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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All 27,237 words
1623 words
doer
C2+
/ˈduər/
a person who acts rather than merely talks or thinks
fellowship
C2+
/ˈfɛloʊˌʃɪp/
friendly companionship among people with shared interests
sophisticate
C2+
/səˈfɪstɪkət/
a worldly, cultured person of refined tastes
waver
C2+
/ˈweɪvɚ/
to be unsteady or undecided; to falter
adherent
C2+
/ædˈhɪrənt/
a supporter of a person, cause, or belief
anchorite
C2+
/ˈæŋkəˌraɪt/
a person who lives in seclusion for religious reasons; a hermit
antagonist
C2+
/ænˈtæɡənɪst/
a person who actively opposes or is hostile to another
betrayer
C2+
/bɪˈtreɪɚ/
a person who is disloyal to a trust or cause
breather
C2+
/ˈbriðɚ/
a brief pause for rest
canvass
C2+
/ˈkænvəs/
to solicit votes or opinions from people in an area
chinese
C2+
/ˌtʃaɪˈniz/
relating to China, its people, or its languages
crook
C2+
/krʊk/
a dishonest person, or a bent or hooked thing
dauntless
C2+
/ˈdɔntləs/
showing fearlessness and determination
dupe
C2+
/dup/
a person easily deceived, or to deceive such a person
fancier
C2+
/ˈfænsiɚ/
a person with a special interest in breeding or keeping something
fink
C2+
/fɪŋk/
an informer or contemptible person; to inform on someone
gossiper
C2+
/ˈɡɑsəpɚ/
a person who habitually spreads idle talk or rumors about others
greek
C2+
/ɡrik/
relating to Greece, its people, or its language
inhuman
C2+
/ɪnˈhjumən/
lacking human warmth or compassion; cruel and barbarous
mortality
C2+
/mɔrˈtæləti/
the condition of being mortal; the death rate within a population
outlier
C2+
/ˈaʊtˌlaɪɚ/
a person or value markedly different from the rest of a group
purchaser
C2+
/ˈpɝtʃəsɚ/
a person who buys something; a buyer
surrogate
C2+
/ˈsɝəɡət/
a substitute or stand-in for another person or thing
vernacular
C2+
/vɚˈnækjələr/
the everyday language of ordinary people in a region
acclaim
C2+
/əˈkleɪm/
enthusiastic public praise; to praise enthusiastically
assemblage
C2+
/əˈsɛmblɪdʒ/
a collection or gathering of things or people
barbarian
C2+
/bɑːrˈbɛriən/
an uncivilized or savage person; brutish
benefactor
C2+
/ˈbɛnɪfæktɚ/
a person who gives help or financial support
bouncer
C2+
/ˈbaʊnsɚ/
a person employed to eject troublemakers from a venue; a fast bowled ball
buddha
C2+
/ˈbudə/
a person who has attained enlightenment in Buddhism; an image of such a being
bugger
C2+
/ˈbʌɡɚ/
British vulgar term for a person or thing; to spoil or tire out
caricature
C2+
/ˈkɛrɪkətʃɚ/
an exaggerated representation of a person for comic or satirical effect
china
C2+
/ˈtʃaɪnə/
fine porcelain tableware; British rhyming slang for a close friend
cuss
C2+
/kʌs/
to swear or curse; informally, an awkward person or creature
daredevil
C2+
/ˈdɛrˌdɛvəl/
a recklessly bold person who takes dangerous risks
doings
C2+
/ˈduɪŋz/
activities or events, especially of a notable or social kind
dope
C2+
/doʊp/
an illicit drug; informally, information, or a foolish person
exemplar
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɛmplər/
a person or thing serving as a typical or ideal model
fabulist
C2+
/ˈfæbjəlɪst/
a composer of fables; a liar or inventor of tall tales
faultless
C2+
/ˈfɔltləs/
without flaw or error; perfect
garner
C2+
/ˈɡɑrnər/
to gather or collect, especially support or information
glimmer
C2+
/ˈɡlɪmər/
a faint or wavering light; a trace or hint
holler
C2+
/ˈhɑlər/
to shout or call out loudly
idler
C2+
/ˈaɪdlər/
a person who avoids work; also a freely rotating gear or pulley
ilk
C2+
/ɪlk/
a type or kind of person or thing
leech
C2+
/litʃ/
a blood-sucking worm; also, a person who exploits others parasitically
liability
C2+
