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.
Choose your level
All 27,237 words
1536 words
monastic
C2
/məˈnæstɪk/
Relating to monks, nuns, or the life of a monastery.
correctness
B2
/kɝˈɛktnəs/
The quality of being free from mistakes; being right.
astride
C2
/əˈstraɪd/
with one leg on each side of something
enclose
B1
/ənˈkloʊz/
To surround something with a wall, fence, or barrier
loiter
C2
/ˈlɔɪtɚ/
To stand or wait around a place with no clear purpose.
dislodge
C1
/dɪˈslɑːdʒ/
To force or knock something out of its position
tangent
C2
/ˈtæn.d͡ʒənt/
a ratio of the opposite to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle
intrinsic
C2
/ɪnˈtɹɪn.zɪk/
Belonging naturally to something as part of its basic nature.
afield
C1
/əˈfiːld/
away from home, a starting point, or one's usual surroundings, often at some distance
hurriedly
B1
/ˈhɝɪdli/
In a quick and hasty way, often because there is little time.
oblique
C2
/oʊˈbliːk/
Said in an indirect way rather than plainly; not straightforward.
proximal
C2
/ˈprɑːksəməl/
Located nearest to the point of attachment, origin, or the body's centre.
hand-held
B1
/ˈhændˌhɛld/
Small and light enough to be used while you hold it in your hands.
droop
B2
/ˈdɹuːp/
To hang or bend downward, usually because of weakness or tiredness.
counterproductive
C2
/ˌkaʊntəpɹəˈdʌktɪv/
Having the opposite effect to the one you intended; doing more harm than good.
northward
B2
/ˈnɔɹθwɚd/
Toward the north.
medial
C1
/ˈmiːdiəl/
situated in or toward the middle, especially nearer the midline of the body
oust
C2
/ʌʊst/
remove from a position or office
pullover
B1
/ˈpʊləʊvə(ɹ)/
A warm sweater that you put on by pulling it over your head, with no buttons or zip at the front.
conversely
B2
/kənˈvɝsli/
Used to introduce a statement that is the opposite of one just made; on the other hand.
settee
C1
/sɛˈtiː/
A long padded seat with a back and arms for two or more people; a sofa.
backache
B1
/ˈbækeɪk/
A pain in your back.
foray
C2
/ˈfɔɹ.eɪ/
an initial attempt (especially outside your usual areas of competence)
eastward
B2
/ˈist.wɚd/
Towards the east.
jarring
C2
/[d͡ʒɑːrɪŋ]/
Unpleasantly shocking or out of place; clashing.
sandwiched
C2
/ˈsænˌdwɪtʃt/
Squeezed or fitted tightly between two other things.
displace
B2
/dɪsˈpleɪs/
To force people to leave their home or country, especially because of war or disaster.
allot
C2
/əˈlɑt/
To give out a share of something, such as time, money, or space, for a particular purpose.
crisscross
C1
/ˈkrɪsˌkrɔːs/
to cross an area repeatedly in different directions, or to form a pattern of intersecting lines
resound
C2
/ɹəˈzaʊnd/
To be filled with a loud sound that echoes around
prominently
B2
/ˈpɹɑmɪnəntli/
in a way that is easy to see or notice
washing-up
A2
/ˌwɑʃ.ɪŋˈʌp/
The job of washing the dishes, pots, and cutlery after a meal.
comprise
C1
/kəmˈpɹaɪz/
to consist of or be made up of
well-balanced
B2
Made up of parts in good, healthy proportions.
centralized
C2
/ˈsɛntrəˌlaɪzd/
Controlled or organised from one central place or authority.
forfeiture
C2
/ˈfɔɹfɪt͡ʃɚ/
The act of losing or giving up something as a penalty for a wrongdoing or failure.
abut
C2
/əˈbʌt/
to lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
embed
C2
/ɪmˈbɛd/
To fix something firmly inside a surrounding material.
fragmentation
C1
/ˌfɹæɡmənˈtæɪt͡ʃən/
The act of breaking something into small, separate pieces, or the state of being broken up.
gravitate
C2
/ˈɡɹævɪteɪt/
To be drawn toward someone or something, as if pulled by an unseen force.
confluence
C2
/ˈkɑnˌflu.əns/
a place where things merge or flow together, especially rivers
prefix
B1
/ˈpɹiːfɪks/
A group of letters added to the front of a word to change its meaning, such as "un-" in "unhappy."
incisor
C1
/ɪnˈsaɪ.zə(ɹ)/
One of the sharp, flat front teeth used for cutting food.
encompass
C2
/ɪnˈkʌmpəs/
To include a wide range of things within its scope.
snobbery
C2
/ˈsnɑːbɝi/
The attitude of looking down on people you think are of lower class, taste, or status.
self-service
B1
/sɛlfˈsɜɹ.vɪs/
describing a place where customers serve themselves instead of being served
proponent
B2
/pɹəˈpoʊnənt/
A person who supports an idea, plan, or cause; an advocate.
antithesis
C2
/ænˈtɪθ.ɪ.sɪs/
The exact opposite of something.
deforestation
B2
/dɪˌfɔrɪˈsteɪʃən/
The cutting down or destruction of forests, often to use the land for farming.
