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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
gunstock
C2+
/ˈɡʌnˌstɑk/
the wooden support to which a gun's barrel and mechanism are fixed
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ha
C2+
/ˈhɑ/
used to express surprise, triumph, or laughter
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halo
C2+
/ˈheɪloʊ/
a ring of light around the head of a sacred figure or a luminous circle in the sky
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handfast
C2+
/ˈhændˌfæst/
a betrothal or marriage sealed by clasping hands; to pledge thus
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hardtack
C2+
/ˈhɑːrdˌtæk/
a hard biscuit made of flour and water, used as rations at sea or on campaign
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hatbrim
C2+
/ˈhætˌbrɪm/
the projecting edge or rim of a hat
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headstone
C2+
/ˈhɛdˌstoʊn/
a stone marker set at the head of a grave
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heartbeat
C2+
/ˈhɑːrtˌbiːt/
a single pulsation of the heart; a moment or animating force
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heck
C2+
/hɛk/
a mild exclamation of surprise, irritation, or emphasis
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heft
C2+
/hɛft/
weight or heaviness; to lift or test the weight of something
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hidrosis
C2+
/haɪˈdroʊsɪs/
the secretion of sweat, especially in abnormal amounts
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hierarch
C2+
/ˈhaɪəˌrɑːrk/
a chief priest or high-ranking official in a hierarchy
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ho
C2+
/hoʊ/
an exclamation used to attract attention or express surprise
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hoodie
C2+
/ˈhʊdi/
a hooded sweatshirt
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hoot
C2+
/hut/
a cry of an owl or a shout of derision or amusement
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hovel
C2+
/ˈhʌvəl/
a small, squalid, or wretched dwelling
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huff
C2+
/hʌf/
a fit of petty annoyance or to blow with puffs of breath
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huh
C2+
/hʌ/
used to express surprise, confusion, or to invite agreement
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illfare
C2+
/ˈɪlˌfɛr/
misfortune, hardship, or distress; the opposite of welfare
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impasse
C2+
/ˈɪmpæs/
a deadlock or situation from which there is no escape
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impetus
C2+
/ˈɪmpətəs/
a driving force or stimulus that makes something happen
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imprint
C2+
/ˈɪmprɪnt/
a mark made by pressure, or a lasting impression or effect
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ineptitude
C2+
/ɪnˈɛptɪtud/
lack of skill or competence; clumsiness
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inflood
C2+
/ˈɪnflʌd/
a flowing in; an influx or inundation
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inkle
C2+
/ˈɪŋkəl/
a kind of linen tape, or the thread from which it is woven
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inrush
C2+
/ˈɪnˌrʌʃ/
a sudden rushing in or influx
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intermezzo
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˈmɛtsoʊ/
a short musical or dramatic piece performed between larger movements or acts
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interregnum
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˈrɛɡnəm/
an interval between two reigns or governments; a pause in continuity
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intrigue
C2+
/ɪnˈtriɡ/
secret scheming or plotting; to arouse curiosity or interest
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jape
C2+
/dʒeɪp/
a practical joke or jest
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journalese
C2+
/ˌdʒɜrnəˈliz/
the clichéd, sensational style of writing typical of newspapers
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juju
C2+
/ˈdʒudʒu/
a charm or fetish believed to hold magical power
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jumble
C2+
/ˈdʒʌmbəl/
a confused, disordered mixture of things
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k
C2+
/keɪ/
the eleventh letter of the English alphabet
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kamikaze
C2+
/ˌkɑmɪˈkɑzi/
a reckless suicidal attack or attacker, especially a WWII pilot
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kilocalorie
C2+
/ˈkɪloʊˌkæləri/
a unit of energy equal to one thousand calories
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kink
C2+
/kɪŋk/
a sharp twist or bend in a rope, hair, or line
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kiosk
C2+
/ˈkiˌɑsk/
a small open-fronted booth for selling goods or providing information
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knickknack
C2+
/ˈnɪkˌnæk/
a small worthless ornament or trinket
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knockoff
C2+
/ˈnɑkˌɔf/
a cheap imitation of a popular branded product
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labium
C2+
/ˈleɪbiəm/
a lip or liplike structure in anatomy or botany
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lagniappe
C2+
/ˈlænˌjæp/
a small gift given with a purchase; an unexpected extra
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laird
C2+
/lɛrd/
a Scottish landed proprietor or lord of an estate
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lancet
C2+
/ˈlænsɪt/
a small sharp two-edged surgical knife
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lath
C2+
/læθ/
a thin narrow strip of wood used as a base for plaster or tiles
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laughingstock
C2+
/ˈlæfɪŋˌstɑk/
an object of general ridicule
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lectern
C2+
/ˈlɛktɚn/
a tall stand with a sloped top for holding a book or notes for a speaker
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lede
C2+
/lid/
