Vocabulary words for Listening (Q-S)

Q
quality - n. that which something is known to have or be ("An important quality of steel is its strength."); amount of value or excellence ("Their goods are of the highest quality.")
question - v. to ask; to express wonder or disbelief; n. a sentence or word used in asking for information; a problem; an issue to be discussed
quick - ad. fast
quiet - ad. with little or no noise; having little or no movement; calm
R
race - v. to run; to take part in a competition to decide who or what can move fastest; to take part in a campaign for political office; n. one of the major groups that humans can be divided into because of a common physical similarity, such as skin color
radar - n. a device that uses radio signals to learn the position or speed of objects that may be too far away to be seen
radiation - n. waves of energy from something that produces heat or light; energy from a nuclear substance, which can be dangerous
radio - n. the system of sending and receiving signals or sounds through the air without wires
raid - v. to make a sudden attack; n. a sudden attack carried out as an act of war, or for the purpose of seizing or stealing something
railroad - n. a road for trains; a company that operates such a road and its stations and equipment
rain - n. water falling from the sky
raise - v. to lift up; to move to a higher position; to cause to grow; to increase
rare - ad. not common; not usual; not often
rate - n. speed; a measure of how quickly or how often something happens; the price of any thing or service that is bought or sold
reach - v. to put a hand toward; to arrive at; to come to
react - v. to act as a result of or in answer to
read - v. to look at and understand the meaning of written words or numbers
ready - ad. prepared; completed; organized; willing
real - ad. true; truly existing; not false
realistic - ad. in agreement with the way things are
reason - n. the cause for a belief or act; purpose; something that explains
reasonable - ad. ready to listen to reasons or ideas; not extreme; ready or willing to compromise
rebel - v. to act against a government or power, often with force; to refuse to obey; n. one who opposes or fights against the government of his or her country
receive - v. to get or accept something given, offered or sent
recent - ad. a short time ago
recession - n. a temporary reduction in economic activity, when industries produce less and many workers lose their jobs
recognize - v. to know or remember something or someone that was known, known about or seen before; to accept another nation as independent and establish diplomatic ties with its government
record - v. to write something in order to have it for future use; to put sound or pictures in a form that can be kept and heard or seen again; n. a writing that shows proof or facts about something
recover - v. to get again something that was lost, stolen or taken away ("The police recovered the stolen money."); to return to normal health or normal conditions She is expected to recover from the operation.")
red - ad. having the color like that of blood
reduce - v. to make less or smaller in number, size or amount; to cut
reform - v. to make better by changing; to improve; n. a change to a better condition
refugee - n. a person who has been forced to flee because of unjust treatment, danger or war
refuse - v. to reject; to not accept, give or do something
regret - n. a feeling of sadness or sorrow about something that is done or that happens
reject - v. to refuse to accept, use or believe
relations - n. understandings or ties between nations; members of the same family; people connected by marriage or family ties
release - v. to free; to permit to go; to permit to be known or made public
religion - n. a belief in, or the honoring of, a god or gods
remain - v. to stay in a place after others leave; to stay the same
remains - n. a dead body
remember - v. to think about the past; opposite forget
remove - v. to take away or take off; to put an end to; to take out of a position or office
repair - n. work done to fix something
repeat - v. to say or do again
report - v. to tell about; to give the results of a study or investigation; n. the story about an event; the results of a study or investigation; a statement in which the facts may not be confirmed
represent - v. to act in the place of someone else; to substitute for; to serve as an example
repress - v. to control or to restrict freedoms by force
request - v. to ask for; n. the act of asking for
require - v. to need or demand as necessary
rescue - v. to free from danger or evil
research - n. a careful study to discover correct information
resign - v. to leave a position, job or office
resist - v. to oppose; to fight to prevent
resolution - n. an official statement of agreement by a group of people, usually reached by voting
resource - n. anything of value that can be used or sold
responsible - ad. having a duty or job to do ("He is responsible for preparing the report."); being the cause of ("They were responsible for the accident.")
