| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | obstruct, seal |
| Synonyms: | bang, bar, block, bolt, button, caulk, choke, clap, clench, clog, confine, congest, cork, dam, exclude, fasten, fill, lock, occlude, plug, prevent passage, put to, retard flow, screen, secure, shut, shut off, shutter, slam, stop up, stopper, stuff, turn off |
| Antonyms: | open, release, unclose, unplug, unseal, unstop |
| Main Entry: | shut |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | close |
| Synonyms: | bar, batten down, cage, close down, close up, confine, draw, drop the curtain, enclose, exclude, fasten, fold, fold up, imprison, lock, push, put to, seal, secure, shut down, slam, wall off |
| Antonyms: | open |
| Main Entry: | propound |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | propose |
| Synonyms: | adduce, advance, advise, affirm, ask, assert, broach, come up with*, contend, counsel, hit on, hold out, introduce, invite, kibitz, lay before, lay on the line, make a motion, make a pitch, move for, name*, nominate, offer, pose, prefer, press, proffer, propone, proposition, put forward, put to, put up, recommend, request, set forth, solicit, speak one's piece, spitball, state, submit, suggest, tender, urge, volunteer |
| Notes: | one would propound a plan (set forth for consideration something more extensive, substantial), but propose an idea (set forth for consideration) |
| Main Entry: | actuate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | start a function or action, motivate |
| Synonyms: | activate, animate, arouse, cause, drive, egg on, energize, excite, fire up, impel, incite, induce, influence, inspire, instigate, key up, mobilize, motivate, move, prompt, propel, put up to, quicken, rouse, spur, stimulate, turn on, work into lather, work up |
| Notes: | when something is activated, it is made active; when something is actuated, it is moved to take action (or produce a consequence) to actuate is a general word meaning 'to set working' and has more to do with mechanical action - while activate is used mainly in scientific expressions |
| Antonyms: | impede, stop |
| Main Entry: | advise |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | offer information |
| Synonyms: | acquaint, apprise, clue in, clue*, fill in, give the word, inform, keep posted, lay it out, let in on, make known, notify, post*, put next to, put on the line, put on to, report, show, tell, tip off, update, warn |
| Notes: | advise (verb) means 'to offer advice to or counsel'; advice (noun) is an opinion about what could or should be done about a situation or problem |
| Antonyms: | keep mum, keep quiet, keep secret |
| Main Entry: | counsel |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | give advice |
| Synonyms: | admonish, advise, advocate, caution, charge, confab, direct, enjoin, exhort, give pointer, give two cents, guide, huddle, inform, instruct, keep posted, kibitz, order, prescribe, prompt, put bug in ear, put heads together, put on to, recommend, reprehend, show the ropes, steer, suggest, teach, tip, tip off, tout, urge, warn, wise one up |
| Notes: | counsel is 'advice, guidance' and a counsel is a lawyer; a council is a deliberative body of people assembled for some purpose and members are councillors (especially in Britain) |
| Main Entry: | drive |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | move or urge on |
| Synonyms: | act upon, actuate, animate, arouse, bulldoze, chase, coerce, compel, constrain, dog*, egg on, encourage, force, goad, goose, harass, hasten, herd, hound, hurl, hurry, hustle, impel, induce, inspire, instigate, kick, lean on, make, motivate, nag, oblige, overburden, overwork, pound, press, pressure, prod, prompt, propel, provoke, push, put up to, railroad, ride herd on, rouse, rush, send, shepherd, shove, spirit up, spur, steamroll, stimulate, work on, worry |
| Antonyms: | check, curb, discourage, dissuade, halt, repress, retard, stop |
| Main Entry: | enlighten |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | explain thoroughly; make aware |
| Synonyms: | acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, catechize, cause to understand, civilize, convert, counsel, direct, disclose, divulge, edify, educate, elucidate, give faith, give the lowdown, give the word, guide, illume, illuminate, illumine, imitate, improve, inculcate, indoctrinate, inform, inspirit, instruct, let in on, open up, persuade, preach, put on to, reveal, save, school, teach, tell, train, update, uplift |
| Antonyms: | be vague, bewilder, confound, confuse, delude, mislead, obscure, puzzle |
| Main Entry: | familiarize |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make or become acquainted with, knowledgeable about |
| Synonyms: | accustom, adapt, adjust, awaken to, become adept in, become aware of, break the ice, bring into use, case*, check out, coach, come to know, condition, enlighten, gain friendship, get in, get lay of land, get lowdown on, get to know, get together, get with it, habituate, inform, instruct, inure, let down hair, let know, let next to, make conversant, make used to, mix, naturalize, popularize, post, prime, put on to, school, season, tip off, train, use, wont |