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
498 words
ambivalent
C2
/æmˈbɪvələnt/
uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
dispensation
C2
/ˌdɪspənˈseɪʃən/
The act of dispensing or dealing out; distribution
petulant
C2+
/ˈpɛt͡ʃʊlənt/
Childishly irritable.
natty
C2
/ˈnæti/
Natural, as opposed to steroid enhanced.
fathead
C2
/ˈfæthɛd/
informal and insulting: a stupid or foolish person
pish
C2
/pɪʃ/
dated: used to express impatience, disdain, contempt, or dismissal
nave
C2
/neɪv/
The navel.
acumen
C2
/əˈkjumən/
A bony, often sharp, protuberance, especially that of the ischium.
circumvent
C2
/səːkəmˈvɛnt/
to beat through cleverness and wit
levee
C2
/ˈlɛvi/
The steep bank of a river.
woeful
C2
/ˈwəʊfəl/
Full of woe; sorrowful; distressed with grief or calamity.
whet
C2
/ˈwɛt/
make keen or more acute
genteel
C2
/d͡ʒɛnˈtiːl/
Affectedly proper or refined; somewhat prudish refinement; excessively polite.
corrosion
C2+
/kəˈɹoʊʒən/
The gradual destruction or undermining of something.
peruse
C2
/pɝˈuːz/
examine or consider with attention and in detail
debonair
C2
/dɛbəˈnɛɹ/
having a sophisticated charm
satirical
C2
/səˈtɪɹɪkəl/
exposing human folly to ridicule
nary
C2
/ˈnɛri/
informal or dialectal: not a single; not any, used before a singular count noun
aegis
C2
/ˈiːdʒəs/
Guidance, protection; endorsement, sponsorship.
egad
C2+
/iˈɡæd/
archaic: a mild exclamation expressing surprise, emphasis, outrage, or contempt
unassuming
C2
/ʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
shuck
C1
/ʃʌk/
to remove the husk, pod, or shell from food such as corn, nuts, or oysters
omniscient
C2
/ɑmˈnɪʃənt/
Having total knowledge.
indomitable
C2
/ɪnˈdɑmɪtəbl̩/
Incapable of being subdued, overcome, or vanquished.
mannered
C2+
/ˈmænɝd/
having unnatural mannerisms
resplendent
C2
/ɹɪˈsplɛn.dənt/
Shining brilliantly; gleaming; radiant.
palatial
C2+
/pəˈleɪʃəl/
suitable for or like a palace
een
C2
/iːn/
Scots and Northern English: eyes
herewith
C1
/ˌhɪrˈwɪð/
together with this letter, document, or other formal communication
litany
C2
/ˈlɪtəni/
any long and tedious address or recital
avast
C2+
/əˈvæst/
a nautical command to stop, cease, or hold fast
knell
C2
/nel/
To signal or proclaim something (especially a death) by ringing a bell.
sot
C2
/sɑt/
dated and disapproving: a habitual drunkard
purist
C2
/ˈpjʊɹ.ɪst/
Of or pertaining to purism.
gestation
C2
/d͡ʒɛsˈteɪʃən/
the period during which an embryo develops, about 266 days in humans
plod
C2
/plɑd/
the act of walking with a slow heavy gait
goo-goo
C2+
/ˈɡuːˌɡuː/
informal: lovingly sentimental or amorous, especially in the phrase goo-goo eyes
dint
C2
/dɪnt/
Especially in by dint of: force, power.
tyne
C2
/taɪn/
Scottish and Northern English, archaic: to lose, mislay, forfeit, or cease to possess something
incontrovertible
C2
/ˌɪŋˌkɑːntroʊˈvɝːtɪbəl/
impossible to deny or disprove
newfangled
C2
/ˌnuˈfæŋ.ɡəld/
of a new kind or fashion, gratuitously new
cornucopia
C2
/ˌkɔɹ.nəˈkoʊ.pi.ə/
An abundance or plentiful supply.
storied
C2+
/ˈstɔːɹid/
having an illustrious past
unimpeachable
C2+
/ˌənɪmˈpiːtʃəbəl/
beyond doubt or reproach
waft
C2
/wɑft/
be driven or carried along, as by the air
unassailable
C2
/ˌʌnəˈseɪləbl̩/
Undeniable, incontestable or incontrovertible.
disingenuous
C2
/ˌdɪs.ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/
Not ingenuous; not frank or open.
tensile
C2
/ˈtɛn.sɪl/
of or relating to tension
counterintuitive
C2
/ˌkaʊntəɹɪnˈtuɪtɪv/
Contrary to intuition or common sense.
incredulous
C2
/ˌɪnˈkɹɛ.d͡ʒə.ləs/
Skeptical, disbelieving, or unable to believe.
