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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34 words
tic-tac-toe
C2+
/ˌtɪk.tækˈtoʊ/
a game in which two players alternately mark a three-by-three grid and try to complete a row of three matching symbols
phantasmagoria
C2+
/ˌfæntæzməˈɡɔːɹi.ə/
a shifting sequence of strange or fantastic images
bo-peep
C2+
/ˌboʊˈpiːp/
an old name for peekaboo, or an act of appearing suddenly and hiding again
seven-up
C2+
/ˌsɛvənˈʌp/
a traditional American card game related to all fours in which seven points constitute a game
bash
C2+
/bæʃ/
to strike violently; (noun) a heavy blow or a lively party
ridicule
C2+
/ˈrɪdɪkjuːl/
mockery or derision; (verb) to make fun of contemptuously
divertisement
C2+
/dɪˈvɜrtɪsmənt/
an amusement or diversion; an entertainment (archaic)
restless
C2+
/ˈrɛstləs/
unable to rest or relax; constantly moving or uneasy
chiller
C2+
/ˈtʃɪlɚ/
a machine for cooling, or a frightening story or film
commencement
C2+
/kəˈmɛnsmənt/
a beginning, or a graduation ceremony
coronation
C2+
/ˌkɔrəˈneɪʃən/
the ceremony of crowning a sovereign
defection
C2+
/dɪˈfɛkʃən/
the act of abandoning a cause, party, or country
festivity
C2+
/fɛˈstɪvɪti/
joyful celebration; the activities of a feast or party
merriment
C2+
/ˈmɛrimənt/
gaiety and fun; lively cheerfulness
unbend
C2+
/ʌnˈbɛnd/
to straighten; to relax from formality or stiffness
unwind
C2+
/ʌnˈwaɪnd/
to undo something wound; to relax after tension or stress
decompress
C2+
/ˌdikəmˈprɛs/
to release from pressure or compression; to relax and unwind
gleek
C2+
/ɡlik/
a jest or gibe; to make a joke at someone's expense (archaic)
jest
C2+
/ˈdʒɛst/
a joke or playful remark; to speak or act in fun
afoul
C2+
/əˈfaʊl/
in collision or entanglement, especially with rules or another party
bicentennial
C2+
/ˌbaɪsɛnˈtɛniəl/
a two-hundredth anniversary or its celebration
celluloid
C2+
/ˈsɛljəˌlɔɪd/
a transparent flammable plastic once used for film and photographic stock
cinematic
C2+
/ˌsɪnəˈmætɪk/
relating to or having the qualities of cinema or film
feastful
C2+
/ˈfistfəl/
festive; characterized by feasting and celebration
hobbyhorse
C2+
/ˈhɑːbiˌhɔːrs/
a favourite topic one returns to insistently; a toy horse on a stick
hoot
C2+
/hut/
a cry of an owl or a shout of derision or amusement
jape
C2+
/dʒeɪp/
a practical joke or jest
personate
C2+
/ˈpɜrsəneɪt/
to impersonate or play the part of another, sometimes fraudulently
playfellow
C2+
/ˈpleɪˌfɛloʊ/
a companion in play; a playmate
plaything
C2+
/ˈpleɪˌθɪŋ/
a toy, or a person or thing treated as an object of amusement
prank
C2+
/præŋk/
a playful or mischievous trick; to play such a trick
relaxative
C2+
/rɪˈlæksətɪv/
tending to relax or loosen; something that produces relaxation
stalemate
C2+
/ˈsteɪlˌmeɪt/
a deadlock in which no party can make progress
plisky
C2+
/ˈplɪski/
Yorkshire dialect: a mischievous trick, prank, or piece of mischief