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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227 words
omnipotence
C2
/ɑːmˈnɪpətəns/
Unlimited power; commonly attributed to a deity or deities.
uppermost
C2
/ˈʌpɚˌmoʊst/
in or into the highest position
chaw
C2
/t͡ʃɔ/
to chew without swallowing
proviso
C2
/pɹəˈvaɪzoʊ/
A conditional provision to an agreement.
sublimate
C2
/ˈsʌb.ləˌmeɪt/
psychology: to redirect an unacceptable impulse or desire into a socially acceptable or constructive activity
disdainful
C2
/dɪsˈdeɪnfəl/
Showing contempt or scorn for someone or something you think is not worthy.
equanimity
C2
/ˌɛkwəˈnɪmɪti/
steadiness of mind under stress
compos
C2
/ˈkɑːm.pəs/
of sound mind and in full control of one's mental faculties, chiefly in the phrase compos mentis
empirically
C2
/ɛmˈpɪrɪkəli/
in an empirical manner
thereupon
C2
/ˌðɛɹəˈpɑn/
Upon that; thereon.
fragmentary
C2
/ˈfrægmənˌtɛri/
consisting of small disconnected parts
therewith
C2
/ðɛəˈwɪθ/
with that or this or it
credulity
C2
/kɹɪˈduːlɪti/
an excessive readiness to believe claims without sufficient evidence
cavil
C2
/ˈkæv.əl/
To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.
minutely
C2
/maɪˈnjuːtlɪ/
in minute detail
sympathetically
C2
/ˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪkəli/
with respect to the sympathetic nervous system
reacquaint
C2
/ˌriː.əˈkweɪnt/
to make someone familiar again with a person, place, subject, or skill
philosophize
C2
/fɪˈlɑː.sə.faɪz/
to think or reason philosophically about fundamental questions
susceptibility
C2
/səˌsɛptəˈbɪləti/
The condition of being susceptible; vulnerability.
torpor
C2
/ˈtɔɹpɚ/
a state of motor and mental inactivity with a partial suspension of sensibility
languor
C2
/ˈlæŋɡɚ/
A state of the body or mind caused by exhaustion or disease and characterized by a languid or weary feeling; lassitude; (countable) an instance of this.
fecund
C2
/ˈfɛk.ənd/
Leading to new ideas or innovation.
bifurcation
C2
/ˌbaɪfɚˈkeɪʃən/
The act of bifurcating; branching or dividing in two.
genealogical
C2
/ˌd͡ʒiniəˈlɑd͡ʒɪkəl/
of or relating to genealogy
salubrious
C2
/səˈlu.bɹi.əs/
favorable to health of mind or body
inaccuracy
C2
/ɪnˈæk.jɚ.ə.si/
A statement, passage etc. that is inaccurate or false.
exultation
C2
/ˌɛɡzʌlˈteɪʃən/
The act of exulting; great joy at success or victory, or at any advantage gained; rapturous delight
extrapolation
C2
/ɛkˌstræpəˈleɪʃən/
An inference about some hypothetical situation based on known facts.
histrionic
C2
/ˌhɪs.triˈɑ.nɪk/
Overly dramatic or emotional, especially to get attention.
repugnance
C2
/ɹɪˈpʌɡnəns/
Extreme aversion, repulsion.
futurity
C2
/fjuːˈtjʊəɹɪti/
The future.
foreknowledge
C2
/ˌfɔɹˈnɑlɪdʒ/
knowledge of an event before it happens
syllogism
C2
/ˈsɪlədʒɪz(ə)m/
An argument whose conclusion is supported by two premises, of which one contains the term that is the predicate of the conclusion, and the other contains the term that is the subject of the conclusion; common to both premises is a term that is excluded from the conclusion.
stiffly
C2
/ˈstɪfli/
in a stiff manner
nominally
C2
/ˈnɑmɪnəli/
in name only
imbecility
C2
/ˌɪmbəˈsɪləti/
The quality of being imbecile; weakness; feebleness, especially of mind.
sagacity
C2
/səˈɡæ.sə.ti/
The quality of being sage, wise, or able to make good decisions; the quality of being perceptive, astute or insightful.
unobtrusively
C2
/ˌʌn.əbˈtɹuː.sɪv.li/
In a quiet way that does not attract attention or get in the way
mystification
C2
/ˌmɪs.tə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃən/
a state or feeling of bewilderment caused by not understanding something
unaccountably
C2
/ˌənəˈkaʊntəbli/
in an unaccountable manner
mesmerism
C2
/ˈmɛzməˌrɪzəm/
historical: a system developed by Franz Mesmer that claimed an invisible force could produce physical or hypnotic effects
unreasoning
C2
/ənˈriːznɪŋ/
Lacking or without reason.
cogito
C2
/ˈkɑɡɪtoʊ/
Descartes's argument cogito, ergo sum ("I think, therefore I am"), or the act of thought on which it rests
demystify
C2
/diːˈmɪstəˌfaɪ/
To make something easier to understand by explaining it clearly.
cognizance
C2
/ˈkɑɡnɪzəns/
Notice or awareness.
arbitrariness
C2
/ˈɑːrbəˌtrɛriːnəs/
The quality or state of being arbitrary; the extent to which something is arbitrary.
unexcused
C2
Without an acceptable reason or permission; not officially allowed.
preconception
C2
/ˌpɹikənˈsɛpʃən/
An opinion formed before you have enough facts, often based on bias.
calculative
C2
/ˈkælkjələtɪv/
concerned with calculation, especially deliberate reasoning about means and consequences
mesmeric
C2
/mɛzˈmɛɹɪk/
So fascinating that it holds your complete attention, as if by magic.
