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
countrywide
B2
/ˌkʌn.tɹiˈwaɪd/
Happening or existing across a whole country.
sustainably
C1
/səˈsteɪ.nə.bli/
In a way that can continue for a long time without harming the environment or using up resources.
spread-eagle
C2+
/ˈsprɛdˌiːɡəl/
a representation of an eagle with its wings and legs extended
haughtily
C2
/ˈhɔtɪli/
In a proud, arrogant way that looks down on others.
spatially
C2
In a way that relates to space or to how things are arranged in space.
linearly
C1
/ˈlɪniːɝli/
In a straight line or single direction.
relegate
C2
/ˈɹɛlɪˌɡeɪt/
To move someone or something to a lower or less important position.
capacious
C2
/kəˈpeɪʃəs/
Having a lot of space inside; able to hold a great deal.
acoustically
C1
/əˈkuːstɪkli/
In relation to sound or how it is heard in a space.
circumnavigation
C2
The act of travelling all the way around something, especially the world.
thereabout
C2
/ˈðerəˌbaʊt/
about or around that place or position
recumbent
C2
Lying down, especially in a relaxed position.
timeliness
B2
/ˈtaɪmliːnəs/
The quality of happening or being done at the right or most useful moment.
sidelong
C2
/ˈsaɪdlɔːŋ/
directed toward one side, especially in a secretive, doubtful, or suspicious glance
flexure
C2
/ˈflɛkʃər/
a bend, curve, or fold in a structure or surface
postural
C2
/ˈpɑst͡ʃəɹəl/
Relating to the way you hold or position your body.
microcomputer
B2
/ˈmaɪˌkroʊkəmˈpjuːtɝ/
A small computer built around a microprocessor, designed for use by one person.
stock-still
C2+
/ˌstɑːkˈstɪl/
completely motionless
athwart
C2
/əˈθwɔrt/
from one side of something to the other; across, often at an oblique angle
underlie
C2+
/ˌʌn.dɚˈlaɪ/
to lie beneath something
incongruity
C2
/ɪnkɑŋˈɡɹuɪti/
The state of two or more things not fitting together or not matching, in a way that seems strange.
encumber
C2
/ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/
To weigh someone down or make movement difficult with a heavy load.
reunify
B1
/riːˈuːnəˌfaɪ/
To join something back together after it has been divided.
promotable
C2
Suitable to be promoted; deserving a higher position.
earthward
C2
/ˈɝθwɚd/
toward the earth or ground
aslant
C2
/əˈslænt/
at an oblique or sloping angle
outdistance
B2
/ˈaʊtˈdɪstəns/
To move far ahead of someone, especially in a race.
engross
C1
/ɪnˈɡɹəʊs/
To take up all of someone's attention and interest.
overbook
B2
/ˈoʊvɝˌbʊk/
To accept more reservations or bookings than there are seats or rooms available.
antonym
B1
/ˈæn.təˌnɪm/
A word that means the opposite of another word.
landward
C2
/ˈlænd.wɚd/
situated, facing, or moving toward the land rather than the sea
echolocate
C2
To find the position of objects by sending out sounds and listening for the echoes.
unmediated
C2
Direct, without anything coming in between.
overcrowd
B2
/ˌoʊvɚˈkraʊd/
to fill a place, vehicle, or system with more people or things than it can comfortably or safely hold
sidewise
C2
/ˈsaɪˌdwaɪz/
toward one side
presupposition
C2
/ˌpriːsəpəˈzɪʃən/
Something that is assumed to be true without being stated directly.
retrospection
C2
The act of looking back and thinking about past events.
decentralize
C2
/diˈsɛntɹəˌlaɪz/
To spread something out from one central place to several different locations.
overtop
C1
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈtɑp/
to rise or extend above the top of something
incongruously
C2
/ˌɪŋˈkɔŋruːəsli/
In a way that seems out of place or does not fit.
intersperse
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈspɝs/
To scatter or place things at intervals among other things.
upperworld
C2+
/ˈʌpɚˌwɝld/
the surface world, contrasted with an underground, submarine, or underworld realm
astraddle
C2
/əˈstrædəl/
dated or regional: with one leg on each side of something; astride
habitant
B2
/abitɑ̃/
A person who lives in a particular place.
