DIMINISH
/dɪˈmɪn.ɪʃ/

1. Fresh snow meant that our chances of reaching the summit slowly diminished.
Rising unemployment has diminished the bargaining power of people with jobs.
2. These memories will not be diminished by time.

TRICKLE
/ˈtrɪk(ə)l/
1. Slowly, she raised her face to Bran, covered with shallow cuts trickling blood.
2. The life slowly trickled away from Kira as her vision began to darken.
As the clock struck half past five the crowd was slowly trickling in.

AMPLIFY
/ˈæm.plɪ.faɪ/
It is like a mirror, reflecting the society's ills and triumphs and often amplifying them, like a lens.
Admitting his crime only amplified the public's negative view of him.
Adding salt to water amplifies its ability to conduct electricity.

RATTLLE
/ˈrat(ə)l/

The opposition may make negative personal comments to rattle you.
The dog gets rattled by the fireworks so we keep him inside at festival times.

SNOOP
/snuːp/

I caught him snooping around my office.
Reporters are snooping on celebrities.
Bob caught her snooping through the papers on his desk.

URGE
/ɜːdʒ/

Lawyers will urge the parents to take further legal action.
Investigators urged that safety procedures at the site should be improved.
The president urged other countries to lift the trade restrictions.

CHASTISE
/tʃæsˈtaɪz/

For instance, they don't hesitate to chastise a colleague, even if he is a personal friend, for incompetent work.
He publicly chastised Democrats who supported continued funding for the war.

DEPICT
/dɪˈpɪkt/
1. The exhibition showed a number of paintings, depicting a wide spectrum of society.
The paintings depict scenes from Hindu mythology and the colours would never fade.
2. Since the eighteenth century, the depressed person had been depicted as attention-seeking.
Canadians are no longer depicted as being any one cultural background, race or heritage.

HAMPER
/ˈhampə/

Lack of electricity is hampering development in a key industrial city of Zhejiang province, a party chief said yesterday.
Scottish police officers are also hampered by restrictions on their powers of arrest.

BAR

He was barred from entering the mainland in April 2001 but was recently informed that the ban had been lifted.
The professions remained barred to women, but a few succeeded in practising as doctors.

RAILROAD
/ˈreɪlrəʊd/

The developing countries worried they would be railroaded into a last-minute deal.
She hesitated, unwilling to be railroaded into a decision.

LURK
/ləːk/

1.The killer could have been lurking in the shadows, watching them.
Men were lurking around here, waiting for a cute lady to walk by.

2. 'What an appetite you have,’ my sister said with acidity lurking beneath her fake sweetness.
Even in the glory days of Hollywood, there was always scandal lurking just beneath the surface.

HYPOTHESIZE
/haɪˈpɒθəsaɪz/

There are particular problems that arise when hypothesizing about the origins of the universe.
The causes can be hypothesized but not proved.

CONVENE
/kənˈviːn/

He had convened a secret meeting of military personnel.
The committee had convened for its final plenary session.

CONTRADICT
/ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkt/

1. All evening her husband contradicted everything she said.
The results contradict claims that advertising is unrelated to children's habits.
2. The two stories contradicted each other.
The revision of events was contradicted by eye-witness reports.

DEVISE
/dɪˈvaɪz/

He's good at devising language games that you can play with students in class.
The umbrella was ingeniously devised to fold up into your pocket.

EXCEL
/ɪkˈsel/

1. Rebecca always excelled in languages at school.
He not only excels in physical activities but in the academic sphere as well.

2. The British team have excelled themselves this year to reach the finals.

SCOOP
/skuːp/

1. The winner, after all other contestants have been eliminated, will scoop a 50000 prize.

2. Unknown Director scoops international film festival award.

GUT
/ɡʌt/

1. The hotel was completely gutted by fire last year.

2. To have won the European title six times and not to be able to defend it this year is gutting.
I was gutted to find out that I hadn't passed the exam. I studied so hard!

EMIT
/ɪˈmɪt/

Even the best cars emit carbon dioxide.
When something is hot, it emits electromagnetic radiation.
The alarm emits infrared rays which are used to detect any intruder.

AFFLICT
/əˈflɪkt/

1. When we are afflicted with such illnesses, we expect to recover quickly and fully.

2. (as plural noun) the afflicted

REVERT
/rɪˈvəːt/
The Swan Hotel in Gargrave was to revert to its former name, the Old Swan Inn.’
If you don't like the new ideas, you are free to revert to your former habits.

SURPASS
/səˈpɑːs/

1. The quarterly sales figures have surpassed everyone's expectations.

2. He continued to surpass me at all games.

COMPRISE
/kəmˈpraɪz/

The new board will comprise twelve members, including four worker directors.
The 25-member team mostly comprises students in their early twenties.

