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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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View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
679 words
underframework
C2+
/ˈʌndərˌfreɪmwɜrk/
an underlying supporting framework or structure
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ware
C2+
/wɛr/
manufactured articles or goods of a specified kind
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washbasin
C2+
/ˈwɑʃˌbeɪsən/
a bowl for holding water for washing the hands and face
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whim
C2+
/wɪm/
a sudden, capricious desire or impulse
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wreckage
C2+
/ˈrɛkɪdʒ/
the remains of something that has been badly damaged or destroyed
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x
C2+
/ɛks/
the twenty-fourth letter of the English alphabet, often denoting an unknown quantity
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yen
C2+
/jɛn/
a strong longing or craving for something
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zeal
C2+
/ziːl/
great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective
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aa
C2+
/ˈɑːɑː/
basaltic lava with a rough, jagged, clinkery surface
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abbot
C2+
/ˈæbət/
the head of a community of monks in an abbey
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abyss
C2+
/əˈbɪs/
a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm
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accidie
C2+
/ˈæksɪdi/
spiritual or mental sloth; listless apathy
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acedia
C2+
/əˈsidiə/
spiritual or mental sloth; apathy and listlessness
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adaptitude
C2+
/əˈdæptɪˌtud/
aptitude or capacity for adapting; adaptability
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aftercome
C2+
/ˈæftərˌkʌm/
a consequence or outcome that follows an event
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afterknowledge
C2+
/ˈæftərˌnɑlɪdʒ/
knowledge gained after an event; hindsight
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agate
C2+
/ˈæɡət/
a hard banded variety of chalcedony used as a gemstone
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agon
C2+
/ˈæɡɑn/
a conflict or struggle, especially the central one in a drama
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ague
C2+
/ˈeɪɡju/
a fever marked by recurring chills and shivering, often malarial
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alluvium
C2+
/əˈluviəm/
sediment of clay, silt, and gravel deposited by flowing water
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ambush
C2+
/ˈæmbʊʃ/
a surprise attack from a concealed position
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amulet
C2+
/ˈæmjələt/
a small object worn to ward off evil or bring good fortune
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anchorhold
C2+
/ˈæŋkɚˌhoʊld/
the cell or dwelling of a religious recluse, or anchorite
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antihero
C2+
/ˈæntiˌhɪroʊ/
a central character who lacks conventional heroic qualities
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apophthegm
C2+
/ˈæpəˌθɛm/
a terse, pointed saying; a pithy maxim
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apotheosis
C2+
/əˌpɑθiˈoʊsɪs/
the highest point of development; elevation to divine status
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aria
C2+
/ˈɑriə/
a long accompanied song for a solo voice in an opera or oratorio
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arrowleaf
C2+
/ˈæroʊˌlif/
any of various plants having arrow-shaped leaves
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artiste
C2+
/ɑrˈtist/
a professional performing artist, especially a singer, dancer, or entertainer
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ashcake
C2+
/ˈæʃˌkeɪk/
a cornmeal cake baked in hot ashes or embers
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asterisk
C2+
/ˈæstəˌrɪsk/
a star-shaped symbol (*) used to mark a note or omission
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autem
C2+
/ˈɔtəm/
in old thieves' cant, a church
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autocide
C2+
/ˈɔtoʊˌsaɪd/
suicide committed by deliberately crashing one's automobile
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ave
C2+
/ˈɑveɪ/
a salutation of greeting or farewell; an Ave Maria prayer
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b
C2+
/ˈbi/
the second letter of the English alphabet
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backsight
C2+
/ˈbækˌsaɪt/
a surveyor's sighting back to a known point, or the rear sight of a gun
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backwash
C2+
/ˈbækˌwɑʃ/
the backward flow of water, or unwelcome aftereffects of an event
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bakeboard
C2+
/ˈbeɪkˌbɔrd/
a board on which dough is kneaded or rolled out
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bakeshop
C2+
/ˈbeɪkˌʃɑp/
a bakery; a shop where bread and pastries are made or sold
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bandit
C2+
/ˈbændɪt/
a robber or outlaw, typically one of an armed band
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bandstand
C2+
/ˈbændˌstænd/
a covered outdoor platform for a band to perform on
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banquette
C2+
/bæŋˈkɛt/
an upholstered bench along a wall, especially in a restaurant
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barrage
C2+
/bəˈrɑʒ/
a concentrated outpouring of artillery fire or, figuratively, of questions
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beaut
C2+
/bjut/
informally, an outstanding or admirable example of something
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begorra
C2+
/bɪˈɡɔrə/
an Irish exclamation of surprise, a euphemism for 'by God'
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benchland
C2+
/ˈbɛntʃˌlænd/
a level terrace of land bounded by steeper slopes
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billhook
C2+
/ˈbɪlˌhʊk/
a curved blade on a handle, used for pruning and cutting brush
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billow
C2+
/ˈbɪloʊ/
