2 N‑SING If you say that you are doing your utmost to do something, you are emphasizing that you are trying as hard as you can to do it. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ He would have done his utmost to help her, of that she was certain.
3 PHRASE If you say that something is done to the utmost , you are emphasizing that it is done to the greatest extent, amount, or degree possible. [EMPHASIS ] □ My limited diplomatic skills were tested to the utmost. □ The best plan is to continue to attack him to the utmost of our power.
uto|pia /juːtoʊ piə/ (utopias ) N‑VAR If you refer to an imaginary situation as a utopia , you mean that it is one in which society is perfect and everyone is happy, but which you feel is not possible. □ We weren't out to design a contemporary utopia. □ …the social utopias of revolutionary peasants.
uto|pian /juːtoʊ piən/
1 ADJ If you describe a plan or idea as utopian , you are criticizing it because it is unrealistic and shows a belief that things can be improved much more than is possible. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He was pursuing a utopian dream of world prosperity. □ A complete absence of national border controls is utopian.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Utopian is used to describe political or religious philosophies which claim that it is possible to build a new and perfect society in which everyone is happy. [FORMAL ] □ His was a utopian vision of nature in its purest form.
ut|ter /ʌ tə r / (utters , uttering , uttered )
1 VERB If someone utters sounds or words, they say them. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] He uttered a snorting laugh. □ [V n] They departed without uttering a word.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use utter to emphasize that something is great in extent, degree, or amount. [EMPHASIS ] □ This, of course, is utter nonsense. □ …this utter lack of responsibility. □ A look of utter confusion swept across his handsome face.
ut|ter|ance /ʌ tərəns/ (utterances )
1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's utterances are the things that they say. [FORMAL ] □ …the Queen's public utterances. □ …a host of admirers who hung on her every utterance.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Utterance is the expression in words of ideas, thoughts, and feelings. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] I will give free utterance to my complaint.
ut|ter|ly /ʌ tə r li/ ADV [ADV with v] You use utterly to emphasize that something is very great in extent, degree, or amount. [EMPHASIS ] □ Everything about the country seemed utterly different from what I'd experienced before. □ The new laws coming in are utterly ridiculous.
U -turn (U-turns )
1 N‑COUNT If you make a U-turn when you are driving or cycling, you turn in a half circle in one movement, so that you are then going in the opposite direction.
2 N‑COUNT If you describe a change in a politician's policy, plans, or actions as a U-turn , you mean that it is a complete change and that they made the change because they were weak or were wrong. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ by ] …a humiliating U-turn by the party.
Vv
V , v /viː / (V's, v's )
1 N‑VAR V is the twenty-second letter of the English alphabet.
2 V or v is an abbreviation for words beginning with v, such as 'verse', 'versus', 'very', and 'volt'. □ …England v France.
vac /væ k/ (vacs )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A vac is a period of the year when universities and colleges are officially closed. Vac is an abbreviation for 'vacation'. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …the summer vac.
2 N‑COUNT A vac is an electric machine which sucks up dust and dirt from carpets. Vac is an abbreviation for 'vacuum cleaner'. [INFORMAL ]
va|can|cy /ve I kənsi/ (vacancies )
1 N‑COUNT A vacancy is a job or position which has not been filled. □ Most vacancies are at senior level, requiring appropriate qualifications.
2 N‑COUNT If there are vacancies at a building such as a hotel, some of the rooms are available to rent.
va|cant /ve I kənt/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If something is vacant , it is not being used by anyone. □ Half way down the coach was a vacant seat.
2 ADJ If a job or position is vacant , no one is doing it or in it at present, and people can apply for it. □ The post of chairman has been vacant for some time.
3 ADJ A vacant look or expression is one that suggests that someone does not understand something or that they are not thinking about anything in particular. □ She had a kind of vacant look on her face. ● va|cant|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ He looked vacantly out of the window.
va|cate /ve I ke I t, [AM ] ve I ke I t/ (vacates , vacating , vacated ) VERB If you vacate a place or a job, you leave it or give it up, making it available for other people. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He vacated the flat and went to stay with an uncle. □ [V n] He recently vacated his post as Sales Director.
va|ca|tion /vəke I ʃ ə n, [AM ] ve I -/ (vacations , vacationing , vacationed )
1 N‑COUNT A vacation is a period of the year when universities and colleges, and in the United States also schools, are officially closed. □ During his summer vacation, he visited Russia.
2 N‑COUNT [oft on/from N ] A vacation is a period of time during which you relax and enjoy yourself away from home. [AM ] □ They planned a late summer vacation in Europe. □ We went on vacation to Puerto Rico. in BRIT, use holiday 3 N‑UNCOUNT If you have a particular number of days' or weeks' vacation , you do not have to go to work for that number of days or weeks. [AM ] in BRIT, use holiday 4 VERB If you are vacationing in a place away from home, you are on vacation there. [AM ] □ [V prep/adv] Myles vacationed in Jamaica. □ [V ] He was vacationing and couldn't be reached for comment. in BRIT, use holiday