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
decry
C2+
/dɪˈkraɪ/
to publicly denounce or condemn
decuplet
C2+
/ˈdɛkjəplɪt/
a group or set of ten; ten notes played in one beat
deletion
C2+
/dɪˈliʃən/
the act of removing or erasing something
depute
C2+
/dɪˈpjut/
to appoint someone to act on one's behalf; delegate
detainment
C2+
/dɪˈteɪnmənt/
the act of detaining or being held in custody
disallowance
C2+
/ˌdɪsəˈlaʊəns/
the act of refusing to allow or accept something
disassociate
C2+
/ˌdɪsəˈsoʊʃiˌeɪt/
to separate or disconnect oneself from something
disgorge
C2+
/dɪsˈɡɔrdʒ/
to discharge or pour out, especially forcibly
disinclination
C2+
/ˌdɪsɪnklɪˈneɪʃən/
a reluctance or unwillingness to do something
disinheritance
C2+
/ˌdɪsɪnˈhɛrɪtəns/
the act of depriving someone of an inheritance
disorganize
C2+
/dɪsˈɔrɡənaɪz/
to throw into confusion or destroy the orderly arrangement of
dispirit
C2+
/dɪsˈpɪrɪt/
to deprive of spirit, courage, or enthusiasm; dishearten
dissatisfactory
C2+
/ˌdɪsætɪsˈfæktəri/
failing to meet expectations or give satisfaction
dissuade
C2+
/dɪˈsweɪd/
to persuade someone not to take a course of action
doodle
C2+
/ˈdudəl/
to scribble absentmindedly while thinking or bored
dote
C2+
/doʊt/
to show excessive fondness or affection
dree
C2+
/dri/
to endure or suffer (Scots and dialectal)
drench
C2+
/drɛntʃ/
to wet thoroughly; to soak
drooping
C2+
/ˈdrupɪŋ/
hanging or sagging downward limply
drunken
C2+
/ˈdrʌŋkən/
intoxicated by or relating to alcohol
elsewise
C2+
/ˈɛlsˌwaɪz/
in another way; otherwise (archaic or dialectal)
enrapture
C2+
/ɛnˈræpʧɚ/
to fill with intense delight; to captivate
ensemble
C2+
/ɑnˈsɑmbəl/
a group performing together, or a coordinated set of things
essentialism
C2+
/ɪˈsɛnʃəˌlɪzəm/
the view that things have a fixed set of essential underlying properties
examen
C2+
/ɪɡˈzeɪmən/
a critical examination, especially a reflective examination of conscience
exanimate
C2+
/ɛɡˈzænɪmət/
lifeless or spiritless; deprived of animation
exempt
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɛmpt/
free from an obligation or liability imposed on others
exhort
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɔrt/
to urge or encourage someone strongly to do something
expede
C2+
/ɪkˈspid/
to free from impediment; to expedite or hasten
expunge
C2+
/ɪkˈspʌndʒ/
to erase or remove completely, as from a record
extraction
C2+
/ɪkˈstrækʃən/
the act of drawing or pulling something out; one's ancestry
fand
C2+
/fænd/
archaic or dialectal: to try, attempt, or strive
faultfind
C2+
/ˈfɔltˌfaɪnd/
to seek out and complain about minor faults
fay
C2+
/feɪ/
a fairy or elf; a supernatural being of folklore
finalize
C2+
/ˈfaɪnəˌlaɪz/
to complete or put into final form
flummox
C2+
/ˈflʌməks/
to confuse or bewilder thoroughly
forbiddance
C2+
/fɚˈbɪdns/
the act of forbidding; a prohibition
forechoose
C2+
/fɔrˈtʃuːz/
to choose beforehand; to predestine
foresay
C2+
/fɔrˈseɪ/
to foretell or predict; to say beforehand
forespeak
C2+
/fɔrˈspiːk/
to predict or foretell; to bespeak in advance
forfend
C2+
/fɔrˈfɛnd/
to ward off or avert; to forbid
forswear
C2+
/fɔrˈswɛr/
to renounce or reject under oath; to abjure
fragmentize
C2+
/ˈfræɡməntaɪz/
to break into fragments
fumigate
C2+
/ˈfjuːmɪɡeɪt/
to disinfect or purify with fumes or smoke
gip
C2+
/ˈdʒɪp/
to cheat or swindle someone
glaze
C2+
/ˈɡleɪz/
to cover with a smooth shiny coating, or such a coating itself
glisten
C2+
/ˈɡlɪsən/
to shine with a sparkling, wet light
goad
C2+
/ˈɡoʊd/
to provoke or urge someone into action
gouge
C2+
/ˈɡaʊdʒ/
to cut or scoop out, or to overcharge; a chisel for cutting grooves
