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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67 words
maid
C2+
/meɪd/
An adult or adolescent female servant or cleaner (short for maidservant). (In feudal times this could be anyone from a high-ranking assistant to a low-ranking cleaner.)
cannon
C2+
/ˈkæn.ən/
a large heavy gun for firing metal balls or shells
ransom
C2+
/ˈɹæn.səm/
Money paid for the freeing of a hostage.
gin
C2+
/d͡ʒɪn/
trap with a snare
dungeon
C2+
/ˈdʌn.d͡ʒən/
An underground prison or vault, typically built underneath a castle.
staircase
C2+
/ˈstɛɹˌkeɪs/
a way of access, upward and downward, consisting of a set of steps
bein
C2+
/biːn/
Wealthy; well-to-do.
self-respect
C2+
/ˌsɛlfrɪˈspɛkt/
The knowledge of one's own worth.
hammock
C2+
/ˈhæmək/
A swinging couch or bed, usually made of netting or canvas about six feet (1.8 meters) wide, suspended by clews or cords at the ends.
craven
C2+
/ˈkɹeɪ.vən/
Unwilling to fight; lacking even the rudiments of courage; extremely cowardly.
amiss
C2+
/əˈmɪs/
in an improper or mistaken or unfortunate manner
idly
C2+
/ˈaɪd(ə)lɪ/
in an idle manner
influx
C2+
/ˈɪnˌflʌks/
A flow inward or into something; a coming in.
cower
C2+
/ˈkaʊɚ/
To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.
north-east
C2+
/ˌnɔrˈθiːst/
to, toward, or in the northeast
calico
C2+
/ˈkæ.lɪ.koʊ/
having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly
pare
C2+
/pɛɹ/
to decrease gradually or bit by bit
aide-de-camp
C2+
/ˌeɪd.dəˈkæmp/
a military officer serving as a confidential assistant to a senior officer or head of state
pince-nez
C2+
/pænsˈneɪ/
Templeless eyeglasses that clip to the bridge of the nose.
sighter
C2+
/ˈsaɪ.tɚ/
a preliminary or practice shot used to test aim, range, or conditions
jezail
C2+
/dʒəˈzeɪl/
a long-barreled Afghan matchlock or flintlock musket, often fired from a forked rest
savage
C2+
/ˈsævɪdʒ/
fierce, violent, or uncontrolled; (verb) to attack ferociously
peaceable
C2+
/ˈpisəbəl/
inclined to avoid conflict; peaceful in disposition
enlist
C2+
/ɪnˈlɪst/
to enroll in the armed forces, or to secure someone's help
brawl
C2+
/brɔl/
a rough, noisy fight or quarrel
foe
C2+
/foʊ/
an enemy or adversary
quisling
C2+
/ˈkwɪzlɪŋ/
a traitor who collaborates with an occupying enemy
stratagem
C2+
/ˈstrætədʒəm/
a plan or scheme to deceive an enemy or gain an advantage
bellicose
C2+
/ˈbɛlɪˌkoʊs/
inclined to fighting or war; aggressively hostile
combative
C2+
/kəmˈbætɪv/
ready or eager to fight or argue
fortify
C2+
/ˈfɔrtəˌfaɪ/
to strengthen against attack; to reinforce or invigorate
pacifist
C2+
/ˈpæsɪfɪst/
a person who opposes war and violence on principle
affray
C2+
/əˈfreɪ/
a noisy public fight or brawl disturbing the peace
apologetic
C2+
/əˌpɑləˈdʒɛtɪk/
expressing or showing regret; offered in defence of something
apologia
C2+
/ˌæpəˈloʊdʒiə/
a formal written defence of one's opinions or conduct
battleground
C2+
/ˈbætəlˌɡraʊnd/
a place where a battle is or was fought; an arena of conflict
irruption
C2+
/ɪˈrʌpʃən/
a sudden violent bursting in or invasion
nuke
C2+
/nuk/
to attack with nuclear weapons; (informal) to heat in a microwave
projectile
C2+
/prəˈdʒɛktl/
an object propelled through the air, especially as a weapon
vanquish
C2+
/ˈvæŋkwɪʃ/
to defeat thoroughly in battle or competition
aggress
C2+
/əˈɡrɛs/
to attack or behave aggressively toward another
agon
C2+
/ˈæɡɑn/
a conflict or struggle, especially the central one in a drama
apologetics
C2+
/əˌpɑləˈdʒɛtɪks/
the systematic defense of a doctrine, especially a religious one
armament
C2+
/ˈɑrməmənt/
military weapons and equipment, or the process of arming for war
assail
C2+
/əˈseɪl/
to attack violently, or to beset with criticism or troubling thoughts
bandit
C2+
/ˈbændɪt/
a robber or outlaw, typically one of an armed band
belligerency
C2+
/bəˈlɪdʒərənsi/
the state of being at war or engaged in hostile conflict
bombardment
C2+
/bɑmˈbɑrdmənt/
a continuous attack with bombs, shells, or other projectiles
defenseless
C2+
/dɪˈfɛnsləs/
lacking any means of protection or defense
dovish
C2+
/ˈdʌvɪʃ/
favoring peace or conciliatory policies over confrontation
embroil
C2+
/ɪmˈbrɔɪl/
to involve someone deeply in conflict or difficulty
foeman
C2+
/ˈfoʊmən/
an enemy in war; an opponent in combat
grapple
C2+
/ˈɡræpəl/
to struggle or wrestle in close combat; to grip firmly
gunstock
C2+
/ˈɡʌnˌstɑk/
the wooden support to which a gun's barrel and mechanism are fixed
irenic
C2+
/aɪˈrɛnɪk/
aiming at or promoting peace and conciliation
irenical
C2+
/aɪˈrɛnɪkəl/
tending toward peace or reconciliation; conciliatory
pacification
C2+
/ˌpæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the act of bringing peace or suppressing hostility
pacifism
C2+
/ˈpæsɪfɪzəm/
the belief that disputes should be settled without violence or war
pacifistic
C2+
/ˌpæsɪˈfɪstɪk/
opposed to violence or war as a means of settling disputes
quisle
C2+
/ˈkwɪzəl/
to act as a traitor or collaborator with an enemy
raider
C2+
/ˈreɪdɚ/
one who makes a sudden attack to seize, plunder, or disrupt
shiv
C2+
/ʃɪv/
a homemade or improvised knife, especially one used as a weapon
torpedo
C2+
/tɔrˈpiːdoʊ/
a self-propelled underwater missile; to attack or wreck something
quick-firer
C2+
/ˈkwɪkˌfaɪr.ɚ/
historical: a gun designed to fire rounds in rapid succession, especially a late-nineteenth- or early-twentieth-century naval or field gun
axite
C2+
/ˈækˌsaɪt/
historical: a proprietary smokeless powder used as a propellant in rifle cartridges
twelve-pounder
C2+
/ˌtwɛlvˈpaʊndər/
a cannon classified as firing a projectile weighing twelve pounds
war whoop
C2+
/ˈwɔrˌwuːp/
historical: a loud cry used as a signal or expression of aggression when entering battle