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
marchland
C2+
/ˈmɑrtʃˌlænd/
a borderland or frontier region between two territories
marquess
C2+
/ˈmɑrkwɪs/
a nobleman ranking below a duke and above an earl
mart
C2+
/mɑrt/
a market or trading center
medially
C2+
/ˈmidiəli/
in or toward the middle; situated centrally
midafternoon
C2+
/ˌmɪdˌæftərˈnun/
the middle part of the afternoon
midriff
C2+
/ˈmɪdrɪf/
the front of the body between the chest and the waist
migratory
C2+
/ˈmaɪɡrəˌtɔri/
characterized by or relating to seasonal movement between regions
mislay
C2+
/mɪsˈleɪ/
to put something in a place later forgotten; lose temporarily
mistress
C2+
/ˈmɪstrɪs/
a woman in a position of authority or control, or a man's lover
momentous
C2+
/moʊˈmɛntəs/
of great importance or far-reaching consequence
moonrise
C2+
/ˈmunˌraɪz/
the rising of the moon above the horizon, or the time it occurs
nighness
C2+
/ˈnaɪnəs/
the state of being near; nearness
northerly
C2+
/ˈnɔrðərli/
toward or coming from the north
oasis
C2+
/oʊˈeɪsɪs/
a fertile spot in a desert; a place of refuge or calm
obliviousness
C2+
/əˈblɪviəsnəs/
the state of being unaware of or not noticing what is happening around one
obsequent
C2+
/ˈɑbsɪkwənt/
of a stream, flowing in a direction opposite to the dip of the underlying strata
occupancy
C2+
/ˈɑkjəpənsi/
the act of occupying or using a space, or the proportion so used
occurrent
C2+
/əˈkɝənt/
occurring or happening at the present moment; actually taking place
onrush
C2+
/ˈɑnrʌʃ/
a sudden surging or forward rush of something
optionary
C2+
/ˈɑpʃəˌnɛri/
of or relating to options; left to one's choice
oscillation
C2+
/ˌɑsɪˈleɪʃən/
a regular movement back and forth between two points or states
osculation
C2+
/ˌɑskjəˈleɪʃən/
the act of kissing; in geometry, contact of a high order between curves
outclass
C2+
/ˌaʊtˈklæs/
to be far superior to; to surpass decisively in quality or skill
outlying
C2+
/ˈaʊtˌlaɪɪŋ/
situated far from a center; remote or peripheral
outwards
C2+
/ˈaʊtwɚdz/
toward the outside; away from a center
oversea
C2+
/ˈoʊvɚˌsi/
across or beyond the sea; overseas (archaic or literary form)
packsack
C2+
/ˈpæksæk/
a bag carried on the back for transporting supplies, a knapsack
passageway
C2+
/ˈpæsɪdʒweɪ/
a corridor or narrow way allowing passage between places
patronship
C2+
/ˈpeɪtrənʃɪp/
the position or function of a patron
peddle
C2+
/ˈpɛdəl/
to sell goods, especially in small quantities by going from place to place
pessimal
C2+
/ˈpɛsɪməl/
least favorable or worst possible, the opposite of optimal
phylum
C2+
/ˈfaɪləm/
a principal taxonomic category ranking above class and below kingdom
pillar
C2+
/ˈpɪlɚ/
an upright vertical support, or a person regarded as a mainstay
plunk
C2+
/plʌŋk/
to set down or drop heavily; a dull abrupt sound
polar
C2+
/ˈpoʊlɚ/
relating to the North or South Pole; directly opposite in character
pressive
C2+
/ˈprɛsɪv/
tending to press; oppressive or weighing down (rare)
presumptuous
C2+
/prɪˈzʌmptʃuəs/
overstepping due bounds; arrogantly bold or forward
propinquity
C2+
/prəˈpɪŋkwɪti/
nearness in place, time, or relationship; proximity
propone
C2+
/prəˈpoʊn/
to propose or put forward, especially formally in Scots law
proscenium
C2+
/proʊˈsiniəm/
the part of a theatre stage in front of the curtain, or its framing arch
pseudonym
C2+
/ˈsudəˌnɪm/
a fictitious name used by an author in place of their real one
quits
C2+
/kwɪts/
on even terms with someone, owing nothing to either side
rearward
C2+
/ˈrɪrwɚd/
toward or at the back; situated to the rear
recede
C2+
/rɪˈsid/
to move back or away; to grow fainter or more distant
recline
C2+
/rɪˈklaɪn/
to lean or lie back in a relaxed position
recoil
C2+
/rɪˈkɔɪl/
to draw back suddenly in fear or disgust; the backward kick of a gun
refraction
C2+
/rɪˈfrækʃən/
the bending of light or other waves as they pass between media
regurgitate
C2+
/rɪˈɡɝdʒɪˌteɪt/
to bring swallowed food back up; to repeat information uncritically
