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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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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View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
943 words
uncouple
C2
/ʌnˈkʌpəl/
disconnect or separate
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emasculate
C2
/əˈmæs.kjəˌleɪt/
to deprive a person, institution, or measure of strength, power, or effectiveness
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teem
C2
/tiːm/
To be full of a large number of people, animals, or things.
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cavil
C2
/ˈkæv.əl/
To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.
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cavort
C2
/kəˈvɔːrt/
to jump, dance, or move about in a lively, playful, and often noisy way
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refrigerate
C2
/ɹɪˈfɹɪd͡ʒəɹeɪt/
cool or chill in or as if in a refrigerator
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ablution
C2
/əˈbluː.ʃən/
the act of washing oneself, especially as part of a regular routine; often plural
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percolate
C2
/ˈpɝkəleɪt/
prepare in a percolator
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tantalize
C2
/ˈtæntəlaɪz/
To tease someone by showing or offering something they want but cannot have.
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riposte
C2
/ɹɪˈpoʊst/
make a return thrust
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finagle
C2
/ˈfɪnəgəl/
To obtain, arrange, or achieve by indirect, complicated and/or intensive efforts.
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segregate
C2
/ˈsɛɡɹəɡət/
separate or isolate (one thing) from another and place in a group apart from others
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conciliation
C2
/kənˌsɪliːˈeɪʃən/
The act of ending a conflict and bringing people back to peace.
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reissue
C2
/riːˈɪʃuː/
To issue or publish something again, often in a new version.
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perusal
C2
/pəˈɹuːzl̩/
The act or process of perusing, or an instance of it.
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utilization
C2
/ˌjuːtələˈzeɪʃən/
The act of using something, or the degree to which it is used.
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slue
C2
/sluː/
to turn, swing, or pivot sharply, especially around a fixed point
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reacquaint
C2
/ˌriː.əˈkweɪnt/
to make someone familiar again with a person, place, subject, or skill
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philosophize
C2
/fɪˈlɑː.sə.faɪz/
to think or reason philosophically about fundamental questions
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misconstrue
C2
/mɪskənˈstruː/
To interpret erroneously, to understand incorrectly; to misunderstand.
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decamp
C2
/dɪˈkæmp/
to leave a place suddenly or secretly, often in order to avoid trouble
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supplant
C2
/səˈplænt/
take the place or move into the position of
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swathe
C2
/swɑð/
To bind with a swathe, band, bandage, or rollers
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trounce
C2
/traʊns/
to defeat someone thoroughly or by a very large margin
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asceticism
C2
/əˈsɛt.əˌsɪz.əm/
the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from physical comforts or pleasures
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bifurcation
C2
/ˌbaɪfɚˈkeɪʃən/
The act of bifurcating; branching or dividing in two.
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expropriate
C2
/ɛksˈpɹəʊpɹi.eɪt/
deprive of possessions
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repercussion
C2
/ˌɹi.pɚˈkʌʃ.ən/
a remote or indirect consequence of some action
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geld
C2
/ɡɛld/
cut off the testicles (of male animals such as horses)
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dovetail
C2
/ˈdʌvˌteɪl/
To combine or fit (things) together well.
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jilt
C2
/dʒɪlt/
to suddenly reject or abandon a romantic partner, especially shortly before an expected marriage
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careen
C2
/kəˈɹiːn/
to move rapidly and unsteadily from side to side, as though likely to overturn
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oscillate
C2
/ˈɑsɪleɪt/
To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.
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deaden
C2
/ˈdɛdən/
To make a feeling or sensation, especially pain, less strong.
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recapitulate
C2
/ˌriːkəˈpɪtʃəˌleɪt/
summarize briefly
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hypothesize
C2
/haɪˈpɑ.θəˌsaɪz/
To suggest an explanation for something without yet having proof.
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falconry
C2
/ˈfɑːlkənri/
the practice or sport of training falcons and other birds of prey to hunt wild quarry
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recombine
C2
/ˌriːkəmˈbaɪn/
to put separated or analyzed parts together again, sometimes in a new arrangement
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exultation
C2
/ˌɛɡzʌlˈteɪʃən/
The act of exulting; great joy at success or victory, or at any advantage gained; rapturous delight
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sputter
C2
/ˈspʌt.ɚ/
to make a series of soft explosive, spitting, or popping sounds
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incise
C2
/ɪnˈsaɪz/
To cut into a surface with a sharp tool, especially to carve or engrave a design.
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tromp
C2
/tɹɒmp/
to walk, tread, or stamp heavily, often crushing what is underfoot
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vegetate
C2
/ˈvɛdʒəˌteɪt/
to live in a passive, monotonous, or mentally inactive way
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galvanize
C2
/ˈɡælvənaɪ̯z/
to stimulate muscles by administering a shock
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aerate
C2
/ˈer.eɪt/
to supply or expose something to air or oxygen
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disabuse
C2
/dɪsəˈbjuːs/
To free (someone) of a misconception or misapprehension; to unveil a falsehood held by (someone).
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totter
C2
/ˈtɑtɚ/
To walk or stand unsteadily, as if about to fall.
