This week on The Missing Workbook
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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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 27,899 wordsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
4452 words
avoidance
C1
/əˈvɔɪdəns/
The act of avoiding or shunning; keeping clear of.
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ejaculation
C2
/iːˌdʒækjuːˈleɪʃən/
The act of throwing or darting out with a sudden force and rapid flight.
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substitution
C1
/ˌsʌb.stɪˈtu.ʃən/
The act of putting one thing or person in place of another.
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parasol
C2+
/ˈpɛɹəˌsɑl/
To protect with, or as if with, a parasol; to shade.
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quibble
C2
/ˈkwɪbəl/
argue over petty things
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delve
C1
/dɛlv/
to examine or investigate a subject carefully and in detail
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distort
C1
/dɪˈstoɹt/
To give a false or misleading account of something.
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cookery
C2
/ˈkʊk(ə)ɹi/
The art and practice of preparing food for consumption, especially by the application of heat; cooking.
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sneer
B2
/snɪɚ̯/
To smile or speak in a way that shows scorn or contempt.
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lyre
C2+
/ˈlaɪ.ɚ/
to play the lyre
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ejaculate
C2
/iˈdʒæk.jəˌleɪt/
to expel semen from the reproductive tract, typically during orgasm
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embody
C2
/ɪmˈbɑdi/
To be a perfect example of a quality or idea in a real, visible form.
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convergence
C1
/kənˈvɝd͡ʒəns/
The act of moving toward union or uniformity.
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intercede
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈsiːd/
to intervene by pleading with a person in authority on someone else's behalf
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begrudge
C2
/bɪˈgrʌdʒ/
to wish ill or allow unwillingly
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solicit
C2
/səˈlɪsɪt/
To ask for or try to obtain something, such as help, money, or opinions.
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repress
B2
/ɹəˈpɹɛs/
To stop yourself from showing or feeling an emotion or desire.
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maul
C1
/mɔl/
to attack and injure someone or something severely by beating, scratching, or tearing
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subterfuge
C2
/ˈsʌbtəɹˌfjuːd͡ʒ/
something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity
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recant
C1
/ɹəˈkænt/
To withdraw or repudiate a statement or opinion formerly expressed, especially formally and publicly.
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designate
C1
/ˈdez.ɪɡ.nət/
To officially choose someone or something for a particular purpose or role.
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oppress
B1
/əˈpɹɛs/
To treat a group of people in a cruel and unfair way, keeping them down by force or authority.
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subside
B2
/sʌbˈsaɪd/
To become less strong or intense; to die down.
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bridle
C2
/ˈbɹaɪdəl/
the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
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instill
B2
/ˌɪnˈstɪl/
To gradually teach someone an idea, feeling, or habit until it becomes part of them.
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maim
C1
/meɪm/
to injure a person or animal so severely that a body part is permanently damaged or lost
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abound
C1
/əˈbaʊnd/
To exist in very large numbers or quantities.
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wrangle
C1
/ˈɹæŋɡəl/
To argue or quarrel noisily and at length.
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repaint
B2
/ɹiːˈpeɪnt/
To paint something again, especially something painted before.
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outweigh
B1
/ˌaʊtˈweɪ/
To be more important or valuable than something else.
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stammer
B2
/ˈstæmɚ/
To speak with difficulty, repeating sounds or pausing nervously.
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electrocute
C2
/ɪˈlɛktɹəkjuːt/
kill by electrocution, as in the electric chair
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disqualify
B2
/dɪsˈkwɔləfaɪ/
To officially stop someone from taking part in something, usually for breaking a rule.
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broach
C1
/broʊtʃ/
to introduce a difficult or sensitive subject for discussion
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ogle
C2
/ˈoʊɡl̩/
To stare at (someone or something), especially impertinently, amorously, or covetously.
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perpetuate
C1
/pɚˈpɛt͡ʃəˌweɪt/
to make something, especially something bad, continue for a long time
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mistreat
B2
/mɪsˈtɹiːt/
To treat a person or animal badly or cruelly.
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unify
B1
/ˈjuːnɪfaɪ/
To bring people or things together to form a single unit.
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unearth
C2+
/ʌnˈɜː(ɹ)θ/
bring to light
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cower
C2+
/ˈkaʊɚ/
To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.
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infringement
B2
/ɪnˈfɹɪnd͡ʒmənt/
An act of breaking a law, rule, or agreement.
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feign
C2
/feɪn/
To pretend to have a feeling or condition in order to deceive someone.
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mutate
C1
/ˈmjuː.teɪt/
to undergo a change in genetic material or another heritable biological change
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impede
C1
/ɪmˈpiːd/
To slow down or get in the way of something, making it harder.
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fascinate
B1
/ˈfæsɪneɪt/
To attract and hold someone's interest very strongly.
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uproot
B2
/ˌʌpˈɹut/
to pull a plant or tree out of the ground with its roots
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preside
C1
/pɹɪˈzaɪd/
To be in charge of a meeting, ceremony, or organization.
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forage
C2+
/ˈfoɹɪd͡ʒ/
wander and feed
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procreate
C2
/ˌpɹəʊkɹiˈeɪt/
have offspring or produce more individuals of a given animal or plant
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insertion
C1
/ɪnˈsɝʃən/
The act of putting one thing into another.
