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
eyelash
B2
/ˈaɪlæʃ/
One of the short curved hairs that grow on the edge of the eyelids.
creatively
B2
/kɹiˈeɪtɪvli/
In a way that shows imagination and original ideas.
adaptable
B2
/əˈdæptəbəl/
able to change easily to suit new conditions or situations
sandstone
B2
/ˈsændˌstoʊn/
A soft rock formed from pressed sand, often used in building.
transistor
B2
/tɹænˈzɪs.tɚ/
A small electronic part used in devices to control or boost electrical signals.
leaflet
B2
/ˈliːflɪt/
A small printed sheet of paper that gives information or advertises something.
pandemic
B2
/ˈpaɳɖəmɪk/
A disease that spreads across many countries and affects a very large number of people.
overestimate
B2
/ˌəʊvəɹˈɛstɪmeɪt/
To think that something is larger, better, or more important than it really is.
bilateral
B2
/baɪˈlætərəl/
involving, affecting, or agreed by two parties, especially two countries
bothersome
B2
/ˈbɔðəsəm/
Causing trouble or annoyance; irritating.
ambiguity
B2
/æm.bɪˈɡjuː.ɪ.ti/
The quality of having more than one possible meaning; lack of clarity.
leek
B2
/liːk/
A long vegetable related to the onion, with a white stem and green leaves and a mild flavour.
nano
B2
/ˈnænəʊ/
Relating to extremely small things at the nanoscale; short for nanoscale.
frigate
B2
/ˈfrɪgət/
A small, fast warship used to protect other ships.
abnormally
B2
/æbˈnɔɹ.mə.li/
in a way that is different from what is normal or expected
steely
B2
/ˈstiːli/
Showing hardness and strong determination.
radiate
B2
/ˈɹeɪdieɪt/
To send out heat, light, or energy.
footnote
B2
/ˈfʊtˌnoʊt/
A short note at the bottom of a page that gives extra information or a source.
emphatically
B2
/ɪmˈfætɪkli/
In a strong and forceful way that leaves no doubt
passable
B2
/ˈpæsəbəl/
good enough to be accepted, but not especially good
droopy
B2
/ˈdruː.pi/
hanging, bending, or sagging downward, especially from weakness, weight, or lack of support
grimy
B2
/ˈɡɹaɪmi/
covered or stained with ingrained dirt, grease, or soot
malady
B2
/ˈmæl.ə.di/
An illness or disease, especially one that lasts a long time.
additionally
B2
/əˈdɪʃəˌnəli/
used to add more information; also
workable
B2
/ˈwɝː.kə.bəl/
capable of being used effectively or put into practice; likely to achieve the intended result
microbe
B2
/ˈmaɪkɹoʊb/
A tiny living thing too small to see without a microscope, such as a bacterium that can cause disease.
uninhabitable
B2
/ˌʌnɪnˈhæbɪtəbəl/
not suitable or safe for people or other living things to live in
mucky
B2
/ˈmʌki/
informal, especially British: covered with dirt or mud; dirty and messy
atypical
B2
/ˌeɪˈtɪpɪkəl/
Not typical; different from what is usual or normal.
prominence
B2
/ˈpɹɑ.mɪ.nəns/
The state of being important or well known.
visibly
B2
/ˈvɪz.ə.bli/
In a way that can be clearly seen or noticed.
impatiently
B2
/ɪmˈpeɪʃəntli/
In a way that shows you are annoyed by waiting or eager for something.
broadband
B2
/ˈbɹɔdbænd/
A high-speed connection to the internet.
well-built
B2
Having a strong, muscular body.
broadly
B2
/ˈbɹɔd.li/
In a general way, without going into the details
outgrow
B2
/ˌɑʊtˈɡɹoʊ/
To grow too big for clothes, shoes, or other things.
stopover
B2
/ˈstɑpˌoʊvɚ/
A short stay or break during a long journey, often to change planes.
impassable
B2
/ˌɪmˈpæsəbəl/
incapable of being passed
skillfully
B2
/ˈskɪlfəli/
in a way that shows skill; very well
stubbornly
B2
/ˈstʌbɝnli/
In a way that refuses to change or give in.
non-smoking
B2
/nɑːnˈsmoʊkɪŋ/
Where smoking is not allowed.
alternatively
B2
/ɔlˈtɝ.nə.tɪv.li/
Used to suggest another possibility or choice.
sunbeam
B2
/ˈsʌnˌbiːm/
A narrow ray of sunlight, especially one you can see shining through an opening.
skylark
B2
/ˈskaɪlɑɹk/
A small brown bird known for singing while flying high into the air.
restrictive
B2
/ɹɪˈstɹɪktɪv/
limiting what someone can do, use, or access
pedantic
B2
/pəˈdæn.tɪk/
Too concerned with small details and formal rules, often in a way that annoys others.
unimaginably
B2
To a degree so great that it is hard to imagine.
firmness
B2
/ˈfɝmnəs/
The quality of being fairly hard or solid to the touch.
descriptive
B2
/dɪˈskrɪptɪv/
Giving a clear and detailed picture of something in words.
