms: trigger, ignite	provoke a reaction	The controversial decision sparked widespread protests across the country.
The object is a reaction rather than a thing: spark protests, debate, outrage, interest. The subject is usually an event or a decision. Spark off is a common variant. As a noun, a spark is a small flash of fire.
to tackleneutral /ˈtækəl/ to deal with a difficult problem with determination Synonyms: address, confront	deal with; take on	The city council is developing a new strategy to tackle homelessness.
The object is a problem, an issue, crime, poverty or a difficult task. It suggests going at something directly and with effort, which is why headlines prefer it to deal with. In football it means bringing a player down.
to banneutral /bæn/ to officially forbid something Synonyms: prohibit, outlaw	forbid; prohibit	Several countries have banned single-use plastic bags in supermarkets.
You ban a thing, or ban someone from doing something: banned from driving. Double the n before endings: banned, banning. The prohibition is official, so a parent forbids rather than bans. The noun takes on: a ban on plastic bags.
a surgeneutral /sɜrdʒ/ a sudden large increase Synonyms: spike, jump	sudden sharp rise	There has been a surge in demand for electric vehicles over the past two years.
Increase says nothing about speed, while a surge is fast by definition. It takes in: a surge in demand, and it is common with sudden, huge and recent. The same word is a verb: prices surged.
to deteriorateformal /dɪˈtɪriəˌreɪt/ to become worse over time Synonyms: worsen, decline	get worse; decline	Relations between the two nations have deteriorated significantly since the trade dispute began.
No object, so a situation deteriorates but nothing deteriorates it. Usual subjects are health, relations, conditions and quality. Five syllables, stressed on the second. It describes a gradual slide, where collapse is sudden.
to crack down onneutral /ˌkræk ˈdaʊn ɑn/ to start dealing strictly with something illegal or bad Synonyms: clamp down on	get tough on	Authorities are cracking down on illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest.
The subject is an authority such as the police or a government and the object is something illegal or disapproved of: crack down on fraud, with the three parts never split. The noun is one word and keeps on: a crackdown on speeding.
to phase outneutral /ˌfeɪz ˈaʊt/ to stop using something slowly, in stages Synonyms: discontinue gradually	withdraw gradually	The country plans to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2035.
It stresses that the change happens in stages, unlike ban or stop, which are immediate. Often passive: the model is being phased out. A pronoun goes in the middle, as in phase it out, and the opposite is phase in.
to imposeformal /ɪmˈpoʊz/ to force a rule, tax or decision on people Synonyms: enforce, inflict	force on; introduce	The European Union imposed economic sanctions on the regime in response to human rights violations.
You impose something on someone: impose sanctions on the regime. The object is a rule, a tax, a limit, a fine or a deadline. Impose on someone, with no other object, means take advantage of their kindness. The noun is imposition.
to discloseformal /dɪsˈkloʊz/ to make secret information known Synonyms: reveal, divulge	reveal; make public	Companies are now required to disclose their carbon footprint in annual reports.
It takes a direct object or a that-clause: disclosed that talks had failed. The information was private before, and there is often a legal duty to share it, which is why it is common in law and finance. The noun is disclosure.
prone toneutral /ˈproʊn tu/ likely to experience or do something, usually bad Synonyms: liable to, inclined to	at risk of; inclined to	Coastal regions are particularly prone to flooding during the hurricane season.
It follows the verb and takes a noun or an -ing form: prone to flooding, prone to making mistakes. What follows is almost always unwanted. Prone on its own has a separate sense, lying face down.
to grapple withneutral /ˈɡræpəl wɪð/ To try hard to deal with or understand a difficult problem. Synonyms: struggle with, tackle	struggle with; wrestle with	Governments across Europe are grappling with the challenge of an ageing population.
It implies real effort with no result yet, and the progressive is very common: still grappling with the problem. The object is a difficulty, a question, a challenge or an idea rather than a person, and it always follows with.
to stumble uponneutral /ˈstʌmbəl əˌpɑn/ To find or discover something by chance. Synonyms: chance upon, discover	find by chance	While researching her family history, she stumbled upon a letter from 1912.
Inseparable: stumbled upon a letter, never stumbled a letter upon. Stumble across and stumble on mean the same. There must be no searching involved, and the discovery is usually a welcome surprise.
handfulneutral /ˈhændfʊl/ a small number of people or things Synonyms: a few	a few; small number	Only a handful of applicants had the qualifications required for the senior position.
Almost always a handful of plus a plural noun, and the verb agrees with that noun: a handful of people were waiting. It suggests fewer than expected, often as a quiet complaint. A handful can also describe a difficult child.
to graspneutral /ɡræsp/ to understand something; to hold firmly Synonyms: understand, seize	understand; take hold of	It took me a while to grasp the full implications of the new company policy.
It takes a direct object: grasp the concept, grasp the implications. In the understanding sense it avoids the progressive. Grasp at means try to seize, as in grasping at straws. The noun appears as a grasp of the subject.
to tackle something head-onneutral /ˈtækəl ˌhɛd ˈɑn/ to deal with a problem directly, without avoiding it Synonyms: face up to, address directly	confront directly	Rather than avoiding the problem, the new manager decided to tackle it head-on.
Head-on comes after the object: tackle it head-on. It works with other verbs too, such as address, confront and meet. It also describes collisions, as in a head-on crash, and keeps the hyphen before a noun.
to bear in mindneutral /ˌbɛr ɪn ˈmaɪnd/ to remember and consider something when deciding Synonyms: keep in mind, remember	keep in view when deciding	Bear in mind that the statistics only reflect reported cases, not the actual total.
Bear in mind that plus a clause is the usual frame, and as an instruction it opens the sentence. With a noun object the parts split: bear the deadline in mind. Keep in mind is interchangeable. Irregular: bore, borne.
to be bound toneutral /bi ˈbaʊnd tu/ to be certain to happen or do something Synonyms: be sure to	certain to	With so little preparation, the project was bound to fail.
