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
practicality
B2
/ˌpræktɪˈkæləti/
The quality of being useful and likely to work in a real situation.
epoxy
C2
/ɪˈpɑk.si/
A very strong, hard-setting glue or resin made from two parts mixed together.
personage
C1
/ˈpɝsənɪd͡ʒ/
A person, especially one who is famous or important.
patchy
C2
/ˈpæt͡ʃi/
Good in some parts but not in others; uneven in quality
physicality
C1
The quality of being physical, especially relating to the body and its strength or presence.
drinkable
B2
/ˈdrɪnkəbəl/
Safe and suitable to drink.
disparage
C2
/dɪsˈpæɹɪd͡ʒ/
To talk about someone or something as if they have little value; to belittle.
unimaginative
C2
/ənɪˈmæˌdʒɪnətɪv/
Not imaginative.
lowland
B2
/ˈloʊˌlænd/
An area of land that is low and fairly flat.
tedium
C1
/ˈtiːdiːəm/
The state of being bored, usually because something is long or repetitive.
sparingly
B2
/ˈspɛrɪŋli/
to a meager degree or in a meager manner
unmanageable
C1
/ənˈmænɪdʒəbəl/
Difficult or impossible to control or deal with.
inoperative
C2
/ɪnˈɑp(ə)ɹətɪv/
not working or functioning
soupy
C2
/ˈsuːpi/
having a thick, wet, or fluid consistency like soup
out-and-out
C1
/ˌaʊtənˈaʊt/
complete, absolute, and without qualification
brevity
C2
/ˈbɹɛvəti/
The quality of expressing something in few words; conciseness.
centimetre
C1
/ˈsɑ̃.-/
An SI unit of length equal to 10⁻² metres. Symbol: cm
contentedly
C1
/kənˈtɛn.tɪd.li/
with equanimity
climactic
C1
/ˌklaɪˈmæk.tɪk/
Forming or relating to the most exciting or decisive moment.
ceaselessly
C1
/ˈsiːzləsli/
Without ever stopping or pausing.
superficially
C1
/ˈsuːpɝˌfɪʃəli/
In a shallow way, without going into depth.
androgynous
C2
/ænˈdɹɑd͡ʒ.ən.əs/
Pertaining to a feature or characteristic that is not definitively of either sex.
irreconcilable
C2
/ˌɪˈrɛkənˌsaɪləbəl/
impossible to reconcile
blurb
C2
/blɝ(ː)b/
A short promotional description of a book, film, or product, often quoting praise.
eccentricity
C2
/ˌɛk.sɛnˈtɹɪs.ɪ.ti/
Strange or unusual behaviour; the quality of being odd.
rhesus
C2
/ˈɹiːsəs/
of southern Asia
sprightly
C2
/ˈspraɪtli/
full of spirit and vitality
workbench
B2
/ˈwɝk.bɛnt͡ʃ/
A strong table used for doing manual work, such as by a carpenter or mechanic.
untainted
C2
/ʌnˈteɪntɪd/
not contaminated, adulterated, or spoiled; pure
cantankerous
C2
/kænˈtæŋkəɹəs/
having a difficult and contrary disposition
ashy
C1
/ˈæʃi/
pale or gray like ash, especially because of illness, shock, or fear
cloudless
C2
/ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
unmistakably
B2
/ˌʌnmɪsˈteɪkəbli/
In a way that is completely clear and impossible to mistake or doubt
aubergine
B2
/ˈoʊ.bɚ.ʒin/
A large vegetable with smooth, shiny dark purple skin, eaten cooked.
unsatisfying
B2
/ənˈsætɪsˌfaɪɪŋ/
not providing the pleasure, fulfillment, explanation, or result that was hoped for
phenomenally
C1
/fəˈnɑːmənəli/
In a remarkable or amazing way
ingratiate
C2
/ɪnˈɡɹeɪ.ʃi.eɪt/
To make yourself liked by someone, often through flattery or trying too hard to please.
predilection
C2
/ˌpɹɛ.dəˈlɛk.ʃn̩/
A strong liking or preference for something.
mossy
C2
/ˈmɔsi/
Covered in or overgrown with moss.
aspirational
C1
/ˌæspəˈɹeɪʃənəl/
expressing ambition, hope, or a desired higher status
paradoxically
C2
/ˌpɛɹəˈdɑksɪkli/
In a way that seems self-contradictory yet may be true.
imperceptible
C2
/ˌɪmpɝˈsɛptɪbəl/
So small, slight, or gradual that it cannot be noticed.
superlative
A2
/suˈpɝː.lə.tɪv/
The form of an adjective or adverb that expresses the highest degree, such as 'fastest' or 'best'.
pallor
C1
/ˈpælɚ/
Unnatural paleness, especially as a sign of sickness or distress.
long-legged
B2
/ˌlɔːŋˈlɛɡɪd/
having legs that are long in proportion to the body
anthology
C2
/ænˈθɑləd͡ʒi/
A collection of poems, stories, or other writings, often by different authors.
