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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421 words
trying
C1
/ˈtɹaɪ.ɪŋ/
Difficult or annoying to deal with; hard to endure.
warrant
C1
/ˈwɔɹənt/
An official document allowing police to search, seize, or arrest someone.
cutting
C1
/ˈkʌtɪŋ/
A small piece cut from a plant and used to grow a new one.
crystal
C1
/ˈkɹɪstəl/
A clear, solid mineral form with a regular geometric shape; high-quality clear glass.
trauma
C1
/ˈtɹɔ.mə/
A deep emotional shock or wound that has lasting effects.
warehouse
C1
/ˈwɛə(ɹ)haʊs/
A large building for storing goods before they are sold or sent out.
rifle
C1
/ˈɹaɪfəl/
A gun with a long barrel that is fired from the shoulder.
gut
C1
/ɡʌt/
The stomach or belly, especially a large one.
supreme
C1
/ˌsuˈpɹim/
Highest in authority, rank, or power.
mere
C1
/mɪɚ/
Used to stress that something is small or unimportant; nothing more than.
bass
C1
/bæs/
The low range of sound or musical tones.
hack
C1
/hæk/
A writer who produces dull, low-quality work, often just for money.
corps
C1
/kɔɹ/
A large military unit made up of several divisions.
violet
C1
/ˈvaɪəlɪt/
Of a bluish-purple colour.
auto
C1
/ˈɔ.toʊ̯/
A car (short for automobile).
quest
C1
/kwɛst/
A long or determined search or effort to achieve something.
fragile
C1
/ˈfɹæd͡ʒəl/
Easily broken or damaged; not strong.
loop
C1
/luːp/
A shape made when a line curves round and crosses itself.
integrity
C1
/ɪnˈtɛɡɹəti/
The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
intact
C1
/ɪnˈtækt/
Complete and not damaged or broken.
salvation
C1
/sælˈveɪ.ʃn̩/
The act of saving someone or something from harm or a difficult situation.
pigeon
C1
/ˈpə.dʒən/
A common grey bird with a plump body and short legs, often seen in towns and cities.
fuse
C1
/fjuːz/
To join or blend two or more things into one.
irrelevant
C1
/ɪˈɹɛl.ə.vənt/
Not connected with or important to the subject being discussed.
profound
C1
/pɹəˈfaʊnd/
Very great or intense; deeply felt.
authentic
C1
/ɔˈθɛn.tɪk/
Real and genuine, not a fake or copy.
verify
C1
/ˈvɛɹɪfaɪ/
To check that something is true, accurate, or correct.
denial
C1
/dɪˈnaɪəl/
A statement that something is not true.
memo
C1
/ˈmɛmoʊ̯/
A short written message sent within an organization.
machinery
C1
/məˈʃiːnəɹi/
Machines as a group, especially large ones used in industry.
grind
C1
/ˈɡɹaɪnd/
To crush something into small pieces or powder.
notorious
C1
/nəˈtɔ.ɹi.əs/
Famous for something bad.
experimental
C1
/ɪkspɛɹəˈmɛntəl/
Relating to or based on scientific experiments.
flick
C1
/flɪk/
To hit or touch something with a quick, light movement.
testament
C1
/ˈtes.tə.mənt/
Proof or clear evidence that something is true or that someone has a quality.
immense
C1
/ɪˈmɛns/
Extremely large in size, amount, or degree.
refreshing
C1
/ɹəˈfɹɛʃɪŋ/
Making you feel cool, fresh, and full of energy again.
operational
C1
/ˌɑ.pəˈɹeɪ.ʃə.nəl/
Working and ready to be used.
speculation
C1
/ˌspek.jəˈlæɪ.ʃən/
An opinion or guess formed without firm evidence.
precision
C1
/pɹəˈsəʒ.ən/
The quality of being exact, accurate, and careful.
titanic
C1
/taɪˈtæn.ɪk/
enormous in size, strength, force, or importance
batter
C1
/ˈbætɚ/
To hit something hard and repeatedly.
intriguing
C1
/ɪnˈtɹiːɡɪŋ/
Very interesting because it is strange, mysterious, or unexpected.
clarity
C1
/ˈklæɹ.ɪ.ti/
The quality of being clear and easy to understand.
fossil
C1
/ˈfɑsl̩/
the preserved remains or shape of a plant or animal that lived long ago
bulk
C1
/bʌlk/
The largest part or majority of something.
tolerance
C1
/ˈtɑ.lə.ɹəns/
The willingness to accept beliefs, opinions, or behaviour that differ from your own.
peacock
C1
/ˈpikɑk/
A large male bird with a long, brightly coloured tail that it can spread out like a fan.
surge
C1
/sɝd͡ʒ/
A sudden large increase in something.
