English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
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517 words
disorderly
B2
/dɪˈsɔrdɝli/
Messy or untidy; not properly arranged.
readily
B2
/ˈɹɛdɪli/
Easily; without difficulty.
germ
B2
/d͡ʒɝm/
A very small living thing that can cause disease, such as a bacterium or virus.
misleading
B2
/(ˌ)mɪsˈliːdɪŋ/
Giving a false idea or impression, even if not completely untrue.
aspire
B2
/əˈspaɪɚ/
To have a strong desire to achieve or become something.
fingernail
B2
/ˈfɪŋɡɚˌneɪl/
The hard, flat covering at the end of a finger.
lastly
B2
/ˈlæstli/
Used to introduce the final point or item in a list.
micro
B2
/ˈmaɪ.kɹoʊ/
Very small in size, scale, or scope.
vigorous
B2
/ˈvɪɡəɹəs/
Full of energy, strength, and determination.
bony
B2
/ˈboʊni/
Very thin, so that the bones can be seen or felt.
ideally
B2
/aɪˈdi.ə.li/
In the best possible situation; preferably.
bottomless
B2
/ˈbɑːtəmləs/
having no bottom, or appearing too deep for the bottom to be seen
unrealistic
B2
/ənˌriːˈlɪstɪk/
Not sensible or possible; based on hopes rather than facts
admittedly
B2
/ædˈmɪtɪdli/
Used to admit that something is true, often before adding a contrasting point.
obesity
B2
/oʊˈbisɪti/
The condition of being very overweight in a way that is harmful to health.
pesky
B2
/ˈpɛski/
informal: annoying, troublesome, or difficult to deal with
ambiguous
B2
/æmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs/
Having more than one possible meaning; not clear.
perseverance
B2
/ˌpɝsəˈvɪɹəns/
The quality of continuing to try hard even when something is difficult.
mausoleum
B2
/ˌmɔ.səˈli.əm/
A large, grand building that contains a tomb or several tombs.
frightfully
B2
/ˈfɹaɪtfəli/
Very, extremely.
undeniable
B2
/ˌəndɪˈnaɪəbəl/
Irrefutable, or impossible to deny.
improbable
B2
/ɪmˈpɹɑbəbl̩/
Not likely to happen or to be true.
midsummer
B2
/mɪdˈsʌmə(ɹ)/
June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point
stupidly
B2
/ˈstuːpədˌliː/
in a stupid manner
beagle
B2
/ˈbiːɡəl/
A small dog with short legs and a smooth coat, often kept as a pet and used for hunting.
sanitary
B2
/ˈsænɪˌtɛɹi/
Clean and free from germs; hygienic.
severity
B2
/səˈvɛɹəti/
excessive sternness
flexibility
B2
/ˈflɛksɪb(ɪ)lɪʈi/
The ability to change easily to suit new conditions.
persistence
B2
/pɝˈsɪstəns/
The quality of continuing to try hard despite difficulty.
soundly
B2
/ˈsaʊndli/
completely and absolutely
deceptive
B2
/dɪˈsɛp.tɪv/
Likely to make you believe something that is not true; misleading.
critically
B2
/ˈkɹɪt.ɪk.li/
In a way that involves careful judgment or analysis.
loosely
B2
/ˈluːsli/
In a way that is not tight or firmly fixed.
delicately
B2
/ˈdɛlɪkətli/
In a careful, gentle, or graceful way.
gory
B2
/ˈɡɔɹ.i/
covered or stained with blood
finely
B2
/ˈfaɪnli/
Into very small or thin pieces.
papaya
B2
/pəˈpa.ja/
A large, sweet tropical fruit with orange flesh and small black seeds.
craftsman
B2
/ˈkɹæftsmən/
A worker who is highly skilled at a trade, especially one done by hand.
fondly
B2
/ˈfɑndli/
In a loving or affectionate way.
mistakenly
B2
/mɪˈsteɪ.kən.li/
in a mistaken manner
forcefully
B2
/ˈfɔrsfəli/
In a strong and powerful way.
rationally
B2
/ˈræʃənəli/
in a rational manner
preferable
B2
/ˈpɹef.(ə.)ɹə.b(ə)l/
Better or more suitable than another option.
hastily
B2
/ˈheɪstɪli/
In a quick and hurried way, often without enough care.
unfulfilled
B2
/ˌʌnfʊlˈfɪld/
not carried out, achieved, supplied, or brought to completion
moldy
B2
/ˈmoʊldi/
covered with, affected by, or smelling of mold
tightrope
B2
/ˈtaɪtˌɹoʊp/
A tightly stretched rope or wire on which acrobats perform high above the ground.
strait
B2
/stɹeɪt/
A narrow channel of sea connecting two larger areas of water.
contradictory
B2
/ˌkɑntɹəˈdɪktəɹi/
Containing or describing things that cannot both be true; in conflict with each other.
mogul
B2
/ˈmoʊɡəl/
A very rich or powerful person, especially in business or media.