Used only with be, and an infinitive follows: was bound to fail. It states a confident prediction rather than an obligation, which is what bound by a contract means instead. There is no progressive and no comparative form.
to give rise toformal /ˌɡɪv ˈraɪz tu/ to cause something to happen or exist Synonyms: bring about, result in, trigger	cause; lead to	The rapid expansion of cities has given rise to serious environmental challenges.
The frame is fixed and ends in to, followed by a noun and never a verb: gave rise to concerns. The subject is usually a situation or a trend rather than a person, and the result is abstract. Rise here takes no article.
to lay offneutral /ˌleɪ ˈɔf/ to end someone's job because there is not enough work Synonyms: let go, dismiss	dismiss for lack of work	The factory laid off 200 workers after the demand for their products dropped.
No fault is implied, unlike fire, and the passive is the usual form: 200 staff were laid off. A pronoun splits the verb: they laid her off. The noun is one word, layoffs, and lay off it is a separate use meaning stop doing something.
to wind upinformal /ˌwaɪnd ˈʌp/ to finally be in a situation you didn't plan Synonyms: end up	end up; finish	If you don't plan your finances carefully, you could wind up in serious debt.
In this sense a following phrase or an -ing form is needed: wound up in debt, wound up paying twice. The vowel rhymes with find, not with the noun wind. It also means to close a company or bring a meeting to an end.
to wear offneutral /ˌwɛr ˈɔf/ to gradually disappear, like the effect of medicine Synonyms: fade, subside	fade; lose effect	The initial excitement of the new job wore off after a few months.
No object; the effect wears off by itself. Typical subjects are medicine, excitement, novelty and pain. Wear out is different and means become unusable, or exhaust someone. Irregular: wore, worn.
to cut back onneutral /ˌkʌt ˈbæk ɑn/ to do or spend less of something Synonyms: reduce, cut down on	reduce; spend less on	The government has been forced to cut back on public spending due to the economic downturn.
Inseparable while on is there: cut back on sugar. Without on it separates: cut back spending, or cut it back. The noun is one word, as in cutbacks in funding. It means reducing something, not stopping it.
to see toneutral /ˈsi tu/ to take responsibility for doing something Synonyms: deal with, attend to	take care of; handle	Don't worry about the arrangements — I'll see to everything while you're away.
See to it that plus a clause is a common way of giving an instruction, and the object is a task or an arrangement rather than a person. Nothing comes between see and to: I'll see to it. See about is vaguer and means look into.
nuanceneutral /ˈnuɑns/ a very small difference in meaning or feeling Synonyms: subtlety, shade	fine distinction; shade	Political debates often lack the nuance needed to discuss complex issues effectively.
The adjective nuanced praises an account for noticing complications, and it is the commoner form. The noun works either way: the nuances of the argument, or a debate that lacks nuance. Common with subtle, cultural and every.
leverageneutral /ˈlɛvərɪdʒ/ power to influence; to use something to get an advantage Synonyms: influence, advantage	bargaining power	The union used the threat of a strike as leverage in the salary negotiations.
Leverage over suppliers or leverage with a partner: those are the prepositions, and you use, gain or have it but never a leverage. The verb leverage, meaning exploit for advantage, is business jargon that grates on many readers.
thresholdneutral /ˈθrɛʃˌhoʊld/ the level at which something starts to happen Synonyms: limit, boundary	starting level; limit	Once pollution levels cross a certain threshold, the health risks increase dramatically.
You cross, reach, raise or lower a threshold, and it takes for: the threshold for tax relief. It also describes tolerance, as in a high pain threshold. The literal sense is the strip under a doorway.
accountabilityformal /əˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/ being responsible for actions and required to explain them Synonyms: responsibility	answerability; responsibility	Greater accountability in government spending would help reduce corruption.
Responsibility is having a duty, while accountability is having to answer for how you met it. It takes for the thing and to the people: accountability to voters for results. No plural, and usually no article: greater accountability.
to endorseformal /ɛnˈdɔrs/ to publicly support or approve of something Synonyms: support, back	back publicly; approve	The celebrity was paid a fortune to endorse the new line of sports equipment.
It takes a direct object: endorse a candidate, a product, a plan. The act is public, so a private opinion is not an endorsement. A separate banking sense is signing the back of a check. The noun is endorsement.
to exacerbateformal /ɪɡˈzæsərˌbeɪt/ to make a bad situation even worse Synonyms: worsen, compound, intensify	worsen; aggravate	The drought was exacerbated by years of poor water management policies.
The object must already be bad: exacerbate the shortage, exacerbate tensions. Often passive: exacerbated by the heat. It cannot take a neutral object, so nothing exacerbates a plan. Four syllables, stressed on the second.
to be worth + -ingneutral /bi ˈwɜrθ/ used to say something is useful or valuable to do Synonyms: be useful, repay the effort	useful to do	It's worth considering all the options before you commit to a mortgage.
The verb after worth is always an -ing form, never an infinitive: worth checking, not worth to check. It is often impersonal: it is worth noting that. The thing itself can also be the subject: the museum is worth visiting.
would ratherneutral /wʊd ˈræðər/ Used to say that you would prefer to do one thing instead of another. Synonyms: prefer to, would sooner	prefer to	I would rather work late tonight than come in at the weekend.
A bare infinitive follows, with no to: would rather stay. The alternative takes than: would rather walk than drive. With a different subject a past form follows: I would rather you didn't. It contracts to I'd rather.
I wish + past simpleneutral /aɪ ˈwɪʃ/ words to express a wish that the present were different Synonyms: if only, I would like it if	regret about now	I wish I had more time to spend with my family during the week.