rest - v. to sit, lie down or sleep to regain strength; n. that which remains; the others
restrain - v. to keep controlled; to limit action by a person or group
restrict - v. to limit; to prevent from increasing or becoming larger
result - v. to happen from a cause; n. that which follows or is produced by a cause; effect
retire - v. to leave a job or position because one is old or in poor health
return - v. to go or come back; to bring, give, take or send back
revolt - v. to protest violently; to fight for a change, especially of government
rice - n. a food grain
rich - ad. having much money or goods; having plenty of something
ride - v. to sit on or in and be carried along; to travel by animal, wheeled vehicle, airplane or boat
right - n. what a person legally and morally should be able to do or have ("It is their right to vote."); ad. agreeing with the facts; good; correct; opposite wrong; on the side that is toward the east when one is facing north; opposite left
riot - v. to act with many others in a violent way in a public place; n. a violent action by a large group of people
rise - v. to go up; to go higher; to increase; to go from a position of sitting or lying to a position of standing
risk - n. the chance of loss, damage or injury
river - n. a large amount of water that flows across land into another river, a lake or an ocean
road - n. a long piece of hard ground built between two places so people can walk, drive or ride easily from one place to the other
rob - v. to take money or property secretly or by force; to steal
rock - n. a hard piece of mineral matter
rocket - n. a device shaped like a tube that moves through air or space by burning gases and letting them escape from the back or bottom, sometimes used as a weapon
roll - v. to turn over and over; to move like a ball
room - n. a separate area within a building with its own walls
root - n. the part of a plant that is under the ground and takes nutrients from the soil
rope - n. a long, thick piece of material made from thinner pieces of material, used for tying
rough - ad. not flat or smooth; having an uneven surface; violent; not made well
round - ad. having the shape of a ball or circle
rub - v. to move something over the surface of another thing
rubber - n. a substance made from the liquid of trees with the same name, or a similar substance made from chemicals
ruin - v. to damage severely; to destroy
rule - v. to govern or control; to decide; n. a statement or an order that says how something must be done
run - v. to move quickly by steps faster than those used for walking
S
sabotage - v. to damage or destroy as an act against an organization or nation ("The rebels sabotaged the railroad.")
sacrifice - v. to do without something or to suffer a loss for a belief, idea, goal or another person
sad - ad. not happy
safe - ad. away from harm or danger
sail - v. to travel by boat or ship
sailor - n. a person involved in sailing a boat or ship
salt - n. a white substance found in sea water and in the ground, used to affect the taste of food
same - ad. not different; not changed; like another or others
sand - n. extremely small pieces of crushed rock found in large amounts in deserts and on coasts
satellite - n. a small object in space that moves around a larger object; an object placed in orbit around the earth
satisfy - v. to give or provide what is desired, needed or demanded
save - v. to make safe; to remove from harm; to keep for future use
say - v. to speak; to express in words
school - n. a place for education; a place where people go to learn
science - n. the study of nature and the actions of natural things, and the knowledge gained about them
sea - n. a large area of salt water, usually part of an ocean
search - v. to look for carefully
season - n. one of the four periods of the year that is based on the earth’s position toward the sun (spring, summer, autumn, winter); a period of time based on different weather conditions ("dry season”, “rainy season"); a period during the year when something usually happens ("baseball season")
seat - n. a thing to sit on; a place to sit or the right to sit there ("a seat in parliament")
second - ad. the one that comes after the first
secret - n. something known only to a few and kept from general knowledge; ad. hidden from others; known only to a few
security - n. freedom from danger or harm; protection; measures necessary to protect a person or place ("Security was increased in the city.")
see - v. to know or sense through the eyes; to understand or know
seed - n. the part of a plant from which new plants grow
seek(ing) - v. to search for ("They are seeking a cure for cancer."); to try to get ("She is seeking election to public office."); to plan to do ("Electric power companies are seeking to reduce their use of coal.")
seem - v. to appear to be ("She seems to be in good health.")
seize - v. to take quickly by force; to take control of quickly; to arrest
self - n. all that which makes one person different from others
sell - v. to give something in exchange for money
Senate - n. the smaller of the two groups in the governments of some countries, such as in the United States Congress
send - v. to cause to go; to permit to go; to cause to be carried, taken or directed to or away from a place
sense - v. to come to know about by feeling, believing or understanding; n. any of the abilities to see, hear, taste, smell or feel
sentence - v. to declare the punishment for a crime; n. the punishment for a crime
separate - v. to set or keep people, things or ideas away from or independent from others; ad. not together or connected; different
series - n. a number of similar things or events that follow one after another in time, position or order
serious - ad. important; needing careful consideration; dangerous
serve - v. to work as an official; to be employed by the government; to assist or help
service - n. an organization or system that provides something for the public ("Schools and roads are services paid for by taxes."); a job that an organization or business can do for money; military organizations such as an army, navy or air force; a religious ceremony
set - v. to put in place or position; to establish a time, price or limit
settle - v. to end (a dispute); to agree about (a problem); to make a home in a new place
several - ad. three or more, but not many
severe - ad. not gentle; causing much pain, sadness or damage
sex - n. either the male or female group into which all people and animals are divided because of their actions in producing young; the physical activity by which humans and animals can produce young
shake - v. to move or cause to move in short, quick movements
shape - v. to give form to; n. the form of something, especially how it looks
share - v. to give part of something to another or others; n. a part belonging to, given to or owned by a single person or a group; any one of the equal parts of ownership of a business or company
sharp - ad. having a thin edge or small point that can cut or hurt; causing hurt or pain
she - pro. the girl or woman who is being spoken about
sheep - n. a farm animal used for its meat and hair
shell - v. to fire artillery; n. a metal container that is fired from a large gun and explodes when it reaches its target; a hard outside cover
shelter - v. to protect or give protection to; n. something that gives protection; a place of safety
shine - v. to aim a light; to give bright light; to be bright; to clean to make bright
ship - v. to transport; n. a large boat
shock - v. to cause to feel sudden surprise or fear; n. something that greatly affects the mind or emotions; a powerful shake, as from an earthquake
shoe - n. a covering for the foot
shoot - v. to cause a gun or other weapon to send out an object designed to kill; to use a gun
short - ad. lasting only for a small period of time; not long; opposite tall
should - v. used with another verb (action word) to show responsibility ("We should study."), probability ("The talks should begin soon."), or that something is believed to be a good idea ("Criminals should be punished.")
