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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602 words
obstruction
C2+
/əbˈstrʌkʃən/
a thing that blocks a way or passage; the act of hindering
outmatch
C2+
/aʊtˈmætʃ/
to surpass or be superior to in skill or strength
palpable
C2+
/ˈpælpəbəl/
able to be touched or felt; so intense as to seem tangible
penetration
C2+
/ˌpɛnɪˈtreɪʃən/
the action of entering, piercing, or passing into something
practicable
C2+
/ˈpræktɪkəbəl/
able to be done or put into practice successfully
purport
C2+
/pərˈpɔrt/
to claim or profess, often falsely, to be or do something
quell
C2+
/kwɛl/
to put an end to, usually by force; to suppress or subdue
reckoning
C2+
/ˈrɛkənɪŋ/
the action of calculating, or a settling of accounts or consequences
recur
C2+
/rɪˈkɜr/
to occur again, repeatedly, or periodically
reprehension
C2+
/ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnʃən/
the act of reproving or expressing severe disapproval
repudiate
C2+
/rɪˈpjudieɪt/
to refuse to accept or be associated with; to deny or reject
sleek
C2+
/slik/
smooth and glossy; elegantly streamlined
snatch
C2+
/snætʃ/
to seize quickly and forcibly; to grab
spook
C2+
/spuk/
a ghost; also a slang term for a spy, or to frighten
sub
C2+
/sʌb/
a substitute, submarine, or subscription; or to act as a substitute
template
C2+
/ˈtɛmplət/
a shaped pattern or model used as a guide for making things
thrust
C2+
/θrʌst/
to push suddenly and forcibly; a forceful shove or driving force
travail
C2+
/trəˈveɪl/
painful or laborious effort; the pangs of childbirth
unapt
C2+
/ʌnˈæpt/
not suitable or appropriate; not inclined or quick to do something
vivification
C2+
/ˌvɪvəfəˈkeɪʃən/
the act of giving life or vitality to something; animation
withstand
C2+
/wɪðˈstænd/
to resist or endure successfully without giving way
abidance
C2+
/əˈbaɪdəns/
the act of abiding by or complying with something; continuance
abominate
C2+
/əˈbɑməˌneɪt/
to detest or loathe intensely
accedence
C2+
/ækˈsidəns/
the act of acceding, assenting, or agreeing to something
affirmation
C2+
/ˌæfɚˈmeɪʃən/
the act of affirming; a positive declaration
amerce
C2+
/əˈmɝs/
to punish by an arbitrary fine or penalty
apportionment
C2+
/əˈpɔrʃənmənt/
the act of distributing or allotting in proportional shares
arrogate
C2+
/ˈærəˌɡeɪt/
to claim or seize something without justification
ascent
C2+
/əˈsɛnt/
the act of rising or climbing upward
asseverate
C2+
/əˈsɛvəˌreɪt/
to declare earnestly or solemnly affirm
astound
C2+
/əˈstaʊnd/
to shock or amaze greatly
avert
C2+
/əˈvɜrt/
to turn away or prevent something from happening
bamboozle
C2+
/bæmˈbuzəl/
to deceive or trick by underhanded means
bechance
C2+
/bɪˈtʃæns/
to happen or befall by chance (archaic)
becharm
C2+
/bɪˈtʃɑrm/
to enchant or captivate as if by magic
beckon
C2+
/ˈbɛkən/
to signal or summon with a gesture
beclasp
C2+
/bɪˈklæsp/
to embrace or clasp tightly (archaic)
becut
C2+
/bɪˈkʌt/
to cut or gash all over (archaic)
befit
C2+
/bɪˈfɪt/
to be appropriate or suitable for
begloom
C2+
/bɪˈɡlum/
to darken or cast a gloom over
beguile
C2+
/bɪˈɡaɪl/
to charm or deceive, often in a deceptive way
belight
C2+
/bɪˈlaɪt/
to shine light upon; to illuminate (archaic)
bename
C2+
/bɪˈneɪm/
to name or call by a name (archaic)
beseech
C2+
/bɪˈsitʃ/
to ask someone urgently and fervently to do something; to implore
betoken
C2+
/bɪˈtoʊkən/
to be a sign of; to indicate or foreshadow
bewitch
C2+
/bɪˈwɪtʃ/
to cast a spell over; to enchant or fascinate utterly
bluff
C2+
/blʌf/
to deceive by pretending confidence or strength; a steep cliff
bode
C2+
/boʊd/
to be an omen of a particular outcome
bulge