/ˌlaɪəˈbɪləti/
legal responsibility; also, a person or thing causing disadvantage
matchless
C2+
/ˈmætʃləs/
so good as to have no equal; incomparable
oracle
C2+
/ˈɔrəkəl/
a person or agency considered to give wise or authoritative guidance
renegade
C2+
/ˈrɛnəˌɡeɪd/
a person who deserts a cause or group; a rebel
tenantless
C2+
/ˈtɛnəntləs/
having no tenant or occupant; vacant
abduct
C2+
/æbˈdʌkt/
to carry off a person by force or deception
accomplice
C2+
/əˈkɑmplɪs/
a person who helps another commit a crime
accuser
C2+
/əˈkjuːzər/
a person who charges another with a fault or crime
acquit
C2+
/əˈkwɪt/
to free a person from a criminal charge by verdict
acquittal
C2+
/əˈkwɪtəl/
a judgment that a person is not guilty of the charge
addlehead
C2+
/ˈædəlhɛd/
a foolish or muddle-headed person
adorer
C2+
/əˈdɔrər/
a person who loves or admires another deeply
adventurer
C2+
/ədˈvɛntʃərər/
a person who seeks out exciting or risky undertakings
airhead
C2+
/ˈɛrhɛd/
a silly or unintelligent person
allegiance
C2+
/əˈliːdʒəns/
loyalty or commitment to a person, cause, or nation
altruist
C2+
/ˈæltruɪst/
a person devoted to the welfare of others
arse
C2+
/ɑrs/
vulgar British term for the buttocks or a foolish person
assassinate
C2+
/əˈsæsəˌneɪt/
to murder a prominent person by sudden or secret attack
asshead
C2+
/ˈæsˌhɛd/
a stupid person; a blockhead
attendant
C2+
/əˈtɛndənt/
a person who attends or serves; accompanying as a consequence
autograph
C2+
/ˈɔtəˌɡræf/
a person's own signature, especially a celebrity's
avoidless
C2+
/əˈvɔɪdləs/
that cannot be avoided; inevitable
bayard
C2+
/ˈbeɪərd/
a bay horse; also a heedless, self-confident person
bigmouth
C2+
/ˈbɪɡˌmaʊθ/
a loud, talkative person who reveals secrets
blooper
C2+
/ˈblupər/
an embarrassing public blunder or gaffe
bonehead
C2+
/ˈboʊnˌhɛd/
a stupid or stubborn person; a blockhead
booster
C2+
/ˈbustər/
a person or device that boosts or promotes something
boozer
C2+
/ˈbuzər/
a heavy drinker; British slang for a pub
borrower
C2+
/ˈbɑroʊər/
a person who borrows something, especially money
boundless
C2+
/ˈbaʊndləs/
having no limits; unbounded or vast
bozo
C2+
/ˈboʊzoʊ/
a foolish or incompetent person
caitiff
C2+
/ˈkeɪtɪf/
a cowardly and despicable person; base and craven
campaigner
C2+
/kæmˈpeɪnər/
a person who works actively for a cause or candidate
cheater
C2+
/ˈtʃitɚ/
a person who acts dishonestly to gain an advantage
chieftain
C2+
/ˈtʃiftən/
the leader of a clan, tribe, or band
churl
C2+
/tʃɝl/
a rude, surly, or ill-bred person
collaborationist
C2+
/kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃənɪst/
a person who cooperates with an occupying enemy force
combatant
C2+
/kəmˈbætənt/
a person engaged in fighting, especially in war
compatriot
C2+
/kəmˈpeɪtriət/
a fellow citizen or countryman
compeer
C2+
/ˈkɑmpɪr/
a person of equal rank or status; a peer
deceased
C2+
/dɪˈsist/
no longer living; a dead person
deceiver
C2+
/dɪˈsivɚ/
a person who misleads or tricks others
defector
C2+
/dɪˈfɛktɚ/
a person who abandons a country, cause, or party for an opposing one
demeanor
C2+
/dɪˈminɚ/
outward behavior or bearing; the way a person conducts themselves
deportment
C2+
/dɪˈpɔrtmənt/
the manner in which a person conducts or carries themselves
dissenter
C2+
/dɪˈsɛntɚ/
a person who disagrees, especially with an official or majority view
floater
C2+
/ˈfloʊtɚ/
a thing or person that floats; a spot drifting in one's field of vision
foolishness
C2+
/ˈfuːlɪʃnəs/
lack of good sense; silly behavior
foreguess
C2+
/fɔrˈɡɛs/
to guess or conjecture beforehand; to anticipate
fugitive
C2+
/ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪv/
a person who flees, especially from the law; fleeting