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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169 words
snobbery
C2
/ˈsnɑːbɝi/
The attitude of looking down on people you think are of lower class, taste, or status.
antithesis
C2
/ænˈtɪθ.ɪ.sɪs/
The exact opposite of something.
meteorology
C2
/ˌmiːti.əˈɹɑləd͡ʒi/
The scientific study of the atmosphere, especially the weather and forecasting it.
reverb
C2
/ˈɹiːˌvɜː(ɹ)b/
An electronic effect that adds echoes or a sense of space to a recorded sound.
unencumbered
C2
/ˌʌnɪnˈkʌmbɚd/
Free of burdens, debts, or restrictions.
wester
C2
/ˈwɛs.tər/
to move or turn toward the west
distill
C2
/dɪˈstɪl/
To purify or separate a liquid by heating it into vapor and cooling it back into liquid.
incongruous
C2
/ɪnˈkɑn.ɡɹu.əs/
Out of place; not matching or fitting the surroundings.
besiege
C2
/bəˈsiːd͡ʒ/
To surround a place with armed forces to force it to surrender
confection
C2
/kənˈfɛkʃən/
A sweet food such as a cake, candy, or pastry, often elaborately decorated.
wrack
C2
/ɹæk/
Destruction or ruin (especially in the phrase 'wrack and ruin').
dissipation
C2
/ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/
breaking up and scattering by dispersion
leeward
C2
/ˈliːwərd/
situated on or toward the side sheltered from the wind
configure
C2
/kənˈfɪɡ(j)ɚ/
to set up for a particular purpose
improvisational
C2
/ɪmˌpɹɑvəˈzeɪʃənəl/
Made up on the spot, without preparation.
accrue
C2
/əˈkɹu/
To build up or accumulate gradually over time.
hermetic
C2
/hə(ɹ)ˈmɛtɪk/
Completely sealed so that no air or gas can pass through; airtight.
ruminate
C2
/ˈɹumɪneɪt/
To think about something deeply and at length.
circumnavigate
C2
/ˌsɝ.kəmˈnæv.ɪ.ɡeɪt/
To travel all the way around something, especially the world by sea.
segregate
C2
/ˈsɛɡɹəɡət/
separate or isolate (one thing) from another and place in a group apart from others
pressurization
C2
/ˌprɛʃɝɪˈzeɪʃən/
The process of increasing or maintaining the air pressure inside an enclosed space.
declination
C2
/ˌdɛklɪˈneɪʃən/
A polite refusal of an offer or invitation.
edgeways
C2
/ˈɛdʒˌweɪz/
with the edge facing forward or sideways, especially so that something fits through a narrow space
pendent
C2
/ˈpɛndənt/
hanging or suspended from above; dangling downward
octogenarian
C2
/ˌɑktəd͡ʒɪˈnɛɹiən/
A person between 80 and 89 years old.
tenaciously
C2
/təˈneɪʃəsli/
In a determined way, refusing to give up.
concurrence
C2
/kənˈkɝːəns/
Agreement between people or in their opinions.
encumbrance
C2
/ɪnˈkʌm.bɹəns/
Something that weighs you down or gets in your way; a burden.
qualm
C2
/kwɑ(l)m/
A feeling of doubt or worry about whether something is right to do
haughtily
C2
/ˈhɔtɪli/
In a proud, arrogant way that looks down on others.
spatially
C2
In a way that relates to space or to how things are arranged in space.
relegate
C2
/ˈɹɛlɪˌɡeɪt/
To move someone or something to a lower or less important position.
capacious
C2
/kəˈpeɪʃəs/
Having a lot of space inside; able to hold a great deal.
circumnavigation
C2
The act of travelling all the way around something, especially the world.
thereabout
C2
/ˈðerəˌbaʊt/
about or around that place or position
recumbent
C2
Lying down, especially in a relaxed position.
sidelong
C2
/ˈsaɪdlɔːŋ/
directed toward one side, especially in a secretive, doubtful, or suspicious glance
flexure
C2
/ˈflɛkʃər/
a bend, curve, or fold in a structure or surface
postural
C2
/ˈpɑst͡ʃəɹəl/
Relating to the way you hold or position your body.
athwart
C2
/əˈθwɔrt/
from one side of something to the other; across, often at an oblique angle
incongruity
C2
/ɪnkɑŋˈɡɹuɪti/
The state of two or more things not fitting together or not matching, in a way that seems strange.
encumber
C2
/ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/
To weigh someone down or make movement difficult with a heavy load.
promotable
C2
Suitable to be promoted; deserving a higher position.
earthward
C2
/ˈɝθwɚd/
toward the earth or ground
aslant
C2
/əˈslænt/
at an oblique or sloping angle
landward
C2
/ˈlænd.wɚd/
situated, facing, or moving toward the land rather than the sea
echolocate
C2
To find the position of objects by sending out sounds and listening for the echoes.
unmediated
C2
Direct, without anything coming in between.
sidewise
C2
/ˈsaɪˌdwaɪz/
toward one side
presupposition
C2
/ˌpriːsəpəˈzɪʃən/
Something that is assumed to be true without being stated directly.
retrospection
C2
The act of looking back and thinking about past events.
decentralize
C2
/diˈsɛntɹəˌlaɪz/
To spread something out from one central place to several different locations.
incongruously
C2
/ˌɪŋˈkɔŋruːəsli/
In a way that seems out of place or does not fit.
intersperse
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈspɝs/
To scatter or place things at intervals among other things.
astraddle
C2
/əˈstrædəl/
dated or regional: with one leg on each side of something; astride
forepart
C2
/ˈfɔrˌpɑrt/
the front or anterior portion of a person, animal, vehicle, structure, or other thing
ensconce
C2
/ɪnˈskɑns/
to settle someone or oneself securely and comfortably in a particular place
downgoing
C2
/ˈdaʊnˌɡoʊɪŋ/
moving, directed, or tending downward
endwise
C2
/ˈɛndˌwaɪz/
with the end forward or toward the observer
appose
C2
/əˈpoʊz/
to place two things side by side or near each other, especially for comparison or contrast
deprecatingly
C2
In a way that plays down or apologizes for one's own actions or worth.
midmost
C2
/ˈmɪdˌmoʊst/
literary: situated in or nearest the exact middle
embosom
C2
/ɪmˈbʊzəm/
literary: to enclose, surround, or shelter something closely
fabulate
C2
To make up and tell invented stories, often fantastical ones.
fabulation
C2
The act of inventing stories; a made-up tale or fabrication.
side-step
C2
diataxis
C2
/ˌdaɪəˈtæksɪs/
a systematic arrangement or ordering across parts; (in technical writing) a framework organizing documentation into distinct types
space-relation
C2
/ˈspeɪs rɪˌleɪʃən/
a spatial relation between things
undermost
C2
/ˈʌn.dɚˌmoʊst/
occupying the lowest position relative to other things
unaccelerated
C2
/ˌʌnəkˈsɛləreɪtɪd/
having zero acceleration in a specified inertial frame; remaining at rest or moving with an unchanging velocity vector
circumjacent
C2
/ˌsɝkəmˈdʒeɪsənt/
lying around or surrounding a place or object
superincumbent
C2
/ˌsuːpərɪnˈkʌmbənt/
lying, resting, or pressing on top of something else
circumambient
C2
/ˌsɝːkəmˈæmbiənt/
surrounding something on every side; encompassing