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
493 words
overgrown
B2
/ˌoʊvɝˈgroʊn/
covered with too many plants or plants that have grown too large
pansy
C1
/ˈpæn.zi/
a small garden plant of the violet family with rounded, often multicolored petals
bluebell
C2
/ˈbluˌbɛl/
Various flowering plants with blue, usually pendulous, flowers.
overflow
B2
/ˈəʊvəˌfləʊ/
The spillage resultant from overflowing.
floral
C2
/ˈfloɹəl/
decorated with, made from, or resembling flowers
gourd
C2
/ɡɔɹd/
a fruit with a hard rind from a trailing or climbing plant of the squash family, often grown for decoration or practical use
rhubarb
C2
/ˈruːbɑːrb/
a garden plant with large leaves and long, thick, sour-tasting stalks that are cooked with sugar as food
fennel
C2
/ˈfɛnəl/
an aromatic herb with feathery leaves and yellow flowers, cultivated for its edible leaves, seeds, and swollen stem base
grange
C2
/ɡreɪndʒ/
a farm or farmhouse with its outbuildings, especially one formerly belonging to a monastery or estate
marigold
B2
/ˈmæɹ.ɪˌɡoʊld/
a plant with conspicuous yellow, orange, or reddish flowers, especially a Tagetes or Calendula
magnolia
C2
/ˌmæɡˈnoʊliə/
a tree or shrub of the genus Magnolia, typically bearing large, fragrant flowers
juniper
C2
/ˈd͡ʒunɪpɚ/
an evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Juniperus, with needlelike or scalelike leaves and aromatic berrylike cones
hemp
B2
/hɛmp/
A tall plant, Cannabis sativa, grown for its strong fibres and seeds.
lilac
B2
/ˈlaɪlək/
a shrub or small tree of the genus Syringa, grown for its clusters of fragrant flowers
kelp
C2
/ˈkɛlp/
large brown seaweeds having fluted leathery fronds
chamomile
C1
/ˈkæm.əˌmaɪl/
any of several aromatic daisy-like plants whose flowers are used in herbal preparations
mahogany
C2
/məˈhɑɡəni/
The valuable wood of any of various tropical American evergreen trees, of the genus Swietenia, mostly used to make furniture.
rosebud
C2
/ˈroʊzˌbʌd/
the unopened or partly opened flower bud of a rose
botanical
C1
/bəˈtænɪkəl/
relating to plants or to the scientific study of plants
petal
B1
/ˈpet̬.əl/
one of the usually colored, leaflike parts that form the corolla of a flower
hemlock
C2
/ˈhɛmˌlɒk/
poisonous drug derived from an Eurasian plant of the genus Conium
compost
B2
/ˈkɑmpoʊst/
decayed organic material used to fertilize soil and improve its structure
breeder
B2
/ˈbɹiːdɚ/
a person who breeds animals or plants, especially as a job or serious activity
pitchfork
C2
/ˈpɪt͡ʃˌfɔɹk/
a long-handled hand tool with sharp widely spaced prongs for lifting and pitching hay
inter
C2+
/ɪnˈtɚ/
To bury in a grave.
discrepancy
C1
/dɪˈskɹepənsi/
An inconsistency between facts or sentiments.
beech
C2
/biːt͡ʃ/
A tree of the genus Fagus having a smooth, light grey trunk, oval, pointed leaves, and many branches.
livid
C2
/ˈlɪvɪd/
furiously angry
akin
C2+
/ʌˈkɪn/
Of persons, of the same kin; related by blood.
cypress
C2
/ˈsaɪprəs/
An evergreen coniferous tree with flattened shoots bearing small scale-like leaves, whose dark foliage is sometimes associated with mourning, in family Cupressaceae, especially the genera Cupressus and Chamaecyparis.
