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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54 words
renaissance
C2+
/ˈɹɛnəˌsɑns/
Any similar artistic or intellectual revival.
temperance
C2+
/ˈtɛmpəɹəns/
Habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence.
treble
C2+
/ˈtɹɛbəl/
three times as great or many
unearth
C2+
/ʌnˈɜː(ɹ)θ/
bring to light
pursuant
C2+
/pɚˈsu.ənt/
That pursues.
saturate
C2+
/ˈsatjʊɹeɪt/
To cause to become completely permeated with, or soaked (especially with a liquid).
self-styled
C2+
as claimed by and for yourself often without justification
mendicant
C2+
/ˈmɛn.dɪ.kənt/
practicing beggary
suppliant
C2+
/ˈsʌpliənt/
humbly entreating
factitious
C2+
/fækˈtɪʃəs/
not produced by natural forces
macerate
C2+
/ˈmæs.ə.ɹeɪt/
soften, usually by steeping in liquid, and cause to disintegrate as a result
emaciate
C2+
/ɪˈmeɪ̯.ʃiˌeɪ̯t/
grow weak and thin or waste away physically
maculate
C2+
/ˈmækjʊleɪt/
To spot; to stain; to blur.
first-nighter
C2+
/ˌfɝːstˈnaɪtɚ/
a person who regularly attends the opening nights of plays or other theatrical productions
duet
C2+
/duˈɛt/
a musical composition or performance for two performers
bop
C2+
/bɑp/
to hit lightly; to dance to popular music; a style of jazz
graphical
C2+
/ˈɡræfɪkəl/
relating to visual art or to vivid, detailed depiction
accompaniment
C2+
/əˈkʌmpənimənt/
something that accompanies, especially music supporting a soloist
docent
C2+
/ˈdoʊsənt/
a guide who leads tours and explains exhibits at a museum or gallery
suspire
C2+
/səˈspaɪər/
to breathe out or sigh; to draw breath
thespian
C2+
/ˈθɛspiən/
an actor or actress; relating to drama and the theatre
cakewalk
C2+
/ˈkeɪkˌwɔk/
something easily accomplished; a strutting dance of African American origin
joss
C2+
/ˈdʒɑs/
a Chinese idol or cult image; luck or fortune
abstractionist
C2+
/æbˈstrækʃənɪst/
an artist who works in abstract forms rather than representation
artiste
C2+
/ɑrˈtist/
a professional performing artist, especially a singer, dancer, or entertainer
cartography
C2+
/kɑrˈtɑɡrəfi/
the science and art of making maps
cartoonist
C2+
/kɑrˈtunɪst/
an artist who draws cartoons or comic strips
chorus
C2+
/ˈkɔrəs/
a group of singers, or a refrain repeated in a song
coincidental
C2+
/koʊˌɪnsɪˈdɛntəl/
happening by chance rather than by design
dirge
C2+
/dɝdʒ/
a mournful song or lament for the dead
educe
C2+
/ɪˈdus/
to draw out or elicit something latent
horticulture
C2+
/ˈhɔrtəˌkʌltʃɚ/
the art and science of cultivating gardens, fruits, vegetables, and flowers
instrumentation
C2+
/ˌɪnstrəmɛnˈteɪʃən/
the arrangement of music for instruments, or the set of instruments used in a system
masterwork
C2+
/ˈmæstərˌwɝk/
a masterpiece; the finest work an artist or craftsman produces
modernistic
C2+
/ˌmɑdərˈnɪstɪk/
characteristic of modern styles or modernism, especially in art and design
musically
C2+
/ˈmjuzɪkli/
in a manner relating to or resembling music
nonhomogeneity
C2+
/ˌnɑnˌhoʊmədʒəˈniəti/
lack of uniformity in composition or structure
nonmusical
C2+
/nɑnˈmjuzɪkəl/
not relating to or involving music; unmusical
poetic
C2+
/poʊˈɛtɪk/
relating to or having the qualities of poetry
theatric
C2+
/θiˈætrɪk/
relating to the theatre or exaggerated, dramatic display
tuneful
C2+
/ˈtuːnfəl/
having a pleasant melody; melodious
wizardry
C2+
/ˈwɪz.ɚd.ri/
the art or practice of magic, or great skill in some activity
choregus
C2+
/kəˈɹiː.ɡəs/
in ancient Greece, a wealthy citizen who financed and supervised a chorus for a public dramatic or musical performance
clarin
C2+
/kləˈriːn/
historical: a very long, trumpetlike wind instrument of Indigenous Mexico; the acocotl type is sounded by drawing air inward through its mouthpiece
rhapsodist
C2+
/ˈɹæpsədɪst/
a reciter or interpreter of epic or other poetry; a rhapsode
alto-relievo
C2+
/ˌæl.toʊ.rəˈliː.voʊ/
high relief: sculpture in which figures project strongly from the background
panharmonic
C2+
/ˌpæn.hɑɹˈmɑn.ɪk/
music: adapted to, employing, or ranging across all harmonies or musical modes
canzonet
C2+
/ˌkænzəˈnɛt/
a short, light song or a brief lyrical composition
melodeum
C2+
/məˈloʊdiəm/
historical, music: a small keyboard reed organ; a rare form related to melodeon
teponaztli
C2+
/te.poˈnaːst͡ɬi/
a hollow wooden slit drum of central Mexico, especially associated with Aztec and related cultures, sounded by striking two carved tongues
fiddlebow
C2+
/ˈfɪdəlˌboʊ/
a bow used to sound the strings of a fiddle or violin
enchase
C2+
/ɪnˈtʃeɪs/
historical: to set a gemstone or another ornament into a mounting
entr'acte
C2+
/ˈɑnˌtɹækt/
an interval between two acts of a play, opera, or other theatrical performance
terribilità
C2+
/ˌtɛr.əˌbɪl.əˈtɑː/
art history: an awe-inspiring expression of powerful will, grandeur, and formidable or angry force, especially associated with Michelangelo's work