Education & Learning

To give all your attention and energy to an activity so that you forget about everything else.

To mentally ignore specific details in order to focus on the general or essential aspects of something.

To officially recognize or attribute a quality, achievement, or belief to a person.

To gain entry to a school, competition, or position by performing outstandingly well.

To calculate a total, or figuratively, to seem logical or consistent.

To become too old to qualify for or participate in a particular programme, benefit, or system.

To advance to an older age category, or (in fiction/games) to represent a character as older.

To reply rudely or cheekily to someone in authority, especially a parent or teacher.

To flatter or try to impress someone in authority, especially a teacher or boss, in order to gain favour.

To formally request something such as a job, course, grant, or permit by completing a process or form

To reach a place or, figuratively, to come to a conclusion or decision after thought or discussion.

To use something as the foundation or source of something else (informal/non-standard variant of 'base on').

To use something as the foundation or model for something else (informal/non-standard, American English).

To use something as the foundation, source, or model for something else.

To use something as the foundation or grounds for something else (formal variant of 'base on').

To have a strong enthusiasm for or active interest in something.

For a fact, feeling, or reality to become increasingly and overwhelmingly clear or pressing to someone.

To confirm, support, or prove that something is true.

To force someone to learn or accept something through harsh, repeated pressure or punishment.

To work hard and industriously at something for a long period of time.

To start or commence working on something; a formal or archaic way of saying 'begin on'.

To fill in an area or section with solid black colour, typically in drawing, design, or marking.

To suddenly be unable to remember or think of something specific.

To erase or cover something so nothing remains visible; or to suddenly lose the ability to think or remember; or to deliberately suppress a

To avoid or skip a responsibility or task, especially by being lazy.

To emerge and develop fully, like a flower opening up; to show one's full potential.

To develop and flourish, revealing one's full potential or beauty.

To give a tangible or visible form to something abstract; to represent or embody something.

To become stuck or unable to make progress, usually because of too much detail, difficulty, or work.

To apply oneself seriously and work hard at a task.

To study or review a subject intensively, especially in preparation for a test or event.

To reserve a place on a flight, cruise, tour, course, or other scheduled service.

To diverge from a main path, road, or topic and go in a different direction.

To expand into new areas of activity, interest, or business beyond what you currently do.

to explain or divide something into simpler parts

to do or pass something easily and without difficulty

to bring someone or something with you, or to help someone improve

to succeed in doing something difficult

to draw out or express qualities, abilities, or feelings from within oneself

To cause someone to face or confront a difficulty, obstacle, or opponent.

To raise or improve something until it reaches a required or desired level or standard.

To revise or practise a skill or area of knowledge in order to regain or improve your ability in it.

To fill in or shade a circular bubble on a standardized test or form.

To start working seriously and with full focus on a task.

To begin working hard and energetically; to apply oneself vigorously to a task.

To use something as a foundation or starting point for further development or achievement.

To use something as a foundation for further development or improvement (more formal variant of 'build on').

British informal: to leave or stay away from school or work without permission.

To find an answer or result by performing a mathematical calculation.

For two things to neutralize each other so that neither has any effect, or to eliminate something by balancing it with an opposing force.

To transfer or continue something from one period, place, or context to another.

To create, establish, or achieve something for yourself through effort and determination, or to cut out a section from a larger piece.

To search in a disorganised or uncertain way, typically for ideas, solutions, or something to say.

To search widely and unsystematically for something, especially a solution, idea, or resource.

To begin to understand something; or (of a trend or idea) to become popular.

To reach the same level or position as someone ahead of you; to update someone (or yourself) on missed information.

To record or note something down, often quickly or provisionally.

A fixed expression meaning to make a note of something or record it.

To mark something off a list, or to mark out a physical area using chalk.

To outline or plan something, often in a preliminary or rough way.

To achieve or record something, often a success, score, or total.

To attribute something, especially a failure or difficulty, to a particular cause.

To be unfaithful to a romantic partner, or to use dishonest methods during a test or exam.

To register your arrival at a specific place, or to investigate something.

To examine something carefully and thoroughly to find errors or confirm that everything is in order.