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radiate
B2
/ˈɹeɪdieɪt/
To send out heat, light, or energy.
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neigh
B2
/neɪ/
of a horse, to make its characteristic high, prolonged cry
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pillowcase
B2
/ˈpɪloʊˌkeɪs/
A cloth cover that you put over a pillow and can take off to wash.
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abhor
C2
/æbˈhɔɹ/
To hate something deeply; to find it utterly disgusting.
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bellow
B2
/ˈbɛloʊ/
To shout in a very loud, deep voice.
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hocus-pocus
C2
/ˌhoʊ.kəsˈpoʊ.kəs/
deceptive, meaningless, or unnecessarily obscure talk or activity used to confuse or impress people
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exhume
C2
/ɛksˈhuːm/
to remove a buried body or other object from the ground, especially for examination or reburial
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resonate
C1
/ˈɹez.əˌnæɪt/
To be meaningful or important to someone; to connect with their feelings or beliefs.
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dignify
B2
/ˈdɪgnəˌfaɪ/
To treat something unworthy as if it deserved serious attention.
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prance
B2
/pɹæn(t)s/
To walk or move around proudly, trying to be noticed.
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scuttle
C2
/ˈskʌt.l̩/
To deliberately sink one's ship or boat by any means, usually by order of the vessel's commander or owner.
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rekindle
C2
/ˌriːˈkɪndəl/
to make a feeling, relationship, interest, or activity become active again
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rediscover
C1
/riːdɪˈskʌvɝ/
To find or experience again something you had lost or forgotten.
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spearhead
C2
/ˈspɪɹ.hɛd/
be the leader of
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hypnotism
C1
/ˈhɪpnətɪzəm/
the practice or process of inducing hypnosis, especially through focused attention and suggestion
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mosey
C1
/ˈmoʊzi/
informal, especially US: to walk or move in a relaxed, unhurried way
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romp
C2
/ɹɑmp/
To play in a lively, rough, and energetic way.
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retention
C1
/ɹɪˈtɛnʃən/
The act of keeping something rather than losing or giving it up.
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dilation
C2
/ˌdaɪˈleɪʃən/
the act of expanding an aperture
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rumple
C1
/ˈɹʌmpəl/
to make hair, fabric, or another surface untidy with wrinkles, folds, or creases
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gush
C1
/ˈɡʌʃ/
To flow out suddenly in a large, fast stream.
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rescind
C2
/ɹɪˈsɪnd/
To repeal, annul, or declare void; to take (something such as a rule or contract) out of effect.
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fritter
C1
/ˈfrɪtər/
to waste time, money, energy, or an opportunity gradually on unimportant things, usually with away
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azure
C2
/ˈæʒɚ/
to color blue
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wean
C1
/wiːn/
to accustom a baby or young animal gradually to food other than milk and end dependence on nursing
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authenticate
C1
/ɔˈθɛn.tɪ.keɪt/
to establish the authenticity of something
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empower
C1
/ɪmˈpaʊə(ɹ)/
To give someone the confidence, strength, or ability to control their own life and decisions.
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rationalize
C2+
/ˈɹæʃənəlaɪz/
remove irrational quantities from
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jettison
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɛɾəsən/
to drop or throw something, as from a ship or airplane
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mete
C2
/miːt/
to allot, dispense, or administer something, especially punishment or reward, usually in the phrase mete out
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worsen
B2
/wɔːsn̩/
To become worse.
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bombard
B2
/ˈbɑmˌbɑɹd/
To attack a place continuously with bombs or shells.
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vaporize
B2
/ˈveɪ.pɚ.aɪz/
to convert a liquid or solid into vapor, or to become vapor
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rile
C2
/ɹɑel/
To stir or move from a state of calm or order.
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inception
C1
/ɪnˈsɛpʃən/
the beginning or establishment of an organization, activity, or process
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abolition
C1
/ˌæb.əˈlɪʃ.ən/
the act of abolishing a system or practice or institution (especially abolishing slavery)
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gargle
B2
/ˈɡɑɹɡəl/
to wash the mouth or throat by holding liquid there and forcing air through it
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materialize
C2
/məˈtɪɹiəlaɪz/
To actually happen or become real, especially after being planned or expected.
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legalize
B1
/ˈliː.ɡəl.aɪz/
to make something lawful or officially permitted, especially something that was previously illegal
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outlast
B1
/ˌaʊtˈlæst/
to last, remain useful, or continue to exist longer than someone or something else
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devastate
B1
/ˈdev.ə.stæɪt/
To destroy a place or area very badly.
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engulf
B2
/ɪŋˈɡʌlf/
To cover or surround something completely.
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thievery
C1
/ˈθiː.vɚ.i/
the crime or practice of stealing things
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whittle
C2
/ˈwɪt.əl/
to cut or shape wood by repeatedly shaving off small pieces with a knife
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whitewash
C2
/ˈwaɪtwɒʃ/
cover with whitewash
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unburden
B2
/ʌnˈbɝː.dən/
to relieve yourself of worries, guilt, or secrets by telling someone about them
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