count on, ancient, approval, anniversary, bring up: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Upper-Intermediate set 21. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. count on · verb

   to trust someone or something

   Young adults often count on ongoing financial and emotional support from their families, and even after graduating from college, they are rarely completely independent.

   Synonyms: rely on, depend on, lean on

2. ancient · adjective/ˈeɪn(t)ʃənt/

   very old or belonging to a distant past

   We still have a lot to learn about ancient civilizations such as the Phoenicians and the Mesopotamians.

   Synonyms: archaic, antique, old-fashioned

   Origin: late Middle English: from Old French ancien, based on Latin ante ‘before’

3. approval · noun/əˈpruv(ə)l/

   official permission or a favorable opinion of someone or something

   That kind of a big operation could not be run without an approval from the very top level of the government.

   Synonyms: consent, confirmation, permission, validation

4. anniversary · noun/ˌænəˈvərs(ə)ri/

   the date of an important past event that is celebrated or remembered every year

   This year, our parents are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and we have planned a surprise party for them.

   Synonyms: yearly celebration

   Origin: Middle English: from Latin anniversarius ‘returning yearly’, from annus ‘year’ + versus ‘turning’

5. bring up · phrasal verb

   to mention a topic

   During the meeting, she decided to bring up the issue of budget limitations that had been affecting the project's progress.

   Synonyms: mention, raise a subject, speak of