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
eerie
C2+
/ˈɪri/
strange and frightening in a mysterious way
excessively
C2+
/ɪkˈsɛsɪvli/
to a degree greater than what is normal or proper
extravagant
C2+
/ɪkˈstrævəɡənt/
lacking restraint in spending or excess; immoderate
happening
C2+
/ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event or occurrence; currently fashionable or exciting
hunk
C2+
/hʌŋk/
a large thick piece; a sexually attractive man
inept
C2+
/ɪˈnɛpt/
lacking skill or competence; awkwardly unsuitable
requisite
C2+
/ˈrɛkwɪzɪt/
required or necessary; a thing that is essential
rigid
C2+
/ˈrɪdʒɪd/
unable to bend; strict, inflexible, or unyielding
speedy
C2+
/ˈspidi/
done or moving with great speed; prompt
alluring
C2+
/əˈlʊrɪŋ/
powerfully and mysteriously attractive or tempting
apathy
C2+
/ˈæpəθi/
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
apposite
C2+
/ˈæpəzɪt/
strikingly appropriate or pertinent
baneful
C2+
/ˈbeɪnfəl/
causing harm, ruin, or destruction; poisonous or pernicious
blueness
C2+
/ˈbluːnəs/
the quality or state of being blue in color
chary
C2+
/ˈtʃɛri/
cautious or wary; sparing in giving or spending
cobwebby
C2+
/ˈkɑbˌwɛbi/
covered with or resembling cobwebs; gossamer and flimsy
continently
C2+
/ˈkɑntɪnəntli/
in a self-restrained manner; with moderation or abstinence
dainty
C2+
/ˈdeɪnti/
delicately small and pretty; fastidious; (noun) a choice morsel
defilement
C2+
/dɪˈfaɪlmənt/
the act of making something dirty, corrupt, or unholy
dolefulness
C2+
/ˈdoʊlfəlnəs/
the quality of being sorrowful or mournful
downheartedness
C2+
/ˌdaʊnˈhɑrtɪdnəs/
the state of being discouraged or low in spirits
equanimous
C2+
/ɪˈkwænɪməs/
composed and even-tempered, especially under stress
foregone
C2+
/ˈfɔrˌɡɔn/
already settled or decided in advance; previous
hale
C2+
/heɪl/
strong and healthy, especially in old age; (verb) to haul or compel to go
immature
C2+
/ˌɪməˈtʊr/
not fully developed; childish in behavior
incomprehensible
C2+
/ɪnˌkɑmprɪˈhɛnsəbəl/
impossible to understand
abstruse
C2+
/æbˈstruːs/
difficult to understand; obscure and recondite
accordantly
C2+
/əˈkɔrdəntli/
in agreement or conformity; correspondingly (archaic)
apathetic
C2+
/ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk/
showing no interest, enthusiasm, or concern
atrocious
C2+
/əˈtroʊʃəs/
horrifyingly wicked; of very poor quality
attest
C2+
/əˈtɛst/
to provide or serve as clear evidence of; to declare true
barmy
C2+
/ˈbɑrmi/
crazy or foolish (chiefly British); frothy with yeast
bastard
C2+
/ˈbæstɚd/
a child born out of wedlock; something irregular or impure in origin
beingless
C2+
/ˈbiːɪŋləs/
lacking being or existence; without substance (rare)
blatant
C2+
/ˈbleɪtənt/
completely obvious and shameless; offensively conspicuous
blithesomeness
C2+
/ˈblaɪðsəmnəs/
the quality of being cheerful and carefree
bowels
C2+
/ˈbaʊəlz/
the intestines; the deep interior of something; (archaic) seat of pity
brook
C2+
/brʊk/
a small stream; (verb) to tolerate or allow
cheeriness
C2+
/ˈtʃɪrinəs/
the quality of being bright and cheerful
conformably
C2+
/kənˈfɔrməbli/
in a manner that conforms or is in agreement
contingent
C2+
/kənˈtɪndʒənt/
dependent on circumstances not yet certain
debasement
C2+
/dɪˈbeɪsmənt/
the reduction in quality, value, or dignity of something
deliberation
C2+
/dɪˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən/
long and careful consideration or discussion
dingy
C2+
/ˈdɪndʒi/
gloomy and shabby, often from dirt or grime
disinterested
C2+
/dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/
free of bias or self-interest; impartial