The past form points at the present, not the past: I wish I had more time means I do not have it now. Were is used with every subject: I wish I were taller. For regret about the past, use I wish I had done.
to be due toneutral /bi ˈdu tu/ To be expected or scheduled to happen or arrive at a particular time. Synonyms: be scheduled to, be expected to	scheduled to; expected	The new regulations are due to come into force in January, but the vote has been postponed.
Two patterns need keeping apart: be due to plus a verb means scheduled, while due to plus a noun means because of. Due to leave at six, but delayed due to fog. The scheduled sense always needs a form of be.
to be likely toneutral /bi ˈlaɪkli tu/ to probably do something or happen Synonyms: probably will, be expected to	probably will	Interest rates are likely to rise again before the end of the year.
An infinitive follows: likely to rise. It also works impersonally: it is likely that rates will rise. Likely is an adjective here, so use probably, not likely, to modify a verb in careful writing. The opposite is unlikely to.
rather thanneutral /ˈræðər ðən/ instead of; used to show preference between options Synonyms: as opposed to, in preference to	instead of	She chose to travel by train rather than fly, to reduce her carbon footprint.
The forms on each side should match: walking rather than driving, by train rather than by car. After a to-infinitive the bare form is normal: chose to walk rather than drive. It marks a choice, while instead of simply substitutes.
albeitformal /ɔlˈbiɪt/ Although; used to add a comment that makes a statement less strong. Synonyms: although, though	though; admittedly	The economy is growing, albeit more slowly than the government had predicted.
It introduces a short phrase rather than a full clause: growing, albeit slowly. No subject or verb needs to follow. Three syllables, stressed on the second. It belongs to writing; in speech although or though does the work.
henceformal /hɛns/ For this reason; as a result of what was just said. Synonyms: therefore, thus	therefore; for that reason	The bridge was built in 1890; hence the need for such extensive repairs today.
It can introduce a noun phrase with no verb at all: hence the delay. It also opens a clause: hence we postponed the launch. It points to a result, while thus can also mean in this way. With time it means from now: two weeks hence.
to take something for grantedneutral /ˌteɪk ˌsʌmθɪŋ fɔr ˈɡræntɪd/ to stop appreciating a person or thing because you assume they will always be there Synonyms: undervalue, fail to appreciate	stop appreciating	Don't take your good health for granted — make sure you exercise regularly and eat well.
The object sits between take and for: take your health for granted. With a clause it means assume instead: I took it for granted that you knew. In the first sense it is a reproach, so it usually appears as a warning.
sustainabilityneutral /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪləti/ the ability to continue without harming the environment Synonyms: environmental responsibility, long-term viability	long-term viability	Sustainability has become a key concern for both consumers and businesses worldwide.
Beyond the environment it means the ability to keep going: the sustainability of the pension system. The adjective sustainable is far commoner in everyday use. No plural, and usually no article.
inequalityneutral /ˌɪnɪˈkwɑləti/ the unfair situation where some have more than others Synonyms: disparity, unfairness	unfair gap	Income inequality has widened significantly in many developed countries over the past three decades.
Usually uncountable in this sense: income inequality has widened. It turns countable for specific gaps: inequalities in access to care. Common with income, gender, racial and growing. Inequity names the unfairness itself rather than the gap.
to underestimateneutral /ˌʌndərˈɛstəˌmeɪt/ to think something is smaller or less important than it is Synonyms: undervalue, misjudge, play down	misjudge as small	Never underestimate the power of a well-prepared presentation in a business meeting.
It takes a direct object: underestimate the cost, underestimate her. Very common as a warning in the negative: never underestimate. The matching noun ends in a reduced syllable, while the verb ends in a full -mate.
to overlookneutral /ˌoʊvərˈlʊk/ to fail to notice something; to have a view over Synonyms: miss, ignore	miss; fail to notice	The inspector overlooked a critical safety issue that later led to the accident.
Two unrelated senses: overlook a mistake means fail to notice it, or choose to excuse it, while a window overlooks a garden. Often passive: the detail was overlooked. Oversee looks similar but means supervise.
to enhanceformal /ɛnˈhæns/ to improve the quality or value of something Synonyms: boost, strengthen, add to	improve; boost	The new software is designed to enhance productivity across all departments.
The object is already acceptable, so you enhance quality, value, reputation or flavor, but you never enhance a problem. Often passive: enhanced by better lighting. Improve suits something faulty, while enhance adds to something good.
to retainformal /rɪˈteɪn/ to keep something and not lose it Synonyms: hold on to, hang on to, keep on	keep; hold on to	Companies that invest in employee wellbeing tend to retain their staff for longer.
It takes a direct object: retain staff, retain control, retain the right to refuse. Keep is the everyday word, while retain belongs to contracts, reports and law. The nouns are retention for keeping and a retainer for a fee.
to disruptneutral /dɪsˈrʌpt/ to stop something continuing normally Synonyms: interrupt, disturb	interrupt; upset	New technologies have the potential to disrupt entire industries within a few years.
The object is a process or a service: disrupt traffic, supply chains, a meeting. Often passive: flights were disrupted. In business writing disrupt an industry has become approving, which reverses its usual negative tone. The noun is disruption.
resilientneutral /rɪˈzɪliənt/ able to recover quickly from difficulties Synonyms: tough, adaptable	quick to recover; tough	Communities that are more resilient can recover faster from natural disasters.
It takes to for what is withstood: resilient to shocks. Used of people, systems, economies and materials, where it means springing back into shape. The noun is resilience. It promises recovery, not freedom from harm.
controversialneutral /ˌkɑntrəˈvɜrʃəl/ causing strong public disagreement Synonyms: disputed, contentious	hotly disputed	The decision to build a new motorway through the national park was highly controversial.
