USEFUL VOCABULARY WORDS WITH THE LETTER A

Abase (oneself) = humiliate, demean, belittle, disparage (Don't abase yourself, keep your chin up! = Don't put yourself down, hold your head up!)

Abashed = embarrassed, confused, ashamed of (She felt abashed not having passed her exam = She was ashamed of not having passed her exam)

Abate = decrease, reduce, dwindle, lessen (The forest fire is abating a little after this morning's drizzle = The forest fire is easing slightly following light rain this morning)

Abduct = kidnap, hold hostage, seize, capture (He was abducted from a playground not far from his parents' house and was later set free = He was kidnapped from a playground not far from his parents' house and was later released )

Abet = help, assist, encourage, most often something wrong (He abetted him to commit embezzlement with welfare money = He encouraged him to commit embezzlement with welfare money)

Abide = obey, follow, keep to, (The contract was not abided by contrary to what had been previously agreed = The contract was not respected contrary to what had been initially agreed)

Abide = tolerate, bear, accept (I can't abide him because he's boorish to the female gender = I can't stand him because he's rude to the female gender)

Ablaze = burning, on fire, in flames (Some forests were ablaze on the French Riviera = Some forests were on fire on the French Riviera)

Abeyance = on hold, on standby, suspension (The law was in abeyance pending the Federal Court's decision = The law was on hold pending the Federal Court's decision)

Abound = be packed with, be full of, teem with, be crowded with (The place abounds with tourists in Summer = The place is crowded with tourists in Summer = The place is full of tourists in Summer)

About (go) = approach, tackle, get down to, get going on (How would you go about if you failed to win your next tournament match? = What would you do if you failed to win your next tournament match?)

Abreast = side by side, in a row, alongside (Let's sit abreast on the train shall we? It will be easier to talk = Let's sit next to each other, shall we? It will be easier to discuss)

Abreast = keep me informed of, keep me abreast of, keep me updated on, keep me posted on (Keep me abreast of your projects at any time = Keep me informed of your projects at any time = Keep me updated on you projects at any time)

Abreast = abreast of their times, up to date, contemporary, up to the minute (Young people are often abreast of their times when it comes to clothing = Young people are often up to date with their times when it comes to clothing)

Abreast = on a level, up-to-date, in alignment (We must keep revenues abreast of the Cost Of Living Adjustment level also known by its acronyms COLA = We must maintain incomes at the Cost Of Living Adjustment level also known as COLA)

Abroad = overseas, in a foreign country, AWOL (stands for absence without leave) (Look who's here, he has returned from abroad = Look who's here, he's coming back from abroad)

Abroad = in the air, at large, in circulation (The news got abroad that she's the new manageress = Word has spread that she is the new manageress)

Abscond = flee, run away, break free, escape (He absconded from police custody where he was being held for questioning = He fled from police custody where he was being held for questioning)

Absence (in the) = due to lack of, for lack of, for want of (In the absence of information, I have to make a random decision = Due to lack of information, I must make a random decision)

Absent-minded = distracted, forgetful, miles away (His absence of mind caused him to be absent-minded more often than not = His lack of wit made him most often distracted)

Abstract (in the) = in an ideal world, hypothetically, in theory (It's the wrong person in the right place, in the abstract, how can we fix that? = It's the wrong person in the right place, hypothetically, how can we solve this problem)

Abstruse = obscure, hidden, recondite (He didn't say anything for abstruse reasons = He didn't say anything for obscure reasons)

Abut = adjoin, be adjacent to, neighbouring (The shed abuts the garage = The shed adjoins the garage); (Our bedroom abuts the living room = Our bedroom is adjacent to the living room)

Abysmal = dreadful, terrible, awful (He has abysmal gaps in English grammar = He has huge gaps in English grammar)

Academy (for music) = school, college, conservatory (The Lille music academy in France is located in the old quarter of the city on rue Alphonse Colas =  The Lille music conservatory in France is based in the old quarter of the city on rue Alphonse Colas)

Accessory (to crime) = accomplice, partner in crime, abettor (The minion was accessory to an attempted murder = The flunkey was complicit in an attempted murder)

Accolade = award, recognition, honour (An accolade was given to him for saving two children from a burning apartment on the sixth floor = An award was given to him for saving two children from a blazing flat on the sixth floor)