downright
C2+
/ˈdaʊnraɪt/
thoroughly or utterly; plainly so
expressly
C2+
/ɪkˈsprɛsli/
in a clear and explicit manner; specifically
fussy
C2+
/ˈfʌsi/
hard to please or overly concerned with detail
geason
C2+
/ˈɡizən/
rare, scarce, or extraordinary
immobile
C2+
/ɪˈmoʊbəl/
not moving or unable to be moved
imperturbable
C2+
/ˌɪmpɚˈtɜrbəbəl/
unable to be upset or agitated; calm
indistinct
C2+
/ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/
not clear or sharply defined
irregularity
C2+
/ɪˌrɛɡjəˈlærəti/
a deviation from what is normal, regular, or lawful
lax
C2+
/læks/
not strict or careful enough; slack
praiseworthy
C2+
/ˈpreɪzˌwɜrði/
deserving approval and admiration
precarious
C2+
/prɪˈkɛriəs/
dangerously uncertain or insecure
rareness
C2+
/ˈrɛrnəs/
the quality of being uncommon or scarce
apathistical
C2+
/ˌæpəˈθɪstɪkəl/
marked by apathy; indifferent or unfeeling
astounding
C2+
/əˈstaʊndɪŋ/
surprisingly impressive or shocking
awanting
C2+
/əˈwɑntɪŋ/
(chiefly Scots/dialectal) missing, lacking, or absent
bally
C2+
/ˈbæli/
(British dated slang) a mild euphemism for bloody, used to add emphasis
besmear
C2+
/bɪˈsmɪr/
to smear or daub all over with something sticky or dirty
bobbery
C2+
/ˈbɑbəri/
(dated, chiefly Anglo-Indian) a noisy disturbance or commotion
brimful
C2+
/ˈbrɪmˌfʊl/
full to the brim; completely filled
brobdingnagian
C2+
/ˌbrɑbdɪŋˈnæɡiən/
of enormous size; gigantic
bushed
C2+
/bʊʃt/
(informal) extremely tired; exhausted
callow
C2+
/ˈkæloʊ/
inexperienced and immature
calvary
C2+
/ˈkælvəri/
an experience of intense suffering or ordeal
cheerly
C2+
/ˈtʃɪrli/
(archaic) in a cheerful or hearty manner; briskly
colossal
C2+
/kəˈlɑsəl/
extremely large or great
commodious
C2+
/kəˈmoʊdiəs/
roomy and comfortable; spacious
conformant
C2+
/kənˈfɔrmənt/
conforming to a specified standard or requirement
contemplation
C2+
/ˌkɑntəmˈpleɪʃən/
deep, reflective thought or meditation
courageousness
C2+
/kəˈreɪdʒəsnəs/
the quality of being courageous; bravery
decently
C2+
/ˈdisəntli/
in a respectable, proper, or reasonably good manner
denseness
C2+
/ˈdɛnsnəs/
the quality of being dense; thickness or stupidity
deplorable
C2+
/dɪˈplɔrəbəl/
deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad
deplore
C2+
/dɪˈplɔr/
to feel or express strong disapproval of something
despiteful
C2+
/dɪˈspaɪtfəl/
(archaic) full of spite; malicious
disintegrate
C2+
/dɪsˈɪntəˌɡreɪt/
to break into small parts or fall apart completely
dismayful
C2+
/dɪsˈmeɪfəl/
(archaic) full of or causing dismay; appalling
droll
C2+
/droʊl/
amusing in a quaint, odd, or wry way
effete
C2+
/ɪˈfit/
weak, exhausted, or lacking vigor; over-refined
eminently
C2+
/ˈɛmənəntli/
to a notable degree; very
exiguous
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɪɡjuəs/
very small in size or amount; scanty
fain
C2+
/feɪn/
(archaic) gladly or willingly; eager
fastidious
C2+
/fæˈstɪdiəs/
very attentive to detail and hard to please
felicitous
C2+
/fəˈlɪsətəs/
well-chosen or apt; pleasingly suitable
fey
C2+
/feɪ/
otherworldly or whimsical; (Scots) doomed or fated to die
finite
C2+
/ˈfaɪnaɪt/
having limits or bounds; not infinite
fitly
C2+
/ˈfɪtli/
(formal/archaic) in a suitable or appropriate manner
fremd
C2+
/frɛmd/
(archaic/dialectal) strange, foreign, or unrelated
ghastly
C2+
/ˈɡæstli/
causing great horror or shock; extremely unpleasant
highest
C2+
/ˈhaɪəst/
greatest in height, rank, degree, or value
incidental
C2+
/ˌɪnsəˈdɛntəl/
occurring as a minor accompaniment to something more important
inevitability
C2+
/ɪnˌɛvətəˈbɪləti/
the quality of being certain to happen and unavoidable