Word Groups by Topic

fiction  
n. the type of book or story that is written about imaginary characters and events and not based on real people and facts
The book is a work of fiction and not intended as a historical account.
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mystery  
n. something strange or unknown which has not yet been explained or understood
Despite years of study, sleepwalking remains a mystery.
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fantasy  
n. a pleasant situation that you enjoy thinking about but is unlikely to happen
She retreated into a fantasy world, where she could be anything she wanted.
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creatively  
adv. in an original or imaginative way
This is a unique opportunity to think creatively about how to fix these problems.
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imagination  
n. the ability to form pictures in the mind
For some reason, the story captured the imagination of the public.
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enhance  
v. to improve the quality, amount, or strength of something
The county took steps to enhance water quality.
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tedious  
a. boring
The problem is I find most forms of exercise so tedious.
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perseverance  
n. continued effort and determination
Through hard work and perseverance, he worked his way up to the top.
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life lesson  
n. something from which useful knowledge or principles can be learned
I think we all learned some valuable life lessons that day.

glimpse  
v. to see something or someone for a very short time or only partly
We glimpsed the ruined house from the windows of the train.
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fascinating  
a. extremely interesting
The book offers a fascinating glimpse of the lives of the rich and famous.
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observe  
v. to watch carefully the way something happens, especially to learn more about it
Children learn by observing adults.
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detective  
n. someone whose job is to discover information about crimes and find out who is responsible for them
Detectives are anxious to interview anyone who saw the car.
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fairy  
n. an imaginary creature with magical powers who looks like a small person with wings
Do you believe in fairies?
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factual  
a. using or consisting of facts
She gave a clear, factual account of the attack to the police.
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endure  
v. to suffer something difficult, unpleasant, or painful
We had to endure a nine-hour delay at the airport.
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book lover  
n. a person who enjoys reading and reads more than the average person
If you are a book lover, buying and selling rare and valuable books can be extremely rewarding.

enjoyment  
n. the feeling of enjoying something
It's sad if he never gets any enjoyment out of his job anymore.
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inspire  
v. to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it
His confident leadership inspired his followers.
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motivate  
v. provide someone with a motive for doing something
He was primarily motivated by the desire for profit.
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prudent  
a. careful and avoiding risks
It's always prudent to read a contract carefully before signing it.
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meticulously  
adv. in a way that shows great care and attention to detail
Procedures had to be followed meticulously.
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certainly  
adv. undoubtedly; definitely; surely
More changes are certainly in the offing.
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aspect  
n. one part of a situation, problem, subject
Which aspects of the job do you most enjoy?
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chaotic  
a. in a state of complete disorder and confusion
The house is a bit chaotic at the moment, we've got all these extra people staying and we're still decorating.
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jumble  
n. an untidy collection or a pile of things
The books were in a chaotic jumble.
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meaningless  
a. having no meaning
The paragraph was a jumble of meaningless words.
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interact  
v. act in such a way as to affect another
It's interesting at parties to see how people interact socially.
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constraint  
n. a limitation or restriction
Time constraints make it impossible to do everything.
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reality  
n. the actual state of things
The reality is I’m not going to be picked for the team.
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curiosity  
n. a strong desire to know or learn something
Filled with curiosity, she peered through the window.
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elusive  
a. difficult to find, catch, or achieve
Success, however, remained elusive for her.
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encounter  
v. to experience something, especially something unpleasant
When did you first encounter these difficulties?
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cherish  
v. to love, protect, and care for someone or something important to you
Although I cherish my children, I do allow them their independence.
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empathy  
n. the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
That warmth of true empathy makes us feel less alone.
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escapism  
n. the activity of avoiding reality by imagining exciting but impossible activities
These adventure movies are pure escapism.
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productive  
a. resulting in or providing a large amount or supply of something
He had an amazingly productive five years in which he managed to write four novels.
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regain  
v. to reach or return to a place, especially after difficulty or danger
After a bad year, she has regained her form.
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overcome  
v. to defeat or succeed in controlling or dealing with something
I believe that we will overcome in the end.
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obstacle  
n. something that blocks your way so that movement or progress is prevented or made more difficult
The major obstacle to achieving that goal is money.
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