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
4363 words
toothy
C2
/ˈtuːθi/
showing many teeth or having large, noticeable teeth
specification
C1
/ˌspɛsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
A detailed description of how something should be made, designed, or done.
axiom
C2
/ˈæk.si.əm/
A statement accepted as obviously true without needing proof.
taciturn
C2
/ˈtæsɪtɝn/
Saying very little; not inclined to talk.
preeminent
C2
/priːˈɛmənənt/
Better than all others; outstanding in rank or quality.
capillary
C2
/kəˈpɪl.ə.ɹi/
long and slender with a very small internal diameter
communicable
C2
/kəˈmjuːnɪkəbəl/
readily communicated
flat-footed
C1
/ˈflætˌfʊtɪd/
informal: directly, openly, and without qualification or hesitation
attainable
B2
/əˈtæɪ.nə.bəl/
Possible to achieve or reach with effort.
posit
C2
/ˈpɑzɪt/
To suggest or assume that something is true as a basis for argument.
analogous
B2
/əˈnɛl.ə.ɡəs/
corresponding in function but not in evolutionary origin
ably
C2
/ˈeɪ.bli/
In an able manner; with great ability.
afeard
C2+
/əˈfɪə(ɹ)d/
Afraid.
dogmatic
C2
/dɔɡˈmæt.ɪk/
relating to or involving dogma
fiendishly
C1
/ˈfiːndɪʃli/
In an evil or wicked way.
soluble
C1
/ˈsɑljəbəl/
susceptible of solution or of being solved or explained
tactfully
C1
/ˈtæktfəli/
In a way that is careful not to offend or upset others.
saccharine
C2
/ˈsækərɪn/
excessively sweet, sentimental, or flattering in an insincere or unpleasant way
vellum
C2
/ˈvɛləm/
fine parchment prepared from the skin of a young animal e.g. a calf or lamb
elfin
C2
/ˈɛlfɪn/
small, delicate, and finely featured in an attractive way
defensible
C1
/dɪˈfen.sə.bəl/
capable of being justified or supported by sound reasons
skyward
B2
/ˈskaɪwɝd/
Toward the sky; upward.
generalization
B2
/ˌdʒɛnɝəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
A broad statement that is supposed to be true in most cases, based on only some examples.
reverberate
C2
/ɹəˈvɜɹbəˌɹeɪt/
To be repeated as an echo; to ring or resound off surfaces.
vestigial
C2
/vɛˈstɪd͡ʒɪəl/
Remaining as a small trace of something that was once larger or more important.
drapery
B2
/ˈdɹeɪpəɹi/
Long, heavy cloth hung in folds, especially as a curtain.
shortlist
C1
A short list of the best candidates chosen from a larger group, from which a final choice is made.
bluntness
C1
/ˈblʌnt.nəs/
the quality of being direct and outspoken
kitschy
C2
/ˈkɪt͡ʃi/
effusively or insincerely emotional
scantily
C2
/ˈskæntɪli/
Sparingly; not plentifully; not fully; in a scanty manner.
ponderous
C2
/ˈpɑn.dɚ.əs/
Slow and heavy, moving in a clumsy way because of great weight.
provocatively
C1
/proʊˈvɑːkətɪvli/
In a way that deliberately causes a strong reaction or argument.
fiddly
C1
/ˈfɪdli/
Difficult to do or use because it involves small parts or careful handling.
gravelly
B2
/ˈɡrævəli/
containing, covered with, or resembling gravel
unabated
C2
/ˌʌn.əˈbeɪ.t̬ɪd/
continuing without becoming weaker, less intense, or less extensive
perforce
C2
/pɚˈfɔɹs/
By constraint of circumstances; of necessity; as a matter of course.
minutiae
C1
/maɪˈn(j)uːʃ(ɪ)ˌiː/
The very small or unimportant details of something.
insular
C2
/ˈɪnsəlɚ/
Not interested in new ideas or in people outside your own group; narrow-minded.
backpacker
B1
/ˈbækˌpækɝ/
A traveler who carries their belongings in a backpack and often stays in cheap places like hostels.
fellah
C2
/ˈfɛlə/
A peasant, farmer or agricultural laborer in the Middle East and North Africa.
reductive
C1
/ɹɪˈdʌktɪv/
characterized by or causing diminution or curtailment
prescient
C2
/ˈpɹɛʃ(i)ənt/
perceiving the significance of events before they occur
beaky
C2
/ˈbiki/
having a beak
dissemble
C2
/dɪˈsɛmbəl/
To hide your true feelings or intentions by pretending.
overstuffed
B2
/ˈoʊvɚstʌft/
filled beyond a comfortable or useful capacity
overripe
C1
/ˌoʊ.vərˈraɪp/
too ripe and beginning to become soft, spoiled, or fermented
dispensable
B2
/dɪsˈpɛnsəbəl/
Not essential; able to be removed or done without.
