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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101 words
peter
C2
/ˈpiː.tɚ/
usually peter out: to diminish gradually in strength, quantity, or activity and finally stop
notch
C2
/nɑt͡ʃ/
a V-shaped or U-shaped indentation carved or scratched into a surface
dent
C2
/ˈdɛnt/
an appreciable consequence (especially a lessening)
intimidate
C2
/ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/
make timid or fearful
sublime
C2
/səˈblaɪm/
lifted up or set high
whit
C2
/wɪt/
Whitsunday.
pompous
C2
/ˈpɑmpəs/
Affectedly grand, solemn or self-important.
stabilize
C2
/sʈɛb(ɪ)ˈlaɪz/
To make something steady and stop it from changing or moving, or to become steady.
reconcile
C2
/ˈɹɛkənˌsaɪl/
To make two ideas, facts, or needs fit together when they seem to conflict.
reconciliation
C2
/ˌɹɛkənˌsɪliˈeɪʃ(ə)n/
The act of becoming friendly again after a quarrel.
induce
C2
/ɪnˈduːs/
To cause something to happen or to produce a particular effect.
wrinkle
C2
/ˈɹɪŋkl̩/
a clever method of doing something, especially something new and different
eradicate
C2
/ɪˈɹæd.ɪ.keɪt/
to destroy or remove something completely, especially a disease, problem, or harmful practice
sorcery
C2
/ˈsɔɹ.sə.ɹi/
magic; spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world
combustion
C2
/kəmˈbʌs.t͡ʃən/
The process of burning, in which a substance reacts with oxygen to produce heat and light.
grate
C2
/ɡɹeɪt/
make a grating or grinding sound by rubbing together
diminish
C2
/dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/
To become smaller, weaker, or less; or to make something smaller or less.
infallible
C2
/ɪnˈfæl.ɪ.bl̩/
Never wrong; incapable of making a mistake.
pomp
C2
/ˈpɑːmp/
To make a pompous display.
evaporate
C2
/ɪˈvæp.ə.ɹæɪt/
lose or cause to lose liquid by vaporization leaving a more concentrated residue
morph
C2
/mɔː(ɹ)f/
change shape as via computer animation
smithereens
C2
/ˌsmɪðəˈriːnz/
very small fragments produced when something is shattered or destroyed
spurt
C2
/spɝt/
to gush out suddenly and forcefully in a stream or jet
assimilate
C2
/əˌsɪmˌleʈ/
To take in and fully understand new information or ideas.
preemptive
C2
/pɹiːˈɛmp.tɪv/
designed or having the power to deter or prevent an anticipated situation or occurrence
fertilize
C2
/ˈfɜː(ɹ)tɪlaɪz/
provide with fertilizers or add nutrients to
rescind
C2
/ɹɪˈsɪnd/
To repeal, annul, or declare void; to take (something such as a rule or contract) out of effect.
instigate
C2
/ˈɪnstəɡeɪt/
to cause, encourage, or provoke an action or event, especially one that is troublesome or unlawful
froth
C2
/fɹɔθ/
become bubbly or frothy or foaming
nepotism
C2
/ˈnɛp.ə.tɪ.zəm/
The favoring of relatives (most strictly) or also personal friends (more broadly) because of their relationship rather than because of their abilities.
assimilation
C2
/əˌsɪməˈleɪʃən/
The process of a group taking on the customs and attitudes of a larger culture.
inflame
C2
/ɪnˈfleɪ̯m/
cause inflammation in
ferment
C2
/fɚˈmɛnt/
a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
elasticity
C2
/ɪ.læsˈtɪs.ɪ.ti/
The ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or squeezed.
consummation
C2
/ˌkɑːnsəˈmeɪʃən/
the completion, fulfillment, or culminating result of a process or aim
dalliance
C2
/ˈdæli.əns/
A wasting of time in idleness or trifles.
reshape
C2
/ˌriːˈʃeɪp/
to give something a new or different physical shape
eradication
C2
/ɪˌrædəˈkeɪʃən/
the complete removal or destruction of a disease, problem, practice, or other harmful thing
furrow
C2
/ˈfʌɹoʊ/
hollow out in the form of a furrow or groove
flotation
C2
/floʊˈteɪʃən/
the act, process, or capacity of floating in a liquid or gas
unmake
C2
/ˌʌnˈmeɪk/
to reverse the making of something; destroy, dismantle, or cause it to lose its essential form or character
offshoot
C2
/ˈɔːf.ʃuːt/
a group, organization, idea, or development that originates from something larger
volatility
C2
/ˌvɑː.ləˈtɪl.ə.t̬i/
the tendency of a price, market, or other quantity to change sharply and unpredictably
nascent
C2
/ˈnæɪ.sənt/
Just coming into existence and beginning to develop.
distillation
C2
/ˌdɪstɪˈleɪʃən/
The process of purifying a liquid by boiling it and condensing the vapor.
wend
C2
/wɪ̟nd/
direct one's course or way
inestimable
C2
/ɪˈnɛs.tɪ.mə.bəl/
Not able to be estimated; not able to be calculated, computed or comprehended, as because of great scale, degree or magnitude.
amalgamation
C2
/əˌmælɡəˈmeɪʃən/
The process of amalgamating; a mixture, merger or consolidation.
