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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86 words
cravat
C2+
/kɹəˈvæt/
a broad band or scarf worn around the neck
trousering
C2+
/ˈtraʊ.zɚ.ɪŋ/
cloth suitable for making trousers, especially material sold or discussed for that purpose
accoutred
C2+
/əˈkuːtɚd/
Dressed; clothed.
watchguard
C2+
/ˈwɑtʃˌɡɑrd/
historical: a chain, cord, or ribbon securing a pocket watch to its wearer's clothing
heavy-lidded
C2+
/ˌhɛv.iˈlɪd.ɪd/
having eyelids that appear unusually heavy, partly closed, or drooping
dentelle
C2+
/dɛnˈtɛl/
lace or lacework, especially as an article of dress
blackavised
C2+
/ˈblækəˌvaɪzd/
archaic: dark-complexioned or swarthy in appearance
staylace
C2+
/ˈsteɪˌleɪs/
a lace used to fasten a pair of stays or a corset
chaste
C2+
/tʃeɪst/
abstaining from illicit sexual conduct; pure or restrained in style
apparel
C2+
/əˈpærəl/
clothing or attire; to clothe or adorn
clothe
C2+
/kloʊð/
to provide with or dress in garments
dandy
C2+
/ˈdændi/
a man overly concerned with elegant dress; excellent
cag
C2+
/kæɡ/
British informal, a lightweight waterproof jacket; a cagoule
dapper
C2+
/ˈdæpɚ/
neat and trim in dress and appearance
fray
C2+
/freɪ/
a noisy quarrel or fight; to wear or unravel at the edges
bedizen
C2+
/bɪˈdaɪzən/
to dress or adorn gaudily and showily
despoil
C2+
/dɪˈspɔɪl/
to plunder or strip of possessions, valuables, or beauty by force
exhaustedness
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɔstɪdnəs/
the state of being completely worn out or drained of energy
fuzz
C2+
/fʌz/
a mass of fine, fluffy fibers or hair; to make blurred
inelegant
C2+
/ɪnˈɛlɪɡənt/
lacking grace, refinement, or style
nappy
C2+
/ˈnæpi/
a baby's diaper; or (of hair) tightly curled and frizzy
naturalism
C2+
/ˈnætʃərəˌlɪzəm/
a style or doctrine depicting things as they really are in nature
nonuniformity
C2+
/ˌnɑnˌjunɪˈfɔrmɪti/
the state of not being uniform or consistent throughout
philosophic
C2+
/ˌfɪləˈsɑfɪk/
relating to philosophy; calm and rational in the face of difficulty
abrasive
C2+
/əˈbreɪsɪv/
causing wear by rubbing; harsh or grating in manner
aigrette
C2+
/ˈeɪɡrɛt/
a tuft of feathers or jewels worn as a head ornament
bluecoat
C2+
/ˈbluˌkoʊt/
a person wearing a blue uniform, especially a soldier or policeman
disrobe
C2+
/dɪsˈroʊb/
to take off clothing or ceremonial robes; to undress
doff
C2+
/dɑf/
to take off or remove, especially a hat or clothing
doublet
C2+
/ˈdʌblɪt/
a close-fitting jacket once worn by men, or one of a pair of like things
fashionably
C2+
/ˈfæʃənəbli/
in a manner conforming to current fashion
haversack
C2+
/ˈhævɚˌsæk/
a single-strapped bag worn over one shoulder for carrying provisions
naturism
C2+
/ˈneɪtʃərɪzəm/
the practice of going without clothes; nudism
outworn
C2+
/ˌaʊtˈwɔrn/
worn out or no longer useful; obsolete
stilted
C2+
/ˈstɪltɪd/
stiff and unnatural, especially in style or manner
supine
C2+
/ˈsupaɪn/
lying face upward; passively inactive
underclothing
C2+
/ˈʌndərˌkloʊðɪŋ/
clothing worn under outer garments; underwear
veil
C2+
/veɪl/
a piece of fine fabric worn to conceal or protect the face
aesthetical
C2+
/ɛsˈθɛtɪkəl/
relating to beauty or the appreciation of art
aesthetician
C2+
/ˌɛsθəˈtɪʃən/
a specialist in beauty treatment, or a theorist of aesthetics
barbate
C2+
/ˈbɑrbeɪt/
bearded or having tufts of hair, especially in botany
beautician
C2+
/bjuˈtɪʃən/
a person whose job is giving beauty treatments to the skin and hair
corsage
C2+
/kɔrˈsɑʒ/
a small bouquet of flowers worn pinned to a woman's dress
cuisine
C2+
/kwɪˈzin/
a style or manner of cooking, especially of a region