Common with highly, deeply and hugely, and it often follows the verb: the plan was highly controversial. It reports disagreement without taking a side. The noun is controversy, stressed on the first syllable in American English.
inconsistentneutral /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/ not staying the same; containing contradictions Synonyms: contradictory, erratic	uneven; contradictory	The witness's testimony was inconsistent with the physical evidence found at the scene.
Two patterns: inconsistent with means contradicting something else, while inconsistent alone means varying in quality. Common with results, performance and evidence. The noun inconsistency is countable: several inconsistencies.
to retrieveformal /rɪˈtriv/ to get something back, especially stored information Synonyms: recover, fetch	recover; fetch back	The IT team was able to retrieve the deleted files from the backup server.
It takes a direct object: retrieve the files, retrieve a bag. In computing it is the standard word for getting stored data back. The noun is retrieval. Regain suits an abstract loss such as confidence, while retrieve suits a thing.
to perceiveformal /pərˈsiv/ to notice or understand something in a particular way Synonyms: see, view	see; regard as	Older workers are often perceived as less adaptable, though studies show otherwise.
Very common in the passive with as: perceived as unfriendly. It also takes a that-clause. The word reports how something seems to people, so a perceived problem may not be a real one. The nouns are perception and perceptiveness.
to anticipateneutral /ænˈtɪsəˌpeɪt/ to expect something and prepare for it Synonyms: predict, forecast	expect; foresee	Analysts anticipate a significant slowdown in the housing market next quarter.
It takes a noun or an -ing form: anticipate a slowdown, anticipate having to wait. Never anticipate to do. It adds preparation to expect, so you anticipate a problem by planning for it. The noun is anticipation.
to triggerneutral /ˈtrɪɡər/ to make something start happening Synonyms: spark, set off	set off; start	The assassination triggered a chain of events that led to the outbreak of war.
The subject is one event and the object is a larger process: triggered a wave of protests. Often passive: triggered by the ruling. A trigger is also the part of a gun you pull, and trigger warning borrows the same image.
to neglectneutral /nɪˈɡlɛkt/ to fail to give enough care or attention Synonyms: ignore, disregard	fail to care for	The city's infrastructure had been neglected for decades, resulting in crumbling roads and bridges.
It takes a noun or an infinitive: neglect the building, neglected to mention it. Often passive: had been neglected for decades. The infinitive use points to an oversight rather than carelessness. The adjective is negligent.
to come to terms withneutral /ˌkʌm tə ˈtɜrmz wɪð/ to gradually accept a difficult situation Synonyms: accept, reconcile with	accept; make peace with	It took her years to come to terms with the loss of her closest friend.
The object is something painful and unchangeable, and the process is slow, so the progressive is common: still coming to terms with the loss. A noun or an -ing form follows with, terms stays plural, and the four parts never split.
to turn a blind eye toneutral /ˌtɜrn ə ˌblaɪnd ˈaɪ tu/ to pretend not to notice something wrong Synonyms: ignore, overlook	ignore deliberately	Regulators were accused of turning a blind eye to the bank's risky lending practices.
The frame stays fixed, with a and eye both singular, and a noun or -ing form after to. It means choosing not to act on something you know is wrong, so it accuses rather than excuses. Often passive: accused of turning a blind eye.
to take the initiativeneutral /ˌteɪk ði ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ to act first without being asked Synonyms: act first, show leadership	act first; step up	Instead of waiting for instructions, she took the initiative and organized the team herself.
Always with the in this phrase, and the action follows in or by: took the initiative in organizing the team. An initiative can also mean a new program, and in that sense it is countable: a government initiative.
to weigh upneutral /ˌweɪ ˈʌp/ to consider the good and bad sides before deciding Synonyms: consider, evaluate	compare before deciding	Before making any investment, you should carefully weigh up the risks and potential rewards.
The object is usually options, risks, the pros and cons, or a decision, and a pronoun goes in the middle: weigh it up. In American English weigh alone or consider is commoner, and weigh up sounds slightly British.
to take into considerationneutral /ˌteɪk ˌɪntu kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən/ to think about something when making a decision Synonyms: consider, take into account	factor in when deciding	The court took into consideration the defendant's difficult upbringing when deciding the sentence.
The object can sit in the middle or at the end: take her age into consideration, or take into consideration her age. Consideration is uncountable here, with no article. Take into account means the same and is shorter.
the latterformal /ðə ˈlætər/ the second of two things just mentioned Synonyms: the second one, the last-mentioned	the second one	You can choose between the standard plan and the premium plan; the latter includes priority support.
Always with the, and it refers back to the second of exactly two items, so it will not work with a list of three. It can stand alone or come before a noun: the latter option. Later, with a single t, is about time instead.
the formerformal /ðə ˈfɔrmər/ the first of two things just mentioned Synonyms: the first one, the first-mentioned	the first one	Both proposals have merit, but the former is more cost-effective in the long run.
Always with the, and it points back to the first of exactly two items. It pairs with the latter, and the order must match the order in which they were introduced. Before a noun it means earlier instead: a former colleague.
to amount toneutral /əˈmaʊnt tu/ to add up to a total; to be the same as Synonyms: total, equal	total; be equivalent to	The total cost of the renovations amounted to over fifty thousand euros.
Two senses: with a figure it means add up to, and with a noun it means be equivalent to, as in amounts to a refusal. Not amount to much is a common dismissal. There is no passive and nothing comes between the two parts.
forthcomingformal /ˌfɔrθˈkʌmɪŋ/ happening soon; also willing to give information Synonyms: upcoming, imminent	upcoming; open with information	The government has not been forthcoming about the true cost of the infrastructure project.
Before a noun it means soon to appear: the forthcoming election. After the verb, usually in the negative, it means willing to give information: they were not forthcoming. A third use is help was not forthcoming, meaning none arrived.
to stand forneutral /ˈstænd fɔr/ to represent or mean; to support an idea Synonyms: represent, be short for	represent; mean	The acronym WHO stands for World Health Organization.