Accurate = precise, right, correct, on-target (Accurate figures were accurately provided to the board of directors = Precise figures were provided to the board of directors in detail)

Accursed = damned, doomed, ill-fated (He is accursed for costing lives in a hit-and-run = He is damned for costing lives in a hit-and-run)

Accustomed (to) = usual, customary, regular (I am accustomed to drinking two cans of Coca-Cola a day = I usually drink two cans of Coca Cola a day)

Achilles' heel = weakness, weak spot, weak point (Drinking two cans of Coca Cola a day, that's my Achilles' heel = Drinking two cans of Coca Cola a day, that's my weakness)

Acme = high point, apex, peak (The acme is that he got lucky after the accident = The best part is that he got lucky after the accident)

Acquitted = held his own, got through, pulled through (He acquitted himself well after the car overturned = He acquitted himself well after the car overturned)

Acrimonious = scathing, spiteful, acerbic, heated (The conversation turned acrimonious over the company's poor year-end figures = The conversation became heated due to the company's poor year-end figures)

Across = over, through, convey (My act of kindness is to get a message across to you, that is, to learn your lessons as you go along without waiting until the last minute = My act of kindness is to convey a message to you, that is, to learn as you go along without waiting until the last minute)

Actuality (in) = in reality, in fact, in actual fact, in point of fact, as a matter of fact (In actuality, I actively participate in your work-study internship to develop your business acumen = In point of fact, I actively participate in your work-study internship in order to develop your business sense)

Add up = stand to reason, make sense, hold water (It all adds up since your perspective was presented before the board showing you are an accounting adept and the CEO spoke freely about your next move = It stands to reason that you are an accounting expert since your perspective was presented to the board and the CEO spoke freely about your next step)

Admittedly = truthfully, honestly, actually, indeed (Admittedly she was still young to be making big decisions, but she handled it pretty well = Granted that she was still young to make big decisions, but she handled the situation quite well)

Affair (state of affairs) = position, situation, circumstances, condition (In the present state of affairs, the room needs to be adorned under the aegis of an interior designer = Certainly as things currently stand, the room needs to be decorated under the guidance of an interior designer or through the agency of an interior designer)

Affidavit = oath, testimony, sworn statement (An affidavit was sworn to avoid a fight after a will hearing = An sworn statement was made to avoid a fight after a will hearing)

Agog (to) = impatient, eager, excited, can't wait (Students are agog to learn new English terms and expressions = Students can't wait to learn new English terms and expressions)

Aggregate (in the) = as a whole, in total, taken as a whole, taken all together (The company's losses were lower than expected, in the aggregate = The company's losses were generally lower than expected)

Aggrieved = grief-stricken, saddened, irked, sorrowful (He had an apologetic tone of voice on the phone as he was aghast at the terrible news = He had an apologetic tone of voice on the phone as he was dismayed by the terrible news)

Agonies = torment, pain, pangs, throes (She suffered agonies as long ago as five years for she was jilted by her former common-law partner = She suffered agonies as long ago as five years because she was abandoned by her former common-law husband)

Ahead (with) = forward, pursue, continue, carry on (You sure can go ahead with the project with the aim of proving you are the right person for the job = You can certainly pursue the project in an effort to prove that you're the right person for the job)

Aid = support, assistance, help, backing (What's all this in aid of? = What's the point of all that?)

Ail = pain, trouble, distress, bother, worry (We have been going through an ailing economy since the fall of 2022 = We have been going through a worrying economic period since the fall of 2022); (She has been ailing from lingering headaches for two weeks = She has been suffering from persistent headaches for two weeks)

Ail (in a question) = what ails you?, what's the matter, what's wrong? (What ails you? You look so downcast! = What's the matter, you look so disheartened = What's wrong? You look so dispirited!); (I flunked my exam, that's why I feel blue = I failed my exam that's why I feel sad)

Akin (to) = corresponding to, close to, related to, comparable to (Her feeling was akin to fear whenever the word spider was mentioned or when she saw one = Her feeling was close to fear whenever the word spider was mentioned or when she saw one)

Albeit = although, besides, furthermore, even though,  (Albeit I alighted from the train bound for Lille on schedule when it pulled into the Lille-Flanders railroad station, I felt like it was for ages! = Even though I got off the train heading to Lille at the scheduled time upon arrival at Lille-Flanders station, I felt like I had been on that train for an eternity!)

