30 ADVANCED ENGLISH VERBS Flashcards
to accomplish
to succeed in doing or completing something
I think that we have accomplished a lot this morning!
to accumulate
to gradually get more of something over a period of ti
I seem to have accumulated a lot of expensive, hardly-used, university textbooks.
to beware
if you tell somebody to beware, you are warning them somebody/thing is dangerous and they should be careful
All in all, the response to the new campaign was very positive
to brainstorm
to all think about something at the same time, often in order to solve a problem or to create good ideas
You’re bound to hear back from them soon
to characterise
to be typical of a person, place or thing
The village is characterised by honey-coloured stone houses
to devise
to invent something new or a new way of doing something
The IT team has devised a new email organisation system
to dispute
to question whether something is true or legally or officially acceptable
We disputed the figures and they corrected them
to downsize
to reduce the number of people who work in a company, business, etc. in order to reduce costs
We unfortunately had to downsize from 40 employees to 23
to embrace
to accept an idea, a proposal, a set of beliefs, etc., especially when it is done with enthusiasm
The CEO fully embraced the equal pay proposal
to endorse
to say publicly that you support someone/something
I fully endorse his research paper
to fiddle
to change the details or figures of something in order to try to get money dishonestly or gain an advantage
We aren’t actually in profit as someone has fiddled the accounts
to idolise
to admire or love somebody very much, possibly too much
When I was younger I idolised my science teacher
to implement
to make something that has been officially decided start to happen or be used
A new apprenticeship scheme has been implemented to encourage youth employment
to instigate
to cause something (usually bad) to happen
She was accused of instigating violence at the protest
to melt
to become or make something become liquid as a result of heating
Eat your ice cream before it melts!
to moan
to complain about something in a way that other people find annoying
I cannot stand listening to him moan any longer!
to negotiate
to try to reach an agreement by formal discussion
We are attempting to negotiate a pay rise
to outweigh
to be greater or more important than something
The advantages massively outweigh the disadvantages
to overtake
to become greater in number, amount or importance than something else
We hope that renewable sources will overtake oil as the main energy source
to perceive
to think of somebody/thing in a particular way
I don’t perceive her to be a very argumentative person
to plummet
to fall suddenly and quickly from a high level or position
Share prices plummeted after Reddit’s campaign
to praise
to say that you approve of and admire somebody/thing
His boss praised his enthusiasm, but didn’t offer him a promotion
to prosper
to develop in a successful way
She has been prospering since leaving university
to rectify
to put right something that is wrong
Please take the right steps to rectify the problem!
to redeem
to exchange vouchers etc. for money or goods
You can’t redeem this voucher because it has expired
to retain
to keep something; to continue to have
She retained her title of ‘employee of the month’ for the third month running
to sacrifice
the fact of giving up something important or valuable to you in order to get or do something that seems more important
We sacrificed our social lives to pay for our child’s education
to season
to add salt, pepper, etc. to food in order to make it taste better
Season the sauce before stirring in the cream
to sip
to drink something, taking a very small amount each time
You’ve been sipping that cocktail for ages!
to withdraw
to stop taking part in an activity or being a member of an organization
Due to the recent negative press I have decided to withdraw from the company
