This week on The Missing Workbook
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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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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View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
855 words
ooh
C2
/ˈuː/
used to express surprise, admiration, pleasure, or discomfort
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whoo
C2
/wuː/
an exclamation or cry representing a long whooping, hooting, or wailing sound
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hm
C2
/həm/
used to show that the speaker is thinking, hesitating, doubtful, or considering what has just been said
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goodnight
C2
/ˈgʊdˌnaɪt/
an instance of saying “good night”; a nighttime farewell.
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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.
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phoebe
C2
/ˈfiːbi/
any of several small North American flycatchers of the genus Sayornis, especially the eastern phoebe
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shotgun
C2
/ˈʃɑtɡʌn/
a smoothbore firearm designed to fire cartridges containing many small pellets or a single slug
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ivy
C2
/ˈaɪvi/
Any of several woody, climbing, or trailing evergreen plants of the genus Hedera.
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echo
C2
/ˈɛkoʊ/
A sound that comes back to you after it bounces off a surface.
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swamp
C2
/ˈswɑmp/
a situation fraught with difficulties and imponderables
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lex
C2
/lɛks/
a law or statute, especially one expressed by its Latin title or discussed in Roman law
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wig
C2
/wɪɡ/
A bigwig.
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magnum
C2
/ˈmæɡ.nəm/
a wine or champagne bottle holding 1.5 liters, twice the volume of a standard bottle
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waltz
C2
/wɔlts/
A ballroom dance in 3/4 time.
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moose
C2
/muːs/
large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male
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brothel
C2
/ˈbɹɔθəl/
a building where prostitutes are available
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marquis
C2
/mɑɹˈki/
nobleman (in various countries) ranking above a count
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ale
C2
/ˈeɪl/
a general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast
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cradle
C2
/ˈkɹeɪdəl/
a small bed for a baby, often one that can rock
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hitch
C2
/hɪt͡ʃ/
A small problem or delay that interrupts progress.
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gale
C2
/ɡeɪl/
A very strong wind.
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bamboo
C2
/bæmˈbu/
Any of the fast-growing grasses of the Bambusoideae subfamily, characterised by its woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem.
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tavern
C2
/ˈtævəɹn/
a building with a bar that is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks
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notch
C2
/nɑt͡ʃ/
a V-shaped or U-shaped indentation carved or scratched into a surface
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arson
C2
/ˈɑɹsən/
malicious burning to destroy property
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woof
C2
/wʊf/
The set of yarns carried by the shuttle of a loom which are placed crosswise at right angles to and interlaced with the warp; the weft.
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scrape
C2
/skɹeɪp/
a harsh noise made by scraping
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omega
C2
/ˌoʊˈmeɪɡə/
the twenty-fourth and final letter of the Greek alphabet, written Ω or ω
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residue
C2
/ˈɹɛzɪdjuː/
A small amount of something that is left behind after the rest is gone.
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milord
C2
/mɪˈlɔɹd/
a respectful form of address for an English nobleman or lord
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dent
C2
/ˈdɛnt/
an appreciable consequence (especially a lessening)
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genie
C2
/ˈdʒiːni/
a jinn: a spirit being in Islamic and pre-Islamic Arabian tradition, capable of choosing good or evil and normally invisible to humans
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pep
C2
/pɛp/
lively energy, enthusiasm, and high spirits
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brink
C2
/bɹɪŋk/
The point just before something important or dangerous happens.
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scalpel
C2
/ˈskælpəl/
a small knife with a very sharp blade, used especially in surgery and dissection
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millennium
C2
/mɪˈlen.i.əm/
a period of one thousand years
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fudge
C2
/fʌd͡ʒ/
A type of very sweet candy or confection, usually made from sugar, butter, and milk or cream.
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howl
C2
/ˈhæʊ̯l/
a long loud emotional utterance
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hiccup
C2
/ˈhɪk.ʌp/
an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm followed by a sudden closure of the vocal cords and a short sound
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urn
C2
/ɝn/
A vase with a footed base.
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gallows
C2
/ˈɡæloʊz/
A wooden framework on which persons are executed by hanging.
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muck
C2
/mʌk/
dirt, mud, manure, or other wet and unpleasant matter
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cupid
C2
/ˈkjuːpɪd/
A putto carrying a bow and arrow, representing Cupid or love.
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watermelon
C2
/ˈwɑtəɹˌmɛlən/
An environmentalist with socialist leanings, an ecosocialist.
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chateau
C2
/ʃæˈtoʊ/
Alternative spelling of château.
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firewood
C2
/ˈfa.ə(ɹ).wʊd/
wood used for fuel
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ledge
C2
/led͡ʒ/
A narrow surface projecting horizontally from a wall, cliff, or other surface.
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pooh
C2
/puː/
An instance of saying "pooh".
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bleach
C2
/bliːt͡ʃ/
the whiteness that results from removing the color from something
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hydra
C2
/ˈhaɪdrə/
in Greek mythology, a many-headed serpent whose severed heads grew back
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knack
C2
/næk/
A natural or learned skill for doing something well and easily.
