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
4363 words
real estate
B2
soft drink
A2
eclectically
C1
In a way that draws on a wide mixture of sources or styles.
compliantly
C1
In a way that willingly obeys or goes along with what is wanted.
tautly
C1
In a tight, stretched, or tense way.
evokingly
C2
anticlimactically
C2
In a way that is disappointing because it is much less exciting than expected.
deviantly
C2
bereftly
C2
unharried
C2
Free from pressure, worry, or harassment.
vestigially
C2
In a way that survives only as a small trace of something once larger.
patchily
C2
In an uneven or incomplete way, with some parts done well and others poorly
inchoately
C2
In a way that is only just beginning and not yet fully formed
amorphously
C2
In a way that has no clear shape, form, or structure.
counterproductively
C2
In a way that works against the goal you are trying to achieve.
unexceptionally
C2
In an ordinary, unremarkable way; without anything special.
inexorability
C2
The quality of being impossible to stop, prevent, or persuade.
appraise
C2+
/əˈpreɪz/
to assess the value or quality of something
aberrant
C2+
/æˈbɛɹənt/
departing from an accepted standard or normal type
airy
C2+
/ˈɛɹi/
spacious and well-ventilated; light or insubstantial
atrabiliary
C2+
/ˌætrəˈbɪliˌɛɹi/
melancholic or ill-tempered; pertaining to black bile
atrabilious
C2+
/ˌætrəˈbɪliəs/
melancholy, gloomy, or bad-tempered
arrant
C2+
/ˈæɹənt/
utter and complete, used to emphasize something bad
demonic
C2+
/dɪˈmɑnɪk/
of or like a demon; fiercely energetic or evil
blissful
C2+
/ˈblɪsfəl/
full of or expressing perfect happiness
crap
C2+
/kræp/
nonsense or worthless rubbish (vulgar)
beatific
C2+
/ˌbiəˈtɪfɪk/
showing or imparting supreme blessedness or serene happiness
dab
C2+
/dæb/
to press lightly with something soft; a small quantity
eldritch
C2+
/ˈɛldrɪtʃ/
weird, sinister, or unearthly in a ghostly way
manifold
C2+
/ˈmænəˌfoʊld/
many and varied; a pipe with several openings
buff
C2+
/bʌf/
an enthusiast; a yellowish-brown color; to polish
chopfallen
C2+
/ˈtʃɑpˌfɔlən/
crestfallen and downcast, with the jaw hanging low
commonplace
C2+
/ˈkɑmənˌpleɪs/
ordinary and unremarkable; a trite or obvious remark
defame
C2+
/dɪˈfeɪm/
to damage the good reputation of someone with false statements
exhaustive
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɔstɪv/
thorough and complete, covering all possibilities
impart
C2+
/ɪmˈpɑɹt/
to communicate information or give a quality to something
agreeably
C2+
/əˈɡriəbli/
in a pleasant or willing manner
becomingly
C2+
/bɪˈkʌmɪŋli/
in a manner that is attractive or fitting
buxom
C2+
/ˈbʌksəm/
plump, full-figured, and healthy-looking, especially of a woman
categorically
C2+
/ˌkætəˈɡɔɹɪkli/
in an absolute and unqualified manner
contemptible
C2+
/kənˈtɛmptəbəl/
deserving scorn or disdain; despicable
defective
C2+
/dɪˈfɛktɪv/
having a fault or imperfection; not working properly
dire
C2+
/daɪɚ/
extremely serious, urgent, or dreadful
exceedingly
C2+
/ɪkˈsidɪŋli/
to a very great extent; extremely
anomalous
C2+
/əˈnɑmələs/
deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected
ardent
C2+
/ˈɑrdnt/
intensely enthusiastic or passionate
booky
C2+
/ˈbʊki/
fond of books or studious; bookish in manner
collected
C2+
/kəˈlɛktɪd/
calm and composed in manner; self-possessed
corny
C2+
/ˈkɔrni/
trite, mawkishly sentimental, or unsophisticatedly humorous
cunning
C2+
/ˈkʌnɪŋ/
skilled in deception or ingenuity; craftiness