CONCUR
/kənˈkɜːr/

The new report concurs with previous findings.
"I think you're absolutely right," concurred Chris.

COMPEL
/kəmˈpel/

As a schoolboy he was compelled to wear shorts even in winter.
(formal) The new circumstances compelled a change in policy.

CONSTITUTE
/ˈkɒn.stɪ.tʃuːt/

Since the partition of the country, Muslims constitute only 11 percent of the population.
Her refusal to sell the house constituted a major blow to our plans.

PROMPT
/prɒmpt/

What prompted you to say that?
I don't know what prompted him to leave.

OVERLOOK
/ˌəʊ.vəˈlʊk/
1, I think there is one key fact that you have overlooked.
No one will be overlooked when we select players for the team.
2. I'm prepared to overlook his behaviour this time.
We’ll overlook your absence this time, but don’t let it happen again.

SPUTTER
/ˈspʌt.ər/

1. The car sputtered once or twice and then stopped.
2. They made their way back to the door, the fire hissing and sputtering all around them.

ACQUIT
/əˈkwɪt/

She was acquitted of all the charges against her.
Two members of the group were acquitted for lack of evidence.

ADJOURN
/əˈdʒɜːn/
1. The meeting was adjourned until Tuesday.
Shall we adjourn for lunch?

2. The district judge adjourned the case for 16 weeks to allow time for experts to give evidence.

RECLINE
/rɪˈklaɪn/

She was reclining elegantly on the sofa.
He reclined his head against/on my shoulder.

RECREATE
/ˌriː.kriˈeɪt/

They plan to recreate a typical English village in Japan.
Their work involves restoring and recreating wildlife habitats all across the country.

PURSUE
/pəˈsjuː/

1. A heavily indebted businessman was being pursued by creditors.

2. He decided to pursue a career in television.
We need to decide soon what marketing strategy we should pursue for these new products.

CONTEND
/kənˈtend/

Some astronomers contend that the universe may be younger than previously thought.
Five months later, the government suspended work, contending the project was too expensive.

COIN
/kɔɪn/

I'd like to recommend The Word Spy, a fascinating website that collects recently coined words and phrases from the media.
The New York Times has coined a new word - gastronauts - in reference to people who plan their vacations around food.

DISPARAGE
/dɪˈspær·ɪdʒ/

He disparages his business competitors, saying they are all a bunch of amateurs compared to him.

PERSIST
/pəˈsɪst/
1. If the pain persists, consult a doctor.
The cold weather is set to persist throughout the week.
2. If he persists in asking awkward questions, then send him to the boss.
The government is persisting with its ambitious public works programme.

DIFFUSE

1, Television is a powerful means of diffusing knowledge.

2, The drop of red dye diffused slowly in the water.

HASTEN
/ˈheɪ.sən/
1. These recent poor results have hastened the manager's departure.
2. The president hastened to reassure his people that he was in perfect health.
3. It was an unfortunate decision and I hasten to say it had nothing to do with me.
"People around here dress so badly - except you, Justin," she hastened to add.

DEEM
/diːm/

This survey is deemed to be a reliable barometer of public opinion.
It is deemed bad manners in some cultures to speak with your mouth full of food.

GAUGE
/ɡeɪdʒ/

1. Use a thermometer to gauge the temperature.

2. A poll was conducted to gauge consumers' attitudes.
It's difficult to gauge how they'll react.

ENFORCE
/ɪnˈfɔːs/

The new teacher had failed to enforce any sort of discipline.
Regulations do not mean anything unless they are enforced.

EXERT
/ɪɡˈzɜːt/

If you were to exert your influence they might change their decision.
Some managers exert considerable pressure on their staff to work extra hours without being paid.

CARPOOL
/ˈkɑːˌpuːl/

The campaign asks drivers to voluntarily carpool or use the bus on high pollution days.
Ron's father carpooled to work each day to a chemical plant an hour away.

MUDDLE
/ˈmʌdl/

1. The twins are so alike that it’s easy to muddle them up.
Spanish and Italian are very similar and I sometimes get them muddled up.
2. Don’t muddle her with all the extra details at the moment.
3. Someone’s muddled up all the papers on my desk.

ASSESS
/əˈses/
The insurers will need to assess the flood damage.
Exams are not the only means of assessing a student's ability.
We need to assess whether the project is worth doing.

EVALUATE
/ɪˈvæl.ju.eɪt/

The market situation is difficult to evaluate.
He was still too surprised to be able to evaluate the situation logically.

COUNTER
/ˈkaʊntə/

Congestion could be countered by persuading more drivers to get on their bikes.
'But Peter, it's not that simple,' Goldstone countered in a firm voice.