To bite and work food or an object repeatedly with the teeth, or to think carefully about a problem or idea.

To think carefully and at length about a problem, idea, or decision.

To notice or realise something, often something that others were hiding or that was not immediately obvious.

To tell someone something they did not know, especially information that helps them understand a situation.

To become well-informed and knowledgeable about something; or to inform someone thoroughly about a subject.

To intensively train or develop someone's skills, especially through personal coaching.

To write the computer code for a program, feature, or algorithm.

American English spelling of 'colour in'; to fill a drawn outline with colour using pencils, crayons, or paint.

British English spelling of 'color in'; to fill a drawn outline with colour using pencils, crayons, or paint.

to be mainly a question of one thing, or to be reduced to an essential point

to have a place, source, or cause as your origin

to result from or arise out of something

To approach someone or something, or to reach the required standard or level.

To produce, think of, or find something needed, such as an idea, plan, answer, or money.

To measure, draw, or delineate the boundary or extent of something, especially using a compass or similar instrument.

To have as its essential or defining feature; to be fundamentally characterised by something.

To be made up of particular parts, ingredients, or members.

Irish English informal: to become sensible, mature, or aware; to start behaving responsibly.

Irish English informal: a reflexive form of 'cop on,' meaning to make oneself become more sensible or responsible.

Irish English informal: to realize, notice, or become aware of something.

To write something down exactly as it appears or is said, reproducing it from a source.

To reproduce a piece of writing in full by writing it out again, usually from an existing source.

To gradually realise or understand something.

To gradually realise or understand a specific thing.

Variant spelling of 'cotton on to' — to gradually realise or understand something specific.

To be a disadvantage to someone in a situation where they are being judged or evaluated.

To count items or people one by one, often while naming or listing them.

To be included as part of a total, score, or requirement.

To count a collection of things to find the total.

To force a way through something, or to make significant progress through a difficult task or barrier.

To quickly produce a single piece of work, often implying speed over quality.

To take the best or most talented people or the most profitable part of something, leaving the rest behind.

To draw a line through an item on a list to show it has been completed or is no longer relevant.

To draw a line through a word or piece of text to show it is wrong, should be ignored, or has been removed.

To take a signal, prompt, or inspiration from someone or something.

To write something quickly and hastily, or to throw/push something forcefully downward.

To have existed since a particular time in the past; to originate from a specific historical period.

To slowly become clear or understood; used when someone gradually realises something they had not noticed before.

A more formal or literary variant of 'dawn on': to gradually become understood or realised by someone.

To search through things or investigate an area in an unfocused or exploratory way.

To investigate something thoroughly, or to push into a surface, or to start eating food with enthusiasm.

To search through a place or collection of things in an exploratory way (British English variant of 'dig around').

To remove something from the ground by digging; or to discover hidden or forgotten information.

To read part of a book casually; to take money from savings; or to briefly explore a subject.

To start doing something quickly and with enthusiasm, without hesitation.

To do something again, usually because it was done wrong the first time.

To figure out something through careful thought or clever reasoning.

To write something down quickly as a brief note.

To make use of a reserve of experience, skill, or knowledge, or for time to pass or night to approach.

To make use of a source of knowledge, skill, experience, or resources.

To invent or think of something using imagination, especially something unusual or clever.

To gradually fall asleep, or to lose concentration and stop paying attention.

To examine data or information in greater and greater detail by moving through layers, or to focus deeply on a specific issue.

To teach something by constant repetition until it is thoroughly learned.

To fail to keep up with others or with a required pace or schedule.

To withdraw from a course, competition, organisation, or conventional lifestyle before completion.

To teach or fix something in someone's mind by constant, forceful repetition.

To make something simpler or less intellectually demanding, often in a way that is seen as condescending or that reduces quality.

(Very informal, chiefly American) To fail out of or withdraw from school, a program, or a competition.

To actively take part in or involve oneself in an activity, discussion, or process.

To include something as a relevant element when making a calculation, plan, or decision.

To remove, exclude, or isolate a variable or common element, either in mathematics or in analytical thinking.

A non-standard phrasal verb occasionally used to mean working through or analyzing all the relevant factors of a situation.

