Unit 8 - 8C · Face2Face Upper Intermediate Vocabulary List

completely accurate in every detail

"Give me the exact time."

"The scientist needed the exact measurements of the chemical compounds because even a tiny mistake could ruin the entire experiment."

involving many different parts or elements that make something difficult to understand or deal with

"The instructions are complicated."

"The complicated instructions confused the new employee and he had to ask his supervisor to explain them three times."

a situation that is difficult because a choice must be made between two or more options that are equally important

"She faced a serious career dilemma recently"

"She faced a dilemma accept the job in another city or stay with her aging parents."

in a way that is true in most cases

"Generally speaking it is a good school."

"Generally speaking it is a good school but some of the teachers are better than others."

in accordance with truth

"Give me the precise time."

"The precise measurements are important for the experiment to be successful."

suitable or acceptable for a given situation or purpose

"That is not appropriate."

"That is not appropriate behavior for a formal dinner so please apologize to the host immediately."

used to introduce examples of something mentioned

"I like fruits such as apples and oranges."

"I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking swimming and cycling in the summer months."

commonly practiced or accepted as a usual way of doing things

"It is customary to tip."

"It is customary in many cultures to remove your shoes before entering someone home because shoes can track dirt."

forced to be done by law or authority

"The course is compulsory."

"The training course is compulsory for all new employees and must be completed within the first month."

added or extra to what is already present or available

"We need additional time."

"We need additional time to finish the project because the client added new requirements at the last minute."

necessary as a result of a rule or law

"Attendance is obligatory."

"The obligatory meeting was held every Monday morning and all employees were required to attend or face disciplinary action."

to intentionally say or do something that disrespects or humiliates someone

"Do not insult people with rude words."

"He did not mean to insult you with his comment so please do not take it personally."

to follow a person or thing and see where they go, often for the purpose of catching them

"The dog chases the mail carrier."

"The dog loves to chase squirrels in the park but he has never actually caught one."

in a certain way

"She will definitely win."

"I will definitely call you later tonight after I finish my homework and eat dinner with my family."

to get information about something after actively trying to do so

"She finds out the truth now."

"I called the receptionist to find out what time the meeting was scheduled to start because no one had told me."

to exercise in order to get healthier or stronger

"She works out every single morning."

"I try to work out at least four times a week to stay fit and healthy."

easy to comprehend or perform without any difficulties

"The answer is straightforward."

"The instructions for assembling the furniture were surprisingly straightforward, making the process quite simple."

to make changes to or modify something, making it slightly different

"The menu will vary each day."

"The restaurant's daily specials vary depending on which fresh ingredients are available at the local market each morning."

no more or no other than what is stated

"It is just one."

"He wanted just a small piece of cake, not the entire dessert."

something that causes difficulties and is hard to overcome

"This is a big problem."

"The sudden economic downturn presented a significant problem for small businesses nationwide."

to find the answer to a question or problem

"Help me figure out this puzzle."

"It took the detective several weeks to figure out who had committed the crime because there were many false clues."

in a manner that emphasizes a specific aspect or detail

"I particularly enjoy Italian food."

"I particularly enjoy Italian food especially pasta dishes like spaghetti carbonara and lasagna with rich tomato sauce."

in an assured manner, leaving no room for doubt

"You can certainly stay here."

"You can certainly stay here for the night if you have nowhere else to go."

to cause someone to feel disrespected, upset, etc.

"His words offend me."

"His insensitive comments about her appearance were intended to offend and hurt her feelings deeply."

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."

to be the first person who finds something or someplace that others did not know about

"They discover a new star."

"Archaeologists hope to discover ancient artifacts buried deep within the ruins."

capable of being approved

"This is acceptable."

"His proposal was deemed acceptable to the board of directors after careful consideration."

to carefully watch something in order gain knowledge or understanding about the subject

"The scientist observed the cells dividing."

"The biologist spent several weeks in the rainforest to observe the behavior of a rare species of monkey in its natural habitat."

used to show that something is the case and nothing more

"You can simply turn off the lights."

"You can simply turn off the lights when you leave the room to save electricity and reduce your energy bill."