Unit 1 · Interchange Upper Intermediate Vocabulary List

the formal and legal relationship between two people who are married

"Their marriage was happy."

"Marriage is a legal and social contract that involves both emotional commitment and practical responsibilities such as sharing finances and household duties."

a male or female partner in a marriage

"Her spouse is here."

"Your spouse should be your partner in life meaning you make important decisions together rather than one person controlling everything without discussion."

the process that involves teaching and learning, particularly at a school, university, or college

"Education is important."

"Access to quality education is one of the most important factors determining a person future success and earning potential in modern society."

one's ability to say funny things or be amused by jokes and other things meant to make one laugh

"I like his sense of humor."

"His sense of humor is very dry so not everyone understands when he is making a joke."

a distinguishing quality or characteristic, especially one that forms part of someone's personality or identity

"Honesty is a good trait."

"Kindness is an important personality trait that makes people like her very much."

calm and not easily worried or upset

"She is easygoing."

"The easygoing teacher did not mind when students asked questions during class and she encouraged everyone to participate."

having an excessive focus on oneself and one's own interests, often at the expense of others

"He is egotistical."

"The egotistical actor only talked about himself and never asked anyone else questions about their lives or work."

unwilling to spend or give away money or resources

"He is stingy."

"The stingy millionaire never gave money to charity and lived in a small house despite his great wealth."

giving encouragement or providing help

"Her family is supportive."

"The supportive parents attended every one of their daughter's soccer games and cheered loudly from the sidelines."

experiencing frequent changes in mood or behavior, often in an unpredictable or inconsistent manner

"His temperamental moods shifted."

"The temperamental artist destroyed his painting when the gallery owner suggested a small change to the composition."

not deserving of trust or confidence

"The bus is unreliable."

"The unreliable bus service made her late for work several times so she bought a bicycle instead."

unwilling to change one's attitude or opinion despite good reasons to do so

"He is stubborn."

"The donkey is stubborn and refuses to move even when you pull its rope hard."

giving someone hope, confidence, or support

"Her words are encouraging."

"The encouraging words from her teacher gave her the confidence to enter the science fair and present her project to the judges."

unable to be predicted because of changing many times

"Weather is unpredictable."

"The stock market's unpredictable fluctuations made it difficult for investors to plan their financial futures."

to talk with excessive pride about one's achievements, possessions, etc. often in exaggerated manner

"Do not brag about your wealth."

"He always brags about how much money he earns which makes his friends feel uncomfortable and annoyed."

a desired and impressive goal achieved through hard work

"The accomplishment was great"

"The accomplishment of completing the project ahead of schedule impressed the entire management team"

feeling slightly angry or irritated

"She felt annoyed."

"She was annoyed with her brother for borrowing her phone without asking permission first and then losing it."

to make a loud, sharp cry when one is feeling a strong emotion

"Do not scream in the library."

"The children screamed with joy when they saw the fireworks exploding in the colorful night sky."

a planned meeting with someone, typically at a particular time and place, for a particular purpose

"I have an appointment at three."

"She made an appointment with the doctor because the pain had become impossible to ignore."

used to add extra or supplementary information

"In addition to tea he likes coffee."

"In addition to his regular job he also volunteers at the local animal shelter on weekends."

related to or involving only one certain thing

"Please be more specific."

"Please be more specific about the problem so I can help you find a solution."

having enough of something to meet a particular need or requirement

"We have sufficient food."

"The company needs to demonstrate sufficient progress before it can secure the next round of funding."

to express respect toward someone or something often due to qualities, achievements, etc.

"I admire your courage and honesty."

"I truly admire people who dedicate their lives to helping others without expecting anything in return for their kindness."

to have something as a prominent or distinctive aspect or characteristic

"The film features famous actors."

"The new film features an all star cast of famous actors and stunning special effects that will amaze audiences everywhere."

a person who tries to bring about political or social change, especially someone who supports strong actions such as protests, etc.

"Environmental activist spoke."

"The environmental activist organized protests to demand government action on reducing plastic pollution."

a person who starts a business, especially one who takes financial risks

"The entrepreneur is ambitious."

"The entrepreneur started a company and built it from a small idea."

hair that grows or left to grow above the upper lip

"He wore a thick mustache."

