English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

readership

noun

All the people who read a particular publication.

readily

adv

Without hesitation or reluctance; willingly.

readiness

noun

The state of being fully prepared for something.

reading

noun

The activity of looking at and understanding written text.

readjust

verb

To adjust something again, or to adapt once more to changed circumstances.

readout

noun

A display, especially a digital one, showing measured or processed data.

ready

adj

Fully prepared for something and able to act immediately.

Reagan

name

An Irish surname and given name, notably borne by U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

reagent

noun

A substance used in a laboratory, or sometimes in industry, to test or react with other materials.

reair

verb

To show a television programme on air for a second time.

real

adj

Actually existing or happening, rather than imagined, fictional, or invented.

real estate

noun

Land together with any buildings, fixtures and natural resources attached to it, treated as property that can be owned, bought and sold.

real life

noun

The world as it actually is, as opposed to fiction, theory, games or online space.

realise

verb

The standard British spelling of "realize," meaning to become fully aware of something, or to achieve or make something happen.

realism

noun

A practical, level-headed way of seeing the world, focused on facts rather than wishful thinking.

realist

noun

A person who sees and deals with situations as they actually are, rather than how they might wish them to be.

realistic

adj

Showing a sensible and practical understanding of what is actually possible.

realistically

adv

In a way that is practical and reflects what is actually possible.

reality

noun

The state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they are imagined or wished to be.

realization

noun

The moment of suddenly understanding or becoming fully aware of something.

realize

verb

To become fully aware of a fact or situation, especially one that was true all along.

really

adv

In actual fact; truly, as opposed to seeming or claiming to be so.

realm

noun

A kingdom or territory ruled by a monarch or supreme authority.

realsome

adj

Marked by realness; like or grounded in objective reality.

realtor

noun

A licensed agent who helps people buy, sell, or rent property.

realty

noun

Real estate; land and any buildings attached to it.

ream

noun

A large standard bundle of paper, traditionally 500 sheets.

reamer

noun

A tool used to widen a hole that has already been drilled.

rean

noun

A deep ditch dug to drain water away.

reanimate

verb

To give life or movement to something once more.

reap

verb

To cut and gather a crop, especially grain.

reaper

noun

A person or machine that harvests crops.

reaping

noun

The act of harvesting a crop.

reappear

verb

To appear again after being absent or out of sight.

reapply

verb

To apply again, such as for a job or a product.

reappraisal

noun

A fresh look at something in order to judge its worth again.

rear

verb

To bring up and care for a child or young animal until maturity.

Rearden

name

An Irish surname.

Reardon

name

An Irish surname, a variant of Rearden.

rearguard

noun

The part of an army furthest back, especially soldiers guarding the rear of troops as they retreat.

rearing

noun

The act or process of raising a child or young animal.

rearrange

verb

To change the order or arrangement of things.

rearrangement

noun

The process of putting things into a different order or arrangement.

rearranging

noun

The act of changing the order or layout of something.

rearview

adj

Showing or relating to the view behind a vehicle.

rearward

noun

The part of something that comes at the end, or its closing stage.

reason

noun

A cause or explanation for something; the motive behind an action.

reasonable

adj

Fair and sensible; based on good judgment.

reasonably

adv

In a sensible or fair way.

reasoned

adj

Based on careful logical thought rather than impulse or emotion.

reasoning

noun

The process of thinking through something logically to reach a conclusion.

reassemble

verb

To put something back together after it has been taken apart.

reassembly

noun

The process of putting something back together after it has been taken apart.

reassess

verb

To evaluate something again, often to check or revise an earlier judgment.

reassessment

noun

A fresh judgement made about something, carried out again after an earlier one.

reassign

verb

To assign someone or something to a new role, task, or place.

reassignment

noun

The act of assigning someone or something again, often to a different role.

reassurance

noun

Words or actions that restore someone's confidence and calm their worries.

reassure

verb

To restore someone's confidence by removing their doubts or fears.

reassuring

adj

Making someone feel calmer or more confident.

reave

verb

To steal or carry off goods, often violently.

reaver

noun

A person who steals or robs, especially by force.

reaves

name

A surname that arose from an occupation.

reawaken

verb

To open your eyes and become conscious again after a long sleep.

reawakening

noun

A further occasion of becoming awake, active, or aware again.

reax

noun

(informal) A short way of saying reaction or reactions.

reb

noun

A respectful title used before the name of a Jewish teacher or religious leader, similar to "sir" or "mister."

Reba

name

A feminine given name, often used as a short form of Rebecca.

rebar

noun

A steel bar used to strengthen concrete.

rebate

noun

A partial refund given after a purchase or payment.

rebbe

noun

The religious head of a community within Hasidic Judaism.

Rebecca

name

A female forename coming from the Bible, itself from Hebrew, and commonly used since the Reformation.