C2+
/bʌldʒ/
a rounded swelling or protrusion; to swell outward
buss
C2+
/bʌs/
(archaic or dialectal) a kiss; to kiss
camouflage
C2+
/ˈkæməˌflɑʒ/
disguise that blends something into its surroundings
canoodle
C2+
/kəˈnudəl/
(informal) to kiss and cuddle amorously
cheating
C2+
/ˈtʃiːtɪŋ/
the act of acting dishonestly or unfairly to gain an advantage
chevy
C2+
/ˈtʃɛvi/
to chase, harass, or hurry someone along
clapping
C2+
/ˈklæpɪŋ/
the act of striking the palms together to applaud
cohesion
C2+
/koʊˈhiːʒən/
the action of forming a united whole; sticking together
comfy
C2+
/ˈkʌmfi/
comfortable; cozy (informal)
commandeer
C2+
/ˌkɑmənˈdɪr/
to seize for official or military use; to take arbitrary possession of
comport
C2+
/kəmˈpɔrt/
to conduct oneself in a particular way; to be consistent with
conject
C2+
/kənˈdʒɛkt/
to conjecture or guess; to surmise (archaic)
connate
C2+
/ˈkɑneɪt/
existing from birth; congenitally united or related
connive
C2+
/kəˈnaɪv/
to secretly cooperate in wrongdoing; to scheme
crunch
C2+
/krʌntʃ/
to crush noisily with the teeth, or a critical moment of pressure
cully
C2+
/ˈkʌli/
a dupe or easily deceived companion; to deceive or impose upon
culminate
C2+
/ˈkʌlməˌneɪt/
to reach the highest or climactic point of something
debauchment
C2+
/dɪˈbɔtʃmənt/
the act of corrupting morally; seduction into dissipation
decad
C2+
/ˈdɛkæd/
a group or set of ten
delineation
C2+
/dɪˌlɪniˈeɪʃən/
the act of describing or outlining something precisely
dematerialize
C2+
/ˌdiməˈtɪriəˌlaɪz/
to cease to exist in bodily form; to vanish into nothing
denigrate
C2+
/ˈdɛnɪˌɡreɪt/
to criticize unfairly; to disparage or belittle
derogate
C2+
/ˈdɛrəˌɡeɪt/
to detract from or disparage; to deviate from a standard
despisal
C2+
/dɪˈspaɪzəl/
the act of despising; contempt or scorn
dismission
C2+
/dɪsˈmɪʃən/
archaic term for dismissal or the act of sending away
dispossession
C2+
/ˌdɪspəˈzɛʃən/
the act of depriving someone of property or occupancy
dissipate
C2+
/ˈdɪsəˌpeɪt/
to scatter or vanish gradually; to squander wastefully
doctrinal
C2+
/ˈdɑktrɪnəl/
relating to a doctrine or set of established teachings
elimination
C2+
/ɪˌlɪməˈneɪʃən/
the act of removing or getting rid of something
embolden
C2+
/ɪmˈboʊldən/
to give someone the courage or confidence to act
enclasp
C2+
/ɪnˈklæsp/
to clasp or embrace; to enclose tightly within
evade
C2+
/ɪˈveɪd/
to escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or deceit
exasperate
C2+
/ɪɡˈzæspəreɪt/
to irritate or annoy intensely
exigent
C2+
/ˈɛksɪdʒənt/
requiring immediate action; pressing or demanding
fend
C2+
/fɛnd/
to defend or provide for, or to ward off
flabbergast
C2+
/ˈflæbərɡæst/
to astonish or shock greatly
flirt
C2+
/flɜrt/
to behave playfully as if attracted to someone, without serious intent
fordo
C2+
/fɔrˈdu/
to destroy, undo, or exhaust utterly
forestall
C2+
/fɔrˈstɔl/
to prevent or hinder by taking action in advance
forgery
C2+
/ˈfɔrdʒəri/
the act of making a fraudulent copy; a forged item
garniture
C2+
/ˈɡɑrnɪtʃɚ/
a set of decorative accessories or embellishments
glorification
C2+
/ˌɡlɔrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the act of praising highly or representing as glorious
gravamen
C2+
/ɡrəˈveɪmən/
the essential or most serious part of a grievance or accusation
haze
C2+
/heɪz/
a slight obscuring of the atmosphere by dust, smoke, or vapor
hurl
C2+
/hɝl/
to throw with great force
immoderate
C2+
/ɪˈmɑdɚət/
exceeding reasonable limits; excessive
incarnate
C2+
/ɪnˈkɑrnət/
embodied in flesh or in concrete form; personified
incitement
C2+
/ɪnˈsaɪtmənt/
the act of urging or stirring others to action, often unlawful or violent