Oxford 5000: 50 Words | Intermediate | EP.10
Are you finding it hard to tackle the Oxford 5000 word list on your own? Welcome to Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10. These are the essential words you need for fluent communication. This series breaks them down step-by-step, categorized by difficulty level, to make your learning journey easier and more consistent.
Today’s Learning Summary:
- Series: Oxford 5000 Vocabulary
- Level: Intermediate (B2 – C1)
- Goal: Today’s 50 Essential Words
- Episode: Ep.10
Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10 | 1 – 5
persistent
continuing to do something even when it is difficult or takes a long time
Her persistent effort to learn English paid off when she could finally talk with confidence.
restriction
a rule or limit that controls what people can do
The library’s only restriction was “no sleeping,” but many students broke it anyway.
probability
the chance that something will happen
There’s a high probability that you’ll spill coffee the day you wear a white shirt.
honey
a sweet, golden food made by bees
Bees work hard for honey, but humans eat it in one bite without saying thanks.
vow
to make a serious promise to do something
She vowed never to check her phone during dinner again — at least until dessert arrived.
Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10 | 6 – 10
crown
a circular decoration worn on the head by a king or queen
The little girl made a paper crown and declared herself the queen of snack time.
experimental
involving a test or trial to discover or prove something new
The chef created an experimental dish that mixed chocolate with chili peppers.
diversity
a variety of different people, ideas, or things
The beauty of a garden comes from its diversity—flowers of every color growing side by side.
authentic
real and genuine, not fake or copied
The street vendor’s tacos were so authentic that one bite felt like a trip to Mexico City.
navigation
the process of finding your way from one place to another
Her terrible sense of navigation turned a short walk to the café into a full city adventure.
Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10 | 11 – 15
scratch
to rub or cut the surface of something with your nails or a sharp object
He tried to scratch his back with a fork when he couldn’t reach the itchy spot.
scratch
a small mark or cut made by something sharp
There’s a tiny scratch on my car, but I call it “character.”
speculate
to guess or form an opinion without knowing all the facts
People love to speculate about celebrities’ lives, even with no proof at all.
refusal
the act of saying no or not accepting something
His polite refusal to take the gift made everyone respect him even more.
reluctant
not wanting to do something because it feels difficult or uncomfortable
She was reluctant to speak in class, but her answer turned out to be the best one.
Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10 | 16 – 20
hazard
something that can cause danger or harm
Driving while tired is a serious hazard on the road.
accessible
easy to reach, enter, or understand
He explains science in a very accessible way, even kids can enjoy it.
attic
a space or room just below the roof of a house
They found an old box of love letters hidden in the attic.
storage
a place or space where things are kept when not in use
He put his old toys in storage, promising to give them to his future kids one day.
heal
to become healthy or whole again after an injury or sickness
Wounds heal faster when you stop picking at them—both the physical and emotional kind.
Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10 | 21 – 25
attain
to achieve or reach something you have worked hard for
She finally attained the confidence she once thought was impossible.
freedom
the state of being able to act, speak, or think without restriction
True freedom begins when you stop worrying about what others think of you.
mysterious
difficult or impossible to understand or explain
The old house at the end of the street always felt strangely mysterious, especially when its lights flickered at night.
tear
a drop of clear salty liquid produced by glands in your eyes when you cry
She wiped away a single tear as she read the heartfelt letter.
probe
to try to discover or find out more about something by asking questions or exploring
The journalist tried to probe the truth, but the politician kept changing the topic.
Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10 | 26 – 30
mistake
to do something wrong; to make an error
Everyone is human, so it’s okay to mistake and learn from your failures.
boundary
a real or imagined line that marks the limits of an area or separates things
Setting a clear boundary between work and rest can help you stay mentally healthy.
spread
the extent or range of something
A diverse spread of skills is helpful when you’re starting your own business.
pledge
a serious promise or undertaking
I had to make a serious pledge to my brother that I wouldn’t tell anyone his embarrassing secret.
pledge
something valuable you leave as a promise to pay back a debt
We had to put up our vintage guitar collection as a pledge to secure the business loan.
Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10 | 31 – 35
chairman
the person in charge of a meeting, company, or organization
The chairman tapped the table and said, “Let’s start before the coffee gets cold.”
publishing
the business of making books, magazines, or music and selling them to people
In publishing, one great story can change both a writer’s life and a reader’s heart.
surrounding
near or around a particular place or person
The mountain and its surrounding forests looked magical in the morning fog.
rotation
a regular turning or spinning motion
The Earth’s rotation on its axis causes day and night!
rotation
a situation where different people take turns doing a job or task
In our office, we have a rotation for making coffee so that one person doesn’t always have to do it.
Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10 | 36 – 40
database
an organized collection of information stored on a computer
A database is like a digital brain — it remembers everything, even what you forgot.
complexity
the state of being complicated or having many connected parts
The complexity of human emotions makes relationships both challenging and beautiful.
socialist
relating to a system where people share resources and work for the common good
In a socialist country, people often expect the government to take care of basic needs like health and education.
appoint
to choose someone officially for a job or position
The boss decided to appoint Sarah as the team leader because of her great work!
rejection
the act of refusing to accept or approve something or someone
After facing rejection from several jobs, he finally got an offer that fit him perfectly.
Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10 | 41 – 45
assessment
a judgment or evaluation of something
The teacher’s assessment showed that the students had made great progress this semester.
premium
an extra amount of money paid for something better or special
People are willing to pay a premium for coffee made with rare beans.
alien
a being from another planet
In the movie, an alien visits Earth and learns what friendship means.
alongside
next to or together with someone or something
She worked alongside her best friend to finish the science project.
terribly
very or extremely (often used to show strong feeling)
He felt terribly sorry for forgetting his friend’s birthday.
Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10 | 46 – 50
debt
money that someone owes to another person or company
After paying off his debt, he finally felt free and relaxed.
renew
to make something new again or continue it after it stopped
They decided to renew their friendship after years of not talking.
cult
a group of people who strongly follow a leader or belief, often in a strange or extreme way
The cult believed their leader could talk to the stars.
cult
used to describe something that has a small but very passionate group of fans
The movie became a cult favorite among horror lovers.
sensitivity
the ability to understand or feel what others think or feel
Her sensitivity made her a great friend who always knew when to listen.
Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.10 | 51 – 55
marketplace
a place, real or online, where people buy and sell things
The online marketplace was full of handmade jewelry and unique gifts.
vanish
to disappear suddenly and completely
The magician made the rabbit vanish right before everyone’s eyes.
default
a situation where someone fails to do something that is expected, like paying money or keeping a promise
He forgot to pay his credit card bill and went into default.
trail
a path through the countryside, forest, or mountains
We followed a quiet trail until it ended at a breathtaking waterfall.
province
an area or region within a country
She grew up in a quiet province far from the capital city.