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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88 words
chill
C1
/tʃəl/
An unpleasant feeling of cold.
woo
C1
/wuː/
To try to win someone's love or romantic interest.
disturbing
C1
/dɪsˈtɝ.bɪŋ/
Causing worry, distress, or a feeling of unease.
troubled
C1
/ˈtɹʌbl̩d/
Worried, anxious, or upset.
lust
C1
/ˈlɜst/
A strong feeling of sexual desire.
distress
C1
/dɪˈstɹɛs/
A feeling of great emotional pain, worry, or suffering.
sentimental
C1
/ˌsɛntiˈmɛntl̩/
Based on or showing tender emotions rather than reason.
numb
C1
/nʌm/
Unable to feel anything in part of the body.
resent
C1
/ɹiˈzɛnt/
to feel angry or bitter about something you think is unfair
remorse
C1
/ɹɪˈmɔɹs/
A deep feeling of guilt and regret for something wrong you have done.
provoke
C1
/pɹəˈvoʊk/
To deliberately make someone angry or annoyed.
adrenaline
C1
/əˈdɹɛnəlɪn/
A hormone released by the body in moments of stress, fear, or excitement that speeds up the heart and prepares you to act.
wrench
C1
/ˈɹɪ̟nt͡ʃ/
To pull or twist something suddenly and violently.
infamous
C1
/ˈɪnfəməs/
Well known for being bad or evil.
well-being
C1
/wɛlˈbiː.ɪŋ/
The state of being healthy, happy, and comfortable.
somber
C1
/ˈsɑmbɚ/
Serious, sad, or gloomy in mood
provocative
C1
/pɹəˈvɑ.kə.tɪv/
Deliberately causing a strong reaction, such as anger, argument, or interest.
gloat
C1
/ɡloʊt/
usually disapproving: to feel or show excessive satisfaction about one's success or another person's misfortune
detest
C1
/dɪˈtɛst/
To dislike someone or something very strongly; to hate.
claustrophobic
C1
/ˌklɔstrəˈfoʊbɪk/
Feeling very uncomfortable or panicked in small, enclosed spaces.
scorn
C1
/skɔɹn/
To feel or show that you think someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.
glum
C1
/ɡlʌm/
Sad, gloomy, and low in spirits.
instinctively
C1
/ɪnˈstɪŋktɪvli/
Automatically and without thinking, from a natural feeling.
exhilarating
C1
/ɪgˈzɪlɝˌeɪtɪŋ/
Making you feel very happy, excited, and full of energy.
dismal
C1
/ˈdɪzməl/
Sad, gloomy, and depressing.
disdain
C1
/dɪsˈdeɪn/
A feeling that someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.
alleviate
C1
/əˈli.vi.eɪt/
To make pain, suffering, or a problem less severe.
pleasurable
C1
/ˈplɛʒəɹəbəl/
Giving pleasure or enjoyment.
salve
C1
/sæ(l)v/
A soothing cream or ointment put on the skin to heal it.
apprehensive
C1
/ˌæpɹɪˈhɛnsɪv/
Worried or anxious that something bad might happen.
closeness
C1
/ˈkloʊs.nəs/
A feeling of being emotionally close to and connected with someone.
infuriating
C1
/ɪnˈfjʊɹiˌeɪtɪŋ/
extremely annoying or likely to make someone angry
instinctive
C1
/ɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/
Done automatically without thinking, from a natural feeling.
profess
C1
/prəˈfɛs/
To claim or declare something openly, sometimes without it being true.
loveless
C1
/ˈlʌv.ləs/
lacking love, affection, or emotional warmth
dismay
C1
/dɪsˈmeɪ/
A strong feeling of disappointment, sadness, or alarm.
sentimentality
C1
/ˌsen.tə.menˈtæl.ə.t̬i/
excessive, affected, or inappropriate tenderness and emotional feeling
disconcerting
C1
/ˌdɪskənˈsɝtɪŋ/
causing someone to feel uneasy, confused, or embarrassed
gnaw
C1
/nɔ/
To bite or chew at something repeatedly, especially something hard.
placid
C1
/ˈplæs.ɪd/
Calm and not easily upset or excited.
taut
C1
/tɔt/
Stretched or pulled tight, with no slack.
gush
C1
/ˈɡʌʃ/
To flow out suddenly in a large, fast stream.
huffy
C1
/ˈhʌfi/
angry and offended, especially over something relatively small
irate
C1
/aɪˈɹeɪt/
Very angry.