Three senses run together: with letters it means represent, as in WHO stands for World Health Organization; with values it means support, as in stand for fairness; and in the negative it means refuse to tolerate, as in I will not stand for it. Nothing ever splits the two parts.
to put forwardneutral /ˌpʊt ˈfɔrwərd/ to suggest an idea or plan for discussion Synonyms: propose, suggest	propose; submit	The committee put forward a proposal to restructure the department.
The object is a proposal, an idea, an argument, a name or a candidate, and the passive is common: a plan was put forward. A pronoun goes in the middle: put it forward. Put a clock forward means move it ahead.
to touch onneutral /ˈtʌtʃ ɑn/ To mention a subject briefly without discussing it in detail. Synonyms: mention, refer to	mention briefly	The lecturer only touched on climate policy, promising to cover it in depth next week.
Usually with only, briefly or barely, since the point is how little was said: he touched only briefly on the budget. The object is a subject or a point and it always follows on. Touch upon is the more formal variant of the same verb.
to hold backneutral /ˌhoʊld ˈbæk/ to stop yourself or something from moving forward Synonyms: restrain, suppress	restrain; keep in	Don't hold back — if you have constructive criticism, please share it.
Three uses: hold back tears or information, hold someone back from progressing, and hold back with no object, meaning hesitate to speak. Do not hold back invites frankness. With an object a pronoun sits in the middle: held her back.
to hammer outneutral /ˌhæmər ˈaʊt/ To reach an agreement or decision after a lot of discussion and effort. Synonyms: work out, negotiate	negotiate; thrash out	After three days of talks, the two sides finally hammered out a compromise on wages.
The object is an agreement, a deal, a compromise or the details, and the word carries the long effort involved, so it suits negotiations rather than a quick decision. A pronoun goes in the middle: hammered it out.
to come across asneutral /ˌkʌm əˈkrɔs æz/ to seem to be a certain type of person Synonyms: seem, appear	seem; give an impression	He didn't mean to come across as arrogant, but his tone put people off.
The impression may well be wrong, which is the point of the phrase: came across as arrogant. An adjective or a noun follows as and the three parts never split. Come across with no as means find by chance, a separate sense.
to get round toneutral /ˌɡɛt ˈraʊnd tu/ to finally do something after delaying it Synonyms: find time for, manage to do	finally do; find time for	I've been meaning to read that report, but I haven't got round to it yet.
A delay is always implied, so the present perfect is common: I still haven't got around to it. A noun or an -ing form follows to, never a bare infinitive: get round to reading it. American English prefers get around to.
insightneutral /ˈɪnˌsaɪt/ A clear and deep understanding of a complicated problem or situation. Synonyms: understanding, perception	deep understanding	The interviews gave researchers valuable insight into how teenagers use social media.
It takes into: insight into their behavior. Uncountable when it means the quality, and countable for particular findings: several useful insights. Gain, provide and offer are the usual verbs. The adjective is insightful.
loopholeneutral /ˈlupˌhoʊl/ a gap in a rule that lets people avoid it Synonyms: legal gap, technicality	legal gap; way out	Some multinational companies exploit tax loopholes to avoid paying their fair share.
It names a gap in the wording rather than a broken rule, so using one is lawful but usually seen as unfair. Common with tax and legal, and with the verbs exploit and close.
to undergoformal /ˌʌndərˈɡoʊ/ to experience a process, often unpleasant or medical Synonyms: experience, go through	be put through	The building is currently undergoing major renovations and won't reopen until next year.
Irregular: underwent, undergone. The subject is the one it happens to, so nothing undergoes a person and there is no passive. Common with surgery, treatment, training, tests and change. What follows is usually difficult or formal.
to be at stakeneutral /bi æt ˈsteɪk/ to be at risk of being lost Synonyms: be at risk	at risk; on the line	With thousands of jobs at stake, the factory closure was deeply controversial.
Used with be, and the subject is what could be lost: thousands of jobs are at stake. Stake takes no article and no plural inside the phrase. It raises the importance of a decision rather than naming the danger itself.
to take its tollneutral /ˌteɪk ɪts ˈtoʊl/ to cause gradual damage or harm over time Synonyms: wear down, do damage	cause gradual damage	Years of working night shifts eventually took their toll on his health.
The possessive matches the subject: the years took their toll. What is harmed follows on: took its toll on his health. The damage is slow and cumulative, so the phrase never describes a single accident.
to striveformal /straɪv/ to try very hard to achieve something Synonyms: struggle, endeavor	try hard; push for	We should all strive for a more equitable and inclusive society.
It takes for plus a goal, or an infinitive: strive for equality, strive to improve. The irregular forms strove and striven exist beside the regular strived. There is no direct object, so you cannot strive something.
profoundneutral /prəˈfaʊnd/ very deep, strong or serious Synonyms: deep, intense	deep; far-reaching	The invention of the internet has had a profound impact on every aspect of modern life.
Common with impact, effect, change, influence, sense and respect. Of a feeling or an effect it means deep, while of a thought it means unusually wise. The adverb profoundly intensifies: profoundly deaf, profoundly affected.
outweighneutral /ˌaʊtˈweɪ/ to be more important than something else Synonyms: exceed, surpass	matter more than	In my opinion, the benefits of renewable energy far outweigh the costs of transitioning.
It takes a direct object and no preposition: the benefits outweigh the costs. Common with far, clearly and greatly. It compares importance rather than physical weight, and it is not used in the progressive.
to endureformal /ɛnˈdʊr/ to suffer something difficult patiently; to last long Synonyms: bear, withstand	bear patiently; last	The refugees endured months of hardship before reaching safety.
