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
convoluted
C1
/ˌkɑnvəˈlutəd/
Extremely complicated and difficult to follow.
malleable
C2
/ˈmæl.iː.ə.bəl/
Easily shaped or changed; flexible.
finicky
C2
/ˈfɪnɪki/
exacting, especially about details
utensil
C1
/ˈju.tɛn.sɪl/
A tool or container used in the kitchen for cooking or eating.
porous
C1
/ˈpɔɹəs/
allowing passage in and out
bauble
C2
/[ˈbɒbəɫ]/
A cheap, showy ornament or piece of jewellery of little value.
ostensibly
C2
/ɑˈstɛn.sə.bli/
According to what is stated or appears to be true, though the real situation may be different.
alternatively
B2
/ɔlˈtɝ.nə.tɪv.li/
Used to suggest another possibility or choice.
sunbeam
B2
/ˈsʌnˌbiːm/
A narrow ray of sunlight, especially one you can see shining through an opening.
absurdly
C1
/æbˈsɝd.li/
in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree
skylark
B2
/ˈskaɪlɑɹk/
A small brown bird known for singing while flying high into the air.
acrobatics
C2
/ˌækrəˈbætɪks/
Difficult and impressive physical movements such as jumps, flips, and balances.
buoyancy
C2
/ˈbɔɪənsi/
irrepressible liveliness and good spirit
drudgery
C2
/ˈdrʌdʒɝi/
Hard, boring, and tiring work that requires little skill.
fervently
C2
/ˈfɝvəntli/
with passionate fervor
abhorrent
C2
/æbˈhɔɹ.ənt/
Causing strong feelings of disgust and hatred; utterly unacceptable.
restrictive
B2
/ɹɪˈstɹɪktɪv/
limiting what someone can do, use, or access
throb
C2
/θɹɑb/
an instance of rapid strong pulsation
half-dozen
C2+
/ˈhæfˌdəzən/
denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units
maliciously
C2
/məˈlɪʃɪsli/
In a way that is intended to harm or hurt others.
indivisible
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈvɪzɪbəl/
impossible of undergoing division
pedantic
B2
/pəˈdæn.tɪk/
Too concerned with small details and formal rules, often in a way that annoys others.
wisp
C2
/wɪsp/
a small, thin strand or tuft of hair, grass, or similar material
unimaginably
B2
To a degree so great that it is hard to imagine.
painstakingly
C2
/ˈpeɪnˌsteɪkɪŋli/
With great care and effort; very slowly and carefully.
firmness
B2
/ˈfɝmnəs/
The quality of being fairly hard or solid to the touch.
charmingly
C1
/ˈtʃɑːrmɪŋli/
In a charming manner.
surrealist
C2
Relating to surrealism, or having a strange, dreamlike quality.
peal
C2
/piːl/
ring recurrently
panoramic
C1
/ˌpænəˈɹæmɪk/
Showing a wide view of a large area.
acknowledgment
B1
/əkˈnɑ.lɪd͡ʒ.mənt/
The act of admitting or accepting that something is true or real.
tubular
C1
/ˈtuːbjələr/
shaped like a tube or made from one or more tubes
ghoulish
C2
/ˈɡuː.lɪʃ/
morbidly interested in death or suggesting the horror associated with ghouls
edifice
C2
/ˈɛdəfəs/
A building, especially a large and impressive one.
unilateral
C1
/ˌjuːnɪˈlætərəl/
affecting, occurring on, or involving only one side of the body or another structure
benchmark
C1
/ˈbɛn(t)ʃmɑːk/
A standard or point of reference against which things can be measured or judged.
etch
C2
/ɛt͡ʃ/
To cut a design, letters, or lines into a hard surface.
earshot
C2
/ˈɪɹˌʃɑt/
the range within which a voice can be heard
vehemently
C2
/ˈviː.ə.məntli/
in a vehement manner
acrobatic
C2
/ˌækɹəˈbætɪk/
Involving skilful, agile movements like those of an acrobat.
maelstrom
C2
/ˈmeɪlˌstɹɔm/
A situation of great confusion, turmoil, or violent activity.
uninterested
B1
/əˈnɪntrəstəd/
Not interested; not caring about something.
irrevocably
C2
/ɪˈɹɛ.və.kə.bli/
In a way that cannot be changed, reversed, or undone.
chock-full
C2+
/ˌtʃɑːkˈfʊl/
completely full or crowded, usually followed by of
dissension
C2
/dɪˈsɛnʃən/
Strong disagreement that causes division within a group.
minster
C2
/ˈmɪnstɚ/
A large or important church, especially a cathedral.
descriptive
B2
/dɪˈskrɪptɪv/
Giving a clear and detailed picture of something in words.
inertial
C1
/ɪˈnɝ.ʃəl/
of or relating to inertia
stipulation
C2
/ˌstɪp.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/
A condition that must be met as part of an agreement.
