natural
gb/nˈæt͡ʃɚəl/ us/nˈæt͡ʃɚəl/
A2
English
~ 800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
occurring in nature
Something that happens or exists without being made or changed by people.
Usage pattern:
[something] is natural
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'natural' with 'normal'; 'natural' refers to being from nature or not artificial, while 'normal' means usual or expected.
Synonyms
organic (Often used for food or materials grown without chemicals; narrower in scope.)
|
unprocessed (Focuses on not being altered or refined, often for food.)
Antonyms
artificial (Made or produced by humans rather than occurring naturally.)
Collocations
natural environment
|natural resources
|natural disaster
|natural habitat
Themes
science
|environment
|daily life
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The park is home to many natural wonders.
- Earthquakes are natural events caused by movements of the Earth's crust.
- She prefers using natural fabrics like cotton and linen.
- Waterfalls are one of the most beautiful natural sights.
- The island has a rich variety of natural resources.
Learner examples
- Trees are a natural part of the forest.
- Rain is a natural thing that falls from the sky.
- The river is a natural place for fish.
- A volcano is a natural mountain that can explode.
adjective
B1
property
2
normal or expected
Something that is usual or happens in the way you would expect.
Usage pattern:
it is natural (for [someone]) to [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with 'natural' meaning 'from nature', but here it means 'expected' or 'normal'.
Synonyms
normal (Common and expected; very close in meaning but broader.)
|
understandable (Focuses more on emotional or logical reasons for something being expected.)
Antonyms
strange (Unusual or unexpected in the situation.)
Collocations
perfectly natural
|only natural
|natural reaction
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It's natural to feel nervous before a big presentation.
- Her reaction was natural given the circumstances.
- It’s only natural that you miss your family when you move away.
- Feeling tired after a long day is perfectly natural.
Learner examples
- It is natural to be tired after work.
- It is natural to feel happy on your birthday.
- It is natural to miss home when you travel.
adjective
B1
property
3
easy and genuine manner
Looking or acting in a way that feels real and not planned.
Usage pattern:
[someone] looks/feels/seems natural
Synonyms
genuine (Emphasizes sincerity and truthfulness rather than ease.)
|
unaffected (Highlights the lack of artificiality in manner.)
Antonyms
awkward (Uncomfortable or unnatural in manner.)
Collocations
look natural
|feel natural
|sound natural
Themes
emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She looks so natural in front of the camera.
- He has a natural way of speaking that puts people at ease.
- Her smile seemed completely natural.
Learner examples
- He looks natural when he speaks to people.
- She sounds natural when she sings.
- You look very natural in this photo.
Noun
B1
entity
4
person with innate talent
Someone who can do something very well without learning it for a long time.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a natural at [something]
Synonyms
talent (Refers to ability itself, not necessarily the person.)
Collocations
born natural
Themes
education
|sports
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She's a natural at painting.
- He’s a natural when it comes to public speaking.
- With his speed and coordination, he's a natural athlete.
Learner examples
- She is a natural at tennis.
- He is a natural at playing guitar.
- My brother is a natural at cooking.
adjective
technical
B2
property
5
unaltered musical note pitch
In music, a note played in its normal sound, not higher or lower by half step.
Themes
music
|arts_entertainment
|education
Examples
- The melody returns to the natural C after the sharp notes.
- She played an F natural instead of F sharp.
Learner examples
- Play the note as a natural, not sharp.
- This song has many naturals and few sharps.
Grammar
Dictionary form
natural
IPA
GB/nˈæt͡ʃɚəl/
US/nˈæt͡ʃɚəl/
Syllables & stress
nat - ur - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (nat)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: natural
Noun
- Base: natural
- Plural: naturals
Word family
Forms
naturals
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
Expressions
natural causes
1/nˈæt͡ʃɚəl kˈɔzɪz/
fixed phrase
death from illness or aging, not external causes
When someone dies because they are sick or old, not because of an accident or crime.
Examples
- The elderly man passed away from natural causes.
- Police confirmed she died of natural causes.
natural selection
1/nˈæt͡ʃɚəl səlˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
evolutionary process favoring better-adapted organisms
The way animals and plants change over time because those better suited to their environment live and have more babies.
Examples
- Natural selection is a key mechanism of evolution.
- Natural selection is a key mechanism in evolution.
- Darwin explained how species evolve through natural selection.
- Darwin explained how natural selection shapes species over time.
second nature
1/sˈɛkənd nˈeɪt͡ʃɚ/
idiom
automatic skill or habit
Something you can do easily because you have done it many times before.
Examples
- Driving has become second nature to her.
- After years of practice, playing the piano was second nature.
second nature
2/sˈɛkənd nˈeɪt͡ʃɚ/
idiom
something done without thinking from habit
Something you can do very easily because you have done it many times before.
Examples
- Driving has become second nature to her after years on the road.
- For him, speaking in public is second nature.