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.
Choose your level
View all levels
625 words
indivisible
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈvɪzɪbəl/
impossible of undergoing division
wisp
C2
/wɪsp/
a small, thin strand or tuft of hair, grass, or similar material
painstakingly
C2
/ˈpeɪnˌsteɪkɪŋli/
With great care and effort; very slowly and carefully.
surrealist
C2
Relating to surrealism, or having a strange, dreamlike quality.
peal
C2
/piːl/
ring recurrently
ghoulish
C2
/ˈɡuː.lɪʃ/
morbidly interested in death or suggesting the horror associated with ghouls
edifice
C2
/ˈɛdəfəs/
A building, especially a large and impressive one.
etch
C2
/ɛt͡ʃ/
To cut a design, letters, or lines into a hard surface.
earshot
C2
/ˈɪɹˌʃɑt/
the range within which a voice can be heard
vehemently
C2
/ˈviː.ə.məntli/
in a vehement manner
acrobatic
C2
/ˌækɹəˈbætɪk/
Involving skilful, agile movements like those of an acrobat.
maelstrom
C2
/ˈmeɪlˌstɹɔm/
A situation of great confusion, turmoil, or violent activity.
irrevocably
C2
/ɪˈɹɛ.və.kə.bli/
In a way that cannot be changed, reversed, or undone.
dissension
C2
/dɪˈsɛnʃən/
Strong disagreement that causes division within a group.
minster
C2
/ˈmɪnstɚ/
A large or important church, especially a cathedral.
stipulation
C2
/ˌstɪp.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/
A condition that must be met as part of an agreement.
scholastic
C2
/skɵˈlasʈɪk/
of or relating to schools
groundless
C2
/ˈɡɹaʊndləs/
Without any grounds to support it; baseless.
disparaging
C2
/dɪˈspɛrɪdʒɪŋ/
Showing a low opinion of someone or something; insulting or critical.
paradoxical
C2
/ˌpɛɹəˈdɑːksɪkəl/
Seeming to contradict itself, yet possibly true.
glob
C2
/ɡlɑb/
a compact, rounded, and usually shapeless lump of a soft or sticky substance
mim
C2
/ˈmɪm/
archaic or dialect: prim, demure, or affectedly modest
surrealism
C2
/sɝˈiːlɪzəm/
An early 20th-century art and literary movement that used dreamlike, fantastic images to express the unconscious mind.
spurious
C2
/ˈspjʊɹ.i.əs/
False or fake; not genuine or authentic.
wiry
C2
/ˈwaɪ(ə)ɹi/
of hair that resembles wire in stiffness
asexual
C2
/eɪˈsɛk.ʃu.əl/
not having or involving sex
parochial
C2
/pəˈɹoʊki.əl/
Narrow in outlook; concerned only with local matters and ignoring the wider world.
nightmarish
C2
/ˈnaɪtˌmɛrɪʃ/
extremely alarming, as if in a terrifying dream
affable
C2
/ˈæfəbəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
inexorably
C2
/ɪnˈɛk.sə.ɹə.bli/
In a way that cannot be stopped or prevented.
marvelously
C2
/ˈmɑːrvələsli/
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
tactically
C2
/ˈtæktɪkəli/
In a way that is carefully planned to gain an advantage.
impeccably
C2
/ˌɪmˈpɛkəbli/
In a perfect, faultless way.
inexorable
C2
/ɪnˈɛksɚəb(ə)l/
Impossible to stop or prevent; certain to happen.
immensity
C2
/ɪˈmen.sə.ti/
the state or quality of being extremely large, extensive, or numerous
duplicity
C2
/duˈplɪ.sɪ.ti/
The quality of being double or twofold.
epoxy
C2
/ɪˈpɑk.si/
A very strong, hard-setting glue or resin made from two parts mixed together.
patchy
C2
/ˈpæt͡ʃi/
Good in some parts but not in others; uneven in quality
disparage
C2
/dɪsˈpæɹɪd͡ʒ/
To talk about someone or something as if they have little value; to belittle.
unimaginative
C2
/ənɪˈmæˌdʒɪnətɪv/
Not imaginative.
inoperative
C2
/ɪnˈɑp(ə)ɹətɪv/
not working or functioning
soupy
C2
/ˈsuːpi/
having a thick, wet, or fluid consistency like soup
brevity
C2
/ˈbɹɛvəti/
The quality of expressing something in few words; conciseness.
androgynous
C2
/ænˈdɹɑd͡ʒ.ən.əs/
Pertaining to a feature or characteristic that is not definitively of either sex.
irreconcilable
C2
/ˌɪˈrɛkənˌsaɪləbəl/
impossible to reconcile
blurb
C2
/blɝ(ː)b/
A short promotional description of a book, film, or product, often quoting praise.