shout - v. to speak very loudly
show - v. to make something be seen; to make known; n. a play or story presented in a theater, or broadcast on radio or television, for enjoyment or education; something organized to be seen by the public
shrink - v. to make or become less in size, weight or value
sick - ad. suffering physically or mentally with a disease or other problem; not in good health
sickness - n. the condition of being in bad health
side - n. the outer surfaces of an object that are not the top or bottom; parts away from the middle; either the right or left half of the body
sign - v. to write one’s name; n. a mark or shape used to mean something; evidence that something exists or will happen; a flat piece of material with writing that gives information
signal - v. to send a message by signs; n. an action or movement that sends a message
silence - v. to make quiet; to stop from speaking or making noise; n. a lack of noise or sound
silver - n. a valued white metal
similar - ad. like something else but not exactly the same
simple - ad. easy to understand or do; not difficult or complex
since - prep. from a time in the past until now ("I have known her since we went to school together.")
sing - v. to make music sounds with the voice
single - ad. one only
sink - v. to go down into water or other liquid
sister - n. a female with the same father or mother as another person
sit - v. to rest on the lower part of the body without the support of the legs; to become seated
situation - n. the way things are during a period of time
size - n. the space occupied by something; how long, wide or high something is
skeleton - n. all the bones of a human or other animal together in their normal positions
skill - n. the ability gained from training or experience
skin - n. the outer covering of humans and most animals
sky - n. the space above the earth
slave - n. a person owned or controlled by another
sleep - v. to rest the body and mind with the eyes closed
slide - v. to move smoothly over a surface
slow - v. to reduce the speed of; ad. not fast in moving, talking or other activities
small - ad. little in size or amount; few in number; not important; opposite large
smash - v. to break or be broken into small pieces by force; to hit or move with >force
smell - v. to sense through the nose; n. something sensed by the nose ("the smell of food cooking")
smoke - v. to use cigarettes or other tobacco products by burning them and breathing in the smoke; n. that which can be seen rising into the air like a cloud from something burning
smooth - ad. having a level surface; opposite rough
snow - n. soft, white pieces of frozen water that fall from the sky, usually in winter or when the air temperature is very cold
so - ad. in such a way that ("He held the flag so all could see it."); also; too ("She left early, and so did we."); very ("I am so sick."); as a result ("They were sick, so they could not come."); conj. in order that; for the purpose of ("Come early so we can discuss the plans.")
social - ad. of or about people or a group
soft - ad. not hard; easily shaped; pleasing to touch; not loud
soil - n. earth in which plants grow
soldier - n. a person in the army
solid - ad. having a hard shape with no empty spaces inside; strong; not in the form of a liquid or gas
solve - v. to find an answer; to settle
some - ad. of an amount or number or part not stated; not all
son - n. a person’s male child
soon - ad. not long after the present time; quickly
sort - n. any group of people or things that are the same or are similar in some way; a kind of something
sound - n. fast-moving waves of energy that affect the ear and result in hearing; that which is heard
south - n. the direction to the right of a person facing the rising sun
space - n. the area outside the earth’s atmosphere where the sun, moon, planets and stars are; the area between or inside things
speak - v. to talk; to say words with the mouth; to express one’s thoughts to others and exchange ideas; to give a speech to a group
special - ad. of a different or unusual kind; not for general use; better or more important than others of the same kind
speech - n. a talk given to a group of people
speed - v. to make something go or move faster; n. the rate at which something moves or travels; the rate at which something happens or is done
spend - v. to give as payment; to use ("He spends much time studying.")
