Topic vocabulary: Preference |
| addiction (n) |
a strong need that someone feels to regularly take an illegal or harmful drug |
I developed an addiction to the medicine my doctor had prescribed for me. |
| adore (v) |
to love someone/something very much |
I absolutely adore Indian food. |
| anticipation (n) |
a feeling of excitement about something enjoyable that is going to happen soon |
I waited in anticipation for the show to begin. |
| appeal (v) |
to ask people to do something or to behave in a particular way, especially in a difficult situation |
The Minister has appealed for people not to panic. |
| appeal (v) |
if something appeals to you, you like it or want it |
A holiday in Ireland doesn't really appeal to me. |
| appeal (n) |
a quality that something has that makes people like it or want it |
It's difficult to explain the appeal of this book. |
| appeal (n) |
a request for people to do something or to behave in a particular way |
Police have made an appeal for witnesses to come forward. |
| arbitrary (adj) |
not based on any particular plan or done for any particular reason |
The choice of date for the wedding was just arbitrary. |
| aspiration (n) |
something that you want to achieve, or the wish to achieve something |
One of my aspirations is to travel the world. |
| bear (v) |
if you cannot bear something, you cannot accept or do it because it makes you very unhappy |
I can't bear waiting in queues. |
| compulsory (adj) |
something that is compulsory must be done because of a rule or law |
This course is compulsory for all students. |
| content (adj) |
happy and satisfied with your life |
I'm quite content working here. |
| craving (n) |
a very strong feeling of wanting something |
I had a sudden craving for chocolate ice cream. |
| decline (v) |
to say politely that you will not accept something or do something |
The Prime Minister declined to answer questions. |
| decline (v) |
to become less or worse |
The service in this hotel has really declined over the last couple of years. |
| dedicated (adj) |
spending all your time and effort on something |
Kelly's very dedicated to herjob and should go far. |
| delight (v) |
to give someone a lot of enjoyment or pleasure |
I was delighted by the decision. |
| desire (v) |
to want something |
It's quite common for people to desire what they can't have. |
| desire (n) |
a strong feeling of wanting to have or do something |
She had a strong desire to work in the media. |
| devote (v) |
to spend a lot of time or effort doing something |
Gordon's absolutely devoted to his kids. |
| devote (v) |
to use something such as money for a particular purpose |
The government has devoted £10 million to the project. |
| differentiate (v) |
to see or show a difference between things |
I'm colour blind so I have problems differentiating between red and green. |
| envy (v) |
to have the unhappy feeling of wanting to be like someone else or have what they have |
Carla's brother envied her success and wealth. |
| envy (n) |
the unhappy feeling you have when you want very much to do something that someone else does or have something that they have |
Envy can destroy a relationship. |
| fancy (v) |
to want to have or do something |
Where do you fancy going tonight? |
| fascination (n) |
the state of being very interested in something or attracted by something |
Carol's always had a fascination with insects. |
| favour (v) |
to support an idea and believe that it is better than other ideas that have been suggested |
I favour the first suggestion. |
| favour (v) |
to help someone and give them an advantage in an unfair way |
It's not fair to favour one student over another. |
| favour (n) |
something that you do for someone in order to help them |
I don't suppose you could do me a favour, could you? |
| greedy (adj) |
wanting more money, things or power than you need |
Maybe being sick will teach you not to be so greedy next time. |
| impulse (n) |
a sudden strong feeling that you must do something |
I couldn't resist the impulse to kiss her. |
| inclined (adj) |
feeling that you want to do something |
I am inclined to agree with you. |
| liking (n) |
a feeling of enjoying or liking something |
I developed a liking for Chinese food when I lived there. |
| mediocre (adj) |
average or below average in quality |
The restaurant was quite expensive, and the food was only mediocre. |
| motive (n) |
the reason you do something |
What was the murderer's motive? |
| mundane (adj) |
ordinary and not interesting or exciting, especially because it happens too regularly |
I'm thinking of changing jobs because working in the office has become quite mundane. |
| obsessed (adj) |
considering someone or something as so important that you are always thinking about them, in a way that seems extreme to other people |
Oliver is totally obsessed with football. |
| optional (adj) |
something that is optional is available or possible if you want it, but you do not have to have it or do it |
The sunroof is optional on this car, so you have to pay extra. |
| passion (n) |
a strong enthusiasm or interest |
Alice had a passion for cooking. |
| praise (v) |
to express strong approval or admiration for someone or something, especially in public |
I felt proud when the teacher praised my work. |
| praise (n) |
an expression of strong approval or admiration |
Praise usually works far better than criticism. |
| resolve (v) |
to make a formal decision, usually after a discussion and a vote at a meeting |
The company resolved to appoint a new managing director. |
| sacrifice (v) |
to give up something important or valuable so that you or other people can do or have something else |
We've had to sacrifice a lot to put our children through private school. |
| sacrifice (n) |
the act of giving up something important or valuable so that you or other people can do or have something else |
We all have to make sacrifices now that both your mother and I are out of work. |
| strive (v) |
to make a lot of effort to achieve something |
You won't achieve your goals unless you strive towards them. |
| taste (n) |
the ability to judge if something is good or bad in things like art, fashion and social behaviour |
Michael really has no taste in clothes. |
| tempting (adj) |
used for describing something that makes you feel you would like to have it or do it |
It's very tempting to blame the government for everything that goes wrong. |
| urge (v) |
to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take |
I would urge you to speak to a lawyer. |
| urge (n) |
a strong feeling of wanting or needing to do something |
I suddenly felt an urge to run from the room. |
| welcome (v) |
to say that you are pleased to accept or consider something such as an opportunity or a question |
We we/come the government's proposals. |
| welcome (adj) |
if you are welcome or a welcome visitor at a place, people are pleased that you are there |
We were made to feel very welcome. |
| worthwhile (adj) |
if something is worthwhile, it is worth the time, money or effort that you spend on it |
Why don't you watch less TV and do something more worthwhile with your time? |
| yearn (v) |
to want something a lot, especially something that you know you may not be able to have |
Many people yearn to retire to the country, but not everyone manages it. |
