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Home - Vocabulary - Words - American English Vocabulary - Letter S

Words - Letter S

American English Vocabulary - Letter S The words on this page came from the VOA, Voice of America, Special English Word Book. Use the Fun Easy English dictionary for a more detailed explanation of each word. Quick Links 1500 Words A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Words - Letter S sabotage - v. to damage or destroy as an act against an organization or nation ("The rebels sabotaged the railroad.") sacrifice - v. to do without something or to suffer a loss for a belief, idea, goal or another person sad - ad. not happy safe - ad. away from harm or danger sail - v. to travel by boat or ship sailor - n. a person involved in sailing a boat or ship salt - n. a white substance found in sea water and in the ground, used to affect the taste of food same - ad. not different; not changed; like another or others sand - n. extremely small pieces of crushed rock found in large amounts in deserts and on coasts satellite - n. a small object in space that moves around a larger object; an object placed in orbit around the earth satisfy - v. to give or provide what is desired, needed or demanded save - v. to make safe; to remove from harm; to keep for future use say - v. to speak; to express in words school - n. a place for education; a place where people go to learn science - n. the study of nature and the actions of natural things, and the knowledge gained about them sea - n. a large area of salt water, usually part of an ocean search - v. to look for carefully season - n. one of the four periods of the year that is based on the earth's position toward the sun (spring, summer, autumn, winter); a period of time based on different weather conditions ("dry season", "rainy season"); a period during the year when something usually happens ("baseball season") seat - n. a thing to sit on; a place to sit or the right to sit there ("a seat in parliament") second - ad. the one that comes after the first secret - n. something known only to a few and kept from general knowledge; ad. hidden from others; known only to a few security - n. freedom from danger or harm; protection; measures necessary to protect a person or place ("Security was increased in the city.") see - v. to know or sense through the eyes; to understand or know seed - n. the part of a plant from which new plants grow seek(ing) - v. to search for ("They are seeking a cure for cancer."); to try to get ("She is seeking election to public office."); to plan to do ("Electric power companies are seeking to reduce their use of coal.") seem - v. to appear to be ("She seems to be in good health.") seize - v. to take quickly by force; to take control of quickly; to arrest self - n. all that which makes one person different from others sell - v. to give something in exchange for money Senate - n. the smaller of the two groups in the governments of some countries, such as in the United States Congress send - v. to cause to go; to permit to go; to cause to be carried, taken or directed to or away from a place sense - v. to come to know about by feeling, believing or understanding; n. any of the abilities to see, hear, taste, smell or feel sentence - v. to declare the punishment for a crime; n. the punishment for a crime separate - v. to set or keep people, things or ideas away from or independent from others; ad. not together or connected; different series - n. a number of similar things or events that follow one after another in time, position or order serious - ad. important; needing careful consideration; dangerous serve - v. to work as an official; to be employed by the government; to assist or help service - n. an organization or system that provides something for the public ("Schools and roads are services paid for by taxes."); a job that an organization or business can do for money; military organizations such as an army, navy or air force; a religious ceremony set - v. to put in place or position; to establish a time, price or limit settle - v. to end (a dispute); to agree about (a problem); to make a home in a new place several - ad. three or more, but not many severe - ad. not gentle; causing much pain, sadness or damage sex - n. either the male or female group into which all people and animals are divided because of their actions in producing young; the physical activity by which humans and animals can produce young shake - v. to move or cause to move in short, quick movements shape - v. to give form to; n. the form of something, especially how it looks share - v. to give part of something to another or others; n. a part belonging to, given to or owned by a single person or a group; any one of the equal parts of ownership of a business or company sharp - ad. having a thin edge or small point that can cut or hurt; causing hurt or pain she - pro. the girl or woman who is being spoken about sheep - n. a farm animal used for its meat and hair shell - v. to fire artillery; n. a metal container that is fired from a large gun and explodes when it reaches its target; a hard outside cover shelter - v. to protect or give protection to; n. something that gives protection; a place of safety shine - v. to aim a light; to give bright light; to be bright; to clean to make bright ship - v. to transport; n. a large boat shock - v. to cause to feel sudden surprise or fear; n. something that greatly affects the mind or emotions; a powerful shake, as from an earthquake shoe - n. a covering for the foot shoot - v. to cause a gun or other weapon to send out an object designed to kill; to use a gun short - ad. lasting only for a small period of time; not long; opposite tall should - v. used with another verb (action word) to