Improve your English vocabulary one useful word at a time.
A daily feed for intermediate English learners, covering practical words such as vague, intervention, concurrently, broadly, bingo, and similar words.
Each lesson explains one practical word in a clear and memorable way, including pronunciation, meaning, natural example sentences, formality level, word origin or related words, synonyms, antonyms, and a simple memory trick.
Sample full lesson from this feed:
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Bingo (pronounced BING-goh)
A noun and interjection meaning a game of chance played with numbered cards and drawn numbers, or an exclamation used to express sudden success, discovery, or recognition of a correct answer.
Examples:
She yelled "bingo!" as she matched the last number on her card and won the prize.
When the detective found the missing clue, he muttered a quiet "bingo" under his breath.
The community center hosts weekly bingo nights to raise funds for local charities.
Sample quote:
Bingo is the cheerful sound of a problem suddenly solved.
Origin:
The word "bingo" became popular in the United States in the early 20th century as the name of a game of chance. It is commonly linked to an earlier game called "Beano," in which players marked cards with beans; popular tradition says someone accidentally shouted "Bingo!" instead of "Beano," and the new name caught on. The word later developed a broader use as an exclamation of success or sudden recognition.
Formality:
Informal. "Bingo" is most often used in casual speech, games, and light conversation to show excitement, success, or recognition; it is less common in formal writing except when referring directly to the game.
How to remember it:
Picture a bingo card and the moment someone completes a row, jumps up, and shouts "BINGO!" The quick, energetic sound of the word can help you remember its meaning: sudden success.
Synonyms:
Jackpot, eureka, success, triumph, bull's-eye
Antonyms:
Miss, failure, loss, defeat, flop
Do you remember yesterday's word "intervention"? It means the action of becoming intentionally involved in a situation to improve it or prevent harm. The teacher's intervention helped resolve the conflict between the students.
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