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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602 words
get-out
C2+
/ˈɡɛtˌaʊt/
US informal, in like all get-out: to an extreme degree or with great speed or force
unloosen
C2+
/ˌʌnˈluː.sən/
to loosen or unfasten something that is tied, fixed, or held tightly
unstop
C2+
/ʌnˈstɑp/
to clear a blockage from an opening, pipe, or passage
unsling
C2+
/ʌnˈslɪŋ/
to remove something from a slung or hanging position
chouse
C2+
/t͡ʃaʊ̯s/
To cheat, to trick.
undig
C2+
/ʌnˈdɪɡ/
To undo the process of digging; to fill up (a hole or grave) or bury again (something unearthed).
besprinkle
C2+
/bɪˈsprɪŋkəl/
literary: to scatter drops, grains, or small particles over something; to sprinkle all over
unwrinkle
C2+
/ʌnˈrɪŋkəl/
To remove wrinkles from.
crimple
C2+
/ˈkrɪmpəl/
literary or archaic: to wrinkle, crinkle, curl, or crumple; to become wrinkled or curled
begird
C2+
/bɪˈɡɝd/
To bind with a band or girdle; to gird.
transportal
C2+
/tɹænˈspɔɹtəl/
the act or process of carrying something from one place to another; transport or conveyance; now rare
chivy
C2+
/ˈtʃɪv.i/
to chase, harry, or drive someone or something about persistently
unstring
C2+
/ʌnˈstrɪŋ/
to remove the string or strings from a bow, musical instrument, or similar object
snoozle
C2+
/ˈsnuːzəl/
regional: to nuzzle or push affectionately with the nose
desolate
C2+
/ˈdɛsələt/
deserted, bleak, and devoid of comfort or inhabitants
chuck
C2+
/tʃʌk/
to throw something carelessly, or to pat affectionately under the chin
compact
C2+
/kəmˈpækt/
closely and neatly packed together; an agreement or covenant
abet
C2+
/əˈbɛt/
to encourage or assist someone in a wrongdoing
abide
C2+
/əˈbaɪd/
to tolerate or endure; to remain or dwell
allowable
C2+
/əˈlaʊəbəl/
permissible within set rules or limits
dere
C2+
/dɪɹ/
to harm or injure (archaic/dialectal); also dialectal for dear
affront
C2+
/əˈfrʌnt/
an open insult or deliberate act of disrespect
apprise
C2+
/əˈpraɪz/
to inform or notify someone of something
bewray
C2+
/bɪˈreɪ/
to reveal or betray, especially unintentionally (archaic)
chapfallen
C2+
/ˈtʃæpˌfɔlən/
dejected or dispirited, with the lower jaw drooping
consummate
C2+
/ˈkɑnsəmət/
showing supreme skill; to complete or perfect
illation
C2+
/ɪˈleɪʃən/
the act of drawing an inference, or the conclusion so drawn
admonish
C2+
/ədˈmɑnɪʃ/
to warn or reprove someone firmly but gently
belittle
C2+
/bɪˈlɪtəl/
to dismiss as unimportant or make seem small
brace
C2+
/breɪs/
to prepare or steady oneself; a support or a pair
rue
C2+
/ru/
to bitterly regret something; a bitter herb
utmost
C2+
/ˈʌtˌmoʊst/
the greatest or most extreme; the very best one can do
bedevil
C2+
/bɪˈdɛvəl/
to torment, harass, or trouble persistently
discontinue
C2+
/ˌdɪskənˈtɪnju/
to cease, stop, or put an end to something
ravel
C2+
/ˈrævəl/
to entangle or, conversely, to unravel; a tangle
restrain
C2+
/rɪˈstreɪn/
to hold back or keep under control
beweep
C2+
/bɪˈwip/
to weep over or lament; to bewail
bung
C2+
/bʌŋ/
a stopper for a cask or hole; to plug or toss carelessly
moot
C2+
/mut/
open to debate or of no practical relevance; to raise for discussion
capitulate
C2+
/kəˈpɪtʃəleɪt/
to surrender or yield, often on agreed conditions
castigate
C2+
/ˈkæstɪɡeɪt/
to reprimand or criticize severely
counterfeit
C2+
/ˈkaʊntɚfɪt/
made in imitation to deceive; a forgery
entangle
C2+
/ɪnˈtæŋɡəl/
to twist together or catch in a tangle; to involve in difficulties
foredoom
C2+
/fɔrˈduːm/
to doom or condemn beforehand to a particular fate
foreordination
C2+
/fɔrˌɔrdɪˈneɪʃən/
