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
1274 words
oaken
C2+
/ˈoʊkən/
made of or resembling oak
oblate
C2+
/ˈɑbleɪt/
flattened at the poles, as a spheroid; or a layperson dedicated to monastic life
obtainment
C2+
/əbˈteɪnmənt/
the act of acquiring or securing something
olfaction
C2+
/ɑlˈfækʃən/
the sense or action of smelling
omen
C2+
/ˈoʊmən/
a sign or event regarded as foretelling good or bad fortune
outguess
C2+
/ˌaʊtˈɡɛs/
to anticipate and so get the better of by guessing another's intentions
outrival
C2+
/ˌaʊtˈraɪvəl/
to surpass or exceed in competition or rivalry
overact
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈækt/
to perform in an exaggerated or unconvincing manner
overcast
C2+
/ˈoʊvɚkæst/
covered with clouds; gloomy or darkened
overestimation
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˌɛstɪˈmeɪʃən/
the act of judging something to be greater or better than it is
overprotect
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚprəˈtɛkt/
to guard or shield someone excessively
override
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈraɪd/
to use authority to set aside or cancel a decision or function
pash
C2+
/ˈpæʃ/
an infatuation or passionate kiss, chiefly British and Australian slang
penalization
C2+
/ˌpinələˈzeɪʃən/
the act of subjecting someone to a penalty or disadvantage
perfuse
C2+
/pərˈfjuz/
to spread or pour a fluid through or over something
perplexing
C2+
/pərˈplɛksɪŋ/
completely baffling or puzzling
politicize
C2+
/pəˈlɪtɪˌsaɪz/
to make something a political issue or give it a political character
prefigure
C2+
/priˈfɪgjɚ/
to be an early indication or model of something that comes later
presage
C2+
/ˈprɛsɪdʒ/
to foretell or be a sign of; an omen or foreboding
punctuate
C2+
/ˈpʌŋktʃuˌeɪt/
to insert punctuation marks, or to interrupt at intervals
rationale
C2+
/ˌræʃəˈnæl/
the set of reasons or logical basis underlying a course of action
rationalization
C2+
/ˌræʃənələˈzeɪʃən/
the act of justifying behavior with plausible but specious reasons
recognitive
C2+
/rɪˈkɑɡnɪtɪv/
of or relating to recognition or the act of recognizing
reconcilement
C2+
/ˈrɛkənˌsaɪlmənt/
the act of restoring harmony or settling a difference
reiteration
C2+
/riˌɪtəˈreɪʃən/
the act of saying or doing something again for emphasis
relish
C2+
/ˈrɛlɪʃ/
to enjoy greatly; a savory condiment or keen enjoyment
reluctance
C2+
/rɪˈlʌktəns/
unwillingness or hesitation to do something
reoccur
C2+
/ˌriəˈkɝ/
to happen or occur again
reprimand
C2+
/ˈrɛprəˌmænd/
a formal expression of disapproval; to rebuke someone sharply
repugn
C2+
/rɪˈpjun/
to oppose, resist, or argue against
resignment
C2+
/rɪˈzaɪnmənt/
the act of resigning or relinquishing; resignation
respell
C2+
/riˈspɛl/
to spell again, especially using a phonetic system to indicate pronunciation
restart
C2+
/riˈstɑrt/
to start again; a fresh beginning after a stop
reuse
C2+
/riˈjuz/
to use again; the act of using something more than once
revest
C2+
/riˈvɛst/
to restore or vest again in a former possessor; to reclothe
revivification
C2+
/riˌvɪvəfəˈkeɪʃən/
the act of restoring to life, vigor, or activity
revivify
C2+
/riˈvɪvəˌfaɪ/
to restore to life or vigor; to reanimate or reinvigorate
rubric
C2+
/ˈrubrɪk/
a heading, category, or set of instructions, often printed in red
satisfice
C2+
/ˈsætəsˌfaɪs/
to accept an adequate rather than optimal option
scamp
C2+
/skæmp/
a mischievous rascal, often used affectionately of a child
scorch
C2+
/skɔrtʃ/
to burn the surface of something so as to discolor or singe it
sear
C2+
/sɪr/
to burn or scorch the surface with sudden intense heat
secede
C2+
/sɪˈsid/
to withdraw formally from a federation, alliance, or organization
seclusive
C2+
/sɪˈklusɪv/
tending toward seclusion; inclined to keep oneself apart
seduce
C2+
/sɪˈdus/
