100 Words with Uncommon Meaning
They are 100 common words with uncommon meaning; we select example sentences from recent English media, like Economics and BBC, most of them are for academic reading. The list is updated weekly to help readers refresh hot usage of common words.
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| 100 Common Words with Uncommon Meaning and Sentence |
bot 
n.
an autonomous program on the internet that can interact with systems or users
n.
an autonomous program on the internet that can interact with systems or users
The code aims to prevent profiteering from disinformation and fake news and curb the spread of bots and fake accounts. BBC News
order
n.
a society of monks, priests, nuns, etc., living according to certain religious and social regulations
n.
a society of monks, priests, nuns, etc., living according to certain religious and social regulations
It was a hiding place for the Knights Templar, that enigmatic order of warrior monks who achieved vast wealth before being violently suppressed in 1307. BBC News
lend
v.
contribute or add (something, especially a quality) to
v.
contribute or add (something, especially a quality) to
A prominent carving in the cave depicting Saint Christopher lends credence to the theory that the cave served as this kind of hermitage. BBC News
chalk
n.
a soft white limestone formed from the skeletal remains of sea creatures
n.
a soft white limestone formed from the skeletal remains of sea creatures
The cave lies directly beneath the intersection of two highly significant ancient roads: a historical trackway along southern England's chalk escarpment. BBC News
martyr
v.
to kill someone because of their beliefs
v.
to kill someone because of their beliefs
There's Saint Catherine with her breaking wheel, who was only 18 when she was martyred, and Saint Lawrence, who was burnt to death on a griddle. BBC News
willpower
n.
the control exerted to do something or restrain impulses
n.
the control exerted to do something or restrain impulses
You would have relied on your willpower, which psychologists define as avoiding short-term temptations and overriding unwanted thoughts or impulses. BBC News
backstreet
n.
a minor street remote from a main road
n.
a minor street remote from a main road
We wandered into Njmegen's cobbled backstreets for lunch, a vegetarian fine-dining restaurant with two Michelin stars. BBC News
reframe
v.
express words, concept, or plan differently
v.
express words, concept, or plan differently
For now, given its pervasiveness, Pang believes the narrative surrounding burnout needs reframing. BBC News
perk
n.
money, goods, or other benefits to which one is entitled as an employee
n.
money, goods, or other benefits to which one is entitled as an employee
Conversations around burnout have increased, and companies seem more willing to offer employees perks such as gym memberships and home-office expenses. BBC News
odyssey
n.
a long and eventful or adventurous journey or experience
n.
a long and eventful or adventurous journey or experience
There, they would languish, untouched, until the 1980s when a pair of amateur sleuths began an odyssey almost as colossal as The Ten Commandments itself. BBC News
prohibition
n.
the prevention by law of the manufacture and sale of alcohol
n.
the prevention by law of the manufacture and sale of alcohol
As filming took place during prohibition, some actors borrowed camels to hop a ride into town, where they frequented the local speakeasies. BBC News
hop
v.
to ride surreptitiously and without authorization
v.
to ride surreptitiously and without authorization
As filming took place during prohibition, some actors borrowed camels to hop a ride into town, where they frequented the local speakeasies. BBC News
buff
n.
a person who is enthusiastically interested in and very knowledgeable about a particular subject
n.
a person who is enthusiastically interested in and very knowledgeable about a particular subject
It is the remnants of this first iteration that have come to captivate the imaginations of archaeologists, film buffs, and the just plain curious. BBC News
inter
v.
place (a corpse) in a grave or tomb, typically with funeral rites
v.
place (a corpse) in a grave or tomb, typically with funeral rites
She looked in the direction of an ornate stone effigy in the graveyard; depicted on the flat gravestone was a man referencing the interred person's charitable nature. BBC News
soul
n.
person, a member of the human race
n.
person, a member of the human race
We had barely seen a soul except for a group of semi-nomadic yak herders who had recently come down to lower elevations for the winter. BBC News
weather
v.
wear away or change the appearance or texture of something by long exposure to the air
v.
wear away or change the appearance or texture of something by long exposure to the air
They are the use of specially treated charcoal that locks in carbon and enhanced rock weathering - loosely based on the carbon removal that occurs with natural erosion. BBC News
battery
n.
a fortified emplacement for heavy guns
n.
a fortified emplacement for heavy guns
The new Patriot missile battery will be a critical asset to defend the Ukrainian people against barbaric attacks on infrastructure. BBC News
might
n.
great and impressive power or strength, especially of a nation, large organization, or natural force
n.
great and impressive power or strength, especially of a nation, large organization, or natural force
He appealed to their vanity, ‘the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.’ New Yorker
compelling
a.
interesting or exciting enough to keep your attention completely
a.
