S

• sabotage - v. to damage or destroy as an act against an organization or nation ("The rebels sabotaged the railroad.")
• sacrifice - v. to do without something or to suffer a loss for a belief, idea, goal or another person
• sad - ad. not happy
• safe - ad. away from harm or danger
• sail - v. to travel by boat or ship
• sailor - n. a person involved in sailing a boat or ship
• salt - n. a white substance found in sea water and in the ground, used to affect the taste of food
• same - ad. not different; not changed; like another or others
• sand - n. extremely small pieces of crushed rock found in large amounts in deserts and on coasts
• satellite - n. a small object in space that moves around a larger object; an object placed in orbit around the earth
• satisfy - v. to give or provide what is desired, needed or demanded
• save - v. to make safe; to remove from harm; to keep for future use
• say - v. to speak; to express in words
• school - n. a place for education; a place where people go to learn
• science - n. the study of nature and the actions of natural things, and the knowledge gained about them
• sea - n. a large area of salt water, usually part of an ocean
• search - v. to look for carefully
• season - n. one of the four periods of the year that is based on the earth's position toward the sun (spring, summer, autumn, winter); a period of time based on different weather conditions ("dry season", "rainy season"); a period during the year when something usually happens ("baseball season")
• seat - n. a thing to sit on; a place to sit or the right to sit there ("a seat in parliament")
• second - ad. the one that comes after the first
• secret - n. something known only to a few and kept from general knowledge; ad. hidden from others; known only to a few
• security - n. freedom from danger or harm; protection; measures necessary to protect a person or place ("Security was increased in the city.")
• see - v. to know or sense through the eyes; to understand or know
• seed - n. the part of a plant from which new plants grow
• seek(ing) - v. to search for ("They are seeking a cure for cancer."); to try to get ("She is seeking election to public office."); to plan to do ("Electric power companies are seeking to reduce their use of coal.")
• seem - v. to appear to be ("She seems to be in good health.")
• seize - v. to take quickly by force; to take control of quickly; to arrest
• self - n. all that which makes one person different from others
• sell - v. to give something in exchange for money
• Senate - n. the smaller of the two groups in the governments of some countries, such as in the United States Congress
• send - v. to cause to go; to permit to go; to cause to be carried, taken or directed to or away from a place
• sense - v. to come to know about by feeling, believing or understanding; n. any of the abilities to see, hear, taste, smell or feel
• sentence - v. to declare the punishment for a crime; n. the punishment for a crime
• separate - v. to set or keep people, things or ideas away from or independent from others; ad. not together or connected; different
• series - n. a number of similar things or events that follow one after another in time, position or order
• serious - ad. important; needing careful consideration; dangerous
• serve - v. to work as an official; to be employed by the government; to assist or help
• service - n. an organization or system that provides something for the public ("Schools and roads are services paid for by taxes."); a job that an organization or business can do for money; military organizations such as an army, navy or air force; a religious ceremony
• set - v. to put in place or position; to establish a time, price or limit
• settle - v. to end (a dispute); to agree about (a problem); to make a home in a new place
• several - ad. three or more, but not many
• severe - ad. not gentle; causing much pain, sadness or damage
• sex - n. either the male or female group into which all people and animals are divided because of their actions in producing young; the physical activity by which humans and animals can produce young
• shake - v. to move or cause to move in short, quick movements
• shape - v. to give form to; n. the form of something, especially how it looks
• share - v. to give part of something to another or others; n. a part belonging to, given to or owned by a single person or a group; any one of the equal parts of ownership of a business or company
• sharp - ad. having a thin edge or small point that can cut or hurt; causing hurt or pain
• she - pro. the girl or woman who is being spoken about
• sheep - n. a farm animal used for its meat and hair
• shell - v. to fire artillery; n. a metal container that is fired from a large gun and explodes when it reaches its target; a hard outside cover
• shelter - v. to protect or give protection to; n. something that gives protection; a place of safety
• shine - v. to aim a light; to give bright light; to be bright; to clean to make bright
• ship - v. to transport; n. a large boat
• shock - v. to cause to feel sudden surprise or fear; n. something that greatly affects the mind or emotions; a powerful shake, as from an earthquake
• shoe - n. a covering for the foot
• shoot - v. to cause a gun or other weapon to send out an object designed to kill; to use a gun
• short - ad. lasting only for a small period of time; not long; opposite tall
• should - v. used with another verb (action word) to show responsibility ("We should study."), probability ("The talks should begin soon."), or that something is believed to be a good idea ("Criminals should be punished.")