An archaic or literary expression meaning to not achieve, obtain, or succeed in something.

To be forced to leave a school, university, or programme because of failing grades or not meeting academic requirements.

To fail to keep up with others or with a schedule; to make less progress than expected.

To be classified within a category, heading, or area of authority.

To search for something by looking or feeling around in a careful, persistent way, especially in hidden or cluttered places.

To search persistently through a place or among information, often for something hidden or hard to find.

To discover or obtain information, a person, or a thing by searching carefully and persistently.

Not an established standard phrasal verb in English. Not found in major dictionaries.

To understand or solve something through thinking and reasoning.

To calculate or total a set of numbers or costs.

To store documents or information in an organized system, or to mentally store a piece of information for later use.

To enter a place in a single-file line, one after another.

To leave a place in an orderly single-file line, one person after another.

To complete missing information on a form, to substitute for someone temporarily, or to inform someone of facts they missed.

An archaic or literary expression meaning to discover and produce something, or to find one's way out.

To discover information or a fact, either by searching, asking, or being told.

To discover information or facts about a topic, person, or situation

For two or more parts to join or combine correctly, or for ideas to be logically consistent with each other.

To add more detail, substance, or information to make something more complete.

To turn the pages of a book or magazine quickly without reading carefully, or to change through TV channels rapidly.

To look through a book, magazine, or set of images quickly by turning pages or scrolling rapidly.

To be forced to leave school, college, or a course because of failing grades.

To keep up with or track something as it progresses, especially a lesson, text, or sequence of events.

To make rapid, determined progress, especially despite difficulties or obstacles.

To think through a situation strategically by considering possible scenarios and outcomes.

To gather and store something carefully, especially resources or knowledge.

To enthusiastically and unashamedly indulge in a deep interest in a technical or niche topic.

British informal expression meaning to obtain thorough information about something, especially in preparation.

To communicate an idea or message successfully so that others understand it.

To make progress or achieve success, especially in a career or competitive situation.

To start working seriously on something, or to reach the most important or essential part.

To enter a vehicle or place, to arrive home, or to be accepted to a school or organisation.

To enter a place or vehicle, to be accepted somewhere, to begin to enjoy something, or to involve oneself in a situation.

To board a vehicle, have a good relationship with someone, or make progress with an activity.

To contact someone or to begin dealing with a new subject or task.

To have a friendly relationship with someone, or to continue or make progress with a task.

To move beyond one's own personal limitations, ego, or self-centred perspective in order to achieve something greater.

To finally find the time or motivation to do something that has been postponed or delayed.

To get someone actively working on or engaged in a task, usually immediately.

To successfully survive a difficult period, finish a task, contact someone, or make someone understand.

(Informal/slang) To stop making excuses and start working hard on something; to get serious and apply yourself.

To become aware of current trends, modern ideas, or the realities of a situation; to stop being out of touch.

To stop resisting and accept something, or to submit work or a document to someone.

To read or examine something quickly and without much attention to detail.

For one's eyes to become unfocused and expressionless, usually because of boredom, tiredness, or incomprehension.

To exceed, surpass, or go further than a set limit, expectation, or area.

An encouraging expression telling someone to try something boldly or without hesitation.

To enjoy or regularly participate in an activity, or to enter a competition.

To enter a place or state, to begin a career or field, or to explain or examine something in detail.

To review, examine, or repeat something in order to check or understand it; also to cross to the other side of something.

To experience something difficult, examine something carefully, or consume a supply of something.

To travel toward a destination, attend something, or direct effort or resources toward a purpose.

To enter a competition, apply for a position, or be considered for an award or promotion.

To avoid working or waste time when you are supposed to be doing something productive.

To make a mistake or do something incorrectly.

To search for and retrieve information using Google or another internet search engine.

To struggle or deal with a difficult problem, idea, or physical opponent.

To gradually become suited to or capable of something, or to become big enough to fit into something.

To become too big or too mature for something, or to stop doing something as a result of growing older.

To develop from a child into an adult; also used to tell someone to behave more maturely.

To get through a very difficult task or period by relying on determination and inner resolve.

To pass something from an older or higher source to a younger or lower one, or to officially deliver a judgement.

