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
155 words
removed
C1
/ɹɪˈmuːvd/
Distant or separated from something in space, time, or degree.
chamber
C1
/ˈt͡ʃeɪmbɚ/
A large room, often used for a formal or specific purpose.
halfway
C1
/ˌhæfˈweɪ/
At or to a point that is the middle between two places.
nest
C1
/nɛst/
A structure that a bird or other animal builds to lay eggs and raise its young.
grounds
C1
/ɡɹaʊndz/
A good reason or basis for doing or believing something.
suite
C1
/swiːt/
A set of connected rooms, especially in a hotel.
legacy
C1
/ˈleɪɡəsi/
Something passed down from the past or from a person who came before.
isolated
C1
/ˈaɪsəleɪtɪd/
far away from other places, people, or things
inappropriate
C1
/ˌɪnəˈpɹoʊpɹi.ət/
Not suitable for a particular situation, time, or place.
vacuum
C1
/ˈvæ.kjuːm/
A space that contains no matter or air.
scattered
C1
/ˈskætɚd/
Spread out over a wide area at irregular intervals.
violation
C1
/ˌvaɪ.əˈleɪ.ʃən/
An act that breaks a law, agreement, or right.
inheritance
C1
/ɪnˈhɛɹɪtəns/
Money or property received from someone who has died.
drift
C1
/dɹɪft/
To be carried slowly along by water, air, or a current.
ruthless
C1
/ˈɹuːθləs/
Showing no pity or mercy towards others.
stray
C1
/stɹeɪ/
To wander away from the right path or place.
irony
C1
/ˈaɪ.ɹə.ni/
A situation that is strange or amusing because it is the opposite of what you expect.
collective
C1
/kəˈlɛktɪv/
Done by or shared between all members of a group.
strap
C1
/stɹæp/
A narrow strip of leather, cloth, or other material used to fasten, carry, or hold something.
banner
C1
/ˈbænɚ/
A large sign or strip of cloth with a message, often hung up or carried.
spotlight
C1
/ˈspɑtˌlaɪt/
Public attention or the center of attention.
descent
C1
/dəˈsɛnt/
The act of moving or coming down.
bypass
C1
/ˈbaɪpæs/
To avoid or go around something, such as a rule, problem, or place.
spontaneous
C1
/spɑnˈteɪ.ni.əs/
Done suddenly, without planning, because you suddenly want to.
collision
C1
/kəˈlɪʒn̩/
An accident in which two moving objects hit each other.
recess
C1
/ˈɹiˌsɛs/
A short break from work or activity, such as a pause in a meeting, court session, or school day.
saloon
C1
/səˈlun/
A bar or public place where alcoholic drinks are served, especially in the American Old West.
successor
C1
/səkˈsɛsɚ/
A person who takes over a job, position, or title from someone else.
circulation
C1
/ˌsɝkjʊˈleɪʃən/
The movement of blood around the body
remotely
C1
/ɹɪˈmoʊtli/
From far away, without being physically present.
flank
C1
/ˈflæŋk/
the side of something, especially the side of a body or military formation
withdrawal
C1
/wɪðˈdɹɔ(ə)l/
The act of taking money out of a bank account.
withdrawn
C1
/wɪðˈdɹɔn/
Very quiet and not wanting to talk to or be with other people.
vertical
C1
/ˈvɝ.tɪ.kəl/
Pointing or going straight up and down; at right angles to the ground.
liaison
C1
/liˈeɪˌzɑn/
A person who passes information and helps two groups work together.
bourgeois
C1
/bʊɹʒˈwɑː/
conforming to the standards and conventions of the middle class
parasite
C1
/ˈpæɹəˌsaɪt/
An animal or plant that lives on or inside another and feeds off it.
momentum
C1
/ˌmoʊˈmɛntəm/
The driving force that keeps an idea, process, or campaign moving forward.
sarcastic
C1
/sɑɹˈkæs.tɪk/
Using remarks that mean the opposite of what they say, in order to mock or insult.
layout
C1
/ˈleɪ.aʊt/
The way the parts of something are arranged within a space.
junction
C1
/ˈd͡ʒʌŋkʃən/
A place where two or more roads, railways, or routes meet.
transit
C1
/ˈtɹæn.zət/
The movement of people or goods from one place to another
rotation
C1
/ɹoʊˈteɪʃən/
The act of turning around a central point or axis.
removal
C1
/ɹɪˈmu.vəl/
The act of taking something away or getting rid of it.
sarcasm
C1
/ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/
The use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say, in order to mock or insult someone.
cavity
C1
/ˈkæv.ɪt.i/
A hole or hollow space inside a solid object.
rut
C1
/rʌt/
a long, deep track or groove made in soft ground or another surface by repeated passage
orientation
C1
/ˌɔɹiɛnˈteɪʃən/
A meeting or short course that introduces people to a new job, school, or situation.
astray
C1
/əˈstɹeɪ/
Away from the correct path, place, or direction.
tribunal
C1
/tɹaɪˈbjunəl/
A type of court set up to settle particular kinds of disputes.
