Secondary Meanings

QuestionAnswer
to weaken or decline in strength or vigor (not just a banner)
flag
After hours of hiking uphill, the group's enthusiasm began to flag noticeably.
to limit, restrict, or add reservations to a statement (not just to meet requirements)
qualify
The scientist was careful to qualify her findings, noting that more research was needed.
to stop, halt, or bring to a standstill (not just to detain someone)
arrest
The striking photograph arrested my attention the moment I entered the gallery.
to openly support, defend, or fight for (a cause or person) (not just a winner)
champion
The senator championed the cause of affordable healthcare throughout her career.
to moderate or make less intense or extreme; to balance out (not just anger)
temper
She tempered her criticism with words of encouragement to avoid discouraging the young writer.
to invent or devise a new word or phrase (not just money)
coin
Shakespeare coined hundreds of words and phrases that are still in common use today.
to restrain, hold back, or control (not just to verify)
check
The new policy was designed to check the spread of misinformation on social media.
deficient or inadequate; short of a required standard (not just desiring)
wanting
The investigation was found wanting in both thoroughness and objectivity.
to postpone formal discussion or a decision on (a proposal or bill) (not just furniture)
table
The committee voted to table the controversial motion until the next session.
to stop or restrict the flow of something (not just a plant part)
stem
Emergency measures were introduced to stem the tide of refugees crossing the border.
seriousness, importance, or weight of a matter (not just the physical force)
gravity
The ambassador spoke with a tone that conveyed the full gravity of the diplomatic crisis.
hard work and diligence; energetic effort (not just a business sector)
industry
Through sheer industry and determination, she built a thriving practice from nothing.
the state of being widely accepted or in general use; relevance (not just money)
currency
The theory gained currency among scholars after new evidence was published.
easily shaped, molded, or influenced; malleable in form or character (not just the material)
plastic
Young children have highly plastic minds, capable of absorbing new languages with ease.
of the greatest importance; fundamental and primary (not just a bird)
cardinal
Trust is the cardinal virtue upon which all healthy relationships are built.
having a striking or revealing quality; significant and informative (not just narrating)
telling
The most telling detail in the report was the discrepancy between projected and actual costs.
to shape, make, or construct something with care and skill (not just clothing style)
fashion
The blacksmith fashioned a beautiful gate from wrought iron and copper.
to formally offer or present, especially in a professional context (not just soft)
tender
The minister tendered his resignation after the findings of the inquiry were made public.
to use resources carefully and economically; to conserve (not just a spouse)
husband
The expedition team had to husband their remaining water supply for the final days of the trek.
to weaken, damage, or put at risk (not just to reach agreement)
compromise
The leaked documents threatened to compromise national security operations abroad.
a doubt, misgiving, or feeling of unease about something (not just a booking)
reservation
Despite supporting the plan in principle, the director expressed several reservations about its timeline.
to hint or suggest indirectly (not just close or personal)
intimate
The ambassador intimated that a formal agreement might be reached within weeks.
to seek the favor of, or to risk inviting something undesirable (not just a venue)
court
By ignoring safety regulations, the company was courting disaster.
complex, intricate, or complicated (not just participating)
involved
The plot of the novel was so involved that readers needed a chart to track all the characters.
to demand and obtain by force or authority (not just precise)
exact
The occupying army exacted heavy tributes from the conquered towns.
to prevent from succeeding; to frustrate or thwart a plan (not just aluminium wrap)
foil
Quick thinking by the security team foiled the attempted robbery.
conventional, predictable, or unoriginal (not just inventory)
stock
The politician offered only stock responses to the journalists' probing questions.
to take for one's own use, often without permission (not just suitable)
appropriate
The regime appropriated private land for military use without any compensation to the owners.
shy, quiet, and inclined to avoid company or attention (not just stopping work)
retiring
The retiring scholar preferred the solitude of her study to the bustle of academic conferences.
variation in height, depth, or projection on a surface; distinctness of outline (not just comfort after distress)
relief
The carved figures stood out in sharp relief against the flat marble background.
objectivity and emotional distance; lack of personal involvement (not just physical separation)
detachment
The historian wrote with scholarly detachment, refusing to let personal sympathies color the analysis.
to successfully find a way over or through an obstacle or difficult path (not just discussing terms)
negotiate
The experienced driver negotiated the hairpin bends of the mountain road with ease.
to record in written, photographic, or other form with supporting evidence (not just a paper)
document
The filmmaker spent years traveling the region to document the lives of indigenous communities.
to complain or protest strongly and bitterly about something (not just a fence or track)
rail
The editorial railed against the proposed cuts to the public library system.
to keep a thought or feeling secretly in one's mind over time (not just a port)
harbor
She continued to harbor doubts about the project long after the team had committed to it.
to overshadow or outshine in importance, fame, or achievement (not just an astronomical event)
eclipse
The young pianist's talent quickly eclipsed that of her more experienced rivals.
to call for or make necessary; to give sufficient grounds for (not just a legal document)
warrant
The severity of the outbreak warranted an immediate response from public health authorities.
to make or produce something with care, skill, and precision (not just a hobby activity)
craft
The speechwriter carefully crafted every sentence to resonate with the target audience.
