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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266 words
hell
B2
/hɛl/
In some religions, a place of punishment where evil people are believed to go after death.
moving
B2
/ˈmuːvɪŋ/
Making you feel strong emotions, especially sadness or sympathy.
commander
B2
/kəˈmændɚ/
A person who is in charge of a group of soldiers or a military unit.
dig
B2
/dɪɡ/
To break up and move earth, especially to make a hole.
lower
B2
/ˈloʊ.ɚ/
To reduce the amount, level, or strength of something.
remains
B2
/ɹɪˈmeɪnz/
The parts of something that are left after the rest has been used, eaten, or destroyed.
alien
B2
/ˈeɪ.li.ən/
A creature from another planet or from outer space.
abandoned
B2
/əˈbeə̯n.dənd/
left empty and no longer used or cared for
swing
B2
/ˈswɪŋ/
To move back and forth or in a curve from a fixed point.
mixed
B2
/mɪkst/
Made up of different kinds of things or people.
guts
B2
/ɡʌts/
Courage and determination to do something difficult or frightening.
surveillance
B2
/sɚˈveɪ.ləns/
The careful watching of a person, group, or place, especially to prevent or detect crime.
headquarters
B2
/ˈhɛdˌkwɔɹ.tɚz/
The main office or centre where an organization is managed.
landing
B2
/ˈlændɪŋ/
The act of coming down to the ground, especially of an aircraft.
skip
B2
/skɪp/
to leave out or pass over something instead of dealing with it
booth
B2
/buθ/
A small enclosed space just big enough for one person, used for a particular purpose.
trunk
B2
/tɹʌŋk/
The thick main stem of a tree.
backup
B2
/ˈbækˌʌp/
A copy of computer files kept separately so you can recover them if the originals are lost.
spin
B2
/spɪn/
To turn around quickly and repeatedly on a central point.
rocket
B2
/ˈɹɑk.ɪt/
A vehicle or device driven through the air or space by burning fuel.
core
B2
/kɔɹ/
The central or most important part of something.
lap
B2
/ˈlæp/
The flat area formed by the top of your thighs when you are sitting down.
rub
B2
/ɹʊb/
To move your hand or an object back and forth over a surface with pressure.
radar
B2
/ˈɹeɪˌdɑɹ/
A system that uses radio waves to find the position and speed of distant objects such as ships and planes.
prom
B2
/pɹɑm/
A formal dance held for students, usually near the end of the school year.
reverse
B2
/ɹɪˈvɝs/
To change something to the opposite of what it was.
ash
B2
/ˈæʃ/
The grey powder left after something has burned.
pearl
B2
/pɝl/
A small, round, shiny white gem that forms inside an oyster, often used in jewellery.
alliance
B2
/əˈlaɪ.əns/
An agreement between countries or groups to work together, often for military or political reasons.
infected
B2
/ˌɪnˈfɛktɪd/
Having a disease or harmful organisms inside or on it.
remaining
B2
/ɹɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/
Still left after the rest has been used, removed, or dealt with.
cemetery
B2
/ˈsɛm.ɪˌtɛɹ.i/
A place where dead people are buried.
rear
B2
/ɹɪɹ/
The back part of something.
gum
B2
/ɡʌm/
A sweet, soft substance that you chew but do not swallow.
corporal
B2
/ˈkoɹ.pɚ.əl/
A low-ranking officer in the army, above a private and below a sergeant.
respected
B2
/ɹɪˈspɛktɪd/
Admired and looked up to by others.
scent
B2
/sɛnt/
A pleasant smell.
mortal
B2
/ˈmɔɹ.təl/
Certain to die one day; not able to live forever.
mature
B2
/məˈt͡ʃɔː(ɹ)/
Behaving in a sensible, grown-up way.
dock
B2
/dɑk/
A place where ships are loaded, unloaded, or repaired.
resort
B2
/ɹɪˈzɔːt/
A place where people go on holiday for rest and recreation.
withdraw
B2
/wɪðˈdɹɔ/
To take money out of a bank account.
lighting
B2
/ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
The lights in a place, or the way a place is lit.
bearing
B2
/ˈbɛɹɪŋ/
The way a connection or fact affects or relates to something.
pose
B2
/poʊz/
To hold a particular position so that someone can paint, draw, or photograph you.
toxic
B2
/ˈtɑk.sɪk/
Poisonous; harmful or deadly if it gets into the body.
opposed
B2
/əˈpoʊzd/
Strongly disagreeing with something; against it.
replacement
B2
/ɹɪˈpleɪsmənt/
A person or thing that takes the place of another.
flee
B2
/fliː/
To run away quickly, especially from danger.
corridor
B2
/ˈkɔɹəˌdɔɹ/
A long, narrow passage inside a building with rooms leading off it.
