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
caesura
C2+
/sɪˈʒʊrə/
a pause near the middle of a line of verse; any interruptive break
capstone
C2+
/ˈkæpˌstoʊn/
a crowning achievement; the top stone of a structure
challenger
C2+
/ˈtʃælɪndʒɚ/
one who challenges, especially for a title or position
chickadee
C2+
/ˈtʃɪkəˌdiː/
a small North American songbird of the tit family with a dark cap
circumscribe
C2+
/ˈsɚkəmˌskraɪb/
to restrict within limits; to draw a line around
coexist
C2+
/ˌkoʊɪɡˈzɪst/
to exist at the same time or in the same place, especially peacefully
coitus
C2+
/ˈkoʊɪtəs/
sexual intercourse between two individuals
concord
C2+
/ˈkɑnkɔrd/
agreement or harmony between people or things
contrarily
C2+
/kənˈtrɛrəli/
in the opposite way; on the other hand
creeper
C2+
/ˈkripɚ/
a plant that grows along the ground or up surfaces by clinging
cyclone
C2+
/ˈsaɪkloʊn/
a violent rotating windstorm; a system of winds circling a low-pressure center
decomposed
C2+
/ˌdikəmˈpoʊzd/
broken down by decay; rotted into simpler substances
deject
C2+
/dɪˈdʒɛkt/
to cast down in spirits; to dishearten
diplomacy
C2+
/dɪˈploʊməsi/
the management of relations between nations or the skill of tactful negotiation
divisive
C2+
/dɪˈvaɪsɪv/
tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people
duchess
C2+
/ˈdʌtʃəs/
the wife or widow of a duke, or a woman holding a duchy in her own right
duke
C2+
/duk/
a nobleman of the highest hereditary rank below a prince
dyke
C2+
/daɪk/
an embankment built to hold back water; a ditch or channel
encampment
C2+
/ɪnˈkæmpmənt/
a place where a group, especially troops, sets up camp
enfold
C2+
/ɛnˈfoʊld/
to wrap up or surround, especially in an embrace
entree
C2+
/ˈɑntreɪ/
the main course of a meal, or the right of admission
envelop
C2+
/ɛnˈvɛləp/
to wrap up, cover, or surround completely
exagitate
C2+
/ɛɡˈzædʒɪteɪt/
to agitate or stir up greatly; to harass
fisher
C2+
/ˈfɪʃər/
a person who catches fish; a large North American marten
forestage
C2+
/ˈfɔrsteɪdʒ/
the part of a stage in front of the curtain; the apron
gat
C2+
/ɡæt/
a pistol or handgun (slang); also a channel between sandbanks
guidepost
C2+
/ˈɡaɪdpoʊst/
a sign giving direction; a guiding principle or marker
heading
C2+
/ˈhɛdɪŋ/
a title or caption at the top of a section of text
hither
C2+
/ˈhɪðɚ/
to or toward this place
horizontal
C2+
/ˌhɔrəˈzɑntəl/
parallel to the horizon; level and flat
illumine
C2+
/ɪˈlumɪn/
to light up or enlighten, literally or spiritually
impendent
C2+
/ɪmˈpɛndənt/
impending; about to happen or threateningly near
impulsion
C2+
/ɪmˈpʌlʃən/
the act of driving forward, or a strong inner urge to act
incumbency
C2+
/ɪnˈkʌmbənsi/
the holding of an office or position, or its term
inferno
C2+
/ɪnˈfɜrnoʊ/
a large, fierce, and destructive fire; a place of torment
inhabitancy
C2+
/ɪnˈhæbɪtənsi/
the state of dwelling in a place; residence or occupancy
intersect
C2+
/ˌɪntərˈsɛkt/
to cross or cut across one another; to share common points
inward
C2+
/ˈɪnwərd/
directed toward the inside; situated within or in the mind
joker
C2+
/ˈdʒoʊkər/
a person who jokes; a playing card outside the normal suits
knapsack
C2+
/ˈnæpˌsæk/
a bag carried on the back for provisions or equipment
laden
C2+
/ˈleɪdən/
heavily loaded or weighed down
landslip
C2+
/ˈlændˌslɪp/
a landslide; a collapse of earth down a slope
lodging
C2+
/ˈlɑdʒɪŋ/
a temporary place to stay; rented accommodation
marrow
C2+
/ˈmɛroʊ/
the soft tissue inside bones; the innermost or vital part
mateship
C2+
/ˈmeɪtʃɪp/
camaraderie and loyalty between friends, especially in Australian usage
meridional
C2+
/məˈrɪdiənəl/
of the south or a meridian; characteristic of southern peoples
middleman
C2+
/ˈmɪdəlˌmæn/
an intermediary who trades between producer and consumer
