Set 141 · Study 1 / 5

Exit

cheat

verb/tʃit/

definition

to act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage

example

He decided to cheat on the test because he was unprepared and anxious about failing.

synonyms
deceivefooltrick
word origin — Middle English 'cheten', from Old French 'escheat', meaning an unlawful action or act of deceit.

cheat, overestimate, retain, spin, dig: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from IELTS Vocabulary set 141. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. cheat · verb/tʃit/

    to act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage

    He decided to cheat on the test because he was unprepared and anxious about failing.

    Synonyms: deceive, fool, trick

    Origin: Middle English 'cheten', from Old French 'escheat', meaning an unlawful action or act of deceit.

  2. overestimate · verb/ˌoʊ.vɚˈɛs.tɪ.meɪt/

    to assess or estimate something as being greater or more important than it actually is

    Many students tend to overestimate their abilities when preparing for exams, believing they can score higher than they realistically will.

    Synonyms: exaggerate, inflate, overrate

    Origin: The word 'overestimate' is formed from the prefix 'over-' meaning 'excessively' combined with 'estimate' which comes from the Latin 'aestimare', meaning 'to value or appraise'.

  3. retain · verb/rɪˈteɪn/

    to keep possession of or continue to have something

    To succeed in business, it is crucial to retain important customers by providing excellent service.

    Synonyms: keep, hold, preserve

    Origin: Middle French retenir, from Latin retinere, from re- 'back' + tenere 'to hold'

  4. spin · noun/spɪn/

    the act of rotating around an axis or a central point

    The child laughed as the merry-go-round gained speed, enjoying the dizzying spin of the ride.

    Synonyms: twirl, rotation, whirl

    Origin: The word 'spin' originates from the Old English 'spinner', which is related to the Proto-Germanic '*spinōną', meaning 'to turn, to twirl'.

  5. dig · verb/dɪɡ/

    to break up and move earth or other material with a tool or machine

    The workers had to dig a trench to lay the new water pipes beneath the street.

    Synonyms: excavate, scoop, burrow

    Origin: Middle English 'diggen', of uncertain origin, possibly from Old English 'dycgan'.