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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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 27,899 wordsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
2331 words
ire
C2+
/ˈaɪər/
intense anger; wrath
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joss
C2+
/ˈdʒɑs/
a Chinese idol or cult image; luck or fortune
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keg
C2+
/kɛɡ/
a small barrel, especially one used for beer
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l
C2+
/ɛl/
the twelfth letter of the English alphabet
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landslip
C2+
/ˈlændˌslɪp/
a landslide; a collapse of earth down a slope
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legerdemain
C2+
/ˌlɛdʒɚdɪˈmeɪn/
sleight of hand; skillful deception or trickery
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marginalia
C2+
/ˌmɑrdʒɪˈneɪliə/
notes written in the margins of a book or manuscript
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matrix
C2+
/ˈmeɪtrɪks/
an environment in which something develops; a rectangular array of numbers
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memorandum
C2+
/ˌmɛməˈrændəm/
a written note or record, especially in an organization
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merch
C2+
/mɜrtʃ/
merchandise, especially branded products sold to fans
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mike
C2+
/maɪk/
a microphone; to fit with a microphone
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milestone
C2+
/ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/
a significant stage or event; a roadside marker of distance
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miscarriage
C2+
/ˈmɪsˌkɛrɪdʒ/
the loss of a pregnancy; a failure or mismanagement of something
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moonshine
C2+
/ˈmunʃaɪn/
illicitly distilled liquor; foolish or unrealistic talk
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nectarine
C2+
/ˈnɛktərin/
a smooth-skinned variety of peach
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neve
C2+
/neɪˈveɪ/
granular snow that has not yet compacted into glacial ice; an expanse of such snow
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nighttime
C2+
/ˈnaɪttaɪm/
the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
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nil
C2+
/nɪl/
nothing; zero, especially as a score
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noblesse
C2+
/noʊˈblɛs/
the noble class; nobility, especially in the obligation of high rank
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opus
C2+
/ˈoʊpəs/
an artistic work, especially a musical composition numbered in a composer's output
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overpass
C2+
/ˈoʊvɚˌpæs/
a bridge carrying one road or path over another
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pail
C2+
/peɪl/
a bucket, especially one for carrying liquids
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paroemia
C2+
/pəˈrimiə/
a proverb or adage, especially as a subject of study
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pivot
C2+
/ˈpɪvət/
a central point on which something turns, or to turn on such a point
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plaint
C2+
/pleɪnt/
an expression of grief or complaint; a lament
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plaudit
C2+
/ˈplɔdɪt/
an expression of praise or approval
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plight
C2+
/plaɪt/
a difficult or unfortunate situation
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pogrom
C2+
/ˈpoʊɡrəm/
an organized massacre, especially of an ethnic group
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pouch
C2+
/paʊtʃ/
a small bag or pocket-like container
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puff
C2+
/pʌf/
a short, sudden burst of breath, air, or smoke
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rectangle
C2+
/ˈrɛktæŋɡl/
a four-sided figure with four right angles
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rectitude
C2+
/ˈrɛktɪtud/
moral uprightness; righteousness
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reprieve
C2+
/rɪˈpriv/
a temporary postponement of punishment or trouble
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ripple
C2+
/ˈrɪpəl/
a small wave or series of waves, or a spreading effect
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rucksack
C2+
/ˈrʌkˌsæk/
a bag with shoulder straps carried on the back; a backpack
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serf
C2+
/sɝf/
a feudal laborer bound to and transferred with the land
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setup
C2+
/ˈsɛtˌʌp/
the way something is arranged or organized; an arrangement or scheme
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shortfall
C2+
/ˈʃɔrtˌfɔl/
a deficit; the amount by which something falls short of a requirement
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signet
C2+
/ˈsɪɡnɪt/
a small seal, often set in a ring, used to authenticate documents
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slur
C2+
/slɝ/
an insulting remark, or to pronounce words indistinctly
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snag
C2+
/snæɡ/
an unexpected obstacle, or a sharp projection that catches or tears
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sovereign
C2+
/ˈsɑvrən/
a supreme ruler; possessing supreme or independent authority
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spat
C2+
/spæt/
a petty quarrel; to engage in a brief minor dispute
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squab
C2+
/skwɑb/
a young domestic pigeon raised for eating
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st
C2+
/sənt/
abbreviation for saint or street
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subtext
C2+
/ˈsʌbtɛkst/
an underlying meaning not stated explicitly in what is said
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tint
C2+
/tɪnt/
a shade or variety of a color; to color slightly
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tombstone
C2+
/ˈtumstoʊn/
a stone marker placed over a grave, usually bearing the deceased's name
