|
Reverse Search
Reverse Search allows you to search within the full text of dictionary entries for words, word parts, and phrases.
Search for entries that contain:
Exact matches of any of the individual words entered in the search box.
Example: Searching for "apple orange" identifies all entries that contain the word "apple" or the word "orange."
Any form of any of the individual words entered in the search box.
Example: Searching for "apple orange" identifies all entries that contain the word "apple" or "apples" or "orange" or "oranges."
Exact matches of all of the individual words entered in the search box.
Example: Searching for "apple orange" identifies all entries that contain the word "apple" and the word "orange."
The exact sequence of words and/or characters entered in the search box (for example, a fragment of a word, a single word, multiple words, or even a phrase containing punctuation)
Example: Searching for "a variety of apple" identifies all entries that contain that phrase. Searching for "app" identifies all entries that contain the letters "app," such as occurrences of "apple," "application," and "apply."
Search within these fields:
Optional:
Limit by part of speech:
abandon |
If you abandon something that you have, you go away from it without any plan to return to get it. If someone abandons an animal or another person, they leave them and don't plan to ever come back. [1/3 definitions] |
above |
When you are above something, it means you will not do it because you think it is bad or stupid and it's something that good people or grown-up people don't do. [1/4 definitions] |
abrupt |
When a person speaks in an abrupt manner, they speak with very few words, but they don't seem as if they are shy. They seem unfriendly or even rude. [1/2 definitions] |
accept |
When people accept something, they might not like it but they don't fight against it, or they stop fighting against it. They feel they don't have a choice, so they say to themselves, "Okay, that's just the way it is and I will have to live with it." [1/5 definitions] |
acceptance |
If there is acceptance of something, people approve of it, or at least they don't fight against it. If there is acceptance of a person or group, people welcome them or are not against allowing them to join their group. [1/2 definitions] |
accidentally |
If you do something accidentally, you don't mean to do it. You don't plan it or wish for it to happen. It just happens. |
accompany |
If somebody accompanies you somewhere, they go along with you. You don't go alone. If one thing accompanies another thing, it comes with it. [1/3 definitions] |
account |
If you have an account at a bank, it means that you can keep your money there. You can put more money into your account or take money out of your account when you need it. The bank sends a letter by mail each month to tell you how much money you have in your account. Some people don't get a letter but see their account on their computers. [1/5 definitions] |
accurate |
When you are accurate, you don't make any mistakes because you are very careful. [1/2 definitions] |
adequate |
If something is adequate, it is enough. If there is adequate food in the refrigerator, there is enough food. Nobody has to buy more food. If crops get adequate rain, they get enough rain. They don't need more rain than they get. [1/2 definitions] |
admire |
When you admire something, you look at it and think it is a great thing. Usually, we admire something that we don't have ourselves. Maybe we wish we could have it, or we just think it is something very good. [1/2 definitions] |
admit |
When you admit something, you tell the truth about it even if you don't really want to. [1/2 definitions] |
a few |
If you have a few friends, you don't have a lot of friends, but you have a small number of friends. If you have a few friends, you are probably pretty happy. If you have FEW friends, though, you might be sad. There is a big difference between "a few" and just "few." "A few" gives a positive feeling, and "few" gives a negative feeling, even though both of them mean "a small number." |
against |
When you go against something, you don't along with it, or you go in the opposite direction that it is going. If you walk against the wind, it means that you walk so that the wind is blowing in your face. If you play a game and go against the rules, it means that you don't play the way the rules tell you to play. [1/4 definitions] |
agency |
An agency is a company or group that helps people do things, especially things that can be difficult to do just by themselves. Agencies do things like help people find a job or help people find an apartment or buy a house. Some agencies help companies find employees to work for them. Some agencies do a special kind of work that customers don't have the skill to do themselves. [1/2 definitions] |
alga |
"Alga" is the singular form of the word "algae." Algae are living things that live mainly in water and make their food by using light from the sun. Algae are similar to plants, but they are not usually considered to be plants because they are different in some ways. For example, algae don't have roots and leaves like plants do. Most forms of algae are very helpful for animals and people. Seaweed is a kind of algae, which many people eat and can also be used in making other things. Fish and other water animals use algae for food. |
algae |
Algae are living things that live mainly in water and make their food by using light from the sun. Algae are similar to plants, but they are not usually considered to be plants because they are different in some ways. For example, algae don't have roots and leaves like plants do. Most forms of algae are very helpful for animals and people. Seaweed is a kind of algae, which many people eat and can also be used in making other things. Fish and other water animals use algae for food. "Algae" is a plural word. The singular form is "alga." |
alien |
If people treat you like an alien, they treat you like you are not part of their group. If you feel like an alien, you feel like you don't fit in with the people around you. [2/5 definitions] |
all at once |
If people are doing something all at once, they are doing it all at the same time. If people jump into a swimming pool all at once, they all jump in at the same time. If you put five sticks of gum in your mouth all at once, you put all of them in your mouth at the same time. You don't put them in one at a time. [1/2 definitions] |
already |
"Already" sometimes means "from an earlier time." If you already have a spoon, for example, then you don't need a spoon now. If you already know something, then you don't need to learn that thing or hear about it now. If the soup for lunch is already made, then there is no reason to make soup now. [1/3 definitions] |
although |
"Although" is a word that we use to connect ideas in a sentence. We use "although" to join two ideas that are true but don't seem to agree with each other. "Although" is an important word, but we probably use "even though" more often when we talk. "Even though" is a little stronger, but it has the same meaning. |
|
|