Word
masturbate
Phoneticsmas·tur·bate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmæstɝˌbeɪt/
UK/mˈɑːstəbˌeɪt/
Definitions
01self-stimulation
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to touch your own sexual organs to give yourself pleasure.
v. to stimulate one's own genitals for sexual pleasure, typically to the point of orgasm. Intransitive in its primary sense.
“The doctor explained that it is normal for teenagers to masturbate as they discover their bodies.”
“The study examined how attitudes toward the decision to masturbate have shifted across different generations and cultural backgrounds.”
Usage
The verb is usually intransitive.
Teaching tip
While a common medical and biological term, it remains a private or sensitive topic in many social contexts.
Synonyms
02self-indulgent behavior
C2 · Proficiency Informal · Slang
v. to spend time on something that makes you feel important or happy but is actually a waste of time.
v. to engage in a self-indulgent activity that serves no practical purpose or provides no benefit to others. Often used to criticize intellectual or artistic work.
“The director's new three-hour movie felt like he was just masturbating on screen.”
“Critics dismissed the essay as academic masturbation, arguing that it used complex language to hide a total lack of original thought.”
Usage
Often used as a metaphor for unproductive intellectual or creative work.
Teaching tip
This is a strong, often offensive way to criticize someone's work as being 'for themselves' rather than for an audience.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“She recounted an incident where a driver rolled down his car window and began masturbating as she and female friends got off a rickshaw and walked through the college gates.” “She claimed she told staff that she was “uncomfortable” sitting next to the masturbating man but there were no other available seats on the flight.” Etymology
A back-formation from masturbation, or else from Latin masturbātus (see -ate), past participle of masturbor. Further derivation of the Latin verb is uncertain; see masturbor for more.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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