English Homophones and Vocabulary: Definitions and Usage

passed

The past tense of 'pass,' meaning to move by or succeed.

past

Referring to a time before now.

aisle

A passage between rows.

isle

A small island.

altar

A sacred platform or place for religious ceremonies.

alter

To change or modify.

brake

A device to stop a vehicle.

break

To separate into pieces or interrupt.

council

A group that governs or advises.

counsel

Advice or to give advice.

descent

A downward movement.

dissent

Disagreement or opposition.

decent

Acceptable or okay; satisfactory.

dessert

The sweet course at the end of a meal.

desert

To abandon or a dry, sandy area.

eminent

Famous or respected.

imminent

About to happen.

medal

A flat disk awarded as a prize.

meddle

To interfere.

metal

A hard, shiny substance.

mettle

Courage or spirit.

pare

To trim, cut back, shorten.

pair

A set of two; arrange two things.

pedal

A lever pressed by the foot.

petal

A part of a flower.

peddle

To sell goods.

rain

Water falling from the sky.

reign

To rule as a monarch.

rein

A strap to control a horse; to guide or control.

sight

Something seen or a view.

site

A location or place.

cite

To quote or mention as a source.

conscience

The sense of right and wrong.

conscious

Awake or aware.

wear

To put on an item; to erode or lessen over time.

ware

Products or goods that are manufactured or traded.

where

Place or location.

farther

Refers to a greater distance.

further

'To a greater degree or extent' or additional.

fewer

With objects that can be counted.

less

With qualities or quantities that cannot be counted.

among

'Among' implies three or more.

between

'Between' is used for two.

all ready

Completely prepared.

already

'So soon' or 'by/before this time.'

affect

To influence.

effect

A result.

all together

Together as a single group/collectively.

altogether

Completely or entirely.

duel

A conflict between two entities.

dual

Having two parts.

allusion

A reference to something well-known.

illusion

A deceptive appearance or impression.

loose

Something that is not tight or held together.

lose

To misplace something.

through

Moving in one side and out the other; finished.

threw

Past tense of throw.

thorough

Complete and detailed.

a part

A piece of or involved in something.

apart

Separated by distance or time.

its

Possessive form of it.

it's

Can only be used when it is expanded to it is or it has.

well

Adverb; done in a pleasing/acceptable way; healthy.

good

Pleasing or acceptable quality.

whose

Possessive form of who.

who's

Only can be used when expanded to who is or who has.

who

Subject of a sentence or clause.

whom

Object of a verb/preposition.

stationary

Still.

stationery

A person uses to write notes, letters, cards.

respectfully

Full of respect or admiration.

respectively

In order given.

course

Path, academic class, part of a meal, to move along.

coarse

Vulgar, low quality, rough, lacking refinement.

illicit

Illegal.

elicit

Draw out, to give rise, to evoke.

i couldn't care less

Don't care about something at all.

your

Possession.

you're

You are.

pier

Built over a body of water.

peer

Same status or rank, looking at something.