meteorology
C2
/ˌmiːti.əˈɹɑləd͡ʒi/
The scientific study of the atmosphere, especially the weather and forecasting it.
misdirect
B1
/ˌmɪsdəˈrɛkt/
to direct, guide, or send someone or something to the wrong place or toward the wrong result
southward
B2
/ˈsaʊθwɝd/
Toward the south.
handrail
B2
/ˈhændˌɹeɪl/
A rail along a staircase, ramp, or path that you hold for support.
reverb
C2
/ˈɹiːˌvɜː(ɹ)b/
An electronic effect that adds echoes or a sense of space to a recorded sound.
unencumbered
C2
/ˌʌnɪnˈkʌmbɚd/
Free of burdens, debts, or restrictions.
sedentary
C1
/ˈsɛd.ən.tɛɹ.i/
Involving a lot of sitting and little physical activity.
modernization
B2
/ˌmɑdɚnɪˈzeɪʃn̩/
The process of making something modern or up to date.
verandah
C1
/vəˈɹændə/
A covered open area along the outside of a house, often partly enclosed.
earache
B1
/ˈiɹeɪk/
A pain inside the ear.
wester
C2
/ˈwɛs.tər/
to move or turn toward the west
exalt
B2
/ɪɡˈzɔlt/
To praise someone or something very highly.
recessive
C1
/ɹɪˈsɛsɪv/
Describing a gene whose effect only appears when both inherited copies carry it; the opposite of dominant.
distill
C2
/dɪˈstɪl/
To purify or separate a liquid by heating it into vapor and cooling it back into liquid.
incongruous
C2
/ɪnˈkɑn.ɡɹu.əs/
Out of place; not matching or fitting the surroundings.
anticlimactic
C1
/ˌæntiːklaɪˈmæktɪk/
Disappointing because it is far less exciting than expected.
besiege
C2
/bəˈsiːd͡ʒ/
To surround a place with armed forces to force it to surrender
confection
C2
/kənˈfɛkʃən/
A sweet food such as a cake, candy, or pastry, often elaborately decorated.
wrack
C2
/ɹæk/
Destruction or ruin (especially in the phrase 'wrack and ruin').
staccato
C1
/stəˈkɑːtoʊ/
Made up of short, sharp, separated sounds or parts.
overhang
B2
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈhæŋ/
to project, extend, or hang over something at a lower level
akimbo
C2+
/əˈkɪm.boʊ/
with the hands on the hips and the elbows turned outward
dissipation
C2
/ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/
breaking up and scattering by dispersion
leeward
C2
/ˈliːwərd/
situated on or toward the side sheltered from the wind
configure
C2
/kənˈfɪɡ(j)ɚ/
to set up for a particular purpose
ferryboat
B2
/ˈfɛɹiˌboʊt/
A boat that carries people, vehicles, or goods across water on a regular schedule.
improvisational
C2
/ɪmˌpɹɑvəˈzeɪʃənəl/
Made up on the spot, without preparation.
accrue
C2
/əˈkɹu/
To build up or accumulate gradually over time.
wryly
C1
/ˈɹaɪli/
In a way that shows dry, slightly mocking humour.
hermetic
C2
/hə(ɹ)ˈmɛtɪk/
Completely sealed so that no air or gas can pass through; airtight.
ruminate
C2
/ˈɹumɪneɪt/
To think about something deeply and at length.
permeate
B2
/ˈpɝmiˌeɪ̯t/
To spread through every part of something.
circumnavigate
C2
/ˌsɝ.kəmˈnæv.ɪ.ɡeɪt/
To travel all the way around something, especially the world by sea.
divergence
C1
/daɪˈvɜː(ɹ)d͡ʒəns/
A difference between opinions, facts, or claims.
segregate
C2
/ˈsɛɡɹəɡət/
separate or isolate (one thing) from another and place in a group apart from others
pressurization
C2
/ˌprɛʃɝɪˈzeɪʃən/
The process of increasing or maintaining the air pressure inside an enclosed space.
declination
C2
/ˌdɛklɪˈneɪʃən/
A polite refusal of an offer or invitation.
edgeways
C2
/ˈɛdʒˌweɪz/
with the edge facing forward or sideways, especially so that something fits through a narrow space
pendent
C2
/ˈpɛndənt/
hanging or suspended from above; dangling downward
induct
C1
/ɪnˈdʌkt/
to formally bring someone into an organization, position, or group, often in a ceremony
octogenarian
C2
/ˌɑktəd͡ʒɪˈnɛɹiən/
A person between 80 and 89 years old.
wizened
C1
/ˈwɪzənd/
Dried up and covered in wrinkles, usually because of old age.
tenaciously
C2
/təˈneɪʃəsli/
In a determined way, refusing to give up.
concurrence
C2
/kənˈkɝːəns/
Agreement between people or in their opinions.
encumbrance
C2
/ɪnˈkʌm.bɹəns/
Something that weighs you down or gets in your way; a burden.
folktale
C1
/ˈfoʊkteɪl/
A traditional story passed down by word of mouth among ordinary people.
qualm
C2
/kwɑ(l)m/
A feeling of doubt or worry about whether something is right to do