Word
complicated
Phoneticscom·pli·cat·ed, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑmpɫəˌkeɪtəd/
UK/kˈɒmplɪkˌeɪtɪd/
Definitions
01difficult or complex
B1 · Intermediate
adj. hard to understand or solve because it is not simple.
adj. consisting of many intricate parts or aspects that make something difficult to understand, explain, or deal with.
“The instructions for the new coffee machine were very complicated and hard to follow.”
“The legal dispute became increasingly complicated as more witnesses came forward with conflicting accounts of the incident.”
Antonyms
02folded wings
C2 · Proficiency Science Technical
adj. a word used in science to describe insect wings that are folded lengthwise.
adj. describing insect wings that are folded longitudinally when at rest.
“The scientist noted that the beetle had complicated wings tucked under its shell.”
“In certain orders of insects, the complicated wing structure allows for efficient storage beneath the protective elytra.”
Usage
Used primarily in entomology to describe structural morphology.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “complicated” in context.
Adjective
01. complicated procedure
“Applying for a visa can be a complicated procedure involving many different forms.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Being self-employed or autónomo in Spain can be complicated with lots of questions coming up all the time, even if you've been freelance for a while.” “And it’s very complicated, you have to be Albert Einstein to figure it out.” “The freak accident turns out to be rather more complicated than first thought, not least because it becomes karmically conflated, in Mira’s mind, with her relationship with a married man twice her age.” Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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