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Word

English Vocabulary

Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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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C2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.

3135 words

Describing Qualities

3135 words

/ˈdeɪnti/ delicately small and pretty; fastidious; (noun) a choice morsel Meaning Off Sound Off

efficacious C2+

/ˌɛfɪˈkeɪʃəs/ effective in producing a desired result Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪˈkwænɪməs/ composed and even-tempered, especially under stress Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɛkwɪtəbəl/ fair and impartial; just in dealing with all parties Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfliːtɪŋ/ lasting only a very short time; passing swiftly Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfɔrˌɡɔn/ already settled or decided in advance; previous Meaning Off Sound Off

/heɪl/ strong and healthy, especially in old age; (verb) to haul or compel to go Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌhɪrəˈmʌŋ/ among these things or persons; in this company (archaic) Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌɪməˈtʊr/ not fully developed; childish in behavior Meaning Off Sound Off

incomprehensible C2+

/ɪnˌkɑmprɪˈhɛnsəbəl/ impossible to understand Meaning Off Sound Off

/miːk/ quiet, gentle, and submissive Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈnoʊtˌwɝði/ deserving attention because of being remarkable or significant Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈreɪdʒɪŋ/ violently active or intense; furious Meaning Off Sound Off

/rɪˈpɛlənt/ causing disgust or aversion; a substance that drives something away Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈsævɪdʒ/ fierce, violent, or uncontrolled; (verb) to attack ferociously Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈslɛndɚ/ gracefully thin; slight or scanty in amount Meaning Off Sound Off

/æbˈstruːs/ difficult to understand; obscure and recondite Meaning Off Sound Off

accordantly C2+

/əˈkɔrdəntli/ in agreement or conformity; correspondingly (archaic) Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk/ showing no interest, enthusiasm, or concern Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈtroʊʃəs/ horrifyingly wicked; of very poor quality Meaning Off Sound Off

/aɪ/ yes; an affirmative vote or answer Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbɑrmi/ crazy or foolish (chiefly British); frothy with yeast Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbiːɪŋləs/ lacking being or existence; without substance (rare) Meaning Off Sound Off

/bɚˈzɝk/ out of control with anger or excitement; frenzied Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbleɪtənt/ completely obvious and shameless; offensively conspicuous Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbaʊəlləs/ lacking compassion or pity; without bowels of mercy (archaic) Meaning Off Sound Off

/broʊk/ having no money; (verb) past tense of break Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃeɪndʒəbəl/ liable to change; able to be altered or varied Meaning Off Sound Off

commendable C2+

/kəˈmɛndəbəl/ deserving praise or approval Meaning Off Sound Off

conformably C2+

/kənˈfɔrməbli/ in a manner that conforms or is in agreement Meaning Off Sound Off

consequential C2+

/ˌkɑnsəˈkwɛnʃəl/ following as a result or important in effect Meaning Off Sound Off

/kənˈtɪndʒənt/ dependent on circumstances not yet certain Meaning Off Sound Off

/dɪˈmjʊr/ reserved, modest, and shy Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdɪndʒi/ gloomy and shabby, often from dirt or grime Meaning Off Sound Off

disinterested C2+

/dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/ free of bias or self-interest; impartial Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdaʊnraɪt/ thoroughly or utterly; plainly so Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɛldɚ/ older, or a senior and respected member of a group Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪkˈsprɛsli/ in a clear and explicit manner; specifically Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfeɪtfəl/ having far-reaching, often disastrous consequences Meaning Off Sound Off

/fɛl/ fierce, cruel, or deadly; (also) to cut down Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfʌsi/ hard to please or overly concerned with detail Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfjutəl/ incapable of producing any useful result; pointless Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɡizən/ rare, scarce, or extraordinary Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌdʒɛriˈætrɪk/ relating to old people and their health care Meaning Off Sound Off

henceforward C2+

/hɛnsˈfɔrwɚd/ from this time on; henceforth Meaning Off Sound Off

henceforwards C2+

/hɛnsˈfɔrwɚdz/ from this time on; henceforth Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈhɪrəˌbaʊt/ in this general area; near this place Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪˈmoʊbəl/ not moving or unable to be moved Meaning Off Sound Off

