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Words and Their StoriesLearning Expressions with VOA
Processed with VS1Learn language for explaining why a word becomes especially visible in public life.
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Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptThis November 2022 report looks at words selected by dictionary publishers for that year. Merriam-Webster chose “gaslighting,” Cambridge chose “homer,” and Collins chose “permacrisis,” each using its own evidence and criteria. A word-of-the-year choice reflects a particular publisher’s view of that moment; it is not a universal award or a permanent ranking.
Cultural note: The article is a historical snapshot, not a current list. “Gaslighting” refers to manipulating someone into doubting their perceptions; it should not be used as a casual synonym for disagreement or lying. “Goblin mode” and “permacrisis” are informal or context-specific terms whose popularity and tone can shift over time.
Keep exploringDifferent dictionaries can choose different words for the same year. Their choices tell a story about searches, headlines, and what people were discussing.
Phrase guide · 4 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Describe a publisher’s selected word and its criteria.
Meaning
A word or expression selected by an organization as especially notable during a particular year.
Tone & use
The selection criteria differ by publisher and may include lookups, cultural importance, or media attention. Name the publisher and year for precision.
Example
“The publisher’s 2022 word of the year reflected a topic people were discussing widely.”
Discuss words that shape how people interpret events.
Meaning
Manipulating someone so that they question their own memory, perceptions, or judgment.
Tone & use
A serious term for a pattern of manipulation, not simply a disagreement, mistake, or lie. Describe specific behavior when possible.
Example
“Rather than label the disagreement gaslighting, she described the repeated denial of events she had documented.”
Meaning
Become successful or popular quickly.
Tone & use
A common phrasal verb. It can describe a product, idea, career, or trend; it is separate from the literal meaning of an aircraft leaving the ground.
Example
“The neighborhood book exchange took off after the library shared it online.”
Recognize that popularity and usage can change.
Meaning
A prolonged period marked by repeated instability or difficult events.
Tone & use
The source reports Collins’s 2022 selection and describes a period of continuing crises. It is a compressed, somewhat dramatic term; use it with clear context.
Example
“Some commentators used “permacrisis” to describe the overlapping challenges of that period.”
Knowledge check
Choose the expression that best fits each situation.
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