various, distance, establish, achievement, undergo: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Intermediate set 38. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. various · adjective/ˈvɛriəs/

   several different

   There are many employees from various cultural backgrounds in our office.

   Synonyms: varied, diverse, several, numerous

   Origin: late Middle English: from Latin varius ‘changing, diverse’+ -ous

2. distance · noun/ˈdɪst(ə)ns/

   the amount of space between two people or things

   The distance between the Earth and the Moon is 384,400 km.

   Synonyms: gap, space

   Origin: Middle English (in the sense ‘discord, debate’): from Old French or from Latin distantia, from distant- ‘standing apart’, from the verb distare (see distant)

3. establish · verb/əˈstæblɪʃ/

   to make something start to exist

   Three women got together and established this organization to help the poor.

   Synonyms: create, found, build, launch

   Origin: late Middle English (recorded earlier as stablish): from Old French establiss-, lengthened stem of establir, from Latin stabilire ‘make firm’, from stabilis (adjective) ‘stable’

4. achievement · noun/əˈtʃivm(ə)nt/

   something important or difficult that you succeed in doing

   His greatest achievement in life was getting a good job.

   Synonyms: accomplishment, success

5. undergo · verb/ˌəndərˈɡoʊ/

   experience something or be subject to something

   Every year millions of people undergo surgery to improve their appearance.

   Synonyms: endure, go through

   Origin: Old English undergān ‘undermine’ (see under-, go)