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.
Choose your level
View all levels
2203 words
yielding
C2+
/ˈjiːldɪŋ/
giving way under pressure; compliant or pliant
abashed
C2+
/əˈbæʃt/
embarrassed, ashamed, or disconcerted
abrupt
C2+
/əˈbrʌpt/
sudden and unexpected; curt in manner
accursed
C2+
/əˈkɝsɪd/
under a curse; detestable
actualize
C2+
/ˈæktʃuəlaɪz/
to make real or bring into existence
adamant
C2+
/ˈædəmənt/
refusing to be persuaded; utterly unyielding
adamantine
C2+
/ˌædəˈmæntiːn/
impenetrably hard or unbreakable; resembling diamond
addlebrained
C2+
/ˈædəlˌbreɪnd/
confused, muddled, or foolish
allure
C2+
/əˈlʊr/
the quality of being powerfully attractive; to entice
anomaly
C2+
/əˈnɑːməli/
something that deviates from the normal or expected
antenatal
C2+
/ˌæntiˈneɪtəl/
occurring or existing before birth; prenatal
auspicious
C2+
/ɔːˈspɪʃəs/
giving promise of success; favourable
baba
C2+
/ˈbɑːbɑː/
a small rum-soaked sponge cake; also a term for father or old man
bedirty
C2+
/bɪˈdɝti/
archaic word for to make dirty or soil thoroughly
bewitching
C2+
/bɪˈwɪtʃɪŋ/
enchantingly attractive; captivating as if by magic
billy
C2+
/ˈbɪli/
a metal cooking pot or pail used over a campfire; also a short club
blah
C2+
/blɑ/
meaningless or dull chatter; dreary and uninteresting
blithesome
C2+
/ˈblaɪðsəm/
cheerful, merry, and lighthearted
blotto
C2+
/ˈblɑˌtoʊ/
extremely drunk; intoxicated to the point of incapacity
bodacious
C2+
/boʊˈdeɪʃəs/
remarkable, bold, or impressively large
bog
C2+
/bɑɡ/
an area of soft, waterlogged, spongy ground; to become stuck
bonnie
C2+
/ˈbɑni/
chiefly Scottish, pretty, attractive, or fine-looking
boon
C2+
/bun/
a timely benefit or blessing; a favor granted
buoyant
C2+
/ˈbɔɪənt/
able to float; cheerful and optimistic
cataclysmic
C2+
/ˌkætəˈklɪzmɪk/
relating to a sudden violent upheaval or disaster
categoric
C2+
/ˌkætəˈɡɔrɪk/
unqualified and absolute; explicit
chastely
C2+
/ˈtʃeɪstli/
in a pure, modest, or restrained manner
chic
C2+
/ʃik/
elegantly and stylishly fashionable
chiefly
C2+
/ˈtʃifli/
mainly; for the most part
chield
C2+
/tʃild/
Scottish dialect for a young man, lad, or fellow
cinch
C2+
/sɪntʃ/
an extremely easy task; a saddle girth; to fasten tightly
comedic
C2+
/kəˈmidɪk/
relating to comedy or its techniques
comical
C2+
/ˈkɑmɪkəl/
amusing or funny, often unintentionally
compliancy
C2+
/kəmˈplaɪənsi/
the disposition to yield or comply readily
consistence
C2+
/kənˈsɪstəns/
the degree of firmness or density of a substance; consistency
constitutive
C2+
/ˈkɑnstəˌtutɪv/
forming an essential or fundamental part of something
contemplative
C2+
/kənˈtɛmplətɪv/
given to or marked by deep, reflective thought
crass
C2+
/kræs/
showing gross lack of sensitivity or intelligence
craze
C2+
/kreɪz/
a short-lived enthusiasm or fad; to make insane
crimson
C2+
/ˈkrɪmzən/
a deep, rich red color
cringing
C2+
/ˈkrɪndʒɪŋ/
behaving in an excessively servile or fearful way
croak
C2+
/kroʊk/
to make a low harsh sound, as a frog; slang to die
cumbersome
C2+
/ˈkʌmbɚsəm/
large or heavy and therefore difficult to handle; unwieldy
curio
C2+
/ˈkjʊrioʊ/
a rare or unusual object valued as a curiosity
customarily
C2+
/ˌkʌstəˈmɛrəli/
according to usual practice; ordinarily
damnable
C2+
/ˈdæmnəbəl/
deserving condemnation; detestable
dismissive
C2+
/dɪsˈmɪsɪv/
showing that something is unworthy of consideration
disprove
C2+
/dɪsˈpruv/
to prove to be false or incorrect
