B2 Unit 133: Describing things 9
20 B2 words: upright, rightly, unsuccessful, miniature, unpopular, ample… Learn them in 4 steps, then review them every day.
Word list
| Word | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| upright/əˈpraɪt/ adj/adv | uprightstanding or sitting straight up | Sit upright in your chair and keep your back straight.Sit upright in your chair and keep your back straight. | |
| rightly/ˈraɪtli/ adv | rightlywith good reason; correctly | Lucy was rightly proud of her excellent exam result.Lucy was rightly proud of her excellent exam result. | |
| unsuccessful/ˌʌnsəkˈsɛsfəl/ adj | unsuccessfulnot achieving the result wanted | After an unsuccessful search, they went home without the keys.After an unsuccessful search, they went home without the keys. | |
| miniature/ˈmɪniəˌtʃʊr/ adj | miniaturevery small copy of something bigger | Lucy collects miniature houses made of wood.Lucy collects miniature houses made of wood. | |
| unpopular/ˌʌnˈpɑpjəlɚ/ adj | unpopularnot liked by many people | The new rule was unpopular with most of the students.The new rule was unpopular with most of the students. | |
| ample/ˈæmpəl/ adj | amplemore than enough | There is ample space in the car for all our bags.There is ample space in the car for all our bags. | |
| backward/ˈbækwɚd/ adv | backwardtoward the back | Sam took a step backward and nearly fell off the stage.Sam took a step backward and nearly fell off the stage. | |
| hazardous/ˈhæzɚdəs/ adj | hazardousdangerous to health or safety | Old chemicals can be hazardous, so store them safely.Old chemicals can be hazardous, so store them safely. | |
| preferably/ˈprɛfɚəbli/ adv | preferablyif possible; as a better choice | I’d like to travel in the morning, preferably before nine o’clock.I’d like to travel in the morning, preferably before nine o’clock. | |
| idle/ˈaɪdəl/ adj | idlenot working or being used | The machines stood idle because there was no electricity.The machines stood idle because there was no electricity. | |
| grim/ɡrɪm/ adj | grimserious, sad and worrying | The doctor had grim news about his health.The doctor had grim news about his health. | |
| negatively/ˈnɛɡətɪvli/ adv | negativelyin a bad or harmful way | The news affected the market negatively, and prices dropped.The news affected the market negatively, and prices dropped. | |
| astonishing/əˈstɑnɪʃɪŋ/ adj | astonishingvery surprising | The magician’s trick was truly astonishing.The magician’s trick was truly astonishing. | |
| chaotic/keɪˈɑtɪk/ adj | chaoticcompletely disordered and confused | The shop was chaotic on the last day of the sale.The shop was chaotic on the last day of the sale. | |
| enduring/ɛndˈjʊrɪŋ/ adj | enduringlasting for a long time | The enduring friendship between Ken and Tom began at school.The enduring friendship between Ken and Tom began at school. | |
| gradual/ˈɡrædʒuəl/ adj | gradualhappening slowly, step by step | There was a gradual improvement in her English over the year.There was a gradual improvement in her English over the year. | |
| rash/ræʃ/ adj | rashdone without thinking about the risks | It was rash to quit the job before finding another one.It was rash to quit the job before finding another one. | |
| unsafe/ənˈseɪf/ adj | unsafedangerous; not protected from harm | The ice on the lake is unsafe, so don’t walk on it.The ice on the lake is unsafe, so don’t walk on it. | |
| casually/ˈkæʒəwəli/ adv | casuallyin a relaxed way, not formal | Omar was casually dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.Omar was casually dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. | |
| dreadful/ˈdrɛdfəl/ adj | dreadfulvery bad or unpleasant | The weather has been dreadful all week.The weather has been dreadful all week. |