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.
Choose your level
View all levels
421 words
gourmet
C1
/ɡʊɹˈmeɪ/
Of food: high in quality and carefully prepared.
flawed
C1
/flɔd/
Having a fault, weakness, or imperfection.
flask
C1
/flask/
A small flat bottle for carrying a drink, often kept in a pocket.
agreeable
C1
/əˈɡɹiəbəl/
Pleasant and enjoyable.
wary
C1
/ˈwɛɚ.i/
careful and cautious because you sense possible danger or trouble
vibrant
C1
/ˈvaɪbɹənt/
Bright and strong in colour.
relevance
C1
/ˈɹɛl.ɪ.vən(t)s/
The quality of being closely connected or useful to what is being discussed or dealt with.
acre
C1
/ˈeɪ.kɚ/
A unit of land area equal to about 4,047 square metres.
enormously
C1
/ɪˈnɔrməsli/
To a very great degree; extremely.
twitch
C1
/twɪt͡ʃ/
To make a sudden, small, uncontrolled movement.
ludicrous
C1
/ˈluː.dɪ.kɹəs/
So foolish, unreasonable, or absurd that it is almost laughable.
underlying
C1
/ˌəndɝˈlaɪɪŋ/
Real but not immediately obvious; forming the hidden basis of something.
manicure
C1
/ˈmæ.nɪ.kjʊɹ/
A beauty treatment for the hands and fingernails.
intensely
C1
/ɪnˈtɛnsli/
in an intense manner
complexity
C1
/kəmˈplɛk.sɪ.ti/
The state of having many connected parts and being hard to understand.
immensely
C1
/ɪˈmɛnsli/
Extremely; to a very great degree.
profoundly
C1
/pɹəˈfaʊndli/
Deeply; to a very great extent.
historically
C1
/hɪˈstɔɹɪkli/
with respect to history
ghostly
C1
/ˈɡoʊstli/
Looking pale and faint, like a ghost; eerie.
faction
C1
/ˈfæk.ʃən/
A small group within a larger organization whose opinions differ from the rest.
ordinarily
C1
/ɔɹdɪˈnɛɹɪli/
Usually; as a general rule under normal conditions.
scrutiny
C1
/ˈskɹuː.tɪ.ni/
Careful and detailed examination of something.
sprout
C1
/spɹaʊt/
To begin to grow; to produce new shoots or leaves.
monumental
C1
/ˌmɑnjəˈmɛntəl/
extremely important or influential, especially in its lasting effects
robust
C1
/ɹoʊˈbʌst/
Strong and unlikely to fail or break.
consistency
C1
/kənˈsɪstənsi/
The quality of always behaving or performing in the same way.
rarity
C1
/ˈɹɛɹ.ə.ti/
The fact of being uncommon or hard to find.
creamy
C1
/ˈkɹiːmi/
Having the rich, smooth, thick taste or texture of cream.
aqua
C1
/əˈkwɑ/
A light blue-green colour, similar to turquoise.
elastic
C1
/ɪˈlæstɪk/
Able to stretch and return to its original shape when released.
vulnerability
C1
/ˌvʌln(ə)ɹəˈbɪləti/
The state of being easily hurt, attacked, or harmed, physically or emotionally.
hypocritical
C1
/hɪpəˈkɹɪtɪkəl/
Behaving in a way that contradicts the beliefs or standards you claim to have.
unconventional
C1
/ˌənkənˈvɛnʃənəl/
not following the usual rules, customs, or ways of doing things
tract
C1
/tɹækt/
A large area of land.
quirky
C1
/ˈkwɝːki/
Unusual or odd in a charming, likeable way.
fiercely
C1
/ˈfɪɹsli/
In a way that is very strong, intense, or aggressive.
contend
C1
/kənˈtɛnd/
To state firmly that something is true, especially in an argument.
indicator
C1
/ˈɪndəˌkeɪtɝ/
A sign or measurement that shows what a situation is like.
resilient
C1
/ɹɪˈzɪl.jənt/
Able to recover quickly from difficulties, hardship, or setbacks.
realism
C1
/ˈɹi.əlɪzəm/
A practical attitude that accepts the facts of a situation as they really are.
simulate
C1
/ˈsɪm.jəˌleɪt/
To create something that copies the behavior or appearance of a real thing.
arbitrary
C1
/ˈɑɹ.bɪˌtɹɛ(ə).ɹi/
Based on personal choice or chance rather than on any clear reason or rule.
pertinent
C1
/ˈpɚtɪnənt/
Directly relating to the subject being discussed; relevant.
inexplicable
C1
/ˌɪn.ɪkˈsplɪ.kə.bl̩/
Impossible to understand or explain.
intuitive
C1
/ɪnˈt(j)uɪtɪv/
Easy to understand and use without instruction.
graciously
C1
/ˈɡɹeɪʃəsli/
in a gracious or graceful manner
reluctantly
C1
/ɹɪˈlʌktəntli/
In an unwilling or hesitant way.
electoral
C1
/ɪˈlɛk.tɚ.əl/
Relating to elections or voting.
adverse
C1
/ˈæd.və(ɹ)s/
Bad or harmful; having a negative effect.