show responsibility ("We should study."), probability ("The talks should begin soon."), or that something is believed to be a good idea ("Criminals should be punished.") shout - v. to speak very loudly show - v. to make something be seen; to make known; n. a play or story presented in a theater, or broadcast on radio or television, for enjoyment or education; something organized to be seen by the public shrink - v. to make or become less in size, weight or value sick - ad. suffering physically or mentally with a disease or other problem; not in good health sickness - n. the condition of being in bad health side - n. the outer surfaces of an object that are not the top or bottom; parts away from the middle; either the right or left half of the body sign - v. to write one's name; n. a mark or shape used to mean something; evidence that something exists or will happen; a flat piece of material with writing that gives information signal - v. to send a message by signs; n. an action or movement that sends a message silence - v. to make quiet; to stop from speaking or making noise; n. a lack of noise or sound silver - n. a valued white metal similar - ad. like something else but not exactly the same simple - ad. easy to understand or do; not difficult or complex since - prep. from a time in the past until now ("I have known her since we went to school together.") sing - v. to make music sounds with the voice single - ad. one only sink - v. to go down into water or other liquid sister - n. a female with the same father or mother as another person sit - v. to rest on the lower part of the body without the support of the legs; to become seated situation - n. the way things are during a period of time size - n. the space occupied by something; how long, wide or high something is skeleton - n. all the bones of a human or other animal together in their normal positions skill - n. the ability gained from training or experience skin - n. the outer covering of humans and most animals sky - n. the space above the earth slave - n. a person owned or controlled by another sleep - v. to rest the body and mind with the eyes closed slide - v. to move smoothly over a surface slow - v. to reduce the speed of; ad. not fast in moving, talking or other activities small - ad. little in size or amount; few in number; not important; opposite large smash - v. to break or be broken into small pieces by force; to hit or move with force smell - v. to sense through the nose; n. something sensed by the nose ("the smell of food cooking") smoke - v. to use cigarettes or other tobacco products by burning them and breathing in the smoke; n. that which can be seen rising into the air like a cloud from something burning smooth - ad. having a level surface; opposite rough snow - n. soft, white pieces of frozen water that fall from the sky, usually in winter or when the air temperature is very cold so - ad. in such a way that ("He held the flag so all could see it."); also; too ("She left early, and so did we."); very ("I am so sick."); as a result ("They were sick, so they could not come."); conj. in order that; for the purpose of ("Come early so we can discuss the plans.") social - ad. of or about people or a group soft - ad. not hard; easily shaped; pleasing to touch; not loud soil - n. earth in which plants grow soldier - n. a person in the army solid - ad. having a hard shape with no empty spaces inside; strong; not in the form of a liquid or gas solve - v. to find an answer; to settle some - ad. of an amount or number or part not stated; not all son - n. a person's male child soon - ad. not long after the present time; quickly sort - n. any group of people or things that are the same or are similar in some way; a kind of something sound - n. fast-moving waves of energy that affect the ear and result in hearing; that which is heard south - n. the direction to the right of a person facing the rising sun space - n. the area outside the earth's atmosphere where the sun, moon, planets and stars are; the area between or inside things speak - v. to talk; to say words with the mouth; to express one's thoughts to others and exchange ideas; to give a speech to a group special - ad. of a different or unusual kind; not for general use; better or more important than others of the same kind speech - n. a talk given to a group of people speed - v. to make something go or move faster; n. the rate at which something moves or travels; the rate at which something happens or is done spend - v. to give as payment; to use ("He spends much time studying.") spill - v. to cause or permit liquid to flow out, usually by accident spirit - n. the part of a human that is not physical and is connected to thoughts and emotions; the part of a person that is believed to remain alive after death split - v. to separate into two or more parts; to divide or break into parts sport - n. any game or activity of competition involving physical effort or skill spread - v. to become longer or wider; to make or become widely known spring - n. the time of the year between winter and summer spy - v. to steal or get information secretly; n. one who watches others secretly; a person employed by a government to get secret information about another country square - n. a flat shape having four equal sides stab - v. to cut or push into or through with a pointed weapon stand - v. to move into or be in a position in which only the feet are on a surface; to be in one position or place star - n. a mass of gas that usually appears as a small light in the sky at night, but is not a planet; a famous person, usually an actor or singer start - v. to begin; to make something begin starve - v. to suffer or die from a lack of food state - v. to say; to declare; n. a political part of a nation