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
incomprehensible
C2+
/ɪnˌkɑmprɪˈhɛnsəbəl/
impossible to understand
abstruse
C2+
/æbˈstruːs/
difficult to understand; obscure and recondite
accordantly
C2+
/əˈkɔrdəntli/
in agreement or conformity; correspondingly (archaic)
apathetic
C2+
/ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk/
showing no interest, enthusiasm, or concern
atrocious
C2+
/əˈtroʊʃəs/
horrifyingly wicked; of very poor quality
attest
C2+
/əˈtɛst/
to provide or serve as clear evidence of; to declare true
barmy
C2+
/ˈbɑrmi/
crazy or foolish (chiefly British); frothy with yeast
bastard
C2+
/ˈbæstɚd/
a child born out of wedlock; something irregular or impure in origin
beingless
C2+
/ˈbiːɪŋləs/
lacking being or existence; without substance (rare)
blatant
C2+
/ˈbleɪtənt/
completely obvious and shameless; offensively conspicuous
blithesomeness
C2+
/ˈblaɪðsəmnəs/
the quality of being cheerful and carefree
bowels
C2+
/ˈbaʊəlz/
the intestines; the deep interior of something; (archaic) seat of pity
brook
C2+
/brʊk/
a small stream; (verb) to tolerate or allow
cheeriness
C2+
/ˈtʃɪrinəs/
the quality of being bright and cheerful
conformably
C2+
/kənˈfɔrməbli/
in a manner that conforms or is in agreement
contingent
C2+
/kənˈtɪndʒənt/
dependent on circumstances not yet certain
debasement
C2+
/dɪˈbeɪsmənt/
the reduction in quality, value, or dignity of something
deliberation
C2+
/dɪˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən/
long and careful consideration or discussion
dingy
C2+
/ˈdɪndʒi/
gloomy and shabby, often from dirt or grime
disinterested
C2+
/dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/
free of bias or self-interest; impartial
downright
C2+
/ˈdaʊnraɪt/
thoroughly or utterly; plainly so
expressly
C2+
/ɪkˈsprɛsli/
in a clear and explicit manner; specifically
fussy
C2+
/ˈfʌsi/
hard to please or overly concerned with detail
geason
C2+
/ˈɡizən/
rare, scarce, or extraordinary
immobile
C2+
/ɪˈmoʊbəl/
not moving or unable to be moved
imperturbable
C2+
/ˌɪmpɚˈtɜrbəbəl/
unable to be upset or agitated; calm
indistinct
C2+
/ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/
not clear or sharply defined
irregularity
C2+
/ɪˌrɛɡjəˈlærəti/
a deviation from what is normal, regular, or lawful
lax
C2+
/læks/
not strict or careful enough; slack
praiseworthy
C2+
/ˈpreɪzˌwɜrði/
deserving approval and admiration
precarious
C2+
/prɪˈkɛriəs/
dangerously uncertain or insecure
rareness
C2+
/ˈrɛrnəs/
the quality of being uncommon or scarce
apathistical
C2+
/ˌæpəˈθɪstɪkəl/
marked by apathy; indifferent or unfeeling
astounding
C2+
/əˈstaʊndɪŋ/
surprisingly impressive or shocking
awanting
C2+
/əˈwɑntɪŋ/
(chiefly Scots/dialectal) missing, lacking, or absent
bally
C2+
/ˈbæli/
(British dated slang) a mild euphemism for bloody, used to add emphasis
besmear
C2+
/bɪˈsmɪr/
to smear or daub all over with something sticky or dirty
bobbery
C2+
/ˈbɑbəri/
(dated, chiefly Anglo-Indian) a noisy disturbance or commotion
brimful
C2+
/ˈbrɪmˌfʊl/
full to the brim; completely filled
brobdingnagian
C2+
/ˌbrɑbdɪŋˈnæɡiən/
of enormous size; gigantic
bushed
C2+
/bʊʃt/
(informal) extremely tired; exhausted
callow
C2+
/ˈkæloʊ/
inexperienced and immature
calvary
C2+
/ˈkælvəri/
an experience of intense suffering or ordeal
cheerly
C2+
/ˈtʃɪrli/
(archaic) in a cheerful or hearty manner; briskly
colossal
C2+
/kəˈlɑsəl/
extremely large or great
commodious
C2+
/kəˈmoʊdiəs/
roomy and comfortable; spacious