forepart
C2
/ˈfɔrˌpɑrt/
the front or anterior portion of a person, animal, vehicle, structure, or other thing
congest
B2
/kənˈdʒɛst/
to block or overfill a road, place, or system with too much traffic, too many people, or too much material
ensconce
C2
/ɪnˈskɑns/
to settle someone or oneself securely and comfortably in a particular place
afront
C2+
/əˈfrʌnt/
archaic or dialectal: in front or face to face
downgoing
C2
/ˈdaʊnˌɡoʊɪŋ/
moving, directed, or tending downward
serry
C2+
/ˈsɛri/
archaic or literary: to crowd or press people or things closely together, especially in ranks or rows
neckdeep
C2+
/ˌnɛkˈdiːp/
reaching, submerged, or covered up to the neck
endwise
C2
/ˈɛndˌwaɪz/
with the end forward or toward the observer
appose
C2
/əˈpoʊz/
to place two things side by side or near each other, especially for comparison or contrast
deprecatingly
C2
In a way that plays down or apologizes for one's own actions or worth.
midmost
C2
/ˈmɪdˌmoʊst/
literary: situated in or nearest the exact middle
embosom
C2
/ɪmˈbʊzəm/
literary: to enclose, surround, or shelter something closely
embay
C2+
/ɛmˈbeɪ/
to enclose, shelter, or surround as if within a bay
anigh
C2+
/əˈnai/
archaic or dialectal: near or close by
fabulate
C2
To make up and tell invented stories, often fantastical ones.
all right
A2
fed up
B2
o'clock
A1
/əˈklɑk/
Used with a number to say the exact hour of the day.
sports center
A2
upside down
B2
bulk up
C1
fabulation
C2
The act of inventing stories; a made-up tale or fabrication.
side-step
C2
accord
C2+
/əˈkɔɹd/
an agreement or harmony between parties; to grant or be consistent
depress
C2+
/dɪˈprɛs/
to make sad and dispirited, or to press down
ignorable
C2+
/ɪɡˈnɔɹəbəl/
able to be disregarded or left unnoticed
agitate
C2+
/ˈædʒəˌteɪt/
to stir up or disturb; to campaign vigorously
crest
C2+
/krɛst/
the top of a hill or wave; a heraldic emblem; to reach the top
infinite
C2+
/ˈɪnfɪnɪt/
limitless or endless in space, extent, or magnitude
composite
C2+
/kəmˈpɑzɪt/
made up of distinct parts; a thing formed from several elements
dwell
C2+
/dwɛl/
to live in a place; to linger on a thought or topic
compass
C2+
/ˈkʌmpəs/
an instrument showing direction; range or scope; (verb) to encompass or achieve
decompose
C2+
/ˌdikəmˈpoʊz/
to decay, or to break down into component parts
fateful
C2+
/ˈfeɪtfəl/
having far-reaching, often disastrous consequences
fell
C2+
/fɛl/
fierce, cruel, or deadly; (also) to cut down
foment
C2+
/foʊˈmɛnt/
to stir up or instigate trouble or discontent
hereabout
C2+
/ˈhɪrəˌbaʊt/
in this general area; near this place
mediator
C2+
/ˈmidieɪtɚ/
a person who tries to settle a dispute between parties
prevalent
C2+
/ˈprɛvələnt/
widespread or common in a particular place or time
void
C2+
/vɔɪd/
empty or legally invalid; (also) an empty space
demote
C2+
/dɪˈmoʊt/
to reduce to a lower rank or position
fallow
C2+
/ˈfæloʊ/
(of land) left unplanted to restore fertility; inactive
forsaken
C2+
/fərˈseɪkən/
abandoned or deserted; left utterly alone
immovable
C2+
/ɪˈmuvəbəl/
not able to be moved or changed in position or opinion
natal
C2+
/ˈneɪtəl/
relating to the place or time of one's birth
ascend
C2+
/əˈsɛnd/
to go up or rise to a higher position
boreal
C2+
/ˈbɔriəl/
relating to the north or northern regions
clearance
C2+
/ˈklɪrəns/
official permission, or the space between two objects
coincident
C2+
/koʊˈɪnsɪdənt/
occurring together in time or space; corresponding
cultch
C2+
/kʌltʃ/
the mass of stones and shells laid down as a bed for young oysters
denizen
C2+
/ˈdɛnɪzən/
an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place
endemic
C2+
/ɛnˈdɛmɪk/
native to or regularly found in a particular place or group