Advanced English (2) • NOUNS • 'P'

noun [U ] C2 • synonyms: nonviolent protest, civil disobedience, moral defiance • practice passive resistance; passive resistance against injustice/law/regime; historical movements of passive resistance • freq in AmE: 5/10

a nonviolent form of protest or opposition, typically involving refusal to comply with laws, demands, or commands without using physical force; often associated with civil disobedience and moral conviction

noun [C ] C2 (plural peccadillos or peccadilloes) formal / humorous • synonyms: minor fault, lapse, flaw • a small/minor peccadillo; forgive/overlook peccadillos; personal/social peccadillo • freq in AmE: 4/10

a small and relatively unimportant fault or mistake, especially one that does not seriously harm anyone

noun [C ] C2 • synonyms: fantasy, illusion, delusion • just/merely a pipe dream; a pipe dream of fame/success; chase/cling to a pipe dream • freq in AmE: 6/10

an unrealistic or impractical hope, plan, or ambition — something that is unlikely to ever happen, often used dismissively or skeptically

noun [C ] C2 law (also less frequent complainant) • synonyms: claimant (BrE), complainant • plaintiff files a lawsuit; plaintiff vs defendant; court rules in favor of plaintiff • freq in AmE: 6/10

a person or party who brings a legal case against another in a court of law; the one who initiates a lawsuit (opposite of defendant)

noun [C ] C1 • the premise that...; the premise of an argument/theory • US freq: 6/10 • US → the stress can be placed on the first syllable, whether as a verb or a noun; UK → a noun, the stress falls on the first syllable; a verb — on the second syllable

a foundational idea or proposition that serves as the basis for an argument, theory, or line of reasoning

collocation with premise noun [C ] C1 logic/philosophy • synonyms: assumption, foundation, proposition • be based on the premise that someone believes/does/accepts; premise of a theory/argument/policy; flawed/basic premise • freq in AmE: 6/10

used to describe an argument, theory, belief, or decision that relies on a specific foundational assumption or proposition

noun [U ] C1 • synonyms: swearing, obscenity, blasphemy • use/utter/ban/condemn profanity • excessive/prolonged/repeated profanity • profanity in speech/media/workplace • freq in AmE: 6/10

language that is vulgar, obscene, or disrespectful, especially toward sacred things or social norms; includes swear words, blasphemy, and offensive expressions

noun [U ] C2 formal • synonyms: expansion, spread, escalation • nuclear/digital/ideological proliferation; proliferation of ideas/devices/misinformation • freq in AmE: 7/10

a rapid and often excessive increase in number, spread, or presence of something; commonly used in contexts involving technology, weapons, ideas, or social phenomena

noun [U ] C1 • synonyms: importance, visibility, distinction • rise to/come to/gain/achieve prominence; give prominence; social/media/global prominence; physical prominence • freq in AmE: 6/10

the state of being important, well-known, or easily noticeable; can refer to social status, visibility, influence, or physical projection

collocation with prominence noun [U ] C1 (also come to/gain/achieve prominence) • synonyms: become influential, gain recognition, achieve status • rise to prominence as someone/in something; sudden/gradual rise to prominence • freq in AmE: 6/10

to become important, influential, or widely recognized, especially after a period of obscurity or gradual development; often used in political, artistic, or professional contexts

noun [C ] C2 informal • synonyms: annoyance, irritation, frustration • pet peeve (=something that especially annoys you); grammar peeve; noise peeve; major/minor peeve • freq in AmE: 6/10

something that annoys or irritates a person, often in a persistent or personal way; a particular source of frustration

noun [C usually singular ] C1 • synonyms: peak, summit, zenith • reach the pinnacle of something; pinnacle of success/power/fame; reach/attain/stand at pinnacle • freq in AmE: 6/10

the highest point or most successful stage of something; literally, a pointed top of a mountain or structure, and metaphorically, the peak of achievement, power, or intensity

noun [C ] C2 formal • synonyms: dilemma, bind, quandary • moral/emotional/financial predicament; face/escape/worsen predicament • freq in AmE: 6/10

a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation from which it is hard to escape or find a solution; often involving moral, practical, or relational tension

noun [C or U ] C2 • synonyms: atonement, repentance, reparation • (do/doing) penance for sins/mistakes/pride; perform/undergo/offer penance • freq in AmE: 6/10

