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
334 words
transmit
B2
/tɹænsˈmɪt/
To send out signals, messages, or information, especially by radio or electronic means.
intersection
B2
/ˈɪntəɹˌsɛkʃən/
a place where two or more roads cross each other.
rugby
A2
/ˈrʌgbi/
A team sport played with an oval ball that players can carry, kick, and pass backwards.
tactic
C2
/ˈtæktɪk/
A particular action or method planned to achieve a goal.
intrude
B2
/ɪnˈtɹuːd/
To come into a place or situation where you are not wanted or invited.
stumble
B1
/ˈstʌmbəl/
To hit your foot on something and almost fall.
sling
C2
/ˈslɪŋ/
hold or carry in a sling
rebound
C2
/ˈɹi.baʊnd/
To bounce back after hitting something.
takeoff
B1
/ˈteɪˌkɔf/
The moment when an aircraft leaves the ground and begins to fly.
expel
C2
/ɪkˈspɛl/
force to leave or move out
rotate
C1
/ˈɹoʊ.teɪt/
To turn or spin around a central point.
stride
B2
/stɹaɪd/
To walk with long, confident steps.
tumble
B1
/ˈtʌmbl̩/
To fall suddenly, often rolling over as you go down.
skid
C2
/skɪd/
to slide suddenly or sideways across a surface with little or no control
swoop
C1
/swuːp/
to move rapidly downward through the air, often curving upward again
animated
B1
/ˈæn.ɪ.meɪ.tɪd/
Full of life, energy, and excitement.
scuba
B2
/ˈskuːbə/
Breathing equipment that lets divers stay and breathe underwater.
deprive
B1
/dɪˈpɹaɪv/
To take something away from someone or stop them from having it.
glide
B1
/ˈɡlaɪd/
To move smoothly and easily, as if without effort.
sprint
B2
/spɹɪnt/
To run as fast as you can for a short distance.
funnel
C2
/ˈfʊnəl/
move or pour through a funnel
collide
C2
/kəˈlaɪd/
To crash into something with force.
undertake
B2
/ˌʌndɚˈteɪk/
To begin or take on a task, often a difficult or important one.
exclude
B2
/ɪksˈkluːd/
To leave someone or something out; to not include them.
unravel
C2
/ˌʌnˈɹævəl/
To gradually understand or solve something complicated, such as a mystery or problem.
startle
B2
/ˈstɑɹt(ə)l/
To suddenly surprise or frighten someone, making them jump.
stampede
B1
/stæmˈpiːd/
a sudden, uncontrolled rush by a crowd of people or a group of frightened animals
spunk
C2
/spʌŋk/
the courage to carry on
pounce
C1
/paʊns/
To jump suddenly forward to catch or attack someone or something.
prowl
C1
/pɹaʊl/
To move around quietly and secretly, especially when hunting or looking for something.
twirl
B2
/twɝːl/
to turn or spin quickly and lightly around a central point
dangle
C2
/ˈdæŋ.ɡəl/
to hang loosely and be able to swing
standstill
B2
/[ˈstɛən(d)ˌstɪɫ]/
A situation in which all movement or activity has stopped completely.
dismount
B2
/dɪsˈmaʊnt/
to get off, or cause someone to get off, a horse, bicycle, or other thing being ridden
negligent
C1
/ˈnɛɡ.lɪ.d͡ʒənt/
Failing to take proper care over something; carelessly inattentive.
dribble
C2
/ˈdɹɪ.bɫ̩/
To let a liquid fall slowly in small drops.
wobble
B2
/ˈwɑbəl/
to move repeatedly from side to side in an unsteady way
wag
B2
/wæɡ/
to move rapidly or repeatedly from side to side, especially a tail, finger, or head
whisk
C2
/ˈwɪsk/
whip with or as if with a wire whisk
flicker
C1
/ˈflɪkɚ/
To shine or burn with an unsteady, wavering light.
squirm
C2
/skwɝm/
To twist your body uncomfortably, especially out of shame or embarrassment.
topple
C2
/ˈtɑpl̩/
To become unsteady and fall over, or to push something over.
conspire
C2
/kənˈspaɪə(ɹ)/
to engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
kinetic
C2
/kɪˈnɛtɪk/
Relating to or produced by movement.
detach
B2
/dəˈtæt͡ʃ/
To remove or separate one thing from another.
bequeath
C1
/bɪˈkwiːθ/
To leave money or property to someone in your will after you die.
tiptoe
B2
/ˈtɪpˌtoʊ/
To walk quietly on the tips of your toes.
trickle
C2
/ˈtɹɪkəl/
run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
skedaddle
C2
/skɪˈdædəl/
informal: to leave or run away quickly, especially in alarm
stagger
B2
/ˈstæɡɚ/
To walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.
