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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227 words
vampire
C2
/ˈvæm.paɪ.ə(ɹ)/
A mythological creature (usually humanoid and undead) said to feed on the blood or life energy of the living.
thud
C2
/ˈθʌd/
strike with a dull sound
salute
C2
/səˈlut/
an act of honor or courteous recognition
wig
C2
/wɪɡ/
A bigwig.
madman
C2
/ˈmædˌmæn/
an insane person
cement
C2
/səˈmɛnt/
concrete pavement is sometimes referred to as cement
wan
C2
/wɑn/
lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness
martyr
C2
/ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)/
kill as a martyr
sow
C2
/saʊ/
introduce into an environment
gunpowder
C2
/ˈɡʌnˌpaʊdɚ/
An explosive mixture of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), charcoal and sulfur; formerly used in gunnery but now mostly used in fireworks.
rejoice
C2
/ɹɪˈd͡ʒɔɪs/
To be very happy, be delighted, exult; to feel joy.
moth
C2
/mɔθ/
Any flying insect of the order Lepidoptera not in the superfamily Papilionoidea, most species of which are nocturnal and can be distinguished from butterflies by feather-like antennae.
adultery
C2
/əˈdʌltəɹi/
extramarital sex that willfully and maliciously interferes with marriage relations
budge
C2
/ˈbʌdʒ/
to move very slightly
improvise
C2
/ˈɪmpɹəvaɪz/
To make something up or invent it as one goes on; to proceed guided only by imagination, intuition, and guesswork rather than by a careful plan.
radiant
C2
/ˈɹeɪ.di.ənt/
Radiating light and/or heat.
cactus
C2
/ˈkæktəs/
Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate.
plank
C2
/ˈplæŋk/
cover with planks
clueless
C2
/ˈkluːləs/
having no knowledge or understanding of a situation or subject
hatchet
C2
/ˈhæt͡ʃɪt/
A small, light axe with a short handle; a tomahawk.
skeptical
C2
/ˈskɛptɪkəl/
denying or questioning the tenets of especially a religion
onward
C2
/ˈɑnwɚd/
Moving forward.
rivalry
C2
/ˈraɪvəlri/
An ongoing relationship between (usually two) rivals who compete for superiority.
banish
C2
/ˈbænɪʃ/
To send someone away from a place, especially as an official punishment, and forbid them to return.
atheist
C2
/ˈeɪθiɪst/
related to or characterized by or given to atheism
mindless
C2
/maɪnd.ləs/
requiring little mental effort
intoxication
C2
/ɪntɑksɪˈkeɪʃən/
excitement and elation beyond the bounds of sobriety
sleet
C2
/sliːt/
precipitate as a mixture of rain and snow
satin
C2
/ˈsæt.ɪn/
A cloth woven from silk, nylon or polyester with a glossy surface and a dull back. (The same weaving technique applied to cotton produces cloth termed sateen).
infidelity
C2
/ˌɪnfɪˈdɛlɪti/
Unfaithfulness in a marriage or an intimate (sexual or romantic) relationship: practice or instance of having a sexual or romantic affair with someone other than one's spouse, without the consent of the spouse.
cognitive
C2
/ˈkɑɡ.nɪ.tɪv/
Connected with thinking, learning, understanding, and remembering
bloodthirsty
C2
/ˈblʌdˌθɚsti/
Thirsty for blood: inexorably violent or eager for bloodshed; murderous.
wholesome
C2
/ˈhoʊl.səm/
sound or exhibiting soundness in body or mind
forcibly
C2
/ˈfɔːsəbli/
in a forcible manner
heresy
C2
/ˈhɛɹəsi/
A doctrine held by a member of a religion at variance or conflict with established religious beliefs.
telepathy
C2
/təˈlep.ə.θi/
the supposed direct communication of thoughts or feelings between minds without speech, writing, or other ordinary physical signals
agile
C2
/ˈæd͡ʒ.ɑel/
Able to move quickly and easily.
conjecture
C2
/kənˈd͡ʒɛk.t͡ʃɚ/
A guess or opinion based on incomplete evidence.
delirium
C2
/dɪˈlɪɹ.i.əm/
A temporary mental state with a sudden onset, usually reversible, including symptoms of confusion, inability to concentrate, disorientation, anxiety, and sometimes hallucinations. Causes can include dehydration, drug intoxication, and severe infection.
apostle
C2
/əˈpɑsl̩/
One of the early leaders of a religious mission, especially the twelve chief followers of Jesus.
poignant
C2
/ˈpɔɪnənt/
keenly distressing to the mind or feelings
foresight
C2
/ˈfɔɹsaɪt/
the ability to think ahead and prepare for what may happen
idealistic
C2
/aɪˌdiːəˈlɪstɪk/
Of or pertaining to an idealist or to idealism.
unconsciously
C2
/ˌʌnˈkɑnʃəsli/
without awareness or deliberate intention
incubator
C2
/ˈɪn.kjuːˌbeɪ.ɾɚ/
A support programme for the development of entrepreneurial companies.
narcotic
C2
/nɑɹˈkɑtɪk/
inducing mental lethargy
agility
C2
/əˈd͡ʒɪl.ə.ti/
The ability to move quickly and easily.
