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
4363 words
repetitive
C2
/ɹɪˈpɛtɪtɪv/
characterized by repetition
whereby
C1
/wɛə(ɹ)ˈbaɪ/
By which; through which (used to introduce the means or method).
wholeheartedly
B2
/ˌhoʊlˈhɑːr.t̬ɪd.li/
with complete sincerity, enthusiasm, or commitment; without reservation
uninhabited
B2
/ˌʌn.ɪnˈhæb.ɪ.tɪd/
Not having a term.
realistically
B2
/ˌriːəˈlɪstɪkli/
in a realistic manner
windscreen
B1
/ˈwɪn(d).skɹiːn/
The large glass window at the front of a car or other vehicle.
hatching
B2
/ˈhæt͡ʃɪŋ/
The process of young animals coming out of their eggs.
maximize
C1
/ˈmæksəmaɪz/
To make something as large or as great as possible.
bestseller
B2
/ˈbɛstˈsɛlɝ/
A book or product that sells in very large numbers.
picturesque
B2
/ˌpɪkt͡ʃəˈɹɛsk/
Very pretty and charming, especially in an old-fashioned way; like something in a painting.
leisurely
B2
/ˈliʒɚli/
Done in a relaxed, unhurried way.
large-scale
C1
/ˈlɑːrdʒˌskeɪl/
Involving a large number of people or things, or happening over a wide area.
loom
C1
/lum/
To appear large, close, and often threatening or worrying.
monotonous
C1
/məˈnɑtənəs/
Boring because it never changes or has any variety.
enslave
C2
/ɪnˈsleɪv/
To make subservient; to strip one of freedom; enthrall.
vividly
B1
/ˈvɪvɪdli/
In a clear and detailed way that creates strong mental images.
cascade
B2
/kæsˈkeɪd/
A small waterfall, or a series of small waterfalls.
regrettably
B2
/rɪˈgrɛtəbli/
Used to say that something is unfortunate and makes you sorry.
recognizable
C1
/ˌrɛkəgˈnaɪzəbəl/
Easy to know or identify because it is familiar.
supple
C1
/ˈsʌpəl/
Able to bend and move easily; flexible.
self-preservation
C2+
/ˌsɛlfˌpɹɛzɜˈɹ.veɪ.ʃən/
The instinctive behaviour that protects oneself from harm.
meager
C2
/ˈmiɡɚ/
Small in amount and not enough; poor in quality.
moonlit
C2
/ˈmuːnˌlɪt/
lighted by moonlight
arduous
C2
/ˈɑɹ.d͡ʒu.əs/
Very difficult and tiring; requiring a lot of effort.
dandelion
B2
/ˈdæn.dəˌlaɪ.ən/
A common wild plant with bright yellow flowers that turn into a ball of white seeds.
validity
C1
/vəˈlɪd.ᵻ.ti/
The state of being based on truth, sound reasoning, or solid evidence.
quiver
C2
/ˈkwɪvɚ/
To shake with small, rapid, trembling movements.
peripheral
B2
/pəˈɹɪf(ə)ɹ(ə)l/
situated near the edge or outer part of something
impediment
C1
/ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt/
Something that gets in the way and makes progress difficult.
unresponsive
B1
/ˌʌn.rɪˈspɑːn.sɪv/
not reacting or replying to communication, influence, or a stimulus
gutsy
C1
/ˈgʌtˈsiː/
Showing courage and determination, especially in a difficult situation.
dishonesty
B2
/dɪsˈɒnɪ.sti/
The quality of being dishonest; a lack of honesty.
splendidly
B2
/ˈsplɛndədli/
extremely well
unmistakable
B2
/ˌənmɪˈsteɪkəbəl/
So clear or distinctive that it cannot be mistaken for anything else.
summarize
B1
/ˈsʌmɝˌaɪz/
To give a short account of the main points of something.
originality
B2
/əˌɹɪd͡ʒɪˈnælɪti/
The quality of being new, fresh, and not copied from others.
culmination
B2
/ˌkʌl.məˈneɪ.ʃən/
The final and highest point reached after a long process or series of events.
impossibility
B2
/ɪmˌpɑsɪˈbɪliti/
The fact of something being impossible.
broken-down
C2+
/ˌbroʊkənˈdaʊn/
no longer working because of mechanical failure
futuristic
C2
/ˌfjut͡ʃəˈɹɪstɪk/
having an appearance, technology, or style suggestive of an imagined future
duvet
B1
/d(j)uːˈveɪ/
A soft, thick cover for a bed, filled with feathers or other material and used instead of blankets.
diligently
C2
/ˈdɪləd͡ʒən(t)li/
In a careful and hardworking way, with steady effort.
vigor
B2
/ˈvɪɡɚ/
Strength, energy, and enthusiasm of body or mind.
avid
C1
/ˈæv.ɪd/
Very enthusiastic and keen about something.
influenza
B2
/ˌɪn.fluˈɛn.zə/
A common infectious illness caused by a virus, with fever, aches, and a cough; the flu.
