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
halo
C2+
/ˈheɪloʊ/
a ring of light around the head of a sacred figure or a luminous circle in the sky
heirloom
C2+
/ˈɛrˌluːm/
a valued object passed down through generations of a family
herefrom
C2+
/ˌhɪrˈfrʌm/
from this place or source (archaic)
heretofore
C2+
/ˌhɪrtəˈfɔːr/
before now; up until this time
hind
C2+
/haɪnd/
situated at the back; also a female red deer
hollowness
C2+
/ˈhɑːloʊnəs/
the state of being empty inside; insincerity or emptiness of feeling
illfare
C2+
/ˈɪlˌfɛr/
misfortune, hardship, or distress; the opposite of welfare
illume
C2+
/ɪˈlum/
to light up or illuminate
imbalance
C2+
/ɪmˈbæləns/
a lack of proportion or equilibrium between things
impasse
C2+
/ˈɪmpæs/
a deadlock or situation from which there is no escape
impel
C2+
/ɪmˈpɛl/
to drive or urge forward; to compel to act
incomer
C2+
/ˈɪnˌkʌmɚ/
a person who comes to live in or enter a place from elsewhere
incoming
C2+
/ˈɪnˌkʌmɪŋ/
coming in or arriving; about to take up a position
incongruence
C2+
/ɪnˈkɑŋɡruəns/
lack of harmony or agreement between things
incongruousness
C2+
/ɪnˈkɑŋɡruəsnəs/
the quality of being out of place or inconsistent with surroundings
indentation
C2+
/ˌɪndɛnˈteɪʃən/
a notch or recess, or a blank space at the start of a line of text
indestructible
C2+
/ˌɪndɪˈstrʌktəbəl/
impossible to destroy or break down
indorse
C2+
/ɪnˈdɔrs/
to endorse; to sign the back of a document or give approval
infix
C2+
/ˈɪnfɪks/
an affix inserted within a word, or to fix something firmly inside
inflow
C2+
/ˈɪnfloʊ/
the movement of something into a place; an influx
inhibition
C2+
/ˌɪnɪˈbɪʃən/
a feeling or process that restrains or holds back an action or impulse
inshore
C2+
/ˌɪnˈʃɔr/
situated in or moving toward the water near the shore
interactional
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˈækʃənəl/
relating to interaction between people or things
interdependence
C2+
/ˌɪntɚdɪˈpɛndəns/
the condition of mutual dependence between parties or things
interepidemic
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/
occurring in the period between successive epidemics
interindividual
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl/
occurring or existing between separate individuals
intermediation
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˌmidiˈeɪʃən/
the action of mediating between parties, especially in finance
intermezzo
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˈmɛtsoʊ/
a short musical or dramatic piece performed between larger movements or acts
internally
C2+
/ɪnˈtɝnəli/
on or within the inside; in one's mind or within an organization
interparliamentary
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˌpɑrləˈmɛntəri/
existing or conducted between parliaments or their members
interpolation
C2+
/ɪnˌtɝpəˈleɪʃən/
the insertion of something extra, or estimation of values between known points
interpose
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˈpoʊz/
to place or insert between; to intervene with a remark or action
interposition
C2+
/ˌɪntɚpəˈzɪʃən/
the act of placing between, or of intervening
interregnum
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˈrɛɡnəm/
an interval between two reigns or governments; a pause in continuity
interrelation
C2+
/ˌɪntɚrɪˈleɪʃən/
a mutual or reciprocal relation between things
interstice
C2+
/ɪnˈtɝstɪs/
a small intervening space or gap between things
intertropical
C2+
/ˌɪntɚˈtrɑpɪkəl/
situated or occurring between the tropics
inverse
C2+
/ˌɪnˈvɝs/
opposite in order, direction, or effect; a thing that is the reverse of another
inversion
C2+
/ɪnˈvɝʒən/
a reversal of position, order, or relationship
invert
C2+
/ɪnˈvɝt/
to turn upside down or reverse in position or order
itinerant
C2+
/aɪˈtɪnərənt/
traveling from place to place, especially for work
jounce
C2+
/dʒaʊns/
to jolt or bounce up and down
juxtaposition
C2+
/ˌdʒʌkstəpəˈzɪʃən/
the placing of things side by side for contrast or comparison
lectern
C2+
/ˈlɛktɚn/
a tall stand with a sloped top for holding a book or notes for a speaker
lickpenny
C2+
/ˈlɪkˌpɛni/
something that consumes money; a costly thing or place
lintel
C2+
/ˈlɪntl/
