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
697 words
mode
B2
/moʊd/
A particular way in which a machine or system operates.
salute
C2
/səˈlut/
an act of honor or courteous recognition
conscious
B1
/ˈkɑn.ʃəs/
Awake and able to think and notice things.
psychological
B1
/ˌsaɪ.kəˈlɑː.d͡ʒɪ.kl̩/
Relating to the mind and the way people think and feel.
wig
C2
/wɪɡ/
A bigwig.
mentally
B1
/ˈmɛntəli/
In your mind or relating to the mind.
potter
B1
/ˈpɑtɚ/
work lightly
rum
C2+
/ɹʌm/
A spirit distilled from various preparations of sugarcane, particularly fermented cane sugar and molasses.
yoga
B1
/ˈjoʊ.ɡə/
A set of exercises and breathing techniques, from India, used to relax the body and mind.
shutter
B1
/ˈʃʌt.ɚ/
close with shutters
distract
B2
/dɪˈstɹækt/
To take someone's attention away from what they are doing.
entertain
B1
/ˌɛntɚˈteɪn/
To amuse or interest people, especially with a performance or activity.
notion
B1
/ˈnoʊʃən/
An idea or belief about something.
shovel
C2+
/ˈʃʊv.əl/
dig with or as if with a shovel
intellectual
B2
/ˌɪntəˈlɛkt͡ʃʊəl/
Relating to the ability to think, understand, and reason.
madman
C2
/ˈmædˌmæn/
an insane person
striking
B2
/ˈstɹaɪkɪŋ/
Very noticeable because it is impressive or unusual.
distraction
B2
/dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/
Something that takes your attention away from what you should be doing.
careless
B1
/kɛɹ.ləs/
Not giving enough attention or thought, so you make mistakes or cause harm.
sloppy
B2
/ˈslɑ.pi/
Done carelessly and without attention to detail.
rational
B1
/ˈɹæʃ(ə)nəl/
Based on clear, sensible thinking rather than emotion.
reconsider
B2
/ˈɹikənˌsɪdɚ/
To think about a decision again, possibly to change it.
cement
C2
/səˈmɛnt/
concrete pavement is sometimes referred to as cement
confuse
A2
/kənˈfjuːz/
To make someone unable to think clearly or understand something.
compartment
C1
/kəmˈpɑɹtmənt/
A room, or section, or chamber, typically within a vehicle.
discretion
C1
/dɪˈskɹɛʃən/
The freedom to decide something for yourself, using your own judgement.
judgement
B1
/ˈd͡ʒʌd͡ʒ.mənt/
the act of judging or assessing a person or situation or event
torment
C1
/ˈtɔː(ɹ)mɛnt/
Severe physical or mental suffering.
openly
B2
/ˈoʊpənli/
In a way that is not hidden; for everyone to see or know.
scope
B1
/ˈskoʊp/
The range of things that a subject, plan, or activity deals with.
urgently
B2
/ˈɝːdʒəntli/
In a way that needs immediate attention because it is very important.
motivation
B1
/ˈmoʊ.tə.veɪ.ʃən/
The desire and willingness to do something.
stressful
B1
/ˈstɹɛsfəl/
Causing worry or mental pressure.
perception
B2
/pɚˈsɛpʃ(ə)n/
The way you understand or think about something.
analyze
B1
/ˈæn.əˌlaɪz/
To study something carefully in detail in order to understand it.
wan
C2
/wɑn/
lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness
misunderstand
B2
/ˌmɪsəndɝˈstænd/
To understand someone or something wrongly.
intuition
C1
/ˌɪn.tuˈɪʃ.ən/
The ability to understand or know something immediately, without conscious reasoning.
criticism
B2
/ˈkɹɪtɪsɪzm̩/
Spoken or written disapproval of someone or something, based on their faults.
inclined
C1
/ɪnˈklaɪnd/
Having a tendency or willingness to do or believe something.
martyr
C2
/ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)/
kill as a martyr
recite
B1
/ɹɪˈsaɪt/
To say a piece of writing aloud from memory, often to an audience.
straightforward
B2
/ˌstɹeɪtˈfɔː(ɹ)wə(ɹ)d/
Easy to do or understand; simple and not complicated.
spectacle
B2
/ˈspɛktəkl̩/
An impressive or exciting sight, show, or event.
awareness
B1
/əˈwɛɚ.nəs/
Knowledge or understanding that something exists or is happening.
undoubtedly
B2
/ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli/
Without any doubt; certainly.
meditation
B1
/mɛdɪˈteɪʃn̩/
The practice of quieting and focusing the mind for relaxation or spiritual purposes.
sentiment
C1
/ˈsɛn.tɪ.mənt/
A thought, opinion, or attitude, often based on feeling.
revolt
C2+
/ɹɪˈvoʊlt/
make revolution
compelling
C1
/kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/
So interesting or exciting that it holds your full attention.
