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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2203 words
ahem
C2+
/əˈhɛm/
To cough or clear one's throat so as to draw attention.
half-hour
C2+
/ˈhæˌfaʊɝ/
The time of thirty minutes past any particular hour.
pilgrimage
C2+
/ˈpɪlɡɹɪmɪd͡ʒ/
A journey made to a sacred place, or a religious journey.
man-made
C2+
/ˈmænˌmeɪd/
not of natural origin
rabble
C2+
/ˈɹæbəl/
The mass of common people; the lowest class of populace.
self-defence
C2+
/ˌsɛlfdɪˈfɛns/
the act of defending yourself
three-dimensional
C2+
/ˌθriːzdɪˈmɛnʃənəl/
Lifelike.
self-preservation
C2+
/ˌsɛlfˌpɹɛzɜˈɹ.veɪ.ʃən/
The instinctive behaviour that protects oneself from harm.
broken-down
C2+
/ˌbroʊkənˈdaʊn/
no longer working because of mechanical failure
non-existent
C2+
/ˌnɑːnəgˈzɪstənt/
Alternative spelling of nonexistent.
self-interest
C2+
/ˌsɛlˈfɪntəˌrɛst/
One's personal interest or advantage, especially when pursued without regard for others.
one-legged
C2+
/ˈwʌnˌlɛɡəd/
having only one leg or only one functioning leg
parasol
C2+
/ˈpɛɹəˌsɑl/
To protect with, or as if with, a parasol; to shade.
afire
C2+
/əˈfaɪɚ/
lighted up by or as by fire or flame
self-contained
C2+
/ˈsɛlfkənˈteɪnd/
constituting a complete and independent unit in and of itself
contra
C2+
/ˈkɑntɹə/
Contrary to something.
half-dozen
C2+
/ˈhæfˌdəzən/
denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units
chock-full
C2+
/ˌtʃɑːkˈfʊl/
completely full or crowded, usually followed by of
banality
C2+
/bəˈnælɪti/
The quality of being banal.
sectarian
C2+
/sɛkˈtɛɹi.ən/
belonging to or characteristic of a sect
afeard
C2+
/əˈfɪə(ɹ)d/
Afraid.
gormless
C2+
/ˈɡɔːmləs/
British informal: lacking intelligence, sense, or initiative
canty
C2+
/ˈkænti/
lively; cheerful; merry; brisk
above-mentioned
C2+
/əˈbʌvˌmɛnʃn̩d/
mentioned or named earlier in the same text
distaff
C2+
/ˈdɪstæf/
Of, relating to, or characteristic of women.
worm-eaten
C2+
/ˈwɝːmˌiːtən/
eaten, bored into, or damaged by worms or insect larvae
blue-black
C2+
/ˈbluːˌblæk/
black with a blue tint or sheen
stingless
C2+
/ˈstɪŋləs/
having no sting or no functional stinging organ
vermiform
C2+
/ˈvɜː(ɹ)mɪfɔː(ɹ)m/
resembling a worm
longsword
C2+
/ˈlɔŋsɔɹd/
Any type of sword that is comparatively long; depending on context, applied to swords of the Bronze Age, Migration period, Viking Age and Renaissance era.
askant
C2+
/əˈskænt/
(used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy
fluey
C2+
/ˈfluːi/
covered with, containing, or resembling loose fluff, lint, or down; obsolete
above-named
C2+
/əˈbʌvˌneɪmd/
Mentioned or named before; aforesaid.
agait
C2+
/əˈɡeɪt/
afoot, in progress, in motion.
planless
C2+
/ˈplænləs/
lacking a plan, direction, or organized purpose
adust
C2+
/əˈdʌst/
burned brown by the sun
echoless
C2+
/ˈɛkoʊləs/
having or producing no echo
halloa
C2+
/hæˈloʊ/
To utter an exclamation of "halloa".