Two patterns: with an object it means bear something painful, and with no object it means continue to exist, as in a friendship that endured. The adjective enduring belongs to the second sense. The noun is endurance.
to thriveneutral /θraɪv/ to grow, develop or be successful Synonyms: flourish, prosper	flourish; do well	Some businesses thrived during the pandemic, especially those in the digital sector.
No object, and often with on: thrives on pressure. Usual subjects are businesses, plants, children and communities. The past form is thrived, and throve is now rare. Thriving also works as an adjective: a thriving market.
to deterformal /dɪˈtɜr/ to make someone decide not to do something Synonyms: discourage, dissuade	discourage; put off	Higher fines alone are not enough to deter people from driving above the speed limit.
It takes an object plus from and an -ing form: deter people from speeding. Never deter to do. Double the r before endings: deterred, deterring. The related noun is deterrent, stressed on the second syllable.
to prejudiceformal /ˈprɛdʒədɪs/ to unfairly influence; to harm a case or interest Synonyms: bias, harm	bias; damage unfairly	Media coverage of the case may have prejudiced the jury before the trial even began.
Two kinds of object: prejudice a person means make them biased, while prejudice a case means harm its chances. Often passive: the jury may have been prejudiced. The noun is spelled and stressed the same way, and it is used both uncountably and countably: racial prejudice, deep-seated prejudices.
to be prone toneutral /bi ˈproʊn tu/ to have a standing tendency to suffer something unwanted Synonyms: be liable to	tend to get or do	People who skip breakfast are prone to overeating later in the day.
Used with be, and a noun or an -ing form follows: prone to flooding, prone to making mistakes. What follows is almost always unwelcome. Liable to is close, but prone to points to a standing tendency.
on behalf offormal /ɑn bɪˈhæf əv/ as a representative of someone Synonyms: representing	representing; in place of	I'm writing to you on behalf of the entire department to express our gratitude.
A fixed preposition ending in of: on behalf of the department. With a possessive it reorders to on my behalf. It means acting as someone's representative rather than simply for their benefit, which is why formal letters use it.
to resort toneutral /rɪˈzɔrt tu/ to use something less desirable because nothing else works Synonyms: turn to, fall back on	fall back on	When diplomacy failed, the country resorted to economic sanctions to put pressure on its neighbor.
It implies every better option failed first, so it usually carries disapproval. A noun or an -ing form follows: resorted to threats, resorted to borrowing, but never resort to do. The noun phrase is a last resort.
to drag onneutral /ˌdræɡ ˈɑn/ To continue for longer than necessary or expected, in a boring or annoying way. Synonyms: go on, last	go on too long	The negotiations dragged on for months without either side making any concessions.
No object; the event drags on by itself. Typical subjects are talks, a meeting, a trial, a war or winter. The tone is always impatient, so it is never praise. Drag out, with an object, means make something last longer.
to count onneutral /ˈkaʊnt ɑn/ To depend on someone or something to do what you need. Synonyms: rely on, trust, bank on	rely on; depend on	You can count on the finance team to deliver the figures before the audit begins.
Inseparable: count on her, never count her on. It also takes an object plus an -ing form: counting on you to finish. Do not follow it with a bare infinitive. Count on it works alone as a set reassurance.
to fall throughneutral /ˌfɔl ˈθru/ to fail to happen, like a plan or deal Synonyms: collapse, fail	collapse; not happen	The deal fell through at the last minute because the buyer couldn't secure financing.
No object, and the subject is an arrangement: a deal, a sale, plans. It means the thing was agreed and then failed before happening, so it is not the same as being rejected outright. Irregular: fell, fallen.
unbiasedneutral /ʌnˈbaɪəst/ fair; not preferring one side Synonyms: impartial, objective	impartial; even-handed	Journalists have an ethical obligation to provide unbiased reporting on political events.
Used of reporting, advice, a sample and an observer. Impartial is the close equivalent, while objective is about method rather than fairness. Its opposite biased takes against or toward: biased against newcomers.
unprecedentedformal /ʌnˈprɛsəˌdɛntɪd/ never having happened before Synonyms: unheard-of, novel	never seen before	The pandemic created unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems around the world.
Common with scale, levels, numbers and crisis. It is a strong factual claim, so overuse weakens it: something merely rare is not unprecedented. Five syllables, with the stress on the second.
to be up toneutral /bi ˈʌp tu/ to be someone's decision; to be secretly doing something Synonyms: be someone's decision, be someone's call	someone's choice; secretly doing	It's up to the individual to decide how they want to balance work and personal life.
The decision sense is impersonal: it is up to you. A second sense asks what someone is secretly doing: what are you up to? A third means capable of, usually in the negative: not up to the job.
to emphasizeneutral /ˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/ to give special importance to something Synonyms: stress, highlight	stress; underline	The report emphasises the need for urgent action on climate change.
Never emphasize on something: the verb takes a plain object or a that-clause, as in emphasized that time was short. The noun emphasis does take on: put emphasis on training. American English spells the verb emphasize.
to take a stanceneutral /ˌteɪk ə ˈstæns/ to publicly state your position on an issue Synonyms: take a position	state a position	The newspaper has taken a strong stance against government censorship.
You take a stance on an issue, and against or in favor of a side. Common with strong, tough, firm and clear. The stance has to be public, which is what separates it from simply holding an opinion.
to shed light onneutral /ˌʃɛd ˈlaɪt ɑn/ to help explain or make something clearer Synonyms: clarify, illuminate	clarify; explain	The newly released documents shed light on the government's decision-making process during the crisis.
A fixed frame ending in on, followed by a noun or a wh- clause: shed light on what happened. Light takes no article here. The subject is usually evidence, a study or a document rather than a person.
reluctantneutral /rɪˈlʌktənt/ Not willing to do something, and therefore slow to do it. Synonyms: hesitant, wary, slow to	unwilling; hesitant	Many investors remain reluctant to put money into projects with uncertain returns.
