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
214 words
methodology
C2
/ˌmɛθ.əˈdɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/
The set of methods and procedures used to do something in a particular field.
primer
B2
/ˈprɪmɚ/
a small introductory book, especially one used to teach children to read or to explain the basics of a subject
protege
C1
/ˈproʊtəˌʒeɪ/
a less experienced person whose career or development is guided and supported by an influential mentor
elective
B2
/ɪˈlɛktɪv/
Not required; chosen freely.
schoolhouse
B2
/ˈskulˌhaʊs/
a building used as a school, especially a small or one-room school
delve
C1
/dɛlv/
to examine or investigate a subject carefully and in detail
undergraduate
B2
/ˌəndɝˈgrædʒəwət/
A university student who has not yet finished their first degree.
truant
C2
/ˈtɹuənt/
a pupil who stays away from school without permission
vocational
C2
/voʊˈkeɪʃənəl/
Relating to a job, or to the skills and training needed for a particular kind of work.
reread
B1
/ˌriˈrid/
to read a text again
meteorological
C2
/ˌmitiəɹəˈlɑd͡ʒɪkl̩/
Relating to the weather or the study of the weather.
inexperience
C2
/ˌɪnɪkˈspɪriːəns/
lack of experience and the knowledge and understanding derived from experience
scholarly
C2
/ˈskɑːlɝli/
Connected with serious academic study and research
formative
B2
/ˈfoɹmətɪv/
strongly influencing the development of a person, idea, or thing
familiarize
B2
/fəˈmɪliəɹaɪ̯z/
To learn about something or make someone learn about it.
rote
C1
/ɹoʊt/
memorization or learning through repetition, often without full understanding
lyceum
C2
/laɪˈsiːəm/
a hall or association providing public lectures, debates, readings, or concerts
refectory
C2
/rɪˈfɛktəri/
a communal dining hall in a monastery, school, college, or other institution
housemaster
B2
A teacher in charge of a house at a boarding school.
schoolmistress
C1
/ˈskuːlˌmɪstrəs/
a woman who teaches in or is in charge of a school, now chiefly in historical contexts
pedagogue
C2
/ˈped.ə.ɡɑːɡ/
a teacher, especially one who is strict, formal, or old-fashioned
plagiarize
C1
/ˈpleɪ.dʒə.raɪz/
to use another person's words, ideas, or creative work and present them as one's own, especially without proper acknowledgment
impressionistic
C2
/ˌɪmˌprɛʃəˈnɪstɪk/
Based on personal impressions and feelings rather than careful facts or research.
stoicism
C2
/ˈstoʊɪsɪzəm/
The quality of accepting pain or hardship calmly, without complaining.
copybook
C2
/ˈkɑpiˌbʊk/
historical: a school exercise book containing models of handwriting for a pupil to copy
glossary
C1
/ˈɡlɔ.sə.ɹi/
an alphabetical list of technical terms in some specialized field of knowledge
schoolbook
B1
/ˈskuːlˌbʊk/
a book written or selected for students to use in school; a textbook
educative
C1
/ˈɛdʒəˌkeɪtɪv/
serving to educate or produce intellectual and moral development
classicist
C2
/ˈklæs.ɪ.sɪst/
a scholar who studies the languages, literature, and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome
pedantry
C2
/ˈpɛdəntri/
an ostentatious or ill-timed display of learning
obscurantism
C2
/əbˈskjʊrəntɪzəm/
deliberate opposition to the spread of knowledge, education, reform, or public understanding
aitch
C2
/eɪtʃ/
the name of the Latin-script letter H or h
headteacher
A2
The most senior teacher who is in charge of running a school.
schoolchild
A2
/ˈskuːlt͡ʃaɪld/
A child who goes to school.
pedagogic
C2
/ˌpɛdəˈɡɑd͡ʒɪk/
of or relating to pedagogy
precocity
C2
/prɪˈkɑsəti/
unusually early development of intelligence, talent, or maturity
orthography
C2
/ɔɹˈθɑɡɹəfi/
the conventional spelling and writing system of a language
methodological
C2
/ˌmɛθ.ə.dəˈlɑ.d͡ʒɪ.kəl/
Relating to the methods used in research or in a particular field.
inculcation
C2
/ˌɪnkʌlˈkeɪʃən/
the process of firmly instilling an idea, value, or habit through persistent instruction or repetition
conversazione
C2
/ˌkɑnvɚsɑtsiˈoʊni/
a formal social gathering devoted to discussion of literature, art, science, or another learned subject
schoolman
C2
/ˈskuːl.mən/
historical: a medieval scholar or teacher, especially one associated with scholastic philosophy or theology
cyberschool
B2
A school that teaches its courses over the Internet instead of in a physical building.
methodologically
C2
In a way that relates to the methods used in research.