interesting or exciting enough to keep your attention completely
What makes Zelensky compelling as a political leader is the comic’s talent for exposing the crux of the matter. New Yorker
cast
v.
look at someone/something
v.
look at someone/something
Zelensky’s trajectory - from comedian to media manager to President to wartime President - is often cast as surprising. New Yorker
pressing
a.
urgently important
a.
urgently important
He embarked on an odyssey of jobs in the nonprofit sector and graduate work in multiple academic disciplines, touching on pressing social topics. MIT News
supercharge
v.
to make something more powerful or impressive
v.
to make something more powerful or impressive
By retrofitting existing hydropower plants, the founders believe they can supercharge the hydropower industry that is by far the largest source of renewable electricity. MIT News
harness
v.
control and make use of (natural resources), especially to produce energy
v.
control and make use of (natural resources), especially to produce energy
Companies looking to harness their potential do have to address some hurdles before the solar cells can be commercially competitive. MIT News
primer
n.
a small introductory book on a subject
n.
a small introductory book on a subject
He penned a book for general audiences, in addition to a widely-read primer on climate change and risk assessment designed to influence business leaders. MIT News
avenue
n.
a way of approaching a problem or making progress toward something
n.
a way of approaching a problem or making progress toward something
She also recognized that staying with a company driven by profits would not be the best avenue to fulfill her personal career aspirations. MIT News
words
n.
pl. something that is said, talk
n.
pl. something that is said, talk
The acoustics are perfect for amplifying her words and her innate passion for geology. MIT News
reception
n.
a social gathering often for the purpose of extending a formal welcome
n.
a social gathering often for the purpose of extending a formal welcome
At the reception, they toasted the long-lived partnership; a professor emeritus of linguistics described the affection Chomsky and Halle had for each other. MIT News
strip
v.
remove all coverings from; leave bare of accessories or fittings
v.
remove all coverings from; leave bare of accessories or fittings
The recycled pulsar then starts reradiating energy that further strips the star and eventually destroys it. MIT News
model
v.
use something as an example to follow or imitate
v.
use something as an example to follow or imitate
If you don't model wave breaking right, it would have tremendous implications for how structures behave. MIT News
rung
n.
horizontal support on a ladder for a person's foot
n.
horizontal support on a ladder for a person's foot
They are referred to as ladder polymers because they are formed from double strands connected by rung-like bonds, and these linkages provide a high degree of rigidity. MIT News
dent
n.
a weakening or lessening effect
n.
a weakening or lessening effect
Despite concerted efforts worldwide to develop more efficient solar panels, a mundane problem like dust can actually put a serious dent in the whole thing. MIT News
frame
v.
give expression to; express something choosing your words carefully
v.
give expression to; express something choosing your words carefully
He has realized the importance of making data accessible and discovered the power of framing data to control a storyline. MIT News
glitch
n.
a false or spurious electronic signal
n.
a false or spurious electronic signal
The datasets had been identified by humans, so the researchers were able to compare the anomalies their model identified with real glitches in each system. MIT News
overhead
n.
business expenses not chargeable to a particular part of the work or product
n.
business expenses not chargeable to a particular part of the work or product
Existing secure computation methods like homomorphic encryption offer strong security guarantees, but they incur huge overheads in area and power. MIT News
regimen
n.
a prescribed course of medical treatment, way of life, or diet for the promotion or restoration of health
n.
a prescribed course of medical treatment, way of life, or diet for the promotion or restoration of health
Many conventional studios require commitments that can be daunting if you’re still figuring out what your ideal fitness regimen is. MIT News
promote
v.
help bring something into being; launch
v.
help bring something into being; launch
There are many questions left to answer, such as the roles of intermediaries, how to promote access securely, and how to design for those without smartphones. MIT News
clock
v.
to time with a stopwatch or by an electric timing device
v.
to time with a stopwatch or by an electric timing device
Rosado tells the story of when she clocked her best time yet at a swim meet. MIT News
perspective
n.
the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance and positions
n.
the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance and positions
The team imaged the cloud with a camera, capturing a perspective similar to a child’s when facing towards the center on a playground carousel. MIT News
tweak
v.
improve a mechanism or system by making fine adjustments to it
v.
improve a mechanism or system by making fine adjustments to it
Because they can study so many populations in parallel, they can tweak factors such as the mutation rate, size of the original population, and environmental conditions. MIT News
inferior
n.
a person lower than another in rank, status, or ability
n.
a person lower than another in rank, status, or ability
Even the inferior need to respond to the changing opportunities to pivot more effectively to new things when the old one starts looking shaky. MIT News
pronounced
a.
very noticeable or marked; conspicuous
a.
very noticeable or marked; conspicuous
These findings suggest that many people are mired in a poverty trap, unable to improve their circumstances because of their pronounced lack of resources in the first place. MIT News