This week on The Missing Workbook
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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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169 words
echo
C2
/ˈɛkoʊ/
A sound that comes back to you after it bounces off a surface.
M
S
ironic
C2
/aɪˈɹɑ.nɪk/
Surprising because it is the opposite of what you would expect.
M
S
cosmic
C2
/ˈkɑz.mɪk/
Relating to the universe or outer space.
M
S
solitude
C2
/ˈsɑlɪˌtud/
The state of being alone, often by choice and in a peaceful way.
M
S
vicinity
C2
/vəˈsɪnəti/
The area near or around a particular place.
M
S
brink
C2
/bɹɪŋk/
The point just before something important or dangerous happens.
M
S
scroll
C2
/skɹoʊl/
To move text or images up, down, or across a screen to see different parts.
M
S
matron
C2
/ˈmeɪtɹən/
a married woman, usually middle-aged with children, who is staid and dignified
M
S
rift
C2
/ɹɪft/
A serious break in friendly relations; a state of conflict or distance between people.
M
S
pinpoint
C2
/ˈpɪnpɔɪnt/
to identify or locate something with great precision
M
S
vortex
C2
/ˈvɔɹtɛks/
A whirling mass of water, air, or other fluid that pulls things toward its centre.
M
S
barricade
C2
/ˌbæɹ.ɪˈkeɪd/
a barrier (usually thrown up hastily) to impede the advance of an enemy
M
S
exorcism
C2
/ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsɪ.zəm/
A ritual performed to drive out an evil spirit from a person, place, or thing.
M
S
intolerable
C2
/ɪnˈtɑləɹəbl̩/
incapable of being put up with
M
S
hoist
C2
/hɔɪst/
To raise or lift something heavy, often using ropes, pulleys, or other equipment.
M
S
provocation
C2
/ˌpɹɑvəˈkeɪʃən/
An action or remark that deliberately makes someone angry or upset.
M
S
whirlwind
C2
/ˈ(h)wɝlwɪnd/
A column of air spinning rapidly as it moves across the ground.
M
S
cordon
C2
/ˈkɔː(ɹ)dən/
A line of people or barriers placed around an area to guard or block it.
M
S
cocoon
C2
/kəˈkuːn/
The silky covering a caterpillar spins around itself before becoming a moth or butterfly.
M
S
conduit
C2
/ˈkɒnd(j)ʊɪt/
A pipe or channel that carries water, wires, or other things.
M
S
pedestal
C2
/ˈpɛdɪstəl/
A base on which a statue, column, or vase stands.
M
S
perch
C2
/pɝt͡ʃ/
To sit or rest on a high or narrow place, especially of a bird.
M
S
winch
C2
/wɪnt͡ʃ/
pull or lift up with or as if with a winch
M
S
adrift
C2
/əˈdrɪft/
floating without being moored or steered
M
S
seismic
C2
/ˈsaɪzmɪk/
Relating to or caused by earthquakes.
M
S
promenade
C2
/pɹɑməˈneɪd/
A wide public path for walking, often by the sea.
M
S
bourne
C2
/bɔːrn/
a boundary or limit, especially in archaic or literary use
M
S
girdle
C2
/ˈɡɝdl̩/
cut a girdle around so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients
M
S
gambit
C2
/ˈɡæmbɪt/
A clever plan or action used to gain an advantage, often involving some risk.
M
S
spatial
C2
/ˈspæɪ.ʃəl/
Relating to space and the position, size, or arrangement of things in it.
M
S
crouch
C2
/kɹaʊt͡ʃ/
to sit on one's heels
M
S
brim
C2
/ˈbrɪm/
The top edge of a cup, bowl, or other container
M
S
forefront
C2
/ˈfɔɹfɹʌnt/
the part in the front or nearest the viewer
M
S
tenacity
C2
/təˈnæsəti/
The quality of being determined and refusing to give up.
M
S
euphemism
C2
/ˈjuː.fəˌmɪz.əm/
A mild or indirect word used in place of one that is harsh, blunt, or offensive.
M
S
seedy
C2
/ˈsiːdi/
Dirty, run-down, and slightly disreputable.
M
S
veranda
C2
/vɝˈændə/
a porch along the outside of a building, sometimes partly enclosed
M
S
fabrication
C2
/fæbɹɪˈkeɪʃən/
A made-up story or statement; a lie
M
S
derelict
C2
/ˈdɛɹəˌlɪk(t)/
Left empty and falling apart from neglect; run-down.
M
S
autonomous
C2
/ɔˈtɑnəməs/
Able to govern itself or make its own decisions, without control from others.
M
S
coax
C2
/koʊks/
To gently persuade someone to do something, often with kind or flattering words.
M
S
blight
C2
/ˈblaɪt/
Something that spoils or damages a situation, place, or life.
M
S
resuscitate
C2
/ɹɪˈsʌsɪˌteɪt/
To bring an unconscious or apparently dead person back to life
M
S
banishment
C2
/ˈbænɪʃmənt/
The state of being sent away from a place and forbidden to return; exile.
M
S
swivel
C2
/ˈswɪvəl/
To turn or swing around on a central point, as on a pivot.
M
S
underside
C2
/ˈʌndɚˌsaɪd/
the lower or underneath surface of something
M
S
resuscitation
C2
/rɪˌsəsɪˈteɪʃən/
The act of bringing an unconscious or apparently dead person back to life
M
S
recuperate
C2
/ɹɪˈk(j)uːpəˌɹeɪt/
To recover, especially after an illness, injury, or exhaustion.
