belittle
1 use
Others were so full of themselves that they'd belittle their partners.
belittle = make them seem less important
Definition
Generally belittle means:to make someone or something seem less important
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
bereft
1 use
Yes, I felt stunned and bereft for myself and especially for Jai, who couldn't stop crying.
bereft = full of sorrow because of loss
Definition
Generally bereft means:lacking something that is desired
or:
suffered great sadness because of loss or lack of something expected or strongly desired
or:
deprived (taken away something that is desired)
or:
suffered great sadness because of loss or lack of something expected or strongly desired
or:
deprived (taken away something that is desired)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
cliché
13 uses
Educators shouldn't be afraid of clichés.
clichés = expressions that lack impact because they are heard so often
Definition
Generally cliché means:an expression that lacks impact because it is heard so often
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred to her wishes
I had made a pledge to myself to defer to Jai and honor her wishes.
defer = submit my wishes to those of
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
diagnose
11 uses
She knew that my cancer diagnosis was grim.
diagnosis = identification (as in identifying an illness)
Definition
Generally diagnose means:determine or identify the nature of a problem or an illness
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
direct (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 12 uses
1 —1 use as in:
depart directly
I used to tell anyone who worked in my research group: "You don't ever have to worry about what I'm thinking. Good or bad, I'll let you know what's in my head." That meant when I wasn't happy about something, I spoke up, often directly and not always tactfully.†
directly = immediately
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else first
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
2 —7 uses as in:
was direct in my instructions
I have a direct answer for that.†
direct = straightforward (specific and clear)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
3 —4 uses as in:
directed the movie
The note hadn't been sent to me, my co-director Don Marinelli, or any other faculty member.†
director = supervisor (person in charge)
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:supervise, control, or to be in charge of
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
dissonance
1 use
At Magee, they did a wonderful job of simultaneously communicating two dissonant things. In so many words, they told parents that (1) Your child is special and we understand that his medical needs are unique, and (2) Don't worry, we've had a million babies like yours come through here.
dissonant = conflicting (not going well together)
Definition
Generally dissonance means:not going well together; or conflict
especially in these two senses:
- unpleasant musical sound
- inconsistency or conflict between beliefs and actions such as voluntarily taking actions that conflict with beliefs, or holding two conflicting beliefs (also called "cognitive dissonance")
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
focus (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 16 uses
1 —15 uses as in:
Turn your focus to question #2.
We've gotten through in part by focusing on the tasks at hand.†
focusing = concentrating
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:verb: to concentrate, look at, or pay attention to
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
Word Statistics
| Book | 15 uses |
| Library | 75 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
2 —1 use as in:
The focus of our study is...
In fact, over time, my bedroom became the focal point of her house tour when anyone came to visit.†
focal = place where attention is concentrated
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:where attention is concentrated or directed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
hypothesis
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a study to test her hypothesis
And so I asked lots of data-seeking questions, and found myself hypothesizing along with my doctors.†
hypothesizing = proposing reasonable, but unproven, ideas
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
Definition
Generally this sense of hypothesis means:a seemingly reasonable, but unproven idea or explanation based upon known facts
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
negative (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 5 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
had a negative effect
I originally called it "The Best Failure Award," but failure has so many negative connotations that students couldn't get past the word itself.†
negative = bad
Definition
Generally this sense of negative means:bad or harmful
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
2 —2 uses as in:
negative feedback from customers
Their bosses almost never had anything negative to say about their abilities or their technical chops.†
negative = critical
Definition
Generally this sense of negative means:to express criticism or disagreement, or (especially when talking over a radio or in a military setting) to say "no"
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
3 —1 use as in:
a negative attitude
Another way to be prepared is to think negatively. Yes, I'm a great optimist. But when trying to make a decision, I often think of the worst-case scenario.†
negatively = in a pessimistic manner
Definition
Generally this sense of negative means:pessimistic (emphasizing bad things) or disagreeable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
optimistic
15 uses
At the time, I already had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but I was optimistic.
optimistic = expecting the best; or focusing on the good part of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 15 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
parody
3 uses
"Hip" people love parodies.
parodies = humorous imitations of things done to mock or make fun of them
Definition
Generally parody means:imitation of somebody's style in a humorous way
or:
a very poor imitation of somebody's style
or:
a very poor imitation of somebody's style
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
positive (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 8 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
had a positive effect
But on the positive side, I was able to reassure people: "If I haven't said anything, you have nothing to worry about."†
positive = good or beneficial
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
2 —6 uses as in:
a positive attitude
He's just this phenomenal ball of positive energy; completely physical and gregarious.†
positive = optimistic (focusing on good things)
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:optimistic (expecting or focusing good things); or agreeable
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
relevant
1 use
He asked me why he should be reconsidering my application, given that the department had already evaluated me. ... "It's just that they only awarded fifteen of these fellowships nationwide, so I thought it an honor that would be relevant, ..."
relevant = relating in a meaningful way to the issue in question
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Part 5 |