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
undersized
B2
/ˈʌndɝˌsaɪzd/
smaller than the usual or expected size
unaltered
C2
/əˈnɔltɝd/
remaining in an original state
barefaced
C2
/ˈber.feɪst/
openly shameless, audacious, or unconcealed
underdone
C1
/ˌʌn.dərˈdʌn/
not cooked or browned enough
incomparably
B2
/ˌɪnˈkɑːmpɝəbli/
in an incomparable manner or to an incomparable degree
explosively
C1
/ˌɛkˈsploʊsɪvli/
In a way that involves an explosion or a sudden violent force.
salivary
C2
/ˈsælɪˌvɛɹi/
Relating to or producing saliva.
irredeemable
B2
/ˌɪrɪˈdiːməbəl/
impossible to remedy, recover, reform, or save
microorganism
B2
/ˌmaɪ.kɹoʊˈɔɹ.ɡəˌnɪz.m̩/
A living thing too small to be seen with the naked eye, such as a bacterium.
ecstatically
C1
/ɛkˈstætɪkli/
In a way that shows extreme happiness and excitement.
glitzy
C2
/ˈɡlɪtsi/
Very showy and glamorous, sometimes in a flashy or shallow way.
unorganized
B2
/ʌnˈɔrɡəˌnaɪzd/
not formed into a structured, coordinated, or formally governed whole
uncorrupted
B2
/ˌʌnkəˈrʌptɪd/
not debased
unworkable
C1
/ʌnˈwɝkəbəl/
not capable of being carried out successfully or put into practical operation
perusal
C2
/pəˈɹuːzl̩/
The act or process of perusing, or an instance of it.
utilization
C2
/ˌjuːtələˈzeɪʃən/
The act of using something, or the degree to which it is used.
ludicrously
C1
/ˈluːdɪkɹəsli/
In a way that is absurd or unreasonable, often to the point of being funny.
fanatically
C1
/fəˈnæt.ɪk(.ə)li/
In a way that shows extreme, intense enthusiasm or devotion.
unswerving
C1
/ʌnˈswɝːvɪŋ/
firm, constant, and dependable, especially in loyalty or purpose
subnormal
C2
/ˌsʌbˈnɔːr.məl/
below the usual, expected, or average level
consequent
C2
/ˈkɑn.sɪ.kwənt/
Following as a result, inference, or natural effect.
imperishable
C1
/ɪmˈpɛrɪʃəbəl/
not subject to decay, destruction, or death; lasting forever
uproarious
C2
/ʌpˈrɔriəs/
characterized by loud, uncontrolled noise or laughter
sacredness
C2
/ˈseɪkrɪdnɪs/
the quality of being sacred
squirmy
C2
/ˈskwɝmi/
Constantly twisting and wriggling; unable to stay still.
disadvantageous
C2
/ˌdɪˌsædˌvænˈteɪdʒəs/
constituting a disadvantage
scanty
C2
/ˈskænti/
lacking in amplitude or quantity
laxity
C2
/ˈlæk.sə.ti/
a lack of strictness, care, or discipline
falsity
C2
/ˈfɔl.sɪ.ti/
the state of being false or untrue
tricolor
C2
/ˈtraɪˌkʌlər/
having or displaying three different colors
brindle
C2
/ˈbrɪndəl/
an animal coat pattern of irregular dark streaks or patches on a lighter brown, tawny, or gray background
unimpeded
C1
/ˌʌnɪmˈpiːdɪd/
not obstructed, delayed, or prevented
uninspiring
C1
/ʌn.ɪnˈspaɪɹ.ɪŋ/
Dull and not interesting or exciting
treacherously
C2
In a way that betrays trust; disloyally and deceitfully.
insufficiently
C2
/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃəntli/
to an insufficient degree
wretchedly
C2
/ˈɹɛt͡ʃədli/
in a wretched manner
irretrievable
C1
/ˌɪr.əˈtriː.və.bəl/
impossible to recover, restore, or put right
lugubrious
C2
/ləˈɡ(j)u.bɹi.əs/
Gloomy, mournful or dismal, especially to an exaggerated degree.
respectably
B2
/riːˈspɛktəbli/
In a way that earns respect or approval.
inversely
C2
/ˌɪnˈvɝːsli/
in an inverse or contrary manner
incontestable
C1
/ˌɪnkənˈtɛstəbəl/
so clearly true or valid that it cannot reasonably be disputed
derisively
C2
/dɝˈɪsɪvli/
In a mocking, scornful way.
unalterable
B2
/əˈnɔltɝəbəl/
not able to be changed
teetotaller
C2
/ˈtitoʊtəlɚ/
a total abstainer from alchohol
obstinately
C2
/ˈɑbstɪnətli/
In an obstinate manner.
twopence
C2
/ˈtʌ.pəns/
a former United Kingdom silver coin
infallibility
C2
/ɪnˌfæləˈbɪləti/
The quality of never being wrong or never making a mistake.