An infinitive follows: reluctant to invest. The noun reluctance also takes to. Unwilling is a flat refusal, while reluctant leaves room for being persuaded. The adverb reluctantly describes how something was finally done.
to dispose offormal /dɪˈspoʊz əv/ to get rid of something you no longer need Synonyms: discard, throw out	get rid of; discard	Electronic waste must be disposed of responsibly to prevent environmental contamination.
Inseparable and always with of: dispose of the waste, never dispose the waste. Very common in the passive: must be disposed of safely. The noun is disposal, as in waste disposal, and disposable means made to be thrown away.
to be taken abackneutral /bi ˌteɪkən əˈbæk/ to be very surprised, often unpleasantly Synonyms: be shocked, be startled	surprised; caught off guard	I was taken aback by his sudden resignation after twenty years with the company.
It appears almost only in the passive, with by: taken aback by the news. Aback survives nowhere else in everyday English. The surprise is mild and usually unwelcome, well short of shock.
to go throughneutral /ˌɡoʊ ˈθru/ to experience something difficult; to examine carefully Synonyms: experience, review	experience; examine	The country is going through a period of political instability that worries investors.
Two senses sit side by side: go through a hard time means live through it, while go through the figures means check them carefully. Adding with changes the meaning again: go through with it means do it despite doubts. Nothing splits the two parts.
to pan outinformal /ˌpæn ˈaʊt/ To develop or end in a particular way, especially successfully. Synonyms: work out, succeed	work out; turn out	Their plan to expand into Asia didn't pan out, so they refocused on the domestic market.
No object, and it very often appears in the negative: it didn't pan out. Common with how and the way: see how it pans out. Turn out is the neutral equivalent, and pan out sounds conversational.
to opt forneutral /ˈɑpt fɔr/ to choose one thing instead of others Synonyms: choose, select	choose; go with	More consumers are opting for organic products despite the higher price tag.
With a noun it is opt for the cheaper plan; with a verb the pattern changes to opt to do, and for disappears. Opt out of means choose not to take part. Choose is the plainer everyday word.
to broadenneutral /ˈbrɔdən/ to make something wider or more general Synonyms: widen, expand	widen; extend	Traveling abroad can significantly broaden your perspective on different cultures.
It works with an object or without: broaden your horizons, or the road broadens. Common with horizons, perspective, appeal and scope. Widen suits a physical gap, while broaden suits the abstract.
to diminishformal /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/ to become or make smaller or less important Synonyms: decrease, lessen	reduce; lessen	The company's reputation has been diminished by a series of product recalls.
It works both ways: costs diminish, or the recalls diminished their reputation. Often passive. Diminishing returns is a fixed phrase in economics. It suggests a gradual falling away rather than a sudden drop.
to be in favor ofneutral /bi ɪn ˈfeɪvər əv/ to support an idea or plan Synonyms: approve of, be for, back	support; back	A majority of those polled were in favor of stricter regulations on social media platforms.
A noun or an -ing form follows of: in favor of raising taxes. Common with strongly, broadly and overwhelmingly, and the opposite is simply against. Out of favor is unrelated and means no longer liked. American English spells it favor.
to hamperneutral /ˈhæmpər/ to make progress difficult Synonyms: hinder, impede	hold up; obstruct	Bureaucratic red tape continues to hamper the development of small businesses.
It takes a direct object, usually progress, efforts, growth or an investigation. Often passive: hampered by bad weather. Like hinder, it slows something down rather than stopping it. A hamper is also a basket.
to take measuresformal /ˌteɪk ˈmɛʒərz/ to act officially to deal with a problem Synonyms: take action	act; intervene	The government must take urgent measures to address the housing crisis.
Measures stays plural here, and it is common with urgent, strict, further and additional. The purpose follows as an infinitive: measures to reduce waste. Take steps is the everyday equivalent; take measures sounds official.
to come into effectformal /ˌkʌm ˌɪntu ɪˈfɛkt/ to officially start applying, like a law Synonyms: take effect	take effect; start applying	The new regulations on data privacy came into effect in January.
The subject is a law, a rule or a change, never a person. Effect takes no article inside the phrase. Come into force means the same in legal writing. Put something into effect is the matching active form.
to bear the brunt ofneutral /ˌbɛr ðə ˈbrʌnt əv/ to suffer the worst part of something bad Synonyms: suffer most, take the worst of it	suffer the worst of	Low-income families bore the brunt of the economic recession.
A fixed frame: brunt keeps the, and of follows. The subject is the group or thing hit hardest. Brunt appears in no other phrase in modern English, and bear is irregular: bore, borne.
deterrentneutral /dɪˈtɜrənt/ something that stops people doing something bad Synonyms: discouragement, disincentive	discouraging threat	Some argue that harsh prison sentences serve as an effective deterrent against crime.
It works by making people fear the consequence, so a reward can never be a deterrent. It takes to or against: a deterrent to crime. Common with effective, powerful and nuclear.
to give inneutral /ˌɡɪv ˈɪn/ to finally agree or stop fighting Synonyms: yield, surrender	yield; stop resisting	After months of pressure from the public, the government finally gave in and reversed the policy.
No object in this sense, and the pressure follows to: gave in to demands. Give in a form, with an object, means hand it over instead. Give up means stop trying altogether, which is not the same as conceding.
to vouch forneutral /ˈvaʊtʃ fɔr/ to say you are sure someone or something is good Synonyms: guarantee, attest to	guarantee; speak for	I can vouch for her professionalism — she always delivers excellent work on time.
It stakes your own reputation on the claim, so you have to know the person: vouch for her honesty. The object is a person or a quality and it always follows for. Vouch for the accuracy of a figure is also common.
to abide byformal /əˈbaɪd baɪ/ to obey a rule, decision or agreement Synonyms: obey, comply with	obey; keep to	All members must abide by the rules set out in the organization's code of conduct.