to direct energy, resources, or activity toward a particular end or purpose (not just a waterway or TV station)
channel
The mentor helped the young athlete channel her frustration into productive training sessions.
a large number or amount of something (not just a floating platform)
raft
The proposal attracted a whole raft of objections from community members.
a legislative bill, act, or proposed law (not just a unit of quantity)
measure
Parliament passed the emergency measure with an overwhelming majority.
to estimate or forecast something based on present trends or known data (not just an assignment)
project
Analysts project that the economy will grow by three percent in the coming fiscal year.
extremely small, tiny, or negligible in size or importance (not just 60 seconds)
minute
The differences between the two samples were so minute that only specialized equipment could detect them.
to characterize, mark, or identify as having a particular quality (not just pressing a mark)
stamp
The architect's bold vision stamped every building she designed with unmistakable originality.
based on well-founded, logical reasoning; thorough and reliable (not just noise)
sound
The committee praised the proposal for its sound methodology and well-supported conclusions.
to deal with or discuss at length and in detail (not just to entertain)
treat
The essay treats the topic of social inequality with both rigor and compassion.
to give evidence of; to demonstrate or prove convincingly (not just a spectator)
witness
The past decade has witnessed a dramatic shift in public attitudes toward renewable energy.
to apply oneself to a task or to speak to someone (not just a location)
address
The report addresses the root causes of poverty rather than merely describing its symptoms.
to hold or tend a feeling or idea over a long period (not just a medical professional)
nurse
He nursed his ambition for years before finally launching his own business.
to give intellectual or moral instruction to; to improve the mind or character (not just to construct)
edify
The lecture was intended to edify the audience about the complexities of constitutional law.
to test the depth or examine the nature of something; to inquire into deeply (not just a bathroom fixture)
plumb
The documentary plumbs the depths of human resilience in the face of natural disaster.
to manage to find time or resources for something (not just to pay for)
afford
She could not afford to take another day off work.
to accept as adequate despite wanting something better; to make do with less (not just to resolve a dispute)
settle
The researcher refused to settle for a merely adequate explanation and kept digging for the truth.
to hold fast or cling tightly to something; to remain loyal to (not just to split apart)
cleave
Despite pressure to modernize, the community cleaved to its centuries-old traditions.
a distinctive garment worn by members of a religious order, such as a monk or nun (not just a regular practice)
habit
The novice received her first habit on the day she formally entered the convent.
to obtain or derive from a particular source (not just to sketch or illustrate)
draw
The philosopher drew her conclusions from a careful analysis of historical evidence.
to keep from happening or make impossible; to prevent (not just to come before in time)
preclude
The severe weather precluded any possibility of the outdoor ceremony going ahead as planned.
to watch, check, or keep track of (something) over time, especially to ensure compliance (not just a display screen)
monitor
The regulatory body was tasked with monitoring the company's compliance with environmental standards.
to express an idea in another form or medium; to convert into a different language (not just to give or hand over)
render
The pianist rendered the complex sonata with breathtaking clarity and emotional depth.
to extend across or bridge; to cover a range of time or space (not just a unit of measurement)
span
Her research interests span several disciplines, from neuroscience to philosophy of mind.
relating to or affecting the basic nature of something; serving as an essential component (not just a country's governing legal document)
constitutional
Her constitutional optimism helped her stay hopeful even during the toughest years of her career.
a very thin, lightweight material or substance; lacking depth or substance (not just a motion picture)
film
A thin film of dust covered every surface in the abandoned house.
to provide lodging or sufficient space for; to fit in with the wishes of (not just a hotel room)
accommodate
The revised timetable was designed to accommodate the needs of students with part-time jobs.
to cultivate, promote the development of, or encourage (not just to take care of a child)
foster
The university sought to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity among its students.
to cause a strong feeling of dislike or disgust (not just to physically drive back or repulse)
repel
The candidate's arrogant demeanour repelled voters who might otherwise have supported her platform.
the ability to recover quickly from difficulties; the power to spring back into shape (not just emotional toughness)
resilience
The resilience of the local economy surprised analysts who had predicted a prolonged downturn.
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention; strikingly noticeable (not just spoken or declared aloud)
pronounced
There was a pronounced difference in achievement between students who studied daily and those who crammed.
the capacity to produce a strong effect or desired result; effectiveness (not just physical strength)
force
The force of her argument was sufficient to persuade even the most skeptical members of the board.
to have a view of (something) from above or from a higher position (not just to fail to notice or forgive)
overlook
The balcony of the hotel overlooked a sweeping vista of rolling hills and vineyards.
to put right or set straight; to remedy or counteract an injustice (not just to deal with a grievance)
redress
The new legislation sought to redress decades of inequality in access to education.
to indicate or be a sign of; to represent symbolically (not just to take note of)
mark
The ceremony marked the beginning of a new era in the nation's history.
to undergo a change of form, appearance, or character; to be greatly altered (not just to convert text into another language)
translate
Good intentions do not always translate into effective policy outcomes.
to produce, bear, or provide naturally (not just to give up or surrender)
yield
The experiment yielded surprising results that contradicted the original hypothesis.
to occupy completely the mind or attention of; to absorb fully (not just to hire someone or become engaged to marry)
engage
The professor's passionate lectures never failed to engage even the most reluctant students.

Contributors