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
519 words
vegetation
C1
/ˌvɛd͡ʒəˈteɪʃən/
plants in general, especially the plants that grow in a particular area
algebra
C1
/ˈæl.d͡ʒɪ.bɹə/
A system or process (especially one that is complex or convoluted) that substitutes one thing for another, or uses signs or symbols to represent concepts or ideas.
dreary
C2
/ˈdɹɪɹi/
Drab; dark, colorless, or cheerless.
tod
C2
/tɑːd/
a former British unit of weight for wool, usually equal to 28 pounds (about 12.7 kilograms)
thermometer
B2
/θɚˈmɒmɪtɚ/
An instrument used to measure temperature.
plutonium
C2
/pluːˈtoʊniəm/
The transuranic chemical element with atomic number 94 and symbol Pu: a silvery-gray fissile radioactive actinide metal that tarnishes when exposed to air.
infinitely
C1
/ˈɪnfɪnɪtli/
continuing forever without end
calculation
B1
/ˌkælkjəˈleɪʃn̩/
The process of working something out using numbers.
sledge
C2
/slɛd͡ʒ/
ride in or travel with a sledge
cobbler
C2
/ˈkɑblɚ/
a pie made of fruit with rich biscuit dough usually only on top of the fruit
millimeter
B2
/ˈmɪləˌmitɚ/
A unit of length equal to one thousandth of a metre.
likelihood
C1
/ˈlaɪklihʊd/
The chance or probability that something will happen.
misconduct
C2+
/mɪskənˈdʌkt/
Behavior that is considered to be unacceptable.
galley
C2
/ˈɡæli/
An oblong tray of wood or brass, with upright sides, for holding type which has been set, or is to be made up, etc.
liter
A2
/ˈli.tɚ/
A metric unit of volume equal to one cubic decimeter.
fathom
C2
/ˈfæðəm/
(mining) a unit of volume (equal to 6 cubic feet) used in measuring bodies of ore
dimensional
B2
/dɪˈmen.ʃə.nəl/
having dimension--the quality or character or stature proper to a person
ell
C2
/ɛl/
a former unit for measuring cloth, equal in England to 45 inches or about 1.14 metres
space-time
C2+
/ˈspeɪˌstaɪm/
the four-dimensional coordinate system (3 dimensions of space and 1 of time) in which physical events are located
limestone
B2
/ˈlaɪmˌstoʊn/
An abundant rock of marine and freshwater sediments; primarily composed of calcite (CaCO₃); and occurring in a variety of forms, both crystalline and amorphous.
width
B2
/ˈwɪtθ/
How wide something is; the distance from one side to the other.
sphinx
C2+
/ˈsfɪŋks/
A creature with the head of a person and the body of an animal, commonly a lion.
equator
C2
/ɪˈkweɪ.tɚ/
an imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south poles
measurement
B1
/ˈmɛʒ.ɚ.mənt/
The act or process of measuring something.
self-control
C2+
/ˌsɛlf kənˈtɹoʊl/
The ability to control one's desires and impulses.
hillside
C2
/ˈhɪlˌsaɪd/
The side of a hill.
arithmetic
B1
/əˈɹɪθmətɪk/
The basic mathematics of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing numbers.
quartet
C2
/kwɔː(ɹ)ˈtɛt/
four people considered as a unit
standpoint
B2
/ˈstændpɔɪnt/
A point of view; a perspective.
gallop
C2
/ˈɡæləp/
a fast gait of a horse
first-rate
C2+
/ˌfɝːˈstreɪt/
quite well, healthy, or ready-to-go
cluck
C2
/klʌk/
the sound made by a hen, as in calling her chicks
cleavage
C1
/ˈkli.vɪd͡ʒ/
the state of being split or cleft
graph
B1
/ɡɹæf/
A diagram that shows the relationship between sets of numbers, usually drawn with lines or bars.
census
C2+
/ˈsɛnsəs/
to conduct a census
membrane
B2
/ˈmɛm.bɹeɪn/
a thin pliable sheet of material
alpine
C2
/ˈæl.paɪn/
living or growing above the timber line
canton
C2+
/ˈkæntən/
A division of a political unit.
pedigree
C2
/ˈpɛdəgri/
The history or provenance of an idea, custom etc.
quartz
B2
/k(w)ɔɹts/
a hard glossy mineral consisting of silicon dioxide in crystal form
rem
C2
/rɛm/
a non-SI unit of radiation dose equivalent equal to 0.01 sievert
kilometer
A2
/kəˈlɑmɪtəɹ/
A unit of distance equal to one thousand meters.
one-sided
C2+
/ˌwənˈsaɪdəd/
Partial or biased in favour of one faction or demographic group.
priesthood
B2
/ˈpɹiːstˌhʊd/
Priests as a group.
intolerant
C2
/ɪnˈtɑləɹənt/
Unable to digest food or be given substances of a certain composition without adverse effects.
pH
B2
/ˈpiːˈeɪtʃ/
A measure of how acidic or basic a liquid is, on a scale from 0 to 14.
gramophone
C2
/ˈɡɹæ.məˌfoʊn/
an antique record player
sorely
B2
/ˈsɔɹli/
to a great degree
puma
C2
/puːmə/
A woman in her 20s or 30s who seeks relationships with younger men; a younger cougar.