• shout - v. to speak very loudly
• show - v. to make something be seen; to make known; n. a play or story presented in a theater, or broadcast on radio or television, for enjoyment or education; something organized to be seen by the public
• shrink - v. to make or become less in size, weight or value
• sick - ad. suffering physically or mentally with a disease or other problem; not in good health
• sickness - n. the condition of being in bad health
• side - n. the outer surfaces of an object that are not the top or bottom; parts away from the middle; either the right or left half of the body
• sign - v. to write one's name; n. a mark or shape used to mean something; evidence that something exists or will happen; a flat piece of material with writing that gives information
• signal - v. to send a message by signs; n. an action or movement that sends a message
• silence - v. to make quiet; to stop from speaking or making noise; n. a lack of noise or sound
• silver - n. a valued white metal
• similar - ad. like something else but not exactly the same
• simple - ad. easy to understand or do; not difficult or complex
• since - prep. from a time in the past until now ("I have known her since we went to school together.")
• sing - v. to make music sounds with the voice
• single - ad. one only
• sink - v. to go down into water or other liquid
• sister - n. a female with the same father or mother as another person
• sit - v. to rest on the lower part of the body without the support of the legs; to become seated
• situation - n. the way things are during a period of time
• size - n. the space occupied by something; how long, wide or high something is
• skeleton - n. all the bones of a human or other animal together in their normal positions
• skill - n. the ability gained from training or experience
• skin - n. the outer covering of humans and most animals
• sky - n. the space above the earth
• slave - n. a person owned or controlled by another
• sleep - v. to rest the body and mind with the eyes closed
• slide - v. to move smoothly over a surface
• slow - v. to reduce the speed of; ad. not fast in moving, talking or other activities
• small - ad. little in size or amount; few in number; not important; opposite large
• smash - v. to break or be broken into small pieces by force; to hit or move with >force
• smell - v. to sense through the nose; n. something sensed by the nose ("the smell of food cooking")
• smoke - v. to use cigarettes or other tobacco products by burning them and breathing in the smoke; n. that which can be seen rising into the air like a cloud from something burning
• smooth - ad. having a level surface; opposite rough
• snow - n. soft, white pieces of frozen water that fall from the sky, usually in winter or when the air temperature is very cold
• so - ad. in such a way that ("He held the flag so all could see it."); also; too ("She left early, and so did we."); very ("I am so sick."); as a result ("They were sick, so they could not come."); conj. in order that; for the purpose of ("Come early so we can discuss the plans.")
• social - ad. of or about people or a group
• soft - ad. not hard; easily shaped; pleasing to touch; not loud
• soil - n. earth in which plants grow
• soldier - n. a person in the army
• solid - ad. having a hard shape with no empty spaces inside; strong; not in the form of a liquid or gas
• solve - v. to find an answer; to settle
• some - ad. of an amount or number or part not stated; not all
• son - n. a person's male child
• soon - ad. not long after the present time; quickly
• sort - n. any group of people or things that are the same or are similar in some way; a kind of something
• sound - n. fast-moving waves of energy that affect the ear and result in hearing; that which is heard
• south - n. the direction to the right of a person facing the rising sun
• space - n. the area outside the earth's atmosphere where the sun, moon, planets and stars are; the area between or inside things
• speak - v. to talk; to say words with the mouth; to express one's thoughts to others and exchange ideas; to give a speech to a group
• special - ad. of a different or unusual kind; not for general use; better or more important than others of the same kind
• speech - n. a talk given to a group of people
• speed - v. to make something go or move faster; n. the rate at which something moves or travels; the rate at which something happens or is done
• spend - v. to give as payment; to use ("He spends much time studying.")
• spill - v. to cause or permit liquid to flow out, usually by accident
• spirit - n. the part of a human that is not physical and is connected to thoughts and emotions; the part of a person that is believed to remain alive after death
• split - v. to separate into two or more parts; to divide or break into parts
• sport - n. any game or activity of competition involving physical effort or skill
• spread - v. to become longer or wider; to make or become widely known
• spring - n. the time of the year between winter and summer
• spy - v. to steal or get information secretly; n. one who watches others secretly; a person employed by a government to get secret information about another country
• square - n. a flat shape having four equal sides
• stab - v. to cut or push into or through with a pointed weapon
• stand - v. to move into or be in a position in which only the feet are on a surface; to be in one position or place
• star - n. a mass of gas that usually appears as a small light in the sky at night, but is not a planet; a famous person, usually an actor or singer
• start - v. to begin; to make something begin
• starve - v. to suffer or die from a lack of food
• state - v. to say; to declare; n. a political part of a nation
• station - n. a place of special work or purpose ("a police station"); a place where passengers get on or off trains or buses; a place for radio or television broadcasts
• statue - n. a form of a human, animal or other creature usually made of stone, wood or metal
• stay - v. to continue to be where one is; to remain; to not leave; to live for a time ("They stayed in New York for two years.")