to lead astray or entice, especially into wrongdoing or desire
semen
C2+
/ˈsimən/
the fluid containing sperm, secreted by the male reproductive organs
sequestered
C2+
/sɪˈkwɛstɚd/
secluded, isolated, or set apart from others
seriate
C2+
/ˈsɪriˌeɪt/
to arrange in a series or orderly sequence
severalize
C2+
/ˈsɛvərəˌlaɪz/
to separate, distinguish, or treat individually
skyrocket
C2+
/ˈskaɪrɑkɪt/
to rise rapidly and steeply
slay
C2+
/sleɪ/
to kill violently, especially in great numbers
slive
C2+
/slaɪv/
to slip or sneak about slyly (dialectal)
snitch
C2+
/snɪtʃ/
to inform on someone; an informer
snog
C2+
/snɑɡ/
to kiss and caress amorously (British slang)
splint
C2+
/splɪnt/
a rigid strip used to immobilize a broken or injured limb
sternutation
C2+
/ˌstɜrnjəˈteɪʃən/
the act of sneezing; a sneeze
stopple
C2+
/ˈstɑpəl/
a stopper or plug, especially for a bottle or jug
suasion
C2+
/ˈsweɪʒən/
the act of persuading or urging by appeal rather than force
subjugation
C2+
/ˌsʌbdʒəˈɡeɪʃən/
the act of bringing under control or domination
submittal
C2+
/səbˈmɪtl/
the act of submitting something, or the document formally submitted
suborn
C2+
/səˈbɔrn/
to induce someone to commit an unlawful act, especially perjury
supplicate
C2+
/ˈsʌpləkeɪt/
to ask or beg for something humbly and earnestly
syllabary
C2+
/ˈsɪləˌbɛri/
a set of written characters each representing a syllable
tending
C2+
/ˈtɛndɪŋ/
the act of caring for or attending to someone or something
ternion
C2+
/ˈtɝniən/
a set or group of three; a triad
thwart
C2+
/θwɔrt/
to prevent someone from accomplishing something
thwarting
C2+
/ˈθwɔrtɪŋ/
the act of preventing or frustrating a plan
transmittal
C2+
/trænsˈmɪtəl/
the act of sending or transmitting something
transpire
C2+
/trænˈspaɪr/
to happen or come to be known; to give off vapor through a surface
tweak
C2+
/twiːk/
to adjust or fine-tune something slightly
twink
C2+
/twɪŋk/
a twinkle or instant; a momentary gleam of light
unbroken
C2+
/ʌnˈbroʊkən/
not broken, interrupted, or tamed; continuous
undergoer
C2+
/ˌʌndɚˈɡoʊɚ/
one who undergoes or experiences something, especially an action
understood
C2+
/ˌʌndɚˈstʊd/
comprehended; or implied without being expressed
understudy
C2+
/ˈʌndɚˌstʌdi/
an actor who learns a role to substitute for the regular performer
undeserve
C2+
/ˌʌndɪˈzɜːrv/
to fail to merit or be worthy of something
ungenerous
C2+
/ʌnˈdʒɛnərəs/
mean or stingy; unwilling to give
unhandy
C2+
/ʌnˈhændi/
awkward to use or lacking manual skill
unhitch
C2+
/ʌnˈhɪtʃ/
to unfasten or detach from a hitch
universalization
C2+
/ˌjunɪˌvɜrsələˈzeɪʃən/
the act of making something general or applicable to all
unknot
C2+
/ʌnˈnɑt/
to undo a knot in; untangle
unleash
C2+
/ʌnˈliʃ/
to release from restraint and allow free action
unoften
C2+
/ʌnˈɔfən/
not frequently; seldom
unshaken
C2+
/ʌnˈʃeɪkən/
not weakened or disturbed; resolute
unsnarl
C2+
/ʌnˈsnɑrl/
to free from tangles or confusion
upsolve
C2+
/ˈʌpˌsɑlv/
to solve a problem after a contest, often by reading editorials or hints
validate
C2+
/ˈvælɪdeɪt/
to confirm the accuracy, validity, or legitimacy of something
velleity
C2+
/vəˈliɪti/
a wish or inclination too slight to lead to action
vilipend
C2+
/ˈvɪlɪpɛnd/
to regard or treat as worthless; to disparage or vilify
volitional
C2+
/voʊˈlɪʃənəl/
relating to or arising from the use of one's will
whirl
C2+
/wɝl/
to spin rapidly round, or a swift confused rush of activity
withdrawment
C2+
/wɪðˈdrɔ.mənt/
the act of withdrawing; withdrawal or retirement
affordance
C2
/əˈfɔːr.dəns/
an opportunity or possibility for action
ambidextrous
C1
/ˌæm.bɪˈdɛk.strəs/
able to use both hands with equal skill
chivvy
C2
/ˈtʃɪvi/
to repeatedly tell someone to do something, often in an annoying way
conflation
C1
/kənˈfleɪʃən/
the act of combining two or more things into one