miscellaneous
C2+
/ˌmɪsəˈleɪniəs/
made up of various, unrelated kinds
misguide
C2+
/mɪsˈɡaɪd/
to lead in the wrong direction; to mislead
muffled
C2+
/ˈmʌfəld/
deadened or made quieter; wrapped up to deaden sound
nadir
C2+
/ˈneɪdɚ/
the lowest or most unsuccessful point; the point opposite the zenith
nearness
C2+
/ˈnɪrnəs/
the state of being close in space, time, or relationship
nighttime
C2+
/ˈnaɪttaɪm/
the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
nomadic
C2+
/noʊˈmædɪk/
living by moving from place to place rather than settling permanently
noonday
C2+
/ˈnundeɪ/
midday; the middle of the day
obverse
C2+
/ˈɑbvɝs/
the front or principal side of a coin or medal; a counterpart
opposing
C2+
/əˈpoʊzɪŋ/
in conflict or contrast with; on the other side
orient
C2+
/ˈɔriɛnt/
to align or position relative to surroundings; to familiarize with a situation
orthogonal
C2+
/ɔrˈθɑɡənəl/
at right angles; statistically independent or unrelated
outermost
C2+
/ˈaʊtɚmoʊst/
furthest from the center; most external
pact
C2+
/pækt/
a formal agreement or treaty between parties
perverted
C2+
/pɚˈvɜrtɪd/
distorted or corrupted from what is right or natural
pollard
C2+
/ˈpɑlɚd/
a tree cut back to the trunk to promote dense growth, or to prune thus
procession
C2+
/prəˈsɛʃən/
a group moving forward in an orderly line
prolongation
C2+
/ˌproʊlɔŋˈɡeɪʃən/
the act of extending in time or space
rearwards
C2+
/ˈrɪrwɚdz/
toward the back or rear
reassemble
C2+
/ˌriəˈsɛmbl/
to put back together or gather again
rectangle
C2+
/ˈrɛktæŋɡl/
a four-sided figure with four right angles
reinstate
C2+
/ˌriɪnˈsteɪt/
to restore to a former position or condition
relocate
C2+
/riˈloʊkeɪt/
to move to a new place
relocation
C2+
/ˌriloʊˈkeɪʃən/
the act of moving to a new location
remand
C2+
/rɪˈmænd/
to send back into custody or to a lower court
renunciation
C2+
/rɪˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
the formal giving up of a right or claim
repository
C2+
/rɪˈpɑzɪtɔri/
a place where things are stored or kept
retrograde
C2+
/ˈrɛtrəˌɡreɪd/
directed or moving backward, or reverting to a worse state
reversal
C2+
/rɪˈvɝsəl/
a change to an opposite direction, position, or decision
roomy
C2+
/ˈrumi/
having plenty of space; spacious
rucksack
C2+
/ˈrʌkˌsæk/
a bag with shoulder straps carried on the back; a backpack
septentrional
C2+
/sɛpˈtɛntriənəl/
of or relating to the north; northern
simplex
C2+
/ˈsɪmplɛks/
consisting of or permitting only one part, direction, or operation
situate
C2+
/ˈsɪtʃuˌeɪt/
to place or position in a particular location or context
starboard
C2+
/ˈstɑrbɚd/
the right-hand side of a ship or aircraft when facing forward
stead
C2+
/stɛd/
the place or role that someone or something would otherwise occupy
steeple
C2+
/ˈstipəl/
a tall tower with a spire on top of a church
steering
C2+
/ˈstɪrɪŋ/
the action or mechanism of guiding a vehicle's direction
stupor
C2+
/ˈstupɚ/
a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility
subaqueous
C2+
/sʌbˈeɪkwiəs/
formed, found, or taking place under water
surmount
C2+
/sɚˈmaʊnt/
to overcome a difficulty or rise above an obstacle
transportable
C2+
/trænsˈpɔrtəbəl/
able to be carried or moved from place to place
treasury
C2+
/ˈtrɛʒəri/
a place or fund in which valuables or public revenues are kept
unconformity
C2+
/ˌʌnkənˈfɔrməti/
lack of conformity; a surface of contact between rock strata of differing age
vagrant
C2+
/ˈveɪɡrənt/
a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place
vantage
C2+
/ˈvæntɪdʒ/
a position or place affording a good view or advantage
wiggle
C2+
/ˈwɪɡəl/
to move with small, quick movements from side to side
ablaze
C2+
/əˈbleɪz/
burning fiercely or brightly lit up
abraid
C2+
/əˈbreɪd/
to start up suddenly; to awake or rouse oneself