drop out , miss out, gain, impede, conduct: meanings and examples

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

1. drop out · phrasal verb

   quit an activity that required an official registration, often a school

   By the middle of the semester, the advanced physics class was proving too challenging for Sam, so he decided to drop out of the course.

   Synonyms: give up, quit

2. miss out · phrasal verb

   lose the chance of doing or seeing something

   Francesa refused to babysit because she had planned on going to the movies with her friends and she didn't want to miss out on the big premiere.

   Synonyms: miss, skip

3. gain · verb/ɡeɪn/

   obtain something

   Hands-on training is really valuable for those who want to gain experience in professional life.

   Synonyms: achieve, reach, get

   Origin: late 15th century (as a noun, originally in the sense ‘booty’): from Old French gaigne (noun), gaignier (verb), of Germanic origin

4. impede · verb/ɪmˈpid/

   be a hindrance or stop someone from making progress

   Jason’s sprained ankle impeded his ability to play basketball.

   Synonyms: block, hamper, slow down

   Origin: late 16th century: from Latin impedire ‘shackle the feet of’, based on pes, ped- ‘foot’. Compare with impeach

5. conduct · verb/ˈkɑnˌdək(t)/

   direct the course of an activity

   The research conducted at Stanford University suggested that cold weather lowered the body's immune response, particularly in the nostrils.

   Synonyms: manage, carry out, lead

   Origin: Middle English: from Old French, from Latin conduct- ‘brought together’, from the verb conducere. The term originally denoted a provision for safe passage, surviving in safe conduct; later the verb sense ‘lead, guide’ arose, hence ‘manage’ and ‘management’ (late Middle English), later ‘management of oneself, behavior’ (mid 16th century). The original form of the word was conduit, which was preserved only in the sense ‘channel’ (see conduit); in other uses the spelling was influenced by Latin