To submit or deliver something, especially work or a formal item, to someone in authority.

To give something to the next person in a series, or to pass knowledge, tradition, or objects to others.

To distribute something to a number of people, either physically or figuratively.

To personally and carefully select someone or something from a group. (Note: non-standard; 'handpick' or 'pick out' are strongly preferred.)

To refer back to something from the past, or to recall and resemble an earlier time or style.

A variant of 'hark back': to refer to or evoke something from the past.

To discuss or review something thoroughly, often by going over it repeatedly.

To emerge from an egg, or for an idea or plan to develop and come into being.

To have something perfectly learned or mastered; to have something recorded or noted.

To guess or understand something correctly on the very first attempt.

To be granted a period of time away from work or school; to have a tooth or body part removed.

To be obliged or required to do something; to express necessity.

To become aware of someone or something through news or word of mouth; to have knowledge that something or someone exists.

To assist the progress of something or someone; to encourage or facilitate development.

To depend entirely on one key factor or condition for an outcome.

To depend entirely on one key factor or condition; the more formal variant of 'hinge on'.

To flirt with or make romantic advances toward someone, or to discover or think of something by chance.

To discover or think of something, especially a good idea or solution, often unexpectedly.

To remain firm in a belief, promise, or standard, or to require someone else to do so

To present someone or something as a model, ideal, or example for others to admire or follow

To subject something to scrutiny, comparison, or testing, or to withstand such scrutiny

To move precisely toward a target, or to direct full attention to something specific

To direct full attention or effort precisely toward something — a common variant of 'home in on', though traditionally considered non-standa

To search for and retrieve something that is hidden, stored away, or difficult to find.

To find or locate someone or something through deliberate and sometimes effortful searching.

To leave a lasting mark, impression, or influence on something or someone; also used in biology to describe instinctive bonding.

To produce a better result, version, or performance than something or someone that already exists.

To make something better than an existing version; the formal equivalent of 'improve on'.

To write over a pencil sketch or outline in ink; also figuratively to confirm something definitively.

To formally ask someone for information or an answer to a specific question.

To cite or give something as a specific example or instance within an argument or explanation.

To remove or neutralize the problematic aspects of something by reinterpreting its meaning, often in a self-serving way.

To write something quickly and briefly, usually as a short note.

To put different things together in a disorganized or confused way.

To put things or ideas into a disordered, confused state.

To move quickly to a particular point or conclusion, often without proper consideration.

To stay informed and up to date with a situation, project, or area of responsibility.

To continue working hard at something despite difficulty, or to nag someone repeatedly to do something.

To continue doing something at the same level or standard, often used as encouragement.

To follow or stay within agreed limits, rules, a plan, or a path.

To maintain a pace, standard, level, or quality; or to prevent someone from sleeping.

To match the pace, level, or rate of change of something or someone; or to stay informed about current news or developments.

To focus precisely on a specific target, detail, or idea.

To identify or classify something using a key or system; in video/photo editing, to remove a specific colour or background.

To spend time in a place informally, to socialise casually, or to consider an idea roughly.

To have information, knowledge, or awareness regarding a subject, person, or situation.

To be aware that someone or something exists, without necessarily having detailed knowledge about them.

To begin working hard and seriously, especially after a period of distraction or laziness.

To move, progress, or develop more slowly than others or than expected; to fail to keep pace.

To become lazy or to reduce one's effort; to fall behind through lack of effort. An obscure and rarely used expression.

The slightly more formal or literary variant of 'land on'; to arrive at, settle on, or discover something.

To direct one's full, sharp attention or effort very precisely onto a specific target, problem, or detail.

To attach yourself to a person or idea, or to suddenly understand something.

To attach oneself firmly to a person, idea, or opportunity, often with determination or persistence.

To become less strict, disciplined, or rigorous; to relax standards or rules.

To introduce or open something with a preliminary section, or to guide someone into a topic or place.

To guide someone through a process, place, or complex situation step by step.

To turn the pages of a book, magazine, or document casually without reading it thoroughly.

To have a preference or slight tendency toward a particular option, idea, or belief.

To make a sudden and significant advance in position, knowledge, or development.

