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English Words Starting With S

15,552 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

shansi
nounVery Low (C2/Historic/Specialist)
/ʃænˈsiː/An older romanization for the Chinese province of Shanxi, located in northern China.
shantey
nounC2/Rare
/ˈʃæn.ti/A rhythmic work song, traditionally sung by sailors to coordinate physical labour like hauling ropes or raising anchors.
shanti
nounC2
/ˈʃɑːnti/A state of peace, inner calm, or tranquility; a spiritual concept of stillness often used in meditation contexts.
shantou
nounLow (Geographical Proper Noun)
/ʃænˈtaʊ/A proper noun referring to a major prefecture-level city and port in Guangdong Province, southeastern China.
shantung
nounLow
/ʃænˈtʌŋ/A type of silk fabric with a rough, slubbed texture and irregular surface, traditionally woven from wild silk.
shanty
adjectivenounverb-intransitiveC1
/ˈʃæn.ti/A small, crudely built shack or hut, often makeshift and of poor quality.
shantytown
nounB2
/ˈʃæn.ti.taʊn/An improvised settlement, usually on the outskirts of a city, consisting of poor-quality, makeshift dwellings built from scrap materials.
shanxi
nounC1
/ˌʃænˈʃiː/A province in northern China, known for its historical and cultural significance.
shaoxing
nounLow
/ʃaʊˈʃɪŋ/A type of Chinese rice wine, traditionally brewed in the city of Shaoxing in Zhejiang province.
shaoyang
nounExtremely Rare
/ˌʃaʊˈjæŋ/An uncommon and possibly transliterated proper noun, potentially referring to a Chinese city, a surname, or a term in traditional Chinese medicine.
shape
nounverbverb-intransitive+1B1
/ʃeɪp/The external form, contours, or outline of someone or something.
shape note
nounLow
/ˈʃeɪp ˌnəʊt/A musical notation system in which note heads have distinctive shapes to indicate their pitch (e.g., fa, sol, la, mi) within a scale, used primarily in choral singing.
shape up
nounverbB2
/ʃeɪp ʌp/To improve one's performance, behaviour, or condition; to develop or progress in a satisfactory way.
shape-note singing
nounVery Low (Specialist)
/ˈʃeɪp nəʊt ˌsɪŋɪŋ/A style of sacred choral singing in which musical notes are printed with distinct geometric shapes to aid sight-reading.
shaped charge
nounLow
/ˌʃeɪpt ˈtʃɑːdʒ/An explosive charge with a hollow cavity or liner that is designed to focus its explosive force into a narrow, high-velocity jet, used for penetrating armor, cutting metal, or blasting in mining.
shaper
nounC1
/ˈʃeɪpə/A person or thing that shapes or gives form to something.
shapeshifter
nounC2
/ˈʃeɪpˌʃɪf.tər/A being, often in mythology or fiction, that has the ability to physically transform its shape or appearance into that of another person, creature, or object.
shapewear
nounB2
/ˈʃeɪpˌwɛə/Underwear or close-fitting garments designed to shape, smooth, or contour the body for aesthetic or postural purposes.
shapiro
nounLow (as a common noun); Medium-High in specific political/media contexts.
/ʃəˈpɪə.rəʊ/A surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, often associated with individuals in academia, journalism, or law, and particularly linked to political commentator Ben Shapiro.
shapka
nounLow
/ˈʃapkə/A warm, soft hat with earflaps, often lined with fur, originally from Russia and Eastern Europe.

Showing 4721–4740 of 15552 words.