eccentricity
C2
/ˌɛk.sɛnˈtɹɪs.ɪ.ti/
Strange or unusual behaviour; the quality of being odd.
rhesus
C2
/ˈɹiːsəs/
of southern Asia
sprightly
C2
/ˈspraɪtli/
full of spirit and vitality
untainted
C2
/ʌnˈteɪntɪd/
not contaminated, adulterated, or spoiled; pure
cantankerous
C2
/kænˈtæŋkəɹəs/
having a difficult and contrary disposition
cloudless
C2
/ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
ingratiate
C2
/ɪnˈɡɹeɪ.ʃi.eɪt/
To make yourself liked by someone, often through flattery or trying too hard to please.
predilection
C2
/ˌpɹɛ.dəˈlɛk.ʃn̩/
A strong liking or preference for something.
mossy
C2
/ˈmɔsi/
Covered in or overgrown with moss.
paradoxically
C2
/ˌpɛɹəˈdɑksɪkli/
In a way that seems self-contradictory yet may be true.
imperceptible
C2
/ˌɪmpɝˈsɛptɪbəl/
So small, slight, or gradual that it cannot be noticed.
anthology
C2
/ænˈθɑləd͡ʒi/
A collection of poems, stories, or other writings, often by different authors.
tacit
C2
/ˈtæsɪt/
Understood or agreed without being said directly.
unwieldy
C2
/ənˈwiːldi/
difficult to work or manipulate
knobby
C2
/ˈnɑbi/
covered with or having rounded lumps, knobs, or projections
verdant
C2
/ˈvɜɹ.dənt/
characterized by the abundance of green foliage
puerile
C2
/ˈpjʊɹɪl/
of or characteristic of a child
colourless
C2
/ˈkʌlə(ɹ).ləs/
Having little or no colour.
filmy
C2
/ˈfɪlmi/
so thin as to transmit light
ancillary
C2
/ˈæn.səˌlɛɹ.i/
furnishing added support
wilfully
C2
/ˈwɪlfəli/
Willingly, of one's own free will.
powdery
C2
/ˈpaʊdəri/
consisting of, resembling, or easily crumbling into fine dry particles
aghast
C2
/əˈɡæst/
Filled with shock and horror.
waterlogged
C2
/ˈwɔtɝˌlɑːgd/
soaked or saturated with water
surreptitiously
C2
/ˌsɝːəpˈtɪʃəsli/
In a secret way, so as not to be noticed.
gelatinous
C2
/ˈdʒelətɪnəs/
having a thick, soft, jellylike consistency
conspicuously
C2
/kənˈspɪkjuːəsli/
in a manner tending to attract attention
commensurate
C2
/kəˈmɛnsəɹət/
In proportion to something; matching it in size, degree, or amount.
elan
C2
/eɪˈlɑːn/
energetic confidence, enthusiasm, and stylish flair
unsurpassed
C2
/ˌənsɝˈpæst/
Better than anything or anyone else; impossible to beat.
ardently
C2
/ˈɑːrdəntli/
in an ardent manner
emigrant
C2
/ˈɛmɪɡɹənt/
someone who leaves one country to settle in another
nonchalantly
C2
/ˈnɑːnʃəˈlɑːntli/
In a calm, relaxed way that shows no worry or concern.
mismanagement
C2
/ˌmɪsˈmænɪd͡ʒmənt/
management that is careless or inefficient
slippy
C2
/ˈslɪpi/
slippery; difficult to stand on, hold, or control because it is smooth or wet
sylvan
C2
/ˈsɪlvən/
relating to or characteristic of wooded regions
prise
C2
/pɹaɪz/
To force something open or apart using a lever or tool.
cay
C2
/kiː/
A small, low island made of sand or coral.
spindly
C2
/ˈspɪnd.li/
long or tall, unusually thin, and appearing weak or fragile
skew
C2
/skju/
To distort or bias something so it gives a false or one-sided result.
calamitous
C2
/kəˈlæmətəs/
Causing or involving great harm or disaster.
toothy
C2
/ˈtuːθi/
showing many teeth or having large, noticeable teeth
axiom
C2
/ˈæk.si.əm/
A statement accepted as obviously true without needing proof.
taciturn
C2
/ˈtæsɪtɝn/
Saying very little; not inclined to talk.
preeminent
C2
/priːˈɛmənənt/
Better than all others; outstanding in rank or quality.
capillary
C2
/kəˈpɪl.ə.ɹi/
long and slender with a very small internal diameter
communicable
C2
/kəˈmjuːnɪkəbəl/
readily communicated
posit
C2
/ˈpɑzɪt/
To suggest or assume that something is true as a basis for argument.
ably
C2
/ˈeɪ.bli/
In an able manner; with great ability.
dogmatic
C2
/dɔɡˈmæt.ɪk/
relating to or involving dogma