mundane, alleviate, confide in, exhilarating, perpetual: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Advanced Plus set 2. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. mundane · adjective/mʌnˈdeɪn/

   dull and not exciting; very common

   His day was filled with mundane tasks like washing dishes and cleaning the house.

   Synonyms: ordinary, routine, everyday

   Origin: from Latin 'mundanus', meaning 'of the world'

2. alleviate · verb/əˈliː.vi.eɪt/

   to make something less severe or more bearable

   Taking a painkiller can help alleviate the headache.

   Synonyms: lessen, ease, soothe

   Origin: from Latin 'alleviare', which means 'to lighten' or 'to relieve'

3. confide in · verb/kənˈfaɪd ɪn/

   to share one's secrets or personal thoughts with someone in confidence

   Maria decided to confide in her best friend about her worries at school.

   Synonyms: open up to, trust, disclose to

   Origin: from Latin 'confidere', meaning 'to have full trust or reliance'.

4. exhilarating · adjective/ɪɡˈzɪl.ə.reɪ.tɪŋ/

   causing great excitement or happiness

   Riding a roller coaster was an exhilarating experience for me.

   Synonyms: exciting, thrilling, energizing

   Origin: The word 'exhilarating' comes from the Latin word 'exhilarare,' which means 'to make cheerful or merry.'

5. perpetual · adjective/pərˈpɛtʃ.u.əl/

   lasting forever or for an indefinitely long time

   The children's laughter filled the room with a sense of perpetual joy.

   Synonyms: everlasting, eternal, constant

   Origin: from Latin 'perpetuus' meaning 'uninterrupted, continuous'