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Word

English Vocabulary

Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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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C2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.

3135 words

Describing Qualities

3135 words

/vəˈlumənəs/ occupying great space or bulk; of great quantity, as writing Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈweɪkfəl/ unable or not wanting to sleep; alert and watchful Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈwɑtʃfəl/ keeping alert attention; observant and vigilant Meaning Off Sound Off

wonderfully C2+

/ˈwʌndərfəli/ in an extremely pleasing or remarkable way Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈjɪrli/ happening or produced once a year; annually Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈbaɪdɪŋ/ lasting a long time; enduring and permanent Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈbreɪsɪv/ causing wear by rubbing; harsh or grating in manner Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈbrɛst/ side by side and facing the same way; up to date with Meaning Off Sound Off

abstractedly C2+

/æbˈstræktɪdli/ in a manner showing distraction or inattention to one's surroundings Meaning Off Sound Off

abstractive C2+

/æbˈstræktɪv/ tending to form abstractions or to separate qualities by abstraction Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈsɝbɪk/ sharp and biting in tone, manner, or taste Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈeɪki/ affected by a dull, persistent pain Meaning Off Sound Off

acquisitive C2+

/əˈkwɪzətɪv/ eager to gain and possess things, especially wealth or property Meaning Off Sound Off

/ædˈmɪsəbəl/ acceptable or allowable, especially as evidence in court Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈdɑptɪv/ related by adoption rather than by birth Meaning Off Sound Off

adventuresome C2+

/ædˈvɛntʃɚsəm/ inclined to take risks; venturesome Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈfɔrˌhænd/ beforehand; in advance (archaic) Meaning Off Sound Off

/ælˈfrɛskoʊ/ in the open air; outdoors Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈældʒɪd/ cold or chilly, especially of the body during illness Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌæləˈɡɔrɪk/ relating to or characterized by allegory Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌælfəˈbɛtɪk/ arranged in or relating to the order of the alphabet Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌænəˈlɪtɪk/ relating to or proceeding by analysis; logically rigorous Meaning Off Sound Off

antecedently C2+

/ˌæntəˈsidəntli/ at a prior time; beforehand Meaning Off Sound Off

antiquarian C2+

/ˌæntəˈkwɛriən/ relating to or dealing in antiques and old books; a collector of such Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɛniˌpleɪs/ in, at, or to any place; anywhere (informal) Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɛniˌwaɪz/ in any way or respect; at all (archaic) Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˌpɑləˈdʒɛtɪk/ expressing or showing regret; offered in defence of something Meaning Off Sound Off

apprehensively C2+

/ˌæprɪˈhɛnsɪvli/ in a manner showing anxiety or fear about the future Meaning Off Sound Off

approachable C2+

/əˈproʊtʃəbəl/ easy to talk to or to reach; friendly Meaning Off Sound Off

archetypical C2+

/ˌɑrkəˈtɪpɪkəl/ serving as a typical or perfect example; archetypal Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɑrɡjuəbəl/ open to dispute; able to be supported by argument Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɑrtfəl/ clever or skillful, often in a cunning or deceptive way Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈsɛtɪk/ practicing severe self-discipline and abstaining from worldly pleasures Meaning Off Sound Off

ascititious C2+

/ˌæsɪˈtɪʃəs/ added or supplemental rather than inherent; adventitious Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈæsəˌnaɪn/ extremely stupid or foolish Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈsɔrtɪd/ consisting of various kinds grouped together Meaning Off Sound Off

astronomical C2+

/ˌæstrəˈnɑmɪkəl/ extremely large; relating to astronomy Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈsʌndɚ/ apart or into separate pieces Meaning Off Sound Off

atmospherical C2+

/ˌætməsˈfɛrɪkəl/ relating to the atmosphere or surrounding air Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɑld/ old (chiefly Scots dialect) Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɔstrəl/ of or relating to the south; southern Meaning Off Sound Off

authentically C2+

/ɔˈθɛntɪkli/ in a genuine or true manner Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌɔtəˈkrætɪk/ ruling with absolute power; domineering Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌævəˈrɪʃəs/ extremely greedy for wealth or material gain Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈævərɪdʒli/ to an ordinary or middling degree Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈwaɪl/ for a short time Meaning Off Sound Off

axiomatical C2+

/ˌæksiəˈmætɪkəl/ self-evident; of the nature of an axiom Meaning Off Sound Off

backbreaking C2+

/ˈbækˌbreɪkɪŋ/ physically exhausting and arduous Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbæɡi/ loose and hanging in folds Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbeɪsəl/ forming or belonging to a base; fundamental Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbæʃfəl/ shy and easily embarrassed Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbæti/ crazy or eccentric (informal) Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbɛrəbəl/ able to be endured or tolerated Meaning Off Sound Off