rehappen
C2+
/riˈhæpən/
to occur or take place again
relegation
C2+
/ˌrɛləˈɡeɪʃən/
the act of consigning to a lower rank, position, or division
relentless
C2+
/rɪˈlɛntləs/
unceasingly harsh, intense, or determined; never letting up
remanent
C2+
/ˈrɛmənənt/
remaining or residual, especially of magnetism left in a material
repulse
C2+
/rɪˈpʌls/
to drive back or fend off; to cause distaste or revulsion in
resolvent
C2+
/rɪˈzɑlvənt/
having power to dissolve or break down; a substance or agent that does so
restorable
C2+
/rɪˈstɔrəbəl/
capable of being brought back to a former or original condition
retainer
C2+
/rɪˈteɪnɚ/
a fee paid to secure services; a servant or device that holds something in place
retrieval
C2+
/rɪˈtrivəl/
the act of getting back or recovering something, especially stored data
retrogress
C2+
/ˌrɛtrəˈɡrɛs/
to move backward to an earlier or worse state; to decline
riser
C2+
/ˈraɪzɚ/
the vertical part of a stair step; one who rises, as from bed
roadblock
C2+
/ˈroʊdˌblɑk/
a barrier across a road; an obstacle to progress
roust
C2+
/raʊst/
to rouse or stir up, often roughly; to drive out
rulership
C2+
/ˈrulɚˌʃɪp/
the position or authority of a ruler; dominion
sacking
C2+
/ˈsækɪŋ/
coarse fabric used to make sacks; dismissal from a job; plunder of a place
sally
C2+
/ˈsæli/
a sudden rush forward, especially a sortie; a witty remark; to rush out
sash
C2+
/sæʃ/
a band of cloth worn around the waist or over the shoulder; a window frame
scrip
C2+
/skrɪp/
a provisional certificate or token issued in place of money or stock
shyness
C2+
/ˈʃaɪnəs/
the quality of being timid or reserved around others
sinecure
C2+
/ˈsaɪnɪkjʊr/
a position requiring little or no work but giving pay or status
sojourn
C2+
/ˈsoʊdʒɜrn/
a temporary stay in a place
southbound
C2+
/ˈsaʊθbaʊnd/
traveling or directed toward the south
squinch
C2+
/skwɪntʃ/
to screw up the eyes or face, or an arch across an interior corner
stoop
C2+
/stup/
to bend the body forward and down, or a small front porch
suitability
C2+
/ˌsutəˈbɪləti/
the quality of being right or appropriate for a particular purpose
sundown
C2+
/ˈsʌndaʊn/
the time in the evening when the sun disappears below the horizon; sunset
supercilium
C2+
/ˌsupɚˈsɪliəm/
the eyebrow, or a stripe of feathers above a bird's eye
supervisory
C2+
/ˈsupɚˌvaɪzɚi/
relating to the oversight or direction of work and workers
suppression
C2+
/səˈprɛʃən/
the act of putting an end to something forcibly or holding it back
symmetry
C2+
/ˈsɪmətri/
balanced and proportionate similarity between the parts of something
terrapin
C2+
/ˈtɛrəpɪn/
a small edible freshwater turtle of North America
thence
C2+
/ðɛns/
from that place or source; for that reason
thoroughfare
C2+
/ˈθɝoʊˌfɛr/
a main road or public passage through a place
topographic
C2+
/ˌtɑpəˈɡræfɪk/
relating to the detailed mapping of the features of a place
traditionary
C2+
/trəˈdɪʃəˌnɛri/
archaic term meaning handed down by tradition; traditional
transferal
C2+
/trænsˈfɝəl/
the act of moving something from one place or person to another
transferee
C2+
/ˌtrænsfɝˈi/
a person to whom something, such as property or a right, is transferred
transposition
C2+
/ˌtrænspəˈzɪʃən/
the act of switching the order or position of two things
tribalist
C2+
/ˈtraɪbəlɪst/
a person who favors loyalty to their own group above all else
uncoil
C2+
/ʌnˈkɔɪl/
to unwind or release from a coiled position
undeveloped
C2+
/ˌʌndɪˈvɛləpt/
not built up, matured, or fully formed
unrelentingly
C2+
/ˌʌnrɪˈlɛntɪŋli/
without easing or letting up; relentlessly
unroll
C2+
/ʌnˈroʊl/
to open out something that is rolled up
unsay
C2+
/ʌnˈseɪ/
to retract or take back something said
upraise
C2+
/ʌpˈreɪz/
to raise or lift up
uprise
C2+
/ʌpˈraɪz/
to rise up or ascend; an act of rising
uprouse
C2+
/ʌpˈraʊz/
to rouse up; to stir into action or wakefulness
uptake
C2+
/ˈʌpˌteɪk/
the act of taking up or absorbing; comprehension