mulberry
C1
/ˈmʌlˌbɛri/
a sweet edible berry, usually dark purple or red, that resembles a blackberry
briar
C2
/ˈbɹaɪɚ/
a thorny shrub or vine
huckleberry
C1
/ˈhʌkl̩ˌbɛɹi/
a small edible blue, black, or red berry produced by several North American shrubs
nuptial
C2
/ˈnʌp.ʃəl/
of or relating to a wedding
redwood
C2
/ˈrɛdˌwʊd/
a very tall conifer, especially the coast redwood or giant sequoia of western North America
cornfield
B1
/ˈkɔɹnˌfild/
a field in which corn or another cereal crop is growing, especially a field of maize in North American English
hickory
C2
/ˈhɪkəɹiː/
any of several North American hardwood trees of the genus Carya, many of which bear edible nuts
fatten
B1
/ˈfætən/
make fat or plump
carnation
C2
/kɑɹˈneɪ.ʃən/
a cultivated Eurasian plant with fragrant, usually ruffled flowers in white, pink, red, or other colors
mandrake
C2
/ˈmændreɪk/
a Mediterranean plant of the genus Mandragora with a thick often forked root and toxic tropane alkaloids
poplar
C2
/ˈpɑːplɚ/
any of various fast-growing deciduous trees of the genus Populus, often with leaves that tremble in the wind
bracken
C2
/ˈbrækən/
a tall, coarse fern that often grows in dense stands on open or wooded land
whither
C2
/ˈwɪðəɹ/
Interrogative senses.
medley
C2
/ˈmɛdli/
Combat, fighting; a battle.
sty
B2
/staɪ/
a pen or enclosure in which pigs are kept
slouch
C2
/ˈslɐʊ̯t͡ʃ/
A hanging down of the head; a drooping posture; a limp appearance
peony
C2
/ˈpiːəni/
a flowering plant of the genus Paeonia with large fragrant flowers.
primrose
C1
/ˈprɪmˌroʊz/
a low-growing plant of the genus Primula, typically bearing pale yellow flowers early in spring
cultivation
B1
/ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃən/
(agriculture) production of food by preparing the land to grow crops (especially on a large scale)
husk
C2
/hʊsk/
the dry outer covering of a seed, fruit, or vegetable
wormwood
C2
/ˈwɚm.wʊd/
a strongly aromatic, intensely bitter plant of the genus Artemisia, especially Artemisia absinthium
oat
B1
/oʊt/
a grain from the cereal plant Avena sativa, used as food and animal feed and usually referred to in the plural as oats
leafy
B2
/ˈliːfi/
having many leaves or abundant foliage
glade
C1
/ɡleɪd/
An open passage through a wood; a grassy open or cleared space in a forest.
greenery
C2
/ˈɡriː.nɚ.i/
green leaves, plants, or vegetation considered collectively
maize
B2
/meɪz/
a tall cereal plant that bears kernels on large ears; corn
flax
B2
/flæks/
A plant with blue flowers, grown for its seeds and for the fibers used to make linen.
