Everyday English (Unit 8) · New Headway Upper Intermediate Vocabulary List

a sudden and short sound, word or phrase, uttered to express anger, excitement, etc.

"Exclamation shows strong emotion."

"An exclamation is a word or phrase expressing strong emotion like surprise joy or anger."

to the fullest degree or extent, used for emphasis

"I am utterly exhausted today."

"I am utterly exhausted today because I did not sleep well last night and I have been working nonstop since six in the morning."

extremely unpleasant or disagreeable

"The weather is awful."

"The awful smell coming from the refrigerator made her gag and she discovered that the chicken had been rotting for a week."

very great and pleasant

"We had a wonderful time."

"The wonderful surprise party made her cry happy tears because all of her friends and family had gathered to celebrate her fortieth birthday together."

extremely unpleasant

"The smell is disgusting."

"The disgusting smell of rotten eggs filled the kitchen and made her gag as soon as she opened the refrigerator door."

used when someone makes a mistake or small blunder

"Oops! I made a little mistake."

"Oops! I made a little mistake, but I will fix it right now. Do not worry."

used to express relief or exhaustion, often after a difficult or challenging situation

"Phew, I am so relieved now."

"Phew, I am so relieved now that the exam is finally over and done with."

used to express disgust or strong dislike towards something

"Yuck! That smells bad."

"Yuck! I can't believe you would eat something that looks so unappetizing and slimy."

used to express surprise, realization, understanding

"Oh, I forgot my keys."

"Oh, I completely forgot to buy milk at the grocery store again. How silly."

used to indicate that something is obvious or known already, often in a sarcastic or humorous way

"Duh! Everyone knows that already."

"Duh! Everyone knows that already. It is common sense. Do not be so silly."

used to express sudden pain or discomfort, often when experiencing a minor injury or bump

"Ouch! I stubbed my toe."

"Ouch! I accidentally pricked my finger while sewing this intricate piece of fabric."

used to indicate pleasure, enjoyment, or satisfaction

"Mmm... This cake is delicious."

"Mmm... This cake is delicious. Can I have another piece, please? It is really good."

used to seek clarification, repetition, or agreement

"Eh, what did you say?"

"Eh, could you please repeat that last part because I didn't quite catch what you said."

used to represent laughter or amusement in a casual or sarcastic manner

"Ha ha, that is funny."

"Ha ha, you actually believe that story; it's quite amusing how gullible you are."

showing a lack of seriousness, often in a playful way

"That was a silly joke."

"The children engaged in a silly game of tag, giggling as they chased each other around the park."

exceptionally impressive or outstanding

"That idea is brilliant."

"Her solution to the math problem was brilliant and everyone admired her intelligence."

words or ideas that are considered to be false or of no value

"This is rubbish."

"The politician dismissed the accusations as utter rubbish, lacking any factual basis whatsoever."

very bad, often causing one to feel angry or annoyed

"The news was dreadful."

"The dreadful news of the plane crash spread quickly and the families of the passengers gathered at the airport."

a situation with many problems or difficulties, caused particularly by someone who is careless

"The project became a mess."

"His room was such a mess that he could not find his keys for twenty minutes."

a feeling of comfort that comes when something annoying or upsetting is gone

"The medicine brought quick relief."

"Relief is the feeling of reassurance and relaxation that follows the removal of anxiety"

extremely bad or unpleasant

"The movie was terrible."

"The terrible storm destroyed their roof and they had to stay with relatives while their house was being repaired by workers."

extremely surprising, particularly in a good way

"The show was amazing."

"Her amazing performance captivated the audience and earned a standing ovation."

able to make people laugh

"The joke is funny."

"The funny comedian told jokes about his family and his childhood and the audience laughed so hard that some people had tears in their eyes."

used to express a strong feeling of surprise, wonder, admiration, or amazement

"Wow, this is beautiful!"

"Wow, that is an amazing magic trick! How did you learn to do that?"