a horizontal beam across the top of a door or window
liquidation
C2+
/ˌlɪkwɪˈdeɪʃən/
the winding up of a company by selling assets to pay debts
liquidator
C2+
/ˈlɪkwɪˌdeɪtɚ/
a person appointed to wind up a company's affairs in liquidation
localization
C2+
/ˌloʊkələˈzeɪʃən/
the adaptation of something to a particular place or market
localize
C2+
/ˈloʊkəˌlaɪz/
to confine to or adapt for a particular place
locator
C2+
/ˈloʊˌkeɪtɚ/
a device or system that finds the position of something
locomotor
C2+
/ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɚ/
relating to or capable of movement from place to place
lop
C2+
/lɑp/
to cut off branches or parts; a hanging-down posture
lunge
C2+
/lʌndʒ/
a sudden forward thrust of the body, or to make such a movement
manufactory
C2+
/ˌmænjəˈfæktəri/
a factory; an archaic term for a place where goods are made
marchland
C2+
/ˈmɑrtʃˌlænd/
a borderland or frontier region between two territories
marquess
C2+
/ˈmɑrkwɪs/
a nobleman ranking below a duke and above an earl
mart
C2+
/mɑrt/
a market or trading center
medially
C2+
/ˈmidiəli/
in or toward the middle; situated centrally
midafternoon
C2+
/ˌmɪdˌæftərˈnun/
the middle part of the afternoon
midriff
C2+
/ˈmɪdrɪf/
the front of the body between the chest and the waist
migratory
C2+
/ˈmaɪɡrəˌtɔri/
characterized by or relating to seasonal movement between regions
mislay
C2+
/mɪsˈleɪ/
to put something in a place later forgotten; lose temporarily
mistress
C2+
/ˈmɪstrɪs/
a woman in a position of authority or control, or a man's lover
momentous
C2+
/moʊˈmɛntəs/
of great importance or far-reaching consequence
moonrise
C2+
/ˈmunˌraɪz/
the rising of the moon above the horizon, or the time it occurs
nighness
C2+
/ˈnaɪnəs/
the state of being near; nearness
northerly
C2+
/ˈnɔrðərli/
toward or coming from the north
oasis
C2+
/oʊˈeɪsɪs/
a fertile spot in a desert; a place of refuge or calm
obliviousness
C2+
/əˈblɪviəsnəs/
the state of being unaware of or not noticing what is happening around one
obsequent
C2+
/ˈɑbsɪkwənt/
of a stream, flowing in a direction opposite to the dip of the underlying strata
occupancy
C2+
/ˈɑkjəpənsi/
the act of occupying or using a space, or the proportion so used
occurrent
C2+
/əˈkɝənt/
occurring or happening at the present moment; actually taking place
onrush
C2+
/ˈɑnrʌʃ/
a sudden surging or forward rush of something
optionary
C2+
/ˈɑpʃəˌnɛri/
of or relating to options; left to one's choice
oscillation
C2+
/ˌɑsɪˈleɪʃən/
a regular movement back and forth between two points or states
osculation
C2+
/ˌɑskjəˈleɪʃən/
the act of kissing; in geometry, contact of a high order between curves
outclass
C2+
/ˌaʊtˈklæs/
to be far superior to; to surpass decisively in quality or skill
outlying
C2+
/ˈaʊtˌlaɪɪŋ/
situated far from a center; remote or peripheral
outwards
C2+
/ˈaʊtwɚdz/
toward the outside; away from a center
oversea
C2+
/ˈoʊvɚˌsi/
across or beyond the sea; overseas (archaic or literary form)
packsack
C2+
/ˈpæksæk/
a bag carried on the back for transporting supplies, a knapsack
passageway
C2+
/ˈpæsɪdʒweɪ/
a corridor or narrow way allowing passage between places
patronship
C2+
/ˈpeɪtrənʃɪp/
the position or function of a patron
peddle
C2+
/ˈpɛdəl/
to sell goods, especially in small quantities by going from place to place
pessimal
C2+
/ˈpɛsɪməl/
least favorable or worst possible, the opposite of optimal
phylum
C2+
/ˈfaɪləm/
a principal taxonomic category ranking above class and below kingdom
pillar
C2+
/ˈpɪlɚ/
an upright vertical support, or a person regarded as a mainstay
plunk
C2+
/plʌŋk/
to set down or drop heavily; a dull abrupt sound
polar
C2+
/ˈpoʊlɚ/
relating to the North or South Pole; directly opposite in character
pressive
C2+
/ˈprɛsɪv/
tending to press; oppressive or weighing down (rare)
presumptuous
C2+
/prɪˈzʌmptʃuəs/
overstepping due bounds; arrogantly bold or forward
propinquity
C2+
/prəˈpɪŋkwɪti/
nearness in place, time, or relationship; proximity
propone
C2+
/prəˈpoʊn/
to propose or put forward, especially formally in Scots law
proscenium
C2+
/proʊˈsiniəm/
the part of a theatre stage in front of the curtain, or its framing arch
pseudonym
C2+
/ˈsudəˌnɪm/
a fictitious name used by an author in place of their real one