Category: Verbs

(+ object) to cause (someone) to feel very happy and excited — usually used as (be) exhilarated We were exhilarated by the news of his success. — exhilarated adjective (more exhilarated; most exhilarated) I feel exhilarated! — exhilarating adjective (more Read More …

(+ object) 1 : to sew a design on a piece of cloth She embroidered tiny flowers on the baby’s scarf. a scarf embroidered with tiny flowers an embroidered scarf 2 : to make (a story, the truth, etc.) more Read More …

(no object) formal 1 : to split and move out in different directions from a single point — opposite converge A prism causes rays of light to diverge. “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…” Robert Frost, “The Road Not Read More …

(+ object) 1 : chiefly US : to cause (curiosity or interest) The package piqued (=sparked, aroused) my curiosity. Brightly colored objects pique a baby’s interest. 2 : chiefly British : to make (someone) annoyed or angry — usually used Read More …

(no object) to stick out His lower jaw protrudes slightly. A handkerchief protruded from his shirt pocket. — protruding adjective He has a protruding jaw.

Parry has two basic meanings. To parry can be to defend yourself by turning away from or pushing aside a weapon, assault, etc., or to evade something, such as a question, especially by using a clever response. Players of the Read More …

Herald is a verb meaning “to give notice of”; it is synonymous with announce, publicize, and foreshadow. Herald may also mean “to greet especially with enthusiasm.” The appearance of robins heralded the advent of spring. She is being heralded as Read More …

(+ object) 1 : to make (something) difficult to understand or know : to make (something) obscure The true history has been obscured by legends about what happened. They accused the company of trying to obscure the fact that the Read More …

Extenuate is a formal word that is most often used to mean “to lessen the strength or effect of something, such as a risk.” In legal use, to extenuate a crime, offense, etc., is to lessen or to try to Read More …

To nonplus someone is to perplex them, or in other words, to cause them to be at a loss as to what to say, think, or do. The stranger’s odd question about the town where my grandfather was born nonplussed Read More …