Word Groups by Topic

They are short vocabulary lists on common topics for Speaking and Writing. Each vocabulary entry includes meanings and example sentences. These word groups are organized by topic to help learners practice efficiently. Some groups are also available as YouTube videos.
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 Small Vocabulary Example
Tidy
organized   Pronounce
a. arranged according to a particular system
The letters had been placed in organized piles, one for each letter of the alphabet.
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arrange   Pronounce
v. to plan, prepare for, or organize something
I'd deliberately arranged that they should arrive at the same time.
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neat   Pronounce
a. tidy, with everything in its place
Your house is always so neat - how do you manage it?
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properly   Pronounce
adv. correctly, or in a satisfactory way
I'm not properly dressed for this kind of weather.
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obsessive   Pronounce
a. thinking about something or someone, or doing something, too much or all the time
He's obsessive about punctuality.
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compulsive   Pronounce
a. having a very strong desire to do something repeatedly
We’re really not compulsive shoppers, you know.
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disorder   Pronounce
n. a state of untidiness or lack of organization
The whole office was in a state of disorder.
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obsessive-compulsive disorder   Pronounce
n. a mental illness that causes a person to do something repeatedly for no reason
Obsessive-compulsive disorder affects about 2.3% of people at some point in their lives while rates during any given year are about 1.2%.

irresponsible   Pronounce
a. not thinking enough or not worrying about the possible results of what you do
It would be irresponsible to ignore these warnings.
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sort   Pronounce
v. to put a number of things in an order or to separate them into groups
I'm going to sort these old books into those to be kept and those to be thrown away.
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priority   Pronounce
n. a thing that is regarded as more important than others
The safety of the country takes priority over any other matter.
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fold   Pronounce
v. to bend something like cloth so that one part of it lies on the other path
She folded all her clothes and packed all her bags.
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hang   Pronounce
v. to fasten or support a piece of clothing at the top leaving the other parts free to move
Hang your coat and hat upon the rack over there.
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personality   Pronounce
n. the type of person you are, shown by the way you behave, feel, and think
He's not much to look at, but he has a wonderful personality.
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essential   Pronounce
a. necessary or needed
Water is essential for living things.
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unrealistic   Pronounce
a. not reasonable, or not likely to be achieved
We’re placing unrealistic demands on our schools.
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reality   Pronounce
n. the actual state of things, or the facts involved in such a state
He refuses to face reality.
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necessity   Pronounce
n. the need for something
You can come early if you want to, but there's no necessity for it.
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bring up   Pronounce
v. to care for and train (a child); rear
We had been brought up to go to church.

orderliness   Pronounce
n. the quality of being arranged or organized
The orderliness of the room surprised him.
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occupied   Pronounce
a. busy and active
All the new toys kept the kids occupied for hours.
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extreme   Pronounce
a. very great; beyond what is usual or what might be expected
The extreme cold kept most people indoors.
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absolute   Pronounce
a. very great or to the largest degree possible
His room is an absolute dump!
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completely   Pronounce
adv. totally; utterly
Some of the things she does are completely mad.
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regulation   Pronounce
n. an official rule or the act of controlling something
New safety regulations have been brought in.
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awful   Pronounce
a. very bad or unpleasant
The place smelled awful.
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set   Pronounce
v. put lay, or stand (something) in a specified place or position
He set a vase of flowers on the table.
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deadline   Pronounce
n. a time or day by which something must be done
We're working on a tight deadline.
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mess   Pronounce
n. a dirty or untidy state of things or of a place
She made a mess of the kitchen.
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acceptable   Pronounce
a. able to be tolerated or allowed
Pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable level.
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spotless   Pronounce
a. extremely clean
Her home is spotless.
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messy   Pronounce
a. untidy or dirty
His bedroom's always messy.
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vital   Pronounce
a. absolutely necessary or important; essential
Secrecy is of vital importance.
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bacteria   Pronounce
n. very small organisms that are found everywhere and are the cause of many diseases
There are many different types of bacteria.
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viruses   Pronounce
n. a very small organism that causes disease in humans, animals, and plants
A local doctor was the first to raise the alarm about this latest virus.
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chaos   Pronounce
n. complete disorder and confusion
Our house is in complete chaos at the moment.
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sweep   Pronounce
v. to clean (an area) by brushing away dirt or litter
I've swept the floor.
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vacuum   Pronounce
v. to clean with a vacuum cleaner
The room needs to be vacuumed.
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