• steal - v. to take without permission or paying
• steam - n. the gas that comes from hot water
• steel - n. iron made harder and stronger by mixing it with other substances
• step - v. to move by lifting one foot and placing it in a new position; n. the act of stepping; one of a series of actions designed to reach a goal
• stick - v. to attach something to another thing using a substance that will hold them together; to become fixed in one position so that movement is difficult ("Something is making the door stick."); n. a thin piece of wood
• still - ad. not moving ("The man was standing still."); until the present or a stated time ("Was he still there?"); even so; although ("The job was difficult, but she still wanted to do it.")
• stone - n. a small piece of rock
• stop - v. to prevent any more movement or action; to come or bring to an end
• store - v. to keep or put away for future use; n. a place where people buy things
• storm - n. violent weather, including strong winds and rain or snow
• story - n. the telling or writing of an event, either real or imagined
• stove - n. a heating device used for cooking
• straight - ad. continuing in one direction without turns
• strange - ad. unusual; not normal; not known
• street - n. a road in a city, town or village
• stretch - v. to extend for a distance; to pull on to make longer or wider
• strike - v. to hit with force; to stop work as a way to seek better conditions, more pay or to make other demands
• strong - ad. having much power; not easily broken, damaged or destroyed
• structure - n. the way something is built, made or organized; a system that is formed or organized in a special way; a building
• struggle - v. to try with much effort; to fight with; n. a great effort; a fight
• study - v. to make an effort to gain knowledge by using the mind; to examine carefully
• stupid - ad. not able to learn much; not intelligent
• subject - n. the person or thing being discussed, studied or written about
• submarine - n. an underwater ship
• substance - n. the material of which something is made (a solid, liquid or gas)
• substitute - v. to put or use in place of another; n. a person or thing put or used in place of another
• subversion - n. an attempt to weaken or destroy a political system or government, usually secretly
• succeed - v. to reach a goal or thing desired; to produce a planned result
• such - ad. of this or that kind; of the same kind as; similar to
• sudden - ad. not expected; without warning; done or carried out quickly or without preparation
• suffer - v. to feel pain in the body or mind; to receive or experience hurt or sadness
• sugar - n. a sweet substance made from liquids taken from plants
• suggest - v. to offer or propose something to think about or consider
• summer - n. the warmest time of the year, between spring and autumn
• sun - n. the huge star in the sky that provides heat and light to earth
• supervise - v. to direct and observe the work of others
• supply - v. to give; to provide; n. the amount of something that can be given or sold to others
• support - v. to carry the weight of; to hold up or in position; to agree with others and help them reach a goal; to approve
• suppose - v. to believe, think or imagine ("I suppose you are right."); to expect ("It is supposed to rain tonight.")
• suppress - v. to put down or to keep down by force; to prevent information from being known publicly
• sure - ad. very probable; with good reason to believe; true without question
• surface - n. the outer side or top of something ("The rocket landed on the surface of the moon.")
• surplus - n. an amount that is more than is needed; extra; ("That country has a trade surplus. It exports more than it imports.")
• surprise - v. to cause a feeling of wonder because something is not expected; n. something not expected; the feeling caused by something not expected
• surrender - v. to give control of oneself or one's property to another or others; to stop fighting and admit defeat
• surround - v. to form a circle around; to be in positions all around someone or something
• survive - v. to remain alive during or after a dangerous situation
• suspect - v. to imagine or believe that a person is guilty of something bad or illegal; n. a person believed to be guilty
• suspend - v. to cause to stop for a period of time
• swallow - v. to take into the stomach through the mouth
• swear in - v. to put an official into office by having him or her promise to carry out the duties of that office ("The chief justice will swear in the president.")