ultramarine
C2
/ˌʌltrəməˈriːn/
a vivid deep-blue pigment originally made by grinding lapis lazuli and now also produced synthetically
tortoiseshell
B2
/ˈtɔː(ɹ)təˌʃɛl/
The hard, mottled brown and yellow material from a turtle's shell, used for ornaments.
surreptitious
C2
/səˌɹɛpˈtɪʃəs/
Done secretly to avoid being noticed.
plausibility
C1
/ˌplɔzɪˈbɪlɪti/
The quality of seeming reasonable or likely to be true.
revelatory
C2
/[ˈɹɛvələtoɹi]/
Revealing something surprising or previously unknown.
unfeasible
C2
/ʌnˈfi.zə.bəl/
Not able to be done or carried out; not practical.
expeditious
C1
/ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃəs/
done or acting with speed and efficiency
verisimilitude
C2
/ˌvɛrəsəˈmɪləˌtuːd/
The quality of seeming real or true to life.
elongate
C1
/əˈlɔŋˌɡeɪt/
To make something longer, or to become longer, by stretching or extending.
appreciable
C1
/əˈpɹiːʃəbl/
enough to be estimated or measured
prehensile
C2
/pɹiˈhɛnsəl/
adapted for grasping especially by wrapping around an object
desirability
C1
/dɪˌzaɪrəˈbɪləti/
the quality or degree of being wanted, attractive, beneficial, or worth having or doing
unenviable
C1
/əˈnɛnˌviːəbəl/
So difficult or unpleasant that no one would want to be in it.
indiscrete
C2
/ɪndɪsˈkɹiːt/
Not divided or separated into distinct parts.
dwarfish
B2
/ˈdwɔrfɪʃ/
unusually small, short, or stunted
conditionally
C1
/kənˈdɪʃənəli/
In a way that depends on a certain condition being met.
fleecy
C2
/ˈfliːsi/
resembling fleece in being soft, light, white, or fluffy
elephantine
C2
/ɛl.əˈfæn.tin/
Extremely large and heavy.
euphemistically
C2
/ˌjuːfəˈmɪstɪkli/
In a way that uses mild words to replace harsh or offensive ones.
undreamed
B2
/ʌnˈdɹiːmd/
So great or surprising that you never even imagined it.
hauntingly
C2
/ˈhɔntɪŋli/
In a way that is beautiful or moving and stays in your mind
startlingly
C1
/ˈstɑːrtlɪŋˌliː/
In a way that is surprising or shocking.
untended
B1
/ʌnˈten.dɪd/
not cared for or maintained
microscopy
B2
/maɪˈkɹɑ.skə.pi/
The use of microscopes to study very small objects.
tyro
C2
/ˈtaɪɹoʊ/
someone new to a field or activity
obtainable
C2
/əbˈteɪnəbəl/
capable of being obtained
quotable
B2
/ˈkwəʊtəbəl/
Worth repeating or interesting enough to be quoted.
heuristic
C2
/hjuˈɹɪstɪk/
That employs a practical method not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect; either not following or derived from any theory, or based on an advisedly oversimplified one.
truism
C2
/tɹuːizəm/
A statement that is so obviously true it hardly needs saying.
appellation
C2
/ˌæpəˈleɪʃən/
A name or title by which someone is addressed or identified; a designation.
universality
C2
/ˌju.nɪ.vɝˈsæl.ə.ti/
the quality of being universal
unexceptional
C2
/ˌʌnɪkˈsɛpʃənəl/
Ordinary and not special in any way.
oversize
B2
/ˌoʊvɝˈsaɪz/
Larger than the normal or usual size.
tacitly
C2
/ˈtæsɪtli/
In a way that is understood without being said directly.
dog-tired
C1
/ˌdɔɡˈtaɪrd/
informal: extremely tired; exhausted
antithetical
C2
/ˌæntɪˈθɛtɪkəl/
Directly opposed; in complete contrast.
lilliputian
C2
/ˌlɪləˈpjuʃən/
extremely small, miniature, or petty in scale or importance
autonomously
C2
/ˌɔˈtɑːnoʊməsli/
In a way that is independent or self-governing.
hoar
C2
/hɔr/
literary: greyish white with age; old and grey-haired or frost-whitened
greyish
C2
/ˈɡɹeɪ.ɪʃ/
Alternative spelling of grayish.
courgette
B1
/kʊɚˈʒɛt/
A long green vegetable shaped like a small cucumber, eaten cooked.
unimpaired
B1
/ˌʌnɪmˈpɛrd/
not damaged, weakened, or reduced in quality or ability
naturalness
C1
the quality of being natural, relaxed, and not forced
indissoluble
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈsɑːljəbəl/
impossible to break, separate, annul, or bring to an end
fineness
B1
the quality of being very good indeed
pendulous
C1
/ˈpɛndʒələs/
Hanging loosely downward, especially so as to swing freely.
opacity
C2
/oʊˈpæsɪti/
The quality of not allowing light to pass through.
physiologist
C2
/ˌfɪziːˈɑːlədʒɪst/
a biologist specializing in physiology
unready
B2
/ʌnˈrɛdi/
not prepared, equipped, or in a suitable state for an action or event