stumble upon, appeal to, commodify, surrender, ascend: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Advanced set 16. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. stumble upon · phrasal verb

   find something or meet someone by chance

   I stumbled upon a box of old photos the other day while cleaning the attic.

   Synonyms: run into, bump into, come across

2. appeal to · phrasal verb

   to attract or interest someone

   The movie might appeal to hardcore action lovers, but I personally found it too violent.

   Synonyms: attract, be attractive to, interest, fascinate

3. commodify · verb/kəˈmɑdəˌfaɪ/

   treat something as if it can be bought and sold

   Critics often complain that art has been commodified to such an extent that it is now the market that decides its value rather than its aesthetic or intellectual worth.

   Synonyms: materialize, objectify

   Origin: 1970s: from commodity+ -fy

4. surrender · verb/səˈrɛndər/

   stop resisting; give up or abandon

   The opposition party's spokesperson said they would continue to fight to the end and would not surrender in the face of challenge.

   Synonyms: give in, yield, submit

   Origin: late Middle English (chiefly in legal use): from Anglo-Norman French(see sur-, render)

5. ascend · verb/əˈsɛnd/

   to climb or go up

   Along the way, she met several students determined to improve their living conditions and ascend the social ladder by pursuing higher education.

   Synonyms: move up, climb up, rise

   Origin: late Middle English: from Latin ascendere, from ad- ‘to’ + scandere ‘to climb’