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
325 words
canister
B2
/ˈkænɪstɚ/
a usually cylindrical container with a close-fitting lid, used for storing a dry product, film, gas, or other material
candlelight
C2
/ˈkændllaɪt/
the soft light produced by one or more burning candles
crock
C1
/kɹɑk/
a thick earthenware pot or jar used for cooking or storage
castor
C2
/ˈkæstɚ/
historical: a small table container or a stand holding cruets and shakers for condiments
vacancy
B1
/ˈvæɪkənsi/
A job that is available because no one is currently doing it.
unprepared
C2+
/ˌənpriːˈpɛrd/
Not prepared; caught by surprise.
gable
C1
/ˈɡeɪbəl/
the usually triangular upper part of an exterior wall between the sloping sides of a roof
next-door
B1
Located in the building or room immediately next to yours.
tenor
B2
/ˈtɛnɝ/
(of a musical instrument) intermediate between alto and baritone or bass
nourishment
B2
/ˈnɝɪʃmənt/
The food and nutrients that a living thing needs to live and grow.
disobedience
C2
/ˌdɪsəˈbiːdiːəns/
Refusal to obey.
tablecloth
B2
/ˈteɪbəlˌklɔθ/
A cloth that you spread over a table, especially when eating.
outhouse
C1
/ˈaʊtˌhaʊs/
a small building situated apart from a main house and used for storage, work, or another practical purpose
duster
A2
/ˈdʌstɚ/
a piece of cloth used for dusting
furnish
B1
/ˈfɝnɪʃ/
To put furniture into a room or building.
cubby
C1
/ˈkʌbi/
a small enclosed room, recess, or other confined space
homestead
C2
/ˈhoʊmˌstɛd/
A house and the land and buildings around it, especially on a farm.
predatory
C2
/ˈpɹɛdəˌtɔɹi/
living by or given to victimizing others for personal gain
adjoining
C1
/əˈd͡ʒoɪ.nɪŋ/
Next to and touching something else; sharing a wall or boundary.
upholstery
C1
/əˈpoʊlstəri/
the padded covering of furniture, including its fabric, springs, webbing, and stuffing
undisturbed
B2
/ˌəndɪˈstɝːbd/
untroubled by interference or disturbance
pulpit
C2
/ˈpʊlpɪt/
A raised platform in a church, sometimes enclosed, where the minister or preacher stands when giving the sermon; also, the lectern on such a platform.
darkroom
C1
/ˈdɑːrˌkruːm/
a room with no light, used for developing photographs
cesspool
C2
/ˈsɛsˌpuːl/
an underground pit or sealed chamber used to collect sewage and waste water
boudoir
C2
/buˈdwɑɹ/
A woman's private sitting room, dressing room, or bedroom.
housemaid
C2
/ˈhaʊsˌmeɪd/
A female domestic worker responsible for cleaning a house.
pane
B2
/pæɪn/
a single flat sheet or section of glass fitted into a window or door
sanctum
C2
/ˈsæŋktəm/
a private room or retreat where someone can work or be undisturbed
richness
B2
/ˈɹɪt͡ʃnəs/
a strong deep vividness of hue
trinket
C1
/ˈtɹɪŋkət/
a small decorative object or piece of jewelry, often inexpensive or showy
remodel
B2
/ˌriːˈmɑː.dəl/
to change the structure, design, or appearance of a building or room
broomstick
B2
/ˈbruːmˌstɪk/
the long handle of a broom, or sometimes the whole broom
rancho
C2
/ˈɹɑːnt͡ʃoʊ/
a simple rural hut or shelter, especially one used by herders or farm workers in Spanish America
bookcase
A2
/ˈbʊkˌkeɪs/
A piece of furniture with shelves for keeping books on.
poach
C2
/ˈpoʊt͡ʃ/
cook in a simmering liquid
mantel
C2
/ˈmæn.təl/
a shelf above a fireplace
trapdoor
C2
/ˈtræpˌdɔr/
a hinged or sliding door set into a floor, ceiling, or stage
matchbox
C2
/ˈmætʃˌbɑːks/
a small box made to hold matches, often with a rough striking surface on one side
windowsill
B1
/ˈwɪn.doʊˌsɪl/
the horizontal ledge or structural member at the bottom of a window
mantelpiece
C2
/ˈmæntlpiːs/
A shelf that is affixed to the wall above a fireplace.
drafty
C2
/ˈdræf.ti/
allowing uncomfortable currents of cold air to enter through gaps or poor sealing
sideboard
C2
/ˈsaɪd.bɔːrd/
a low cabinet used in a dining room for storing tableware and serving food
larder
C2
/ˈlɑɹ.dɚ/
a cool room or cupboard used for storing food
unoccupied
C1
/əˈnɑːkjəˌpaɪd/
Not being used or filled; empty.
peephole
C1
/ˈpipˌhoʊl/
a small opening, especially in a door, through which someone can look without being seen
pallet
B2
/ˈpælɪt/
A flat wooden platform on which goods are stacked for storing or moving.
