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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119 words
scutter
C2+
/ˈskʌtə(ɹ)/
A hasty run.
outfly
C2+
/aʊtˈflaɪ/
to fly better, faster, or further than.
lollop
C2+
/ˈlɒləp/
informal: to move with a clumsy, rolling, or bouncing motion, usually at an unhurried pace
debouch
C2+
/dɪˈbuːʃ/
to emerge from a narrow or enclosed place into a wider, open area
upheave
C2+
/ʌpˈhiːv/
literary or dated: to lift or force something upward powerfully, or to rise in that way
footpace
C2+
/ˈfʊtˌpeɪs/
A walking pace or step.
heave
C2+
/hiv/
to lift or throw with great effort; to rise and fall
daring
C2+
/ˈdɛrɪŋ/
boldly adventurous; willingness to take risks
bumble
C2+
/ˈbʌmbəl/
to move or act in a clumsy, blundering way
extinguish
C2+
/ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
to put out a fire or light; to bring to an end
blunder
C2+
/ˈblʌndɚ/
a careless mistake; (verb) to make such a mistake or move clumsily
coalesce
C2+
/ˌkoʊəˈlɛs/
to come together to form one whole
impenetrable
C2+
/ɪmˈpɛnətrəbəl/
impossible to pass through, enter, or understand
bewreck
C2+
/bɪˈrɛk/
to ruin or bring to ruin
immotile
C2+
/ɪˈmoʊtəl/
incapable of movement; not motile
interchange
C2+
/ˈɪntɚˌtʃeɪndʒ/
a mutual exchange; a junction where roads meet and cross
ambulatory
C2+
/ˈæmbjələtɔːri/
relating to or able to walk; a covered walkway
clump
C2+
/klʌmp/
a compact cluster or mass; to walk with a heavy tread
disassemble
C2+
/ˌdɪsəˈsɛmbəl/
to take apart into separate pieces
forerunner
C2+
/ˈfɔrˌrʌnər/
a predecessor or early sign of something to come
lug
C2+
/lʌɡ/
to carry or drag with great effort; also a projecting handle
lurch
C2+
/lɜrtʃ/
to make a sudden, unsteady movement
astir
C2+
/əˈstɝ/
in a state of motion, excitement, or activity
audacious
C2+
/ɔˈdeɪʃəs/
showing bold or daring willingness to take risks
celerity
C2+
/səˈlɛrəti/
swiftness of movement or action; speed
effectuate
C2+
/ɪˈfɛktʃueɪt/
to cause to happen; to bring about or accomplish
forego
C2+
/fɔrˈɡoʊ/
to go before or precede; to abstain from (variant of forgo)
grovel
C2+
/ˈɡrʌvəl/
to behave in a servile way; to crawl abjectly
lag
C2+
/læɡ/
to fall behind or move slowly; a delay between events
negligence
C2+
/ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəns/
failure to take proper or reasonable care
obstruct
C2+
/əbˈstrʌkt/
to block or hinder the passage, movement, or progress of
omit
C2+
/oʊˈmɪt/
to leave out or exclude, either deliberately or by oversight
outrun
C2+
/aʊtˈrʌn/
to run faster or farther than; to escape or exceed
regress
C2+
/rɪˈɡrɛs/
to return to a former, usually worse or less developed state
reunite
C2+
/ˌriuˈnaɪt/
to bring or come together again after separation
scamper
C2+
/ˈskæmpər/
to run with quick, light, hurried steps
trespass
C2+
/ˈtrɛspəs/
to enter property unlawfully; a wrongful or sinful act
adventuresome
C2+
/ædˈvɛntʃɚsəm/
inclined to take risks; venturesome
avenge
C2+
/əˈvɛndʒ/
to inflict harm in return for a wrong done
bonk
C2+
/bɑŋk/
(informal) to hit, or to suddenly run out of energy in endurance sport
convene
C2+
/kənˈviːn/
to come or bring together for a meeting
crucify
C2+
/ˈkrusəˌfaɪ/
to put to death by nailing to a cross; to criticize harshly
equilibrate
C2+
/ˌikwəˈlɪbreɪt/
to bring into or maintain a state of balance
equilibrize
C2+
/ɪˈkwɪlɪbraɪz/
to bring into equilibrium or balance
feeze
C2+
/fiz/
(dialectal) to drive or beat; a state of agitation or fluster
flop
C2+
/flɑp/
to fall or drop heavily and loosely; also a complete failure
forerun
C2+
/fɔrˈrʌn/
to run ahead of or precede; to be a forerunner of