emasculate
C2
/əˈmæs.kjəˌleɪt/
to deprive a person, institution, or measure of strength, power, or effectiveness
incipient
C2
/ˌɪnˈsɪpiːənt/
Just beginning to exist or develop; in an early stage.
shaper
C2
/ˈʃeɪ.pɚ/
a person, force, or thing that gives form or character to something
supplant
C2
/səˈplænt/
take the place or move into the position of
repercussion
C2
/ˌɹi.pɚˈkʌʃ.ən/
a remote or indirect consequence of some action
recombine
C2
/ˌriːkəmˈbaɪn/
to put separated or analyzed parts together again, sometimes in a new arrangement
abortive
C2
/əˈbɔɹ.tɪv/
failing to accomplish an intended result
aerate
C2
/ˈer.eɪt/
to supply or expose something to air or oxygen
contributory
C2
/ˈkɑntrɪbjəˌtɔri/
helping to cause or bring about a result
desiccation
C2
/ˌdɛsəˈkeɪʃən/
the process of removing moisture from something or causing it to become completely dry
protrude
C2
/pɹəˈtɹud/
To stick out beyond a surface or edge.
reinvigorate
C2
/ˌriːɪnˈvɪɡəreɪt/
to give someone renewed health, energy, or vitality
reverberation
C2
/ɹiˈvɜː(ɹ)bəɹeɪʃən/
A sound that echoes and continues after the original sound has stopped.
mainspring
C2
/ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ/
the chief motive, source, or driving force behind an action or development
automate
C2
/ˈɔ.təˌmeɪt/
To make a process work by machines or computers instead of by people.
deathblow
C2
/ˈdɛθˌbloʊ/
a blow that causes death
efface
C2
/əˈfeɪs/
to erase or remove marks, writing, or visible features
agglomeration
C2
/əˌglɑːmɝˈeɪʃən/
a mass or collection of different things gathered or clustered together
petrify
C2
/ˈpɛtrɪfaɪ/
to make someone so frightened that they cannot move or think clearly
edify
C2
/ˈɛdɪfaɪ/
To improve someone morally or intellectually through teaching.
labile
C2
/ˈleɪbaɪl/
liable to change
accumulative
C2
/əˈkjuːmjəˌleɪtɪv/
increasing through successive additions; cumulative
parch
C2
/pɑːrtʃ/
to make something extremely dry or withered through intense heat or lack of moisture
recompose
C2
/ˌɹikəmˈpoʊz/
to make oneself calm and controlled again
convoke
C2
/kənˈvoʊk/
To convene, to cause to assemble for a meeting.
rankle
C2
/ˈɹæŋ.kəl/
To cause irritation, bitterness or acrimony.
obviate
C2
/ˈab.viˌeɪt/
to remove the need for something; to make it unnecessary
moulder
C2
/ˈmoʊl.dɚ/
to decay or crumble slowly, often until little remains; usually followed by away
overfill
C2
/ˌoʊvɚˈfɪl/
to fill beyond capacity, need, or an appropriate limit
counteraction
C2
/ˌkaʊntɚˈækʃən/
action taken to oppose, offset, or neutralize the effect of another action or force
overspill
C2
/ˈoʊvɚˌspɪl/
something that spills, flows, or extends beyond a container, boundary, or available capacity
retrogression
C2
/ˌrɛt.rəˈɡrɛʃ.ən/
movement or change backward to an earlier, less developed, or worse condition
overspread
C2
/ˌoʊvɚˈspɹɛd/
to spread over and cover a surface, place, or area
effluence
C2
/ˈɛfluəns/
the process of flowing or issuing outward
ossify
C2
/ˈɑ.sə.faɪ/
To become (or cause to become) inflexible and rigid in habits or opinions.
countervail
C2
/ˌkaʊntərˈveɪl/
to offset, compensate for, or neutralize the effect of something
permeation
C2
/ˌpɝː.miˈeɪ.ʃən/
the process of spreading through and becoming present throughout a substance, place, group, or system
roil
C2
/rɔɪl/
to make a liquid cloudy or muddy by stirring up sediment
extirpation
C2
/ˌɛkstɚˈpeɪʃən/
the complete destruction or removal of something harmful or unwanted
percolation
C2
/pɝkəˈleɪʃən/
the slow passage of a liquid through pores or small spaces in soil, rock, or another material
vivify
C2
/ˈvɪvɪfaɪ/
to give life, vitality, or renewed energy to someone or something
systematization
C2
/ˌsɪs.tə.mə.t̬əˈzeɪ.ʃən/
the act or process of arranging ideas, practices, or institutions into a coherent system
incitant
C2
/ɪnˈsaɪ.tənt/
something that provokes action or stimulates a response
supervene
C2
take place as an additional or unexpected development
efflux
C2
/ˈɛflʌks/
the process of flowing out
recrudescence
C2
/ˌɹiːkɹuˈdɛsəns/
the renewed outbreak or return of something undesirable after a period of decline or inactivity
abscission
C2
/æbˈsɪ.ʃn̩/
The act or process of cutting off.
promotive
C2
/prəˈmoʊ.tɪv/
tending to advance, encourage, or contribute to the development of something