YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

daunting

Adjective

IPA /ˈdɔːntɪŋ/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Seeming so difficult or demanding that it makes someone feel nervous about trying it.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

daunting/ˈdɔːntɪŋ/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea

A large, demanding task ahead
You feel nervous about starting

A daunting task seems difficult enough to make you anxious.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

Cooking dinner for twelve guests felt daunting at first.
Writing my first research proposal was a daunting task.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

Cooking dinner for twelve guests felt ________ at first.

Show the answer

daunting — Seeming so difficult or demanding that it makes someone feel nervous about trying it.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “daunting” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Seeming so difficult or demanding that it makes someone feel nervous about trying it.

Compare: Cooking dinner for twelve guests felt daunting at first.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

Developed from the -ing form of the verb daunt, meaning to intimidate or discourage.

Did you know?

A daunting task and a daunting prospect are common combinations.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.