Dictionary: letter A

I asked her out and she said yes.

Cody Black - Unsplash

Not all the verbs are in the dictionary. If you don't find a verb here, try the Lists section.

Some verbs might have quite a few different meanings. Only the most important ones are listed here.

Pay attention to the examples and the collocations.

account for explain [account for something] (insep) (money, difference, actions) explain or give a reason for something

• How will you account for the money you spent?
• She couldn't account for her absence from work.
• How will you account for such a big difference?

ache for/to want [ache for something, ache to do something] (insep) really want something

• I was tired and my body was aching for sleep.
• We ached to put our legs up and rest.

act out 1 perform [act something out] (script, story) perform something or make it into a play

• The script itself is well written and well acted out by the cast.
• The new middle class liked to see its own dilemmas acted out on stage.
• When you read a story or a poem to your child, act it out with him or her.

2 express (fantasy, frustration, instincts) express your feelings or ideas

• He has become desperate and is acting out his frustration.
• Children like to act out their fantasies.

act up (child, car, computer, injury, arm, leg, wound) behave badly, hurt or not work properly  play up

• This computer's acting up again.
• The children were acting up because their mother wasn't there.

add in include [add something in] (cost, flour, figures) include something or mix it with something else

• Add in the cost of the accessories you might need.
• Slowly add in flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until well blended.

add on include [add something on] include or add

• These are quite expensive though, by the time you've added on border taxes.
• The airlines themselves are adding on fees and surcharges as they struggle to cope with a decline in passengers.

add up 1 make sense (insep) make sense

• This just doesn't add up.
• Their economic proposals don't add up.
• The facts just don't add up.

2 calculate [add something up] (bill, expenses, figures, numbers) calculate the total

• She added up the bill.
• You made a mistake while you were adding these numbers up.

allow for [allow for something] take something into consideration or make it possible

• There should be a comfortable working atmosphere, one that doesn't discriminate and allows for mistakes.

answer back reply rudely

• Don't answer back to your mum!
• Don't answer me back!

answer for (insep) (actions, behaviour) take the responsibility for something wrong you have done

• Some Iraqis had hoped to see Saddam's elder son answer for his actions before a war crimes tribunal.
• Everyone must answer for his own actions.

apply for [answer for something] (insep) (job, permit, permission, grant, scholarship, loan) fill in a form or write a formal letter asking for something

• Applying for financial aid has never been easier!
• No credit? No problem! Apply for your new Visa Card and MasterCard Today!
• You can apply for a library card online!

ask after [ask after someone] (insep) inquire how someone is doing

• I heard he is in Kalatura prison, and I wrote to the government asking after him.
• The next day, her brother came to ask after her.

ask about/around (insep) make inquiries

• I'll ask around and see if there's a room vacant somewhere.
• I am going to ask about to see if anyone has any suggestions of other products.

ask for [ask for something] (help, receipt, trouble) request something

• They have written to the actress asking for her help in raising money for Nicaraguan children.
• If you're donating items to charitable organizations, don't forget to ask for a receipt for tax purposes.
• Anyone who sends a credit card number via e-mail is asking for trouble!

ask in [ask someone in] invite someone into your house, office etc

• Don't leave them standing on the doorstep; ask them in!
• Ask her in; I want to talk to her.

ask out [ask someone out] ask someone to go to the theatre, a restaurant, etc, with you take out

• Jerry's too scared to ask her out.
• Have you asked her out yet?
• This is the third time he's asked me out.
• Do men like it when women ask them out?

ask over [ask someone over] invite someone to your house

• I'll ask her over to dinner next weekend.
• If you can't face travelling, especially if you have very young children, why not ask them over to yours.

ask round [ask someone round] invite someone to your house

• Let's ask them round for a meal next week.
• I asked her round for dinner last week but she declined.

auction off [auction something off] (furniture) get rid of something by selling it at an auction

• I sold two of the houses we never used and auctioned off the furniture.
• She auctioned off all the jewelry that he gave her.

For other verbs and to get more examples build your own lists in the Lists section.