Vocabulary builder: 100 useful words for ages 8 to 12
One word a day, or all 100. Each word has a plain meaning, two example sentences, its word family and a recording.
Quick answer
- What
- 100 words that turn up across subjects: stories, science, history and the news.
- How
- Read the word of the day, say it, use it once in speech and once in writing.
- Next
- Prefixes and suffixes help you work out words you have never met.
Word of the day
All 100 words
abandon verb
to leave something behind for good.
- The sailors had to abandon the sinking boat.
- Never abandon a pet that needs your care.
Word family: abandoned, abandonment
absorb verb
to soak up a liquid, or to take something in.
- A sponge can absorb a lot of water.
- Min tried to absorb every detail of the lesson.
Word family: absorbent, absorption, absorbed
accurate adjective
exactly right, with no mistakes.
- The map was accurate and led us straight to the lake.
- Please give an accurate count of the books.
Word family: accurately, accuracy, inaccurate (in- = not)
adapt verb
to change so that you fit a new situation.
- Polar bears adapt to life in freezing places.
- We had to adapt our plan when it rained.
Word family: adaptation, adaptable, adapted
admire verb
to look at or think about someone or something with respect.
- I admire people who never give up.
- The visitors stopped to admire the view.
Word family: admiration, admirable, admirer
ambitious adjective
having a strong wish to do well or achieve something.
- The ambitious team set out to win every match.
- Zara is ambitious and wants to be an engineer.
Word family: ambition, ambitiously
anxious adjective
worried or uneasy about something.
- Leo felt anxious before the big race.
- The anxious puppy hid under the table.
Word family: anxiety, anxiously
assist verb
to help someone do something.
- Two volunteers will assist the teacher at the fair.
- Can you assist me with this heavy box?
Word family: assistant, assistance
barrier noun
something that blocks the way.
- A fallen tree formed a barrier across the path.
- Fear can be a barrier to trying new things.
Word family: barriers
brilliant adjective
very bright, or very clever.
- The diamond gave off a brilliant light.
- That was a brilliant idea!
Word family: brilliance, brilliantly
capture verb
to catch something or hold it.
- The photographer hoped to capture the sunrise.
- Police managed to capture the runaway pony.
Word family: captured, capturing, captor
cautious adjective
careful to avoid danger.
- The cautious cat crept along the wall.
- Be cautious when you cross a busy road.
Word family: caution, cautiously, incautious
challenge noun
something difficult that tests your skill.
- Climbing the hill was a real challenge for the young walkers.
- Our teacher set us a maths challenge.
Word family: challenging, challenger, challenge (verb)
combine verb
to join two or more things together.
- Combine the flour and the eggs in a large bowl.
- We combine our ideas to make a better plan.
Word family: combination, combined
compare verb
to look at things to see how they are alike or different.
- Compare the two pictures and spot the differences.
- Scientists compare results to check their findings.
Word family: comparison, comparative, comparable
concentrate verb
to give all your attention to one thing.
- Please concentrate on your work.
- It is hard to concentrate when there is noise.
Word family: concentration, concentrated
conclude verb
to end something, or to decide after thinking.
- The speaker will conclude with a short poem.
- We conclude that plants need light to grow.
Word family: conclusion, conclusive, concluding
contrast noun
a clear difference between things.
- There was a sharp contrast between day and night.
- The contrast of hot and cold made her shiver.
Word family: contrast (verb), contrasting
convince verb
to make someone believe something.
- Can you convince Dad to take us to the beach?
- His honest face convinced everyone.
Word family: convincing, convinced
courage noun
the strength to do something that frightens you.
- It took courage to speak in front of the whole school.
- The firefighters showed great courage.
Word family: courageous, courageously, encourage (en- = make)
curious adjective
wanting to find out or to know more.
- The curious owl tilted its head.
- Kofi was curious about how the clock worked.
Word family: curiosity, curiously
debate noun
a discussion in which people give different views.
- The class held a debate about school uniform.
- There was a lively debate in the hall.
Word family: debate (verb), debater
delicate adjective
easily broken or damaged, or very fine.
- The delicate glass cracked at the slightest touch.
- A delicate pattern of frost covered the window.
Word family: delicately, delicacy
demonstrate verb
to show clearly how something works or is true.