swerve
C1
/swɝːv/
to change direction suddenly, especially to avoid hitting something
ricochet
C2
/ˈrɪk.əˌʃeɪ/
a glancing rebound from a surface, especially by a bullet or other projectile
sidle
C2
/ˈsaɪ.dəl/
to move sideways or approach in a quiet, cautious, or furtive manner
governmental
B2
/ˌɡʌvɚnˈmɛnt(ə)l/
Relating to a government or to the way a country is run.
traverse
B2
/tɹəˈvɝs/
To travel or move across an area, especially a large or difficult one.
derive
B1
/dɪˈɹaɪv/
To get or obtain something from a source.
somersault
C1
/ˈsʊməˌsɒlt/
A movement in which you roll your body in a full circle, with your feet going over your head.
mediate
C2
/ˈmidieɪt/
To help opposing sides reach an agreement by acting as a neutral go-between.
reciprocate
C2
/ɹɪˈsɪpɹəˌkeɪt/
alternate the direction of motion of
thrower
A2
/ˈθroʊ.ɚ/
a person who throws an object, especially in a game, sport, or experiment
disembark
C2
/ˌdɪs.ɪmˈbɑɹk/
to go ashore out of a ship or boat; to leave a train or aircraft.
prance
B2
/pɹæn(t)s/
To walk or move around proudly, trying to be noticed.
mosey
C1
/ˈmoʊzi/
informal, especially US: to walk or move in a relaxed, unhurried way
overstep
B2
/ˌoʊvɚˈstɛp/
To go beyond what is allowed or acceptable.
fluctuation
C2
/flʌkt͡ʃuːˈeɪʃən/
An irregular rise and fall in something; a continual change.
waddle
C1
/ˈwɑː.dəl/
to walk with short steps while the body sways from side to side
headfirst
B2
/ˈhɛdˌfɝst/
with the head leading or foremost
slither
C2
/ˈslɪð.ɚ/
To move smoothly along the ground with a twisting, side-to-side motion, like a snake.
congregate
C1
/ˈkɑːŋgrəˌgeɪt/
to come together in a group, usually for a particular purpose
canter
C1
/ˈkæn.tɚ/
a controlled three-beat gait of a horse, faster than a trot but slower than a gallop
gravitation
B2
/ˌɡɹævˈteɪʃən/
The natural force that attracts all objects with mass toward each other.
precede
B2
/pɹɪˈsid/
To come or happen before something else in time or order.
straddle
C2
/ˈstɹædəl/
to sit or stand with one leg on each side of something
fidget
C2
/ˈfɪdʒ.ɪt/
to make repeated small movements, especially because of nervousness, impatience, or boredom
jostle
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɑ.səl/
come into rough contact with while moving
scud
C2
/skʌd/
to move quickly and smoothly, especially when driven by the wind
sidestep
C1
/ˈsaɪd.step/
to step quickly to one side in order to avoid someone or something
locomotion
C2
/ˌloʊ.kəˈmoʊ.ʃən/
Movement, or the ability to move from one place to another.
nestle
C2
/ˈnɛsəl/
to settle or press oneself closely into a comfortable, sheltered, or affectionate position
waggle
C2
/ˈwæɡ.əl/
to move something repeatedly with short, quick motions from side to side or up and down
trundle
C2
/ˈtrʌndəl/
to move or cause something to move slowly and heavily, often on wheels
traipse
C2
/tɹeɪps/
informal: to walk from place to place, especially wearily, reluctantly, or over a needlessly long distance
trudge
C1
/trʌdʒ/
to walk slowly and heavily because one is tired or conditions are difficult
keystroke
B2
/ˈkiːˌstroʊk/
A single press of a key on a keyboard.
clamber
C2
/ˈklæmbɚ/
to climb with difficulty, using hands and feet
diverge
C1
/dɪˈvɝd͡ʒ/
To separate and go off in different directions.
immigrate
B1
/ˈɪməˌgreɪt/
To come to live permanently in a country that is not your own.
uncross
C2
/ˌʌnˈkrɔs/
to move crossed arms, legs, or other things apart into an uncrossed position
moribund
C2
/ˈmɔrəbənd/
Close to dying; about to come to an end.
footfall
C1
/ˈfʊtˌfɔl/
the sound of a person's footsteps, or a single step making such a sound
cavort
C2
/kəˈvɔːrt/
to jump, dance, or move about in a lively, playful, and often noisy way
slue
C2
/sluː/
to turn, swing, or pivot sharply, especially around a fixed point
decamp
C2
/dɪˈkæmp/
to leave a place suddenly or secretly, often in order to avoid trouble
careen
C2
/kəˈɹiːn/
to move rapidly and unsteadily from side to side, as though likely to overturn
tromp
C2
/tɹɒmp/
to walk, tread, or stamp heavily, often crushing what is underfoot
permeable
C2
/ˈpɝmiəbəl/
allowing fluids or gases to pass or diffuse through