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
365 words
blitz
C2
/blɪts/
A sudden, intense, and concentrated effort or campaign.
stronghold
C1
/ˈstrɔŋˌhoʊld/
a place fortified to withstand attack; a fortress
unprotected
B2
/ˌənprəˈtɛktɪd/
Not protected; lacking defence or protection; exposed.
holster
C1
/ˈhoʊl.stɚ/
a fitted case worn on the body for carrying a handgun or another tool safely and accessibly
sentry
C2
/ˈsen.tri/
a guard posted to watch a place, especially to warn of danger or prevent unauthorized entry
citadel
C2
/ˈsɪtədəl/
A strong fortress that sits high above a city.
oblivious
C2
/əˈblɪviːəs/
Lacking awareness; unmindful; unaware, unconscious of.
warship
B2
/ˈwɔɹˌʃɪp/
A ship built and armed for fighting in war.
schoolboy
C2
/ˈskulˌbɔɪ/
a boy attending school
blaster
B2
/ˈblæs.tɚ/
a powerful fictional hand weapon that fires an energy beam or pulse
valor
C2
/ˈvælɚ/
the qualities of a hero or heroine
crusader
C2
/kruˈseɪdɚ/
a participant in one of the medieval Christian military expeditions known as the Crusades
hammock
C2+
/ˈhæmək/
A swinging couch or bed, usually made of netting or canvas about six feet (1.8 meters) wide, suspended by clews or cords at the ends.
craven
C2+
/ˈkɹeɪ.vən/
Unwilling to fight; lacking even the rudiments of courage; extremely cowardly.
amiss
C2+
/əˈmɪs/
in an improper or mistaken or unfortunate manner
trident
C2
/ˈtɹaɪ̯dənt/
A three-pronged spear somewhat resembling a pitchfork.
bayonet
C2
/ˌbeɪəˈnɛt/
a blade designed to be fixed to the muzzle of a rifle and used as a close-combat weapon
parry
C2
/ˈpæri/
to ward off or deflect a weapon, blow, or other attack
armada
C2
/ɑrˈmɑdə/
a large fleet of warships or other military craft
downstream
B2
/ˌdaʊnˈstɹiːm/
Occurring later than something else; (also, usually, especially) influenced by something else; being a consequence of something else.
tangle
C1
/ˈtæŋ.ɡl̩/
To twist together into a messy, knotted mass.
turbulent
B2
/ˈtɝbjələnt/
Full of sudden change, conflict, or disorder.
jailer
B2
/ˈd͡ʒeɪlə(ɹ)/
someone who guards prisoners
boomerang
C2
/ˈbuːməræŋ/
an Australian Aboriginal curved throwing implement, some forms of which return toward the thrower when properly thrown
musket
C2
/ˈmʌskət/
a long, muzzle-loading shoulder firearm, especially the smoothbore infantry weapon used before rifles became standard
vanguard
C2
/ˈvænˌɡɑɹd/
the position of greatest importance or advancement
idly
C2+
/ˈaɪd(ə)lɪ/
in an idle manner
hearth
B2
/hɑɹθ/
home symbolized as a part of the fireplace
hilt
C2
/hɪlt/
the handle assembly of a sword or dagger, including its grip, guard, and pommel
armistice
C1
/ˈɑɹməstɪs/
a formal agreement between belligerents to stop fighting, usually for a specified or indefinite period and without itself constituting a peace treaty
sixpence
C2
/ˈsɪks.pəns/
The value of six old pence; half of a shilling; or one-fortieth of a pound sterling.
scaffold
C2
/ˈskæf.əld/
provide with a scaffold for support
thereof
B2
/ðɛˈɹʌv/
of or concerning this or that
amorous
C2
/ˈæ.mə.ɹəs/
inclined toward or displaying love
marksman
C1
/ˈmɑːrks.mən/
a person who is highly skilled at shooting accurately with a firearm, bow, or similar weapon
sultry
C2
/ˈsʌltɹi/
characterized by oppressive heat and humidity
ordnance
C1
/ˈoɹdnəns/
military weapons, ammunition, and related equipment
scuffle
C2
/ˈskʌfəl/
fight or struggle in a confused way at close quarters
adjutant
C2
/ˈædʒətənt/
a military officer who assists a commanding officer, especially with administration
awkwardly
B2
/ˈɔkwɝdli/
in an awkward manner
gunnery
C2
/ˈɡʌnəri/
the practical skill, operation, and tactical use of guns, especially artillery or naval guns
wicket
C2
/ˈwɪkɪt/
A small door or gate, especially one beside a larger one.
strategist
C2
/ˈstɹætəd͡ʒɪst/
a person who devises strategies.