the act of ordaining or destining beforehand; predestination
hap
C2+
/hæp/
chance or fortune; (verb) to happen by chance
lash
C2+
/læʃ/
to strike with a whip; to bind tightly; a stroke of a whip or an eyelash
lump
C2+
/lʌmp/
a compact shapeless mass; a swelling; (verb) to group together
procure
C2+
/prəˈkjʊr/
to obtain something, especially with care or effort
termination
C2+
/ˌtɝmɪˈneɪʃən/
the action of bringing or coming to an end
balk
C2+
/bɔk/
to hesitate or refuse to proceed; a hindrance or obstacle
becry
C2+
/bɪˈkraɪ/
to bewail or lament; to cry over (archaic)
bedeck
C2+
/bɪˈdɛk/
to decorate or adorn, especially lavishly
cack
C2+
/kæk/
excrement; (verb, dialectal) to defecate
chastise
C2+
/tʃæsˈtaɪz/
to rebuke or punish severely
competency
C2+
/ˈkɑmpɪtənsi/
the ability to do something successfully or efficiently
contemn
C2+
/kənˈtɛm/
to treat or regard with contempt; despise
deception
C2+
/dɪˈsɛpʃən/
the act of deceiving or misleading someone
diss
C2+
/dɪs/
to disrespect or insult someone
initiation
C2+
/ɪˌnɪʃiˈeɪʃən/
the act of beginning something or admitting someone to a group
jeer
C2+
/dʒɪr/
to mock or taunt loudly and derisively
nag
C2+
/næɡ/
to pester with persistent complaints or demands
thole
C2+
/θoʊl/
to endure or suffer; (also) a pin holding an oar
affright
C2+
/əˈfraɪt/
to frighten or alarm; sudden terror
alleviation
C2+
/əˌliviˈeɪʃən/
the act of making suffering or a problem less severe
antagonize
C2+
/ænˈtæɡəˌnaɪz/
to provoke hostility in someone
appease
C2+
/əˈpiz/
to pacify or placate by acceding to demands
apprize
C2+
/əˈpraɪz/
to inform or notify someone of something
bide
C2+
/baɪd/
to wait or stay, especially while awaiting a chance
bield
C2+
/bild/
(Scots/Northern English) shelter or refuge; to provide shelter
blueprint
C2+
/ˈbluˌprɪnt/
a detailed plan or technical drawing serving as a model
bundle
C2+
/ˈbʌndəl/
a group of things tied or grouped together
cohere
C2+
/koʊˈhɪr/
to hold together or form a unified, logical whole
dis
C2+
/dɪs/
(slang) to disrespect or insult; an act of disrespect
disentangle
C2+
/ˌdɪsɪnˈtæŋɡəl/
to free from knots, confusion, or complication
ensnare
C2+
/ɪnˈsnɛr/
to catch in or as if in a trap
environ
C2+
/ɪnˈvaɪrən/
(formal) to surround or encircle
frustrate
C2+
/ˈfrʌstreɪt/
to prevent from achieving a goal; to thwart
pursuance
C2+
/pɚˈsuəns/
the carrying out or pursuit of a plan, action, or aim
rend
C2+
/rɛnd/
to tear or split something apart forcefully
replication
C2+
/ˌrɛpləˈkeɪʃən/
the action of copying or reproducing something
tincture
C2+
/ˈtɪŋktʃɚ/
a medicinal solution in alcohol, or a slight trace of something
uplift
C2+
/ʌpˈlɪft/
to raise or elevate, especially morally or emotionally
acquirement
C2+
/əˈkwaɪɚmənt/
the act of gaining something, or a skill so gained
adulteration
C2+
/əˌdʌltəˈreɪʃən/
the act of making something impure by adding inferior substances
assoil
C2+
/əˈsɔɪl/
to absolve, acquit, or pardon
behedge
C2+
/bɪˈhɛdʒ/
to surround or enclose with a hedge
beset
C2+
/bɪˈsɛt/
to trouble or harass persistently; to surround
betrim
C2+
/bɪˈtrɪm/
to deck out or adorn
cleave
C2+
/kliv/
to split or sever, or alternatively to cling closely
conglutinate
C2+
/kənˈɡlutənˌeɪt/
to stick or glue together; to unite as if by adhesion
conjoin
C2+
/kənˈdʒɔɪn/
to join together or combine
copulate
C2+
/ˈkɑpjəˌleɪt/
to engage in sexual intercourse
discompose
C2+
/ˌdɪskəmˈpoʊz/
to disturb the composure of; to unsettle
disconcert
C2+
/ˌdɪskənˈsɚt/
to throw into confusion or unsettle
disconsolate
C2+
/dɪsˈkɑnsələt/
hopelessly unhappy and beyond comfort