resign
B2
/ɹiːˈsaɪn/
To officially leave a job or position.
housing
B2
/ˈhaʊzɪŋ/
Buildings where people live, considered as a group.
peak
B2
/piːk/
The pointed top of a mountain.
hollow
B2
/ˈhɑ.loʊ/
Having an empty space inside; not solid.
interior
B2
/ɪnˈtɪ.ɹi.ɚ/
the inside of a building, vehicle, or other enclosed space.
ridge
B2
/ˈrɪdʒ/
A long, narrow strip of high ground, often the top of a row of hills or mountains.
duel
B2
/ˈˈd͡ʒuːəl/
A formal fight between two people with weapons, arranged to settle a matter of honor.
disposal
B2
/dɪsˈpoʊ.zəl/
The act of getting rid of something.
owl
B2
/aʊ(ə)l/
A bird of prey that is active mainly at night, with large forward-facing eyes, a flat face, and excellent hearing.
untie
B2
/ʌnˈtaɪ/
To undo something that is tied, such as a knot or laces
waist
B2
/weɪst/
The narrow part of the body between the ribs and the hips.
spa
B2
/ˈspɑ/
A place where people go to relax and have treatments like massages and facials.
disappearance
B2
/ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
The act of something or someone disappearing or no longer being there.
kneel
B2
/niːl/
To go down and rest on your knees.
justify
B2
/ˈd͡ʒʌstɪfaɪ/
To give a good reason for something so that it seems acceptable.
battlefield
B2
/ˈbætəlˌfiːld/
The place where a battle is fought or has been fought.
resignation
B2
/ˌɹez.ɪɡˈnæɪ.ʃən/
The act of officially leaving a job or position.
blink
B2
/blɪŋk/
To shut and open your eyes quickly.
tramp
B2
/ˈtɹæmp/
A homeless person who travels from place to place and often begs for food or money.
arena
B2
/əˈɹiːnə/
A large building or enclosed space used for sports or entertainment events.
specialty
B2
/ˈspɛʃ.əl.ti/
A subject or skill that someone knows a lot about or is very good at.
protein
B2
/ˈpɹoʊ.tiːn/
A nutrient found in foods such as meat, eggs, and beans that the body needs to grow and stay healthy.
fundamental
B2
/ˌfɐn.dəˈmɛn.təl/
Forming the basic and most important part of something; essential.
cozy
B2
/ˈkoʊzi/
Warm, comfortable, and pleasant, especially in a small space.
overboard
B2
/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌbɔː(ɹ)d/
Over the side of a boat and into the water.
grown-up
B2
/ˈgroʊˌnəp/
An adult, especially as spoken about by or to children.
parallel
B2
/ˈpærᵊ.ləl/
(of lines or surfaces) Always the same distance apart and never meeting.
humiliation
B2
/hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃən/
The feeling of being ashamed or foolish, especially in front of others.
stitch
B2
/ˈstɪtʃ/
One of the loops or lines of thread made when sewing or knitting.
unbearable
B2
/ənˈbɛrəbəl/
So unpleasant or painful that you cannot put up with it.
altitude
B2
/ˈælt.ɪˌtjuːd/
The height of something above sea level or the ground.
intruder
B2
/ənˈtɹudɚ/
Someone who enters a place or property without permission.
feedback
B2
/ˈfiːdˌbæk/
Comments and advice about how well someone has done something.
arctic
B2
/ˈɑɹ(k)tɪk/
Relating to the cold region around the North Pole.
strangle
B2
/ˈstɹeɪ̯ŋɡ(ə)l/
To kill or hurt someone by squeezing their throat so they cannot breathe.
roam
B2
/ɹoʊm/
To wander or travel about freely with no fixed destination.
humiliate
B2
/hjuːˈmɪliˌeɪt/
To make someone feel ashamed or foolish, especially in front of other people.
frontier
B2
/fɹʌnˈtɪɹ/
The border between two countries.
chimney
B2
/ˈtʃɪmni/
A vertical pipe or structure that carries smoke from a fire up and out of a building.
marker
B2
/ˈmɑː(ɹ)kə(ɹ)/
A pen with a thick, felt tip used for writing or drawing.
heap
B2
/hiːp/
An untidy pile of things lying on top of each other.
bind
B2
/ˈbaɪ̯nd/
To tie or fasten something tightly with rope, string, or cord.
stool
B2
/stuːl/
A seat with legs but no back or arms.
fireplace
B2
/ˈfaɪɹpleɪs/
An open space in a wall where a fire can be lit, usually at the base of a chimney.
arch
B2
/ɑɹt͡ʃ/
A curved structure that spans an opening and supports the weight above it.
closure
B2
/ˈkloʊ.ʒɚ/
The act of shutting something down, permanently or for a time.