"The mustache suited his face very well."

a group of people or things that have similar characteristics or share particular qualities

"What kind is this?"

"This particular kind of rare orchid is known for its vibrant colors and unique fragrance."

the affectionate relationship between two partners

"Their romance blossomed."

"The couple's enduring romance was evident in their shared glances and the way they always held hands."

the person that you are married to or having a romantic relationship with

"She is my partner."

"He introduced his partner of ten years to his family at the celebratory dinner."

not subject to significant change or decline

"The economy is steady."

"The steady rain continued for three days and the farmers worried that their crops would be damaged by flooding."

a strong feeling of certainty that something or someone exists or is true; a strong feeling that something or someone is right or good

"His belief is strong."

"His deeply held belief in the inherent goodness of people guided his actions."

the details about someone's family, experience, education, etc.

"What is your background?"

"Understanding her diverse professional background helps explain her innovative approach to problem-solving."

your feelings or thoughts about a particular subject, rather than a fact

"What is your opinion?"

"Everyone has a different opinion about the plan and the results."

the grade, level, or standard of something's excellence measured against other things

"The quality is excellent."

"The quality of the product was disappointing because the plastic parts felt cheap and the electronic components stopped working after only a few days."

a time that is arranged to meet a person with whom one is in a relationship or is likely to be in the future

"We have a date."

"Their first official date was at a charming little Italian restaurant downtown."

all the qualities that shape a person's character and make them different from others

"She has a warm and outgoing personality."

"A psychometric test aims to objectively measure various facets of an individual's unique personality."

reluctant to compromise or change one's attitude, belief, plan, etc.

"The rules are inflexible."

"The inflexible rules at the school did not allow any exceptions even for students with special circumstances and this caused a lot of frustration among parents."

not boasting about one's abilities, achievements, or belongings

"He is modest about his success."

"He was modest about his achievements and never boasted about the awards he had won even though he had every reason to be proud."

enjoying other people's company and social interactions

"She is very outgoing."

"The outgoing host greeted every guest with enthusiasm, making everyone feel welcome and included."

(of a person) having a willingness or readiness to help someone

"The neighbor is helpful."

"The helpful neighbor offered to water our plants while we were away on vacation so we did not have to worry about them dying."

to tell someone that one will do something or that a particular event will happen

"Promise me you will return safely."

"I promise to return your book by Friday because I know you need it for your exam."

not conforming to established rules, patterns, or norms

"The verb is irregular."

"His heartbeat was irregular so the doctor sent him to a specialist for further tests and a thorough examination of his heart."

the emotional state that a person experiences

"She is in a good mood."

"His cheerful mood was infectious, lifting the spirits of everyone around him."

to become visible and noticeable

"The sun will appear."

"After the storm clouds dissipated, the sun began to appear, casting a warm glow."

a desired outcome that guides one's plans or actions

"The purpose is clear."

"The purpose of the meeting was to solve the issue quickly."

to go after someone or something, particularly to catch them

"Police pursue the suspect."

"The police car began to pursue the speeding vehicle down the highway."

relating to or suitable for a whole group or class of things rather than a specific one

"The product is generic."

"The pharmacist offered a generic version of the medication which costs much less than the brand name but works exactly the same way."

distinctive among others that are of the same general classification

"That is a particular case."

"The teacher asked a particular student to stay after class because she wanted to discuss his recent poor performance on the exams."

a powerful and intense emotion or feeling toward something or someone, often driving one's actions or beliefs

"She has passion."

"Her passion for environmental activism fueled her tireless efforts to protect endangered species."

a statement that conveys one's dissatisfaction

"I have a complaint."

"The customer filed a formal complaint about the poor service he received."

a public meeting place where people can discuss and exchange views on various topics or issues

"The forum was loud."

"The public forum provided an excellent platform for citizens to voice their concerns about local development plans."

to be thankful for something

"I appreciate your honest feedback."

"I appreciate your honest feedback even though it was difficult to hear because it will help me improve."

an organized plan made to achieve a goal

"We need a new strategy."

"The marketing team developed a comprehensive strategy to increase brand awareness and drive sales for the upcoming quarter."