an act of self-discipline, suffering, or symbolic reparation performed to express remorse or seek forgiveness for wrongdoing; often rooted in religious or moral tradition

noun [U ] C2 • synonyms: fate, divine will, determinism, foreordination • (belief in predestination); doctrine of predestination; struggle with predestination vs free will • freq in AmE: 3/10

the doctrine or belief that all events, especially the fate of souls, are predetermined by divine will or cosmic necessity; often associated with theological systems that emphasize fate over free will

collocation with proceeds noun [plural ] C1 • synonyms: contribute earnings, allocate profits • donate the proceeds from sales/events; donate proceeds to charity/relief/foundation; all proceeds donated; pledge to donate proceeds • freq in AmE: 6/10

to give the money earned from an event, sale, or activity to a charitable cause, organization, or person in need

noun [C ] C1 • synonyms: ape, monkey, hominid • human primates; intelligent primates; primate behavior; primate species • freq in AmE: 6/10

a member of the biological order Primates, which includes humans, apes, monkeys, and related species characterized by large brains, forward-facing eyes, and grasping hands

noun [U ] C1 • synonyms: spread, expansion, multiplication • proliferation of ideas/technology/weapons/media; rapid/uncontrolled proliferation; global proliferation • freq in AmE: 6/10

a rapid and widespread increase in the number or amount of something — often used in contexts such as technology, weapons, ideas, or media content

noun [C or U ] C2 • synonyms: murmur, hum, vibration, rumble • cat’s purr, voice with a purr, engine purr • freq in AmE: 6/10

a soft, continuous, vibrating sound made by a cat to express comfort, pleasure, or affection; also used figuratively to describe any low, soothing, or contented sound — including voices, engines, or emotional states

noun [U ] C1 • synonyms: resistance, backlash, opposition • face/provoke pushback; pushback against change/criticism/policy • freq in AmE: 7/10

resistance, opposition, or negative reaction to an idea, action, or change — often expressed collectively or assertively

noun [C usually singular ] C1 formal • synonyms: inclination, tendency, leaning, predisposition • propensity for something; propensity for risk/worry; propensity to do something; propensity to exaggerate/complain • freq in AmE: 6/10

a natural tendency or inclination to behave in a particular way, especially one that is habitual or recurrent

noun [C ] C1 • synonyms: reward, return, benefit • big/long-term/emotional payoff; earn/see/get a payoff; payoff of hard work/investment/story arc • freq in AmE: 6/10

a benefit or reward resulting from effort, investment, or risk; the satisfying outcome of a process or action

noun [U ] C1 • synonyms: hunting instinct, chase impulse • high prey drive in dogs/wolves; manage prey drive • freq in AmE: 3/10

a natural instinct in animals, especially carnivores and herding breeds, to chase, capture, or react to moving objects as potential prey; metaphorically, a strong, often uncontrollable impulse to pursue or dominate

noun [U ] C2 mainly US formal (mainly UK pre-emption) • military/preemptive/preemption strategy; preemption of attack/threat/conflict; justify/authorize/launch preemption; effective/early/decisive preemption • freq in AmE: 4/10

the act of preventing something — especially an attack, threat, or undesirable outcome — by taking decisive action first

noun [U ] C1 • synonyms: pomp, spectacle, ceremonial display • royal/religious pageantry • freq in AmE: 4/10

elaborate display or ceremony, often involving colorful costumes, formal rituals, and public spectacle; used to evoke grandeur, tradition, or theatricality

noun [C usually plural ] C1 formal • synonyms: supplier, vendor, promoter • purveyor of goods/ideas/emotions; purveyor of luxury/sensationalism/hope; media purveyors; cultural purveyors • freq in AmE: 5/10

a person, company, or institution that supplies or provides something — especially food, goods, services, or ideas; often used metaphorically for someone who spreads or promotes certain values or narratives

noun [U ] C1 formal/psychological • synonyms: delay, avoidance, inertia • chronic procrastination; overcome procrastination; procrastination linked to fear/perfectionism/self-sabotage • freq in AmE: 8/10

the act of delaying or postponing tasks or decisions — often habitually or irrationally, despite knowing it may lead to negative consequences