- The teacher will demonstrate the experiment.
- Ava used a model to demonstrate the water cycle.
Word family: demonstration, demonstrator
depend verb
to rely on someone or something.
- You can depend on Sam to arrive on time.
- Our picnic will depend on the weather.
Word family: dependable, dependent, independent (in- = not)
detect verb
to notice or find something that is hard to see.
- Dogs can detect smells we cannot.
- The alarm will detect smoke in the room.
Word family: detective, detector, detection
devote verb
to give your time or effort to something.
- Priya will devote an hour a day to piano practice.
- The nurse devoted her life to helping others.
Word family: devotion, devoted
distinct adjective
clearly different, or easy to notice.
- Each bird has its own distinct song.
- There was a distinct smell of toast.
Word family: distinctly, distinction, distinctive
elegant adjective
graceful and stylish.
- The swan glided across the lake in an elegant way.
- She wore an elegant blue coat.
Word family: elegance, elegantly
emerge verb
to come out into view.
- The butterfly will emerge from its chrysalis.
- A small figure began to emerge from the mist.
Word family: emergence, emerging, emergency
encounter verb
to meet or come across something unexpectedly.
- We might encounter deer on the forest path.
- Explorers encounter many dangers on the ice.
Word family: encounter (noun), encountered
endure verb
to put up with something difficult for a long time.
- The walkers had to endure heavy rain all day.
- Hardships are easier to endure with friends.
Word family: endurance, enduring, endured
enormous adjective
extremely large.
- An enormous wave crashed against the cliff.
- The elephant is an enormous animal.
Word family: enormously, enormity
essential adjective
absolutely needed.
- Water is essential for life.
- A torch is essential on a night walk.
Word family: essentially, essentials
evidence noun
facts or signs that show something is true.
- The footprints were evidence that a fox had been there.
- Scientists collect evidence before they decide.
Word family: evident, evidently
exhausted adjective
extremely tired.
- The runners were exhausted after the race.
- Exhausted, the puppy fell asleep on the mat.
Word family: exhaust (verb), exhaustion, exhausting
fascinate verb
to attract and hold your interest.
- Spiders fascinate my little brother.
- Ancient coins fascinate Leo.
Word family: fascinating, fascinated, fascination
fragile adjective
easily broken.
- The fragile vase sat on the top shelf.
- A spider's web is fragile but strong.
Word family: fragility
generous adjective
happy to give or share.
- A generous neighbour gave us a basket of apples.
- Thiri was generous with her time.
Word family: generosity, generously
glimpse noun
a quick, short look.
- I caught a glimpse of a kingfisher by the stream.
- She got a glimpse of the stage before the curtain closed.
Word family: glimpse (verb), glimpsed
gradual adjective
happening slowly, a little at a time.
- There was a gradual change in the weather.
- The path made a gradual climb up the hill.
Word family: gradually
hesitate verb
to pause before doing something because you are unsure.
- Do not hesitate to ask if you need help.
- Kofi did not hesitate before jumping in.
Word family: hesitant, hesitation, hesitantly
horizon noun
the line where the earth and sky seem to meet.
- A ship appeared on the horizon.
- The sun sank below the horizon.
Word family: horizontal
humble adjective
not proud, not thinking you are better than others.
- The humble winner thanked everyone who helped.
- They lived in a humble cottage by the sea.
Word family: humbly, humility
ignore verb
to take no notice of something.
- Please do not ignore the warning sign.
- The cat chose to ignore the dog.
Word family: ignorance, ignorant, ignored
illustrate verb
to explain with pictures or examples.
- Min will illustrate the story with watercolours.
- Use an example to illustrate your point.
Word family: illustration, illustrator
immense adjective
extremely large or great.
- The cave was of immense size.
- The team felt immense pride.
Word family: immensely, immensity
inspire verb
to give someone the wish to do something.
- A great teacher can inspire a whole class.
- The old stories inspire many young writers.
Word family: inspiration, inspiring, inspired
investigate verb
to look into something carefully to find out the facts.
- Detectives will investigate the missing key.
- We went to investigate the noise in the shed.
Word family: investigation, investigator
isolate verb
to keep something apart from others.
