seek, disobey, eliminate, defend, omit: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from IELTS Vocabulary set 29. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. seek · verb/siːk/

   to search for or try to find something

   Many people seek advice from experts when making important decisions.

   Synonyms: search, look for, hunt for

   Origin: Old English 'sēcan', meaning 'to seek, look for, or strive after'

2. disobey · verb/ˌdɪs.əˈbeɪ/

   to refuse to follow instructions or rules

   Students who choose to disobey the school rules often face serious consequences.

   Synonyms: defy, dis regard, ignore

   Origin: The word 'disobey' comes from the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'not' or 'opposite of' combined with 'obey' which is derived from the Latin 'obaudire' meaning 'to listen to or follow'.

3. eliminate · verb/ɪˈlɪməˌneɪt/

   to completely remove or get rid of something

   The company implemented new policies to eliminate waste and improve efficiency.

   Synonyms: remove, eradicate, delete

   Origin: from Latin 'eliminare', which means 'to shut out' or 'to exclude'

4. defend · verb/dɪˈfɛnd/

   to protect from harm or danger

   The lawyer was hired to defend her client against the serious allegations made by the prosecution.

   Synonyms: protect, guard, shield

   Origin: from Latin 'defendere', meaning 'to ward off, protect' (de- 'from' + fendere 'to strike')

5. omit · verb/oʊˈmɪt/

   to leave out or exclude something

   Please make sure to omit any unnecessary details from your presentation.

   Synonyms: exclude, leave out, skip

   Origin: from Latin 'omittere', meaning 'to let go, pass over' (ob- 'away' + mittere 'to send')