Alacrity = goodwill, eagerness, gameness, willingness, readiness (He looked forward to learning the new vocabulary with alacrity = He couldn't wait to learn the new vocabulary with eagerness)

All-rounder = versatile, jack-of-all-trades, enthusiast (She had the highest grade in English for she is a good all-rounder = She has the highest mark in English because she is versatile)

Alley (right up) = within my ken, custom-fit, compatible, right up my street (She did amazingly well on the final exam as that was right up her alley! = She did incredibly well on the final exam because it was exactly what she wanted)

Amply = largely, bountifully, lavishly, considerately (General accounting and cost accounting are amply analogous in terms of accuracy and timeliness = General accounting and cost accounting are largely analogous in terms of accuracy and deadlines)

Anew = again, afresh, repeatedly (She wanted to speak to me anew = She wanted to speak to me again)

Allay/Assuage = decrease, alleviate, diminish, lessen (Her fears were somewhat allayed when the spider disappeared from sight = Her fears were somewhat assuaged when the spider disappeared from sight)

Allure = lure, entice, attract, tempt (Will HR managers be allured by his candidacy for a sales management position = Will HR managers be attracted by his candidacy for a sales management position)

Allege = assert, maintain, declare, purport (He is alleged to be the next CEO = He would be the next CEO)

Aloft = into the air, high up, up, upwards, overhead (He held his glass aloft in celebration of his graduation = He raised his glass in celebration of his graduation)

Aloof = unapproachable, distant, detached (He stayed aloof from the commotion in the back of the room not to get involved in the feud = He stayed away from the hustle and bustle in the back so as not to get involved in the conflict)

Altogether = entirely, totally, thoroughly (How much does it cost altogether? = How much does it cost in total?)

Alumnus = graduate, postgraduate, former student, past student, ex-student (She is an alumnus of this business school who graduated last year = She is a former student of this business school who graduated last year)

Amble (along) = walk, saunter, stroll, wander (After work, I like to amble along back to my car parked in an underground parking lot = After work, I like to walk leisurely to my car parked in an underground parking lot)

Amenity/Amenities = utility/utilities, facility/facilities, service/services (There were many modern amenities in the hotel I stayed at during my vacation = There were many modern facilities in the hotel where I stayed during my vacation)

Amiss = awry, wrong, faulty (Don't take it amiss, I'm just trying to help you here! = Don't take this the wrong way, I'm just trying to help you here!)

Amok (run) = go berserk, go wild, go on a rampage or go on the rampage, go ballistic (Civilians and livestock ran amok after rebel militias shelled their territory = Civilians and livestock went on a rampage after rebel militias bombarded their country)

Answerable = responsible, liable, accountable (She is answerable for her staff at work = She is responsible for her staff at work = She is accountable for her staff at work)

Antics = pranks, capers, larks, escapades (I wasn't happy with your little antics = I wasn't happy with your little pranks)

Anyhow = anyway, in any case, in any event, at any rate, no matter what (It's okay not to go abroad this year, money was tight anyhow = It's okay if we don't travel abroad this year, we didn't have the budget for it anyway); (I haven't had time to work on it, I promise to do it by the end of the week, no matter what = I haven't had time to work on it, but I'm committed to doing it by the end of the week in any case)

Anyhow = carelessly, happy-go-luckily, haphazardly (Please, don't do things anyhow! = Please don't do things haphazardly!)

