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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82 words
standing
C2
/ˈstændɪŋ/
A person's or group's status, rank, or reputation.
anytime
C2
/ˈɛn.iˌtaɪm/
at any time; whenever it is convenient or possible
scrape
C2
/skɹeɪp/
a harsh noise made by scraping
millennium
C2
/mɪˈlen.i.əm/
a period of one thousand years
herald
C2
/ˈhɛɹ.əld/
To be a sign that something is coming or about to happen.
vogue
C2
/vəʊɡ/
the popular or general taste at a given time
nostalgia
C2
/nɑˈstæld͡ʒə/
A bittersweet longing for happy times in the past.
nostalgic
C2
/nɔˈstældʒɪk/
Feeling or causing a fond longing for the past.
prolong
C2
/pɹoʊˈlɔŋ/
To make something last longer; to extend its duration.
secular
C2
/ˈsɛkjələɹ/
Not connected with religion or spiritual matters.
solstice
C2
/ˈsɑl.stɪs/
either of the two annual times when the sun reaches its greatest apparent distance north or south of the celestial equator, producing the longest or shortest day
instantaneous
C2
/ɪnstənˈteɪni.əs/
Happening immediately, with no delay at all.
lull
C2
/lʌl/
a period of calm weather
equinox
C2
/ˈekwəˌnɑːks/
either of the two times each year when the Sun crosses the celestial equator and day and night are approximately equal in length
siesta
C2
/siˈɛstə/
a rest or nap taken in the early afternoon, especially in a hot climate
imposition
C2
/ˌɪm.pəˈzɪʃən/
An unfair or unwelcome demand on your time, effort, or hospitality.
aberration
C2
/ˌæb.əˈɹeɪ.ʃn̩/
Something that is very different from what is normal or expected; a one-off departure from the usual.
eventual
C2
/ɪˈvɛntʃuəl/
happening or existing at a later time or as the final result of a process
precocious
C2
/pɹəˈkəʊʃəs/
Showing skills or maturity at an unusually early age, especially in a child.
primeval
C2
/pɹaɪ̯ˈmi.vəl/
Belonging to the earliest ages of the world; very ancient.
belated
C2
/bɪˈleɪtɪd/
coming, happening, or being done later than expected or appropriate
rickety
C2
/ˈrɪkəti/
Weak and likely to break or collapse; poorly built or worn out.
yore
C2
/jɔr/
a time long past, now used chiefly in the phrase 'of yore'
instantaneously
C2
/ˌɪnstənˈtæniːəsli/
At once, with no delay at all.
elapsed
C2
/ɪˈlæpst/
used of time that has passed
ephemeral
C2
/ɛˈfɛ.mə.ɹəl/
Lasting for only a short time.
millennial
C2
/mɪˈlɛniəl/
relating to a millennium or a period of one thousand years
perpetuity
C2
/ˌpɝpəˈtuːɪti/
endless or indefinitely continuing duration, especially in the phrase in perpetuity
divination
C2
/ˌdɪvɪˈneɪʃən/
The practice of trying to predict the future or discover hidden things by supernatural means.
suppertime
C2
/ˈsʌpɚˌtaɪm/
the customary or appointed time for eating supper
pervasive
C2
/pɚˈveɪ.sɪv/
Present or spreading everywhere; affecting every part of something.
zoology
C2
/zoʊˈɑləd͡ʒi/
The branch of biology that studies animals.
nonce
C2
/nɑːns/
the present occasion or time, chiefly in the phrase for the nonce
ethos
C2
/ˈiθɑs/
The set of values, beliefs, and character that define a person, group, or culture.
wane
C2
/ˈweɪn/
To gradually become weaker, smaller, or less.
ides
C2
/aɪdz/
in the Roman calendar, the fifteenth day of March, May, July, and October and the thirteenth day of every other month
timepiece
C2
/ˈtaɪmˌpiːs/
an instrument for measuring and showing time, especially a clock or watch
outmoded
C2
/ˌaʊtˈmoʊdəd/
No longer useful or accepted because newer things have replaced it; out of date.
flagging
C2
/ˈflæɡɪŋ/
Becoming weaker, slower, or less lively.
vestige
C2
/ˈvɛs.tɪd͡ʒ/
an indication that something has been present
chronology
C2
/kɹəˈnɑl.ə.d͡ʒi/
The arrangement of events in the order they happened.
