evaluation, revenge, maintenance, loyalty, desperation: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Upper-Intermediate set 94. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. evaluation · noun/əˌvæljʊˈeɪʃən/

   the process of judging the quality, value, or effectiveness of something

   Greenpeace carried out an evaluation of existing legal statements that could be referred to in order to stop cutting trees in rainforests.

   Synonyms: assessment, judgement, appraisal

2. revenge · noun/rəˈvɛndʒ/

   the act of hurting or punishing someone in return for a wrong

   After their son was being shot on the street for nothing, the devastated parents tried hard to take their revenge by sending the murderer to a lifetime prison.

   Synonyms: vengeance, avenge, grievance

   Origin: late Middle English: from Old French revencher, from late Latin revindicare, from re- (expressing intensive force) + vindicare ‘claim, avenge’

3. maintenance · noun/ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/

   the act of keeping something in good condition

   Having a good looking garden requires a routine maintenance from keeping the weeds under control to planting in the correct season.

   Synonyms: preservation, upkeep, conservation

   Origin: Middle English (in the sense ‘aiding a party in a legal action without lawful cause’): from Old French, from maintenir (see maintain)

4. loyalty · noun/ˈlɔɪ(ə)lti/

   the quality of being faithful and committed to a person, group, or cause

   Showing loyalty to someone for a lifetime is a really hard thing to do as you never know what future will bring to you.

   Synonyms: faithfulness, reliability, trustworthiness

5. desperation · noun/ˌdɛspəˈreɪʃən/

   a state of extreme hopelessness that makes someone act urgently

   As the parents did not hear from their daughter for 3 days, they called all the hospitals around their area in desperation in case there had been an accident.

   Synonyms: hopelessness, grief, sorrow

   Origin: late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin desperatio(n-), from the verb desperare (see despair)