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tome
C2+
/toʊm/
a large, heavy, or scholarly book
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twig
C2+
/twɪɡ/
a small thin shoot growing from a branch or stem
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underframework
C2+
/ˈʌndərˌfreɪmwɜrk/
an underlying supporting framework or structure
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ware
C2+
/wɛr/
manufactured articles or goods of a specified kind
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washbasin
C2+
/ˈwɑʃˌbeɪsən/
a bowl for holding water for washing the hands and face
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whim
C2+
/wɪm/
a sudden, capricious desire or impulse
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wreckage
C2+
/ˈrɛkɪdʒ/
the remains of something that has been badly damaged or destroyed
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x
C2+
/ɛks/
the twenty-fourth letter of the English alphabet, often denoting an unknown quantity
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yen
C2+
/jɛn/
a strong longing or craving for something
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zeal
C2+
/ziːl/
great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective
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aa
C2+
/ˈɑːɑː/
basaltic lava with a rough, jagged, clinkery surface
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abbot
C2+
/ˈæbət/
the head of a community of monks in an abbey
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abyss
C2+
/əˈbɪs/
a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm
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accidie
C2+
/ˈæksɪdi/
spiritual or mental sloth; listless apathy
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acedia
C2+
/əˈsidiə/
spiritual or mental sloth; apathy and listlessness
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adaptitude
C2+
/əˈdæptɪˌtud/
aptitude or capacity for adapting; adaptability
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aftercome
C2+
/ˈæftərˌkʌm/
a consequence or outcome that follows an event
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afterknowledge
C2+
/ˈæftərˌnɑlɪdʒ/
knowledge gained after an event; hindsight
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agate
C2+
/ˈæɡət/
a hard banded variety of chalcedony used as a gemstone
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agon
C2+
/ˈæɡɑn/
a conflict or struggle, especially the central one in a drama
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ague
C2+
/ˈeɪɡju/
a fever marked by recurring chills and shivering, often malarial
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alluvium
C2+
/əˈluviəm/
sediment of clay, silt, and gravel deposited by flowing water
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ambush
C2+
/ˈæmbʊʃ/
a surprise attack from a concealed position
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amulet
C2+
/ˈæmjələt/
a small object worn to ward off evil or bring good fortune
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anchorhold
C2+
/ˈæŋkɚˌhoʊld/
the cell or dwelling of a religious recluse, or anchorite
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antihero
C2+
/ˈæntiˌhɪroʊ/
a central character who lacks conventional heroic qualities
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apophthegm
C2+
/ˈæpəˌθɛm/
a terse, pointed saying; a pithy maxim
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apotheosis
C2+
/əˌpɑθiˈoʊsɪs/
the highest point of development; elevation to divine status
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aria
C2+
/ˈɑriə/
a long accompanied song for a solo voice in an opera or oratorio
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arrowleaf
C2+
/ˈæroʊˌlif/
any of various plants having arrow-shaped leaves
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artiste
C2+
/ɑrˈtist/
a professional performing artist, especially a singer, dancer, or entertainer
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ashcake
C2+
/ˈæʃˌkeɪk/
a cornmeal cake baked in hot ashes or embers
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asterisk
C2+
/ˈæstəˌrɪsk/
a star-shaped symbol (*) used to mark a note or omission
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autem
C2+
/ˈɔtəm/
in old thieves' cant, a church
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autocide
C2+
/ˈɔtoʊˌsaɪd/
suicide committed by deliberately crashing one's automobile
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ave
C2+
/ˈɑveɪ/
a salutation of greeting or farewell; an Ave Maria prayer
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b
C2+
/ˈbi/
the second letter of the English alphabet
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backsight
C2+
/ˈbækˌsaɪt/
a surveyor's sighting back to a known point, or the rear sight of a gun
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backwash
C2+
/ˈbækˌwɑʃ/
the backward flow of water, or unwelcome aftereffects of an event
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bakeboard
C2+
/ˈbeɪkˌbɔrd/
a board on which dough is kneaded or rolled out
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bakeshop
C2+
/ˈbeɪkˌʃɑp/
a bakery; a shop where bread and pastries are made or sold
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bandit
C2+
/ˈbændɪt/
a robber or outlaw, typically one of an armed band
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bandstand
C2+
/ˈbændˌstænd/
a covered outdoor platform for a band to perform on
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banquette
C2+
/bæŋˈkɛt/
an upholstered bench along a wall, especially in a restaurant
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barrage
C2+
/bəˈrɑʒ/
a concentrated outpouring of artillery fire or, figuratively, of questions
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beaut
C2+
/bjut/
informally, an outstanding or admirable example of something
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begorra
C2+
/bɪˈɡɔrə/
an Irish exclamation of surprise, a euphemism for 'by God'
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benchland
C2+
/ˈbɛntʃˌlænd/
a level terrace of land bounded by steeper slopes
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