posture
C1
/ˈpɑst͡ʃɚ/
The way a person holds and positions their body.
confinement
C1
/kənˈfaɪnmənt/
The state of being kept in a closed space and not allowed to leave.
exterior
C1
/ɪkˈstɪɹiɚ/
The outside surface or appearance of something.
hostility
C1
/hɑˈstɪlɪti/
Strong unfriendliness or opposition towards someone or something.
restraint
C1
/ɹɪˈstɹeɪnt/
Calm, controlled behaviour; the act of holding back strong feelings or reactions.
harass
C1
/ˈhæɹəs/
To annoy or trouble someone repeatedly, often in a threatening or aggressive way.
restoration
C1
/ɹɛstəˈɹeɪʃən/
The act of returning something to its original or former condition.
set-up
C1
/ˈsɛˌtəp/
The way something is organized or arranged.
density
C1
/ˈdɛn.sə.ti/
How much of something there is in a given space or area.
proceeds
C1
/ˈpɹoʊsidz/
The money received from an event, sale, or activity.
ranking
C1
/ˈɹæŋ.kɪŋ/
A person's or thing's position in an ordered list, showing relative quality or success.
adolescent
C1
/ˌæd.əˈlɛs.ənt/
A young person who is no longer a child but not yet an adult; a teenager.
turnout
C1
/ˈtɜː(ɹ)naʊt/
The number of people who attend or take part in an event, especially an election.
predecessor
C1
/ˈpɹiːdɪsɛsɚ/
A person who held a job or position before someone else.
hierarchy
C1
/ˈhaɪ.ə.ɹɑː(ɹ).ki/
A system in which people or things are ranked one above another by status or importance.
justification
C1
/ˌd͡ʒɐstɪfɪˈkæɪʃən/
A good reason or explanation that makes an action or belief seem acceptable.
relapse
C1
/ɹɪˈlæps/
To slip back into a bad habit or harmful behaviour after a period of improvement.
reside
C1
/ɹɪˈzaɪd/
To live in a particular place.
continuity
C1
/ˌkɑn.tɪˈn(j)u.ə.ti/
The state of continuing steadily over time without interruption.
linear
C1
/ˈlɪni.əɹ/
Following a straight line or a single direction.
alignment
C1
/əˈlɑen.mənt/
Agreement or support between people, groups, or ideas.
conserve
C1
/ˈkɒnsɜː(ɹ)v/
To use something carefully so that it is not wasted or used up.
spacious
C1
/ˈspeɪʃ.əs/
Having a lot of space; large and roomy.
spontaneously
C1
/spɑnˈteɪ.ni.əs.li/
Suddenly and without planning, because you suddenly want to.
interim
C1
/ˈɪntəɹɪm/
Holding a position or in use only for a short time until a permanent arrangement is made.
self-conscious
C1
/ˌsɛlfˈkɑːnʃəs/
uncomfortably aware of how you look or behave in front of others
situated
C1
/ˈsɪt͡ʃueɪtɪd/
Located in a particular place or position.
insubordination
C1
/ˌɪnsəˌbɔrdəˈneɪʃən/
Refusal to obey orders or accept the authority of someone above you.
align
C1
/əˈlaɪn/
To agree with or support a person, group, or set of ideas.
sovereignty
C1
/ˈsɑv(ə)ɹənti/
The power of a country to govern itself without outside control.
trampoline
C1
/ˌtɹæmpəˈliːn/
A strong sheet of fabric stretched over a frame by springs, used for jumping on.
circulate
C1
/ˈsɝ.kjʊˌleɪt/
To move continuously around a system and back to the start
repel
C1
/ɹɪˈpɛl/
To drive back or force away an attacker or advancing force.
tact
C1
/tækt/
The skill of dealing with people sensitively and saying the right thing without causing offence.
elevation
C1
/ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃn̩/
The height of a place above sea level.
devise
C1
/dɪˈvaɪz/
To invent or plan something clever, often a method, system, or scheme.
fro
C1
/fɹoʊ/
away or backward, now used chiefly in the fixed expression to and fro
line-up
C1
/ˈlaɪˌnəp/
The group of people or things chosen to take part in an event, team, or show.
pinnacle
C1
/ˈpɪnəkəl/
The highest point of success or achievement.
pendulum
C1
/ˈpɛnd͡ʒələm/
A weight hung from a fixed point so it can swing freely back and forth, often used in clocks.
anchored
C1
/ˈæŋkɝd/
Past tense and past participle of anchor: to hold something firmly in place.
relinquish
C1
/ɹɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/
To give up something such as a possession, right, or position.
induction
C1
/ɪnˈdʌkʃən/
the act of formally introducing someone into a job, group, or position
contention
C1
/kənˈtɛnʃən/
An opinion or point that you state firmly in an argument.
backdrop
C1
/ˈbæk.dɹɑp/
The background situation against which events take place.
clutter
C1
/ˈklʌtɚ/
A messy, disordered collection of things