the opening sentence or paragraph of a news story summarizing its essence
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lingerie
C2+
/ˌlɑnʒəˈreɪ/
women's underwear and nightclothes, especially of a delicate kind
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liqueur
C2+
/lɪˈkɝ/
a strong, sweet, often flavored alcoholic spirit
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mantle
C2+
/ˈmæntəl/
a loose sleeveless cloak; or a role or responsibility passed on
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manus
C2+
/ˈmeɪnəs/
the hand or its anatomical equivalent in vertebrates
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mart
C2+
/mɑrt/
a market or trading center
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masquerade
C2+
/ˌmæskəˈreɪd/
a costumed ball with masks; or a false outward show
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mese
C2+
/ˈmizi/
the central note of the ancient Greek musical scale
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midafternoon
C2+
/ˌmɪdˌæftərˈnun/
the middle part of the afternoon
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millpond
C2+
/ˈmɪlˌpɑnd/
a pool of water held to drive a mill wheel; a very calm surface
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min
C2+
/mɪn/
an abbreviation for minute or minimum
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mirage
C2+
/məˈrɑʒ/
an optical illusion of water or objects, especially in deserts; a delusion
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misbelief
C2+
/ˌmɪsbəˈlif/
a wrong or false belief; a heretical opinion
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mitt
C2+
/mɪt/
a padded glove, especially one used in baseball
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moonrise
C2+
/ˈmunˌraɪz/
the rising of the moon above the horizon, or the time it occurs
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mores
C2+
/ˈmɔreɪz/
the customs and moral conventions of a community
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mush
C2+
/mʌʃ/
a soft, pulpy mass, or sentimental nonsense
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nat
C2+
/næt/
a nature spirit in Burmese folk belief
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nexus
C2+
/ˈnɛksəs/
a connection or link; a central or focal point
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nightfall
C2+
/ˈnaɪtˌfɔl/
the onset of darkness; dusk
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node
C2+
/noʊd/
a point of connection, intersection, or swelling
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nonforfeiture
C2+
/ˌnɑnˈfɔrfətʃər/
the retention of value or rights that would otherwise be forfeited
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noumenon
C2+
/ˈnuməˌnɑn/
a thing as it is in itself, independent of perception (Kantian)
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nuptials
C2+
/ˈnʌpʃəlz/
a wedding or marriage ceremony
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odontalgia
C2+
/ˌoʊdɑnˈtældʒə/
toothache; pain in a tooth or the teeth
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omen
C2+
/ˈoʊmən/
a sign or event regarded as foretelling good or bad fortune
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onrush
C2+
/ˈɑnrʌʃ/
a sudden surging or forward rush of something
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onslaught
C2+
/ˈɑnslɔt/
a fierce or violent attack, or an overwhelming quantity of something
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opprobrium
C2+
/əˈproʊbriəm/
harsh public disgrace or scorn arising from shameful conduct
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otalgia
C2+
/oʊˈtældʒə/
earache; pain in the ear
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p
C2+
/ˈpi/
the sixteenth letter of the English alphabet
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packsack
C2+
/ˈpæksæk/
a bag carried on the back for transporting supplies, a knapsack
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palpebra
C2+
/ˈpælpɪbrə/
an eyelid, in anatomical terminology
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panache
C2+
/pəˈnɑʃ/
flamboyant confidence of style or manner
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pandemonium
C2+
/ˌpændəˈmoʊniəm/
wild and noisy disorder or confusion
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par
C2+
/ˈpɑr/
an accepted average or standard level; the standard score in golf
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parentage
C2+
/ˈpɛrəntɪdʒ/
the identity and origins of one's parents; ancestry
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parson
C2+
/ˈpɑrsən/
a parish priest or clergyman
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pentagram
C2+
/ˈpɛntəgræm/
a five-pointed star drawn in continuous lines, often symbolic
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periplus
C2+
/ˈpɛrɪpləs/
an ancient narrative account of a coastal voyage listing ports and landmarks
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placard
C2+
/ˈplækɑrd/
a printed sign or notice for public display; to post such notices
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platitude
C2+
/ˈplætəˌtud/
a trite or overused remark presented as though it were original or profound
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playfellow
C2+
/ˈpleɪˌfɛloʊ/
a companion in play; a playmate
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plethora
C2+
/ˈplɛθərə/
an excessive or overabundant amount of something
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plumelet
C2+
/ˈpluːmlɪt/
a small plume or tuft of feathers
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porcupine
C2+
/ˈpɔrkjəˌpaɪn/
a large rodent covered with protective quills or spines
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postbox
C2+
/ˈpoʊstˌbɑks/
a public box into which letters are placed for collection by the post office
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prank
C2+
/præŋk/
a playful or mischievous trick; to play such a trick
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preverb
C2+
/ˈpriˌvɝb/
a prefix or particle placed before a verb to modify its meaning
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