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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497 words
ingress
C2+
/ˈɪnɡrɛs/
the act or means of entering a place
juncture
C2+
/ˈdʒʌŋktʃər/
a particular point in events or time; a place where things join
locus
C2+
/ˈloʊkəs/
a particular position or place; the set of points satisfying a condition
movable
C2+
/ˈmuvəbəl/
capable of being moved; not fixed in place
pendant
C2+
/ˈpɛndənt/
a piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain worn around the neck
perpendicular
C2+
/ˌpɜrpənˈdɪkjələr/
at a right angle to a given line or surface; exactly upright
radius
C2+
/ˈreɪdiəs/
a straight line from the center to the circumference of a circle
ransack
C2+
/ˈrænsæk/
to search thoroughly and roughly through a place, often to steal
reconvert
C2+
/ˌrikənˈvɜrt/
to convert back to a former state, form, or belief
renounce
C2+
/rɪˈnaʊns/
to formally give up or reject a claim, right, or belief
residency
C2+
/ˈrɛzɪdənsi/
the fact of living in a place, or a period of specialized training
residuum
C2+
/rɪˈzɪdʒuəm/
a remainder or residue left after a process is complete
resile
C2+
/rɪˈzaɪl/
to draw back from an agreement or commitment; to spring back
retract
C2+
/rɪˈtrækt/
to withdraw a statement, or to draw something back in
revoke
C2+
/rɪˈvoʊk/
to officially cancel or withdraw a decision, right, or permission
sanctuary
C2+
/ˈsæŋktʃuɛri/
a place of refuge, safety, or worship
skinny
C2+
/ˈskɪni/
very thin or lean; also, inside information (slang)
southerly
C2+
/ˈsʌðərli/
situated toward or coming from the south
stationary
C2+
/ˈsteɪʃəˌnɛri/
not moving; fixed in one place
submerge
C2+
/səbˈmɜrdʒ/
to put or sink below the surface of a liquid
tilt
C2+
/tɪlt/
to move into a sloping position; a slope or inclination
turbid
C2+
/ˈtɜrbɪd/
cloudy or muddy from stirred-up sediment; confused or unclear
vacate
C2+
/ˈveɪkeɪt/
to leave a place empty; to give up an office or position
velocity
C2+
/vəˈlɑsəti/
speed in a given direction; rapidity of motion
vest
C2+
/vɛst/
a sleeveless garment; to confer or become entitled to a right
waive
C2+
/weɪv/
to relinquish a right or claim voluntarily; to refrain from enforcing
waken
C2+
/ˈweɪkən/
to wake up or rouse from sleep
wristband
C2+
/ˈrɪstˌbænd/
a band worn around the wrist, as on a watch or for entry
abreast
C2+
/əˈbrɛst/
side by side and facing the same way; up to date with
acceleration
C2+
/ækˌsɛləˈreɪʃən/
the rate of increase of speed or, more generally, the act of speeding up
accumulator
C2+
/əˈkjumjəˌleɪtɚ/
a person or device that gathers or stores up, such as a rechargeable battery
admittance
C2+
/ædˈmɪtəns/
the act of permitting entry; the right to enter
anaconda
C2+
/ˌænəˈkɑndə/
a large non-venomous constricting snake of tropical South America
anyplace
C2+
/ˈɛniˌpleɪs/
in, at, or to any place; anywhere (informal)
arbitrate
C2+
/ˈɑrbɪˌtreɪt/
to settle a dispute by acting as an impartial judge between parties
argumentation
C2+
/ˌɑrɡjəmɛnˈteɪʃən/
the action or process of reasoning systematically in support of an idea or position
austral
C2+
/ˈɔstrəl/
of or relating to the south; southern
beleave
C2+
/bɪˈliv/
to leave remaining; to be left behind (archaic)
bookmarker
C2+
/ˈbʊkˌmɑrkɚ/
a strip or object placed in a book to mark one's place
borderland
C2+
/ˈbɔrdɚˌlænd/
land near a border between two countries or regions; an intermediate area
breadth
C2+
/brɛdθ/
the distance from side to side; wide range or scope
caesura
C2+
/sɪˈʒʊrə/
a pause near the middle of a line of verse; any interruptive break
capstone
C2+
/ˈkæpˌstoʊn/
a crowning achievement; the top stone of a structure
challenger
C2+
/ˈtʃælɪndʒɚ/
one who challenges, especially for a title or position
chickadee
C2+
/ˈtʃɪkəˌdiː/
a small North American songbird of the tit family with a dark cap
circumscribe
C2+
/ˈsɚkəmˌskraɪb/
to restrict within limits; to draw a line around
