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
silklike
C2+
/ˈsɪlklaɪk/
resembling silk in smoothness or softness
silky
C2+
/ˈsɪlki/
smooth, soft, and glossy like silk
singularly
C2+
/ˈsɪŋɡjələrli/
in a remarkable or exceptional manner; uniquely
sketchy
C2+
/ˈskɛtʃi/
incomplete or rough; informally, dubious or untrustworthy
slander
C2+
/ˈslændər/
a false spoken statement that damages someone's reputation
slighting
C2+
/ˈslaɪtɪŋ/
showing disrespect or disparagement
slightingly
C2+
/ˈslaɪtɪŋli/
in a disrespectful or dismissive manner
slightness
C2+
/ˈslaɪtnəs/
the quality of being small, slender, or insignificant
slimly
C2+
/ˈslɪmli/
in a slender manner; to a small degree
slipshod
C2+
/ˈslɪpʃɑd/
careless, hasty, and lacking in thoroughness
sloppiness
C2+
/ˈslɑpinəs/
the quality of being careless, untidy, or imprecise
slug
C2+
/slʌɡ/
a slimy shell-less mollusk; also a hard blow or a bullet
sluggishly
C2+
/ˈslʌɡɪʃli/
in a slow, inactive, or lethargic manner
slumberous
C2+
/ˈslʌmbərəs/
sleepy, drowsy, or inducing sleep
sluttish
C2+
/ˈslʌtɪʃ/
slovenly or untidy; also promiscuous (archaic and derogatory)
smarmy
C2+
/ˈsmɑrmi/
excessively flattering or ingratiating in an insincere way
smoothness
C2+
/ˈsmuðnəs/
the quality of being even, free of roughness, or untroubled
someway
C2+
/ˈsʌmweɪ/
in some way or manner; somehow
sonsy
C2+
/ˈsɑnsi/
buxom, healthy-looking, and cheerful (Scots and Irish dialect)
sophisticant
C2+
/səˈfɪstɪkənt/
one who sophisticates or adulterates; a quibbler (rare)
soporific
C2+
/ˌsɑpəˈrɪfɪk/
tending to induce sleep or drowsiness
sordid
C2+
/ˈsɔrdɪd/
morally degraded, dishonorable, or squalidly dirty
soreness
C2+
/ˈsɔrnəs/
the condition of being painful or tender
soupspoon
C2+
/ˈsupspun/
a large rounded spoon used for eating soup
southwesterly
C2+
/ˌsaʊθˈwɛstərli/
toward or coming from the southwest
sovereignness
C2+
/ˈsɑvrɪnnəs/
the quality or state of being sovereign or supremely powerful
sovereignship
C2+
/ˈsɑvrɪnʃɪp/
the rank, office, or condition of being a sovereign
specialistic
C2+
/ˌspɛʃəˈlɪstɪk/
relating to or characterized by specialization in a narrow field
specialness
C2+
/ˈspɛʃəlnəs/
the quality of being special, distinctive, or exceptional
specifiable
C2+
/ˈspɛsɪˌfaɪəbəl/
able to be specified, stated, or precisely identified
spirituous
C2+
/ˈspɪrɪtʃuəs/
containing or having the qualities of distilled alcohol
spiteful
C2+
/ˈspaɪtfəl/
showing or motivated by a desire to hurt or offend
spongy
C2+
/ˈspʌndʒi/
soft, porous, and absorbent like a sponge
spooky
C2+
/ˈspuki/
eerie, frightening, or suggestive of the supernatural
spotless
C2+
/ˈspɑtləs/
perfectly clean, or morally without fault
spottable
C2+
/ˈspɑtəbəl/
able to be spotted, noticed, or detected
sprightliness
C2+
/ˈspraɪtlinəs/
the quality of being lively, brisk, and full of energy
squat
C2+
/skwɑt/
to crouch low with bent knees, or short and thick in form
squiggle
C2+
/ˈskwɪɡəl/
a short irregular wavy line or scrawl
squish
C2+
/skwɪʃ/
to crush or squeeze into a soft pulpy mass
stableness
C2+
/ˈsteɪbəlnəs/
the quality or state of being stable or steady
staggeringly
C2+
/ˈstæɡərɪŋli/
to an astonishing or overwhelming degree
starting
C2+
/ˈstɑrtɪŋ/
marking the beginning of something; initial
statuesque
C2+
/ˌstætʃuˈɛsk/
attractively tall and dignified like a statue
steadiness
C2+
/ˈstɛdinəs/
the quality of being firm, stable, and constant
stench
C2+
/stɛntʃ/
a strong and very unpleasant smell
sternly
C2+
/ˈstɜrnli/
in a serious, severe, or strict manner
stillborn
C2+
/ˈstɪlˌbɔrn/
born dead, or failing from the outset
stimulatory
C2+
/ˈstɪmjələˌtɔri/
tending to stimulate or arouse activity
stinking
C2+
/ˈstɪŋkɪŋ/
