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
4363 words
outline
B1
/ˈaʊtlaɪn/
The outer edge or shape of something.
joyous
B2
/ˈd͡ʒɔɪəs/
full of or characterized by joy
magnitude
C1
/ˈmæɡnɪtjuːd/
The great size, extent, or importance of something.
utility
C1
/juˈtɪl.ə.ti/
A basic public service such as electricity, gas, or water supplied to homes and businesses.
gourmet
C1
/ɡʊɹˈmeɪ/
Of food: high in quality and carefully prepared.
flawed
C1
/flɔd/
Having a fault, weakness, or imperfection.
literal
B2
/ˈlɪt(ə)ɹəl/
Taking words in their basic, exact meaning, not figurative.
jerky
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɝki/
moving or proceeding in sudden, uneven starts rather than smoothly
predicament
B2
/pɹɪˈdɪkəmənt/
A difficult or unpleasant situation that is hard to get out of.
malicious
C2
/məˈlɪʃəs/
Intending to harm or hurt others; full of spite.
heavyweight
B2
/ˈhev.i.weɪt/
heavier, thicker, or more substantial than average for its kind
flask
C1
/flask/
A small flat bottle for carrying a drink, often kept in a pocket.
oval
B2
/ˈoʊvəl/
A rounded shape like a flattened circle or an egg.
beneficial
B2
/ˌbɛnəˈfɪʃəl/
Helpful and good for someone or something.
unfamiliar
B2
/ˌʌnfəˈmɪli.ə(ɹ)/
Not known to you; strange because you have not seen or experienced it before.
foggy
A1
/ˈfɒɡi/
Full of fog, so that it is hard to see.
fascination
B2
/fæsɪˈneɪʃən/
A strong attraction or interest in something.
microscopic
B2
/ˌmaɪ.kɹəˈskɑ.pɪk/
So small that it can only be seen with a microscope.
actively
B2
/ˈæktɪvli/
in a busy, involved, and determined way
deluxe
C2
/dəˈlʌks/
elegant and sumptuous
extraordinarily
B2
/ɛkˌstrɔrdəˈnɛrəli/
In a way that is very unusual or remarkable.
agreeable
C1
/əˈɡɹiəbəl/
Pleasant and enjoyable.
brilliantly
B2
/ˈbrɪljəntli/
In an excellent or very skilful way.
capability
B2
/ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪl.ə.ti/
The power or ability to do something.
mysteriously
B2
/ˌmɪˈstɪriːəsli/
In a mysterious manner.
delicacy
B2
/ˈdɛləkəsi/
A special and tasty food, often rare or typical of a certain culture.
significantly
B2
/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli/
In a way that is large enough to be noticed or to matter.
wary
C1
/ˈwɛɚ.i/
careful and cautious because you sense possible danger or trouble
anew
C2
/əˈnu/
Again, once more; afresh, in a new way, newly.
swiftly
B2
/ˈswɪftli/
in a swift manner
gorge
B2
/ɡɔɹd͡ʒ/
A deep, narrow valley with steep, rocky sides, usually with a river running through it.
vibrant
C1
/ˈvaɪbɹənt/
Bright and strong in colour.
fictional
B2
/ˈfɪkʃənəl/
Invented and not real.
weakly
B2
/ˈwiːkli/
In a weak way; with little strength or force.
soar
B2
/soɹ/
To rise or increase very quickly to a high level.
high-tech
B2
/haɪ tɛk/
Using or involving the most advanced and modern technology.
exceptionally
B2
/ɪkˈsɛp(t)ʃənəli/
To an unusually high degree; remarkably.
summary
A2
/ˈsʌm.ə.ɹi/
A short statement that gives the main points of something.
patiently
B2
/ˈpeɪʃəntli/
In a calm way, without getting annoyed while waiting.
skateboard
B2
/ˈskeɪtˌbɔrd/
a narrow board on wheels that you stand on and ride, pushing along with one foot
relevance
C1
/ˈɹɛl.ɪ.vən(t)s/
The quality of being closely connected or useful to what is being discussed or dealt with.
headless
B2
/ˈhɛdləs/
having no head or top, especially because the head has been removed
distinctly
B1
/dɪˈstɪŋktli/
In a clear way that is easy to see, hear, or understand.
conveniently
B2
/kənˈvinjəntli/
In a way that is easy or causes little trouble.
man-made
C2+
/ˈmænˌmeɪd/
not of natural origin
moderate
B1
/ˈmɑdəɹət/
Not too much and not too little; within reasonable limits.
uncanny
C2
/ʌnˈkæni/
Strange and mysterious in a way that is hard to explain and slightly unsettling.
toil
B2
/tɔɪl/
Hard, tiring work.
overweight
A2
/ˌoʊvɚˈweɪt/
Weighing more than is healthy for your height and body type; carrying too much body fat.