- Vets isolate sick animals to stop the illness spreading.
- A storm isolated the island for three days.
Word family: isolation, isolated
jealous adjective
unhappy because you want what someone else has.
- Sam felt jealous of his sister's new bike.
- The jealous cat glared at the new kitten.
Word family: jealousy, jealously
locate verb
to find the place where something is.
- Can you locate our school on the map?
- Rescuers worked to locate the lost hikers.
Word family: location, located
maintain verb
to keep something in good condition or going.
- The caretaker maintains the school grounds.
- We must maintain a steady speed to win.
Word family: maintenance, maintained
massive adjective
very big and heavy.
- A massive boulder blocked the road.
- The ship was massive compared to the tugboat.
Word family: massively, mass
merchant noun
a person who buys and sells goods.
- The merchant sold silk at the market.
- A merchant ship sailed into the harbour.
Word family: merchandise
migrate verb
to travel to another place for the season.
- Swallows migrate south for the winter.
- Many whales migrate thousands of miles each year.
Word family: migration, migrant
miserable adjective
very unhappy, or unpleasant.
- It was a cold, miserable day.
- Ava felt miserable when her team lost.
Word family: misery, miserably
monitor verb
to watch and check something over time.
- Nurses monitor how the patient is breathing.
- We monitor the temperature each morning.
Word family: monitor (noun), monitoring
mysterious adjective
strange and hard to explain.
- A mysterious light blinked in the woods.
- The parcel arrived with no name on it, which was mysterious.
Word family: mystery, mysteriously
neglect verb
to fail to look after something.
- Do not neglect your homework.
- The garden looked neglected after the long winter.
Word family: neglected, neglectful
observe verb
to watch carefully, or to notice.
- We will observe the frogspawn each week.
- Observe how the water changes colour.
Word family: observation, observer, observant
obtain verb
to get something.
- You can obtain a library card from the desk.
- Scientists obtain results by repeating tests.
Word family: obtainable, obtained
obvious adjective
easy to see or understand.
- The answer was obvious to everyone.
- There was an obvious gap in the fence.
Word family: obviously
ominous adjective
suggesting that something bad is about to happen.
- Dark, ominous clouds filled the sky.
- An ominous silence fell over the room.
Word family: ominously, omen
persist verb
to keep going even when it is difficult.
- If you persist, you will master the tune.
- The rain persisted all afternoon.
Word family: persistent, persistence, persistently
pursue verb
to chase, or to follow a goal.
- The dog began to pursue the squirrel.
- Thiri hopes to pursue a career in music.
Word family: pursuit, pursuer
reluctant adjective
not wanting to do something.
- Leo was reluctant to leave the party.
- The reluctant swimmer dipped in a toe.
Word family: reluctance, reluctantly
resemble verb
to look like or be similar to.
- You resemble your grandmother.
- The cloud seemed to resemble a dragon.
Word family: resemblance, resembling
reveal verb
to show something that was hidden.
- The magician will reveal the secret.
- The torch beam began to reveal a narrow tunnel.
Word family: revealed, revelation
reliable adjective
able to be trusted.
- Ruth is a reliable friend who always turns up.
- We need a reliable map for the trek.
Word family: rely, reliability, reliably
scatter verb
to throw or spread things over a wide area.
- Scatter the seeds across the soil.
- The pigeons scatter when children run.
Word family: scattered
scarce adjective
hard to find because there is very little.
- Food became scarce in the winter.
- Fresh water is scarce in the desert.
Word family: scarcity, scarcely
sensible adjective
showing good sense.
- It is sensible to wear a helmet on a bike.
- Kofi made a sensible choice.
Word family: sensibly, sense
shelter noun
a place that keeps you safe from weather or danger.
- We built a shelter from branches and leaves.
- The bus stop gave us shelter from the rain.
Word family: shelter (verb), sheltered
significant adjective
important or large enough to matter.
- There was a significant rise in temperature.
- It was a significant day for the whole town.
Word family: significance, significantly, signify
stumble verb
to trip or nearly fall.
- Take care not to stumble on the loose stones.
- Kofi began to stumble over the words.
Word family: stumbled, stumbling
suspect verb
to think that something is true, without proof.
- I suspect it will rain this afternoon.
- The detective began to suspect the gardener.
