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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173 words
dialogue
C2+
/ˈdaɪəˌlɔɡ/
A conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals.
whereabouts
C2+
/ˌ(h)wɛəɹəˈbaʊts/
the general location where something is
rum
C2+
/ɹʌm/
A spirit distilled from various preparations of sugarcane, particularly fermented cane sugar and molasses.
shovel
C2+
/ˈʃʊv.əl/
dig with or as if with a shovel
revolt
C2+
/ɹɪˈvoʊlt/
make revolution
unseen
C2+
/ʌnˈsiːn/
Not seen or discovered; invisible.
vista
C2+
/ˈvɪstə/
the visual representation of a region
frenzy
C2+
/ˈfɹɛnzi/
A state of wild activity or panic.
clockwork
C2+
/ˈklɑkwɝk/
A mechanism powered by a coiled spring and regulated by some form of escapement; the power is transmitted through toothed gearwheels and used to drive a mechanical clock, toy, or other device.
muller
C2+
/ˈmʌləɹ/
A machine that mixes clay and sand under a roller for use in preparing a mould for metal casting.
wreath
C2+
/ɹiθ/
Something twisted, intertwined, or curled.
pied
C2+
/paɪd/
Decorated or colored in blotches.
unwelcome
C2+
/ənˈwɛlkəm/
not welcome
minion
C2+
/ˈmɪnjən/
A loyal servant of another, usually a more powerful being.
tentative
C2+
/ˈtɛntətɪv/
unsettled in mind or opinion
optimum
C2+
/ˈɑptɪməm/
most desirable possible under a restriction expressed or implied
short-sighted
C2+
/ˌʃɔrtˈsaɪtəd/
Near-sighted; myopic; unable to focus on distant objects.
forethought
C2+
/ˈfɔː(ɹ)θɔːt/
Thinking beforehand or in advance, planning; prior or previous consideration.
self-knowledge
C2+
/ˌsɛlfˈnɑl.ɪdʒ/
Knowledge or insight into one's own character, abilities, feelings, or motivations; self-understanding.
coiffure
C2+
/kwɑˈfjʊɚ/
To style or arrange hair.
piebald
C2+
/ˈpaɪ.bɔld/
Spotted or blotched, especially in black and white.
telepathist
C2+
/təˈlɛpəθɪst/
a person believed to receive or transmit thoughts directly without using the known senses
indubitable
C2+
/ɪnˈdubɪtəbəl/
Clearly true; providing no possibility of doubt.
preconceive
C2+
/ˌpriːkənˈsiːv/
to form an idea, opinion, or expectation before having sufficient evidence or experience
unreflecting
C2+
/ˌʌn.ɹɪˈflɛk.tɪŋ/
not thinking carefully before acting or speaking
unsuggestible
C2+
/ˌʌnsəˈdʒɛstəbəl/
not readily influenced by suggestion, persuasion, or another person's expectations
heed
C2+
/hiːd/
to pay careful attention to; careful attention
noteworthy
C2+
/ˈnoʊtˌwɝði/
deserving attention because of being remarkable or significant
obstinate
C2+
/ˈɑbstɪnət/
stubbornly refusing to change one's mind
comprehend
C2+
/ˌkɑmprɪˈhɛnd/
to understand fully; to grasp mentally
dexterity
C2+
/dɛkˈstɛrəti/
skill and ease in using the hands or the mind
adjudicate
C2+
/əˈdʒudɪˌkeɪt/
to make a formal judgment on a dispute
conclusive
C2+
/kənˈklusɪv/
settling a matter decisively; leaving no doubt
discernment
C2+
/dɪˈsɚnmənt/
keen perception and good judgment
inapprehensible
C2+
/ˌɪnæprɪˈhɛnsəbəl/
incapable of being grasped or understood by the mind
incognizable
C2+
/ɪnˈkɑɡnɪzəbəl/
not able to be known or perceived by the mind
unambiguous
C2+
/ˌʌnæmˈbɪɡjuəs/
having only one clear meaning; not open to doubt
unambiguously
C2+
/ˌʌnæmˈbɪɡjuəsli/
in a way that admits no doubt or confusion
animalistic
C2+
/ˌænɪməˈlɪstɪk/
characteristic of animals; driven by instinct rather than reason
bethink
C2+
/bɪˈθɪŋk/
to cause oneself to consider or recollect; to call to mind
captivate
C2+
/ˈkæptəˌveɪt/
to attract and hold the attention by charm or beauty
doubtless
C2+
/ˈdaʊtləs/
certainly or very probably; without doubt
empathy
C2+
/ˈɛmpəθi/
the ability to understand and share another's feelings
equate
C2+
/ɪˈkweɪt/
to consider or treat as equivalent or equal
evenhanded
C2+
/ˈivənˈhændɪd/
fair and impartial in treatment or judgment
heedful
C2+
/ˈhidfəl/
paying careful attention; mindful
manifestly
C2+
/ˈmænəfɛstli/
