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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625 words
lilliputian
C2
/ˌlɪləˈpjuʃən/
extremely small, miniature, or petty in scale or importance
autonomously
C2
/ˌɔˈtɑːnoʊməsli/
In a way that is independent or self-governing.
hoar
C2
/hɔr/
literary: greyish white with age; old and grey-haired or frost-whitened
greyish
C2
/ˈɡɹeɪ.ɪʃ/
Alternative spelling of grayish.
indissoluble
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈsɑːljəbəl/
impossible to break, separate, annul, or bring to an end
opacity
C2
/oʊˈpæsɪti/
The quality of not allowing light to pass through.
physiologist
C2
/ˌfɪziːˈɑːlədʒɪst/
a biologist specializing in physiology
unimagined
C2
/ˌənɪˈmædʒənd/
not previously conceived, pictured, or expected
warty
C2
/ˈwɔrti/
covered with warts or wart-like growths
presuppose
C2
/ˌpɹiːsəˈpəʊz/
To assume that something is true before going on to argue or conclude something else.
reinterpret
C2
/ˌriːɪnˈtɝːprət/
To interpret again.
friable
C2
/ˈfraɪəbəl/
easily crumbled, broken into small fragments, or reduced to powder
correspondingly
C2
/ˌkɔ.ɹəˈspɑn.dɪŋ.li/
in a corresponding manner
refutation
C2
/ˌɹef.jʊˈtæɪ.ʃən/
the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions
adulterate
C2
/əˈdʌltəɹət/
To make something weaker or lower in quality by adding another substance.
intolerably
C2
/ˌɪnˈtɑːlɝəbli/
to an unacceptable degree
striation
C2
/[stɹaɪˈeɪ.ʃən]/
one of a series of narrow parallel lines, grooves, ridges, or bands
blubbery
C2
/ˈblʌbəɹi/
Fat, soft, and wobbly, like blubber.
inextricable
C2
/ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbəl/
so closely connected or entangled that separation is impossible
illustrative
C2
/ɪˈlʌs.tɹə.tɪv/
Demonstrative, exemplative, showing an example or demonstrating.
tantalizingly
C2
/ˈtæntəˌlaɪzɪŋli/
In a way that tempts you with something desirable but just out of reach.
infernally
C2
Extremely; to an annoying degree.
twiddly
C2
/ˈtwɪdəli/
informal: winding, twisting, or intricately shaped
unmodified
C2
not changed in form or character
axiomatic
C2
/ˌæk.si.əˈmæt.ɪk/
So obviously true that it needs no proof.
mottling
C2
/ˈmɑːtəlɪŋ/
spots or blotches of different shades or colours
unsurpassable
C2
/ˌʌnsɚˈpæsəbəl/
so excellent, great, or extreme that it cannot be surpassed
capriciously
C2
/kəˈprɪʃɪsli/
in a capricious manner
ignominiously
C2
/ˌɪɡ.nəˈmɪ.ni.əs.li/
In a shameful or dishonourable way.
vaporous
C2
/ˈveɪpɚəs/
filled with, consisting of, or resembling vapor; misty or gaseous
rumination
C2
/ˌɹuːmɪˈneɪʃən/
Deep, careful thinking about something over a long time.
crudity
C2
/ˈkruːdəti/
the quality of being rough, primitive, or lacking refinement
coppery
C2
/ˈkɑpəɹi/
resembling copper, especially in having its reddish-brown color or metallic sheen
disparagingly
C2
/dɪˈspɛrɪdʒɪŋli/
In a way that shows a low opinion of someone or something; insultingly.
injudicious
C2
/ˌɪnd͡ʒʊˈdɪʃəs/
Showing poor judgement; not well judged.
inseparably
C2
/ˌɪnˈsɛpɝəbli/
without possibility of separation
rufous
C2
/ˈruːfəs/
reddish-brown or rust-colored, especially in descriptions of animal fur or plumage
unquenched
C2
/ʌnˈkwɛntʃt/
not extinguished, cooled, or slaked
incorporeal
C2
/ɪnkɔː(ɹ)ˈpɔːɹiəl/
Having no material form or physical substance.
trumpery
C2
/ˈtɹʌmpəɹi/
showy but worthless objects, ornaments, or finery
ungentle
C2
/ʌnˈdʒɛntəl/
not gentle, kind, or considerate; harsh
insomuch
C2
/ɪnsəʊˈmʌt͡ʃ/
Because of; since; as a result of.
dapple
C2
/ˈdæp.əl/
to mark or cover something with contrasting spots or irregular patches of color, light, or shade
remonstrate
C2
/ˈɹɛ.mən.stɹeɪt/
To protest or argue against something, expressing strong disapproval.
qualitatively
C2
/ˌkwɑːləˈteɪtɪvli/
in a manner relating to the value of something rather than the amount
inextinguishable
C2
/ˌɪnɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/
impossible or extremely difficult to extinguish
elongation
C2
/ˌiːlɔŋˈgeɪʃən/
The angular distance of a planet from the sun.
