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
1274 words
peeve
C2+
/piv/
to irritate or annoy; an annoyance
perplex
C2+
/pɚˈplɛks/
to confuse or puzzle thoroughly
pivot
C2+
/ˈpɪvət/
a central point on which something turns, or to turn on such a point
pursual
C2+
/pɚˈsuəl/
the act of pursuing or following
ramify
C2+
/ˈræmɪfaɪ/
to divide or spread out into branches
rebuff
C2+
/rɪˈbʌf/
to reject bluntly or snub
reck
C2+
/rɛk/
to care about or heed; to matter
referral
C2+
/rɪˈfɝəl/
the act of directing someone to another source or expert
reiterate
C2+
/riˈɪtəreɪt/
to say or do again for emphasis
replete
C2+
/rɪˈplit/
filled or well-supplied with something
revisal
C2+
/rɪˈvaɪzəl/
the act of revising or amending something
shun
C2+
/ʃʌn/
to persistently avoid, ignore, or reject someone or something
slur
C2+
/slɝ/
an insulting remark, or to pronounce words indistinctly
snag
C2+
/snæɡ/
an unexpected obstacle, or a sharp projection that catches or tears
solicitation
C2+
/səˌlɪsɪˈteɪʃən/
the act of asking for or trying to obtain something earnestly
spat
C2+
/spæt/
a petty quarrel; to engage in a brief minor dispute
stale
C2+
/steɪl/
no longer fresh; lacking originality or interest
subsume
C2+
/səbˈsum/
to include or absorb something within a larger category
superintend
C2+
/ˌsupɚɪnˈtɛnd/
to oversee and direct the operation of something
taxing
C2+
/ˈtæksɪŋ/
physically or mentally demanding; burdensome
telegraph
C2+
/ˈtɛləgræf/
a system for transmitting messages over distance; to signal unintentionally
thuswise
C2+
/ˈðʌswaɪz/
in this manner; thus (archaic or dialectal)
tractate
C2+
/ˈtrækteɪt/
a treatise or formal written essay on a subject
traitorize
C2+
/ˈtreɪtəraɪz/
to act the traitor toward; to betray
uncloak
C2+
/ʌnˈkloʊk/
to remove a cloak from; to reveal or expose
underestimation
C2+
/ˌʌndərˌɛstəˈmeɪʃən/
the act of estimating something as smaller or less than it is
unwrap
C2+
/ʌnˈræp/
to remove the wrapping from something
unwritten
C2+
/ʌnˈrɪtən/
not recorded in writing; understood without being formally stated
uprising
C2+
/ˈʌpˌraɪzɪŋ/
an act of resistance or rebellion; a revolt
wheedle
C2+
/ˈwiːdəl/
to use flattery or coaxing to persuade someone to do something
withhold
C2+
/wɪðˈhoʊld/
to refuse to give or hold back something
abhorring
C2+
/əbˈhɔrɪŋ/
the act of regarding with horror or loathing
abstain
C2+
/əbˈsteɪn/
to restrain oneself from doing or partaking in something
accusal
C2+
/əˈkjuzəl/
an accusation; the act of charging someone with wrongdoing
adjunction
C2+
/əˈdʒʌŋkʃən/
the act of joining or adding one thing to another
adjure
C2+
/əˈdʒʊr/
to charge or command earnestly, often under oath
adumbrate
C2+
/ˈædəmˌbreɪt/
to outline or foreshadow something in a faint or partial way
alcoholize
C2+
/ˈælkəhəˌlaɪz/
to treat or saturate with alcohol
angulate
C2+
/ˈæŋɡjəlɪt/
having angles or sharp corners; angular in form
applicate
C2+
/ˈæplɪˌkeɪt/
applied or put to a particular use; in geometry, an applied ordinate
asphyxiate
C2+
/æsˈfɪksiˌeɪt/
to kill or be killed by depriving of oxygen; to suffocate
asterisk
C2+
/ˈæstəˌrɪsk/
a star-shaped symbol (*) used to mark a note or omission
balbutiate
C2+
/bælˈbjuʃiˌeɪt/
to stammer or stutter
baleen
C2+
/bəˈlin/
the horny filtering plates in the mouths of certain whales; whalebone
bandstand
C2+
/ˈbændˌstænd/
a covered outdoor platform for a band to perform on
barrage
C2+
/bəˈrɑʒ/
a concentrated outpouring of artillery fire or, figuratively, of questions
bastardize
C2+
/ˈbæstɚˌdaɪz/
to corrupt or debase by adding impure or inferior elements
bawl
C2+
/bɔl/
