ESL Vocabulary B2: Wordlist (English Upper Intermediate)

age group

people of a particular age

all sorts of things

many different things

and all that

and everything related to the subject mentioned

and so forth

together with other similar things

and so on

together with other similar things

and stuff

and other things, which may or may not be similar or related

and things

and other things of a similar type

and what have you

and other similar things

and whatnot

and other things of a similar type

assess

to make a judgment about the quality, size, value, etc of something

badge

a piece of plastic, metal, etc with words or pictures on it that you wear on your clothes for decoration

balance

when the weight of someone or something is spread in such a way that they do not fall over

base

the most important part of something, from which other things can develop

birth certificate

an official document that records when and where a person was born

broad

including a wide range of things

build up

to increase or develop, or to make something increase or develop

check-out

the place in a large shop, especially a food shop, where you pay for your goods

communicator

someone who is able to tell people about their ideas and emotions in a way that other people understand

compromise

to agree to something that is not exactly what you want

concentrate on

to direct your attention or efforts towards a particular activity or subject

consistently

without changing or stopping

convinced

completely certain about something

cut-off

a fixed point or level at which you stop including people or things

delegate

to give someone else part of your work or some of your responsibilities

diplomat

someone whose job is to live in another country and to keep a good relationship between their government and that country's government

effective

successful or achieving the result that you want

elite

belonging to the richest, most powerful, best educated or most skilful group in a society

endurance

the ability to keep doing something difficult, unpleasant, or painful for a long time

enthusiasm

when you feel very interested in something and would very much like to be involved in it

et cetera

used at the end of a list to show that other things or people could also be added to it; often abbreviated as etc

examine

to look at someone or something very carefully, especially to try to discover something

eyesight

the ability to see

feebly

in a way that is unskilful or ineffective

feedback

an opinion from someone about something that you have done or made

fit

healthy, especially because you exercise regularly

focused

giving a lot of attention to one particular thing

follow

to understand something

follow

to be interested in an event or activity

for instance

for example

genuine

If something is genuine, it is really what it seems to be.

get

to obtain or buy something

ginger

a pale brown root with a strong taste used as a spice in cooking

gist

the most important pieces of information about something, or general information without details

goal

something you want to do successfully in the future

good

suitable or satisfactory

good at

able to do something well

good with

able to deal with something or someone well

guitarist

someone who plays the guitar, especially as their job

hijack

to take control of an aircraft during a journey, especially using violence

hook up with (sb)

to get together with someone in order to do something

imagination

the ability to create ideas or pictures in your mind

immediate

happening or done without waiting or very soon after something else

in particular

especially

intermediate

between the highest and lowest levels of knowledge or skill

internally

inside a person, object, organisation, place or country

junior

low or lower in rank

justice

behaviour or treatment that is fair and morally correct

lack

to not have something, or not have enough of something

league

a group of teams which compete against each other in a sport

limitation

a rule or situation that limits something

listener

someone who listens

logical

using reason

majority

more than half of a group of people or things

make sense

to have a meaning or reason that you can understand

manage

to be in control of an office, shop, team, etc

mental

relating to the mind, or involving the process of thinking

modest

If you are modest, you do not talk in a proud way about your skills or successes.

multi-task

to do several activities at the same time

natural

Something that is natural exists or happens because of nature, not because it was made or done by people.

not think much of

to not think someone or something is good or important

obvious

easy to understand or see

overrated

If something is overrated, it is considered to be better or more important than it really is.

persuasive

able to make people agree to do something

physically

in a way that relates to the body

piñata

a container that is filled with sweets or small presents and is hit with sticks until it breaks, used at celebrations

possess

to have or own something

practice

when you repeat an activity to improve your ability

precious

behaving in a very formal and unnatural way by giving too much attention to details that are not important and trying too hard to be perfect.

psychology

the study of the human mind and feelings

pursuit

an activity that you spend time doing, often when you are not working

put in

to fix a large piece of equipment or system into a room or building, ready to be used

reflex

a physical reaction that you cannot control

relevant

related or useful to what is happening or being talked about

riddle

a situation or event that you cannot understand

scenery

the attractive, natural things that you see in the countryside

scholar

someone who has studied a subject and knows a lot about it

self-discipline

the ability to make yourself do things that you do not want to do

self-esteem

confidence in yourself and a belief in your qualities and abilities

sensitive

able to understand what people are feeling and deal with them in a way that does not upset them

set

to establish or cause to exist

simplistic

making something complicated seem simple by ignoring many of the details

sketch

to draw a rough picture

strong

If a taste, smell, etc is strong, it is very noticeable.

talent

a natural ability to do something

talented

with talent; able or skilful

tendency

something that someone often does, or something that often happens

that kind of thing

similar objects

the whole picture

a complete description of a situation, including every aspect of it

therefore

for that reason

thingummy

used when you are talking about something whose name you cannot remember