inconsolable
C1
/ˌɪnkənˈsoʊləbəl/
so distressed, disappointed, or grief-stricken that comfort provides no relief
lethargic
C1
/ləˈθɑɹd͡ʒɪk/
Lacking energy and feeling slow or sleepy.
torturous
C1
/ˈtɔɹt͡ʃəɹəs/
Causing great physical or mental pain; extremely difficult to endure.
enviable
C1
/ˈɛn.vɪ.ə.b(ə)l/
So good or desirable that others would envy it.
fearfully
C1
/ˈfɪɹfəli/
in an alarming manner
exhilaration
C1
/ɪgˌzɪlɝˈeɪʃən/
A feeling of great happiness and excitement.
lethargy
C1
/ˈlɛθ.ə(ɹ).d͡ʒi/
A feeling of having no energy or enthusiasm; tiredness.
disillusionment
C1
/ˌdɪsɪˈluʒənmənt/
A feeling of disappointment when you discover that something or someone is not as good as you had believed.
downhearted
C1
/ˌdaʊnˈhɑːrtɪd/
sad, discouraged, or low in spirits
unsettle
C1
/ʌnˈsɛtəl/
To make someone feel worried, nervous, or uncomfortable.
thunderstruck
C1
/ˈθʌn.dɚ.strʌk/
so astonished or shocked that one is temporarily unable to react or speak
unfailing
C1
/ənˈfeɪlɪŋ/
unceasing, not wavering or in danger of stopping
hanker
C1
/ˈhæŋkər/
to have a strong or persistent desire for something, usually followed by for or after
remorseless
C1
/rɪˈmɔrsləs/
Showing no guilt, pity, or mercy.
awestruck
C1
/ˈɑːstrʌk/
filled with overwhelming wonder, admiration, reverence, or fear
sheepish
C1
/ˈʃiː.pɪʃ/
embarrassed or ashamed, especially after being caught making a mistake
dither
C1
/ˈdɪðɚ/
To hesitate and be unable to decide what to do.
wrathful
C1
/ˈɹæθfəl/
vehemently incensed and condemnatory
bloodcurdling
C1
/ˈblʌdˌkɝːdəlɪŋ/
causing extreme fear or horror
expressionless
C1
/ɪkˈsprɛʃənləs/
showing no emotion, feeling, or reaction in the face, voice, or manner
fluster
C1
/ˈflʌstɚ/
to make someone agitated, nervous, or confused
heartrending
C1
/ˈhɑːrtˌrɛn.dɪŋ/
causing intense grief, distress, or sympathy
daunt
C1
/dɔnt/
To make someone feel nervous or less confident, so they are afraid to do something.
sentimentally
C1
In a way that shows tender, often nostalgic emotion.
dismally
C1
/ˈdɪzməli/
In a sad or gloomy way.
unconcern
C1
/ˌʌnkənˈsɝn/
a lack of interest, care, or involvement; indifference
hearten
C1
/ˈhɑɹtn̩/
to make someone feel more encouraged, hopeful, or confident
heavy-hearted
C1
/ˌhɛviˈhɑːrtɪd/
weighed down by sadness or grief
animatedly
C1
/ˈænɪˌmeɪtɪdli/
In a lively, excited way, full of energy.
somberly
C1
/ˈsɑːmbɝli/
In a serious, sad, or gloomy way
impersonally
C1
In a cold or distant way, without showing personal feeling.
low-spirited
C1
/ˌloʊˈspɪrɪtɪd/
sad, discouraged, or lacking hope and energy
stuffiness
C1
The state of being warm and lacking fresh air.
glumly
C1
/ˈɡlʌmli/
In a sad, gloomy way.
exhilarate
C1
/ɪɡˈzɪləˌɹeɪt/
To make someone feel very happy, excited, and full of energy.
transfix
C1
/trænsˈfɪks/
To make someone unable to move or look away, through fear, amazement, or wonder.
remorsefully
C1
In a way that shows deep guilt or regret.
irately
C1
In a very angry way.
unenviably
C1
In a way that no one would want or envy.
bugbear
C1
/ˈbʌɡbɛr/
a persistent source of irritation or annoyance
infatuation
C1
/ɪnˌfætʃuˈeɪʃən/
an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone or something
overwrought
C1
/ˌoʊvərˈrɔt/
in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety
quavering
C1
/ˈkweɪvərɪŋ/
shaking or trembling in voice, often due to nervousness or emotion
smite
C1
/smaɪt/
to strike with a firm blow