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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187 words
fort
C2
/fɔɹt/
A structure improvised from furniture, bedding, etc., for playing games.
vault
C2
/vɑlt/
to jump across or leap over an obstacle
rascal
C2
/ˈɹæskl̩/
A dishonest person; a rogue, a scoundrel, a trickster.
shotgun
C2
/ˈʃɑtɡʌn/
a smoothbore firearm designed to fire cartridges containing many small pellets or a single slug
sabotage
C2
/ˈsæb.ə.tɑːʒ/
deliberate damage, obstruction, or disruption intended to weaken an activity, organization, or opponent
bedtime
C2
/ˈbɛdtaɪm/
The time or hour at which one retires to bed in order to sleep.
waltz
C2
/wɔlts/
A ballroom dance in 3/4 time.
groan
C2
/ˈɡɹoʊ̯n/
indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
sideways
C2
/ˈsaɪdweɪz/
toward one side
typewriter
C2
/ˈtaɪˌpraɪtɝ/
One who uses a typewriter; a typist.
cadet
C2
/kəˈdɛt/
a student or trainee preparing to become a military or police officer
precaution
C2
/pɹiːˈkɔːʃən/
a precautionary measure warding off impending danger, damage or injury
pantry
C2
/ˈpæntɹi/
A small room, closet, or cabinet usually located in or near the kitchen, dedicated to shelf-stable food storage or storing kitchenware, like a larder, but smaller.
feud
C2
/fjuːd/
a long and bitter quarrel between people, families, or groups, sometimes involving violence
housekeeping
C2
/ˈhaʊˌskiːpɪŋ/
The chores of maintaining a house as a residence, especially cleaning.
humbly
C2
/ˈhʌmbli/
in a humble manner
lumber
C2
/ˈlʌm.bɚ/
move heavily or clumsily
commodore
C2
/ˈkɑmədɔr/
a naval officer ranking above captain and below rear admiral
evasive
C2
/ɪˈveɪsɪv/
deliberately vague or ambiguous
blitz
C2
/blɪts/
A sudden, intense, and concentrated effort or campaign.
sentry
C2
/ˈsen.tri/
a guard posted to watch a place, especially to warn of danger or prevent unauthorized entry
citadel
C2
/ˈsɪtədəl/
A strong fortress that sits high above a city.
oblivious
C2
/əˈblɪviːəs/
Lacking awareness; unmindful; unaware, unconscious of.
schoolboy
C2
/ˈskulˌbɔɪ/
a boy attending school
valor
C2
/ˈvælɚ/
the qualities of a hero or heroine
crusader
C2
/kruˈseɪdɚ/
a participant in one of the medieval Christian military expeditions known as the Crusades
trident
C2
/ˈtɹaɪ̯dənt/
A three-pronged spear somewhat resembling a pitchfork.
bayonet
C2
/ˌbeɪəˈnɛt/
a blade designed to be fixed to the muzzle of a rifle and used as a close-combat weapon
parry
C2
/ˈpæri/
to ward off or deflect a weapon, blow, or other attack
armada
C2
/ɑrˈmɑdə/
a large fleet of warships or other military craft
boomerang
C2
/ˈbuːməræŋ/
an Australian Aboriginal curved throwing implement, some forms of which return toward the thrower when properly thrown
musket
C2
/ˈmʌskət/
a long, muzzle-loading shoulder firearm, especially the smoothbore infantry weapon used before rifles became standard
vanguard
C2
/ˈvænˌɡɑɹd/
the position of greatest importance or advancement
hilt
C2
/hɪlt/
the handle assembly of a sword or dagger, including its grip, guard, and pommel
sixpence
C2
/ˈsɪks.pəns/
The value of six old pence; half of a shilling; or one-fortieth of a pound sterling.
scaffold
C2
/ˈskæf.əld/
provide with a scaffold for support
amorous
C2
/ˈæ.mə.ɹəs/
inclined toward or displaying love
sultry
C2
/ˈsʌltɹi/
characterized by oppressive heat and humidity
scuffle
C2
/ˈskʌfəl/
fight or struggle in a confused way at close quarters
adjutant
C2
/ˈædʒətənt/
a military officer who assists a commanding officer, especially with administration
gunnery
C2
/ˈɡʌnəri/
the practical skill, operation, and tactical use of guns, especially artillery or naval guns
wicket
C2
/ˈwɪkɪt/
A small door or gate, especially one beside a larger one.
strategist
C2
/ˈstɹætəd͡ʒɪst/
a person who devises strategies.
aloft
C2
/əˈlɔft/
in the higher atmosphere above the earth
buckshot
C2
/ˈbʌkˌʃɑːt/
large lead or steel pellets loaded into a shotgun cartridge for hunting medium or large game
musketeer
C2
/ˌmʌs.kəˈtɪə(ɹ)/
historical: a foot soldier armed with a musket
stockade
C2
/stɑːˈkeɪd/
a defensive fence or barrier made from a line of stout upright posts
quartermaster
C2
/ˈkwɔːr.t̬ɚˌmæs.tɚ/
a military officer or specialist responsible for supplies, equipment, transport, and often accommodation
breech
C2
/britʃ/
the rear part of a firearm barrel, behind the chamber, where ammunition is loaded
synchronize
C2
/ˈsɪŋ.kɹə.naɪːz/
make synchronous and adjust in time or manner
swordsmanship
C2
/ˈsɔːrdz.mən.ʃɪp/
skill, technique, or proficiency in fighting with a sword
confidentially
C2
/ˌkɑːnfəˈdɛnʃəli/
in a confidential manner
pillage
C2
/ˈpɪl.ɪdʒ/
to rob a place of valuable goods by force, especially during war or civil disorder
belligerent
C2
/bəˈlɪd͡ʒ.ə.ɹənt/
Aggressive and eager to argue or fight.