forthcome
C2+
/fɔrθˈkʌm/
to come forth; to appear or be produced when expected
forthgo
C2+
/fɔrθˈɡoʊ/
to go forth; to proceed or depart
hermitage
C2+
/ˈhɝmɪtɪdʒ/
the dwelling of a hermit or a secluded retreat
hurtle
C2+
/ˈhɝtəl/
to move or rush with great speed and often recklessly
interlock
C2+
/ˌɪntərˈlɑk/
to engage or connect parts so they move together or hold fast
lithe
C2+
/laɪð/
slim, supple, and graceful in movement
mechanics
C2+
/məˈkænɪks/
the science of motion and forces; the practical workings of something
partake
C2+
/pɑrˈteɪk/
to take part in or share in something
reciprocal
C2+
/rɪˈsɪprəkl/
given or done in return; mutual
recurrence
C2+
/rɪˈkɝəns/
a repeated occurrence or return
respire
C2+
/rɪˈspaɪɚ/
to breathe; to take in and expel air
saltation
C2+
/sælˈteɪʃən/
a leaping or sudden abrupt transition or movement
shuffle
C2+
/ˈʃʌfəl/
to walk dragging the feet, or to rearrange a set such as cards
subdue
C2+
/səbˈdu/
to bring under control by force or persuasion
teeter
C2+
/ˈtitɚ/
to move or balance unsteadily; to waver
touchy
C2+
/ˈtʌtʃi/
oversensitive and quick to take offense
translatory
C2+
/ˈtrænsləˌtɔri/
relating to or involving translation, especially motion in a straight line
vagile
C2+
/ˈvædʒəl/
able to move about freely and migrate; not fixed in place (of an organism)
venturesome
C2+
/ˈvɛntʃɚsəm/
willing to take risks; daring and adventurous
vibrator
C2+
/ˈvaɪbreɪtɚ/
a device that produces a vibrating motion
abort
C2+
/əˈbɔrt/
to bring to a premature end before completion
absquatulate
C2+
/æbˈskwɑtʃəleɪt/
to leave abruptly or abscond; to make off
aline
C2+
/əˈlaɪn/
to arrange or bring into a straight line; align
amble
C2+
/ˈæmbəl/
to walk at a slow, leisurely pace
antislavery
C2+
/ˌæntiˈsleɪvəri/
opposed to slavery, or the movement against it
breathable
C2+
/ˈbriðəbəl/
suitable for breathing; of fabric, allowing air to pass through
centralize
C2+
/ˈsɛntrəˌlaɪz/
to bring under a single, central control or authority
crucifix
C2+
/ˈkrusəˌfɪks/
a cross bearing a figure of the crucified Christ
dispel
C2+
/dɪsˈpɛl/
to drive away or cause to vanish, as doubts or fears
dodge
C2+
/dɑdʒ/
to avoid by a sudden movement or by cunning
drip
C2+
/drɪp/
to fall or let fall in drops
elative
C2+
/ˈɛlətɪv/
of a grammatical case expressing motion out of something
emigrate
C2+
/ˈɛməˌɡreɪt/
to leave one's own country to settle permanently in another
fet
C2+
/fɛt/
archaic or dialectal: to fetch or bring
flounder
C2+
/ˈflaʊndɚ/
to struggle clumsily or move helplessly, as in confusion or difficulty
focalize
C2+
/ˈfoʊkəlaɪz/
to bring to a focus or concentrate at a central point
forfare
C2+
/fɔrˈfɛr/
to perish or come to ruin; to fare badly
forthbring
C2+
/fɔrθˈbrɪŋ/
to bring forth, produce, or generate
gambol
C2+
/ˈɡæmbl/
to run or skip about playfully; a frolic
harmonize
C2+
/ˈhɑːrməˌnaɪz/
to bring into agreement or pleasing arrangement; to sing in harmony
hie
C2+
/haɪ/
to go quickly; to hasten (archaic or literary)
immobility
C2+
/ˌɪmoʊˈbɪləti/
the state of being unable to move or be moved
impermeable
C2+
/ɪmˈpɜrmiəbəl/
not allowing fluid to pass through
inure
C2+
/ɪˈnjʊr/
to accustom someone to something unpleasant; to take effect (in law)
juke
C2+
/dʒuk/
to make a deceptive move to dodge an opponent
lissome
C2+
/ˈlɪsəm/
slim, supple, and graceful in movement
meander
C2+
/miˈændər/
to wander aimlessly; or a winding curve of a river or path
migrate
C2+
/ˈmaɪɡreɪt/
to move from one region or habitat to another, often seasonally
misperform
C2+
/ˌmɪspərˈfɔrm/
to perform incorrectly or fail to carry out properly