psychoanalysis
C2
/ˌsaɪkoʊəˈnæləsɪs/
a family of theories and therapeutic methods that interpret unconscious mental processes, conflicts, and motives
resolute
C2
/ˈɹɛ.zəˌl(j)uːt/
Firm, unyielding, determined.
meticulously
C2
/məˈtɪkjələsli/
In a very careful and precise way, paying attention to every detail.
chimera
C2
/kaɪˈmɪɹə/
Anything composed of very disparate parts.
sensuality
C2
/ˌsɛn.ʃuˈæl.ɪ.ti/
The state of being sensual or sensuous.
musty
C2
/ˈmʌsti/
Affected by dampness or mould; damp, mildewed, mouldy.
perplexed
C2
/pɚˈplɛkst/
full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
fleshy
C2
/ˈflɛʃi/
Of, related to, or resembling flesh.
drawbridge
C2
/ˈdɹɑbɹɪd͡ʒ/
A hinged bridge which can be raised (to prevent its being crossed, as across a moat, or to allow watercraft to travel beneath it).
snide
C2
/snaɪd/
Disparaging or derisive in an insinuative way.
workmanship
C2
/ˈwɜːk.mən.ʃɪp/
The skill of an artisan or craftsman.
dreamland
C2
/ˈdriːmˌlænd/
an imaginary world experienced in dreams or created by the imagination
thrush
C2
/θɹʌʃ/
Any of numerous species of songbirds of the cosmopolitan family Turdidae, such as the song thrush, mistle thrush, bluebird, and American robin.
mysticism
C2
/ˈməs.təˌsəz.əm/
A doctrine of direct communication or spiritual intuition of divine truth.
telepath
C2
/ˈtɛl.əˌpæθ/
a person believed or imagined to communicate thoughts directly without speech or other physical signals
nuance
C2
/ˈnju.ɑns/
a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
ingratitude
C2
/ɪnˈɡɹætɪtud/
A lack or absence of gratitude; thanklessness.
purview
C2
/ˈpɜː(ɹ)vjuː/
Scope or range of interest or control.
painstaking
C2
/ˈpeɪnˌsteɪkɪŋ/
Done with great care, attention to detail, and effort.
whimsy
C2
/ˈwɪmzi/
an odd, fanciful, or capricious idea or impulse
snub
C2
/snʌb/
a refusal to recognize someone you know
elicit
C2
/ɪˈlɪsɪt/
derive by reason
digress
C2
/daɪˈɡɹɛs/
lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking
obstinacy
C2
/ˈɑbstɪnəsi/
The state, or an act, of stubbornness or doggedness.
unequivocally
C2
/ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvək(ə)li/
In a way that leaves no doubt; clearly and firmly.
preoccupation
C2
/ˌpɹiɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/
The state of being so absorbed in a thought that you notice little else.
heretical
C2
/həˈɹɛtɪkəl/
Of or pertaining to heresy or heretics.
embryonic
C2
/ˌɛmbriːˈɑːnɪk/
in an early stage of development
stringent
C2
/ˈstɹɪn.d͡ʒənt/
Strict, severe, and demanding close attention to rules or standards.
unknowable
C2
/ʌnˈnoʊəbəl/
impossible to know, discover, or determine
zoological
C2
/zoʊəˈlɑd͡ʒɪkl̩/
of or relating to animals or animal groups
contemptuous
C2
/kənˈtɛmp.t͡ʃu.əs/
Showing that you think someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.
lattice
C2
/ˈlætəs/
A flat panel constructed with widely-spaced crossed thin strips of wood or other material, commonly used as a garden trellis.
orthodoxy
C2
/ˈɔɹθədɑksi/
Correctness of doctrine and belief in regard to any doctrinal (i.e. philosophical or theological) system.
solver
C2
/ˈsɑːl.vɚ/
a person or thing that finds the answer to a problem, puzzle, or equation
unequivocal
C2
/ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkəl/
Completely clear and leaving no doubt.
pictorial
C2
/pɪkˈtɔɹi.əl/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
inordinate
C2
/ɪnˈɔɹd(ə)nət/
Excessive; unreasonable or inappropriate in magnitude.
dictaphone
C2
/ˈdɪktəˌfoʊn/
a tape recorder that records and reproduces dictation
introspection
C2
/ɪntɹəˈspɛkʃən/
A looking inward; specifically, the act or process of self-examination, or inspection of one's own thoughts and feelings; the cognition which the mind has of its own acts and states.
phantasm
C2
/ˈfæntæzəm/
an apparition, phantom, or image that appears real but has no physical existence
allusion
C2
/əˈlu.ʒən/
An indirect mention of something the speaker expects you to recognize.
hedonism
C2
/ˈhiːdənɪzəm/
The philosophical belief that happiness, particularly sensual pleasure, is the highest good in life.
fluctuate
C2
/ˈflʌkt͡ʃu.eɪt/
To rise and fall or change irregularly.
unobtrusive
C2
/ˌʌnəbˈtɹusɪv/
Not easily noticed; quiet and not drawing attention.
briskly
C2
/ˈbɹɪskli/
in a brisk manner
unpleasantly
C2
/ənˈplɛzəntli/
in an unpleasant manner
presumptive
C2
/pɹɪˈzʌmptɪv/
based on reasonable inference or probability rather than direct proof or certainty
egotism
C2
/ˈiːgəˌtɪzəm/
an exaggerated opinion of your own importance