knowledgeable
C1
/ˈnɑ.lɪ.d͡ʒə.bəl/
Knowing a lot, especially about a particular subject.
comparable
C1
/ˈkɑmp.(ə.)ɹə.bɫ̩/
Similar enough to be compared; of a similar size, quality, or level.
vitality
C1
/vaɪˈtælɪti/
Great energy and liveliness.
intellectually
C1
/ˌɪntəˈlɛktʃuːəli/
in an intellectual manner
professionalism
C1
/pɹəˈfɛʃənəˌlɪzəm/
The skill, good judgement, and high standards expected of someone doing a job well.
arguably
C1
/ˈɑɹɡjuəbli/
Used to say something can be reasonably argued or claimed, even if not everyone agrees.
degradation
C1
/ˌdɛgrəˈdeɪʃən/
A drop to a lower, worse state, especially in quality or condition.
docile
C1
/ˈdɑ.səl/
Quiet and easy to control or manage.
daunting
C1
/ˈdɔntɪŋ/
Seeming so difficult or large that it makes you feel nervous or discouraged.
blister
C1
/ˈblɪstɚ/
A small bubble on the skin filled with fluid, caused by rubbing, burning, or irritation.
ratty
C1
/ˈræti/
informal, especially US: old, worn, dirty, or in poor condition
billiards
C1
/ˈbɪl.jɚdz/
A game played on a cloth-covered table in which players use long sticks to hit balls into one another or into pockets.
inexcusable
C1
/ˌɪnɪksˈkjuːzəbəl/
So bad that it cannot be justified or forgiven.
transparency
C1
/tɹænsˈpæɹənsi/
Openness and honesty that allows others to see how things are done.
bulky
C1
/ˈbʌlki/
Large and awkward to carry or store.
insightful
C1
/ɪnˈsaɪt.f(ə)l/
Showing a clear and deep understanding of something.
methodical
C1
/mɪˈθɑdɪkəl/
Done in a careful, orderly, and systematic way.
macabre
C1
/məˈkɑb/
Disturbing and gruesome, especially because it deals with death.
whereby
C1
/wɛə(ɹ)ˈbaɪ/
By which; through which (used to introduce the means or method).
maximize
C1
/ˈmæksəmaɪz/
To make something as large or as great as possible.
large-scale
C1
/ˈlɑːrdʒˌskeɪl/
Involving a large number of people or things, or happening over a wide area.
loom
C1
/lum/
To appear large, close, and often threatening or worrying.
monotonous
C1
/məˈnɑtənəs/
Boring because it never changes or has any variety.
recognizable
C1
/ˌrɛkəgˈnaɪzəbəl/
Easy to know or identify because it is familiar.
supple
C1
/ˈsʌpəl/
Able to bend and move easily; flexible.
validity
C1
/vəˈlɪd.ᵻ.ti/
The state of being based on truth, sound reasoning, or solid evidence.
impediment
C1
/ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt/
Something that gets in the way and makes progress difficult.
gutsy
C1
/ˈgʌtˈsiː/
Showing courage and determination, especially in a difficult situation.
avid
C1
/ˈæv.ɪd/
Very enthusiastic and keen about something.
heifer
C1
/ˈhɛfə(ɹ)/
A young female cow that has not yet had a calf.
deathly
C1
/ˈdɛθli/
resembling or suggesting death, especially by being extremely pale, still, cold, or unpleasant
degrade
C1
/dɪˈɡɹeɪd/
To treat someone without respect, making them feel worthless or ashamed.
mythological
C1
/ˌmɪθəˈlɒd͡ʒɪkəl/
Relating to myths or mythology.
upheaval
C1
/ʌpˈhi.vəl/
A big and often sudden change that causes trouble or confusion.
irreparable
C1
/ɪˈɹɛpəɹəbəl/
impossible to repair, restore, remedy, or make right
haggle
C1
/ˈhægəl/
To argue with someone in order to reach a deal, especially over a price.
uneventful
C1
/ˌəniːˈvɛntfəl/
Without anything interesting, exciting, or unusual happening.
substantially
C1
/səbˈstænʃəli/
By a large amount; to a great degree.
panorama
C1
/ˌpæn.əˈɹæm.ə/
A wide, unbroken view of a large area.
cleanly
C1
/ˈklɛnli/
In a neat, smooth, and precise way.
imp
C1
/ˈɪmp/
A small, mischievous magical creature, like a tiny devil.
marginal
C1
/ˈmɑɹ.d͡ʒɪ.nəl/
Very small in size or effect; not important.
pragmatic
C1
/pɹæɡˈmætɪk/
concerned with practical matters
reliability
C1
/riːˌlaɪəˈbɪləti/
The quality of being trustworthy and able to be depended on to work well or behave correctly.
prolific
C1
/pɹəˈlɪf.ɪk/
Producing a great deal of work, results, or output.
brainwash
C1
/ˈbɹeɪnwɒʃ/
To force someone to accept new beliefs by using strong pressure over a long time.
illumination
C1
/ɪˌlumɪˈneɪʃən/
painting or drawing included in a book, especially referring to illuminated medieval manuscripts