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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29 words
bat
B2
/bæt/
A small flying animal that comes out at night and feeds on insects or fruit.
contest
B2
/ˈkɑn.tɛst/
A competition in which people try to win or to be the best.
offense
B2
/əˈfɛns/
An action that breaks the law; a crime.
penalty
B2
/ˈpɛn.əl.ti/
A punishment given for breaking a rule or law.
opponent
B2
/əˈpəʊ.nənt/
A person you compete or fight against in a game, contest, or argument.
regime
B2
/ɹəˈʒiːm/
A government that is in power, especially one that is strict or unfair.
tackle
B2
/ˈtækəl/
To deal with a difficult problem or task in a determined way.
marathon
B2
/ˈmæɹəˌθɑn/
A long running race of about 42 kilometres (26 miles).
polo
B2
/ˈpoʊloʊ/
A ball game played on horseback in which two teams use long mallets to hit a ball into the other team's goal.
jockey
B2
/ˈdʒɑː.ki/
a professional rider who competes in horse races
coaching
B2
/ˈkoʊtʃɪŋ/
The process of training or teaching someone, especially in a sport or skill.
wrestle
B2
/ˈɹɛsəl/
to fight or compete by gripping an opponent and trying to throw or hold them down
snowball
B2
/ˈsnoʊbɔl/
A ball of snow pressed together in your hands, often thrown for fun.
judo
B2
/ˈd͡ʒudoʊ/
A Japanese sport and martial art in which you try to throw your opponent to the ground.
concede
B2
/kənˈsid/
to admit that something is true, often unwillingly
inning
B2
/ˈɪnɪŋ/
a turn or period of activity, especially a renewed opportunity to speak or act
archery
B2
/ˈɑrtʃəri/
the sport, practice, or skill of shooting arrows with a bow
striker
B2
/ˈstɹaɪkɚ/
in football, an attacking player whose main role is to score goals
racehorse
B2
/ˈreɪsˌhɔrs/
a horse bred and trained to compete in races
croquet
B2
/kroʊˈkeɪ/
a lawn game in which players use mallets to hit wooden balls through a course of hoops
fairway
B2
/ˈfɛɹweɪ/
golf: the closely mown strip between the tee and the putting green
anchorman
B2
/ˈæŋkɝˌmæn/
The main male presenter of a television or radio news programme.
cartwheel
B2
/ˈkɑrtˌwiːl/
an acrobatic movement in which the body turns sideways through an inverted position with the arms and legs extended
toboggan
B2
/təˈbɑː.ɡən/
a long, light sled with a curved-up front and no runners, used for carrying loads or sliding over snow
racecourse
B2
/ˈreɪsˌkɔrs/
a track or grounds on which races, especially horse races, are held
crossbar
B2
/ˈkrɑːs.bɑːr/
the horizontal bar joining the two upright posts at the top of a goal in sports such as football or rugby
shuttlecock
B2
/ˈʃʌtəlˌkɑk/
the lightweight, cone-shaped object with a rounded cork or rubber base that players hit in badminton
bleacher
B2
/ˈbliːtʃɚ/
usually plural: a raised structure with rows of simple seats for spectators
swat
B2
/swɑt/
to hit or crush something with a quick, sharp blow, often with the hand or an object