• sweet - ad. tasting pleasant, like sugar
• swim - v. to move through water by making motions with the arms and legs
• sympathy - n. a sharing of feelings or emotions with another person, usually feelings of sadness
• system - n. a method of organizing or doing something by following rules or a plan; a group of connected things or parts working together for a common purpose or goal

T

• take - v. to put a hand or hands around something and hold it, often to move it to another place; to carry something ; to seize; to capture; to begin to be in control ("The president takes office tomorrow.")
• talk - v. to express thoughts in spoken words; n. a meeting for discussion
• tall - ad. higher than others; opposite short
• tank - n. a large container for holding liquids; a heavy military vehicle with guns
• target - n. any person or object aimed at or fired at
• taste - v. to sense through the mouth ("The fruit tastes sweet.")
• tax - n. the money a person or business must pay to the government so the government can provide services
• tea - n. a drink made from the plant of the same name
• teach - v. to show how to do something; to provide knowledge; to cause to understand
• team - n. a group organized for some purpose, often for sports
• tear - v. to pull apart, often by force
• tears - n. the fluid that comes out of the eyes while crying
• technical - ad. involving machines, processes and materials in industry, transportation and communications; of or about a very special kind of subject or thing ("You need technical knowledge to understand how this system works.")
• technology - n. the use of scientific knowledge and methods to produce goods and services
• telephone - n. a device or system for sending sounds, especially the voice, over distances
• telescope - n. a device for making objects that are far away appear closer and larger
• television - n. a device that receives electronic signals and makes them into pictures and sounds; the system of sending pictures and sounds by electronic signals over a distance so others can see and hear them on a receiver
• tell - v. to give information; to make known by speaking; to order; to command
• temperature - n. the measurement of heat and cold
• temporary - ad. lasting only a short time
• tense - ad. having fear or concern; dangerous; opposite calm
• term - n. a limited period of time during which someone does a job or carries out a responsibility ("He served two terms in Congress."); the conditions of an agreement that have been accepted by those involved in it
• terrible - ad. very bad; causing terror or fear
• territory - n. a large area of land
• terror - n. extreme fear; that which causes great fear
• terrorist - n. a person who carries out acts of extreme violence as a protest or a way to influence a government
• test - v. to attempt to learn or prove what something is like or how it will act by studying or doing ("The scientists will test the new engine soon."); n. an attempt to learn or prove what something is like or how it will act by studying or doing ("The test of the new engine takes place today."); a group of questions or problems used to find out a person's knowledge ("The students did well on the language test.")
• than - conj. connecting word used to link things that may be similar, but are not equal ("My sister is taller than I am.")
• thank - v. to say that one has a good feeling toward another because that person did something kind ("I want to thank you for helping me.")
• that - ad. showing the person, place or thing being spoken about ("That man is a soldier."); pro. the person, place or thing being spoken about ("The building that I saw was very large.")
• the - pro. used in front of a name word to show that it is a person or thing that is known about or is being spoken about
• theater - n. a place where movies are shown or plays are performed
• them - pro. other people being spoken about
• then - ad. at that time; existing; and so
• theory - n. a possible explanation of why something exists or how something happens using experiments or ideas, but which is not yet proven ("Other scientists are debating his theory about the disappearance of dinosaurs.")
• there - ad. in that place or position; to or toward that place
• these - pro. of or about the people, places or things nearby that have been spoken about already
• they - pro. those ones being spoken about
• thick - ad. having a large distance between two opposite surfaces ("The wall is two meters thick."); having many parts close together ("The forest is very thick."); almost solid, such as a liquid that does not flow easily; opposite thin
• thin - ad. having a small distance between two opposite surfaces; not fat; not wide; opposite thick
• thing - n. any object
• think - v. to produce thoughts; to form ideas in the mind; to consider; to believe
• third - ad. coming after two others
• this - pro. of or about the person, place or thing nearby that has been spoken about already
• threaten - v. to warn that one will do harm or cause damage
• through - prep. in at one end and out at the other; from front to back; from top to bottom; with the help of; by
• throw - v. to cause to go through the air by a movement of the arm
• tie - v. to join or hold together with some material; n. anything that joins or unites; links or connections ("The two nations have strong trade ties.")