coexist
C2+
/ˌkoʊɪɡˈzɪst/
to exist at the same time or in the same place, especially peacefully
coitus
C2+
/ˈkoʊɪtəs/
sexual intercourse between two individuals
concord
C2+
/ˈkɑnkɔrd/
agreement or harmony between people or things
contrarily
C2+
/kənˈtrɛrəli/
in the opposite way; on the other hand
creeper
C2+
/ˈkripɚ/
a plant that grows along the ground or up surfaces by clinging
cyclone
C2+
/ˈsaɪkloʊn/
a violent rotating windstorm; a system of winds circling a low-pressure center
decomposed
C2+
/ˌdikəmˈpoʊzd/
broken down by decay; rotted into simpler substances
deject
C2+
/dɪˈdʒɛkt/
to cast down in spirits; to dishearten
diplomacy
C2+
/dɪˈploʊməsi/
the management of relations between nations or the skill of tactful negotiation
divisive
C2+
/dɪˈvaɪsɪv/
tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people
duchess
C2+
/ˈdʌtʃəs/
the wife or widow of a duke, or a woman holding a duchy in her own right
duke
C2+
/duk/
a nobleman of the highest hereditary rank below a prince
dyke
C2+
/daɪk/
an embankment built to hold back water; a ditch or channel
encampment
C2+
/ɪnˈkæmpmənt/
a place where a group, especially troops, sets up camp
enfold
C2+
/ɛnˈfoʊld/
to wrap up or surround, especially in an embrace
entree
C2+
/ˈɑntreɪ/
the main course of a meal, or the right of admission
envelop
C2+
/ɛnˈvɛləp/
to wrap up, cover, or surround completely
exagitate
C2+
/ɛɡˈzædʒɪteɪt/
to agitate or stir up greatly; to harass
fisher
C2+
/ˈfɪʃər/
a person who catches fish; a large North American marten
forestage
C2+
/ˈfɔrsteɪdʒ/
the part of a stage in front of the curtain; the apron
gat
C2+
/ɡæt/
a pistol or handgun (slang); also a channel between sandbanks
guidepost
C2+
/ˈɡaɪdpoʊst/
a sign giving direction; a guiding principle or marker
heading
C2+
/ˈhɛdɪŋ/
a title or caption at the top of a section of text
hither
C2+
/ˈhɪðɚ/
to or toward this place
horizontal
C2+
/ˌhɔrəˈzɑntəl/
parallel to the horizon; level and flat
illumine
C2+
/ɪˈlumɪn/
to light up or enlighten, literally or spiritually
impendent
C2+
/ɪmˈpɛndənt/
impending; about to happen or threateningly near
impulsion
C2+
/ɪmˈpʌlʃən/
the act of driving forward, or a strong inner urge to act
incumbency
C2+
/ɪnˈkʌmbənsi/
the holding of an office or position, or its term
inferno
C2+
/ɪnˈfɜrnoʊ/
a large, fierce, and destructive fire; a place of torment
inhabitancy
C2+
/ɪnˈhæbɪtənsi/
the state of dwelling in a place; residence or occupancy
intersect
C2+
/ˌɪntərˈsɛkt/
to cross or cut across one another; to share common points
inward
C2+
/ˈɪnwərd/
directed toward the inside; situated within or in the mind
joker
C2+
/ˈdʒoʊkər/
a person who jokes; a playing card outside the normal suits
knapsack
C2+
/ˈnæpˌsæk/
a bag carried on the back for provisions or equipment
laden
C2+
/ˈleɪdən/
heavily loaded or weighed down
landslip
C2+
/ˈlændˌslɪp/
a landslide; a collapse of earth down a slope
lodging
C2+
/ˈlɑdʒɪŋ/
a temporary place to stay; rented accommodation
marrow
C2+
/ˈmɛroʊ/
the soft tissue inside bones; the innermost or vital part
mateship
C2+
/ˈmeɪtʃɪp/
camaraderie and loyalty between friends, especially in Australian usage
meridional
C2+
/məˈrɪdiənəl/
of the south or a meridian; characteristic of southern peoples
middleman
C2+
/ˈmɪdəlˌmæn/
an intermediary who trades between producer and consumer
miscellaneous
C2+
/ˌmɪsəˈleɪniəs/
made up of various, unrelated kinds
misguide
C2+
/mɪsˈɡaɪd/
to lead in the wrong direction; to mislead
muffled
C2+
/ˈmʌfəld/
deadened or made quieter; wrapped up to deaden sound
nadir
C2+
/ˈneɪdɚ/
the lowest or most unsuccessful point; the point opposite the zenith
nearness
C2+
/ˈnɪrnəs/
the state of being close in space, time, or relationship
nighttime
C2+
/ˈnaɪttaɪm/
the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
nomadic
C2+
/noʊˈmædɪk/
living by moving from place to place rather than settling permanently
noonday
C2+
/ˈnundeɪ/
midday; the middle of the day