resonant
B2
/ˈɹɛzənənt/
Of a sound, deep, full, and continuing to echo.
permanence
B2
/ˈpɜɹmənəns/
The quality of lasting or staying the same for a very long time.
ageless
B2
/ˈeɪdʒləs/
Never seeming to grow old; always looking young.
attractiveness
B2
/əˈtræktɪvnəs/
The quality of being pleasant to look at or appealing.
untalented
B2
Having little or no natural skill or ability
modernize
B2
/ˈmɑdɚnaɪz/
To make something old or out of date more modern by changing it or adding new things.
practicality
B2
/ˌpræktɪˈkæləti/
The quality of being useful and likely to work in a real situation.
drinkable
B2
/ˈdrɪnkəbəl/
Safe and suitable to drink.
lowland
B2
/ˈloʊˌlænd/
An area of land that is low and fairly flat.
sparingly
B2
/ˈspɛrɪŋli/
to a meager degree or in a meager manner
workbench
B2
/ˈwɝk.bɛnt͡ʃ/
A strong table used for doing manual work, such as by a carpenter or mechanic.
unmistakably
B2
/ˌʌnmɪsˈteɪkəbli/
In a way that is completely clear and impossible to mistake or doubt
aubergine
B2
/ˈoʊ.bɚ.ʒin/
A large vegetable with smooth, shiny dark purple skin, eaten cooked.
unsatisfying
B2
/ənˈsætɪsˌfaɪɪŋ/
not providing the pleasure, fulfillment, explanation, or result that was hoped for
long-legged
B2
/ˌlɔːŋˈlɛɡɪd/
having legs that are long in proportion to the body
beautify
B2
/ˈbjuː.tɪ.faɪ/
To make something more beautiful or attractive.
burdensome
B2
/ˈbɝ.dən.səm/
Causing trouble or difficulty; hard to deal with or carry.
achievable
B2
/əˈt͡ʃivəbəl/
Possible to do or reach with effort.
irresistibly
B2
/ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbli/
In a way that is too attractive or strong to resist
coherence
B2
/koʊˈhɪɹ.ən(t)s/
The quality of being logical, clear, and consistent, so that all the parts fit together well.
uncharacteristic
B2
/ˌənˌkɛrɪktɝˈɪstɪk/
Not typical of how someone or something usually is.
breakable
B2
/ˈbɹeɪkəbəl/
Easily broken or damaged.
misspent
B2
/mɪsˈspɛnt/
Spent in a bad way, squandered
good-sized
B2
/ˌɡʊdˈsaɪzd/
reasonably or notably large in size, amount, or extent
attainable
B2
/əˈtæɪ.nə.bəl/
Possible to achieve or reach with effort.
analogous
B2
/əˈnɛl.ə.ɡəs/
corresponding in function but not in evolutionary origin
skyward
B2
/ˈskaɪwɝd/
Toward the sky; upward.
generalization
B2
/ˌdʒɛnɝəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
A broad statement that is supposed to be true in most cases, based on only some examples.
drapery
B2
/ˈdɹeɪpəɹi/
Long, heavy cloth hung in folds, especially as a curtain.
gravelly
B2
/ˈɡrævəli/
containing, covered with, or resembling gravel
overstuffed
B2
/ˈoʊvɚstʌft/
filled beyond a comfortable or useful capacity
dispensable
B2
/dɪsˈpɛnsəbəl/
Not essential; able to be removed or done without.
mistrustful
B2
/mɪˈstrʌstfəl/
Not trusting someone or something; full of suspicion.
solidity
B2
/səˈlɪdɪti/
The quality of being firm, hard, and keeping its shape.
undersized
B2
/ˈʌndɝˌsaɪzd/
smaller than the usual or expected size
incomparably
B2
/ˌɪnˈkɑːmpɝəbli/
in an incomparable manner or to an incomparable degree
irredeemable
B2
/ˌɪrɪˈdiːməbəl/
impossible to remedy, recover, reform, or save
microorganism
B2
/ˌmaɪ.kɹoʊˈɔɹ.ɡəˌnɪz.m̩/
A living thing too small to be seen with the naked eye, such as a bacterium.
unorganized
B2
/ʌnˈɔrɡəˌnaɪzd/
not formed into a structured, coordinated, or formally governed whole
uncorrupted
B2
/ˌʌnkəˈrʌptɪd/
not debased
respectably
B2
/riːˈspɛktəbli/
In a way that earns respect or approval.
unalterable
B2
/əˈnɔltɝəbəl/
not able to be changed
tortoiseshell
B2
/ˈtɔː(ɹ)təˌʃɛl/
The hard, mottled brown and yellow material from a turtle's shell, used for ornaments.
dwarfish
B2
/ˈdwɔrfɪʃ/
unusually small, short, or stunted
undreamed
B2
/ʌnˈdɹiːmd/
So great or surprising that you never even imagined it.
microscopy
B2
/maɪˈkɹɑ.skə.pi/
The use of microscopes to study very small objects.
quotable
B2
/ˈkwəʊtəbəl/
Worth repeating or interesting enough to be quoted.