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
155 words
racecourse
B2
/ˈreɪsˌkɔrs/
a track or grounds on which races, especially horse races, are held
athleticism
C2
/æθˈlɛtɪsɪzəm/
Physical strength, fitness, and skill in sport or movement.
muscle-bound
C2
Having very large, stiff muscles from too much exercise.
crossbar
B2
/ˈkrɑːs.bɑːr/
the horizontal bar joining the two upright posts at the top of a goal in sports such as football or rugby
shuttlecock
B2
/ˈʃʌtəlˌkɑk/
the lightweight, cone-shaped object with a rounded cork or rubber base that players hit in badminton
double-team
C1
/ˌdʌbəlˈtiːm/
to join with one other person in dealing with a task, person, or situation
steeplechase
C2
/ˈstiː.pəl.tʃeɪs/
a horse race across country or around a course containing fences, ditches, and other obstacles
horsemanship
C1
/ˈhɔːrs.mən.ʃɪp/
skill in riding, handling, and sometimes training horses
victoriously
C1
In a way that shows victory or triumph.
ingratiating
C2
/ˌɪŋˈgreɪʃiːˌeɪtɪŋ/
Trying to win someone's favour, often in an insincere or overly flattering way.
trounce
C2
/traʊns/
to defeat someone thoroughly or by a very large margin
bleacher
B2
/ˈbliːtʃɚ/
usually plural: a raised structure with rows of simple seats for spectators
pankration
C2
/pænˈkreɪtiɑːn/
an ancient Greek combat sport combining wrestling and boxing, with very few prohibited techniques
battledore
C2
/ˈbæ.tɫ̩.dɔɹ/
a light, solid-faced racket formerly used to keep a shuttlecock in the air
stiff-arm
C2+
/ˈstɪfˌɑrm/
a push made with a fully extended arm, especially to fend off an opponent in sport
jujutsu
C2
/ˌd͡ʒuːˈd͡ʒʊtsuː/
a Japanese system of unarmed combat that uses holds, throws, and an opponent's force
palaestra
C2
/pəˈlɛstrə/
a school or exercise ground in ancient Greece or Rome where wrestling and other athletic training took place
outjump
C2+
/ˌaʊtˈdʒʌmp/
to jump better than; particularly higher than, or further than.
ergometer
C2
/ɝːˈɡɑː.mə.t̬ɚ/
an apparatus that measures the work or power produced by muscles during physical effort
ingratiatingly
C2
In a way that tries to win favour, often through flattery.
fishline
C2
/ˈfɪʃˌlaɪn/
a line or cord fitted with a hook and used for fishing; a fishing line
board game
A2
CD player
A1
extreme sports
B1
ice skating
B1
MP3 player
A2
swimming pool
A1
video game
A2
flex
C2+
/flɛks/
to bend a joint or muscle; informally, to show off
deuce
C2+
/dus/
a playing card or die showing two; (in tennis) a tied score
triumphant
C2+
/traɪˈʌmfənt/
having won a victory or success; exultant over it
dunk
C2+
/dʌŋk/
to dip into liquid; to thrust a basketball downward through the hoop
goalie
C2+
/ˈɡoʊli/
a player who guards the goal in sports; a goalkeeper
hurdle
C2+
/ˈhɝdəl/
a barrier to be jumped in a race, or an obstacle to be overcome
incapable
C2+
/ɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/
lacking the ability, capacity, or fitness to do something
jock
C2+
/ˈdʒɑk/
an enthusiastic athlete, especially a male one (informal)
nil
C2+
/nɪl/
nothing; zero, especially as a score
olympian
C2+
/oʊˈlɪmpiən/
majestic, lofty, or aloof; relating to Mount Olympus or the Olympic Games
rugger
C2+
/ˈrʌɡɚ/
an informal British term for the game of rugby
solitaire
C2+
/ˈsɑləˌtɛr/
a single-player card game, or a single gem set alone
sporty
C2+
/ˈspɔrti/
interested in or suited to sport; stylishly athletic
bagatelle
C2+
/ˌbæɡəˈtɛl/
a trifle, or a short light piece of music or a tabletop ball game
batsman
C2+
/ˈbætsmən/
a player who bats, especially in cricket
clubhouse
C2+
/ˈklʌbˌhaʊs/
a building used by the members of a club or team
coachfellow
C2+
/ˈkoʊtʃˌfɛloʊ/
a horse harnessed alongside another to the same coach; a yokefellow
cocker
C2+
/ˈkɑkɚ/
to pamper or indulge; also a breed of spaniel used to flush game
competitiveness
C2+
/kəmˈpɛtətɪvnəs/
the quality of being able to compete successfully or eager to win
footy
C2+
/ˈfʊti/
informal term for football (soccer or Australian rules)
ingratiatory
C2+
/ɪnˈɡreɪʃiəˌtɔri/
intended to win favor or approval; ingratiating
mitt
C2+
/mɪt/
a padded glove, especially one used in baseball
pugilism
C2+
/ˈpjudʒəˌlɪzəm/
the practice or sport of boxing
racialism
C2+
/ˈreɪʃəˌlɪzəm/
belief in the superiority of one race; racial prejudice
ref
C2+
/rɛf/
a referee, or to act as one (informal)
spasm
C2+
/ˈspæzəm/
a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle
tourney
C2+
/ˈtɝni/
a tournament, especially a medieval jousting contest
trey
C2+
/treɪ/
a playing card or die showing three; a three-point basketball shot
umpire
C2+
/ˈʌmpaɪɚ/
an official who enforces the rules and settles disputes in a game
swat
B2
/swɑt/
to hit or crush something with a quick, sharp blow, often with the hand or an object
demivolt
C2+
/ˈdɛmiˌvoʊlt/
a riding-school movement in which a horse makes a half-turn, especially with its forelegs raised so that it turns on the hind legs