Inseparable and always with by: abide by the rules, never abide the rules. The object is a rule, a decision, an agreement or the terms. Abide alone, meaning tolerate, survives mainly in cannot abide.
to shedneutral /ʃɛd/ to lose or get rid of something naturally Synonyms: drop, cast off	lose; cast off	The company plans to shed 500 jobs as part of its restructuring program.
Irregular with no change of form: shed, shed, shedding. In business it means cut, as in shed 500 jobs. It also covers leaves, skin, weight and tears. Shed light on is a separate fixed phrase.
to conveneformal /kənˈvin/ to bring people together for a formal meeting Synonyms: assemble, summon	call; assemble	The board convened an emergency meeting to discuss the data breach.
It works with an object or without: convene a meeting, or the committee convened. The person who calls it is a convener. It is a formal word, so a group of friends does not convene.
to tamper withneutral /ˈtæmpər wɪð/ to touch or change something secretly and without permission Synonyms: interfere with, meddle with	interfere with; meddle in	The investigation revealed that someone had tampered with the evidence before the trial.
It implies secrecy and no permission, so it comes close to an accusation: tamper with the evidence, where with is never dropped. Tamper-proof and tamper-evident describe packaging designed to reveal it.
to dwell onneutral /ˈdwɛl ɑn/ to keep thinking or talking about something, especially bad Synonyms: obsess over, linger on	brood over	There's no point dwelling on past mistakes — we need to focus on finding a solution.
It often appears in advice against it: there is no point dwelling on it. The object is usually a bad memory, a mistake or a problem, and it always follows on. Dwell alone means live somewhere, and that sense is old-fashioned.
to make ends meetneutral /ˌmeɪk ˌɛndz ˈmit/ to have just enough money to live Synonyms: get by	get by financially	With the rising cost of living, many families are struggling to make ends meet.
A fixed phrase with no article and no object, and ends stays plural. It usually appears with struggle or barely: struggling to make ends meet. It means covering basic costs, not saving or getting ahead.
detrimentalformal /ˌdɛtrəˈmɛntəl/ causing harm or damage Synonyms: damaging, bad for	harmful; damaging	Excessive use of social media can be detrimental to young people's mental health.
It takes to: detrimental to health. It follows the verb far more often than it comes before a noun. Harmful is the everyday equivalent, while detrimental belongs to reports and warnings. The noun is detriment.
conciseneutral /kənˈsaɪs/ short and clear, without unnecessary words Synonyms: brief, succinct	brief and clear	The best reports are concise and to the point, avoiding unnecessary jargon.
It praises writing or speech for saying enough in few words, so it is not the same as short, which may leave things out. Common with clear and with keep it. The noun is concision, though brevity is commoner.
dauntingneutral /ˈdɔntɪŋ/ seeming very difficult and making you feel less confident Synonyms: intimidating, discouraging	intimidating; off-putting	Starting a new business can be a daunting prospect, but careful planning helps.
Common with task, prospect and challenge: a daunting prospect. It describes the effect on the person facing the thing, not the difficulty itself. The verb daunt survives mainly in nothing daunted him and in undaunted.
to scrutinizeformal /ˈskrutəˌnaɪz/ to examine something very carefully Synonyms: examine, inspect	examine closely	Parliament will scrutinize the proposed legislation before it is put to a vote.
It means looking for faults or fine detail, so it is stronger than examine: scrutinize the accounts, with a plain object. The noun is scrutiny, which is uncountable. American English spells the verb scrutinize.
to make do withneutral /ˌmeɪk ˈdu wɪð/ to manage with something less good than you wanted Synonyms: get by with	manage with; get by on	When funding is limited, schools have to make do with outdated textbooks and equipment.
A fixed frame, and the second do never changes form: made do with less. The object is an inferior substitute. Make do alone works when the thing is understood: we will have to make do.
to jeopardizeformal /ˈdʒɛpərˌdaɪz/ to put something at risk of failing or being harmed Synonyms: endanger, risk	put at risk; endanger	Leaking confidential information could jeopardize the entire investigation.
The first syllable sounds like jep. The object is something valuable that could be lost: jeopardize the deal, your career, the investigation. The noun is jeopardy, as in put lives in jeopardy, and American English spells the verb jeopardize.
pertinentformal /ˈpɜrtənənt/ directly connected to the topic being discussed Synonyms: relevant, applicable	relevant; to the point	The lawyer raised several pertinent questions that the witness struggled to answer.
It takes to: pertinent to the discussion. Common with question, point, information and highly. Relevant is the everyday word, while pertinent suggests the point is not only related but useful right now.
to phase inneutral /ˌfeɪz ˈɪn/ to start using something slowly, in stages Synonyms: roll out, bring in by stages	introduce gradually	The new tax regulations will be phased in over a three-year period.
It stresses stages, unlike introduce, which can be immediate, and it is very often passive with over: will be phased in over three years. A pronoun goes in the middle, as in phase it in, and the opposite is phase out.
overarchingformal /ˌoʊvərˈɑrtʃɪŋ/ including or affecting everything; most important Synonyms: overall, comprehensive	overall; all-embracing	The overarching goal of the project is to reduce child poverty by 50% within a decade.
It goes before the noun and pairs with goal, aim, theme, principle and framework. There is no comparative, since it already names the highest level. Overall is the plainer word, and overarching suits strategy documents.
to follow upneutral /ˌfɑloʊ ˈʌp/ To take further action after something, such as contacting someone again to check progress. Synonyms: check back, chase down	check back; pursue further	I will follow up with the supplier tomorrow to confirm the revised delivery date.
With a person it takes with and the topic takes on: follow up with the supplier on the date. With a thing it splits: follow up the complaint, or follow it up. Follow through means finish what you promised.

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