main course
A2
primary school
B1
secondary school
B1
enlighten
C2+
/ɪnˈlaɪtən/
to give greater knowledge or understanding to someone
ethics
C2+
/ˈɛθɪks/
moral principles governing conduct, or the study thereof
familiarity
C2+
/fəˌmɪliˈærɪti/
close acquaintance with or knowledge of something
imbibe
C2+
/ɪmˈbaɪb/
to drink, especially alcohol; to absorb ideas or knowledge
learned
C2+
/ˈlɝnɪd/
having or showing deep, extensive knowledge from study
provost
C2+
/ˈproʊvoʊst/
a senior academic administrator; the head of certain colleges
don
C2+
/dɑn/
to put on a garment; also a university teacher or distinguished man
pervert
C2+
/pɚˈvɝt/
to distort or corrupt from the original or proper course
politic
C2+
/ˈpɑləˌtɪk/
prudent and shrewd in pursuing a sensible course; expedient
regimen
C2+
/ˈrɛdʒəmən/
a prescribed course of diet, exercise, or treatment
tutelage
C2+
/ˈtuːtəlɪdʒ/
instruction or guardianship under a teacher or protector
deviate
C2+
/ˈdiviˌeɪt/
to depart from an established course, standard, or norm
disclaim
C2+
/dɪsˈkleɪm/
to renounce or deny any claim to, knowledge of, or responsibility for
doctorate
C2+
/ˈdɑktərət/
the highest academic degree awarded by a university
errant
C2+
/ˈɛrənt/
straying from the proper course or standards; wandering
indoctrinate
C2+
/ɪnˈdɑktrɪneɪt/
to teach someone to accept a set of beliefs uncritically
instructive
C2+
/ɪnˈstrʌktɪv/
useful in providing knowledge or information; enlightening
preceptor
C2+
/prɪˈsɛptər/
a teacher or instructor, especially a tutor or mentor
prognosis
C2+
/prɑɡˈnoʊsɪs/
a forecast of the likely course of a disease or situation
sophistication
C2+
/səˌfɪstɪˈkeɪʃən/
refined worldly knowledge, or complexity of design
academism
C2+
/əˈkædəˌmɪzəm/
adherence to traditional academic conventions or doctrines
antiquary
C2+
/ˈæntəˌkwɛri/
a student or collector of antiquities
bursary
C2+
/ˈbɝsəri/
a grant or scholarship awarded to a student; a treasury office
canalize
C2+
/ˈkænəˌlaɪz/
to convert into or direct through a channel; to channel into a fixed course
casebook
C2+
/ˈkeɪsˌbʊk/
a book recording cases for study; serving as a textbook example
cram
C2+
/kræm/
to force into a tight space, or to study intensively before an exam
dean
C2+
/din/
a senior official of a college, university, or cathedral
deviation
C2+
/ˌdiviˈeɪʃən/
the act of departing from an established course or norm
divinity
C2+
/dɪˈvɪnəti/
the state of being divine, a deity, or the study of theology
erudition
C2+
/ˌɛrʊˈdɪʃən/
extensive knowledge acquired through study; learning
frosh
C2+
/frɑʃ/
a first-year student at a college or high school; a freshman
hilary
C2+
/ˈhɪləri/
the spring legal and university term in parts of the British Isles
meteorologic
C2+
/ˌmitiərəˈlɑdʒɪk/
relating to weather or the study of the atmosphere
paroemia
C2+
/pəˈrimiə/
a proverb or adage, especially as a subject of study
perversion
C2+
/pɚˈvɜrʒən/
a distortion or corruption of something from its proper course
phenomenalism
C2+
/fəˈnɑmənəˌlɪzəm/
the doctrine that knowledge is limited to phenomena or sense data
piscatology
C2+
/ˌpɪskəˈtɑlədʒi/
the study or art of fishing
specialism
C2+
/ˈspɛʃəlɪzəm/
a particular branch of study or work in which one specializes
teachable
C2+
/ˈtitʃəbəl/
able to be taught; willing and able to learn
academical
C2+
/ˌækəˈdɛmɪkəl/
relating to a school, college, or scholarly learning
academically
C2+
/ˌækəˈdɛmɪkli/
in a manner relating to education or scholarship
afterknowledge
C2+
/ˈæftərˌnɑlɪdʒ/
knowledge gained after an event; hindsight
alumnus
C2+
/əˈlʌmnəs/
a male former student or graduate of a school or college
drilling
C2+
/ˈdrɪlɪŋ/
the act of boring holes or of repeated practice or training
erudite
C2+
/ˈɛrjʊˌdaɪt/
having or showing great learning or scholarship
experienceless
C2+
/ɪkˈspɪriənsləs/
lacking experience; without practical knowledge
headmaster
C2+
/ˈhɛdˌmæstər/
the male head teacher in charge of a school
inquisitive
C2+
/ɪnˈkwɪzətɪv/
eager for knowledge; curious, sometimes unduly prying
knowledgeably
C2+
/ˈnɑlɪdʒəbli/
in a manner showing knowledge or expertise
lear
C2+
/lɪr/
learning or lore; (dialect) to teach or learn