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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138 words
knobble
C2+
/ˈnɒb.əl/
a small knob
apex
C2+
/ˈeɪpɛks/
the highest point or culmination of something
kismet
C2+
/ˈkɪzmɛt/
destiny or fate
beau
C2+
/boʊ/
a woman's male admirer or boyfriend; a dandy
crux
C2+
/krʌks/
the decisive or most important point at issue
dusk
C2+
/dʌsk/
the darker stage of twilight before night
pastime
C2+
/ˈpæstaɪm/
an activity done regularly for enjoyment
throe
C2+
/θroʊ/
a sharp pang or spasm, especially in struggle or agony
acme
C2+
/ˈækmi/
the highest point of achievement or perfection
dame
C2+
/deɪm/
a woman of rank or, in British usage, a titled honorific equal to a knight
ellipsis
C2+
/ɪˈlɪpsɪs/
the omission of words, or the mark (…) indicating such omission
feck
C2+
/fɛk/
vigor or effectiveness; worth (Scots and Irish dialect)
hiatus
C2+
/haɪˈeɪtəs/
a pause or gap in a sequence, series, or activity
interpunct
C2+
/ˈɪntɚˌpʌŋkt/
a centered dot (·) used to separate words or mark a division
lingo
C2+
/ˈlɪŋɡoʊ/
the specialized vocabulary or jargon of a particular group
paragon
C2+
/ˈpærəˌɡɑn/
a model of excellence or perfection
amplitude
C2+
/ˈæmplɪtuːd/
the extent or magnitude of something; the range of a wave
brat
C2+
/bræt/
a badly behaved or spoiled child
cockscomb
C2+
/ˈkɑksˌkoʊm/
the crest of a rooster; a jester's cap; a vain conceited man
lemma
C2+
/ˈlɛmə/
a subsidiary proposition proved as a step toward a theorem; a headword
ado
C2+
/əˈduː/
fuss, trouble, or commotion over something trivial
aphrodisia
C2+
/ˌæfrəˈdɪziə/
sexual desire or arousal
apocalypse
C2+
/əˈpɑkəlɪps/
a catastrophic event; a revelation of the end of the world
cantrip
C2+
/ˈkæntrɪp/
a magic spell or mischievous trick
compendium
C2+
/kəmˈpɛndiəm/
a concise but comprehensive summary of a subject
continuum
C2+
/kənˈtɪnjuəm/
a continuous sequence with no sharp divisions
crossroad
C2+
/ˈkrɔsˌroʊd/
a point where roads intersect; a critical turning point
curlicue
C2+
/ˈkɝlɪˌkju/
a fancy twist, curl, or flourish, as in writing
finale
C2+
/fɪˈnæli/
the closing section of a performance or event
genesis
C2+
/ˈdʒɛnəsɪs/
the origin or coming into being of something
mage
C2+
/meɪdʒ/
a magician or learned practitioner of magic
onset
C2+
/ˈɑnˌsɛt/
the beginning or start of something, often unpleasant
overview
C2+
/ˈoʊvərˌvju/
a general summary or survey of a subject
zucchini
C2+
/zuˈkini/
a green summer squash, also called a courgette
adieu
C2+
/əˈdju/
goodbye; a farewell
admixture
C2+
/ædˈmɪkstʃɚ/
a mixture, or an additional ingredient mixed into something
alehouse
C2+
/ˈeɪlˌhaʊs/
a tavern or establishment where ale is sold and drunk
antimodel
C2+
/ˌæntiˈmɑdəl/
a negative example showing how something should not be done
atlas
C2+
/ˈætləs/
a bound collection of maps
bah
C2+
/bɑ/
an exclamation expressing contempt or dismissal
bayou
C2+
/ˈbaɪu/
a slow-moving marshy creek or backwater, typical of the southern US
bedlam
C2+
/ˈbɛdləm/
a scene of uproar and confusion
bluejacket
C2+
/ˈbluˌdʒækɪt/
an enlisted sailor in the navy
cad
C2+
/kæd/
a man who behaves dishonorably, especially toward women
certitude
C2+
/ˈsɝtɪˌtud/
absolute certainty or conviction
composure
C2+
/kəmˈpoʊʒɚ/
calm self-control, especially under stress
conspectus
C2+
/kənˈspɛktəs/
a general survey or summary of a subject
cosmos
C2+
/ˈkɑzmoʊs/
the universe regarded as an ordered, harmonious whole
denture
C2+
/ˈdɛntʃɚ/
a removable plate or frame holding artificial teeth
disinterest
C2+
/dɪsˈɪntrəst/