To reduce higher standards, salaries, or quality to match a lower benchmark.

To stop rising or falling and remain at a steady, stable level.

To become flat, stable, or consistent after variation or change.

To advance to a higher level of skill, quality, or status; originally from gaming, now widely used in everyday English.

To discover or come across something by chance; to settle or land on something.

To discover or encounter something by chance; a more formal or literary variant of 'light on'.

To pay attention to or follow advice, warnings, or instructions (dialectal/archaic).

A direct command telling someone to pay close attention right now.

Almost always used as 'live up to': to reach or match an expected standard or promise.

To direct your eyes toward something, or to consider or examine something.

To think about or consider the past, or to literally turn and look behind you.

To consider things further ahead or outside the immediate situation, or to see past surface appearances to something deeper.

To investigate or examine something carefully in order to find out more about it.

To examine or review something fairly quickly, often to check for problems.

To read or examine something carefully from start to finish, or to deliberately ignore someone.

To turn to someone or something for help, guidance, or as a source; or to direct one's attention to future plans.

To search for information in a reference source; to raise your eyes; or (of a situation) to improve.

To treat or categorize different people or things as a single group, usually ignoring their individual differences.

To study a particular subject as your main field of study at university or college.

To form an opinion, understanding, or interpretation about something, especially something puzzling or unclear.

To establish a direct or systematic correspondence between one concept, structure, or set of features and another.

To plan or describe something in detail, showing all the stages, steps, or features in a clear and organised way.

(Informal/figurative) To spend time thinking slowly and deeply about an idea, problem, or experience, allowing understanding to develop grad

To identify, categorise, or designate something or someone with a particular label, status, or characteristic.

To reduce the price of something; to give a lower grade or score; or to write something down as a note.

To record or categorise someone or something in writing as belonging to a particular type, often forming a firm judgement.

To check off items on a list as they are completed; or to separate or indicate an area by drawing lines or placing markers.

To identify someone as having special qualities that distinguish them; or to draw lines on a surface to indicate where something should go.

To increase the price of something, or to add written corrections and notes to a document.

To study a subject as a secondary academic focus at university, alongside one's main subject.

To make progress or to proceed with something, especially a plan or project.

To move to a lower position physically, or to move to a lower rank, level, or category.

To advance to a higher position, level, or rank, or to shift position to make space.

To study a subject intensively, especially in preparation for a test or for a specific need.

To firmly establish, confirm, or settle something such as a deal, plan, or fact.

To reduce a list of options, suspects, or possibilities to a smaller, more manageable set.

To enthusiastically immerse yourself in a subject you are passionate and knowledgeable about, especially a niche or intellectual topic.

Informal American expression meaning to think something up, improvise, or work out an idea in a casual or exploratory way.

To write something down quickly so you can remember it later.

To make something longer or bulkier by adding unnecessary or low-quality material.

To form a group of two with another person for a shared purpose.

To reduce something carefully to its essential elements by removing what is unnecessary.

To statistically remove the influence of one or more variables from a dataset in order to examine the relationship between the remaining var

To transfer knowledge, traditions, possessions, or characteristics from an older generation to a younger one.

to keep working steadily and persistently at something

to write in a plan or appointment temporarily, knowing it may change

to sketch or calculate something roughly in writing

To analyse or criticise something in very close detail, finding every flaw.

To choose or select something from a group, or to identify or notice something among others.

To lift something from the ground, collect someone or something, learn informally, or improve.

To notice or become aware of something subtle, such as a clue, a feeling, or a social signal.

to form, rebuild, or understand something by joining separate pieces or clues

to identify, define, or fix something precisely

To organize and decide on all the details of something carefully and thoroughly.

To behave in a playful or unserious way; to experiment with something casually.

To engage with something for amusement, to handle something casually, or to consider an idea without serious commitment.

To plan or chart something in detail, marking out each stage or element systematically.

To make one's way through something difficult with great effort, or to crash through an obstacle with force.

To move or work through something with sustained force or effort, often slowly or laboriously

To continue working hard at something difficult or tedious with steady determination

To direct someone's attention to a fact, error, or feature, either verbally or physically

To improve or refine something, or to make it shine by polishing.