in a way that is clear or obvious to the mind or eye
pamper
C2+
/ˈpæmpɚ/
to indulge with excessive attention, comfort, or kindness
piquant
C2+
/ˈpikənt/
pleasantly sharp or appetizing in taste, or stimulating to the mind
bureaucrat
C2+
/ˈbjʊrəˌkræt/
an official who works by fixed routine without exercising judgment
cognition
C2+
/kɑɡˈnɪʃən/
the mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding
consciously
C2+
/ˈkɑnʃəsli/
with deliberate awareness or intention
daresay
C2+
/ˈdɛrˌseɪ/
to consider very likely; to venture to say
dazed
C2+
/deɪzd/
stunned or bewildered, unable to think clearly
discern
C2+
/dɪˈsɝn/
to perceive or recognize something, often with difficulty
discretionary
C2+
/dɪˈskrɛʃəˌnɛri/
available for use at one's own judgment or choice
doubtlessly
C2+
/ˈdaʊtləsli/
without doubt; certainly
engrossed
C2+
/ɪnˈɡroʊst/
having one's full attention absorbed; deeply occupied
peradventure
C2+
/ˌpɜrədˈvɛntʃər/
perhaps or possibly; uncertainty or doubt (archaic)
percept
C2+
/ˈpɜrsɛpt/
an object or impression perceived by the senses or mind
sane
C2+
/seɪn/
of sound mind; sensible and rational
watchful
C2+
/ˈwɑtʃfəl/
keeping alert attention; observant and vigilant
wis
C2+
/wɪs/
to know or suppose; an archaic verb meaning to be aware
academicism
C2+
/ˌækəˈdɛmɪˌsɪzəm/
rigid adherence to formal conventions in art or thought, often at the expense of originality
accredit
C2+
/əˈkrɛdɪt/
to officially recognize or authorize as meeting a required standard
acrasia
C2+
/əˈkreɪʒə/
weakness of will; acting against one's better judgment
befuddle
C2+
/bɪˈfʌdəl/
to confuse or muddle the mind
clamant
C2+
/ˈklæmənt/
urgent and demanding attention; clamorous
clarification
C2+
/ˌklɛrəfəˈkeɪʃən/
the act of making something clearer or easier to understand
cogitate
C2+
/ˈkɑdʒəˌteɪt/
to think deeply and carefully; to ponder
cognizant
C2+
/ˈkɑɡnəzənt/
having knowledge or awareness of something
conceptual
C2+
/kənˈsɛptʃuəl/
relating to or based on mental concepts or abstract ideas
credulous
C2+
/ˈkrɛdʒələs/
too ready to believe things; easily deceived
disbelieve
C2+
/ˌdɪsbɪˈliv/
to be unable or unwilling to believe something or someone
eternize
C2+
/ɪˈtɜrnaɪz/
to make eternal or immortalize, especially in memory
exertion
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɜrʃən/
physical or mental effort
fastidiously
C2+
/fæˈstɪdiəsli/
in a way that shows careful attention to detail or cleanliness
fixate
C2+
/ˈfɪkseɪt/
to direct attention obsessively, or to make stable
halloo
C2+
/həˈlu/
a shout used to attract attention or to urge on hounds
hesitant
C2+
/ˈhɛzɪtənt/
tentative or unsure; slow to act or decide
inattentive
C2+
/ˌɪnəˈtɛntɪv/
not paying attention; heedless or neglectful
memorious
C2+
/məˈmɔriəs/
having an excellent memory; mindful or remembering
neediness
C2+
/ˈnidinəs/
the state of being in want, or of demanding excessive attention or affection
nimble
C2+
/ˈnɪmbəl/
quick and light in movement or thought; agile
problematical
C2+
/ˌprɑbləˈmætɪkl/
presenting a difficulty or doubt; questionable
retentiveness
C2+
/rɪˈtɛntɪvnəs/
the capacity to retain or remember things, especially knowledge
sanity
C2+
/ˈsænɪti/
the state of being sound in mind; reasonable and sensible judgment
suggestive
C2+
/səgˈdʒɛstɪv/
tending to suggest an idea, often something risqué
tasteful
C2+
/ˈteɪstfəl/
showing good aesthetic judgment or discretion
unconsciousness
C2+
/ʌnˈkɑnʃəsnəs/
the state of lacking awareness or sensation
unremarkable
C2+
/ˌʌnrɪˈmɑrkəbəl/
not particularly interesting or worthy of attention; ordinary
wherefore
C2+
/ˈwɛrfɔr/
for what reason; why
accidie
C2+
/ˈæksɪdi/
spiritual or mental sloth; listless apathy
acedia
C2+
/əˈsidiə/
spiritual or mental sloth; apathy and listlessness
advertence
C2+
/ədˈvɜrtəns/
attention or heedfulness; the act of taking notice
antirealism
C2+
/ˌæntiˈriəˌlɪzəm/
the philosophical view denying objective reality independent of perception