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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121 words
known
B2
/naːn/
Past participle of "know."
rose
B2
/ɹoʊz/
A flower with a sweet smell and a thorny stem, often given as a sign of love.
fate
B2
/feɪt/
What will happen to someone or something, especially something bad that cannot be avoided.
failed
B2
/feɪld/
Not successful; having ended without achieving its goal.
spare
B2
/spɛɚ/
Kept in reserve and ready to be used if needed; extra.
saving
B2
/ˈsæɪ.vɪŋ/
Money you keep instead of spending, set aside for the future (usually plural: savings).
dawn
B2
/dɔn/
The time of day when light first appears in the sky.
destiny
B2
/ˈdes.tɪ.ni/
The things that will happen to someone in the future, especially those that cannot be changed.
coincidence
B2
/koʊˈɪnsɪdəns/
A surprising situation in which events happen at the same time by chance, with no real connection.
impressed
B2
/ɪmˈpɹɛst/
Feeling admiration because something is very good.
lifetime
B2
/ˈlaɪf.taɪm/
The length of time that someone is alive or that something exists or works.
tattoo
B2
/tæˈtuː/
A permanent picture or design made on the skin using ink and a needle.
engagement
B2
/ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒ.mənt/
An agreement to marry, or the period before the wedding.
bum
B2
/bʌm/
The part of the body you sit on; the buttocks
valentine
B2
/ˈvaləntaɪn/
A card or message sent to someone you love on Saint Valentine's Day.
phase
B2
/feɪz/
One stage in a series of changes or in a process that happens over time.
intended
B2
/ɪnˈtɛndɪd/
Planned or meant to happen.
dated
B2
/ˈdeɪtɪd/
Old-fashioned and no longer modern or popular.
scar
B2
/skɑɹ/
A permanent mark left on the skin after a wound has healed.
villa
B2
/ˈvɪlə/
A large, comfortable house, often in the countryside or by the sea and used for holidays.
thrilled
B2
/θɹɪld/
Very excited and pleased.
prior
B2
/ˈpɹaɪ.(ə)ɹ/
Coming before in time; earlier or previous.
plague
B2
/pleɪɡ/
A very serious infectious disease that spreads quickly and kills many people.
scheduled
B2
/ˈskɛdʒʊld/
Planned to happen at a particular time.
proven
B2
/ˈpɹu.vn̩/
Shown to be true, effective, or reliable.
tan
B2
/ˈtæn/
A brown colour the skin gets after spending time in the sun.
terrifying
B2
/ˈtɛɹɪfaɪ.ɪŋ/
Causing extreme fear; very frightening.
chew
B2
/tʃɪʊ̯/
To crush food with your teeth before swallowing it.
promising
B2
/ˈpɹɑmɪsɪŋ/
Showing signs of future success or good results.
relevant
B2
/ˈɹɛləvənt/
Closely connected with the subject or situation being discussed.
consistent
B2
/kənˈsɪstənt/
Behaving or happening in the same way over time; dependable.
investigator
B2
/ɪnˈvɛs.tɪˌɡeɪ.tɚ/
A person who examines something carefully to find out the facts.
obsession
B2
/əbˈsɛʃən/
A state of thinking about something or someone all the time, in an unhealthy way.
demanding
B2
/dəˈmændɪŋ/
Needing a lot of effort, skill, energy, or time.
breakdown
B2
/ˈbɹeɪkˌdaʊn/
A failure of a machine or system to keep working.
moonlight
B2
/ˈmunˌlaɪt/
The light of the moon.
lease
B2
/ˈliːs/
A legal contract that lets someone use property for a set time in return for payment.
boiling
B2
/ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/
Very hot.
temporarily
B2
/ˌtɛmpəˈɹɛɹəli/
For a short time only; not permanently.
gaze
B2
/ɡeɪz/
To look at someone or something for a long time, often with wonder or interest.
shaped
B2
/ʃeɪpt/
Having a particular form or outline.
long-term
B2
/ˈlɔŋˈtɝːm/
Continuing or having effects over a long period of time.
await
B2
/əˈweɪt/
To wait for something or someone.
postpone
B2
/poʊstˈpoʊn/
To move an event or activity to a later time or date.
optimistic
B2
/ˌɑptɪˈmɪstɪk/
Expecting good things to happen; hopeful about the future.
motivated
B2
/ˈmoʊtəˌveɪtəd/
Eager and willing to work hard, especially toward a goal.
ongoing
B2
/ˈɑːnˌgoʊɪŋ/
Still happening or continuing; in progress.
estimated
B2
/ˈɛstəˌmeɪtɪd/
Based on a rough calculation rather than exact figures.
quarantine
B2
/ˈkwɔɹ.ən.tin/
A period when a person or animal is kept away from others to stop a disease from spreading.