sizable
C2
/ˈsaɪ.zə.bəl/
fairly large in size, amount, extent, or degree
colossus
C2
/kəˈlɑsəs/
a person or thing of immense size, power, or importance
heifer
C1
/ˈhɛfə(ɹ)/
A young female cow that has not yet had a calf.
shortness
B2
/ˈʃɔrtnəs/
The quality of being small in length, distance, or height.
stopwatch
B2
/ˈstɑːpˌwɑːtʃ/
A watch that can be started and stopped to measure exactly how long something takes.
effectiveness
B2
/ɪˈfɛk.tɪv.nɪs/
The quality of working well and producing good results.
mathematically
C2
/ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəli/
with respect to mathematics
affectionately
B2
/əˈfɛkʃənətli/
In a loving or fond way.
jargon
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɑɹ.ɡən/
Special words and phrases used by a particular profession or group that others find hard to understand.
nominal
B2
/ˈnɑ.mɪ.nl̩/
existing in name only, not in reality or full force
extensively
B1
/ɪkˈstɛn.sɪv.li/
In a way that covers a wide area or range; widely.
deathly
C1
/ˈdɛθli/
resembling or suggesting death, especially by being extremely pale, still, cold, or unpleasant
laziness
A2
/ˈleɪ.zi.nəs/
The quality of being unwilling to work or make an effort.
grossly
B2
/ˈɡɹoʊsli/
Greatly; to a large degree, especially one large enough to be frankly appreciable.
worn-out
B2
/ˈwɔɹnˌaʊt/
damaged or made useless by long or heavy use
degrade
C1
/dɪˈɡɹeɪd/
To treat someone without respect, making them feel worthless or ashamed.
sliver
B2
/ˈslɪv.ɚ/
A thin, narrow piece cut or broken off something.
non-existent
C2+
/ˌnɑːnəgˈzɪstənt/
Alternative spelling of nonexistent.
mythological
C1
/ˌmɪθəˈlɒd͡ʒɪkəl/
Relating to myths or mythology.
undecided
C2
/ˌʌndɪˈsaɪ̯.dɪd/
not yet having made a commitment
afresh
C2
/ʌˈfɹɛʃ/
again but in a new or different way
indescribable
B2
/ɪndɪˈskɹaɪbəbl̩/
So great or extreme that it cannot be described in words.
upheaval
C1
/ʌpˈhi.vəl/
A big and often sudden change that causes trouble or confusion.
lifelike
B2
/ˈlaɪfˌlaɪk/
closely resembling a real living person, animal, scene, or event
unselfish
B2
Caring more about others than about yourself
irreparable
C1
/ɪˈɹɛpəɹəbəl/
impossible to repair, restore, remedy, or make right
unbecoming
C2
/ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/
Not flattering, attractive or appropriate.
enhancement
B2
/ɪnˈhæns.mənt/
an improvement that makes something more agreeable
flamboyant
C2
/flæmˈbɔɪ.(j)ənt/
elaborately or excessively ornamented
masterful
B2
/ˈmæstɝfəl/
showing exceptional skill, control, or command of an art or task
fantastically
B2
/fænˈtæstɪkli/
Extremely; to a very great degree.
impertinence
C2
/ɪmˈpɝ.tɪ.nəns/
An instance of this; a moment of being impertinent.
shimmer
C2
/ˈʃɪm.ɚ/
To shine with a soft, trembling, or flickering light.
haggle
C1
/ˈhægəl/
To argue with someone in order to reach a deal, especially over a price.
uneventful
C1
/ˌəniːˈvɛntfəl/
Without anything interesting, exciting, or unusual happening.
substantially
C1
/səbˈstænʃəli/
By a large amount; to a great degree.
impregnable
C2
/ˌɪmˈprɛgnəbəl/
incapable of being overcome, challenged or refuted
checkered
B2
/ˈtʃek.ɚd/
patterned with alternating squares or irregular patches of different colors
panorama
C1
/ˌpæn.əˈɹæm.ə/
A wide, unbroken view of a large area.
pollute
A2
/pəˈluːt/
To make air, water, or land dirty and unsafe, especially with harmful substances.
cleanly
C1
/ˈklɛnli/
In a neat, smooth, and precise way.
browse
B2
/bɹaʊz/
To look through things in a relaxed way, without searching for anything in particular
unaffected
B1
/ˌənəˈfɛktɪd/
not changed, influenced, or harmed by something
fabricate
C2
/ˈfæb.ɹɪ.keɪt/
To invent false information in order to deceive
refute
B2
/ɹɪˈfjut/
To prove that something is false or wrong.
tabby
C2
/ˈtæb.i/
having a grey or brown streak or a pattern or a patchy coloring
spew
C2
/spjuː/
eject or send out in large quantities, also metaphorical
symbolize
B2
/ˈsɪmbəlaɪz/
To be symbolic of; to represent.
scythe
B2
/ˈsaɪð/
A tool with a long curved blade and a long handle, used for cutting grass or grain by hand.
imp
C1
/ˈɪmp/
A small, mischievous magical creature, like a tiny devil.
booklet
B2
/ˈbʊk.lət/
A small thin book, usually with a paper cover, that gives information.