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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2203 words
dissertation
C2+
/ˌdɪsərˈteɪʃən/
a long formal treatise, especially one written for a doctoral degree
dissimulate
C2+
/dɪˈsɪmjəleɪt/
to conceal one's true feelings or intentions by pretense
dissimulation
C2+
/dɪˌsɪmjəˈleɪʃən/
concealment of one's true feelings or motives through pretense
dissonant
C2+
/ˈdɪsənənt/
lacking harmony; clashing or discordant
distributable
C2+
/dɪsˈtrɪbjətəbəl/
able to be shared out or apportioned among recipients
ditch
C2+
/dɪtʃ/
a narrow channel dug to hold or carry water; to discard
divan
C2+
/dɪˈvæn/
a long low sofa or couch without back or arms
divers
C2+
/ˈdaɪvərz/
various; several (archaic or literary)
diversely
C2+
/daɪˈvɜrsli/
in various different ways; with variety
doable
C2+
/ˈduəbəl/
able to be done; feasible
documental
C2+
/ˌdɑkjəˈmɛntəl/
of or relating to documents; documentary
dodgy
C2+
/ˈdɑdʒi/
dishonest, unreliable, or of doubtful quality (British informal)
dormitive
C2+
/ˈdɔrmɪtɪv/
tending to induce sleep; soporific
doubtfulness
C2+
/ˈdaʊtfəlnəs/
the quality of being uncertain or open to doubt
downy
C2+
/ˈdaʊni/
covered with or resembling soft fine feathers or hair
dreamlike
C2+
/ˈdrimlaɪk/
having the surreal or unreal quality of a dream
dullness
C2+
/ˈdʌlnəs/
the quality of being boring, blunt, or lacking sharpness
duteous
C2+
/ˈdutiəs/
dutiful and obedient (literary)
earphone
C2+
/ˈɪrˌfoʊn/
a small speaker worn in or over the ear for private listening
ebullience
C2+
/ɪˈbʊljəns/
the quality of being cheerful and full of energy
edificatory
C2+
/ˈɛdɪfɪkəˌtɔri/
tending to instruct or improve morally (rare)
edificial
C2+
/ˌɛdəˈfɪʃəl/
of or relating to a building or edifice (rare)
edifyingly
C2+
/ˈɛdəˌfaɪɪŋli/
in a manner that instructs or improves morally
edifyingness
C2+
/ˈɛdəˌfaɪɪŋnəs/
the quality of being morally instructive or uplifting
effulgent
C2+
/ɪˈfʌlʤənt/
shining brightly; radiant
effusive
C2+
/ɪˈfjusɪv/
expressing feelings in an unrestrained or gushing way
eftsoons
C2+
/ɛftˈsunz/
soon afterward; presently (archaic)
egocentric
C2+
/ˌiɡoʊˈsɛntrɪk/
thinking only of oneself; self-centered
egotistical
C2+
/ˌiɡoʊˈtɪstɪkəl/
excessively conceited or self-important
elaborateness
C2+
/ɪˈlæbɚətnəs/
the quality of being intricately detailed or complex
electromagnetic
C2+
/ɪˌlɛktroʊmæɡˈnɛtɪk/
relating to the interrelation of electric currents and magnetism
electronegative
C2+
/ɪˌlɛktroʊˈnɛɡətɪv/
tending to attract electrons and form a negative charge
elephantlike
C2+
/ˈɛləfəntˌlaɪk/
resembling an elephant in size, shape, or manner
eloquently
C2+
/ˈɛləkwəntli/
in a fluent and persuasive manner of speaking
eloquentness
C2+
/ˈɛləkwəntnəs/
the quality of being fluent and persuasive in speech
embellish
C2+
/ɪmˈbɛlɪʃ/
to decorate or add fanciful, often false, details to
emblem
C2+
/ˈɛmbləm/
a symbol representing a quality, group, or idea
emblematic
C2+
/ˌɛmbləˈmætɪk/
serving as a symbol of something
emerald
C2+
/ˈɛmɚəld/
a bright green precious gemstone, or its color
empyreal
C2+
/ɛmˈpɪriəl/
relating to the highest heaven; celestial (literary)
empyrean
C2+
/ˌɛmpaɪˈriən/
the highest heaven, or the sky; the celestial realm
encumberment
C2+
/ɛnˈkʌmbɚmənt/
the state of being burdened or hindered (rare)
enlightened
C2+
/ɛnˈlaɪtənd/
having or showing rational, tolerant, and informed views
enslavement
C2+
/ɛnˈsleɪvmənt/
the act or condition of being made a slave
enstrengthen
C2+
/ɛnˈstrɛŋθən/
to make strong or stronger (archaic or rare)
ensuingly
C2+
/ɛnˈsuɪŋli/
in a way that follows as a consequence or afterward (rare)
enticing
C2+
/ɛnˈtaɪsɪŋ/
attractive or tempting in an appealing way
entireness
C2+
/ɛnˈtaɪɚnəs/
the quality of being whole or complete; totality
episodic
C2+
/ˌɛpɪˈsɑdɪk/
