Upper-Intermediate — Set 79

Set 79 of Upper-Intermediate covers 5 words: fulfill, gamble, illustrate, forbid, ruin. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. fulfill · verb/fʊlˈfɪl/

   to achieve something that you have been longing for

   Roby initiated a campaign to ask citizens in his neighbourhood to help her grandfather fulfill his dream of travelling around the world.

   Synonyms: accomplish, achieve, realize

   Origin: late Old English fullfyllan ‘fill up, make full’ (see full, fill)

2. gamble · verb/ˈɡæmbəl/

   to do risky things despite negative results it could bring

   Heavy smokers gamble with their and their family's health seriously especially when they smoke indoors.

   Synonyms: challenge, dare, endanger

   Origin: early 18th century (in gambling noun): ultimately from game. There may be a connection with the obsolete form gameling ‘playing of games’ (late 16th century)

3. illustrate · verb/ˈɪləˌstreɪt/

   to explain something by showing details

   The rising crime rates in the area in the last five years illustrate that there is lack of security service in that neighbourhood.

   Synonyms: demonstrate, exemplify, clarify

   Origin: early 16th century (in the sense ‘illuminate, shed light on’): from Latin illustrat- ‘lit up’, from the verb illustrare, from in- ‘upon’ + lustrare ‘illuminate’

4. forbid · verb/fərˈbɪd/

   to say that somebody is not allowed to do something

   With the new law passed, the government aims to strictly forbid racial or sexual discrimination in the country.

   Synonyms: ban, block, censor

   Origin: Old English forbēodan(see for-, bid)

5. ruin · verb/ˈruˌɪn/

   to damage something severely

   If you water the flowers too much, you will ruin them completely as water may do more harm than good to some flowers.

   Synonyms: spoil, demolish, wipe out

   Origin: Middle English (in the sense ‘collapse of a building’): from Old French ruine, from Latin ruina, from ruere ‘to fall’