/bɪˈfɔrˌtaɪm/ formerly; in the past (archaic) Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbɛndəbəl/ capable of being bent without breaking Meaning Off Sound Off

/bɪˈnɪɡnənt/ kind and gracious, especially toward inferiors Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbɛstʃəl/ savagely cruel, brutish, or like a beast Meaning Off Sound Off

/baɪˈɛniəl/ happening every two years, or lasting for two years Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbɪɡˌhɑrtɪd/ generous, kind, and warmly sympathetic Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbɪɡətɪd/ obstinately intolerant of other people's beliefs or opinions Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌbaɪəˈlɑdʒɪk/ relating to biology; a medical product derived from living organisms Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbleɪtəntli/ in an obvious and unashamed manner Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbræsˌbaʊnd/ bound or trimmed with brass; rigidly inflexible or hidebound Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbrɔni/ physically strong and muscular Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbrudɪŋ/ deeply and gloomily thoughtful; menacingly somber Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbruməl/ of or relating to winter; wintry Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbrutɪʃ/ savagely violent, coarse, or animal-like Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbaɪˌɡɔn/ belonging to an earlier time that has passed Meaning Off Sound Off

/kəˈlɪdʒɪnəs/ (literary) misty, dim, or dark; obscure Meaning Off Sound Off

cataclysmal C2+

/ˌkætəˈklɪzməl/ of the nature of a cataclysm; catastrophically destructive Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkɔzləs/ having no cause or justification; groundless Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈsɛnʃərəbəl/ deserving strong disapproval or official blame Meaning Off Sound Off

ceremonious C2+

/ˌsɛrəˈmoʊniəs/ marked by formal politeness or elaborate ritual Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃeɪndʒləs/ remaining the same; never altering or varying Meaning Off Sound Off

charismatic C2+

/ˌkɛrɪzˈmætɪk/ exercising a compelling charm that inspires devotion in others Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃɪrəli/ in a happy and brightly cheerful manner Meaning Off Sound Off

cheeseparing C2+

/ˈtʃiːzˌpɛrɪŋ/ excessively careful with money; stingy or miserly Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈʃiːʃiː/ pretentiously elegant or fashionable; affectedly stylish Meaning Off Sound Off

circumstantial C2+

/ˌsɚkəmˈstænʃəl/ pointing indirectly to a fact rather than proving it directly Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈklæmənt/ urgent and demanding attention; clamorous Meaning Off Sound Off

clandestine C2+

/klænˈdɛstən/ kept secret, especially because illicit or unauthorized Meaning Off Sound Off

/koʊˈiːvəl/ having the same age or date of origin; contemporary Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkɑɡnəzənt/ having knowledge or awareness of something Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkʌmfi/ comfortable; cozy (informal) Meaning Off Sound Off

companionable C2+

/kəmˈpænjənəbəl/ friendly and sociable; pleasant to be with Meaning Off Sound Off

/kənˈsɛptʃuəl/ relating to or based on mental concepts or abstract ideas Meaning Off Sound Off

/kənˈsaɪsli/ in a brief and clearly expressed manner Meaning Off Sound Off

/kənˈkɔrdənt/ in agreement; consistent or harmonious Meaning Off Sound Off

condescending C2+

/ˌkɑndəˈsɛndɪŋ/ showing a patronizing attitude of superiority Meaning Off Sound Off

conjectural C2+

/kənˈdʒɛktʃərəl/ based on incomplete information; involving guesswork Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkɑneɪt/ existing from birth; congenitally united or related Meaning Off Sound Off

consecrated C2+

/ˈkɑnsəˌkreɪtɪd/ declared sacred and dedicated to a religious purpose Meaning Off Sound Off

consultative C2+

/kənˈsʌltətɪv/ intended for or having the role of giving advice Meaning Off Sound Off

contemporaneous C2+

/kənˌtɛmpəˈreɪniəs/ existing or occurring during the same period of time Meaning Off Sound Off

/kənˈtrɛrəli/ in the opposite way; on the other hand Meaning Off Sound Off

contrarious C2+

/kənˈtrɛriəs/ opposed, perverse, or inclined to oppose (archaic) Meaning Off Sound Off

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