confabulation
C2
/kənˌfæbjəˈleɪʃən/
A false memory that someone genuinely believes is true, often caused by brain illness.
brushy
C2
/ˈbrʌʃi/
covered with or consisting of dense bushes, scrub, or undergrowth
prescriptive
C2
/pɹəˈskɹəptəv/
Giving firm rules or instructions about how something should be done.
dubiously
C2
/ˈdub.i.əs.li/
In a doubtful or uncertain way, as if unsure something is good or true.
stoutly
C2
/ˈstaʊtli/
in a resolute manner
scabrous
C2
/ˈskæb.rəs/
dealing with indecent, salacious, or scandalous subject matter
unpractical
C2
/ʌnˈpræktɪkəl/
not suitable or effective for use in real situations
laudatory
C2
/ˈlɔdəˌtɔri/
Expressing strong praise.
ebon
C2
/ˈɛbən/
literary: deep black in color, like ebony
fixedly
C2
/ˈfɪksɪdli/
in a fixed manner
rotundity
C2
/roʊˈtʌndəti/
roundness of shape or fullness of figure
largeness
C2
/ˈlɑːd͡ʒnəs/
large or extensive in breadth or importance or comprehensiveness
elfish
C2
/ˈɛlfɪʃ/
resembling or characteristic of an elf; strange, delicate, or otherworldly
inchoate
C2
/ɪnˈkoʊət/
Just beginning and not yet fully formed or developed
unfeasibly
C2
To a degree that seems impossible or impractical.
arduously
C2
In a way that requires great effort and is very tiring.
expiratory
C2
/ɪkˈspaɪrəˌtɔri/
of or relating to the breathing out phase of respiration
membranous
C2
/ˈmɛm.bɹən.əs/
characterized by formation of a membrane (or something resembling a membrane)
pervious
C2
/ˈpɝviəs/
able to be penetrated or passed through by water, air, or another substance
selectivity
C2
/sɪˌlɛkˈtɪvəti/
The quality of being careful or particular about what one chooses.
paradisiacal
C2
/ˌpærədɪˈsaɪəkəl/
idyllically beautiful, peaceful, or pleasurable
apologetically
C2
/əˌpɑːləˈdʒɛtɪˌkliː/
in an apologetic manner
suffuse
C2
/səˈfjuːz/
To spread slowly through or over something, especially a colour, light, or feeling.
polysyllabic
C2
/ˌpɔ.lɪ.sɪˈlæ.bɪk/
Having more than one syllable, or many syllables.
hornless
C2
/ˈhɔːn.ləs/
having no horns
unimproved
C2
/ˌənɪmˈpruːvd/
not made more desirable or valuable or profitable
unshaped
C2
/ʌnˈʃeɪpt/
incompletely or imperfectly shaped
frowsy
C2
/ˈfraʊzi/
dirty, neglected, and untidy in appearance
pouter
C2
/ˈpaʊtɝ/
one of a breed of pigeon that enlarge their crop until their breast is puffed out
palmy
C2
/ˈpɑː.mi/
prosperous, flourishing, successful, or triumphant, especially in the phrase palmy days
melodiously
C2
In a way that sounds pleasant and tuneful.
malleability
C2
/ˌmæliːəˈbɪləti/
The quality of being easily shaped, bent, or changed.
infallibly
C2
/ɪnˈfæl.ɪ.bli/
In a way that never fails or makes a mistake.
irrelevancy
C2
/ˌɪˈrɛləvənsi/
Something that has no bearing on the matter being discussed.
shadeless
C2
/ˈʃeɪdləs/
having no protection from direct sunlight
murrey
C2
/ˈmɝːi/
heraldry: a dark mulberry or purplish-red color
corpuscular
C2
/kɔɹˈpʌskjəlɚ/
of or relating to corpuscles
allurement
C2
/əˈlʊr.mənt/
the quality or power of being strongly attractive or fascinating
unhandsome
C2
/ˌʌnˈhæn.səm/
Not handsome.
initiatory
C2
/ɪˈnɪʃiəˌtɔri/
serving as a beginning or introduction; initial
indestructibility
C2
/ˌɪndəˌstrəktɪˈbɪlɪti/
The condition of being indestructible.
irremediable
C2
/ˌɪrɪˈmidiəbəl/
impossible to cure, correct, repair, or improve
workmanlike
C2
/ˈwɜː(ɹ)kmənlaɪk/
Resembling or characteristic of a workman.
antipathetic
C2
/ˌæntɪpəˈθɛtɪk/
feeling, showing, or causing strong dislike or repugnance
cultish
C2
Resembling a cult, especially in showing extreme or unquestioning devotion.
stringency
C2
/ˈstrɪndʒənsi/
the quality of being strict, exacting, or rigorously enforced
angularity
C2
The quality of having sharp angles or corners.
mundanity
C2
/mʌnˈdænɪti/
The quality of being ordinary, dull, or unremarkable.
threadlike
C2
/ˈθɹɛdˌlaɪk/
resembling a thread in being long, narrow, or extremely thin