To improve a skill or area of knowledge that has grown rusty or needs refinement.

To study or examine something very carefully and attentively for a long time.

to prepare someone by giving them information or coaching

to produce a paper copy from a computer or printer

to show by testing or experience that something works or is true

To communicate an idea, message, or feeling clearly and effectively so that it is understood.

To add someone's name to a list to receive or participate in something, or to commit to contributing a particular amount.

To say that something is caused by or is the result of a particular thing.

To suggest or nominate an idea, plan, or person for consideration by others

To find the answer to something difficult through careful, patient thinking.

To think hard and with some confusion about something that is difficult to understand.

To get through something difficult or confusing by thinking carefully at each step.

To be formally eliminated from a competition, program, or process by failing to meet the required qualifying standard.

To say or produce a series of things quickly, easily, and without hesitation.

To do or say something very quickly, often without much care or attention to detail.

To disentangle or unwind threads, or to clarify and untangle something complex.

To extend your hand toward something in order to take it, or to try to achieve something ambitious.

To apply or transfer information, findings, or principles from one context or domain to another comparable one.

To read text at the same time as someone else is reading it aloud, or to read while listening to an audio version.

To study a subject at university (British English), or to audition for a theatrical role by reading lines.

To read a value, measurement, or piece of data directly from a gauge, screen, or list.

To read something aloud so that others can hear it, typically from a written source.

To read something carefully, usually to check it or to familiarise yourself with its contents.

To read something from beginning to end, usually to check it or understand it fully.

To study a subject by reading about it, especially to prepare for something or to learn more.

To find an answer or solution by thinking logically and carefully through all the steps.

To calculate or work out a sum, amount, or solution, especially by going through the steps carefully.

to consider something carefully or to face and deal with it

to say or produce a long series of things quickly and easily

To mention or speak about something specifically, or to consult a source of information, or to direct someone elsewhere

to think carefully and deeply about something

to think carefully and thoughtfully about something

to formally present findings, recommendations, or results, especially from a group or committee

to be based on, supported by, or depend on something

to cause something to happen or produce a particular result

To produce a quick, unfinished version of a plan, design, or piece of work as a starting point.

To reduce a number to the nearest whole number or convenient figure below it.

To complete or conclude something in a satisfying way, or to reduce a number to the nearest convenient figure.

To make something more complete, balanced, or well-rounded by adding what is missing.

To polish or clean something by rubbing, or informally to revise or refresh one's knowledge of something.

to improve or refresh your knowledge of something by studying it again

to draw a line to divide part of a page or section

To review or practise something from start to finish, to stab someone with a long weapon, or for something to spread rapidly through a group

British regional slang (especially northern England) for playing truant from school or skipping work.

To complete a task, test, or difficult situation very easily and successfully.

A chemistry term: to cause a substance (such as a protein or soap) to separate from a solution by adding salt.

To apply scientific thinking, research, or methodology to something in order to improve or validate it.

To delete a word or passage by drawing a line through it.

To delete text by drawing a line through it from one side to the other.

To just barely succeed in passing an exam, test, or difficult situation.

To cancel or remove written words by drawing lines through them, or to laboriously write or carve something.

To write something quickly and messily, producing hard-to-read handwriting.

To write something in a messy or illegible way.

To hastily produce a written document or message in messy handwriting.

To select or include people or items after an evaluation or screening process.

To exclude people, items, or factors from a group or process through a formal evaluation.

To write something quickly and often untidily

To look up information using a search engine or device

To perceive or understand something deeper, further, or more important than what is immediately obvious

To personally observe or experience something directly, rather than relying on what others say

To try to find or obtain something; a more formal or literary alternative to 'look for'.

To make a deliberate and determined effort to find a specific person or thing.

To take quick advantage of something, such as an idea, opportunity, or piece of information.

To eagerly and quickly take advantage of an idea, opportunity, or piece of information; the more formal variant of 'seize on'.

To identify and remove or exclude specific items, individuals, or data from a larger group based on defined criteria.

To sentence someone to prison; to expel a student from a British university; or to order someone to go to a lower floor or area.

To divide a mixture or group into distinct components, or to identify something as distinct.