M
S
intermediary
C2
/ˌɪn(t)ɚˈmidiˌɛɹi/
A person who acts as a link between two sides to help them reach an agreement.
M
S
repose
C2
/ɹəˈpoʊz/
A calm, restful state free from work or worry.
M
S
propel
C2
/pɹəˈpel/
cause to move forward with force
M
S
dais
C2
/ˈdeɪ.ɪs/
a raised platform that gives prominence to a speaker, honored person, throne, or table
M
S
stratosphere
C2
/ˈstrætəsˌfɪr/
The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, where the ozone layer absorbs the sun's ultraviolet rays.
M
S
interlude
C2
/ˈɪntə(ɹ)luːd/
A short period or event that comes between two longer ones.
M
S
parasitic
C2
/ˌpɛɹ.əˈsɪt.ɪk/
Relating to or caused by parasites, which live on or in another organism.
M
S
cloister
C2
/ˈklɔɪstɚ/
A covered walkway around an open courtyard, usually in a monastery or cathedral
M
S
nether
C2
/ˈnɛðɚ/
situated below or beneath; lower, chiefly in literary or fixed expressions
M
S
girth
C2
/ɡɝθ/
stable gear consisting of a band around a horse's belly that holds the saddle in place
M
S
ascendant
C2
/əˈsɛndənt/
most powerful or important or influential
M
S
cul-de-sac
C2
/ˈkʌldəsæk/
a street, passage, or route closed at one end
M
S
deficient
C2
/dɪˈfɪʃənt/
Not having enough of something that is needed.
M
S
transcendent
C2
/tɹæn(t)ˈsɛndənt/
beyond and outside the ordinary range of human experience or understanding
M
S
hitherto
C2
/ˈhɪðəɹˌtu/
Until now; up to this point in time.
M
S
whitewash
C2
/ˈwaɪtwɒʃ/
cover with whitewash
M
S
retrospective
C2
/ˌɹɛt.ɹə(ʊ)ˈspɛk.tɪv/
Looking back on or relating to the past.
M
S
prostrate
C2
/ˈpɹɑstɹeɪt/
Lying flat on the ground, usually face down.
M
S
irrevocable
C2
/iˈɹɛvəkəbəl/
Impossible to change, reverse, or take back; final.
M
S
intangible
C2
/ɪnˈtæn.d͡ʒə.bəl/
hard to pin down or identify
M
S
overlay
C2
/ˌoʊvɚˈleɪ/
To lay or spread something over the surface of something else.
M
S
floodgates
C2
/ˈflʌdˌgeɪts/
Gates that control the flow of water; often used figuratively for whatever is holding back a sudden rush of something.
M
S
liaise
C2
/liːˈeɪz/
To work together and exchange information to reach a common goal.
M
S
collider
C2
/kəˈlaɪdɚ/
A machine that speeds up particles and makes two beams of them crash into each other for research.
M
S
flit
C2
/flɪt/
To move quickly and lightly from one place to another.
M
S
duplex
C2
/ˈdu.plɛks/
allowing communication in opposite directions simultaneously
M
S
spacesuit
C2
/ˈspeɪs.suːt/
a sealed protective suit with life-support equipment that allows an astronaut to survive and work in space or a near-vacuum
M
S
monastic
C2
/məˈnæstɪk/
Relating to monks, nuns, or the life of a monastery.
M
S
astride
C2
/əˈstraɪd/
with one leg on each side of something
M
S
loiter
C2
/ˈlɔɪtɚ/
To stand or wait around a place with no clear purpose.
M
S
tangent
C2
/ˈtæn.d͡ʒənt/
a ratio of the opposite to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle
M
S
intrinsic
C2
/ɪnˈtɹɪn.zɪk/
Belonging naturally to something as part of its basic nature.
M
S
oblique
C2
/oʊˈbliːk/
Said in an indirect way rather than plainly; not straightforward.
M
S
proximal
C2
/ˈprɑːksəməl/
Located nearest to the point of attachment, origin, or the body's centre.
M
S
counterproductive
C2
/ˌkaʊntəpɹəˈdʌktɪv/
Having the opposite effect to the one you intended; doing more harm than good.
M
S
oust
C2
/ʌʊst/
remove from a position or office
M
S
foray
C2
/ˈfɔɹ.eɪ/
an initial attempt (especially outside your usual areas of competence)
M
S
jarring
C2
[d͡ʒɑːrɪŋ]
Unpleasantly shocking or out of place; clashing.
M
S
sandwiched
C2
/ˈsænˌdwɪtʃt/
Squeezed or fitted tightly between two other things.
M
S
allot
C2
/əˈlɑt/
To give out a share of something, such as time, money, or space, for a particular purpose.
M
S
resound
C2
/ɹəˈzaʊnd/
To be filled with a loud sound that echoes around
M
S
centralized
C2
/ˈsɛntrəˌlaɪzd/
Controlled or organised from one central place or authority.
M
S
forfeiture
C2
/ˈfɔɹfɪt͡ʃɚ/
The act of losing or giving up something as a penalty for a wrongdoing or failure.
M
S
abut
C2
/əˈbʌt/
to lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
M
S
embed
C2
/ɪmˈbɛd/
To fix something firmly inside a surrounding material.
M
S
gravitate
C2
/ˈɡɹævɪteɪt/
To be drawn toward someone or something, as if pulled by an unseen force.
M
S
confluence
C2
/ˈkɑnˌflu.əns/
a place where things merge or flow together, especially rivers
M
S
encompass
C2
/ɪnˈkʌmpəs/
To include a wide range of things within its scope.
M
S