ingenious
C1
/ɪnˈd͡ʒiːnjəs/
Cleverly inventive and original; very good at solving problems in new ways.
texture
C1
/ˈtɛkst͡ʃɚ/
The way a surface or material feels when you touch it.
unprecedented
C1
/ʌnˈpɹɛsɪdɛntɪd/
Never having happened or existed before.
array
C1
/əˈɹeɪ/
A large group or wide range of things, often impressively displayed.
beforehand
C1
/bɪˈfɔɹhænd/
Before something else happens; in advance.
spectrum
C1
/ˈspɛktrəm/
A wide range of related ideas, opinions, qualities, or things.
boundary
C1
/ˈbaʊndəɹi/
A line that marks where one area ends and another begins.
solely
C1
/ˈsoʊl.li/
Only and not involving anyone or anything else.
superficial
C1
/ˌsu.pɚˈfɪʃ.əl/
Not deep or thorough; dealing only with the obvious.
sensitivity
C1
/ˌsɛn.səˈtɪv.ə.ti/
The ability to understand and respond carefully to other people's feelings.
indictment
C1
/ɪnˈdaɪt.mənt/
A formal legal charge accusing someone of a serious crime.
seemingly
C1
/ˈsiːmɪŋli/
In a way that appears to be true, though it may not really be.
craving
C1
/ˈkɹeɪ.vɪŋ/
A very strong desire for something.
obscure
C1
/əbˈskjʊə(ɹ)/
Not known by many people.
distinctive
C1
/dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/
Having a special quality that makes something easy to recognize.
credible
C1
/ˈkɹɛdəbl̩/
Able to be believed; convincing and plausible.
plunge
C1
/plʌnd͡ʒ/
To jump or dive suddenly into water or a deep place.
thrive
C1
/θɹaɪv/
To grow strong and healthy.
stuffy
C1
/ˈstʌfi/
Warm and lacking fresh air.
drastic
C1
/ˈdɹæs.tɪk/
extreme, severe, or far-reaching in action or effect
minimal
C1
/ˈmɪn.ə.məl/
As small as possible; very little in amount or degree.
canoe
C1
/kəˈnuː/
A long, narrow, open boat that is pointed at both ends and moved with paddles.
partially
C1
/ˈpɑɹʃəli/
Partly; not completely.
penance
C1
/ˈpɛn.əns/
A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.
hedgehog
C1
/ˈhɛd͡ʒ.hɒɡ/
A small spiny mammal that rolls into a ball when threatened and is active at night.
oriental
C1
/ˌɔriːˈɛntəl/
denoting or characteristic of countries of Asia
flourish
C1
/ˈflɐɹ.ɪ̟ʃ/
To grow or develop strongly and successfully.
rumble
C1
/ˈrʌmbəl/
To make a low, heavy, continuous sound.
mainstream
C1
/meɪn.stɹiːm/
Accepted by or appealing to most people, rather than a small group.
elusive
C1
/ɪˈl(j)u.sɪv/
Difficult to find, catch, or achieve.
thankfully
C1
/ˈθæŋkfəli/
Used to show you are glad or relieved about something.
crave
C1
/kɹeɪv/
To have a very strong desire for something.
turmoil
C1
/ˈtɝːˌmɔɪl/
A state of great confusion, disorder, or trouble.
ferocious
C1
/fəˈɹoʊʃəs/
Very fierce, violent, or aggressive.
snail
C1
/sneɪl/
A small slow-moving animal with a soft body and a spiral shell on its back.
premium
C1
/ˈpɹiː.miː.əm/
Of high quality and usually higher price.
staggering
C1
/ˈstæɡəɹɪŋ/
So surprising or large that it is hard to believe.
tedious
C1
/ˈti.di.əs/
Boring and tiring, especially because it is long or repetitive.
conceive
C1
/kənˈsiːv/
to think of an idea or plan; to imagine something
plausible
C1
/ˈplɑ.zɪ.b(ə)l̩/
Seeming reasonable or likely to be true.
theoretical
C1
/ˌθi.əˈɹɛt.ɪ.kəl/
Based on theory or ideas rather than practical experience.
rehabilitation
C1
/ˌɹiː.əˌbɪl.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/
The process of helping someone recover health, skills, or a normal life after illness, injury, or addiction.
muscular
C1
/ˈmʌs.kjə.lɚ/
Having well-developed, strong muscles
customary
C1
/ˈkʌs.təˌmɛɹ.i/
Usual or done according to custom or normal practice.
simplicity
C1
/sɪmˈplɪsɪti/
The quality of being easy to understand or do.
magnitude
C1
/ˈmæɡnɪtjuːd/
The great size, extent, or importance of something.
utility
C1
/juˈtɪl.ə.ti/
A basic public service such as electricity, gas, or water supplied to homes and businesses.