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
1536 words
remain
A2
/ɹɪˈmeɪn/
To stay in the same place or condition.
nowhere
A2
/ˈnoʊ.(h)wɛɹ/
Not in or to any place.
turning
B1
/ˈtɝ.nɪŋ/
A place where a road branches off from another; a side road or junction.
pretend
A2
/pɹəˈtɛnd/
To act as if something is true when it is not.
dry
A2
/ˈdɹɑɪ̯/
Not wet; having no water or moisture.
female
A2
/ˈfiː.meɪl/
Belonging to the sex that can produce eggs or give birth.
universe
B1
/ˈjuːnəˌvɝs/
Everything that exists, including all of space, time, and matter.
wash
A1
/wɑʃ/
To clean something with water and usually soap.
prefer
A2
/[pɹɪˈfɝ]/
To like one thing or person more than another.
base
A2
/beɪs/
The bottom part of something that it stands or rests on.
cream
A1
/kɹiːm/
The thick, fatty part of milk that rises to the top.
tie
A2
/taɪ/
A long, narrow piece of cloth worn around the neck under a shirt collar and knotted at the front.
distance
B1
/ˈdɪstəns/
The amount of space between two places or points.
gentleman
B1
/ˈd͡ʒɛn.təl.mən/
A polite, well-mannered man.
split
A2
/splɪt/
To divide or break something into parts, often along a line.
access
B1
/ˈækˌsɛs/
The right or chance to use, enter, or reach something.
easily
A2
/ˈi.zɪ.li/
Without difficulty.
based
A2
/beɪst/
Built on or developed from a particular thing, place, or idea.
covered
B1
/ˈkʌvə(ɹ)d/
Having something spread over or laid on top of it.
shake
A2
/ˈʃeɪk/
To move quickly back and forth or up and down.
loose
A2
/luːs/
Not firmly fixed in place.
post
A1
/poʊst/
The system of collecting and delivering letters and parcels; the mail.
dig
B2
/dɪɡ/
To break up and move earth, especially to make a hole.
chest
A2
/t͡ʃɛst/
The front part of the body between the neck and the stomach.
connection
B1
/kəˈnɛkʃ(ə)n/
A relationship or link between things or events.
ruin
A2
/ˈruːən/
To spoil or destroy something completely.
cancer
B1
/ˈkæːnsə/
A serious disease in which abnormal cells grow and spread in the body.
lower
B2
/ˈloʊ.ɚ/
To reduce the amount, level, or strength of something.
avoid
A2
/əˈvɔɪd/
To stay away from a person, place, or thing.
proper
A2
/ˈpɹɔp.ə/
Right, suitable, or correct for a particular situation.
direction
A2
/dɪˈɹek.ʃən/
The way something or someone is moving or pointing.
location
B1
/loʊˈkeɪʃən/
A particular place or position.
regular
A2
/ˈrɛɡ.(j)ʊ.lə(r)/
Happening or done at fixed, even times.
grave
B1
/ɡɹeɪv/
A place in the ground where a dead body is buried, often marked by a stone.
tall
A1
/taːl/
Having a greater than average height.
sexual
B1
/sɛk.ʃu.əl/
Relating to physical attraction or activity between people.
source
A2
/sɔɹs/
The place, person, or thing that something comes from.
advantage
A2
/ədˈvæn.tɪd͡ʒ/
Something that helps you or puts you in a better position than others.
aside
B1
/əˈsaɪd/
To or toward one side so as to be out of the way.
piano
A1
/piˈænoʊ/
A large musical instrument with a keyboard of black and white keys that you press to make sounds.
central
B1
/ˈsɛntɹ(ə)l/
In or near the middle of an area or thing.
rob
A2
/rɑb/
To steal money or property from a person or place, often using force or threats.
remove
B1
/ɹɪˈmuv/
To take something away from a place.
deeply
A2
/ˈdi(ː)pli/
Very greatly; to a strong degree.
remains
B2
/ɹɪˈmeɪnz/
The parts of something that are left after the rest has been used, eaten, or destroyed.
properly
B1
/ˈpɹɒp.li/
In the correct or right way.
directly
B1
/dɪˈɹek(t).li/
In a straight line or course; straight.
fallen
B1
/ˈfaːlən/
Having dropped to the ground.
presence
B1
/ˈpɹɛz(ə)ns/
The fact of being in a particular place.