dishevel
C2+
/dɪˈʃɛvəl/
to make untidy or disordered, especially hair or clothes
elegancy
C2+
/ˈɛləɡənsi/
refinement, grace, or tasteful beauty (archaic for elegance)
eyeshade
C2+
/ˈaɪˌʃeɪd/
a visor or band worn to shield the eyes from light
frazzle
C2+
/ˈfræzl/
to wear out or exhaust physically or emotionally; a frayed state
garb
C2+
/ɡɑrb/
clothing or distinctive dress; to clothe
gi
C2+
/ˈɡi/
a loose two-piece garment worn for judo, karate, or similar martial arts
habiliment
C2+
/həˈbɪləmənt/
clothing, especially that suited to a particular role or occasion
haircutting
C2+
/ˈhɛrˌkʌtɪŋ/
the activity of cutting hair
hairless
C2+
/ˈhɛrləs/
having no hair
harpy
C2+
/ˈhɑːrpi/
a rapacious, ill-tempered woman; a mythical winged monster with a woman's face
hatbrim
C2+
/ˈhætˌbrɪm/
the projecting edge or rim of a hat
hem
C2+
/hɛm/
the bordered edge of a garment; to fold and sew such an edge
hirsute
C2+
/ˈhɜːrsuːt/
covered with coarse hair; shaggy
journalese
C2+
/ˌdʒɜrnəˈliz/
the clichéd, sensational style of writing typical of newspapers
kink
C2+
/kɪŋk/
a sharp twist or bend in a rope, hair, or line
limpid
C2+
/ˈlɪmpɪd/
clear and transparent; lucid in style
lineament
C2+
/ˈlɪniəmənt/
a distinctive feature, especially of the face; an outline
modish
C2+
/ˈmoʊdɪʃ/
fashionable; conforming to current style
muss
C2+
/mʌs/
to make untidy or dishevel, especially the hair
nude
C2+
/nud/
wearing no clothes; a depiction of the unclothed body
panache
C2+
/pəˈnɑʃ/
flamboyant confidence of style or manner
plucky
C2+
/ˈplʌki/
having or showing determined courage in the face of difficulties
pomate
C2+
/ˈpoʊmeɪt/
a scented ointment for the hair or skin; pomade
shabbiness
C2+
/ˈʃæbinəs/
the state of being worn, dingy, or meanly shabby
shear
C2+
/ʃɪr/
to cut off wool or hair with a sharp instrument; a deforming force in materials
sneaker
C2+
/ˈsnikər/
a soft rubber-soled shoe for sport or casual wear
underclothes
C2+
/ˈʌndɚkloʊðz/
garments worn next to the skin under other clothing; underwear
undergarment
C2+
/ˈʌndɚˌɡɑːrmənt/
an item of clothing worn beneath outer clothes
unevenly
C2+
/ʌnˈivənli/
in a way that is not uniform or balanced
unstylish
C2+
/ʌnˈstaɪlɪʃ/
not fashionable; lacking style
waistband
C2+
/ˈweɪst.bænd/
a strip of fabric encircling the waist at the top of trousers or a skirt
wornness
C2+
/ˈwɔrn.nəs/
the state of being worn, frayed, or exhausted
unspectacled
C2+
/ʌnˈspɛk.tə.kəld/
not wearing spectacles or eyeglasses
chiripa
C2+
/ˌtʃɪr.əˈpɑː/
a rectangular woolen garment wrapped in various ways around the hips and thighs and tucked into a belt, formerly worn by gauchos and Indigenous men in southern South America
smock frock
C2+
/ˈsmɑk ˌfrɑk/
historical: a long, loose outer garment worn especially by rural laborers and other workmen
tirewoman
C2+
/ˈtaɪɚˌwʊmən/
archaic: a lady's maid who helps her employer dress and arrange her clothes or hair
stohwasser
C2+
/ˈstoʊˌwɑː.sɚ/
historical: a leather gaiter or legging for the lower leg, fastened by a strap wound around it
dustcoat
C2+
/ˈdʌstˌkoʊt/
a lightweight outer coat worn to protect clothing from dust, especially while traveling or working
elflock
C2+
/ˈɛlfˌlɑːk/
archaic, usually plural: a tangled or matted lock of hair, once fancifully attributed to elves
lacis
C2+
/ˈlɑː.si/
a form of lace made by darning or embroidering a pattern onto a square-meshed net ground
dollish
C2+
/ˈdɑlɪʃ/
resembling a doll, especially in having a pretty but stiff, delicate, or expressionless appearance
dowagerish
C2+
/ˈdaʊədʒɚɪʃ/
resembling or considered typical of an elderly, wealthy, and socially dignified widow