lack of concern or interest; impartiality free from bias
flapjack
C2+
/ˈflæpdʒæk/
a pancake, or a British oat-and-syrup bar
grandeur
C2+
/ˈɡrændʒɚ/
splendor and impressiveness; magnificence
gumshoe
C2+
/ˈɡʌmˌʃu/
a detective, especially a private investigator
hodgepodge
C2+
/ˈhɑdʒˌpɑdʒ/
a confused or jumbled mixture of disparate things
memorandum
C2+
/ˌmɛməˈrændəm/
a written note or record, especially in an organization
merch
C2+
/mɜrtʃ/
merchandise, especially branded products sold to fans
milestone
C2+
/ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/
a significant stage or event; a roadside marker of distance
miscarriage
C2+
/ˈmɪsˌkɛrɪdʒ/
the loss of a pregnancy; a failure or mismanagement of something
nectarine
C2+
/ˈnɛktərin/
a smooth-skinned variety of peach
setup
C2+
/ˈsɛtˌʌp/
the way something is arranged or organized; an arrangement or scheme
warlock
C2+
/ˈwɔrlɑk/
a man who practices witchcraft; a male sorcerer
whim
C2+
/wɪm/
a sudden, capricious desire or impulse
wreckage
C2+
/ˈrɛkɪdʒ/
the remains of something that has been badly damaged or destroyed
aa
C2+
/ˈɑːɑː/
basaltic lava with a rough, jagged, clinkery surface
accoucheuse
C2+
/ˌækuˈʃɜz/
a female midwife or woman who assists at childbirth
adaptitude
C2+
/əˈdæptɪˌtud/
aptitude or capacity for adapting; adaptability
ague
C2+
/ˈeɪɡju/
a fever marked by recurring chills and shivering, often malarial
alkali
C2+
/ˈælkəˌlaɪ/
a soluble base that neutralizes acids, turning litmus blue
apophthegm
C2+
/ˈæpəˌθɛm/
a terse, pointed saying; a pithy maxim
arrowleaf
C2+
/ˈæroʊˌlif/
any of various plants having arrow-shaped leaves
babushka
C2+
/bəˈbʊʃkə/
a headscarf tied under the chin, or an elderly Russian woman
bakeboard
C2+
/ˈbeɪkˌbɔrd/
a board on which dough is kneaded or rolled out
bookstall
C2+
/ˈbʊkstɔl/
a stall or stand where books and periodicals are sold
cacodemon
C2+
/ˌkækoʊˈdimən/
an evil spirit or malevolent demon
carbuncle
C2+
/ˈkɑrˌbʌŋkəl/
a painful cluster of boils; a red gem, especially a garnet
carrytale
C2+
/ˈkæriˌteɪl/
a gossip or tale-bearer who spreads rumors
cartridge
C2+
/ˈkɑrtrɪdʒ/
a case holding a charge and bullet; a sealed replaceable container
cask
C2+
/kæsk/
a barrel-shaped wooden container for liquids
chattel
C2+
/ˈtʃætəl/
an item of movable personal property
cole
C2+
/koʊl/
any of various brassica plants such as cabbage, kale, or rape
cologne
C2+
/kəˈloʊn/
a lightly scented perfume made of alcohol and aromatic oils
corsair
C2+
/ˈkɔrsɛr/
a pirate or privateer, especially of the Barbary Coast
creatrix
C2+
/kriˈeɪtrɪks/
a female creator or originator
definiendum
C2+
/dɪˌfɪniˈɛndəm/
the term that is being defined in a definition
definiens
C2+
/dɪˈfɪniˌɛnz/
the words or expression that define the definiendum
diaphoresis
C2+
/ˌdaɪəfəˈrisɪs/
profuse perspiration, especially as induced medically
dictatrix
C2+
/dɪkˈteɪtrɪks/
a female dictator or absolute ruler
disequilibrium
C2+
/ˌdɪsikwɪˈlɪbriəm/
a loss or lack of balance or stability
downside
C2+
/ˈdaʊnsaɪd/
the negative aspect or drawback of something
dragon
C2+
/ˈdræɡən/
a mythical fire-breathing reptilian monster
ensign
C2+
/ˈɛnsən/
a flag or standard, or a junior naval officer
flapcake
C2+
/ˈflæpˌkeɪk/
a thin flat cake cooked on a griddle; a pancake
footstall
C2+
/ˈfʊtstɔːl/
the base or pedestal of a pillar; a woman's stirrup
forechoice
C2+
/ˈfɔrtʃɔɪs/
a choice made beforehand; predetermination
fount
C2+
/faʊnt/
a spring or source; a fountain
fountainhead
C2+
/ˈfaʊntnhɛd/
the source of a stream; the original source of something