precious
B1
/ˈpɹɛʃ.əs/
Very valuable or worth a lot of money.
drag
B1
/ˈdɹæɡ/
To pull something heavy along with effort.
shift
B1
/ˈʃɪft/
A change from one position, idea, or situation to another.
range
A2
/ˈɹeːnd͡ʒ/
A set of different things of the same general kind.
parking
B1
/ˈpɑɹ.kɪŋ/
Space where vehicles can be left for a time.
progress
B1
/ˈpɹɑ.ɡɹɛs/
The process of improving or developing over time.
alien
B2
/ˈeɪ.li.ən/
A creature from another planet or from outer space.
dump
B1
/dʌmp/
To get rid of something by throwing it away carelessly.
elevator
A2
/ˈɛləˌveɪtɚ/
A machine that carries people or goods up and down between the floors of a building.
wave
A2
/weɪv/
To move your hand from side to side to greet someone or say goodbye.
attitude
A2
/ˈætɪˌtud/
The way you think and feel about someone or something.
understanding
A2
/ˌʌndɚˈstændɪŋ/
Knowledge of how something works or what it means.
collect
A2
/kəˈlɛkt/
To gather things together from different places.
failure
B1
/ˈfeɪ.ljəɹ/
A lack of success in doing something.
setting
B1
/ˈsɛtɪŋ/
The time and place in which something happens, especially in a story.
opposite
A2
/ˈɑp(ə)sɪt/
Located directly across from something or facing it.
belt
A2
/bɛlt/
A strip of leather or cloth worn around the waist to hold up clothes or for decoration.
abandoned
B2
/əˈbeə̯n.dənd/
left empty and no longer used or cared for
bow
B1
/ˈboʊ̯/
To bend the head or upper body forward as a sign of respect or greeting.
thin
A2
/θɪn/
Having a small distance between opposite surfaces; not thick.
swing
B2
/ˈswɪŋ/
To move back and forth or in a curve from a fixed point.
mixed
B2
/mɪkst/
Made up of different kinds of things or people.
unique
B1
/juːˈniːk/
Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.
bound
B1
/ˈbæʊ̯nd/
Travelling or heading toward a particular place.
guide
B1
/ɡaɪd/
A person who shows others around a place or leads them on a journey.
guts
B2
/ɡʌts/
Courage and determination to do something difficult or frightening.
title
A2
/ˈtaɪ.tl̩/
The name of a book, film, song, or other work.
sandwich
A1
/ˈsænˌ(d)wɪt͡ʃ/
Two slices of bread with a filling between them.
trail
B1
/tɹeɪl/
A path through the countryside or a rough area.
embarrassed
B1
/ɪmˈbɛɹ.əst/
Feeling awkward, ashamed, or uncomfortable, especially in front of other people.
mobile
A2
/ˈmoʊ.bəl/
Able to move or be moved easily from place to place.
orange
A1
/ˈɔɹ.ənd͡ʒ/
Of the colour between red and yellow.
entrance
A2
/ˈɛntrəns/
A door, gate, or opening through which you enter a place.
bust
B1
/bʌst/
To break something, or to break open suddenly and forcefully.
champion
B1
/ˈt͡ʃæmpjən/
A person or team that wins a competition.
virus
B1
/ˈvaɪ.ɹəs/
A tiny living agent that causes disease by spreading inside the cells of a living host.
removed
C1
/ɹɪˈmuːvd/
Distant or separated from something in space, time, or degree.
scratch
B1
/skɹæt͡ʃ/
To rub your skin with your nails, often to relieve itching.
distant
B1
/ˈdɪstənt/
Far away in space.
jungle
B1
/ˈd͡ʒʌŋ.ɡ(ə)l/
A thick tropical forest full of wild plants and animals.
link
B1
/lɪŋk/
A connection between people, things, or ideas.
underground
A2
/ˌʌn.dəɹˈɡɹaʊnd/
Below the surface of the ground.
chip
A2
/tʃɪp/
A small piece broken off from a larger solid object.
surveillance
B2
/sɚˈveɪ.ləns/
The careful watching of a person, group, or place, especially to prevent or detect crime.
headquarters
B2
/ˈhɛdˌkwɔɹ.tɚz/
The main office or centre where an organization is managed.
port
B1
/pɔɹt/
A place on the coast where ships dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.
landing
B2
/ˈlændɪŋ/
The act of coming down to the ground, especially of an aircraft.