station - n. a place of special work or purpose ("a police station"); a place where passengers get on or off trains or buses; a place for radio or television broadcasts statue - n. a form of a human, animal or other creature usually made of stone, wood or metal stay - v. to continue to be where one is; to remain; to not leave; to live for a time ("They stayed in New York for two years.") steal - v. to take without permission or paying steam - n. the gas that comes from hot water steel - n. iron made harder and stronger by mixing it with other substances step - v. to move by lifting one foot and placing it in a new position; n. the act of stepping; one of a series of actions designed to reach a goal stick - v. to attach something to another thing using a substance that will hold them together; to become fixed in one position so that movement is difficult ("Something is making the door stick."); n. a thin piece of wood still - ad. not moving ("The man was standing still."); until the present or a stated time ("Was he still there?"); even so; although ("The job was difficult, but she still wanted to do it.") stone - n. a small piece of rock stop - v. to prevent any more movement or action; to come or bring to an end store - v. to keep or put away for future use; n. a place where people buy things storm - n. violent weather, including strong winds and rain or snow story - n. the telling or writing of an event, either real or imagined stove - n. a heating device used for cooking straight - ad. continuing in one direction without turns strange - ad. unusual; not normal; not known street - n. a road in a city, town or village stretch - v. to extend for a distance; to pull on to make longer or wider strike - v. to hit with force; to stop work as a way to seek better conditions, more pay or to make other demands strong - ad. having much power; not easily broken, damaged or destroyed structure - n. the way something is built, made or organized; a system that is formed or organized in a special way; a building struggle - v. to try with much effort; to fight with; n. a great effort; a fight study - v. to make an effort to gain knowledge by using the mind; to examine carefully stupid - ad. not able to learn much; not intelligent subject - n. the person or thing being discussed, studied or written about submarine - n. an underwater ship substance - n. the material of which something is made (a solid, liquid or gas) substitute - v. to put or use in place of another; n. a person or thing put or used in place of another subversion - n. an attempt to weaken or destroy a political system or government, usually secretly succeed - v. to reach a goal or thing desired; to produce a planned result such - ad. of this or that kind; of the same kind as; similar to sudden - ad. not expected; without warning; done or carried out quickly or without preparation suffer - v. to feel pain in the body or mind; to receive or experience hurt or sadness sugar - n. a sweet substance made from liquids taken from plants suggest - v. to offer or propose something to think about or consider suicide - n. the act of killing oneself summer - n. the warmest time of the year, between spring and autumn sun - n. the huge star in the sky that provides heat and light to earth supervise - v. to direct and observe the work of others supply - v. to give; to provide; n. the amount of something that can be given or sold to others support - v. to carry the weight of; to hold up or in position; to agree with others and help them reach a goal; to approve suppose - v. to believe, think or imagine ("I suppose you are right."); to expect ("It is supposed to rain tonight.") suppress - v. to put down or to keep down by force; to prevent information from being known publicly sure - ad. very probable; with good reason to believe; true without question surface - n. the outer side or top of something ("The rocket landed on the surface of the moon.") surplus - n. an amount that is more than is needed; extra; ("That country has a trade surplus. It exports more than it imports.") surprise - v. to cause a feeling of wonder because something is not expected; n. something not expected; the feeling caused by something not expected surrender - v. to give control of oneself or one's property to another or others; to stop fighting and admit defeat surround - v. to form a circle around; to be in positions all around someone or something survive - v. to remain alive during or after a dangerous situation suspect - v. to imagine or believe that a person is guilty of something bad or illegal; n. a person believed to be guilty suspend - v. to cause to stop for a period of time swallow - v. to take into the stomach through the mouth swear in - v. to put an official into office by having him or her promise to carry out the duties of that office ("The chief justice will swear in the president.") sweet - ad. tasting pleasant, like sugar swim - v. to move through water by making motions with the arms and legs sympathy - n. a sharing of feelings or emotions with another person, usually feelings of sadness system - n. a method of organizing or doing something by following rules or a plan; a group of connected things or parts working together for a common purpose or goal

News Words - Letter S The videos on this page came from the VOA, Voice of America, News Words program. Use the Fun Easy English dictionary for a detailed explanation of words you do not understand. Sacred Sanctions Satire Scope Sectarian Secure Senate Shun Significant Simulator Smuggle Solidarity Solution Sophisticated Sovereign Speculation Sporadic Stabilize Startup Stereotype Stigma Stock Market Strategy Summit Superfood Supreme Court Surreal Surveillance Symptoms

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