acre
C1
/ˈeɪ.kɚ/
A unit of land area equal to about 4,047 square metres.
walnut
B2
/ˈwɔlnət/
An edible nut with a hard, wrinkled shell and a brain-shaped seed inside.
quagmire
C2
/ˈkwæɡ.maɪɹ/
a situation that is difficult to reslove
continually
B1
/kənˈtɪnjuəli/
Again and again; very often.
breathtaking
B2
/ˈbɹɛθˌteɪ.kɪŋ/
So beautiful or impressive that it amazes you.
rightfully
B2
/ˈɹaɪtfəli/
by right
enormously
C1
/ɪˈnɔrməsli/
To a very great degree; extremely.
twitch
C1
/twɪt͡ʃ/
To make a sudden, small, uncontrolled movement.
ludicrous
C1
/ˈluː.dɪ.kɹəs/
So foolish, unreasonable, or absurd that it is almost laughable.
murmur
B2
/ˈmɝ.mɚ/
To speak very softly and unclearly.
underlying
C1
/ˌəndɝˈlaɪɪŋ/
Real but not immediately obvious; forming the hidden basis of something.
paramount
C2
/ˈpæɹəˌmaʊnt/
More important than anything else; supreme.
sufficiently
B2
/səˈfɪʃəntli/
Enough; to the degree that is needed.
innovative
B2
/ˈɪn.əˌveɪtɪv/
Introducing or using new ideas and methods.
brightly
B1
/ˈbɹaɪtli/
In a way that gives off a lot of light.
manicure
C1
/ˈmæ.nɪ.kjʊɹ/
A beauty treatment for the hands and fingernails.
contradict
B2
/ˌkɑn.tɹəˈdɪkt/
To say that something someone said is not true.
intensely
C1
/ɪnˈtɛnsli/
in an intense manner
inseparable
B2
/inˈsɛ.p(ə).ɹə.bl/
So closely connected that they cannot be separated or imagined apart.
complexity
C1
/kəmˈplɛk.sɪ.ti/
The state of having many connected parts and being hard to understand.
hard-working
B1
/ˌhɑːrˈdwɝːkɪŋ/
Putting a lot of effort and energy into work.
immensely
C1
/ɪˈmɛnsli/
Extremely; to a very great degree.
comprehensive
B2
/ˌkɑm.pɹəˈhɛn.sɪv/
including everything or nearly everything that is needed
tut
C2
/tʌt/
Rubbish.
profoundly
C1
/pɹəˈfaʊndli/
Deeply; to a very great extent.
lightweight
B2
/ˈlaɪt.weɪt/
weighing less than average or less than comparable objects of the same kind
attentive
B2
/əˈtɛntɪv/
Listening or watching carefully and with interest.
guerrilla
B2
/ɡəˈɹɪlə/
A member of a small, unofficial armed group that fights a stronger force using surprise attacks.
historically
C1
/hɪˈstɔɹɪkli/
with respect to history
contradiction
B2
/ˌkɑːntɹəˈdɪkʃən/
A situation in which two things cannot both be true at the same time.
stellar
C2
/ˈstɛlɚ/
Exceptional, exceptionally good.
dud
B2
/dʌd/
informal: a thing, person, or event that is defective, worthless, or unsuccessful
beige
B2
/beɪʒ/
a pale sandy yellowish-brown or grayish-brown color, like undyed wool
ravine
C2
/ɹəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley, especially one formed by running water
snort
C2
/snɔɹt/
make a snorting sound by exhaling hard
ghostly
C1
/ˈɡoʊstli/
Looking pale and faint, like a ghost; eerie.
tremendously
B2
/trəˈmɛndəsli/
Very much; to a very great degree.
fundamentally
B2
/ˌfəndəˈmɛntəli/
In a basic and important way; at the deepest level.
unorthodox
B2
/ʌnˈɔɹ.θəˌdɑːks/
different from what is traditional, conventional, or generally accepted
faction
C1
/ˈfæk.ʃən/
A small group within a larger organization whose opinions differ from the rest.
lumpy
C2
/ˈlʌm.pi/
filled or covered with lumps; uneven rather than smooth
discreetly
C2
/dᵻˈskritli/
Acting in a discreet manner; acting in a way that respects privacy or secrecy; quietly
wholly
C2
/ˈhoʊ.li/
Completely and entirely; to the fullest extent.
revival
B2
/ɹɪˈvaɪvəl/
The act of bringing something back into use, popularity, or activity.
proverb
B1
/ˈpɹɑvɝb/
A short, well-known saying that expresses a piece of common wisdom or advice.
heartbreaking
B2
/ˈhɑːrtˌbreɪkɪŋ/
Causing very strong feelings of sadness.
ordinarily
C1
/ɔɹdɪˈnɛɹɪli/
Usually; as a general rule under normal conditions.