threepence
C2
/ˈθɹʌpəns/
The amount of money equal to that of three pence (old or new).
tetchy
C2
/ˈtɛt͡ʃi/
Easily annoyed or irritated; bad-tempered.
smugly
C1
/ˈsmʌgli/
In a way that shows you are too pleased with yourself.
undoubted
C1
/ʌnˈdaʊtɪd/
Without doubt; without question; certain.
imperceptibly
C2
/ˌɪmpɝˈsɛptɪbli/
In a way too small or gradual to be noticed.
topographical
C2
Relating to the physical features and shape of an area of land.
niggling
C2
/ˈnɪɡ.əl.ɪŋ/
minor yet persistent and irritating, repeatedly demanding attention
sallow
C2
/ˈsæloʊ/
cause to become a sickly pale color
midwifery
C2
/ˈmɪdˌwaɪfəɹi/
The practice and skill of helping women through pregnancy and childbirth.
gormless
C2+
/ˈɡɔːmləs/
British informal: lacking intelligence, sense, or initiative
refurbish
C1
/ɹiˈfɝbɪʃ/
To repair and improve something so it looks or works like new again.
cogent
C2
/ˈkoʊd͡ʒn̩t/
Clear, logical, and convincing.
airless
C2
/ˈɛɹ.ləs/
having little or no fresh air or air circulation; stuffy
misbegotten
C2
/ˌmɪsbɪˈɡɑtən/
badly conceived, designed, or produced
prohibitive
C1
/pɹəˈhɪbɪtɪv/
So high in price or cost that something is impossible to afford.
gingerly
C1
/ˈdʒɪndʒɚli/
with great care or caution, especially to avoid pain, damage, or danger
bounteous
C2
/ˈbaʊn.ti.əs/
generous and willing to give freely
buffoonery
C2
/bəˈfuːnəɹi/
Silly, clownish behavior meant to amuse or that looks foolish.
mistrustful
B2
/mɪˈstrʌstfəl/
Not trusting someone or something; full of suspicion.
acrimonious
C2
/ˌæk.ɹɪˈmoʊ.ni.əs/
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
helter-skelter
C2
/ˌheltərˈskeltər/
in confused, disorderly haste
lamplight
C2
/ˈlæmplaɪt/
The light emitted by a lamp.
derisive
C2
/dɪˈraɪsɪv/
Showing scorn or contempt; mocking.
remoteness
C2
/riːˈmoʊtnəs/
The quality of being remote.
solidity
B2
/səˈlɪdɪti/
The quality of being firm, hard, and keeping its shape.
fractious
C2
/ˈfɹæk.ʃəs/
Easily annoyed and inclined to complain or quarrel.
haphazardly
C2
/hæpˈhæzɚdli/
In a careless, random way, without any clear plan.
bristly
C2
/ˈbɹɪsli/
having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
quixotic
C2
/kwɪkˈsɑtɪk/
not sensible about practical matters; overly idealistic or impractical
washtub
C1
/ˈwɑːʃˌtəb/
A large tub used for washing clothes.
cocksure
C2
marked by excessive confidence
numeric
C2
/n(j)uˈmɛɹɪk/
measured or expressed in numbers
impish
C1
/ˈɪmpɪʃ/
Playfully naughty in an amusing, mischievous way.
refurbishment
C1
/riːˈfɝːbɪʃmənt/
The work of repairing and improving something so it looks or works like new.
all-encompassing
C2
Including everything; very broad in scope.
russet
C2
/ˈrʌsɪt/
reddish-brown or brown with an orange tint
cerulean
C2
/səˈruːliən/
deep or vivid sky-blue, sometimes with a slight greenish tone
prurient
C2
/ˈpɹʊɹ.i.ənt/
Having or showing too much interest in sexual matters.
popularly
C1
/ˈpɑːpjəlɝli/
among the people
supercilious
C2
/ˌsu.pɚˈsɪ.li.əs/
expressive of contempt
curvaceous
C2
/kɚˈveɪ.ʃɪs/
(of a woman's body) having a large bosom and pleasing curves
canty
C2+
/ˈkænti/
lively; cheerful; merry; brisk
phonetically
C2
/fəˈnɛtɪkli/
by phonetics
feebly
C2
/ˈfiːbli/
in a halting and feeble manner
ascendancy
C2
/əˈsɛndənsi/
The quality of being in the ascendant; dominant control, supremacy.
poky
C1
/ˈpoʊki/
informal, especially British: too small, cramped, or lacking space
blotch
C1
/blɑtʃ/
an irregular patch or spot of color, staining, or discoloration
malformed
C2
/ˌmælˈfɔːrmd/
formed abnormally or with an incorrect shape or structure
materialization
C2
The process of something becoming real or taking a physical form.