aloft
C2
/əˈlɔft/
in the higher atmosphere above the earth
buckshot
C2
/ˈbʌkˌʃɑːt/
large lead or steel pellets loaded into a shotgun cartridge for hunting medium or large game
musketeer
C2
/ˌmʌs.kəˈtɪə(ɹ)/
historical: a foot soldier armed with a musket
stockade
C2
/stɑːˈkeɪd/
a defensive fence or barrier made from a line of stout upright posts
quartermaster
C2
/ˈkwɔːr.t̬ɚˌmæs.tɚ/
a military officer or specialist responsible for supplies, equipment, transport, and often accommodation
regimental
C1
/ˌrɛdʒəˈmɛntəl/
belonging to, organized as, or associated with a military regiment
breech
C2
/britʃ/
the rear part of a firearm barrel, behind the chamber, where ammunition is loaded
warpath
C1
/ˈwɔːrˌpæθ/
a course of hostile action or an angrily confrontational mood, especially in the phrase on the warpath
synchronize
C2
/ˈsɪŋ.kɹə.naɪːz/
make synchronous and adjust in time or manner
swordsmanship
C2
/ˈsɔːrdz.mən.ʃɪp/
skill, technique, or proficiency in fighting with a sword
confidentially
C2
/ˌkɑːnfəˈdɛnʃəli/
in a confidential manner
pillage
C2
/ˈpɪl.ɪdʒ/
to rob a place of valuable goods by force, especially during war or civil disorder
belligerent
C2
/bəˈlɪd͡ʒ.ə.ɹənt/
Aggressive and eager to argue or fight.
convergence
C1
/kənˈvɝd͡ʒəns/
The act of moving toward union or uniformity.
aback
C2
/əˈbæk/
by surprise
ironclad
C1
/ˈaɪɚnˌklæd/
so strong, certain, or securely established that it cannot easily be challenged or broken
influx
C2+
/ˈɪnˌflʌks/
A flow inward or into something; a coming in.
javelin
C2
/ˈdʒæv.lɪn/
a light spear designed to be thrown by hand as a weapon in war or hunting
cower
C2+
/ˈkaʊɚ/
To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.
lancer
C2
/ˈlæn.sɚ/
historical: a cavalry soldier armed with a lance
north-east
C2+
/ˌnɔrˈθiːst/
to, toward, or in the northeast
keenly
C1
/ˈkiːnli/
in a keen and discriminating manner
junta
C2
/ˈhʊntə/
a group of military officers who rule a country after seizing power
stiletto
C2
/stɪˈlɛtoʊ/
a small dagger with a tapered blade
harbinger
C2
/ˈhɑɹ.bɪn.d͡ʒəɹ/
A person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something.
tussle
C2
/ˈtʌsəl/
a vigorous physical struggle, scuffle, or contest
rampart
C2
/ˈɹæm.pɑː(ɹ)t/
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
cutlass
C2
/ˈkʌtləs/
a short, heavy sword with a broad, curved, single-edged blade, formerly used especially by sailors
sharpshooter
C2
/ˈʃɑːrpˌʃuː.tɚ/
a person highly skilled at shooting accurately, especially with a rifle
calico
C2+
/ˈkæ.lɪ.koʊ/
having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly
inky
C2
/ˈɪŋki/
Of the colour of ink, especially black ink; dark.
beholder
C1
/bɪˈhoʊldɚ/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
reprisal
C2
/ɹɪˈpɹaɪzəl/
The act of taking something from an enemy by way of retaliation or indemnity.
marksmanship
C1
/ˈmɑːrksmənʃɪp/
skill and accuracy in shooting at a target
warlike
C2
/ˈwɔɹlaɪk/
suggesting war or military life
scimitar
C2
/ˈsɪmɪtɚ/
a saber with a curved blade, historically associated with the Middle East and parts of South and Central Asia
guardhouse
C2
/ˈɡɑɹdˌhaʊs/
a building occupied by guards, often containing rooms for detained prisoners
dragoon
C2
/dɹəˈɡun/
historical: a mounted soldier trained to fight on foot, later a cavalry soldier
indiscriminately
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈskrɪmənətˌliː/
In an indiscriminate manner.
confrontational
C2
/ˌkɒnfɹənˈteɪʃənˈəl/
Likely to cause an argument or fight; aggressive and hostile.
hetman
C2
/ˈhɛtmən/
a Cossack leader or military commander
paratrooper
B2
/ˈpæɹətɹupəɹ/
A soldier trained to jump from aircraft by parachute into a battle area.
scabbard
C2
/ˈskæb.ɚd/
a protective sheath for the blade of a sword, dagger, or bayonet
phalanx
C2
/ˈfeɪ.læŋks/
a close-ranked formation of soldiers, especially the spear-bearing formation of ancient Greece and Macedonia
ramrod
C2
/ˈræmˌrɑːd/
a rod used to push a charge down the barrel of a muzzle-loading firearm or to clean a gun barrel
carbine
C2
/ˈkɑːr.biːn/
a lightweight rifle with a barrel shorter than that of a standard rifle
gossamer
C2
/ˈɡɑ.sə.mɚ/
A fine film made up of cobwebs, seen floating in the air or caught on bushes, etc.
morose
C2
/məˈɹoʊs/
Sullen, gloomy; showing a brooding ill humour.
melee
C2
/ˈmeɪˌleɪ/
to attack with the hands or handheld not projectile weapon, typically in video games
billet
C2
/ˈbɪl.ət/
temporary lodging assigned to a soldier or another member of an organization
bivouac
C2
/ˈbɪv.u.æk/
a temporary camp, especially one used by soldiers or mountaineers and offering little or no shelter
conscription
C2
/kənˈskrɪpʃən/
compulsory enlistment of people into military service
darkly
C1
/ˈdɑɹkli/
without light