uproot
B2
/ˌʌpˈɹut/
to pull a plant or tree out of the ground with its roots
planter
B1
/ˈplæntə(ɹ)/
a decorative pot for house plants
alfalfa
C1
/ˌælˈfælfə/
a perennial legume, Medicago sativa, grown widely for hay, animal feed, and soil improvement
mildew
C1
/ˈmɪlˌdu/
a thin, usually whitish fungal growth on plants or damp organic material
aloe
C2
/ˈæ.loʊ/
any succulent plant of the genus Aloe, with a rosette of thick pointed leaves
narcissus
C2
/nɑːrˈsɪs.əs/
a bulbous spring-flowering plant with white, yellow, or orange trumpet-shaped flowers, including daffodils and jonquils
irrigate
C1
/ˈɪr.ə.ɡeɪt/
to supply land or crops with water through channels, pipes, or sprinklers
intently
C1
/ɪnˈtɛntli/
with strained or eager attention
frond
C2
/frɑːnd/
a large or divided leaf, especially the leaf of a fern, palm, or cycad
vegetative
C2
/ˈvɛdʒəteɪtɪv/
relating to plant growth or to asexual propagation from stems, roots, leaves, or other nonreproductive parts
acacia
C2
/əˈkeɪ.ʃə/
a shrub or tree of the tribe Acacieae, often thorny and bearing clusters of small flowers
honeysuckle
C2
/ˈhʌnisʌkəl/
a climbing or shrubby plant of the genus Lonicera, typically bearing fragrant tubular flowers rich in nectar
pimpernel
C2
/ˈpɪmpɚˌnɛl/
a low-growing plant with small star-shaped flowers, especially the scarlet pimpernel or a related species
columbine
C2
/ˈkɑl.əmˌbaɪn/
any plant of the genus Aquilegia, with showy flowers whose petals or sepals have long backward-pointing spurs
liana
C2
/liˈɑnə/
a woody climbing plant, especially one growing in a tropical forest
nettle
C2
/ˈnɛtəl/
a plant with tiny hairs that sting or irritate the skin
skiff
C2
/skɪf/
A small flat-bottomed open boat with a pointed bow and square stern.
guano
C2
/ˈɡwɑːnoʊ/
the accumulated excrement of seabirds or bats, especially when collected and used as fertilizer
shrub
C1
/ʃɹʌb/
a woody plant smaller than a tree, usually with several stems rising at or near the ground
alder
C2
/ˈɔldɚ/
any tree or shrub of the genus Alnus in the birch family, typically growing in cool, moist ground and bearing catkins and small woody cones
humerus
C2
/ˈhjuːməɹəs/
The bone of the upper arm.
ripen
B2
/ˈraɪ.pən/
to become ripe and ready to eat or harvest
equatorial
C2
/ˌɛkwəˈtɔːɹiəl/
of or existing at or near the geographic equator
valerian
C2
/vəˈlɪriən/
a perennial flowering plant of the genus Valeriana, especially Valeriana officinalis, with clusters of small pink or white flowers
daffodil
B2
/ˈdæf.əˌdɪl/
a spring-flowering bulb of the genus Narcissus, typically bearing a yellow or white flower with a trumpet-shaped center
grower
B1
/ˈɡroʊɚ/
a person or business that cultivates a particular crop, usually for sale
sorrel
C2
/ˈsɔɹəl/
any of several plants with tart, acidic leaves, especially common sorrel of the dock family
chicory
C2
/ˈtʃɪkəri/
a perennial plant with blue flowers, Cichorium intybus, cultivated for its leaves and root
ornamental
C1
/ˌɔɹ.nəˈmɛn.təl/
Used for decoration rather than for any practical purpose.
hawthorn
C2
/ˈhɔ.θɔɹn/
a thorny shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus, bearing clusters of white or pink flowers and small red fruits
dusky
C2
/ˈdʌs.ki/
lighted by or as if by twilight
corolla
C2
/kəˈɹoʊlə/
the petals of a flower considered collectively, usually forming a whorl inside the calyx
pinewood
C1
/ˈpaɪn.wʊd/
a forest or grove of pine trees
wallflower
C2
/ˈwɔlˌflaʊ.ɚ/
Any of several short-lived herbs or shrubs of the Erysimum genus with bright yellow to red flowers.
maudlin
C2
/ˈmɔːd.lɪn/
Either of two aromatic plants, costmary or sweet yarrow.
glean
C1
/ɡlin/
To gather information or knowledge slowly, bit by bit and often with effort.
granary
C2
/ˈɡɹænəɹi/
a storehouse for threshed grain or animal feed
cattleman
C2
/ˈkætəlmən/
a person who owns, raises, or manages cattle, especially on a ranch
chlorophyll
B2
/ˈklɔɹ.ə.fɪl/
any of the green pigments that absorb light for photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria