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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

/ɪnˈdʒʊriəs/ causing or likely to cause harm or damage Meaning Off Sound Off

/ɪnˈsɛnseɪt/ lacking physical sensation or feeling; unfeeling Meaning Off Sound Off

intemperate C2+

/ɪnˈtɛmpərət/ lacking moderation, especially in indulgence or speech Meaning Off Sound Off

interrogatory C2+

/ˌɪntəˈrɑɡətɔri/ having the form of a question; also a formal written question in law Meaning Off Sound Off

/aɪˈrɑnɪkəl/ expressing or characterized by irony Meaning Off Sound Off

irregularly C2+

/ɪˈrɛɡjələrli/ in a manner lacking regular pattern, order, or shape Meaning Off Sound Off

irreligious C2+

/ˌɪrɪˈlɪdʒəs/ indifferent or hostile to religion Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈdʒɑkjələr/ fond of joking; humorous or playful Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈkɪkɪŋ/ striking with the foot; informally, lively or still active Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈlæfəbəl/ so ridiculous as to be amusing; absurd Meaning Off Sound Off

legitimately C2+

/ləˈdʒɪtəmətli/ in a way that conforms to law or accepted standards; justifiably Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈliniənt/ merciful or tolerant, especially in punishment Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈlɪtərət/ able to read and write; well educated Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈlʌsti/ healthy, strong, and full of vigor Meaning Off Sound Off

/lʌɡˈʒʊriənt/ growing thickly and abundantly; lush Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈmænəfɛstli/ in a way that is clear or obvious to the mind or eye Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈmætʃləs/ so good as to have no equal; incomparable Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈmizli/ contemptibly small or meager Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈmɛloʊ/ soft, rich, and pleasantly smooth; relaxed and genial Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈmaɪndfəl/ conscious or aware of something; attentive Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈmɪnəskjul/ extremely small; tiny Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈmoʊldəbəl/ capable of being shaped or formed Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈmoʊtəl/ capable of independent movement Meaning Off Sound Off

/mjuˈnɪfəsənt/ larger or more generous than is usual or necessary Meaning Off Sound Off

/mjut/ refraining from or unable to produce speech or sound Meaning Off Sound Off

/nɑnˈæktɪv/ not active or operative Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈblɪɡəˌtɔri/ required by a rule, law, or custom; compulsory Meaning Off Sound Off

/əbˈzɝvənt/ quick to notice things; attentive Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɔfɪʃ/ aloof or distant in manner; standoffish Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈoʊldən/ of or relating to a former age; bygone Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɑpərətɪv/ functioning or having effect; in operation Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌaʊtˈdeɪtəd/ no longer current or useful; obsolete Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈaʊtˌraɪt/ wholly and completely; without reservation Meaning Off Sound Off

/pəˈθɛtɪk/ arousing pity, or contemptibly inadequate Meaning Off Sound Off

perceptible C2+

/pɚˈsɛptəbəl/ able to be seen or noticed; discernible Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈfoʊni/ not genuine; fraudulent or fake Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈpikənt/ pleasantly sharp or appetizing in taste, or stimulating to the mind Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈpɑləˌtɪk/ prudent and shrewd in pursuing a sensible course; expedient Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈpʊrli/ in a substandard manner, or in poor health Meaning Off Sound Off

precipitous C2+

/prɪˈsɪpətəs/ dangerously high or steep, or done suddenly and hastily Meaning Off Sound Off

predominant C2+

/prɪˈdɑmənənt/ present as the strongest or main element; prevailing Meaning Off Sound Off

pretentious C2+

/prɪˈtɛnʃəs/ attempting to impress by affecting greater importance than is warranted Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈprɑdɪɡəl/ recklessly wasteful or extravagant with resources Meaning Off Sound Off

/proʊˈlɪks/ tediously lengthy and wordy in speech or writing Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈprɑksəmət/ closest in space, time, or relationship; immediate Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈpɝpəsɪv/ having or showing conscious purpose; deliberate Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈrɛstləs/ unable to rest or relax; constantly moving or uneasy Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈraɪətəs/ marked by wild disorder, or boisterously merry Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈrʌni/ more liquid than is usual or expected; tending to flow Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈsɛvərəli/ separately or individually; each in turn Meaning Off Sound Off

/səˈlɪsətəs/ showing attentive care or concern for someone's well-being Meaning Off Sound Off

standoffish C2+

/ˌstænˈdɔfɪʃ/ distant and unfriendly in manner; aloof Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈstɝdi/ strongly and solidly built; robust Meaning Off Sound Off

substantive C2+

/ˈsʌbstəntɪv/ having a firm basis in reality; important and meaningful Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈsʌfərəbəl/ able to be endured or tolerated; bearable Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtɛmpərəl/ relating to time or to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtɛnəntləs/ having no tenant or occupant; vacant Meaning Off Sound Off

therapeutic C2+

/ˌθɛrəˈpjutɪk/ relating to the healing or curing of disease; soothing Meaning Off Sound Off

transiently C2+

/ˈtrænʃəntli/ in a way that lasts only a short time Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈtrænsɪtɔri/ not permanent; lasting only a brief while Meaning Off Sound Off

/ʌnˈkɑmənli/ to an unusual degree; remarkably Meaning Off Sound Off

/ʌnˈlʌkɪli/ by bad luck; unfortunately Meaning Off Sound Off

/ʌnˈmætʃt/ not equalled or surpassed; without an equal Meaning Off Sound Off

/ʌnˈmɪkst/ not mixed with anything else; pure or unalloyed Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌʌnspəˈsɪfɪk/ not definite or precise; vague Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈjuːzəbəl/ able to be used; fit for use Meaning Off Sound Off

/vərˈboʊs/ using or containing more words than are needed Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈwɛstərli/ situated toward or coming from the west Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈwɑbli/ tending to move unsteadily from side to side; shaky Meaning Off Sound Off

/wɔnt/ accustomed or in the habit of doing something Meaning Off Sound Off

/æbˈstræktli/ in a theoretical or non-concrete way Meaning Off Sound Off

/əkˈsɛptəbli/ in a way that is satisfactory or adequate Meaning Off Sound Off

adventitious C2+

/ˌædvɛnˈtɪʃəs/ arising from an external or accidental cause rather than inherently Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈfɛktɪv/ relating to moods, feelings, and emotions Meaning Off Sound Off

affirmative C2+

/əˈfɜrmətɪv/ asserting that something is true; expressing agreement Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈflʌtər/ in a state of nervous or excited agitation Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈfʊt/ in the process of happening or being planned Meaning Off Sound Off

/æft/ at, near, or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈɡeɪp/ with the mouth wide open in wonder; also selfless Christian love Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɔːlɡeɪt/ archaic: always, in any case, or nevertheless Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɔltərəbəl/ capable of being changed or modified Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈæmətʃʊrɪʃ/ done in an unskilled or unprofessional way Meaning Off Sound Off

/æmˈbroʊʒəl/ exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; worthy of the gods Meaning Off Sound Off

amplificatory C2+

/æmˈplɪfɪkəˌtɔri/ serving to enlarge, expand, or amplify Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈnɑn/ archaic: soon, shortly, or in a little while Meaning Off Sound Off

/ænˈtɪriər/ situated before or toward the front; earlier in time Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɛniweɪz/ informal or dialectal variant of anyway; in any case Meaning Off Sound Off

apocalyptic C2+

/əˌpɑkəˈlɪptɪk/ foretelling or resembling a momentous, catastrophic end Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌæpəˈplɛktɪk/ overcome with rage; furious to the point of seeming illness Meaning Off Sound Off

argumentative C2+

/ˌɑrɡjəˈmɛntətɪv/ given to arguing; fond of disputing Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˈɑrtləs/ free from deceit or guile; naturally simple and sincere Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈstɝ/ in a state of motion, excitement, or activity Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌæstrəˈnɑmɪk/ relating to astronomy, or enormously large in amount Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈstut/ shrewd and perceptive, especially to one's advantage Meaning Off Sound Off

/əˈθɝst/ keenly eager or longing; thirsty Meaning Off Sound Off

/ˌeɪˈtɪpɪkli/ in a way that is not typical or usual Meaning Off Sound Off

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