to weep or shout loudly and unrestrainedly
bebay
C2+
/bɪˈbeɪ/
to bark at; to assail with barking (archaic)
becall
C2+
/bɪˈkɔl/
to call names; to revile or abuse verbally (archaic)
becloud
C2+
/bɪˈklaʊd/
to obscure or confuse as if with clouds
bedamn
C2+
/bɪˈdæm/
to damn or curse (archaic intensive)
bedazzle
C2+
/bɪˈdæzəl/
to greatly impress or blind with brilliance
bedwell
C2+
/bɪˈdwɛl/
to dwell in or inhabit (archaic)
begem
C2+
/bɪˈdʒɛm/
to adorn with or as if with gems (literary)
begrave
C2+
/bɪˈɡreɪv/
to bury (archaic)
bejewel
C2+
/bɪˈdʒuəl/
to decorate with or as with jewels
benefaction
C2+
/ˌbɛnəˈfækʃən/
a charitable gift or act of doing good
beshade
C2+
/bɪˈʃeɪd/
to cover with shade; to overshadow (archaic)
bestead
C2+
/bɪˈstɛd/
to help or be of use to; also situated or circumstanced (archaic)
bestride
C2+
/bɪˈstraɪd/
to sit or stand astride; to dominate
betide
C2+
/bɪˈtaɪd/
to happen or befall (chiefly in 'woe betide')
billhook
C2+
/ˈbɪlˌhʊk/
a curved blade on a handle, used for pruning and cutting brush
bootleg
C2+
/ˈbutlɛɡ/
made, sold, or transported illegally, especially liquor or recordings
browbeat
C2+
/ˈbraʊbit/
to intimidate or bully someone with stern or overbearing words
buckle
C2+
/ˈbʌkəl/
a clasp for fastening a strap; to fasten, bend, or collapse under strain
burlesque
C2+
/bɚˈlɛsk/
a comic, exaggerated parody; to mock by such caricature
cackle
C2+
/ˈkækəl/
to laugh or cluck in a harsh, broken way
chagrin
C2+
/ʃəˈɡrɪn/
distress or vexation caused by disappointment or humiliation
champ
C2+
/tʃæmp/
to bite or chew noisily and restlessly
channelization
C2+
/ˌtʃænələˈzeɪʃən/
the act of directing something into or through a channel
char
C2+
/tʃɑr/
to scorch or burn so as to blacken the surface
chute
C2+
/ʃut/
a sloping channel for conveying things downward
clouded
C2+
/ˈklaʊdəd/
darkened, obscured, or made unclear
coact
C2+
/koʊˈækt/
to act together or jointly
coll
C2+
/kɑl/
to embrace about the neck; an embrace (chiefly dialectal or archaic)
combust
C2+
/kəmˈbʌst/
to catch fire and burn; to undergo combustion
commixture
C2+
/kəˈmɪkstʃɚ/
a mixture or the act of blending things together
compilation
C2+
/ˌkɑmpɪˈleɪʃən/
a collection of items gathered together; the act of compiling
complect
C2+
/kəmˈplɛkt/
to interweave or intertwine; to join together closely
confect
C2+
/kənˈfɛkt/
to put together or prepare, especially a sweet; a confection
confederate
C2+
/kənˈfɛdərɪt/
an ally or accomplice; united in a league
conjugate
C2+
/ˈkɑndʒəˌɡeɪt/
to give the inflected forms of a verb; or joined together as a pair
conjugation
C2+
/ˌkɑndʒəˈɡeɪʃən/
the set of inflected forms of a verb, or the act of forming them
consociate
C2+
/kənˈsoʊʃiˌeɪt/
to associate or unite together; or an associate or companion
consolidation
C2+
/kənˌsɑləˈdeɪʃən/
the act of combining several things into a single, stronger whole
cork
C2+
/kɔrk/
the buoyant bark of the cork oak, used to stopper bottles
coruscate
C2+
/ˈkɔrəˌskeɪt/
to give off flashing sparkles of light; to glitter brilliantly
counterargue
C2+
/ˈkaʊntɚˌɑrɡju/
to argue against a claim by presenting an opposing case
covenant
C2+
/ˈkʌvənənt/
a solemn, binding agreement or promise
crumple
C2+
/ˈkrʌmpəl/
to crush into wrinkles or folds; to collapse
cuddle
C2+
/ˈkʌdl̩/
to hold close in an affectionate embrace
cumulate
C2+
/ˈkjumjəˌleɪt/
to gather into a heap or mass; accumulate
darn
C2+
/dɑrn/
to mend a hole by interweaving thread; a mild oath
deadlock
C2+
/ˈdɛdˌlɑk/
a situation in which no progress can be made; a standstill
debilitate
C2+
/dɪˈbɪlɪˌteɪt/
to weaken or sap the strength of