traditional, natural, alike, counter, current: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Intermediate set 41. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. traditional · adjective/trəˈdɪʃ(ə)nəl/

   following customs or ways of doing things that have existed for a long time

   All the representatives from different countries were wearing traditional clothes.

   Synonyms: customary, conventional, long-established

2. natural · adjective/ˈnætʃər(ə)l/

   existing in nature; normal

   I would like to try some natural remedies such as tea and honey before I see a doctor.

   Synonyms: normal, usual, not artificial

   Origin: Middle English (in the sense ‘having a certain status by birth’): from Old French, from Latin naturalis, from natura ‘birth, nature, quality’ (see nature)

3. alike · adjective/əˈlaɪk/

   similar; having a likeness

   John and Adam look alike but when you talk to them, you realize that they couldn't be more different.

   Synonyms: similar

   Origin: Middle English (as adverb): partly from Old Norse álíka (adverb) ‘alike’, álíkr (adjective) ‘like, resembling’; partly from Old English anlice (adverb), anlic (adjective); and partly from Old English gelīce (adverb), gelīc (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gelijk and German gleich

4. counter · adjective/ˈkaʊn(t)ər/

   opposite or contrary

   You should think of some counter arguments before the discussion to be more prepared.

   Synonyms: opposing, contrary, conflicting

   Origin: Middle English (in counter (sense 2)): from Old French conteor, from medieval Latin computatorium, from Latin computare (see compute)

5. current · adjective/ˈkərənt/

   happening or existing at the moment

   The current schedule may change if more people join the project.

   Synonyms: present, ongoing

   Origin: Middle English (in the adjective sense ‘running, flowing’): from Old French corant ‘running’, from courre ‘run’, from Latin currere ‘run’