spill - v. to cause or permit liquid to flow out, usually by accident
spirit - n. the part of a human that is not physical and is connected to thoughts and emotions; the part of a person that is believed to remain alive after death
split - v. to separate into two or more parts; to divide or break into parts
sport - n. any game or activity of competition involving physical effort or skill
spread - v. to become longer or wider; to make or become widely known
spring - n. the time of the year between winter and summer
spy - v. to steal or get information secretly; n. one who watches others secretly; a person employed by a government to get secret information about another country
square - n. a flat shape having four equal sides
stab - v. to cut or push into or through with a pointed weapon
stand - v. to move into or be in a position in which only the feet are on a surface; to be in one position or place
star - n. a mass of gas that usually appears as a small light in the sky at night, but is not a planet; a famous person, usually an actor or singer
start - v. to begin; to make something begin
starve - v. to suffer or die from a lack of food
state - v. to say; to declare; n. a political part of a nation
station - n. a place of special work or purpose ("a police station"); a place where passengers get on or off trains or buses; a place for radio or television broadcasts
statue - n. a form of a human, animal or other creature usually made of stone, wood or metal
stay - v. to continue to be where one is; to remain; to not leave; to live for a time ("They stayed in New York for two years.")
steal - v. to take without permission or paying
steam - n. the gas that comes from hot water
steel - n. iron made harder and stronger by mixing it with other substances
step - v. to move by lifting one foot and placing it in a new position; n. the act of stepping; one of a series of actions designed to reach a goal
stick - v. to attach something to another thing using a substance that will hold them together; to become fixed in one position so that movement is difficult ("Something is making the door stick."); n. a thin piece of wood
still - ad. not moving ("The man was standing still."); until the present or a stated time ("Was he still there?"); even so; although ("The job was difficult, but she still wanted to do it.")
stone - n. a small piece of rock
stop - v. to prevent any more movement or action; to come or bring to an end
store - v. to keep or put away for future use; n. a place where people buy things
storm - n. violent weather, including strong winds and rain or snow
story - n. the telling or writing of an event, either real or imagined
stove - n. a heating device used for cooking
straight - ad. continuing in one direction without turns
strange - ad. unusual; not normal; not known
street - n. a road in a city, town or village
stretch - v. to extend for a distance; to pull on to make longer or wider
strike - v. to hit with force; to stop work as a way to seek better conditions, more pay or to make other demands
strong - ad. having much power; not easily broken, damaged or destroyed
structure - n. the way something is built, made or organized; a system that is formed or organized in a special way; a building
struggle - v. to try with much effort; to fight with; n. a great effort; a fight
study - v. to make an effort to gain knowledge by using the mind; to examine carefully
stupid - ad. not able to learn much; not intelligent
subject - n. the person or thing being discussed, studied or written about
submarine - n. an underwater ship
substance - n. the material of which something is made (a solid, liquid or gas)
substitute - v. to put or use in place of another; n. a person or thing put or used in place of another
subversion - n. an attempt to weaken or destroy a political system or government, usually secretly
succeed - v. to reach a goal or thing desired; to produce a planned result
such - ad. of this or that kind; of the same kind as; similar to
sudden - ad. not expected; without warning; done or carried out quickly or without preparation
suffer - v. to feel pain in the body or mind; to receive or experience hurt or sadness
sugar - n. a sweet substance made from liquids taken from plants
suggest - v. to offer or propose something to think about or consider
summer - n. the warmest time of the year, between spring and autumn
sun - n. the huge star in the sky that provides heat and light to earth
supervise - v. to direct and observe the work of others
supply - v. to give; to provide; n. the amount of something that can be given or sold to others
support - v. to carry the weight of; to hold up or in position; to agree with others and help them reach a goal; to approve
suppose - v. to believe, think or imagine ("I suppose you are right."); to expect ("It is supposed to rain tonight.")
suppress - v. to put down or to keep down by force; to prevent information from being known publicly
sure - ad. very probable; with good reason to believe; true without question
surface - n. the outer side or top of something ("The rocket landed on the surface of the moon.")
surplus - n. an amount that is more than is needed; extra; ("That country has a trade surplus. It exports more than it imports.")
surprise - v. to cause a feeling of wonder because something is not expected; n. something not expected; the feeling caused by something not expected
surrender - v. to give control of oneself or one’s property to another or others; to stop fighting and admit defeat
surround - v. to form a circle around; to be in positions all around someone or something
survive - v. to remain alive during or after a dangerous situation
suspect - v. to imagine or believe that a person is guilty of something bad or illegal; n. a person believed to be guilty
suspend - v. to cause to stop for a period of time
swallow - v. to take into the stomach through the mouth
swear in - v. to put an official into office by having him or her promise to carry out the duties of that office ("The chief justice will swear in the president.")
sweet - ad. tasting pleasant, like sugar
swim - v. to move through water by making motions with the arms and legs
sympathy - n. a sharing of feelings or emotions with another person, usually feelings of sadness
system - n. a method of organizing or doing something by following rules or a plan; a group of connected things or parts working together for a common purpose or goal