Rebekah

name

A feminine given name of Hebrew origin, a variant of Rebecca; in the Bible, the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau.

rebel

noun

A person who fights against or refuses to obey an established authority.

rebelling

noun

The act of resisting or fighting against authority.

rebellion

noun

Organized, often violent resistance against a government or ruling power.

rebellious

adj

Defying or resisting authority; inclined to rebel.

rebelliousness

noun

A tendency to resist authority or refuse to obey rules.

rebirth

noun

A fresh start or revival, whether literal, spiritual, or figurative.

reboot

verb

To restart a computer, forcing the operating system to load again, often to fix a problem.

reborn

adj

Renewed or transformed, especially in outlook, spirit, or feeling.

rebound

noun

The bouncing back of an object after it hits something.

rebounding

noun

The action of bouncing back after hitting something.

rebrand

verb

To give a product or organisation a new name, logo, or overall image.

rebroadcast

noun

A television or radio programme that is shown or played again.

rebuff

noun

An unexpected refusal of an offer or request.

rebuild

verb

To build something again after it has been damaged or destroyed.

rebuilding

noun

The process of constructing something again after it was damaged or torn down.

rebuilt

adj

Having been constructed again after damage, or restored to working order.

rebuke

noun

A sharp expression of disapproval; a scolding.

rebus

noun

A puzzle that uses pictures or symbols to represent words or parts of words.

rebut

verb

To force something or someone backwards, pushing it away.

rebuttable

adj

Able to be shown to be false or mistaken.

rebuttal

noun

An argument or evidence offered to counter someone else's claim.

rebutter

noun

A person who pushes back or forces something away.

rec

verb

Informal short form of recommend.

recalcitrance

noun

A stubborn refusal to obey or cooperate.

recalcitrant

adjective

Stubbornly refusing to obey authority, follow rules or cooperate, even under pressure.

recalibrate

verb

To adjust or set the standard of something again, often after conditions have changed.

recall

verb

To bring a past event or fact back into your mind; to remember.

recalling

noun

The act of bringing something back to mind, or of officially calling something back.

recant

verb

To formally take back a statement or belief you previously expressed, especially in public.

recantation

noun

The act of taking back a former statement or belief, or a statement withdrawn in this way.

recap

verb

To summarize the main points of something already said or done.

recapitate

verb

To give something a head again, or fix a new head onto it.

recapitulate

verb

To go over the main points of something again, briefly.

recapitulation

noun

A subsequent brief recitement or enumeration of the major points in a narrative, article, or book.

recapture

verb

To capture something again, especially after losing it.

recast

verb

To make or shape something again in a different form.

recce

noun

A quick look at a place in advance to find out what it is like and what will be needed there.

recede

verb

To move gradually back or away from a previous position.

receding

adj

Moving gradually further back or away; gradually diminishing.

receipt

noun

A printed or written proof that money or goods were received, such as a slip given after a purchase.

receive

verb

To be given, sent, or handed something.

received

adj

Widely accepted as true or standard.

receiver

noun

A person or thing that receives something.

receivership

noun

The role and responsibilities carried out by a receiver.

receiving

noun

The act of getting or accepting something that is given or sent.

recent

adj

Having happened not long ago.

recently

adv

A short time ago, or in the near past.

Recep

name

A masculine given name of Turkish origin.

recept

noun

An idea built up in the mind from repeated experiences of the same thing.

receptacle

noun

A container designed to hold something.

receptacular

adj

(botany) Relating to, or found on, the receptacle of a plant.

receptary

adj

Widely accepted or commonly recognised.

receptibility

noun

The quality of being able to receive or take in something.

reception

noun

A formal social event, often to welcome or honor someone.

receptionist

noun

A person whose job is to greet visitors and answer calls at an office, hotel, or similar business.

receptive

adj

Open and willing to consider new ideas, suggestions, or feedback.

receptiveness

noun

The quality of being open and willing to accept new ideas.

receptivity

noun

The quality of being open to new ideas, suggestions, or influences.

receptor

noun

A structure in a cell or on its surface that detects and responds to specific signals or substances.

recess

noun

A break from an activity or from regular proceedings, especially in a school, court, or legislature.

recessed

adj

Set back into a wall, ceiling, or surface rather than sitting flush or protruding.

recession

noun

A period of reduced economic activity, typically marked by falling output and rising unemployment.

recessive

adj

Moving backwards, or tending to withdraw.

recharge

verb

To restore power to a battery.

recharging

noun

The process of restoring power or energy to something.

recheck

verb

To check something a second time to make sure it is correct.

recidivate

verb

To fall back into old, bad habits, especially by breaking the law again after already being punished for it.

recidivism

noun

The tendency of a convicted offender to commit further crimes, especially after being released from prison; the rate at which this happens.

recidivistic

adj

Tending to slip back into old habits, often criminal ones.

recipe

noun

A set of instructions for cooking a dish, listing ingredients and the steps to combine and prepare them.

recipient

noun

A person who receives something, such as a gift, message, or award.

reciprocal

adj

Given or felt equally by both sides; mutual, done in return.

reciprocally

adv

In a way that is given back in return, such as a favour or an insult.

reciprocalness

noun

The fact of something being mutual, with each side giving something back.

reciprocate

verb

To respond to an action or feeling with a similar one in return.

reciprocation

noun

An exchange in which each side gives something back to the other.

reciprocative

adj

Involving something given back in return by each side.