subconscious
B1
/sʌbˈkɑn.ʃəs/
Happening in the part of your mind that you are not fully aware of.
sow
C2
/saʊ/
introduce into an environment
absorb
B1
/æbˈsɔɹb/
to take in a liquid, gas, or other substance gradually
firstly
A2
/ˈfɜɹstli/
Used to introduce the first point or reason in a list.
jog
B1
/d͡ʒɑɡ/
To run slowly and steadily, usually for exercise.
gunpowder
C2
/ˈɡʌnˌpaʊdɚ/
An explosive mixture of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), charcoal and sulfur; formerly used in gunnery but now mostly used in fireworks.
impulsive
B2
/ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/
Acting suddenly on feelings, without thinking about the results.
rejoice
C2
/ɹɪˈd͡ʒɔɪs/
To be very happy, be delighted, exult; to feel joy.
moth
C2
/mɔθ/
Any flying insect of the order Lepidoptera not in the superfamily Papilionoidea, most species of which are nocturnal and can be distinguished from butterflies by feather-like antennae.
criticize
A2
/ˈkɹɪtɪsaɪz/
To say what you think is wrong or bad about someone or something.
neglect
B2
/nɪˈɡlɛkt/
To fail to look after someone or something properly.
memorize
B1
/ˈmem.əˌɹɑɪ̯z/
To learn something so well that you can recall it perfectly from memory.
adultery
C2
/əˈdʌltəɹi/
extramarital sex that willfully and maliciously interferes with marriage relations
budge
C2
/ˈbʌdʒ/
to move very slightly
transparent
B2
/tɹænsˈpæɹənt/
Allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be seen clearly.
differ
B1
/ˈdɪfɚ/
To be unlike something else in some way.
accordingly
B2
/əˈkɔɹ.dɪŋ.li/
As a result; for that reason.
rightly
B2
/ˈraɪtli/
Correctly; for good reason.
construct
B1
/ˈkɑn.stɹʌkt/
To build something by putting parts together.
enlightenment
C1
/ɪnˈlaɪtənmənt/
the gaining or giving of knowledge and clearer understanding
improvise
C2
/ˈɪmpɹəvaɪz/
To make something up or invent it as one goes on; to proceed guided only by imagination, intuition, and guesswork rather than by a careful plan.
unseen
C2+
/ʌnˈsiːn/
Not seen or discovered; invisible.
protestant
B1
/ˈpɹɑtɪstənt/
of or relating to Protestants or Protestantism
intellect
C1
/ˈɪntəˌlɛkt/
The power of the mind to think, reason, and understand.
radiant
C2
/ˈɹeɪ.di.ənt/
Radiating light and/or heat.
vista
C2+
/ˈvɪstə/
the visual representation of a region
cactus
C2
/ˈkæktəs/
Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate.
plank
C2
/ˈplæŋk/
cover with planks
mentality
B2
/mɛnˈtæləti/
a habitual way of thinking or a characteristic set of attitudes and beliefs
murderous
B1
/ˈmɝdəɹəs/
Of, characterized by, or pertaining to murder or murderers.
clueless
C2
/ˈkluːləs/
having no knowledge or understanding of a situation or subject
hatchet
C2
/ˈhæt͡ʃɪt/
A small, light axe with a short handle; a tomahawk.
unanimous
B2
/juˈnænəməs/
in complete agreement
frenzy
C2+
/ˈfɹɛnzi/
A state of wild activity or panic.
conception
B2
/kənˈsepʃən/
an idea or way of understanding something
friction
B2
/ˈfɹɪkʃən̩/
The rubbing of one object or surface against another.
socialism
B2
/ˈsoʊʃəlɪzəm/
Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.
optimism
B2
/ˈɑptɪmɪzəm/
A tendency to expect the best, or to believe that things will turn out well.
clockwork
C2+
/ˈklɑkwɝk/
A mechanism powered by a coiled spring and regulated by some form of escapement; the power is transmitted through toothed gearwheels and used to drive a mechanical clock, toy, or other device.
criteria
C1
/kɹaɪˈtɪɹ.i.ə/
The standards or rules used to judge or decide something (plural of criterion).
unthinkable
B2
/ʌnˈθɪŋkəbəl/
too unlikely, extreme, or shocking to be imagined or considered possible
skeptical
C2
/ˈskɛptɪkəl/
denying or questioning the tenets of especially a religion
evaluate
B2
/ɪ̈ˈvaljəˌweɪt/
To judge or decide the value, quality, or importance of something after careful thought.
onward
C2
/ˈɑnwɚd/
Moving forward.
speculate
C1
/ˈspɛk.jəˌleɪt/
To form a guess or opinion about something without having all the facts.
rivalry
C2
/ˈraɪvəlri/
An ongoing relationship between (usually two) rivals who compete for superiority.