To improve, hone, or make something (a skill, plan, or performance) more precise and effective.

To reduce the length of something, such as a garment or a piece of writing

To make something shorter in length, or to reduce the duration of something

To separate or remove something by passing it through a sieve, or figuratively to filter out unwanted elements.

To separate or identify specific elements from a larger quantity through careful examination or filtering.

To examine a large amount of material carefully in order to find something useful or important.

To register for or commit to something such as a course, service, event, or activity.

For information, a fact, or a feeling to be gradually and fully understood or emotionally absorbed.

to pose for an artist or photographer, or to take an examination

to attend something as an observer without being a full participant

to be postponed or carried over to a later time

to stay until the end of something, especially something long or unpleasant

to receive teaching or guidance from a particular person, especially regularly

to succeed or manage with little effort, often only just

to deal with something too quickly and without enough attention

to give a rough plan, outline, or description of something

To acquire new skills or improve existing ones, especially in a professional or educational context.

To read or look through something quickly without paying attention to every detail.

To avoid work or school by staying away without a valid reason; to play truant.

To delay making a decision until the next day, allowing time for more careful thought.

To work hard and persistently at something difficult or tiring over a long period

To fit something or someone into a schedule, structure, or position neatly and efficiently

To work hard and persistently at something, often with great effort and determination

To pass over something quickly and carelessly, treating it so briefly that details are obscured or ignored

To overwhelm someone with so much work, information, or requests that they cannot cope.

To be gradually absorbed into a surface, or to spend time slowly absorbing an experience or environment.

To absorb liquid, energy, or information, or to fully enjoy and take in an experience.

to explain something in a very clear and direct way with no doubt

to spell words aloud one after another, especially in a competition

to say or write the letters of a word, or to explain something very clearly

To encourage or motivate someone to try harder or achieve something

To barely succeed in passing a test, getting through a process, or surviving a difficult situation

To resume an activity, job, or routine after a break or interruption

To resume working on a specific project, task, or habit after a pause

To begin something again from the beginning, especially after a failure or setback

To stabilize and discharge a patient from a medical monitoring status, or to remove a statistical outlier from data

To remain in a place after others have left; to not go with others

To remain in a place, job, or situation longer than planned or after others have left

To move physically backwards, or to pause and reconsider a situation from a wider perspective.

To take on more responsibility, improve your efforts, or come forward to do something when needed.

To continue working on something difficult without giving up.

To press something down so it stays flat and attached to a surface, or to write something down quickly.

To continue doing something difficult or unpleasant until it is finished rather than giving up.

To remain committed to a decision, plan, or rule; or to physically adhere to a surface.

To connect or combine a series of things (especially words, ideas, or events) in a sequence.

To study or research a topic intensively, especially in preparation for something.

To find or discover something by accident, without looking for it.

To discover or encounter something completely by chance.

To give a brief, clear summary of the main points of something.

To discover, understand, or investigate something or someone through careful observation or intuition.

To study a subject intensively, especially before a test or important event

To remove something or someone from a place; to subtract a number; or to carry food home from a restaurant

To remove something from a higher position; to dismantle a structure; to write something down; or to defeat or overpower someone

To absorb, understand, or include something; to provide accommodation; or to be deceived.

Short for 'take under one's wing' — to guide, protect, or mentor someone less experienced.

To begin a new hobby or activity, occupy space or time, shorten a garment, or accept an offer.

To respond rudely or disrespectfully to someone in authority, such as a parent or teacher.

To explain or discuss something in detail, especially to help someone understand or to work out a problem together.

To speak to or have a conversation with someone, or to reprimand someone.

To add a mark or item to an ongoing tally or count.

To calculate or count up the final total of something.

To access or make use of a source of something that was previously untapped or underused.

To continue teaching enthusiastically or persistently, often without pause.

To complete the delivery of a programme or course of study that is being discontinued, allowing current students to finish.

To carefully separate strands, elements, or ideas that are tangled or mixed together.

To extract something — information, meaning, or a detail — slowly and carefully from a complex or tangled source.

To be able to see or identify the differences between two or more very similar things or people.

To try something in order to assess whether it works, is suitable, or is effective.