untested
C1
/ənˈtɛstɪd/
not tried or tested by experience
banister
B2
/ˈbænɪstɚ/
the handrail or complete railing beside a staircase or balcony
alcove
C2
/ˈæl.koʊv/
a small recessed area opening from a larger room or other interior space
cistern
C1
/ˈsɪs.tɚn/
a tank or underground reservoir for collecting and storing water or another liquid
eggshell
B1
/ˈeɡˌʃel/
the hard, thin outer covering of an egg
drainpipe
C2
/ˈdreɪnˌpaɪp/
a pipe that carries rainwater, wastewater, or another liquid away
potpourri
C1
/ˌpoʊ.pʊˈriː/
a fragrant mixture of dried flower petals, herbs, and spices used to scent a room
untenable
C1
/ənˈtɛnəbəl/
Not able to be held or sustained, such as of an opinion or position.
nutrient
B1
/ˈnuː.tɹi.ənt/
A substance in food that living things need to grow and stay healthy.
awning
C2
/ˈɔnɪŋ/
a sheet of canvas or other material extended over a window, doorway, deck, or outdoor area to provide shelter from sun or rain
animate
B2
/ˈæn.ə.mət/
To make something lively, exciting, or full of energy.
habitation
C2
/ˌhæb.ɪˈtæɪ.ʃən/
The state of people living in a place.
clothesline
C2
/ˈkloʊðzˌlaɪn/
a rope, cord, or wire from which washed clothes are hung to dry
summerhouse
C2
/ˈsʌmərˌhaʊs/
a small garden building used for sitting or relaxing in warm weather
concoct
C2
/kənˈkɒkt/
to prepare or cook by mixing ingredients
vesta
C2
/ˈves.tə/
historical: a short friction match, especially one made with a wax-coated stem
lampshade
B2
/ˈlæmp.ʃeɪd/
a covering around a lamp that softens, reduces, or directs its light
coolly
C1
/ˈkuːl.li/
in a composed and unconcerned manner
knocker
B1
/ˈnɑkɚ/
a hinged metal object fixed to a door and struck against it to attract attention inside
bedpost
B2
/ˈbɛdˌpoʊst/
one of the upright posts at the corners of a bedstead
glassware
C2
/ˈɡlæsˌwɛr/
articles made of glass, especially drinking glasses, jugs, and other tableware
cloistered
C2
/ˈklɔɪstɝd/
Kept away from the wider world and its difficulties; sheltered
dustpan
B2
/ˈdʌstˌpæn/
a flat, shallow container with a handle into which dirt is swept
transcribe
C2
/trænˈskɹaɪb/
to rewrite in a different script or handwriting
hob
C2
/hɑb/
the flat cooking surface of a stove, especially one containing burners or hotplates
unmade
B1
/ˌʌnˈmeɪd/
of a bed, not having its sheets and blankets arranged neatly
bassinet
C2
/ˌbæs.ɪˈnɛt/
a small bed for a newborn baby, traditionally basket-shaped and sometimes fitted with a hood
cheval
C2
/ʃəˈvæl/
a supporting frame, especially a frame holding a full-length mirror that can be tilted; also short for cheval glass
boardinghouse
C2
/ˈbɔrdɪŋˌhaʊs/
a private house that provides rooms and regular meals to paying residents
amphitheatre
C2
/ˈæm.pəˌθi.(j)ə.tɚ/
An open, outdoor theatre (which may be a theatre in the round, or have a stage with seating on only one side), especially one from the classical period of ancient Greece or Rome, or a modern venue of similar design.
colander
C2
/ˈkɑləndɚ/
A bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes in it used for draining food that has been cooking in water, such as pasta.
windowless
C2
/ˈwɪndoʊləs/
Having no windows, especially no external windows.
eave
C2
/iːv/
the lower edge of a roof that projects beyond the wall of a building
footstool
C2
/ˈfʊtˌstuːl/
a low stool on which a seated person rests the feet
redd
C2
/rɛd/
Scottish and northern English dialect, usually redd up: to put in order; tidy or clear
bedclothes
C2
/ˈbɛdˌkloʊðz/
sheets, blankets, quilts, and other coverings used on a bed
lean-to
C2
/ˈliːn.tuː/
a simple shelter or extension with a roof that slopes in one direction, often built against another structure
rathole
C2
/ˈrætˌhoʊl/
a burrow, entrance, or hole made or used by a rat
schoolroom
C2
/ˈskuːlˌruːm/
a room in a school where lessons take place
bric-a-brac
C2
/ˈbrɪk.əˌbræk/
a collection of small decorative objects, curios, and ornaments, usually of little practical or monetary value
flagon
C2
/ˈfleɪ̯ɡ(ə)n/
a large metal or pottery vessel with a handle and spout
unmolested
C2
/ˌənməˈlɛstɪd/
Not bothered, disturbed, or attacked.
domesticity
C2
/ˌdoʊˌmɛˈstɪsəti/
Home life and the everyday activities of running a household.
antechamber
C2
/ˈæn.tiˌtʃeɪm.bɚ/
a small outer room leading into a larger or more important room, often used for waiting
audibly
C2
/ˈɑːdəbli/
in an audible manner
indefinable
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈfaɪnəbəl/
defying expression or description
dormer
B2
/ˈdɔɹmɚ/
A room-like, roofed projection from a sloping roof.
woodpile
B2
/ˈwʊdˌpaɪl/
a stack of cut wood, especially wood kept for fuel
stovepipe
C2
/ˈstoʊvˌpaɪp/
a metal pipe that carries smoke and gases from a stove to a chimney or flue
latchkey
C2
/ˈlætʃˌki/
a key used to open the latch of an outside door