Word family: suspicion, suspicious, suspect (noun)
swift adjective
quick.
- The swift runner raced past the others.
- A swift reply arrived by the next post.
Word family: swiftly, swiftness
sturdy adjective
strong and well built.
- The sturdy table held all the books.
- She wore sturdy boots for the walk.
Word family: sturdily, sturdiness
tangle noun
a messy twist of things.
- The kitten made a tangle of the wool.
- A tangle of weeds covered the gate.
Word family: tangle (verb), tangled
transform verb
to change completely.
- A caterpillar will transform into a butterfly.
- The artist could transform a plain wall into a jungle.
Word family: transformation, transformed, transformer
tremble verb
to shake slightly, from fear, cold or excitement.
- The little boy began to tremble in the dark.
- Leaves tremble in the breeze.
Word family: trembling, trembled
triumph noun
a great success or win.
- The cup final was a triumph for the school team.
- They cheered in triumph as the flag rose.
Word family: triumphant, triumphantly
urgent adjective
needing action straight away.
- An urgent message came from the captain.
- It is urgent that we call a doctor.
Word family: urgency, urgently
vanish verb
to disappear suddenly.
- The magician made the coin vanish.
- Mist began to vanish as the sun rose.
Word family: vanished
vast adjective
extremely wide or large.
- A vast desert stretched in every direction.
- The library held a vast number of books.
Word family: vastly, vastness
vibrant adjective
full of bright colour or energy.
- The market was vibrant with colour and sound.
- She painted a vibrant picture of the harbour.
Word family: vibrantly, vibrancy
victory noun
winning a battle, race or game.
- The whole village celebrated the victory.
- A last-minute goal secured victory for the team.
Word family: victorious, victor
vivid adjective
very bright, or very clear in the mind.
- She wore a vivid red scarf.
- He had a vivid memory of the first day at school.
Word family: vividly, vividness
wander verb
to walk around without a clear aim.
- We like to wander along the beach after tea.
- The sheep wander across the hills.
Word family: wanderer, wandering
weary adjective
very tired.
- The weary walkers sat down to rest.
- He gave a weary sigh after the long day.
Word family: wearily, weariness
wisdom noun
good sense gained from knowing and learning.
- The old teacher shared her wisdom with the class.
- It takes wisdom to know when to stop.
Word family: wise, wisely
witness noun
a person who sees something happen.
- A witness saw the whole accident.
- The witness told the police what she had seen.
Word family: witness (verb), witnessed
yearn verb
to want something very much.
- The caged bird seemed to yearn for the open sky.
- She began to yearn for home.
Word family: yearning, yearned
eager adjective
very keen to do something.
- The eager pupils lined up at the door.
- Priya was eager to start the project.
Word family: eagerly, eagerness
flourish verb
to grow well and do well.
- Plants flourish in warm, damp places.
- The new shop began to flourish.
Word family: flourishing, flourished
fortunate adjective
lucky.
- We were fortunate to find a dry spot.
- It was fortunate that nobody was hurt.
Word family: fortune, fortunately, unfortunate (un- = not)
gloomy adjective
dark and sad, or without hope.
- The gloomy cave was cold and damp.
- He felt gloomy as the rain went on.
Word family: gloom, gloomily
glance verb
to take a quick look.
- Glance at the clock to check the time.
- She did not even glance at the screen.
Word family: glance (noun), glanced
hazard noun
something that may cause harm.
- Wet floors are a hazard in the corridor.
- Ice on the path is a hazard to walkers.
Word family: hazardous
Meaning quiz
Ten questions, one from every ten words. Choose the best meaning.
Questions
How do I make the words stick?
Meet a word in three places: read it, say it, and use it yourself in a sentence that matters to you. Come back to it after a few days.
What is a tier 2 word?
A word that is common in writing and discussion across many subjects, but less common in everyday talk. Examples are adapt, evidence and reluctant. They are the words that make reading and writing richer.
Do the word families show every form?
No, only the main forms. A dictionary shows the rest.
Related
Spelling lists and grammar terminology: Department for Education, National curriculum in England: English programmes of study, Appendices 1 and 2 (Crown copyright 2013), reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example sentences, tips, explanations and questions are by Litlings.