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jag
C2
/dʒæɡ/
a sharp projection or rough point on an edge or surface
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trifle
C2
/ˈtɹaɪfəl/
Something of very little importance or value.
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bullock
C2
/ˈbʊlək/
a young bull that has been castrated, especially one raised or used as an ox
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vortex
C2
/ˈvɔɹtɛks/
A whirling mass of water, air, or other fluid that pulls things toward its centre.
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bowie
C2
/ˈbuːi/
a Bowie knife: a large, heavy, single-edged sheath knife with a clipped point
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bonfire
C2
/ˈbɑːn.faɪr/
a large controlled outdoor fire, especially one lit for celebration or as a signal
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vineyard
C2
/ˈvɪn.jɚd/
A grape plantation, especially one used in the production of wine.
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neon
C2
/ˈni.ɒn/
Neon signs or lights, collectively.
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barrow
C2
/ˈbæɹoʊ/
a small handcart used for carrying loads
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brownie
C2
/ˈbraʊni/
a small, rich chocolate cake with a dense or chewy texture, usually baked in a flat pan and cut into squares
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whit
C2
/wɪt/
Whitsunday.
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frown
C2
/ˈfɹæʊ̯n/
A wrinkling of the forehead with the eyebrows brought together, typically indicating displeasure, severity, or concentration.
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plateau
C2
/plæˈtoʊ/
A comparatively stable level after a period of increase. (of a varying quantity)
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kale
C2
/kæɪl/
a hardy cabbage with coarse curly leaves that do not form a head
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barricade
C2
/ˌbæɹ.ɪˈkeɪd/
a barrier (usually thrown up hastily) to impede the advance of an enemy
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rad
C2
/ræd/
a non-SI unit of absorbed ionizing-radiation dose equal to 0.01 gray, or 100 ergs per gram
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herpes
C2
/ˈhɝːpiːz/
a common lifelong viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2, sometimes producing recurring sores around the mouth or genitals
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harem
C2
/ˈhæɹəm/
The private section of a Muslim household forbidden to male strangers.
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fallout
C2
/ˈfɔːlˌaʊt/
the harmful or unpleasant consequences that follow an event or decision
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vogue
C2
/vəʊɡ/
the popular or general taste at a given time
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eureka
C2
/jʊˈriːkə/
an exclamation of delight at suddenly discovering or solving something
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nostalgia
C2
/nɑˈstæld͡ʒə/
A bittersweet longing for happy times in the past.
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quagmire
C2
/ˈkwæɡ.maɪɹ/
a situation that is difficult to reslove
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charisma
C2
/kəˈɹɪzmə/
a personal attractiveness or interestingness that enables you to influence others
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elk
C2
/ɛlk/
large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male
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cowl
C2
/kaʊl/
a large loose hood, especially one attached to a monk's robe
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shawl
C2
/ʃɔl/
A square or rectangular piece of cloth worn as a covering for the head, neck, and shoulders, typically by women.
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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).
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yarn
C2
/jɑɹn/
A story, a tale, especially one that is incredible.
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malice
C2
/ˈmælɪs/
The desire to harm others or to see them suffer.
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fiasco
C2
/fiˈæs.koʊ/
A sudden or unexpected failure.
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fluke
C2
/fluk/
A lucky or improbable occurrence that could probably never be repeated.
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wolverine
C2
/ˈwʊlvəˌriːn/
a powerful, thickset northern mustelid, Gulo gulo, known for strength, endurance, and scavenging over a large range
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medusa
C2
/mɪˈduːsə/
the free-swimming, usually bell-shaped and sexually reproducing stage of a cnidarian, commonly recognized as a jellyfish
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tut
C2
/tʌt/
Rubbish.
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leprechaun
C2
/ˈlɛprəˌkɔn/
a small solitary supernatural being in Irish folklore, traditionally portrayed as a shoemaker who guards hidden treasure
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pew
C2
/ˈpjuː/
One of the long benches in a church, seating several persons, usually fixed to the floor and facing the chancel.
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blitz
C2
/blɪts/
A sudden, intense, and concentrated effort or campaign.
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whirlwind
C2
/ˈ(h)wɝlwɪnd/
A column of air spinning rapidly as it moves across the ground.
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soprano
C2
/səˈpɹænoʊ/
the highest female voice
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tribune
C2
/ˈtrɪbjuːn/
in ancient Rome, an elected official charged with protecting the interests and rights of the plebeians
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cocoon
C2
/kəˈkuːn/
The silky covering a caterpillar spins around itself before becoming a moth or butterfly.
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starlight
C2
/ˈstɑː(ɹ)laɪt/
Light emitted from stars.
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suture
C2
/ˈsuːtʃər/
an immovable fibrous joint, especially the seam between bones of the skull
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corpus
C2
/ˈkɔɹpəs/
A large collection of written or spoken texts used for study.
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