breezy
B2
/ˈbɹiːzi/
Pleasantly windy.
wherein
B2
/wɛˈɹɪn/
How, or in what way.
politeness
B2
/pəˈlaɪtnəs/
The quality of having good manners and showing respect for others.
wholeheartedly
B2
/ˌhoʊlˈhɑːr.t̬ɪd.li/
with complete sincerity, enthusiasm, or commitment; without reservation
uninhabited
B2
/ˌʌn.ɪnˈhæb.ɪ.tɪd/
Not having a term.
realistically
B2
/ˌriːəˈlɪstɪkli/
in a realistic manner
hatching
B2
/ˈhæt͡ʃɪŋ/
The process of young animals coming out of their eggs.
bestseller
B2
/ˈbɛstˈsɛlɝ/
A book or product that sells in very large numbers.
picturesque
B2
/ˌpɪkt͡ʃəˈɹɛsk/
Very pretty and charming, especially in an old-fashioned way; like something in a painting.
leisurely
B2
/ˈliʒɚli/
Done in a relaxed, unhurried way.
cascade
B2
/kæsˈkeɪd/
A small waterfall, or a series of small waterfalls.
regrettably
B2
/rɪˈgrɛtəbli/
Used to say that something is unfortunate and makes you sorry.
dandelion
B2
/ˈdæn.dəˌlaɪ.ən/
A common wild plant with bright yellow flowers that turn into a ball of white seeds.
peripheral
B2
/pəˈɹɪf(ə)ɹ(ə)l/
situated near the edge or outer part of something
dishonesty
B2
/dɪsˈɒnɪ.sti/
The quality of being dishonest; a lack of honesty.
splendidly
B2
/ˈsplɛndədli/
extremely well
unmistakable
B2
/ˌənmɪˈsteɪkəbəl/
So clear or distinctive that it cannot be mistaken for anything else.
originality
B2
/əˌɹɪd͡ʒɪˈnælɪti/
The quality of being new, fresh, and not copied from others.
culmination
B2
/ˌkʌl.məˈneɪ.ʃən/
The final and highest point reached after a long process or series of events.
impossibility
B2
/ɪmˌpɑsɪˈbɪliti/
The fact of something being impossible.
vigor
B2
/ˈvɪɡɚ/
Strength, energy, and enthusiasm of body or mind.
influenza
B2
/ˌɪn.fluˈɛn.zə/
A common infectious illness caused by a virus, with fever, aches, and a cough; the flu.
shortness
B2
/ˈʃɔrtnəs/
The quality of being small in length, distance, or height.
stopwatch
B2
/ˈstɑːpˌwɑːtʃ/
A watch that can be started and stopped to measure exactly how long something takes.
effectiveness
B2
/ɪˈfɛk.tɪv.nɪs/
The quality of working well and producing good results.
affectionately
B2
/əˈfɛkʃənətli/
In a loving or fond way.
nominal
B2
/ˈnɑ.mɪ.nl̩/
existing in name only, not in reality or full force
grossly
B2
/ˈɡɹoʊsli/
Greatly; to a large degree, especially one large enough to be frankly appreciable.
worn-out
B2
/ˈwɔɹnˌaʊt/
damaged or made useless by long or heavy use
sliver
B2
/ˈslɪv.ɚ/
A thin, narrow piece cut or broken off something.
indescribable
B2
/ɪndɪˈskɹaɪbəbl̩/
So great or extreme that it cannot be described in words.
lifelike
B2
/ˈlaɪfˌlaɪk/
closely resembling a real living person, animal, scene, or event
unselfish
B2
Caring more about others than about yourself
enhancement
B2
/ɪnˈhæns.mənt/
an improvement that makes something more agreeable
masterful
B2
/ˈmæstɝfəl/
showing exceptional skill, control, or command of an art or task
fantastically
B2
/fænˈtæstɪkli/
Extremely; to a very great degree.
checkered
B2
/ˈtʃek.ɚd/
patterned with alternating squares or irregular patches of different colors
browse
B2
/bɹaʊz/
To look through things in a relaxed way, without searching for anything in particular
refute
B2
/ɹɪˈfjut/
To prove that something is false or wrong.
symbolize
B2
/ˈsɪmbəlaɪz/
To be symbolic of; to represent.
scythe
B2
/ˈsaɪð/
A tool with a long curved blade and a long handle, used for cutting grass or grain by hand.
booklet
B2
/ˈbʊk.lət/
A small thin book, usually with a paper cover, that gives information.
softness
B2
/ˈsɔftnəs/
The quality of being easy to press or pleasant to touch.
confidently
B2
/ˈkɑnfɪdəntli/
In a way that shows you are sure of yourself or your abilities.
eyesore
B2
/ˈaɪsɔɹ/
a thing that is conspicuously ugly or unpleasant to look at
toenail
B2
/ˈtəʊˌneɪl/
The hard covering at the end of a toe.