a large rolling wave; to swell or surge outward
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bloc
C2+
/blɑk/
a group of countries or parties united by a common interest or purpose
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bludgeon
C2+
/ˈblʌdʒən/
a short heavy club; to strike repeatedly or to coerce forcefully
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bogue
C2+
/boʊɡ/
a small sea bream of the genus Boops; dialectally to slink or sneak off
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bookstall
C2+
/ˈbʊkstɔl/
a stall or stand where books and periodicals are sold
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borachio
C2+
/bəˈrɑtʃioʊ/
a leather wine bottle or wineskin; archaically a drunkard
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braid
C2+
/breɪd/
a length of interwoven strands; to weave such strands together
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bravo
C2+
/ˈbrɑvoʊ/
a shout of approval; also a hired assassin or daring villain
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breakout
C2+
/ˈbreɪkaʊt/
a sudden escape, outbreak, or surge into prominence
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brickbat
C2+
/ˈbrɪkbæt/
a piece of brick used as a missile; a blunt verbal insult or criticism
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broadsheet
C2+
/ˈbrɔdʃit/
a large-format newspaper, traditionally one regarded as serious
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buckle
C2+
/ˈbʌkəl/
a clasp for fastening a strap; to fasten, bend, or collapse under strain
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cache
C2+
/kæʃ/
a hidden store of supplies; to store away or in fast-access memory
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cacodemon
C2+
/ˌkækoʊˈdimən/
an evil spirit or malevolent demon
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calaboose
C2+
/ˈkæləˌbus/
a local jail or lockup
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canard
C2+
/kəˈnɑrd/
a false or baseless rumor or fabricated story
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candelabrum
C2+
/ˌkændəˈlɑbrəm/
a large branched candlestick or lamp holder
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candlestick
C2+
/ˈkændəlˌstɪk/
a holder for one or more candles
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candock
C2+
/ˈkænˌdɑk/
a water lily or pondweed, especially the yellow water lily
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cape
C2+
/keɪp/
a sleeveless cloak; a headland jutting into the sea
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caravanserai
C2+
/ˌkærəˈvænsəˌraɪ/
an inn with a central court for caravans along Eastern trade routes
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carbuncle
C2+
/ˈkɑrˌbʌŋkəl/
a painful cluster of boils; a red gem, especially a garnet
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carrytale
C2+
/ˈkæriˌteɪl/
a gossip or tale-bearer who spreads rumors
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cartridge
C2+
/ˈkɑrtrɪdʒ/
a case holding a charge and bullet; a sealed replaceable container
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cask
C2+
/kæsk/
a barrel-shaped wooden container for liquids
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casket
C2+
/ˈkæskɪt/
a coffin; a small ornamental box for valuables
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cavern
C2+
/ˈkævɚn/
a large, often underground, chamber or cave
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celluloid
C2+
/ˈsɛljəˌlɔɪd/
a transparent flammable plastic once used for film and photographic stock
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centage
C2+
/ˈsɛntɪdʒ/
rate or proportion reckoned by the hundred; percentage
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cervix
C2+
/ˈsɝvɪks/
the narrow neck-like passage at the lower end of the uterus
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chagrin
C2+
/ʃəˈɡrɪn/
distress or vexation caused by disappointment or humiliation
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chalk
C2+
/tʃɔk/
a soft white limestone used for writing or marking
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chancel
C2+
/ˈtʃænsəl/
the part of a church near the altar, reserved for clergy and choir
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chattel
C2+
/ˈtʃætəl/
an item of movable personal property
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chink
C2+
/tʃɪŋk/
a narrow crack or opening; a sharp ringing sound
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chokedamp
C2+
/ˈtʃoʊkˌdæmp/
suffocating carbon-dioxide-laden air in a mine
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christmastide
C2+
/ˈkrɪsməsˌtaɪd/
the festive season extending from Christmas through Epiphany
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chute
C2+
/ʃut/
a sloping channel for conveying things downward
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clansfolk
C2+
/ˈklænzˌfoʊk/
the members of a clan collectively
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cloture
C2+
/ˈkloʊtʃɚ/
a procedure for ending debate and forcing an immediate vote
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clout
C2+
/klaʊt/
influence or power; informally, a heavy blow
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clubhouse
C2+
/ˈklʌbˌhaʊs/
a building used by the members of a club or team
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cocket
C2+
/ˈkɑkɪt/
a customs seal or sealed document certifying that duty has been paid on goods
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cogwheel
C2+
/ˈkɑɡˌwil/
a wheel with teeth on its rim that meshes with another to transmit motion
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cohort
C2+
/ˈkoʊhɔrt/
a group sharing a common feature, especially a statistical or age band
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coil
C2+
/kɔɪl/
a length of something wound into rings; to wind into such loops
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cole
C2+
/koʊl/
any of various brassica plants such as cabbage, kale, or rape
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collum
C2+
/ˈkɑləm/
a neck or neck-like part of a structure in anatomy
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cologne
C2+
/kəˈloʊn/
a lightly scented perfume made of alcohol and aromatic oils
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