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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157 words
genomic
C2
Relating to a genome, the complete set of genes in an organism.
pell-mell
C2
/ˌpɛlˈmɛl/
in a confused, disorderly rush, without plan or restraint
spay
C2
/ˈspeɪ/
remove the ovaries of
emulation
C2
/ˌɛm.juˈleɪ̯.ʃən/
The effort to match or do as well as someone you admire.
unpremeditated
C2
/ˌʌnpriˈmɛdəˌteɪtɪd/
not planned or thought out in advance; spontaneous but not necessarily accidental
unlace
C2
/ʌnˈleɪs/
undo the ties of
euphemistic
C2
/ˌjuːfəˈmɪstɪk/
Using mild or indirect words to replace ones that seem harsh or offensive.
unfix
C2
/ʌnˈfɪks/
to loosen, detach, or remove something from a fixed position
mishandle
C2
/mɪsˈhændəl/
to deal with a situation incorrectly or ineffectively; to make a mistake in handling a situation.
seclude
C2
/səˈkluːd/
formal: to keep oneself or another person apart from contact with other people
extrude
C2
/ɪkˈstɹuːd/
to shape a material by forcing it through a die or opening with a fixed cross-section
bestir
C2
/bɪˈstɝ/
usually bestir oneself: to begin acting or moving with energy after a period of inactivity
subdivide
C2
/ˌsʌb.dɪˈvaɪd/
divide into smaller and smaller pieces
adroitly
C2
/əˈdɹɔɪtli/
skillfully and cleverly, especially in handling a difficult situation
mell
C2
/mɛl/
To deal, concern oneself; to interfere or meddle.
regularize
C2
/ˈɹɛɡjəlɚaɪz/
To make regular.
frizzle
C2
/ˈfrɪzəl/
to fry or grill something until it becomes crisp, curled, or slightly burned
engorge
C2
/ɪnˈɡɔrdʒ/
to fill a body part or vessel excessively with blood or another fluid
unclasp
C2
/ˌʌnˈklæsp/
to open or release a clasp or other fastening
deprecate
C2
/ˈdɛp.rɪˌkeɪt/
To declare something outdated and advise against using it, even though it still works (often of software features).
cosset
C2
/ˈkɑsɪt/
To care for and indulge someone too much; to pamper.
impanel
C2
/ˌɪmˈpænəl/
To enrol (jurors), e.g. from a jury pool; to register (the names of jurors) on a "panel" or official list.
enshroud
C2
/ɪnˈʃraʊd/
to cover, wrap, or conceal as if with a shroud
abrade
C2
/əˈbreɪd/
to scrape, rub, or wear away the surface of something by friction
purvey
C2
/pɚˈveɪ/
supply with provisions
obtrude
C2
/əbˈtruːd/
to force oneself, one's opinions, or something else upon people where it is unwelcome
extemporize
C2
/ɪkˈstɛmpəˌraɪz/
perform without preparation
unloose
C2
/ˌʌnˈluːs/
to release or unleash something that has been restrained or suppressed
proscribe
C2
/pɹəˈskɹaɪb/
To officially forbid or ban something.
plash
C2
/plæʃ/
to splash or beat liquid against something
reassume
C2
/ˌriəˈsum/
to take on a role, manner, condition, or activity again
overbear
C2
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈbɛr/
to overcome, suppress, or carry aside by superior force, influence, or weight
unyoke
C2
/ʌnˈjoʊk/
remove the yoke from
counterplot
C2
/ˈkaʊn.tɚ.plɑt/
a plot intended to subvert another plot
wreathe
C2
/ɹið/
to surround, cover, or encircle something in a ring or curling mass
rechristen
C2
/ˌriːˈkrɪsən/
to give a new name to a person or thing
subserve
C2
/səbˈsɝːv/
formal: to help to promote, advance, or achieve a purpose
laik
C2
/leɪk/
Northern English dialect: to play or amuse oneself
foregather
C2
/ˌfɔrˈɡæðər/
to meet or assemble, especially socially
overset
C2
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈsɛt/
to turn, knock, or tip something over; to overturn
tendance
C2
/ˈtɛndəns/
archaic: care, attendance, or the act of tending to someone or something
enwrap
C2
/ɪnˈræp/
to wrap around, cover, or envelop completely
disoblige
C2
/ˌdɪsəˈblaɪdʒ/
to inconvenience or disappoint someone by refusing a request or failing to accommodate their wishes
disburden
C2
/dɪsˈbɝːdən/
to free a person, animal, or thing from a physical load; to unload
combiner
C2
/kəmˈbaɪnɚ/
a person or thing that joins separate elements to form a whole
bestrew
C2
/bɪˈstruː/
to scatter things over a surface, or to cover a surface with things scattered here and there
prehension
C2
/prɪˈhɛnʃən/
the act or power of grasping and holding something, especially with a hand, limb, or prehensile organ
preconcerted
C2
/ˌpriːkənˈsɝtɪd/
arranged, agreed, or planned in advance
underdo
C2
/ˌʌndərˈduː/
to do less than is needed, expected, or possible; especially, to cook insufficiently
backdown
C2
/ˈbækˌdaʊn/
an act of withdrawing a demand, threat, claim, or previously stated position
intermeddle
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈmɛdəl/
formal or dated: to interfere officiously in matters that are not one's concern
disembarrass
C2
/ˌdɪsəmˈbɛrəs/
to free someone from a burden, hindrance, unwanted object, or difficult situation
granulate
C2
/ˈɡræn.juːl.eɪt/
to form, break, or collect into small grains or granules
porten
C2
affordance
C2
/əˈfɔːr.dəns/
an opportunity or possibility for action
chivvy
C2
/ˈtʃɪvi/
to repeatedly tell someone to do something, often in an annoying way
rive
C2
/ɹaɪv/
to tear or split apart violently
sanctimony
C2
/ˈsæŋk.tɪ.moʊ.ni/
the act of pretending to be morally superior to others; affected or hypocritical holiness
superpose
C2
/ˌsupərˈpoʊz/
to place one thing over another, or combine states by superposition
superadd
C2
/ˌsuːpəɹˈæd/
to add something over and above what has already been added or provided
pretermit
C2
/ˌpriːtɚˈmɪt/
to omit, neglect, or intentionally pass over something