Advanced English (2) • VERBS • 'P'

verb [I ] C1 informal • synonyms: shift, adapt, reposition • pivot to something; pivot away from something; pivot toward something; pivot on an issue; pivot quickly/sharply/strategically; pivot your career/strategy/focus • freq in AmE: 7/10

to change direction, strategy, or focus significantly, especially in response to new circumstances or challenges

collocation with pivot verb [I ] C1 • synonyms: hinge on, depend on, rest on • pivot on a question/issue/factor/clause; the case/argument/decision/outcome pivots on something; everything pivots on something • freq in AmE: 6/10

if a situation, argument, or outcome pivots on something, it depends on or is determined by that one key factor or issue

verb [I ] C2 formal • synonyms: triumph, overcome, dominate • prevail over adversity/illness/injustice; values/traditions/chaos prevail; freq in AmE: 6/10

to triumph, succeed, or prove stronger — especially after struggle, resistance, or adversity; can also mean to be widespread or dominant in a particular context

verb [T ] C1 • synonyms: prepare, brief, coach • prime someone for a reaction/task/role; be primed to act/respond; prime the witness/audience/team; emotionally/strategically primed; prime someone with info/questions • freq in AmE: 6/10

to prepare someone mentally or emotionally for a specific situation, reaction, or task — often by giving instructions, cues, or anticipatory information

verb [T ] C1 formal • synonyms: declare, affirm, avow • profess to be/to have; profess to do something; profess something; publicly/falsely/solemnly profess • freq in AmE: 6/10

to state something, sometimes in a way that is not sincere

verb [I ] C2 formal • synonyms: multiply, spread, mushroom • proliferate rapidly/quickly/widely; misinformation/technology/species proliferates; begin/continue to proliferate; proliferate across something • freq in AmE: 6/10

to increase rapidly in number or amount, spreading widely and in large quantities

verb [T ] C1 -ll- • synonyms: drive, push, launch • propel forward/upward/into action; propel vehicle/idea/person; be propelled by ambition/force/emotion; propel someone into/to/toward something • freq in AmE: 6/10

to push or drive something forward with force; metaphorically, to cause someone or something to move or progress toward a goal or higher level

collocation with punctuate verb [T ] C1 • synonyms: be interspersed with, be broken up by, be interrupted by • be punctuated by silence/laughter/applause/sounds/pauses; be frequently/regularly/occasionally punctuated by something • freq in AmE: 6/10

to be interrupted or marked at intervals by something that stands out against the surrounding continuity, creating a recurring pattern of breaks or emphases throughout

verb [T ] C2 formal • purge something of something; purge something from something • purge toxins/emotions/files; purge the party/government/ranks; purge oneself of guilt; undergo a purge; purge through therapy/confession • freq in AmE: 5/10

to remove people, substances, or elements considered undesirable, harmful, or impure — often suddenly, forcefully, or systematically

verb [I ] C2 • synonyms: murmur, hum, vibrate, speak softly • cat purring, voice that purrs, engine purring • freq in AmE: 6/10

to make a soft, continuous, vibrating sound expressing comfort, pleasure, or affection — typically used for cats, but also figuratively for voices, engines, or people expressing contentment or seductive warmth