occurring irregularly or in separate disconnected episodes
erectopatent
C2+
/ɪˌrɛktoʊˈpeɪtənt/
in botany, positioned partly erect and partly spreading
erroneously
C2+
/ɪˈroʊniəsli/
in a mistaken or incorrect manner
ersatz
C2+
/ˈɛrˌzɑts/
made or used as an inferior substitute or imitation
especial
C2+
/ɪˈspɛʃəl/
special; exceptional in degree or importance
esplanade
C2+
/ˈɛspləˌnɑd/
a long open level walk, especially along a seafront
everydayness
C2+
/ˌɛvriˈdeɪnəs/
the quality of being ordinary, routine, or commonplace
everyhow
C2+
/ˈɛvriˌhaʊ/
in every way; in a haphazard or disorderly manner
evolutive
C2+
/ˈɛvəˌlutɪv/
tending to evolve or promote development
exacerbation
C2+
/ɪɡˌzæsɚˈbeɪʃən/
a worsening or intensification of a condition or problem
excellency
C2+
/ˈɛksələnsi/
a title of honor for high officials, or the quality of excellence
excellently
C2+
/ˈɛksələntli/
in an outstanding or superior manner
excerpt
C2+
/ˈɛkˌsɚpt/
a short extract taken from a longer written or musical work
exchangeable
C2+
/ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒəbəl/
able to be exchanged or substituted for something else
execrable
C2+
/ˈɛksɪkrəbəl/
extremely bad, detestable, or of very poor quality
exhaustively
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɔstɪvli/
in a thorough and complete manner, leaving nothing out
exorbitant
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɔrbɪtənt/
unreasonably high; greatly exceeding what is fair or expected
experimentation
C2+
/ɪkˌspɛrɪmɛnˈteɪʃən/
the action of trying out new methods or ideas through tests
expertness
C2+
/ˈɛkspɚtnəs/
the quality of being expert; skill or proficiency
exquisitely
C2+
/ɪkˈskwɪzɪtli/
in an extremely beautiful, delicate, or refined way
extemporaneous
C2+
/ɪkˌstɛmpəˈreɪniəs/
spoken or done without preparation; impromptu
extravagancy
C2+
/ɪkˈstrævəɡənsi/
excessive or wasteful spending or display; extravagance
ey
C2+
/eɪ/
a dialectal or archaic word for an island, especially a small one
fabulousness
C2+
/ˈfæbjələsnəs/
the quality of being extraordinary, marvelous, or legendary
facetious
C2+
/fəˈsiʃəs/
treating serious matters with inappropriate or flippant humor
factional
C2+
/ˈfækʃənəl/
relating to a self-interested faction within a larger group
fad
C2+
/fæd/
a short-lived, intensely popular fashion or enthusiasm
fainthearted
C2+
/ˌfeɪntˈhɑrtɪd/
lacking courage or resolve; timid
falsely
C2+
/ˈfɔlsli/
in a manner that is untrue or deceptive
falseness
C2+
/ˈfɔlsnəs/
the quality of being untrue, deceitful, or disloyal
familiarly
C2+
/fəˈmɪljɚli/
in an informal or intimately acquainted manner
fangle
C2+
/ˈfæŋɡəl/
a foolish or showy new fashion or contrivance
fastness
C2+
/ˈfæstnəs/
a secure stronghold, or the quality of being firmly fixed
fated
C2+
/ˈfeɪtɪd/
destined or doomed by fate to a particular outcome
faultful
C2+
/ˈfɔltfəl/
full of faults; blameworthy or defective
ferociousness
C2+
/fəˈroʊʃəsnəs/
the quality of being fierce, savage, or violently intense
fictionalize
C2+
/ˈfɪkʃənəˌlaɪz/
to turn real events into a fictional narrative
filthy
C2+
/ˈfɪlθi/
disgustingly dirty, or morally obscene
finical
C2+
/ˈfɪnɪkəl/
excessively fussy or fastidious about details
firth
C2+
/fɜrθ/
a narrow inlet of the sea, especially in Scotland
fitful
C2+
/ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in irregular bursts; not steady or continuous
flabby
C2+
/ˈflæbi/
soft and loose; lacking firmness or vigor
flak
C2+
/flæk/
anti-aircraft fire, or strong criticism
flakily
C2+
/ˈfleɪkɪli/
in a flaky manner; unreliably or in thin layers
flawlessly
C2+
/ˈflɔləsli/
without any fault or imperfection; perfectly
fleck
C2+
/flɛk/
a small patch of color or a tiny particle
fledgling
C2+
/ˈflɛdʒlɪŋ/
a young bird newly able to fly, or an inexperienced beginner
fleetingness
C2+
/ˈflitɪŋnəs/
the quality of passing quickly; transitoriness