tacit
C2
/ˈtæsɪt/
Understood or agreed without being said directly.
unwieldy
C2
/ənˈwiːldi/
difficult to work or manipulate
grammatical
C1
/ɡɹəˈmæt.ɪ.kəl/
conforming to the rules of grammar or usage accepted by native speakers
knobby
C2
/ˈnɑbi/
covered with or having rounded lumps, knobs, or projections
feathery
C1
/ˈfɛðəri/
covered, edged, or decorated with feathers
beautify
B2
/ˈbjuː.tɪ.faɪ/
To make something more beautiful or attractive.
burdensome
B2
/ˈbɝ.dən.səm/
Causing trouble or difficulty; hard to deal with or carry.
verdant
C2
/ˈvɜɹ.dənt/
characterized by the abundance of green foliage
puerile
C2
/ˈpjʊɹɪl/
of or characteristic of a child
achievable
B2
/əˈt͡ʃivəbəl/
Possible to do or reach with effort.
readable
C1
/ˈɹiː.də.bəl/
Clear enough to be read or made out.
colourless
C2
/ˈkʌlə(ɹ).ləs/
Having little or no colour.
filmy
C2
/ˈfɪlmi/
so thin as to transmit light
ancillary
C2
/ˈæn.səˌlɛɹ.i/
furnishing added support
wilfully
C2
/ˈwɪlfəli/
Willingly, of one's own free will.
powdery
C2
/ˈpaʊdəri/
consisting of, resembling, or easily crumbling into fine dry particles
yellowish
B1
/ˈjɛlɔʊɪʃ/
somewhat yellow in color
irresistibly
B2
/ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbli/
In a way that is too attractive or strong to resist
aghast
C2
/əˈɡæst/
Filled with shock and horror.
coherence
B2
/koʊˈhɪɹ.ən(t)s/
The quality of being logical, clear, and consistent, so that all the parts fit together well.
waterlogged
C2
/ˈwɔtɝˌlɑːgd/
soaked or saturated with water
surreptitiously
C2
/ˌsɝːəpˈtɪʃəsli/
In a secret way, so as not to be noticed.
gelatinous
C2
/ˈdʒelətɪnəs/
having a thick, soft, jellylike consistency
conspicuously
C2
/kənˈspɪkjuːəsli/
in a manner tending to attract attention
blithely
C1
/ˈblaɪθli/
In a carefree way that shows no concern, often when you should be concerned.
commensurate
C2
/kəˈmɛnsəɹət/
In proportion to something; matching it in size, degree, or amount.
sectarian
C2+
/sɛkˈtɛɹi.ən/
belonging to or characteristic of a sect
elan
C2
/eɪˈlɑːn/
energetic confidence, enthusiasm, and stylish flair
uncultured
C1
/ʌnˈkʌl.tʃɚd/
(of persons) lacking art or knowledge
unaided
C1
/əˈneɪdɪd/
carried out without aid or assistance
unsurpassed
C2
/ˌənsɝˈpæst/
Better than anything or anyone else; impossible to beat.
tiptop
C1
/ˈtɪpˌtɑːp/
informal: excellent or of the highest quality
ardently
C2
/ˈɑːrdəntli/
in an ardent manner
uncharacteristic
B2
/ˌənˌkɛrɪktɝˈɪstɪk/
Not typical of how someone or something usually is.
emigrant
C2
/ˈɛmɪɡɹənt/
someone who leaves one country to settle in another
nonchalantly
C2
/ˈnɑːnʃəˈlɑːntli/
In a calm, relaxed way that shows no worry or concern.
refreshingly
C1
/riːˈfrɛʃɪŋli/
in a pleasantly new or different way
mismanagement
C2
/ˌmɪsˈmænɪd͡ʒmənt/
management that is careless or inefficient
breakable
B2
/ˈbɹeɪkəbəl/
Easily broken or damaged.
misspent
B2
/mɪsˈspɛnt/
Spent in a bad way, squandered
slippy
C2
/ˈslɪpi/
slippery; difficult to stand on, hold, or control because it is smooth or wet
sylvan
C2
/ˈsɪlvən/
relating to or characteristic of wooded regions
prise
C2
/pɹaɪz/
To force something open or apart using a lever or tool.
cay
C2
/kiː/
A small, low island made of sand or coral.
good-sized
B2
/ˌɡʊdˈsaɪzd/
reasonably or notably large in size, amount, or extent
appallingly
C1
/ʌˈpɑlɪŋli/
In a shocking and extremely bad way.
spindly
C2
/ˈspɪnd.li/
long or tall, unusually thin, and appearing weak or fragile
unrivaled
C1
/ʌnˈraɪvəld/
having no equal or competitor; better or greater than all others of the same kind
skew
C2
/skju/
To distort or bias something so it gives a false or one-sided result.
calamitous
C2
/kəˈlæmətəs/
Causing or involving great harm or disaster.