conformant
C2+
/kənˈfɔrmənt/
conforming to a specified standard or requirement
contemplation
C2+
/ˌkɑntəmˈpleɪʃən/
deep, reflective thought or meditation
courageousness
C2+
/kəˈreɪdʒəsnəs/
the quality of being courageous; bravery
decently
C2+
/ˈdisəntli/
in a respectable, proper, or reasonably good manner
denseness
C2+
/ˈdɛnsnəs/
the quality of being dense; thickness or stupidity
deplorable
C2+
/dɪˈplɔrəbəl/
deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad
deplore
C2+
/dɪˈplɔr/
to feel or express strong disapproval of something
despiteful
C2+
/dɪˈspaɪtfəl/
(archaic) full of spite; malicious
disintegrate
C2+
/dɪsˈɪntəˌɡreɪt/
to break into small parts or fall apart completely
dismayful
C2+
/dɪsˈmeɪfəl/
(archaic) full of or causing dismay; appalling
droll
C2+
/droʊl/
amusing in a quaint, odd, or wry way
effete
C2+
/ɪˈfit/
weak, exhausted, or lacking vigor; over-refined
eminently
C2+
/ˈɛmənəntli/
to a notable degree; very
exiguous
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɪɡjuəs/
very small in size or amount; scanty
fain
C2+
/feɪn/
(archaic) gladly or willingly; eager
fastidious
C2+
/fæˈstɪdiəs/
very attentive to detail and hard to please
felicitous
C2+
/fəˈlɪsətəs/
well-chosen or apt; pleasingly suitable
fey
C2+
/feɪ/
otherworldly or whimsical; (Scots) doomed or fated to die
finite
C2+
/ˈfaɪnaɪt/
having limits or bounds; not infinite
fitly
C2+
/ˈfɪtli/
(formal/archaic) in a suitable or appropriate manner
fremd
C2+
/frɛmd/
(archaic/dialectal) strange, foreign, or unrelated
ghastly
C2+
/ˈɡæstli/
causing great horror or shock; extremely unpleasant
highest
C2+
/ˈhaɪəst/
greatest in height, rank, degree, or value
incidental
C2+
/ˌɪnsəˈdɛntəl/
occurring as a minor accompaniment to something more important
inevitability
C2+
/ɪnˌɛvətəˈbɪləti/
the quality of being certain to happen and unavoidable
inimical
C2+
/ɪˈnɪmɪkəl/
tending to obstruct or harm; hostile
lank
C2+
/læŋk/
long, thin, and limp, especially of hair
maximal
C2+
/ˈmæksəməl/
as great or large as possible
methodically
C2+
/məˈθɑdɪkli/
in an orderly, systematic manner
moist
C2+
/mɔɪst/
slightly wet; damp
mundane
C2+
/mʌnˈdeɪn/
lacking interest or excitement; ordinary
obscene
C2+
/əbˈsin/
offensive or disgusting by accepted standards of decency
peccadillo
C2+
/ˌpɛkəˈdɪloʊ/
a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin
peculiarly
C2+
/pɪˈkjuljɚli/
in a strange or distinctively characteristic way
repulsive
C2+
/rɪˈpʌlsɪv/
arousing intense disgust
rightful
C2+
/ˈraɪtfəl/
having a legitimate or just claim; legally entitled
routinely
C2+
/ruˈtinli/
as a regular or habitual practice
sameness
C2+
/ˈseɪmnəs/
the quality of being identical or monotonously unvarying
abstemious
C2+
/æbˈstimiəs/
sparing or moderate in eating and drinking
absurdity
C2+
/əbˈsɝdəti/
the quality of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable
abysmal
C2+
/əˈbɪzməl/
extremely bad; appalling
addlepated
C2+
/ˈædəlˌpeɪtɪd/
confused, muddled, or foolish
adjunct
C2+
/ˈædʒʌŋkt/
a thing added to something else as a supplementary part
amaranthine
C2+
/ˌæməˈrænθɪn/
undying or unfading; of a deep purplish-red color
amenable
C2+
/əˈminəbəl/
willing to agree or be persuaded; responsive
awfully
C2+
/ˈɔfli/
very; to a great degree
banal
C2+
/bəˈnæl/
so lacking in originality as to be boring
barney
C2+
/ˈbɑrni/
a noisy quarrel or argument
beefheaded
C2+
/ˈbifˌhɛdɪd/
stupid or dull-witted
bewildering
C2+
/bɪˈwɪldɚɪŋ/
causing confusion or perplexity