Apace = quickly, speedily, fast, swiftly (It must be done apace to avoid backlogs = It must be done quickly to avoid delays)

Apiary = bee yard = a place where bees and their hives are kept for their honey (She owns a total of two apiaries, one rural and one urban = She is at the head of two bee yards in total, one rural and one urban)

Apiece = individually, for each one (Avocado costs €2 apiece = Avocado costs €2 each)

Apish = imitative, emulative, mimetic (imitating without understanding; acting in a stupid manner) (He repeats everything I said apishly = He repeats everything I said in a stupid tone)

Apparel = clothes, garments, attire, wear, garb (In summer, everyone likes to wear light apparel that conveys joy and happiness = In summer, everyone likes to wear light clothes that convey joy and happiness)

Append = add, attach, insert (I will append a footnote at the end of the document = I will add a footnote at the end of the document) 

Apportion = assign, allot, allocate, distribute (Profit sharing will be apportioned among all employees = Profit sharing will be distributed among all employees)

Apposite = relevant, pertinent, germane (This is an apposite observation to make = This is a relevant observation to make)

Appro = on approval (Should the sale be made on appro of all documents? = Should the sale be made on approval of all documents?)

Arches = flat feet (I have difficulty taking long walks because of my fallen arches = I have difficulty walking long distances because I have flat feet)

Argy-bargy = feud, altercation, disagreement, bicker (There is an argy-bargy within the company over whether or not it should go global = There is a feud within the company over whether or not it should go global)

Arouse = trigger, set off, prompt, stimulate (The change of director aroused my curiosity as to who would replace the former one = The appointment of a new director set off my curiosity as to the successor to the previous one)

Array = garb, attire, apparel, garments (He was arrayed in a nice three-piece suit embroidered with white lace = He was dressed in a beautiful three-piece suit embroidered with white lace)

Array of = line-up, series of, assembling, formation (There was an array of sports car figurines on the shelves of his bookcase = There was a whole series of sports car figurines on the shelves of his bookcase)

Arson = pyromania, wildfire, incendiarism (He set his own house on fire to collect the insurance money and it was straight up arson! = He set his own house on fire to collect the insurance money and it was straight up pyromania!)

Arsonist = pyromaniac, incendiary, fire-raiser (They managed to arrest the arsonist who set fire to a second barn after burning down his own house = They managed to arrest the pyromaniac who set fire to a second barn after burning down his own house)

Artefact/Artifact = item, ornament, thing (A wooden artifact was made for me to decorate my living room = A wooden object was made for me to adorn my living room)

Ascertain = verify, double check, confirm (Goods must be ascertained before being cleared through customs = Goods must be checked before being cleared through customs)

Ascribe (to) = attribute to, assign to, put down to, chalk up to (I ascribe his excellent marks in English to his hard and consistent work = I attribute his excellent grades in English to his hard and tireless work); (Her extreme tiredness can be ascribed to the marathon she ran this morning = Her extreme fatigue can be put down to the marathon she ran this morning)

Aside = away from others, out of the way, far from his or her thought or consideration, to or toward(s) the side  (Please move aside I need to have a word with you = Please step aside, I need to talk to you); (I need to put money aside to buy a huge house = I need to save money to buy a big house); (Kidding aside, I have to buy a new computer and the sooner the better = Jokes aside, I need to get a new computer and the sooner the better)

Asinine = stupid, idiotic, pointless, foolish, brainless (His asinine remark was completely overlooked by the person it was directed at = His stupid remark was completely ignored by the person it was addressed to)

Askance = suspiciously, sceptically, distrustfully (They have always looked askance at their way of following the rules = They have always despised their way of following the rules)

Askew = aslant, lopsided, crooked, wonky, not straight (His tie was askew = His tie was crooked)

Aslant = at an angle in a sloping direction (The paintings were hung aslant the room = The paintings were hung at an angle in the room)

Aslant =  at an angle to an object (Dawn could be seen aslant the window = Dawn was breaking through the window)

Assert (oneself) =  be assertive, maintain, declare, stand up for, contend (Students should assert themselves more in the school environment to avoid bullying = Students should be more assertive in the school environment to avoid bullying)

Astern = at the rear, behind of a ship, a boat or an airplane (Full speed astern! = In a reverse direction! = Backward!)

