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
obverse
C2+
/ˈɑbvɝs/
the front or principal side of a coin or medal; a counterpart
opposing
C2+
/əˈpoʊzɪŋ/
in conflict or contrast with; on the other side
orient
C2+
/ˈɔriɛnt/
to align or position relative to surroundings; to familiarize with a situation
orthogonal
C2+
/ɔrˈθɑɡənəl/
at right angles; statistically independent or unrelated
outermost
C2+
/ˈaʊtɚmoʊst/
furthest from the center; most external
pact
C2+
/pækt/
a formal agreement or treaty between parties
perverted
C2+
/pɚˈvɜrtɪd/
distorted or corrupted from what is right or natural
pollard
C2+
/ˈpɑlɚd/
a tree cut back to the trunk to promote dense growth, or to prune thus
procession
C2+
/prəˈsɛʃən/
a group moving forward in an orderly line
prolongation
C2+
/ˌproʊlɔŋˈɡeɪʃən/
the act of extending in time or space
rearwards
C2+
/ˈrɪrwɚdz/
toward the back or rear
reassemble
C2+
/ˌriəˈsɛmbl/
to put back together or gather again
rectangle
C2+
/ˈrɛktæŋɡl/
a four-sided figure with four right angles
reinstate
C2+
/ˌriɪnˈsteɪt/
to restore to a former position or condition
relocate
C2+
/riˈloʊkeɪt/
to move to a new place
relocation
C2+
/ˌriloʊˈkeɪʃən/
the act of moving to a new location
remand
C2+
/rɪˈmænd/
to send back into custody or to a lower court
renunciation
C2+
/rɪˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
the formal giving up of a right or claim
repository
C2+
/rɪˈpɑzɪtɔri/
a place where things are stored or kept
retrograde
C2+
/ˈrɛtrəˌɡreɪd/
directed or moving backward, or reverting to a worse state
reversal
C2+
/rɪˈvɝsəl/
a change to an opposite direction, position, or decision
roomy
C2+
/ˈrumi/
having plenty of space; spacious
rucksack
C2+
/ˈrʌkˌsæk/
a bag with shoulder straps carried on the back; a backpack
septentrional
C2+
/sɛpˈtɛntriənəl/
of or relating to the north; northern
simplex
C2+
/ˈsɪmplɛks/
consisting of or permitting only one part, direction, or operation
situate
C2+
/ˈsɪtʃuˌeɪt/
to place or position in a particular location or context
starboard
C2+
/ˈstɑrbɚd/
the right-hand side of a ship or aircraft when facing forward
stead
C2+
/stɛd/
the place or role that someone or something would otherwise occupy
steeple
C2+
/ˈstipəl/
a tall tower with a spire on top of a church
steering
C2+
/ˈstɪrɪŋ/
the action or mechanism of guiding a vehicle's direction
stupor
C2+
/ˈstupɚ/
a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility
subaqueous
C2+
/sʌbˈeɪkwiəs/
formed, found, or taking place under water
surmount
C2+
/sɚˈmaʊnt/
to overcome a difficulty or rise above an obstacle
transportable
C2+
/trænsˈpɔrtəbəl/
able to be carried or moved from place to place
treasury
C2+
/ˈtrɛʒəri/
a place or fund in which valuables or public revenues are kept
unconformity
C2+
/ˌʌnkənˈfɔrməti/
lack of conformity; a surface of contact between rock strata of differing age
vagrant
C2+
/ˈveɪɡrənt/
a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place
vantage
C2+
/ˈvæntɪdʒ/
a position or place affording a good view or advantage
wiggle
C2+
/ˈwɪɡəl/
to move with small, quick movements from side to side
ablaze
C2+
/əˈbleɪz/
burning fiercely or brightly lit up
abraid
C2+
/əˈbreɪd/
to start up suddenly; to awake or rouse oneself
absorption
C2+
/əbˈzɔrpʃən/
the process of taking in or soaking up, or deep mental engagement
accumbent
C2+
/əˈkʌmbənt/
reclining or leaning, as in lying down at a meal
acting
C2+
/ˈæktɪŋ/
the art of performing a role, or serving temporarily in a position
adduce
C2+
/əˈdus/
to cite or bring forward as evidence or proof
advantageously
C2+
/ˌædvənˈteɪdʒəsli/
in a way that confers benefit or favorable position
ambisyllabic
C2+
/ˌæmbɪsɪˈlæbɪk/
of a consonant belonging to two adjacent syllables at once
ambush
C2+
/ˈæmbʊʃ/
a surprise attack from a concealed position
antagonism
C2+
/ænˈtæɡəˌnɪzəm/
active hostility or opposition between people or forces
appropriator
C2+
/əˈproʊpriˌeɪtɚ/
a person who takes something for their own use, often without right
arbitration