octave
C2
/ˈɑktɪv/
An interval of twelve semitones spanning eight degrees of the diatonic scale, representing a doubling or halving in pitch frequency.
proton
B2
/ˈpɹoʊ.tɑn/
A positively charged subatomic particle forming part of the nucleus of an atom and determining the atomic number of an element, composed of two up quarks and a down quark.
swish
C2
/swɪʃ/
sophisticated; fashionable; smooth.
photon
C2
/ˈfəʊtɒn/
The quantum of light and other electromagnetic energy, regarded as a discrete particle having zero rest mass, no electric charge, and an indefinitely long lifetime. It is a gauge boson.
billiard
C2
/ˈbɪl.i.ə(ɹ)d/
of or relating to billiards
symmetrical
C1
/səˈmɛtrək(ə)l/
Exhibiting symmetry; having harmonious or proportionate arrangement of parts; having corresponding parts or relations.
pointer
B2
/ˈpɔɪn.təɹ/
Anything that points or is used for pointing.
lawless
C2
/ˈlɔːləs/
disobedient to or defiant of law
singularity
B2
/ˌsɪŋɡjəˈlæɹətɪ/
the quality of being one of a kind
metric
B2
/ˈmɛt.ɹɪk/
A standard for measuring or judging something, especially performance or quality.
correlation
C2
/ˌkɔɹ.əˈleɪ.ʃən/
A connection between two or more things in which they change together.
inaccessible
B2
/ˌɪnəkˈsɛsɪbl̩/
Not able to be accessed; out of reach; inconvenient.
chromosome
C1
/ˈkɹoʊməˌsoʊm/
a threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order
digit
C2+
/ˈdɪd͡ʒɪt/
one of the elements that collectively form a system of numeration
foliage
C1
/ˈfoʊliɪd͡ʒ/
The leaves of plants.
phosphorus
B2
/ˈfɑs.fɚ.əs/
A chemical element (symbol P) with an atomic number of 15, that exists in several allotropic forms.
snipe
C2
/snaɪp/
A fool; a blockhead.
incoherent
C2
/ˌɪnkoʊˈhɪrənt/
without logical or meaningful connection
theorem
B2
/ˈθiərəm/
A mathematical statement that is expected to be true.
circumference
C2
/sɚˈkʌmfɹəns/
the boundary line encompassing an area or object
decimal
C2
/ˈdɛs.ɪ.məl/
based on or organized in powers of ten
denominator
B2
/dɪˈnɑːməˌneɪtɝ/
the number or expression below the line in a fraction, showing how many equal parts form a whole
centimeter
A2
/ˈsɛntəˌmiːtɝ/
A unit of length equal to one hundredth of a metre.
openness
B2
/ˈoʊpənnəs/
without obstructions to passage or view
radial
B2
/ˈreɪdiəl/
extending, moving, or arranged along radii from a central point
coldness
C1
/ˈkoʊldnəs/
a lack of affection or enthusiasm
inhospitable
C2
/ˌɪnhɒsˈpɪtəbəl/
unfavorable to life or growth
livery
C2
/ˈlɪ.və.ɹi/
Any distinctive identifying uniform worn by a group, such as the uniform worn by chauffeurs and male servants.
lope
C2
/loʊp/
To travel an easy pace with long strides.
gallantry
C2
/ˈɡæləntri/
courage.
effeminate
C2+
/ɪˈfɛmɪnət/
Of a boy or man, exhibiting behavior or mannerisms considered typical of a woman or unmasculine.
avoidance
C1
/əˈvɔɪdəns/
The act of avoiding or shunning; keeping clear of.
ejaculation
C2
/iːˌdʒækjuːˈleɪʃən/
The act of throwing or darting out with a sudden force and rapid flight.
lyre
C2+
/ˈlaɪ.ɚ/
to play the lyre
coolness
C1
/ˈkuːlnəs/
calm and unruffled self-assurance
isotope
C2
/ˈaɪ.sə.toʊp/
one of two or more atoms with the same atomic number but with different numbers of neutrons
tonne
B2
/tʌn/
A unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms.
zigzag
C2+
/ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/
in a zigzag course or on a zigzag path
carat
B2
/ˈkɛrət/
a metric unit of mass equal to 200 milligrams, used for gemstones and pearls
deformity
C1
/dɪˈfɔɹməti/
The state of being deformed.
vermilion
C2+
/vɚˈmɪl.jən/
A vivid red synthetic pigment made of mercury sulfide, cinnabar.
kerchief
C2
/ˈkɝ.t͡ʃɪf/
a square scarf that is folded into a triangle and worn over the head or about the neck
angular
C2
/ˈæŋ.ɡjə.lɚ/
Having sharp corners or pointed shapes rather than smooth, rounded ones.
milligram
B1
/ˈmɪlɪɡɹæm/
an SI unit of mass equal to 10⁻³ grams. Symbol: mg
vastness
C1
/ˈvæstnəs/
unusual largeness in size or extent or number
curvature
C1
/ˈkɜɹ.və.tʃəɹ/
The shape of something curved.
immeasurable
C2
/ɪˈmɛʒəɹəbəl/
vast