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