trice
C2
/traɪs/
only in 'in a trice': a very short time; an instant
midwinter
C2
/ˌmɪdˈwɪntɚ/
the middle and often coldest part of winter
annum
C2
/ˈænəm/
a year, used especially in the phrase per annum
chronologically
C2
/ˌkɹɒnəˈlɒdʒɪkli/
In the order in which things happened in time.
archival
C2
/ˌɑɹˈkaɪv(ə)l/
Relating to an archive or to old records and documents kept for the future.
unsuspected
C2
/ˌənsəˈspɛktɪd/
Not suspected; not thought to be involved or present.
circadian
C2
/sɚˈkeɪ.di.ən/
of or relating to biological processes occurring at 24-hour intervals
synchronous
C2
/ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/
occurring or existing at the same time or having the same period or phase
noontime
C2
/ˈnuːnˌtaɪm/
the time around noon or midday
eventide
C2
/ˈiːvənˌtaɪd/
evening or the late part of the day around sunset; literary or poetic
foretaste
C2
/ˈfɔɹteɪst/
an early sample or indication of an experience that will occur more fully later
ephemera
C2
/ɪˈfɛməɹə/
Things that last or are useful for only a short time, especially printed items like tickets or posters.
vernal
C2
/ˈvɝnəl/
relating to, occurring in, or characteristic of spring
unpromising
C2
/ənˈprɔmɪsɪŋ/
Showing little sign of future success or good results.
yester
C2
/ˈjɛs.tɚ/
Of or pertaining to yesterday.
antediluvian
C2
/ˌæn.ti.dəˈlu.vi.ən/
Extremely old-fashioned, as if from a much earlier age.
gloaming
C2
/ˈɡloʊ.mɪŋ/
twilight or dusk, especially the dim light just after sunset
erst
C2
/ɝst/
archaic or literary: formerly; in the past
nostalgically
C2
In a way that shows a fond, slightly sad longing for the past.
yesternight
C2
/ˈjestɚˌnaɪt/
archaic: during the night immediately before today; last night
posteriority
C2
/pɑːˌstɪriˈɔːrəti/
the condition of coming later in time or order
millenary
C2
/ˈmɪləˌnɛri/
a period of one thousand years; a millennium
enduringly
C2
In a way that lasts a long time.
thenceforward
C2
/ˌðɛnsˈfɔrwɚd/
from that time onward
redundantly
C2
In a way that is unnecessary because it repeats something already present.
anciently
C2
in ancient times
tercentenary
C2
/ˌtɝːsɛnˈtɛnəri/
the three-hundredth anniversary of an event, or a celebration of it
protraction
C2
/proʊˈtrækʃən/
the act of prolonging something or the state of being extended in time
pervasiveness
C2
/pɝˈveɪsɪvnɪs/
The quality of spreading through and being present in every part of something.
mistime
C2
/ˌmɪsˈtaɪm/
to do, arrange, or judge the timing of something incorrectly
triennial
C2
/traɪˈɛniəl/
occurring every three years or lasting for three years
coexistent
C2
/ˌkoʊɪɡˈzɪstənt/
existing at the same time or together with something else
quinquennial
C2
/kwɪnˈkwɛniəl/
occurring once every five years
undiminishing
C2
Not getting any smaller, weaker, or less over time.
optimates
C2
/ˌɑptɪˈmeɪtiz/
a political faction in ancient Rome representing the interests of the aristocracy and the conservative elite
quasipermanent
C2
/ˌkwɑː.zaɪˈpɝː.mə.nənt/
lasting or remaining stable for so long that it appears permanent, although it is not truly permanent
unintermitted
C2
/ˌʌn.ɪn.tɚˈmɪt.ɪd/
continuing without interruption or pause; ceaseless
intercalate
C2
/ɪnˈtɝːkəˌleɪt/
to insert an extra day or month into a calendar so that it remains aligned with astronomical cycles
antedate
C2
/ˌæntiˈdeɪt/
to exist or occur earlier than something else
unended
C2
/ʌnˈɛndɪd/
not brought to an end; continuing or unfinished
unintermitting
C2
/ˌʌnˌɪntɚˈmɪtɪŋ/
continuing without interruption; unceasing