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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69 words
passing
C1
/ˈpæsɪŋ/
A polite word for someone's death.
meantime
C1
/ˈmiːntaɪm/
The period of time between two events; used mainly in the phrase 'in the meantime'.
foster
C1
/ˈfɔ.stɚ/
To encourage the development or growth of something.
gig
C1
/ˈgɪg/
A single live performance by a musician or band.
pregnancy
C1
/ˈpɹɛɡnənsi/
The condition or period of carrying a developing baby in the womb.
hence
C1
/ˈhɛns/
For this reason; therefore.
reign
C1
/ɹeɪn/
The period during which a king or queen rules.
suspension
C1
/səˈspɛnʃən/
The act of officially stopping something for a time, or the period of this delay.
chronic
C1
/ˈkɹɑ.nɪk/
(of an illness) Lasting a long time or coming back again and again.
sauna
C1
/ˈsɔː.nə/
A hot room where people sit to sweat and relax, often with steam.
duration
C1
/dʒʊˈɹeɪʃn̩/
The length of time that something lasts or continues.
presently
C1
/ˈprɛzəntli/
Soon; before long.
reconstruction
C1
/ˌɹikənˈstɹʌkʃən/
The act of building or putting something together again, often better than before.
precedent
C1
/ˈpɹiː.sɪ.dənt/
An earlier event or action used as an example or guide for later ones.
evolutionary
C1
/ˌiː.vəˈluː.ʃən.ɛɹ.i/
Relating to the gradual development of living things over time.
battered
C1
/ˈbætəɹd/
Damaged and worn out from being hit or heavily used.
indefinitely
C1
/ɪnˈdɛfɪnɪtli/
For a long or unlimited time, with no fixed end.
buffer
C1
/ˈbʌfəɹ/
Something that reduces the impact of a shock or protects one thing from another.
persecution
C1
/ˌpɝsəˈkjuʃən/
Cruel or unfair treatment of a person or group over time, especially because of race, religion, or beliefs.
specialized
C1
/ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪzd/
Designed for or focused on one particular area, skill, or purpose.
stamina
C1
/ˈstæmənə/
The physical or mental energy to keep doing something tiring over a long time.
spartan
C1
/ˈspɑː(ɹ)tən/
Very simple and plain, with no comfort or luxury.
unison
C1
/ˈjunɪsən/
Complete agreement or coordinated action done together at the same time.
contemplate
C1
/ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/
To think carefully about doing something as a possibility.
tenure
C1
/ˈtɛn.jɚ/
The period during which someone holds a job or position.
vigil
C1
/ˈvɪd͡ʒəl/
a period of remaining awake to watch, guard, care for someone, or pray
aftermath
C1
/ˈæf.tɚˌmæθ/
The period and consequences that follow a serious or harmful event.
nocturnal
C1
/nɑkˈtɝ.nəl/
Active at night rather than during the day.
snooze
C1
/snuːz/
To sleep lightly for a short time, often when you did not mean to.
inherent
C1
/ɪnˈhɪəɹənt/
Existing as a natural and permanent part of something.
concur
C1
/kəŋˈkɝ/
To agree with someone or share the same opinion.
expire
C1
/ɪkˈspaɪə(ɹ)/
To come to an end and no longer be valid, especially after a set time.
latent
C1
/ˈleɪ.tənt/
Present but hidden or not yet active, with the potential to appear later.
coupled
C1
/ˈkʌpəld/
Joined or connected together, especially in a pair.
gushing
C1
/ˈɡʌʃɪŋ/
Expressing praise or emotion in an overly enthusiastic way.
undying
C1
/ʌnˈdaɪ.ɪŋ/
lasting forever or never losing strength, especially of a feeling, memory, or reputation
antiquity
C1
/ænˈtɪk.wə.ti/
Ancient times, especially the period of ancient Greece and Rome.
squander
C1
/ˈskwɑn.dɚ/
To waste money, time, or opportunities carelessly.
paradigm
C1
/ˈpæɹ.ə.daɪm/
the generally accepted perspective of a particular discipline at a given time
hibernation
C1
/ˌhaɪ.bəɹˈneɪ.ʃən/
The deep sleep-like state some animals enter to survive the winter.
unveil
C1
/ʌnˈveɪl/
To show or present something publicly for the first time.
reminisce
C1
/ˌrɛməˈnɪs/
To talk or think about pleasant events from the past.
inherently
C1
/ɪnˈhɛɹəntli/
In a way that is a natural, permanent part of something.
durable
C1
/ˈdʊɹəbəl/
Able to last a long time without breaking or wearing out.
apprenticeship
C1
/əˈpɹɛn.tɪs.ʃɪp/
A period of training in which someone learns a skilled trade by working with an expert.
respite
C1
/ˈɹɛs.pɪt/
a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant
persecute
C1
/ˈpɝsəkjut/
To treat someone cruelly or unfairly over a long period, especially because of their race, religion, or beliefs.
long-time
C1
Having been the case for a long time; of long duration.
antiquated
C1
/ˈæntɪˌkweɪtɪd/
Old-fashioned and no longer useful or suitable for modern times.
post-war
C1
Belonging to the period just after a war.
fixture
C1
/ˈfɪks.t͡ʃɚ/
A piece of equipment fixed in place in a building, such as a sink or light, that is sold with the house.
prophetic
C1
/pɹəˈfɛtɪk/
Correctly predicting or seeming to predict what will happen in the future
perpetuate
C1
/pɚˈpɛt͡ʃəˌweɪt/
to make something, especially something bad, continue for a long time
long-standing
C1
Having existed or continued for a long time.
contested
C1
/kənˈtɛstəd/
Disagreed about or competed for by different sides.
penultimate
C1
/pɪˈnʌl.tə.mət/
coming immediately before the last in a sequence; second to last
uniformity
C1
/ˌjunɪˈfɔɹməti/
The state of being the same everywhere or all the time, with no variation.
envisage
C1
/ɛnˈvɪzɪd͡ʒ/
To imagine or picture something as a future possibility.
repertory
C1
/ˈɹɛp.əɹˌtɔɹ.i/
A system in which a theatre company performs several different plays in turn during a season.
successively
C1
/səkˈsɛsɪvli/
in proper order or sequence
elapse
C1
/ɪˈlæps/
of time: to pass or go by
demographically
C1
/ˌdɛməˈgræfɪkli/
In terms of the makeup of a population by age, race, income, and so on
babyhood
C1
/ˈbeɪbiˌhʊd/
the period of a person's life when they are a baby; infancy
prearrange
C1
/ˌpriː.əˈreɪndʒ/
to arrange or agree on something in advance
intermit
C1
/ɪntərˈmɪt/
to stop, suspend, or cease temporarily or at intervals
recency
C1
/ˈriːsənsi/
the quality or state of having happened, appeared, or begun only a short time ago
pastiche
C1
/pæˈstiʃ/
an artistic work that imitates the style of another work, artist, or period
by-and-by
C1
/ˌbaɪənˈbaɪ/
after a short time; eventually
pro tem
C1
/ˌproʊ ˈtem/
temporarily; for the time being