Astir  = busy, lively, vibrant, in a state of excited movement (The streets of Paris are all astir on Bastille Day = The streets of Paris are in turmoil on the day the Bastille was stormed)

Astir = awake and out of bed and moving around (He was astir at 6:00 this morning to get ready for his exam which was scheduled for 8:00 = He was up at 6:00 this morning to prepare for his exam scheduled for 8:00)

Astray = off the right track, off the target, off course, off track (I went astray as my GPS device didn't detect the new no entry signs = I got lost because my GPS didn't detect the new no entry signs)

Astray = into error, into wrongdoing (Some financiers led him astray by encouraging him to invest all his savings in unsuccessful projects = Some financiers misled him by encouraging him to invest all his savings in unsuccessful projects)

Astride = legs from side to side, with one leg on each side, straddling, piggyback ride (She sat astride the motorcycle for a ride = She straddled the motorcycle for a ride = She got on the motorcycle for a ride)

Astride = extending over or across a road or a town (The government building is astride the main road = The government building straddles the main road)

Astringent = sharp, tangy, severe, stern (Lemon yoghurts have a rather astringent flavour = Lemon yoghurts have a rather tangy flavour)

Astringent = contract, constrict, tighten, firm (This lotion is astringent for the skin to make acne disappear quickly = This lotion contracts the skin to make acne disappear quickly = This lotion tightens the skin to make acne disappear quickly = This lotion firms the skin to make acne disappear quickly)

Astute = acute, shrewd, sharp, quick-witted (This woman is an astute headmistress = This woman is a smart headmistress = This woman is a clever headmistress)

Asunder = in two, into pieces (The pants were torn asunder into rags = The pants were torn to shreds)

Asunder = apart, into separate parts (In France, the debate over retirement age has torn the country asunder = In France, the debate over retirement age has torn the country apart)

Atmospherics = electrical disturbances in the atmosphere interfering with telecommunications (I can't hear the radio very well because of atmospherics as it sounds like it's going to rain = I can't hear the radio very well because of the weather conditions as it sounds like it's going to rain)

Atone (for) = make amends, compensate, make up for (She must atone for her sins to start her life from scratch = She must make amends to start her life from cold)

Attain = realize, achieve, accomplish, (He attained the highest grade in his English oral Higher Technician's Certificate = He achieved the highest grade in his English oral exam)

Attainable = realizable, achievable, reachable (We must set attainable goals to build a business step by step = We must set achievable goals to build a business step by step)

Attainment = realization, achievement, accomplishment (You have to work harder to make the attainment worthwhile = You have to work harder to make the accomplishment worthwhile)

Attire = clothing, outfit, garb, garments (I like to be attired in men's semi-formal when I teach my students = I like to be clad in semi-formal men's attire when teaching my students)

Attuned (to) = accustomed to, be used to (They are not attuned to speaking English regularly = They are not used to speaking English regularly)

Auditorium = large room or building intended for public gatherings (We celebrate the graduation ceremony in the auditorium = The graduation ceremony will take place in the auditorium)

Avail (oneself of) = profit from, take advantage of, make the most of (Students should avail themselves of their English classes to get good grades = Students should take advantage of their English classes to get good grades)

Avert = turn away one's eyes, look away (She averted her eyes when I started tasting a raw egg while cooking an omelette = She looked away when I started tasting a raw egg while cooking an omelette)

Avert = stop, prevent, avoid something from occurring (Negotiations over a pay hike didn't avert an all-out strike by air traffic controllers in France = Negotiations over a steep pay rise failed to prevent a general strike by air traffic controllers in France)

Avowedly = openly, admittedly, confessedly (This political party has avowedly declared itself to be left-wing = This political party has openly declared itself to be left-wing)

Awash (with) = flooded, soaked, dripping (The village was awash with heavy rain = The village was flooded by heavy rain)

Awe = in disbelief, in wonderment, stunned, in astonishment (They were in awe faced with the hurricane that swept the small town = They were in disbelief at the hurricane that ravaged the small town = They were stunned by the hurricane that swept through the small town)

Awhile = for a moment, for a bit, for a spell (We'd better wait awhile before she calls back = We'd better wait a bit before she calls back)

Awkward = embarrassing, tricky, difficult (I've been in an awkward situation since I lost the business contract = I have been in a difficult situation since I lost the business contract)

Awl = punch, bradawl, drill (The machine uses an awl to make small holes = The machine uses a punch to make small holes)

Awning = tent, canopy, parasol, shade (Let's use an awning to protect our skin from the sun and protect it from burns = Let's use a canopy to protect our skin from the sun and protect it from burns)

Awry = wrong, amiss, askew (Things have gone awry since she came back from abroad = Things have gone wrong since she returned from abroad)