scholastic
C2
/skɵˈlasʈɪk/
of or relating to schools
groundless
C2
/ˈɡɹaʊndləs/
Without any grounds to support it; baseless.
disparaging
C2
/dɪˈspɛrɪdʒɪŋ/
Showing a low opinion of someone or something; insulting or critical.
paradoxical
C2
/ˌpɛɹəˈdɑːksɪkəl/
Seeming to contradict itself, yet possibly true.
glob
C2
/ɡlɑb/
a compact, rounded, and usually shapeless lump of a soft or sticky substance
unsustainable
C1
/ˌənsəˈsteɪnəbəl/
Unable to continue at the current level without causing harm or running out of resources.
mim
C2
/ˈmɪm/
archaic or dialect: prim, demure, or affectedly modest
ruthlessness
C1
/ˈruːθləsnəs/
The quality of showing no pity or mercy.
waxy
C1
/ˈwæk.si/
made of, coated with, or resembling wax in texture, surface, or lustre
surrealism
C2
/sɝˈiːlɪzəm/
An early 20th-century art and literary movement that used dreamlike, fantastic images to express the unconscious mind.
spurious
C2
/ˈspjʊɹ.i.əs/
False or fake; not genuine or authentic.
wiry
C2
/ˈwaɪ(ə)ɹi/
of hair that resembles wire in stiffness
asexual
C2
/eɪˈsɛk.ʃu.əl/
not having or involving sex
saucepan
B1
/ˈsɔsˌpæn/
A deep round cooking pan with a long handle and usually a lid.
nondescript
C1
/nɑndəˈskɹɪpt/
Having no special or interesting qualities; ordinary and hard to describe.
parochial
C2
/pəˈɹoʊki.əl/
Narrow in outlook; concerned only with local matters and ignoring the wider world.
principally
C1
/ˈprɪnsɪpli/
Mainly; for the most part.
versatility
C1
/ˌvɜɹ.səˈtɪl.ɪ.ti/
The quality of having many different skills or uses
resonant
B2
/ˈɹɛzənənt/
Of a sound, deep, full, and continuing to echo.
naivety
C1
/nɑːˈiːvti/
A lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement; the quality of being too trusting.
nightmarish
C2
/ˈnaɪtˌmɛrɪʃ/
extremely alarming, as if in a terrifying dream
affable
C2
/ˈæfəbəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
categorize
B1
/ˈkætəɡəˌɹaɪz/
To put things into groups according to what they have in common.
oddity
C1
/ˈɑdɪti/
A strange or unusual thing.
synopsis
C1
/sɪˈnɑpsɪs/
A short summary of the main points of a book, film, or other work.
permanence
B2
/ˈpɜɹmənəns/
The quality of lasting or staying the same for a very long time.
ageless
B2
/ˈeɪdʒləs/
Never seeming to grow old; always looking young.
attractiveness
B2
/əˈtræktɪvnəs/
The quality of being pleasant to look at or appealing.
amply
C1
/ˈæm.pli/
In a way that is more than enough; fully or generously.
inexorably
C2
/ɪnˈɛk.sə.ɹə.bli/
In a way that cannot be stopped or prevented.
marvelously
C2
/ˈmɑːrvələsli/
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
unshakable
C1
/ʌnˈʃeɪ.kə.bəl/
of a belief, fact, relationship, or system, so firm or secure that it cannot easily be weakened, changed, or disproved
tactically
C2
/ˈtæktɪkəli/
In a way that is carefully planned to gain an advantage.
banality
C2+
/bəˈnælɪti/
The quality of being banal.
needful
C1
/ˈniːdfl̩/
necessary for relief or supply
meteoric
C1
/ˌmiːtiˈɒɹɪk/
like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience
strikingly
B1
/ˈstraɪkɪŋli/
in a striking manner
untalented
B2
Having little or no natural skill or ability
gape
C1
/ˈɡeɪp/
To stare with your mouth open in surprise or wonder.
impeccably
C2
/ˌɪmˈpɛkəbli/
In a perfect, faultless way.
inasmuch
C1
/ˌɪnəzˈmʌt͡ʃ/
In like degree; in like manner; to the same or similar degree; likewise.
inexorable
C2
/ɪnˈɛksɚəb(ə)l/
Impossible to stop or prevent; certain to happen.
immensity
C2
/ɪˈmen.sə.ti/
the state or quality of being extremely large, extensive, or numerous
ferociously
C1
/fɝˈoʊʃɪsli/
In a fierce, violent, or aggressive way.
modernize
B2
/ˈmɑdɚnaɪz/
To make something old or out of date more modern by changing it or adding new things.
duplicity
C2
/duˈplɪ.sɪ.ti/
The quality of being double or twofold.
innovate
C1
/ˈɪnəveɪt/
To create or introduce new ideas, methods, or products.