tautology
C2
/tɔˈtɑl.ə.d͡ʒi/
useless repetition
inductive
C2
/ɪnˈdʌktɪv/
arising from inductance
instrumentality
C2
/ˌɪnstrəmɛnˈtælɪti/
The condition or quality of being instrumental; being useful; serving a purpose.
iconoclastic
C2
/ˌaɪkənəˈklæstɪk/
Characterized by attack on established and accepted beliefs, customs, or institutions; of or pertaining to iconoclasm.
ptarmigan
C2
/ˈtɑːmɪɡən/
large Arctic and subarctic grouse with feathered feet and usually white winter plumage
shilly-shally
C2
/ˈʃɪl.iˌʃæl.i/
to hesitate, waver, or waste time because one is unable or unwilling to make a decision
logician
C2
/ləˈd͡ʒɪʃən/
A person who studies or teaches logic.
suggestibility
C2
/səˌdʒɛstəˈbɪləti/
the tendency to accept and act on other people's suggestions readily
externalize
C2
/ɪkˈstɝːnəlaɪz/
to express thoughts or feelings in an outward, observable form
knower
C2
/ˈnoʊɚ/
a person who knows something, especially the conscious subject in a theory of knowledge
compellingly
C2
/kəmˈpɛlɪŋli/
In a way that holds your attention or convinces you strongly
adequacy
C2
/ˈædɪkwəsi/
The quality of being sufficient, adequate or able to meet the needs.
maladjustment
C2
/ˌmæl.əˈdʒʌst.mənt/
a failure or inability to adapt successfully to one's social environment or the ordinary demands of life, often resulting in emotional or behavioral difficulties
brilliancy
C2
/ˈbɹɪljənsi/
A shining quality; brilliance.
dilatory
C2
/daɪˈleɪt(ə)ɹi/
Intentionally delaying (someone or something), intended to cause delay, gain time, or adjourn decision.
premeditate
C2
/priːˈmɛdɪteɪt/
think or reflect beforehand or in advance
solipsism
C2
/ˈsɒlɪpsɪzəm/
The philosophical idea that only your own mind is sure to exist.
cynosure
C2
/ˈsaɪnəʃʊɹ/
a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration
epistemological
C2
/ɪˌpɪstəməˈlɑd͡ʒəkəl/
Of or pertaining to epistemology or theory of knowledge, as a field of study.
introversion
C2
/ɪntɹəˈvəɹʒən/
a personality orientation toward one's inner thoughts and feelings, often accompanied by a preference for lower-stimulation or solitary settings
vacillation
C2
/ˌvæsəˈleɪʃən/
indecision shown by repeatedly changing between opinions, choices, or courses of action
monomaniac
C2
/ˌmɑː.noʊˈmeɪ.ni.æk/
a person obsessively preoccupied with one subject, idea, or goal to the exclusion of other concerns
purblind
C2
/ˈpɝˌblaɪnd/
lacking insight, understanding, or the ability to foresee consequences
delusive
C2
/dɪˈluːsɪv/
giving a false or misleading impression; tending to deceive
monomania
C2
/ˌmɑnoʊˈmeɪniə/
an excessive or obsessive concentration on a single subject or idea
sophism
C2
/ˈsɑfɪzəm/
a clever-seeming but invalid argument, often used deliberately to deceive
remembrancer
C2
/rɪˈmembrənsɚ/
literary or historical: a person or thing that reminds, commemorates, or preserves a memory
disenchant
C2
/ˌdɪsɪnˈtʃænt/
to cause someone to lose an idealized belief, admiration, or enthusiasm; to disillusion
inscrutability
C2
/ɪnˌskruːtəˈbɪləti/
the quality of being difficult or impossible to understand or interpret
concupiscent
C2
/kɑnˈkjupɪsənt/
characterized by strong sensual desire or lust
animism
C2
/ˈænɪmɪzəm/
the doctrine that all natural objects and the universe itself have souls
misapprehend
C2
/ˌmɪsˌæpɹɪˈhɛnd/
to understand or interpret something incorrectly
relativist
C2
/ˈɹɛl.ə.tɪv.ɪst/
One who follows, believes or espouses relativism.
habituation
C2
/həˌbɪtʃuˈeɪʃən/
the process of forming a habit through repeated action or exposure
reductio
C2
/rɪˈdʌkʃiˌoʊ/
an argument that disproves a proposition by showing that it leads to an absurdity or contradiction; short for reductio ad absurdum
pantheism
C2
/ˈpæn.θi.ɪz.əm/
the doctrine or belief that God is the universe and its phenomena (taken or conceived of as a whole) or the doctrine that regards the universe as a manifestation of God
misdoubt
C2
/mɪsˈdaʊt/
archaic: to suspect or doubt; to form a mistaken suspicion about
inferential
C2
/ˌɪnfɝˈɛnʃəl/
based on interpretation
fatuity
C2
/fəˈtuːəti/
the quality or state of being foolish, especially in a complacent or self-satisfied way
minuteness
C2
/maɪˈn(j)uːt.nɪs/
the property of being very small in size
solipsist
C2
/ˈsɑləpsɪst/
a person who treats only their own mind as certain to exist, or who is extremely self-absorbed
disinterestedly
C2
/dɪsˈɪnt(ə)ɹɛstɪdli/
In a disinterested manner; impartially, dispassionately.
tautological
C2
/ˌtɔtəˈlɑdʒɪkəl/
needlessly repeating the same idea in different words
cerebration
C2
/ˌsɛrəˈbreɪʃən/
the operation of the brain or the process of thinking, especially sustained or partly unconscious mental activity
appetitive
C2
/ˈæpəˌtaɪtɪv/
relating to appetite, desire, or the pursuit of gratification
sophistic
C2
/səˈfɪstɪk/
apparently plausible or clever but actually fallacious or misleading