Oxford 5000: 50 Words | Intermediate

Are you finding it hard to tackle the Oxford 5000 word list on your own? Welcome to Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.32. 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.32

Listen & Repeat! (Tap/Click sentences to listen)

Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.32 | 1 – 10

await

: wait. to wait for something that you expect to happen soon.
I await the arrival of my Friday night pizza like it is a long-lost friend.

frequency

: rate. how often something happens during a particular period.
I go to the gym with the frequency of a solar eclipse—basically once every few years!

cruise

: trip. a holiday on a large ship, visiting several places.
My dream is to go on a luxury cruise and eat ice cream while looking at the blue ocean.

referendum

: vote. an occasion when everyone in a country can vote on a particular proposal.
The citizens will decide the new law by voting in a national referendum next month.

theoretical

: abstract. based on ideas or possibilities rather than real events.
My plan to become a billionaire by tomorrow is still purely theoretical at this point.

widespread

: common. happening or existing in many places or among many people.
There is widespread agreement that getting enough sleep is the best way to stay healthy.

incarcerate

: imprison. to put someone in prison or keep them in a place they cannot leave.
The judge decided to incarcerate the thief for two years because he stole a very famous painting.

defeat

: beat. to win a victory over someone in a fight or game.
If you never give up, you can eventually defeat any challenge that comes your way.

editorial

: opinion. relating to the part of a newspaper or magazine that gives an opinion.
The newspaper’s editorial page is where you can read what the writers think about the news.

devote

: give. to give your time, effort, or love to a person or an activity.
You should devote time to the things that make you happy, because life is too short to be bored.

Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.32 | 11 – 20

wage

: pay. the amount of money a person is paid for their work.
While a high wage is nice, finding a job you truly love is even more valuable.

fate

: destiny. a power that is believed to control what happens in the future.
Some people believe in fate, but I believe we have the power to create our own future.

inhibit

: prevent. to make it difficult for something to happen or grow.
Do not let the fear of being wrong inhibit you from speaking English with confidence.

grief

: sadness. very deep sadness, especially after losing someone or something important.
Sharing your grief with a friend can make the heavy feeling in your heart a little lighter.

proceeds

: profits. the money received from an event, sale, or activity.
All the proceeds from the school bake sale will be used to buy new soccer balls.

terrorist

: attacker. a person who uses violence and fear to achieve a goal.
Modern technology helps the police find a terrorist before they can cause any harm.

prohibit

: ban. to officially say that something is not allowed.
The rules of the library prohibit people from talking loudly on their phones.

trigger

: cause. to make something happen suddenly or start a process.
Watching a sad movie can trigger a lot of crying, so keep your tissues ready!

recession

: downturn. a time when the economy is weak and business activity slows down.
Smart people often find new ways to succeed even when the country is in a recession.

invasion

: entry. when a group enters a place by force or without being invited.
I woke up to an invasion of ants in my kitchen because I left a cookie on the counter.

Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.32 | 21 – 30

instance

: example. a particular situation, event, or fact.
For instance, you can improve your English by watching one short video every single day.

bizarre

: weird. very strange, unusual, or surprising.
It was truly bizarre to see a man walking a giant pet turtle down the busy street.

biography

: story. the story of a real person’s life written by another person.
Reading a biography of a successful person is a great way to find inspiration for your own journey.

elegant

: graceful. attractive and showing very good style or taste.
The swan moved across the water in such an elegant way that everyone stopped to watch.

suspicious

: doubtful. feeling that someone is doing something wrong or dishonest.
I became very suspicious when my brother suddenly offered to do all my chores for free.

cute

: adorable. attractive in a sweet or pretty way.
That cute little kitten is sleeping on my keyboard, so I guess I cannot work today!

firm

: company. a business or a group of people who work together.
She works at a famous law firm where she helps many people solve their legal problems.

elsewhere

: away. in, at, or to another place.
If you cannot find the book here, you might have to look elsewhere or check the library.

intellectual

: mental. involving the use of the mind and serious thinking.
Playing chess is a fun intellectual challenge that helps you learn how to think three steps ahead.

spectrum

: range. a wide range of different ideas, qualities, or colors.
People have a broad spectrum of talents, and everyone is special in their own way.

Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.32 | 31 – 40

oppose

: disagree. to disagree with a plan or an idea and try to stop it.
My cat and I oppose each other every morning about who really owns the bed.

compensation

: payment. money someone gets because they have been hurt or worked hard.
The worker received fair compensation for the extra hours he spent at the office.

symbolic

: representative. serving as a sign or symbol of something else.
Giving a small gift can be symbolic of a very big and beautiful friendship.

eligible

: qualified. having the right qualities or meeting the rules to do something.
You are eligible to join the club if you enjoy reading books and drinking tea.

cheek

: face. the soft part of your face below your eye and beside your mouth.
Grandma always pinches my cheek and says I am still her little baby!

gesture

: signal. a movement of the hands or body to express an idea or feeling.
A kind gesture, like a simple smile, can change a person’s entire day for the better.

rear

: back. at the back of something.
Please use the rear door of the bus when you want to get off at the next stop.

inventory

: list. a detailed list of all the goods or items in a place.
The shop owner checks the inventory every week to see which snacks are selling the fastest.

stark

: clear. very plain, easy to see, or showing a big difference.
There is a stark difference between the hot desert sun and the cold mountain snow.

stereotype

: idea. a fixed and often unfair idea that many people have about a group.
We should get to know people as individuals instead of believing a common stereotype.

Oxford 5000 Intermediate Ep.32 | 41 – 50

loan

: debt. money that is borrowed and must be paid back later.
I took out a small loan from the bank so I could finally buy my dream car.

warehouse

: storehouse. a large building for storing goods before they are sold.
The online store keeps thousands of boxes in a giant warehouse before they are shipped to you.

residence

: home. a place where someone lives.
Finding a comfortable residence is the first step to feeling happy in a new city.

ruin

: spoil. to damage something so badly that it cannot be used or enjoyed.
Do not let one small mistake ruin your whole day; just smile and try again!

somewhat

: a bit. to some degree or slightly.
I was somewhat surprised when my dog started barking at his own reflection in the mirror.

creativity

: imagination. the ability to use your imagination to produce new ideas or things.
Your creativity is like a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger and better it gets.

shelter

: protection. a place that protects you from bad weather or danger.
We found shelter under a large tree when it suddenly started raining during our picnic.

crop

: plant. a plant such as wheat or fruit that is grown by farmers for food.
The farmer is very happy because his corn crop grew perfectly after the summer rain.

brick

: block. a hard block used for building walls and houses.
A strong house is built brick by brick, just like a big goal is reached step by step.

outlook

: view. your general attitude or way of thinking about something.
Having a positive outlook on life can make even a rainy day feel like a beautiful one.