gyp
C2+
/ˈdʒɪp/
to cheat or swindle someone
huff
C2+
/hʌf/
a fit of petty annoyance or to blow with puffs of breath
hyphenate
C2+
/ˈhaɪfəˌneɪt/
to join or divide with a hyphen
imbed
C2+
/ɪmˈbɛd/
to fix firmly within a surrounding mass; variant of embed
immingle
C2+
/ɪˈmɪŋɡəl/
to mingle or blend together intimately
immobilize
C2+
/ɪˈmoʊbəˌlaɪz/
to prevent from moving or functioning
impassionate
C2+
/ɪmˈpæʃənət/
free from passion; dispassionate and calm
impetus
C2+
/ˈɪmpətəs/
a driving force or stimulus that makes something happen
impulsiveness
C2+
/ɪmˈpʌlsɪvnəs/
the tendency to act on sudden urges without forethought
incarcerate
C2+
/ɪnˈkɑrsəreɪt/
to confine or imprison someone
incompetence
C2+
/ɪnˈkɑmpətəns/
lack of the skill or ability to do something successfully
indelicate
C2+
/ɪnˈdɛlɪkət/
lacking tact, refinement, or modesty
infortunate
C2+
/ɪnˈfɔrtʃənət/
unfortunate; unlucky (archaic)
insensitivity
C2+
/ɪnˌsɛnsəˈtɪvəti/
lack of physical or emotional responsiveness; want of tact
intellectualize
C2+
/ˌɪntəˈlɛktʃuəˌlaɪz/
to treat or examine in a rational rather than emotional way
intercommunicate
C2+
/ˌɪntɚkəˈmjunɪˌkeɪt/
to communicate mutually; to be connected so as to exchange information
intermix
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˈmɪks/
to mix together; to blend or mingle
intertwine
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˈtwaɪn/
to twist or twine together; to link closely
intimidation
C2+
/ɪnˌtɪməˈdeɪʃən/
the act of frightening or threatening someone into compliance
intrigue
C2+
/ɪnˈtriɡ/
secret scheming or plotting; to arouse curiosity or interest
intromission
C2+
/ˌɪntrəˈmɪʃən/
the act of inserting or letting in; admission of one thing into another
invitement
C2+
/ɪnˈvaɪtmənt/
an invitation or allurement; the act of inviting
irradiate
C2+
/ɪˈreɪdiˌeɪt/
to expose to or shine with radiant light or radiation
itemization
C2+
/ˌaɪtəmɪˈzeɪʃən/
the act of listing things individually or in detail
josh
C2+
/dʒɑʃ/
to tease or banter in a good-natured way
jumble
C2+
/ˈdʒʌmbəl/
a confused, disordered mixture of things
lanate
C2+
/ˈleɪneɪt/
covered with or consisting of woolly hairs
leapfrog
C2+
/ˈlipˌfrɔɡ/
to advance by skipping over an intermediate stage or rival
letch
C2+
/lɛtʃ/
a lecherous man, or to lust after someone
lure
C2+
/lʊr/
to entice or tempt; a bait or enticement
lurk
C2+
/lɝk/
to wait in hiding, especially with sinister intent
mack
C2+
/mæk/
(informal) a raincoat (mackintosh); or to flirt aggressively
maleficiate
C2+
/ˌmæləˈfɪʃiˌeɪt/
(archaic) to bewitch or harm by sorcery
malevolence
C2+
/məˈlɛvələns/
the wish to do evil or harm to others; ill will
mantle
C2+
/ˈmæntəl/
a loose sleeveless cloak; or a role or responsibility passed on
manumit
C2+
/ˌmænjəˈmɪt/
to release from slavery or bondage; to set free
misfortunate
C2+
/ˌmɪsˈfɔrtʃənət/
unlucky; afflicted by misfortune
misidentify
C2+
/ˌmɪsaɪˈdɛntəˌfaɪ/
to identify wrongly or incorrectly
misstep
C2+
/ˈmɪsˌstɛp/
a clumsy or unwise action; a mistake
mobilization
C2+
/ˌmoʊbələˈzeɪʃən/
the act of organizing and preparing resources or troops for action
molestation
C2+
/ˌmoʊlɛˈsteɪʃən/
the act of annoying, harassing, or assaulting someone
mollycoddle
C2+
/ˈmɑliˌkɑdəl/
to treat with excessive indulgence or overprotectiveness
mooch
C2+
/mutʃ/
to beg or sponge off others; to loiter aimlessly
motivational
C2+
/ˌmoʊtəˈveɪʃənəl/
providing motivation or encouragement to act
nab
C2+
/næb/
to catch or seize suddenly, especially a wrongdoer
nix
C2+
/nɪks/
to reject or veto; (informal) nothing or no
nonconform
C2+
/ˌnɑnkənˈfɔrm/
to fail or refuse to conform