OUTWEIGH
/ˌaʊtˈweɪ/

The benefits of increased immigration outweigh the costs.
Small changes in the tax burden are likely to be outweighed by other factors.

NURTURE
/ˈnɜːtʃə/

1. Jarrett was nurtured by his parents in a close-knit family.

2. My father nurtured my love of animals.

ECLIPSE
/ɪˈklɪps/

His performance was eclipsed by Ronaldo's winning goal.
This tragic accident has eclipsed the two disasters on the railways last year.
The economy has eclipsed all other issues during this election campaign.

DRAW TO
DREW - DRAWN

My eyes were drawn to a painting hanging over the fireplace.

MISPERCEIVE
/mɪspəˈsiːv/

Many parents misperceive what kids can do at particular developmental stages.
At the same time, many of the words we use are like distorting lenses: They make us misperceive and hence misjudge the object we look at.

RECOUNT
/rɪˈkaʊnt/

He recounted his adventures since he had left home.
He was fond of recounting how he had played professional football when he was 19.

DISTIL
/dɪˈstɪl/

Table 1 presents background characteristics distilled from the 1,448 case records.
By this time, results from years of research and analysis had been distilled.

ACCENTUATE
/əkˈsen.tʃu.eɪt/

Her dress was tightly belted, accentuating the slimness of her waist.
Lighting should accentuate the architectural features of a room.

RECUR
/rɪˈkɜːr/

A number of themes recur in the anti-smoking campaigns.
Obsessions are recurring thoughts or images that cause feelings of disgust.

ENDEAVOUR
/ɪnˈdɛvə/

They endeavored to create a professional atmosphere where one could make a substantial living wage.
Nigeria has consistently endeavored to improve the quality of teaching.

IMPOSE
/ɪmˈpəʊz/
1. He wants the government to impose strict controls on dog ownership.
The council has imposed a ban on alcohol in the city parks.
2. I don't want them to impose their religious beliefs on my children.
Settlers often imposed their culture on the peoples of the countries they conquered.

TEND
/tend/

He carefully tended his sunflower plants.
The nurse gently tended the patient's cuts and bruises.

ADORN
/əˈdɔːn/

The bride's hair was adorned with white flowers.

DWINDLE
/ˈdwɪn.dəl/

The community has dwindled to a tenth of its former size in the last two years.
Her hopes of success in the race dwindled last night as the weather became worse.
The price will probably keep going up as supply slowly dwindles.

SUBSTITUTE
/ˈsʌb.stɪ.tʃuːt/

You can substitute oil for butter in this recipe.
Of course, no book or course of study can substitute for experience.
She was asked to substitute for the absent committee chairman.

AMASS
/əˈmæs/

He has amassed a huge fortune from his invention.
Some of his colleagues envy the enormous wealth that he has amassed.

TAPER
/ˈteɪ.pər/

Cut the dough (тесто) in two and roll it into sausage shapes, tapering at each end.
Taper your brows slightly at the end.

TINKLE
/ˈtɪŋ.kəl/

Some small old-fashioned shops still have a bell which tinkles when you push the door open.

ENHANCE
/ɪnˈhɑːns/

The mist which covers the valley enhances the magical quality of the picture.
So it's a tool to be used to develop and enhance what you do.

COMPREHEND
/ˌkɒm.prɪˈhend/

She cannot comprehend the extent of the disaster.
Even scientists do not comprehend these phenomena.
I'll never comprehend why she did what she did.

DAZZLE
/ˈdaz(ə)l/

1. The early autumn sunlight dazzled her eyes when she stepped from the porch.

2. Tribe from Cape Town dazzled the crowd with their mainstream jazz with African influences.

HATCH
/hatʃ/

Once the eggs hatch, both the male and the female feed the young.
After five to eight days, the eggs hatch and the young begin to search for food on the river bottom.

ENCASE
/ɪnˈkeɪs/

The door shut soundlessly behind me, encasing us in darkness.
The book was incased in hard leather which had been stained black with blood red inscriptions.

DISPENSE
/dɪˈspɛns/

We look to the media to dispense information to help us make our choices.
This machine can only dispense a maximum of £400.00.
There's a coin-operated machine that dispenses hot water, a battery, and a steam engine.

RECEDE
/rɪˈsiːd/

1. As the boat picked up speed, the coastline receded into the distance until finally it became invisible.

2. The painful memories gradually receded in her mind.

FACILITATE
/fəˈsɪl.ɪ.teɪt/

To facilitate learning, each class is no larger than 30 students.
Fatty acids have been used previously to facilitate the absorption of drugs by cells.

RAVAGE
/ˈravɪdʒ/
In those days, Europe was periodically ravaged by plagues.
Hurricane Ivan is also widely expected to hit the already ravaged State of Florida.

THREATEN
/ˈθret.ən/

In one incident, a manager was threatened with a knife.
A masked robber threatened the bank staff with a gun.

PROMPT

1. Recent worries over the president's health have prompted speculation over his political future.
2. What prompted you to say that?
I don't know what prompted him to leave.

RAGE

1. The storm raged outside.
A flu epidemic is raging in/through local schools.
The argument rages on (= continues strongly).
2. He raged at us for forgetting to order a replacement.

HOARD
/hɔːd/

1. During the siege people began hoarding food and supplies.

2. She hoarded dirty bottles, old newspapers, broken appliances, even plastic bags from cereal boxes.

SPURT
/spɜːt/

1. Blood was spurting out all over the place.
2. The lake's remarkable centerpiece is a massive, yet elegant fountain that spurts water as high as 36 feet into the air.

OVERTAX
/ˌəʊ.vəˈtæks/

Remember you've been ill, and don't overtax yourself.
This problem is overtaxing my brain.

REASON
/ˈriː.zən/

1.Newton reasoned (that) there must be a force such as gravity

2.I spent hours reasoning out the solution to the puzzle.

ARGUE
/ˈɑːɡ.juː/

1. The senator argued for/in favour of/against making cuts in military spending.
2. The senator argued that cuts in military spending were needed.