• time - n. that which is measured in minutes, hours, days and years; a period that can be identified in hours and minutes and is shown on a clock; a period when an event should or will take place
• tired - ad. having less strength because of work or exercise; needing sleep or rest
• to - prep. showing the direction of an action; showing the person or place toward which an action is directed; showing a goal or purpose
• today - n. this day
• together - ad. in one group; at the same time or place; in cooperation
• tomorrow - n. the day after today
• tonight - n. this night
• too - ad. also; as well as; more than is necessary
• tool - n. any instrument or device designed to help one do work
• top - n. the upper edge or surface; the highest part; the cover of something
• torture - v. to cause severe pain; n. the act of causing severe pain in order to harm, to punish or to get information from
• total - n. the complete amount
• touch - v. to put the hand or fingers on
• toward - prep. in the direction of; leading to
• town - n. a center where people live, larger than a village but not as large as a city
• trade - v. to buy and sell or exchange products or services; n. the activity of buying, selling or exchanging products or services
• tradition - n. a ceremony, activity or belief that has existed for a long time
• traffic - n. the movement of people, vehicles or ships along a street, road or waterway
• tragic - ad. extremely sad; terrible
• train - v. to teach or learn how to do something; to prepare for an activity; n. an engine and the cars connected to it that move along a railroad
• transport - v. to move goods or people from one place to another
• transportation - n. the act or business of moving goods or people
• trap - v. to catch or be caught by being tricked; to be unable to move or escape; n. a device used to catch animals
• travel - v. to go from one place to another, usually for a long distance
• treason - n. the act of fighting against one's own country or of helping its enemies
• treasure - n. a large collection of money, jewels or other things of great value
• treat - v. to deal with; to act toward in a special way; to try to cure
• treatment - n. the act of treating; the use of medicine to try to cure or make better
• treaty - n. a written agreement between two or more nations
• tree - n. a very tall plant that is mostly wood, except for its leaves
• trial - n. an examination in a court of a question or dispute to decide if a charge is true
• tribe - n. a group of families ruled by a common chief or leader
• trick - v. to cheat; to fool a person so as to get something or make him or her do something
• trip - n. a movement from one place to another, usually a long distance
• troops - n. a number of soldiers in a large controlled group
• trouble - n. that which causes concern, fear, difficulty or problems
• truce - n. a temporary halt in fighting agreed to by all sides involved
• truck - n. a heavy vehicle used to carry goods
• true - ad. correct; not false
• trust - v. to believe that someone is honest and will not cause harm
• try - v. to make an effort; to take court action against a person to decide if he or she is guilty or innocent of a crime
• tube - n. a long, round structure through which liquids or gases can flow; a long, thin container in which they can be kept
• turn - v. to change direction; to move into a different position; to change color, form or shape

U

• under - prep. below; below the surface of; less than; as called for by a law, agreement or system ("The river flows under the bridge." "Such action is not permitted under the law.")
• understand - v. to know what is meant; to have knowledge of
• unite - v. to join together
• universe - n. all of space, including planets and stars
• university - n. a place of education that usually includes several colleges and research organizations
• unless - conj. except if it happens; on condition that ("I will not go, unless the rain stops.")
• until - conj. up to a time; before
• up - ad. to, in or at a higher position or value
• urge - v. to advise strongly; to make a great effort to get someone to do something
• urgent - ad. needing an immediate decision or action
• us - pro. the form of the word "we" used after a preposition ("He said he would write to us.") or used as an object of a verb ("They saw us yesterday.")
• use - v. to employ for a purpose; to put into action
• usual - ad. as is normal or common; as is most often done, seen or heard

V

• valley - n. a long area of land between higher areas of land
• value - n. the quality of being useful, important or desired; the amount of money that could be received if something is sold
• vegetable - n. a plant grown for food
• vehicle - n. anything on or in which a person or thing can travel or be transported, especially anything on wheels; a car or truck
• version - n. the form of something with different details than earlier or later forms
• very - ad. extremely ("He was very late.")
• veto - v. to reject or refuse to approve
• vicious - ad. bad; dangerous; showing harm or hate
• victim - n. someone or something that is injured, killed or made to suffer; someone who is tricked
• victory - n. a success in a fight or competition
• village - n. a very small town
• violate - v. to fail to obey or honor; to break (an agreement)
• violence - n. the use of force to cause injury, death or damage
• visit - v. to go to or come to a place for a short time for friendly or business reasons
• voice - n. the sound made by creatures, especially humans, for speaking
• volcano - n. a hill or mountain around a hole in the earth's surface that can explode, sending hot, melted rock and ash into the air
• vote - v. to choose a candidate in an election; n. a choice or decision expressed by the voice, by hand or by writing