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calve
C2
/kæv/
of a cow or certain other large mammals: to give birth to a calf
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belabor
C2
/bɪˈleɪbɝ/
to attack verbally with harsh criticism
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betroth
C2
/bəˈtɹoʊð/
to formally promise someone in marriage or become formally engaged to marry
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spay
C2
/ˈspeɪ/
remove the ovaries of
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desiccation
C2
/ˌdɛsəˈkeɪʃən/
the process of removing moisture from something or causing it to become completely dry
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interdict
C2
/ˈɪntɚdɪkt/
To forbid (an action or thing) by formal or legal sanction.
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convulse
C2
/kənˈvʌls/
to shake or contract violently in sudden, involuntary movements
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prate
C2
/preɪt/
to talk at length in a foolish, trivial, or tiresome way
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abatement
C2
/əˈbeɪtmənt/
the act of abating
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unshackle
C2
/ʌnˈʃækəl/
to free a person, activity, or system from restrictions, restraints, or control
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stipple
C2
/ˈstɪpəl/
to draw, paint, engrave, or shade using many small dots or short marks
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protrude
C2
/pɹəˈtɹud/
To stick out beyond a surface or edge.
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reinvigorate
C2
/ˌriːɪnˈvɪɡəreɪt/
to give someone renewed health, energy, or vitality
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gibber
C2
/ˈdʒɪb.ɚ/
to speak rapidly and incoherently, especially from fear, excitement, or confusion
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enunciation
C2
/ɪˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/
The act of enunciating, announcing, proclaiming, or making known; open attestation; declaration.
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thresh
C2
/θrɛʃ/
to separate grain or seeds from harvested plants by beating or by machine
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tyro
C2
/ˈtaɪɹoʊ/
someone new to a field or activity
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elide
C2
/ɪˈlaɪd/
to omit a sound, syllable, word, or other element
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pervade
C2
/pɚˈveɪd/
To be in every part of; to spread through; to permeate.
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indemnify
C2
/ɪnˈdɛm.nɪ.faɪ/
To secure against loss or damage; to insure.
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layperson
C2
/ˈleɪ.pɜɹ.sən/
One who is not intimately familiar with a given subject or activity.
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quackery
C2
/ˈkwækəri/
fraudulent or scientifically unsound medical practice, treatment, or advice
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mainspring
C2
/ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ/
the chief motive, source, or driving force behind an action or development
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mollify
C2
/ˈmɒlɪfaɪ/
To ease a burden, particularly to ease a worry; make less painful; to comfort.
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importune
C2
/ɪmpɔɹˈtuːn/
beg persistently and urgently
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cogito
C2
/ˈkɑɡɪtoʊ/
Descartes's argument cogito, ergo sum ("I think, therefore I am"), or the act of thought on which it rests
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defray
C2
/dɪˈfɹæɪ/
bear the expenses of
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waylay
C2
/ˈweɪleɪ/
to wait for someone in order to attack them or stop them unexpectedly
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repudiation
C2
/rɪˌpjuːdiˈeɪʃən/
the act of rejecting, disowning, or refusing to accept something as valid
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exult
C2
/ɪɡˈzʌlt/
to express great joy
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nobble
C2
/ˈnɑː.bəl/
British informal: to bribe, persuade, intimidate, or otherwise secure improper influence over someone
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cadge
C2
/kæd͡ʒ/
To obtain something by wit or guile; to convince people to do something they might not normally do.
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ostracize
C2
/ˈɑstɹəˌsaɪz/
avoid speaking to or dealing with
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automate
C2
/ˈɔ.təˌmeɪt/
To make a process work by machines or computers instead of by people.
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siss
C2
/sɪs/
to make or utter with a sharp hissing sound
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undulate
C2
/ˈʌndjəleɪt/
increase and decrease in volume or pitch, as if in waves
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demystify
C2
/diːˈmɪstəˌfaɪ/
To make something easier to understand by explaining it clearly.
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nauseate
C2
/ˈnɔːziˌeɪt/
to make someone feel sick or as if they are going to vomit
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presuppose
C2
/ˌpɹiːsəˈpəʊz/
To assume that something is true before going on to argue or conclude something else.
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unlace
C2
/ʌnˈleɪs/
undo the ties of
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grizzle
C2
/ˈɡrɪz.əl/
chiefly British, informal and disapproving: to cry fretfully or complain continually
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conjuration
C2
/ˌkɑndʒəˈreɪʃən/
the supposed act of summoning a spirit or supernatural being by magic
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reinterpret
C2
/ˌriːɪnˈtɝːprət/
To interpret again.
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splay
C2
/spleɪ/
to spread or turn outward and apart, especially from a central point
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purloin
C2
/pɚˈlɔɪn/
formal or humorous: to steal or wrongfully take something, often secretly or in breach of trust
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furl
C2
/fɝl/
to roll or fold a sail, flag, or similar sheet and secure it
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enthrall
C2
/ɪnˈθɹɔːl/
To hold spellbound.
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refract
C2
/rɪˈfrækt/
to make light, sound, or another wave change direction as it passes between media
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cohabit
C2
/koʊˈhæbɪt/
to live together as an intimate couple, especially without being married
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