unaging
C2+
/ʌnˈeɪdʒɪŋ/
not growing old or showing the effects of age
unswallowed
C2+
/ʌnˈswɑloʊd/
not swallowed; still remaining in the mouth or throat
ensiform
C2+
/ˈɛnsəˌfɔɹm/
shaped like a sword blade
ferine
C2+
/ˈfɪəraɪn/
literary: wild, untamed, or characteristic of a wild animal
appraise
C2+
/əˈpreɪz/
to assess the value or quality of something
aberrant
C2+
/æˈbɛɹənt/
departing from an accepted standard or normal type
airy
C2+
/ˈɛɹi/
spacious and well-ventilated; light or insubstantial
atrabiliary
C2+
/ˌætrəˈbɪliˌɛɹi/
melancholic or ill-tempered; pertaining to black bile
atrabilious
C2+
/ˌætrəˈbɪliəs/
melancholy, gloomy, or bad-tempered
arrant
C2+
/ˈæɹənt/
utter and complete, used to emphasize something bad
demonic
C2+
/dɪˈmɑnɪk/
of or like a demon; fiercely energetic or evil
blissful
C2+
/ˈblɪsfəl/
full of or expressing perfect happiness
crap
C2+
/kræp/
nonsense or worthless rubbish (vulgar)
beatific
C2+
/ˌbiəˈtɪfɪk/
showing or imparting supreme blessedness or serene happiness
dab
C2+
/dæb/
to press lightly with something soft; a small quantity
eldritch
C2+
/ˈɛldrɪtʃ/
weird, sinister, or unearthly in a ghostly way
manifold
C2+
/ˈmænəˌfoʊld/
many and varied; a pipe with several openings
buff
C2+
/bʌf/
an enthusiast; a yellowish-brown color; to polish
chopfallen
C2+
/ˈtʃɑpˌfɔlən/
crestfallen and downcast, with the jaw hanging low
commonplace
C2+
/ˈkɑmənˌpleɪs/
ordinary and unremarkable; a trite or obvious remark
defame
C2+
/dɪˈfeɪm/
to damage the good reputation of someone with false statements
exhaustive
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɔstɪv/
thorough and complete, covering all possibilities
impart
C2+
/ɪmˈpɑɹt/
to communicate information or give a quality to something
agreeably
C2+
/əˈɡriəbli/
in a pleasant or willing manner
becomingly
C2+
/bɪˈkʌmɪŋli/
in a manner that is attractive or fitting
buxom
C2+
/ˈbʌksəm/
plump, full-figured, and healthy-looking, especially of a woman
categorically
C2+
/ˌkætəˈɡɔɹɪkli/
in an absolute and unqualified manner
contemptible
C2+
/kənˈtɛmptəbəl/
deserving scorn or disdain; despicable
defective
C2+
/dɪˈfɛktɪv/
having a fault or imperfection; not working properly
dire
C2+
/daɪɚ/
extremely serious, urgent, or dreadful
exceedingly
C2+
/ɪkˈsidɪŋli/
to a very great extent; extremely
anomalous
C2+
/əˈnɑmələs/
deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected
ardent
C2+
/ˈɑrdnt/
intensely enthusiastic or passionate
booky
C2+
/ˈbʊki/
fond of books or studious; bookish in manner
collected
C2+
/kəˈlɛktɪd/
calm and composed in manner; self-possessed
corny
C2+
/ˈkɔrni/
trite, mawkishly sentimental, or unsophisticatedly humorous
cunning
C2+
/ˈkʌnɪŋ/
skilled in deception or ingenuity; craftiness
defile
C2+
/dɪˈfaɪl/
to make dirty or impure; a narrow mountain pass
dejection
C2+
/dɪˈdʒɛkʃən/
a state of low spirits or melancholy
enigmatic
C2+
/ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk/
mysterious and difficult to interpret or understand
gash
C2+
/ɡæʃ/
a long deep cut or wound; to inflict such a cut
inactive
C2+
/ɪnˈæktɪv/
not active, working, or in operation
incessantly
C2+
/ɪnˈsɛsəntli/
without interruption; continuously
insignificant
C2+
/ˌɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
too small or unimportant to be worth consideration
middling
C2+
/ˈmɪdlɪŋ/
of medium quality, size, or rank; mediocre
pristine
C2+
/ˈprɪstin/
in original, unspoiled condition; spotlessly clean
abate
C2+
/əˈbeɪt/
to become less intense or to lessen in degree
baleful
C2+
/ˈbeɪlfəl/
menacing or threatening harm; full of malign influence
befoul
C2+
/bɪˈfaʊl/
to make dirty or pollute
blithe
C2+
/blaɪð/
cheerfully carefree, often heedless of consequences
busted
C2+
/ˈbʌstɪd/
broken, ruined, or caught in wrongdoing
categorical
C2+
/ˌkætəˈɡɔrɪkəl/
unconditional and absolute; admitting no exception
catholic
C2+
/ˈkæθəlɪk/
broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests; universal
cursory
C2+
/ˈkɜrsəri/
hasty and superficial, lacking thoroughness
disagreeable
C2+
/ˌdɪsəˈɡriəbəl/
unpleasant or bad-tempered
discreet
C2+
/dɪˈskrit/
careful and prudent, especially to avoid causing offence
discrepant
C2+
/dɪˈskrɛpənt/
differing or inconsistent; not in agreement
discrete
C2+
/dɪˈskrit/
individually separate and distinct