defile
C2+
/dɪˈfaɪl/
to make dirty or impure; a narrow mountain pass
dejection
C2+
/dɪˈdʒɛkʃən/
a state of low spirits or melancholy
enigmatic
C2+
/ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk/
mysterious and difficult to interpret or understand
gash
C2+
/ɡæʃ/
a long deep cut or wound; to inflict such a cut
inactive
C2+
/ɪnˈæktɪv/
not active, working, or in operation
incessantly
C2+
/ɪnˈsɛsəntli/
without interruption; continuously
insignificant
C2+
/ˌɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
too small or unimportant to be worth consideration
middling
C2+
/ˈmɪdlɪŋ/
of medium quality, size, or rank; mediocre
pristine
C2+
/ˈprɪstin/
in original, unspoiled condition; spotlessly clean
abate
C2+
/əˈbeɪt/
to become less intense or to lessen in degree
baleful
C2+
/ˈbeɪlfəl/
menacing or threatening harm; full of malign influence
befoul
C2+
/bɪˈfaʊl/
to make dirty or pollute
blithe
C2+
/blaɪð/
cheerfully carefree, often heedless of consequences
busted
C2+
/ˈbʌstɪd/
broken, ruined, or caught in wrongdoing
categorical
C2+
/ˌkætəˈɡɔrɪkəl/
unconditional and absolute; admitting no exception
catholic
C2+
/ˈkæθəlɪk/
broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests; universal
cursory
C2+
/ˈkɜrsəri/
hasty and superficial, lacking thoroughness
disagreeable
C2+
/ˌdɪsəˈɡriəbəl/
unpleasant or bad-tempered
discreet
C2+
/dɪˈskrit/
careful and prudent, especially to avoid causing offence
discrepant
C2+
/dɪˈskrɛpənt/
differing or inconsistent; not in agreement
discrete
C2+
/dɪˈskrit/
individually separate and distinct
eerie
C2+
/ˈɪri/
strange and frightening in a mysterious way
excessively
C2+
/ɪkˈsɛsɪvli/
to a degree greater than what is normal or proper
extravagant
C2+
/ɪkˈstrævəɡənt/
lacking restraint in spending or excess; immoderate
happening
C2+
/ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event or occurrence; currently fashionable or exciting
hunk
C2+
/hʌŋk/
a large thick piece; a sexually attractive man
inept
C2+
/ɪˈnɛpt/
lacking skill or competence; awkwardly unsuitable
requisite
C2+
/ˈrɛkwɪzɪt/
required or necessary; a thing that is essential
rigid
C2+
/ˈrɪdʒɪd/
unable to bend; strict, inflexible, or unyielding
speedy
C2+
/ˈspidi/
done or moving with great speed; prompt
alluring
C2+
/əˈlʊrɪŋ/
powerfully and mysteriously attractive or tempting
apathy
C2+
/ˈæpəθi/
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
apposite
C2+
/ˈæpəzɪt/
strikingly appropriate or pertinent
baneful
C2+
/ˈbeɪnfəl/
causing harm, ruin, or destruction; poisonous or pernicious
blueness
C2+
/ˈbluːnəs/
the quality or state of being blue in color
chary
C2+
/ˈtʃɛri/
cautious or wary; sparing in giving or spending
cobwebby
C2+
/ˈkɑbˌwɛbi/
covered with or resembling cobwebs; gossamer and flimsy
continently
C2+
/ˈkɑntɪnəntli/
in a self-restrained manner; with moderation or abstinence
dainty
C2+
/ˈdeɪnti/
delicately small and pretty; fastidious; (noun) a choice morsel
defilement
C2+
/dɪˈfaɪlmənt/
the act of making something dirty, corrupt, or unholy
dolefulness
C2+
/ˈdoʊlfəlnəs/
the quality of being sorrowful or mournful
downheartedness
C2+
/ˌdaʊnˈhɑrtɪdnəs/
the state of being discouraged or low in spirits
equanimous
C2+
/ɪˈkwænɪməs/
composed and even-tempered, especially under stress
foregone
C2+
/ˈfɔrˌɡɔn/
already settled or decided in advance; previous
hale
C2+
/heɪl/
strong and healthy, especially in old age; (verb) to haul or compel to go
immature
C2+
/ˌɪməˈtʊr/
not fully developed; childish in behavior