irritating
B2
/ˈɪrəˌteɪtɪŋ/
Making you feel slightly angry or annoyed
undressed
B2
/ənˈdrɛst/
Having taken off some or all of your clothes.
vinegar
B2
/ˈvɪnəɡɚ/
A sour liquid made from fermented alcohol, used to flavour or preserve food.
contemporary
B2
/kənˈtɛm.pəˌɹɛɹ.i/
Belonging to the present time; modern.
last-minute
B2
/ˌlæˈsmɪnət/
Done or happening at the latest possible time before an event.
colonial
B2
/kəˈloʊ.njəl/
Relating to a time when a country ruled and controlled other lands as colonies.
suspend
B2
/səsˈpɛnd/
To stop something for a period of time before it continues again.
presidency
B2
/ˈpɹɛzɪdənsi/
The job or position of being a president.
prehistoric
B2
/ˌpriːhɪˈstɔrɪk/
Belonging to the time before history was written down.
strive
B2
/ˈstɹaɪv/
To try very hard over time to achieve something.
shabby
B2
/ˈʃæbi/
Worn out, untidy, or in poor condition because of age or neglect.
inflation
B2
/ɪnˈfleɪ.ʃən/
A general rise in prices over time, which makes money worth less.
unavailable
B2
/ˌʌnəˈveɪləbəl/
Not able to be obtained, used, or reached.
formerly
B2
/ˈfɔɹmɚli/
In the past; at an earlier time.
eternally
B2
/ɪˈtɝ.nə.li/
Forever; for all time.
scarcely
B2
/ˈskɛɹsli/
Almost not at all; only just.
maturity
B2
/məˈtʊəɹəti/
state of being mature
linger
B2
/ˈlɪŋɡɚ/
To stay somewhere longer than expected, often unwilling to leave.
punctual
B2
/ˈpʌŋkt͡ʃuəl/
Arriving or happening at exactly the right time; not late.
promptly
B2
/ˈpɹɑmptli/
Quickly, with little or no delay.
recreation
B2
/ɹɛkɹiˈeɪʃən/
Activity done for enjoyment and relaxation in your free time.
short-term
B2
/ˌʃɔrtˈtɝːm/
Lasting for or relating to a short period of time.
outlook
B2
/ˈaʊtˌlʊk/
Your general attitude or way of thinking about life.
enduring
B2
/ɪnˈd(j)ʊɚ.ɪŋ/
Lasting for a long time without changing.
petrified
B2
/ˈpɛtrəˌfaɪd/
Extremely frightened; so scared that you cannot move.
wartime
B2
/ˈwɔː(ɹ)taɪm/
A period of time during which a war is being fought.
consistently
B2
/kənˈsɪstəntli/
In a way that stays the same and does not change over time.
recollection
B2
/ɹɛkəˈlɛkʃən/
A memory of something from the past.
seasonal
B2
/ˈsiːzənəl/
Happening or available only at a particular time of year.
momentarily
B2
/ˌmoʊmənˈtɛrəli/
For a very short time.
thinker
B2
/ˈθɪŋ.kɚ/
A person who thinks deeply, especially an important intellectual or philosopher.
subsequent
B2
/ˈsʌbsɪkwənt/
Coming or happening after something else in time or order.
prompt
B2
/pɹɑmpt/
To make someone decide to do something, or to cause something to happen.
timeless
B2
/ˈtaɪmləs/
Not affected by the passing of time; staying attractive or important forever.
subsequently
B2
/ˈsʌbsəkwəntli/
Afterwards; at a later time.
thereafter
B2
/ˌðɛəɹˈæf.tə(ɹ)/
After that time; from then on.
efficiently
B2
/ɪˈfɪʃəntli/
In a way that works well without wasting time, money, or effort.
ponder
B2
/ˈpɑn.dəɹ/
To think about something carefully for a long time.
varied
B2
/ˈvɛɹid/
Consisting of many different types or kinds.
lengthy
B2
/ˈlɛŋθi/
Lasting or continuing for a long time, often too long.
correspond
B2
/ˌkoɹəˈspɑnd/
To match or be similar to something else.
momentary
B2
/ˈmoʊmənˌtɛɹi/
Lasting for only a very short time.
cornerstone
B2
/ˈkɔrnɝˌstoʊn/
The most important part of something, on which everything else depends.
tanned
B2
/tænd/
Having browner skin from spending time in the sun.
hourly
B2
/ˈaʊ̯ɚli/
Happening every hour.
transient
B2
/ˈtɹæn.ʃənt/
Lasting only for a short time; not permanent.
doubly
B2
/ˈdʌb.li/
To twice the degree; much more than usual.