To direct your thoughts towards something; to consider or reflect on something.

To direct your thoughts to something that happened in the past; to recall or reminisce.

To form your own opinions and make your own decisions independently, without blindly following others.

To have a particular idea, image, or memory come to mind; to consider or regard someone or something.

To consider or reflect on something; also used in the phrase 'think on your feet' meaning to respond quickly and cleverly.

To consider all the details of a plan or problem carefully in order to reach a clear conclusion or solution.

To consider something carefully, usually before making a decision.

To consider all stages, steps, or consequences of something carefully and systematically.

To invent or create something new through thought, especially an idea, plan, or excuse.

To commit to an activity or task with great enthusiasm and energy, giving it all your effort.

To turn the pages of a book, magazine, or document quickly and casually without reading in detail.

To calculate or plan something so that it fits exactly within a specific time period.

To pause activity for a rest or penalty, or for a system to stop due to exceeding its time limit.

To add together a series of numbers or costs to find the final total.

To calculate or add together a set of figures to find the overall sum.

To add up a series of numbers or amounts to reach a total.

To mention or discuss a topic briefly without going into detail.

To mention or discuss a topic briefly and without going into detail, typically in a formal or written context.

to mark, draw, or identify the outline or course of something

to be consistent with, make sense with, or match something else

to teach and prepare someone thoroughly, especially from a young age or for a specific role

To deal with or discuss a particular subject, especially in a book or formal text.

To test something to see how well it works, or to participate in a trial to see if you are good enough for a team or role.

To discover or encounter something by accident; to keep moving or continuing in a disorderly way.

To suddenly understand or realise something, especially after a period of not seeing it.

To type something in full, especially to transcribe or reproduce text by typing every word or character.

To produce a clean, complete typed version of something, usually from handwritten notes or rough information.

The form of 'used to' that appears after auxiliary verbs in questions and negative sentences.

A semi-modal verb used to describe a past habit, situation, or state that no longer exists.

To be very close to a particular state, quality, or condition — almost but not quite reaching it.

To imagine or mentally picture a future scenario or concept in detail.

To get through a large amount of something difficult, tedious, or overwhelming, often slowly and with effort.

To stop sleeping and become conscious; also used figuratively to become aware of a truth or situation.

To guide someone through a process step by step, or to rehearse a performance without full effort.

To identify and remove unwanted, inferior, or unsuitable elements from a larger group.

To compare the importance or value of one thing in relation to another when making a decision.

To carefully consider all the factors involved in a situation before making a decision.

To complete or move through something very quickly and efficiently.

To cover text or an area with white correction fluid, or to describe conditions of blinding white (especially snow or fog).

To reduce a number, list, or quantity gradually until it reaches a smaller, more manageable size.

To become aware of or to understand something, often something that was previously hidden or not immediately obvious.

To become aware of or to understand something; a variant spelling of 'wig on to'.

To become distracted by looking out of a window; to lose focus while staring outside.

To reduce a large group or set by carefully removing the inferior, irrelevant, or unwanted elements.

For the best or most valuable elements to rise to the top through a process of sorting or filtering; to sort in order to elevate the best.

To become aware of the true facts of a situation and stop being naive or foolish.

To become deeply absorbed in technical, policy, or data-heavy details, especially in politics or academia.

To put sustained effort into improving or achieving something.

To reason, calculate, or plan by starting from a known end point and moving back towards the beginning.

To spend time and effort improving, developing, or completing something.

To exercise; to calculate or solve something; or for a plan or situation to succeed or reach a satisfactory conclusion.

To gradually build the courage, ability, or momentum needed to do something demanding.

To record something in writing so you do not forget it, or to reduce the official value of something in accounting.

To produce a full, organized, or finished written account of something, such as a report, review, or article.

To focus sharply on a target or subject, narrowing attention to one specific point

To achieve a state of deep, sharp focus — the opposite of zoning out

To stop paying attention to what is happening around you, drifting into a kind of mental absence

To use a camera or lens to magnify a specific subject, or to examine or focus closely on a particular detail or topic

To reduce magnification on a camera, screen, or map to show a wider area, or figuratively to take a broader view of something