having a strong foul smell; also used as an intensifier
stochastic
C2+
/stəˈkæstɪk/
randomly determined; involving probability or chance
stodgy
C2+
/ˈstɑdʒi/
dull and old-fashioned, or heavy and indigestible (of food)
stormily
C2+
/ˈstɔrməli/
in a turbulent, tempestuous, or angrily agitated manner
stout
C2+
/staʊt/
thickset and sturdy, or a dark strong beer
straiten
C2+
/ˈstreɪtən/
to make narrow, or to restrict, especially financially
streak
C2+
/strik/
a long thin line or band, or an unbroken run of events
strengthful
C2+
/ˈstrɛŋθfəl/
full of strength; powerful (archaic)
subitaneous
C2+
/ˌsʌbɪˈteɪniəs/
sudden or hasty; occurring abruptly (rare)
subjective
C2+
/səbˈdʒɛktɪv/
based on personal feelings or opinions rather than fact
subservient
C2+
/səbˈsɝviənt/
excessively willing to obey or serve others; subordinate
subsistent
C2+
/səbˈsɪstənt/
having real or independent existence; self-sustaining
subspecialist
C2+
/ˌsʌbˈspɛʃəlɪst/
a specialist who focuses on a narrow branch within a larger field
subspecialty
C2+
/ˌsʌbˈspɛʃəlti/
a narrow branch of expertise within a broader specialty
suddenness
C2+
/ˈsʌdnnəs/
the quality of happening quickly and unexpectedly
summative
C2+
/ˈsʌmətɪv/
relating to an assessment that evaluates final outcomes rather than ongoing progress
supplementary
C2+
/ˌsʌpləˈmɛntɛri/
completing or enhancing something by providing an addition
suppleness
C2+
/ˈsʌpəlnəs/
the quality of being flexible, pliant, or able to bend easily
surmise
C2+
/sɚˈmaɪz/
to suppose something to be true without firm evidence
suspiciousness
C2+
/səˈspɪʃəsnəs/
the quality of arousing distrust, or a tendency to distrust others
swimmingly
C2+
/ˈswɪmɪŋli/
smoothly and satisfactorily; without difficulty
synthetical
C2+
/sɪnˈθɛtɪkl/
relating to synthesis; combining parts into a whole; artificial
tameless
C2+
/ˈteɪmləs/
impossible to tame or subdue; wild and untamable
tameness
C2+
/ˈteɪmnəs/
the quality of being docile, subdued, or lacking in spirit
tawny
C2+
/ˈtɔni/
of a warm sandy or yellowish-brown colour
tediousness
C2+
/ˈtidiəsnəs/
the quality of being long, dull, and tiresome
terpsichorean
C2+
/ˌtɝpsɪkəˈriən/
relating to dancing
thaumaturgic
C2+
/ˌθɔməˈtɝdʒɪk/
relating to the working of wonders or magic
thickheadedness
C2+
/ˌθɪkˈhɛdɪdnəs/
the quality of being stupid or slow to understand
thinness
C2+
/ˈθɪnnəs/
the quality of being thin or slender
thistly
C2+
/ˈθɪsli/
full of or resembling thistles; prickly
thoroughgoing
C2+
/ˈθɝoʊˌɡoʊɪŋ/
complete and thorough; absolute in degree
threatful
C2+
/ˈθrɛtfəl/
full of menace; threatening
thriftiness
C2+
/ˈθrɪftinəs/
the quality of using money or resources carefully
timidness
C2+
/ˈtɪmɪdnəs/
the quality of lacking courage or confidence
tiresomeness
C2+
/ˈtaɪɚsəmnəs/
the quality of being boring or tediously wearisome
toddle
C2+
/ˈtɑdəl/
to walk with short unsteady steps, as a young child does
tomatillo
C2+
/ˌtoʊməˈtiːoʊ/
a small green tomato-like fruit enclosed in a papery husk
touchable
C2+
/ˈtʌtʃəbəl/
able to be touched; tangible
tragical
C2+
/ˈtrædʒɪkəl/
archaic or literary form of tragic; deeply sorrowful
traitorously
C2+
/ˈtreɪtərəsli/
in a manner that betrays trust or allegiance
tranquilness
C2+
/ˈtræŋkwɪlnəs/
the quality of being calm and free from disturbance
transitively
C2+
/ˈtrænsɪtɪvli/
in a transitive manner, especially taking a direct object
transparently
C2+
/trænsˈpɛrəntli/
in an obvious or easily seen way; openly
treasurous
C2+
/ˈtrɛʒərəs/
rare term meaning full of or rich in treasure; precious
triangular
C2+
/traɪˈæŋɡjələr/
having the shape of a triangle; involving three parties
tricycle
C2+
/ˈtraɪsɪkəl/
a three-wheeled cycle, especially one ridden by a small child