C2+
/ˌɑrbɪˈtreɪʃən/
the settling of a dispute by an impartial third party outside court
aright
C2+
/əˈraɪt/
correctly or properly; in the right way
arriver
C2+
/əˈraɪvɚ/
a person who arrives, especially one newly come to a place
askew
C2+
/əˈskju/
not straight or level; to one side, crooked
aspirant
C2+
/ˈæspərənt/
a person who aspires to a position, office, or distinction
atemporal
C2+
/eɪˈtɛmpərəl/
existing outside of or unaffected by the passage of time
atmospherics
C2+
/ˌætməsˈfɛrɪks/
electrical interference in radio, or the mood-setting features of a place
autochthonal
C2+
/ɔˈtɑkθənəl/
native to or originating in the place where found; indigenous
backpedal
C2+
/ˈbækˌpɛdəl/
to reverse one's previous opinion or position
backsight
C2+
/ˈbækˌsaɪt/
a surveyor's sighting back to a known point, or the rear sight of a gun
backwash
C2+
/ˈbækˌwɑʃ/
the backward flow of water, or unwelcome aftereffects of an event
bangtail
C2+
/ˈbæŋˌteɪl/
a horse with its tail cut squarely across; informally, a racehorse
barkery
C2+
/ˈbɑrkəri/
a place where bark is stored or stripped, as for tanning
beakhead
C2+
/ˈbikˌhɛd/
the projecting forward part of an old sailing ship's bow
bequest
C2+
/bɪˈkwɛst/
something left to someone in a will; a legacy
billabong
C2+
/ˈbɪləˌbɔŋ/
an Australian backwater or stagnant pool left by a river
birthright
C2+
/ˈbɜrθraɪt/
a right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth
blackwash
C2+
/ˈblækwɑʃ/
to defame or expose discreditable facts about someone; the opposite of whitewash
blanketflower
C2+
/ˈblæŋkɪtˌflaʊər/
a North American daisy-like wildflower of the genus Gaillardia with vivid red-yellow blooms
blockade
C2+
/blɑˈkeɪd/
the sealing off of a place to prevent goods or people entering or leaving
blot
C2+
/blɑt/
a dark stain or spot; to stain or to soak up liquid
bob
C2+
/bɑb/
to move quickly up and down; a short haircut or a small weight
broadside
C2+
/ˈbrɔdsaɪd/
a simultaneous firing of all guns on one side of a ship; a strong verbal attack
broker
C2+
/ˈbroʊkər/
an agent who arranges deals between buyers and sellers; to negotiate a deal
bunchflower
C2+
/ˈbʌntʃˌflaʊɚ/
a North American marsh plant of the genus Melanthium bearing clustered flowers
burgher
C2+
/ˈbɜrɡɚ/
a citizen of a town, especially a prosperous middle-class one
buttermilk
C2+
/ˈbʌtɚˌmɪlk/
the tangy liquid left after churning butter, used in baking
canine
C2+
/ˈkeɪnaɪn/
of or like dogs; a pointed tooth between the incisors and premolars
castaway
C2+
/ˈkæstəˌweɪ/
a person stranded after a shipwreck or in an isolated place
caudal
C2+
/ˈkɔdəl/
of, at, or near the tail or hind part
centering
C2+
/ˈsɛntɚɪŋ/
the act of placing at or moving toward the center; a temporary support for an arch
centrally
C2+
/ˈsɛntrəli/
in or from a central position or authority
chancel
C2+
/ˈtʃænsəl/
the part of a church near the altar, reserved for clergy and choir
checkmate
C2+
/ˈtʃɛkˌmeɪt/
a chess position in which the king is trapped and the game ends
chug
C2+
/tʃʌɡ/
to move with or make a dull repeated engine sound; to gulp down a drink
clearing
C2+
/ˈklɪrɪŋ/
an open space in a forest; the settling of accounts between banks
coexistence
C2+
/ˌkoʊɪɡˈzɪstəns/
the state of existing together at the same time or place
concourse
C2+
/ˈkɑnkɔrs/
a large open space where crowds gather, as in a station
conk
C2+
/kɑŋk/
to hit on the head, or (of a machine) to break down suddenly
constructive
C2+
/kənˈstrʌktɪv/
serving to build up or improve; helpful rather than destructive
consumable
C2+
/kənˈsuməbəl/
able to be used up or eaten; an item intended to be consumed
contrariwise
C2+
/ˈkɑntrɛriˌwaɪz/
on the contrary; in the opposite way
contrastive
C2+
/kənˈtræstɪv/
showing or emphasizing differences between things
coronet
C2+
/ˈkɔrəˌnɛt/
a small crown worn by nobility below the rank of sovereign
currentness
C2+
/ˈkɜrəntnəs/
the state of being current or up to date
delegacy
C2+
/ˈdɛlɪɡəsi/
a body of delegates; the position of a delegate