imperturbable C2+

/ˌɪmpɚˈtɜrbəbəl/ unable to be upset or agitated; calm Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/ not clear or sharply defined Meaning Off Sound Off

intentional C2+

/ɪnˈtɛnʃənəl/ done on purpose; deliberate Meaning Off Sound Off

/læks/ not strict or careful enough; slack Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈlɪsɪt/ permitted by law; lawful Meaning Off Sound Off

nonsensical C2+

/nɑnˈsɛnsɪkəl/ having no meaning or making no sense Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɑbstɪnət/ stubbornly refusing to change one's mind Meaning Off Sound Off

permissible C2+

/pɚˈmɪsəbəl/ allowed or permitted by rules or law Meaning Off Sound Off

praiseworthy C2+

/ˈpreɪzˌwɜrði/ deserving approval and admiration Meaning Off Sound Off

/prɪˈkɛriəs/ dangerously uncertain or insecure Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈprɛvələnt/ widespread or common in a particular place or time Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtuˌfoʊld/ having two parts, or twice as great Meaning Off Sound Off

/vɔɪd/ empty or legally invalid; (also) an empty space Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈwɜrisəm/ causing anxiety or concern Meaning Off Sound Off

apathistical C2+

/ˌæpəˈθɪstɪkəl/ marked by apathy; indifferent or unfeeling Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈstaʊndɪŋ/ surprisingly impressive or shocking Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈwɑntɪŋ/ (chiefly Scots/dialectal) missing, lacking, or absent Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbæli/ (British dated slang) a mild euphemism for bloody, used to add emphasis Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbæstɚdli/ (archaic) base, debased, or of illegitimate or spurious character Meaning Off Sound Off

/bəˈnɛfəsənt/ doing or producing good; generous and kindly Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈblɪri/ (of eyes or vision) dim, blurred, or tired-looking Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈbrɪmˌfʊl/ full to the brim; completely filled Meaning Off Sound Off

brobdingnagian C2+

/ˌbrɑbdɪŋˈnæɡiən/ of enormous size; gigantic Meaning Off Sound Off

/bʊʃt/ (informal) extremely tired; exhausted Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkæloʊ/ inexperienced and immature Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkæni/ shrewd, careful, and quick-witted, especially in money matters Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃɛrətəbəl/ generous in giving to those in need; tolerant in judging others Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtʃɪrli/ (archaic) in a cheerful or hearty manner; briskly Meaning Off Sound Off

/kəˈlɑsəl/ extremely large or great Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkʌmli/ (of a person) pleasant to look at; attractive Meaning Off Sound Off

/kəˈmoʊdiəs/ roomy and comfortable; spacious Meaning Off Sound Off

compassionless C2+

/kəmˈpæʃənləs/ lacking compassion; pitiless Meaning Off Sound Off

/kənˈfɔrmənt/ conforming to a specified standard or requirement Meaning Off Sound Off

/kəˈrʌptɪd/ made dishonest, debased, or damaged from an original state Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkrɛdətəbəl/ deserving credit or praise; reasonably good Meaning Off Sound Off

/dæŋk/ unpleasantly damp, cold, and humid Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdisəntli/ in a respectable, proper, or reasonably good manner Meaning Off Sound Off

/dɪˈlɛktəbəl/ delicious; highly pleasing to the taste or senses Meaning Off Sound Off

deleterious C2+

/ˌdɛləˈtɪriəs/ causing harm or damage, especially gradually Meaning Off Sound Off

/dɪˈplɔrəbəl/ deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad Meaning Off Sound Off

/dɪˈspaɪtfəl/ (archaic) full of spite; malicious Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdɛstəˌtut/ extremely poor and lacking the basic necessities of life Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌdaɪəˈbɑlɪkəl/ extremely wicked or cruel; devilish Meaning Off Sound Off

/dɪsˈmeɪfəl/ (archaic) full of or causing dismay; appalling Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdoʊlfəl/ expressing sorrow; mournful Meaning Off Sound Off

/droʊl/ amusing in a quaint, odd, or wry way Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈduli/ in the proper way or at the proper time; as expected Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪˈbʊljənt/ cheerful and full of energy; exuberant Meaning Off Sound Off

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