aback
C2
/əˈbæk/
by surprise
javelin
C2
/ˈdʒæv.lɪn/
a light spear designed to be thrown by hand as a weapon in war or hunting
lancer
C2
/ˈlæn.sɚ/
historical: a cavalry soldier armed with a lance
junta
C2
/ˈhʊntə/
a group of military officers who rule a country after seizing power
stiletto
C2
/stɪˈlɛtoʊ/
a small dagger with a tapered blade
harbinger
C2
/ˈhɑɹ.bɪn.d͡ʒəɹ/
A person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something.
tussle
C2
/ˈtʌsəl/
a vigorous physical struggle, scuffle, or contest
rampart
C2
/ˈɹæm.pɑː(ɹ)t/
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
cutlass
C2
/ˈkʌtləs/
a short, heavy sword with a broad, curved, single-edged blade, formerly used especially by sailors
sharpshooter
C2
/ˈʃɑːrpˌʃuː.tɚ/
a person highly skilled at shooting accurately, especially with a rifle
inky
C2
/ˈɪŋki/
Of the colour of ink, especially black ink; dark.
reprisal
C2
/ɹɪˈpɹaɪzəl/
The act of taking something from an enemy by way of retaliation or indemnity.
warlike
C2
/ˈwɔɹlaɪk/
suggesting war or military life
scimitar
C2
/ˈsɪmɪtɚ/
a saber with a curved blade, historically associated with the Middle East and parts of South and Central Asia
guardhouse
C2
/ˈɡɑɹdˌhaʊs/
a building occupied by guards, often containing rooms for detained prisoners
dragoon
C2
/dɹəˈɡun/
historical: a mounted soldier trained to fight on foot, later a cavalry soldier
indiscriminately
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈskrɪmənətˌliː/
In an indiscriminate manner.
confrontational
C2
/ˌkɒnfɹənˈteɪʃənˈəl/
Likely to cause an argument or fight; aggressive and hostile.
hetman
C2
/ˈhɛtmən/
a Cossack leader or military commander
scabbard
C2
/ˈskæb.ɚd/
a protective sheath for the blade of a sword, dagger, or bayonet
phalanx
C2
/ˈfeɪ.læŋks/
a close-ranked formation of soldiers, especially the spear-bearing formation of ancient Greece and Macedonia
ramrod
C2
/ˈræmˌrɑːd/
a rod used to push a charge down the barrel of a muzzle-loading firearm or to clean a gun barrel
carbine
C2
/ˈkɑːr.biːn/
a lightweight rifle with a barrel shorter than that of a standard rifle
gossamer
C2
/ˈɡɑ.sə.mɚ/
A fine film made up of cobwebs, seen floating in the air or caught on bushes, etc.
morose
C2
/məˈɹoʊs/
Sullen, gloomy; showing a brooding ill humour.
melee
C2
/ˈmeɪˌleɪ/
to attack with the hands or handheld not projectile weapon, typically in video games
billet
C2
/ˈbɪl.ət/
temporary lodging assigned to a soldier or another member of an organization
bivouac
C2
/ˈbɪv.u.æk/
a temporary camp, especially one used by soldiers or mountaineers and offering little or no shelter
conscription
C2
/kənˈskrɪpʃən/
compulsory enlistment of people into military service
philosophically
C2
/ˌfɪləˈsɑːfɪkəli/
in a philosophic manner
parapet
C2
/ˈpæɹ.ə.pɪt/
A low protective wall.
gunboat
C2
/ˈɡʌnˌboʊt/
a relatively small warship armed with one or more mounted guns, often designed for coastal or river operations
inextricably
C2
/ˌɪˈnɛkstrɪˌkəbli/
in an inextricable manner
breastplate
C2
/ˈbrestˌpleɪt/
a piece of armor that protects the chest or front of the torso
distaste
C2
/dɪsˈteɪst/
Aversion of the taste; dislike, as of food or drink; disrelish.
guardsman
C2
/ˈɡɑrdzmən/
a soldier who belongs to a guard unit, especially an elite or ceremonial one
sapper
C2
/ˈsæpɚ/
a military engineer trained to build or destroy fortifications, bridges, roads, and similar works
flotilla
C2
/floʊˈtɪlə/
A small fleet of warships (usually of the same class), or a fleet of small ships.
undeserved
C2
/ˌəndɪˈzɝːvd/
not deserved or earned
tactician
C2
/tækˈtɪʃən/
a person who is skilled at planning tactics
reconnoiter
C2
/ˌɹɛkəˈnɔɪtɚ/
To perform a reconnaissance (of an area; an enemy position); to scout with the aim of acquiring information.
hussar
C2
/həˈzɑːr/
historical: a soldier in one of the light-cavalry units of Hungary or other European armies