distinguishable
C2+
/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/
able to be perceived as different or distinct
dogged
C2+
/ˈdɔɡɪd/
persistent and tenacious in pursuing something
dopey
C2+
/ˈdoʊpi/
dull or stupefied, as if drugged; foolish
drear
C2+
/drɪr/
dreary, gloomy, or cheerless (chiefly poetic)
easiness
C2+
/ˈizinəs/
the quality of being easy or free from difficulty or strain
enchanting
C2+
/ɛnˈtʃæntɪŋ/
delightfully charming or captivating
enmity
C2+
/ˈɛnməti/
a state of deep-seated hostility or ill will
everlastingly
C2+
/ˌɛvərˈlæstɪŋli/
in a way that lasts forever; eternally or incessantly
expanse
C2+
/ɪkˈspæns/
a wide, open, continuous area of something
fatiguing
C2+
/fəˈtiɡɪŋ/
causing tiredness or exhaustion
flashy
C2+
/ˈflæʃi/
ostentatiously showy or stylish, often superficially
flimsy
C2+
/ˈflɪmzi/
weak, insubstantial, or easily damaged; unconvincing
forceful
C2+
/ˈfɔrsfəl/
powerful, vigorous, and assertive
freshly
C2+
/ˈfrɛʃli/
recently or newly; in a fresh manner
fuzzy
C2+
/ˈfʌzi/
covered with fine hairs; blurred or indistinct
godliness
C2+
/ˈɡɑdlinəs/
the quality of being devoutly religious or righteous
grotesque
C2+
/ɡroʊˈtɛsk/
comically or repulsively distorted or unnatural
haggard
C2+
/ˈhæɡərd/
looking exhausted and unwell, as from fatigue or suffering
halfhearted
C2+
/ˌhæfˈhɑrtɪd/
showing little enthusiasm or effort
handily
C2+
/ˈhændəli/
easily and conveniently; with little difficulty
hazy
C2+
/ˈheɪzi/
obscured by haze; vague or unclear
hearsay
C2+
/ˈhɪrˌseɪ/
information received from others that cannot be substantiated; rumor
heterogeneous
C2+
/ˌhɛtərəˈdʒiniəs/
composed of diverse or dissimilar elements
humming
C2+
/ˈhʌmɪŋ/
producing a low continuous sound; busy and active
immaculate
C2+
/ɪˈmækjələt/
perfectly clean, neat, or free from flaw
imposing
C2+
/ɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
grand and impressive in size or appearance
impromptu
C2+
/ɪmˈprɑmptu/
done without preparation; spontaneous
impure
C2+
/ɪmˈpjʊr/
mixed with foreign matter; not clean or morally pure
inapt
C2+
/ɪnˈæpt/
not suitable or appropriate; inept
inconsiderable
C2+
/ˌɪnkənˈsɪdərəbəl/
too small or unimportant to be worth considering
indubitably
C2+
/ɪnˈdubɪtəbli/
in a manner that cannot be doubted; unquestionably
infamy
C2+
/ˈɪnfəmi/
the state of being well known for some bad quality or deed
ironical
C2+
/aɪˈrɑnɪkəl/
expressing or characterized by irony
irregularly
C2+
/ɪˈrɛɡjələrli/
in a manner lacking regular pattern, order, or shape
jocular
C2+
/ˈdʒɑkjələr/
fond of joking; humorous or playful
laughable
C2+
/ˈlæfəbəl/
so ridiculous as to be amusing; absurd
liveliness
C2+
/ˈlaɪvlinəs/
the quality of being full of energy and spirit
lusty
C2+
/ˈlʌsti/
healthy, strong, and full of vigor
luxuriant
C2+
/lʌɡˈʒʊriənt/
growing thickly and abundantly; lush
measly
C2+
/ˈmizli/
contemptibly small or meager
mellow
C2+
/ˈmɛloʊ/
soft, rich, and pleasantly smooth; relaxed and genial
mindful
C2+
/ˈmaɪndfəl/
conscious or aware of something; attentive
minuscule
C2+
/ˈmɪnəskjul/
extremely small; tiny
moan
C2+
/moʊn/
to make a long, low sound of pain or complaint
nemesis
C2+
/ˈnɛməsəs/
an inescapable agent of someone's downfall or a long-standing rival
nonactive
C2+
/nɑnˈæktɪv/
not active or operative
nonapproval
C2+
/ˌnɑnəˈpruvəl/
failure or refusal to approve; withholding of approval
nonassent
C2+
/ˌnɑnəˈsɛnt/
the withholding of assent or agreement