zeitgeist
C2
/ˈtsaɪtˌɡaɪst/
the spirit of the time
propitious
C2
/pɹəˈpɪʃəs/
Favorable; advantageous.
rococo
C2
/rəˈkoʊˌkoʊ/
having excessive asymmetrical ornamentation
resurgence
C2
/riːˈsɝːdʒəns/
bringing again into activity and prominence
acolyte
C2
/ˈæk.ə.laɪt/
An altar server.
irreverent
C2+
/ˌɪˈrɛvɝənt/
showing lack of due respect or veneration
lunkhead
C2
/ˈlʌnk.hɛd/
informal and insulting: a stupid, clumsy, or slow-witted person
fatuous
C2
/ˈfæ.tʃu.əs/
Obnoxiously stupid; vacantly silly; content in one's foolishness.
temerity
C2
/təˈmɛɹ.ə.ti/
Effrontery; impudence.
hotly
C2+
/ˈhɑːtli/
In a heated manner; intensely or vehemently.
highfalutin
C2
/ˌhaɪ.fəˈlu.tɪn/
informal and disapproving: pompous, pretentious, or designed to seem important or sophisticated
chauvinistic
C2
/ˌtʃoʊvəˈnɪstɪk/
Of or pertaining to chauvinism or chauvinists.
hierarchical
C1
/ˌhaɪˈɹɑɹkɪkəl/
classified according to various criteria into successive levels or layers
erstwhile
C2
/ˈɝst.waɪl/
Respected, honourable.
ragamuffin
C2
/ˈɹæɡəˌmʌfɪn/
A dirty, shabbily-clothed child; an urchin.
nohow
C2
/ˈnoʊˌhaʊ/
dated or dialectal: in no way; not at all
gild
C2
/ɡɪld/
To cover with a thin layer of gold; to cover with gold leaf.
negress
C2
/ˈniːɡrɪs/
an old-fashioned and now offensive term formerly used for a Black woman or girl
scurrilous
C2
/ˈskɜɹələs/
given to foul-mouthed abuse
plebeian
C2
/pliˈbiːən/
Of or concerning the plebs, the common citizens of ancient Rome.
bated
C1
/ˈbeɪtɪd/
held back, reduced, or restrained, now used chiefly in the phrase 'with bated breath'
filigree
C2
/ˈfɪləˌgriː/
A delicate and intricate ornamentation made from platinum, gold or silver (or sometimes other metal) twisted wire.
indefatigable
C2
/ˌɪn.dəˈfæt.ɪ.ɡə.bəl/
showing sustained enthusiastic action with unflagging vitality
collude
C2
/kəˈluːd/
to act in concert with; to conspire.
panacea
C2
/ˌpæn.əˈsiː.ə/
A solution to all problems.
deflower
C2
/diˈflaʊ.ɚ/
dated: to have sexual intercourse with a person regarded as a virgin, framed as taking that person's virginity
countermand
C2
/ˈkaʊntɚˌmænd/
To revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an order contrary to one previously given.
redouble
C2
/riːˈdʌbəl/
to make twice as great or intense
slake
C2
/sleɪk/
To satisfy (thirst, or other desires).
tamp
C2
/tæmp/
press down tightly
incisive
C1
/ɪnˈsaɪ.sɪv/
suitable for cutting or piercing
hegemony
C2
/hɪˈd͡ʒɛ.mə.ni/
the dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over others
piddle
C2
/ˈpɪdəl/
informal: to spend time ineffectually on trivial matters; to work in a small or desultory way
pshaw
C2
/pʃɔː/
dated: used to express impatience, disbelief, contempt, or dismissal
bilious
C2
/ˈbɪl.jəs/
Resembling bile, especially in color.
sophomoric
C2
/sɑf(ə)ˈmɑɹɪk/
Conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature.
pedagogical
C2
/ˌpɛdəˈgɑːdʒɪkəl/
of or relating to pedagogy
proclivity
C2+
/pɹoʊˈklɪvɪti/
a natural inclination
impugn
C2
/ɪmˈpjuːn/
To verbally assault, especially to argue against an opinion, motive, or action; to question the truth or validity of; cast doubt on.
unflappable
C2+
/ʌnˈflæpəbəl/
Remaining composed and level-headed at all times; impossible to fluster; not becoming frustrated or irritated easily.
unmanly
C2
/ʌnˈmænli/
dated, often disapproving: not showing qualities traditionally expected of a man, especially courage or self-control
frieze
C2
/ˈfɹiːz/
A banner with a series of pictures.
funereal
C2+
/fjuːˈnɪəɹɪ.əl/
suited to or suggestive of a grave or burial
aforesaid
C1
/əˈfɔɹsɛd/
previously mentioned or named
vainglorious
C2
/ˌveɪnˈɡlɔː.ɹi.əs/
imperious self-importance
hist
C2
/hɪst/
an archaic call used quietly to attract attention or command silence