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
746 words
caption
B2
/ˈkæp.ʃən/
A short piece of text printed under a picture to explain it.
postage
A2
/ˈpoʊstɪdʒ/
the charge paid for sending a letter or parcel through the postal system
symposium
C1
/sɪmˈpoʊ.zi.əm/
a formal meeting at which specialists give presentations and discuss a particular subject
whimper
C1
/ˈwɪmpə/
to cry or make a weak, soft, intermittent sound from fear, pain, or distress
fib
B2
/fɪb/
a small or relatively harmless lie
query
C1
/ˈkwɪ.ɹi/
A question, especially one asking for information or expressing a doubt.
tch
C2+
/ǀ/
a representation of the dental click used to show disapproval or disgust; tut, tsk
scoff
C1
/skɔːf/
To speak about someone or something in a mocking, scornful way.
blubber
C2
/ˈblʌbəɹ/
To cry loudly and messily, often while struggling to speak.
humph
C2+
/hʌmf/
a closed-mouth grunt expressing doubt, annoyance, contempt, or disapproval
squabble
C1
/ˈskwɑː.bəl/
a noisy, undignified quarrel, usually about something petty or unimportant
anecdote
C2
/ˈæn.ɪkˌdəʉt/
a short, often interesting or humorous account of a real incident
retraction
C1
/rɪˈtrækʃən/
a public withdrawal of a statement, accusation, claim, or published finding
illustration
B2
/ˌɪl.əˈstɹeɪ.ʃən/
A picture or drawing in a book, magazine, or other text.
babel
C2
/ˈbeɪbəl/
a confused mixture of voices, languages, or other sounds
narrate
B1
/ˈnæɹeɪt/
To tell a story or describe events in speech or writing.
hubbub
C2
/ˈhʌbəb/
a loud, confused mixture of voices or other sounds; noisy commotion
scribble
B2
/ˈskɹɪbəl/
To write or draw something quickly and carelessly.
keynote
C1
/ˈkiːˌnoʊt/
the central idea, prevailing tone, or most important feature of something
characterize
B1
/ˈkɛɹəktəɹaɪz/
To describe the qualities of someone or something.
sirree
C2
/sɚˈiː/
informal, chiefly US: an emphatic form of sir used after yes or no
sonnet
B2
/ˈsɒnɪt/
A poem of fourteen lines with a fixed rhyme scheme.
literacy
C1
/ˈlɪtəɹəsi/
The ability to read and write.
sneer
B2
/snɪɚ̯/
To smile or speak in a way that shows scorn or contempt.
vowel
B1
/ˈvaʊ.əl/
A speech sound made with the mouth open and the air flowing freely, such as the sounds of a, e, i, o, and u.
intercede
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈsiːd/
to intervene by pleading with a person in authority on someone else's behalf
designate
C1
/ˈdez.ɪɡ.nət/
To officially choose someone or something for a particular purpose or role.
trite
C2
/tɹaɪt/
Often in reference to a word or phrase: used so many times that it is commonplace, or no longer interesting or effective; worn out, hackneyed.
lisp
C1
/lɪsp/
a speech pattern or disorder in which sibilant sounds such as s and z are articulated atypically
stammer
B2
/ˈstæmɚ/
To speak with difficulty, repeating sounds or pausing nervously.
hogwash
C1
/ˈhɑːɡˌwɑːʃ/
informal: foolish, false, or meaningless talk or writing; nonsense
broach
C1
/broʊtʃ/
to introduce a difficult or sensitive subject for discussion
insertion
C1
/ɪnˈsɝʃən/
The act of putting one thing into another.
conclusively
C2
/kənˈkluːsɪvli/
in a conclusive way
verbatim
C2
/vɝˈbeɪ.tɪm/
In exactly the same words; word for word.
rebus
C2+
/ˈɹibəs/
An arrangement of pictures, symbols, or words representing phrases or words, especially as a word puzzle.
postmark
B2
/ˈpoʊstˌmɑrk/
an official mark stamped on mail that usually records where and when it entered the postal system and cancels the stamp
outcry
C1
/ˈaʊtˌkraɪ/
a strong and often public expression of anger, protest, or disapproval
unburden
B2
/ʌnˈbɝː.dən/
to relieve yourself of worries, guilt, or secrets by telling someone about them
behemoth
C2
/bəˈhi(ː).məθ/
Any great and mighty monster.
pall
C2+
/pɔl/
a heavy, fine canvas, especially one laid over a coffin or tomb
spiel
C2
/ʃpiːl/
a long, practiced speech intended to explain, promote, or persuade, especially a sales pitch
speer
C2+
/spɪɹ/
in Scots and northern English, to ask, inquire, or seek information
telecommunications
B1
/ˌtɛləkəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃənz/
The sending of information such as voice, text, and images over long distances by phone, radio, or the internet.
redefine
C2
/ˌriːdɪˈfaɪn/
to define a word, idea, role, or boundary again or in a different way
underline
A1
/ˈʌndɚˌlaɪn/
To draw a line under a word or text, usually to draw attention to it.
enchant
C2
/ɪnˈt͡ʃænt/
To cast a spell upon (often one that attracts or charms).
icebreaker
C2
/ˈaɪsˌbɹeɪkəɹ/
an activity, remark, or question intended to reduce tension and help unfamiliar people begin interacting
mot
C2
/moʊ/
a short, pithy, or witty remark; a bon mot
wile
C2
/waɪl/
a clever trick or persuasive stratagem intended to deceive or manipulate someone, often used in the plural
crier
B2
/ˈkɹaɪɚ/
historical: an official who publicly announced news, proclamations, or court proceedings
letterhead
C1
/ˈlet̬.ɚˌhed/
a printed heading on stationery that identifies a person or organization, often with an address and logo
punctuation
A2
/ˌpʌŋk.t͡ʃuˈeɪ.ʃən/
The marks used in writing, such as commas, full stops, and question marks, that make the meaning clear.
pathos
C1
/ˈpeɪˌθɑs/
A quality in something that makes you feel pity or sadness.
clamor
B2
/ˈklæm.ɚ/
loud and persistent outcry from many people
allegory
C2
/ˈæləˌɡɔɹi/
A story whose characters and events stand for a deeper meaning, often a moral or political one.
ornate
C2
/ɔɹˈneɪt/
Decorated with a lot of complicated detail, sometimes too much.
flippant
C2+
/ˈflɪpənt/
Showing disrespect through a casual attitude, levity, and a lack of due seriousness; pert.
advocacy
B2
/ˈædvəkəsi/
public support for an idea, cause, policy, or course of action
hocus
C2
/ˈhoʊkəs/
dated: to trick, cheat, or deceive someone
interchangeable
C1
/ɪntɚˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒəbl̩/
(mathematics, logic) such that the arguments or roles can be interchanged
legible
B2
/ˈlɛdʒəbəl/
clear enough to be read or deciphered
laryngitis
C2
/lɛɹɪnˈd͡ʒaɪtɪs/
Inflammation of the larynx (voice box), usually causing a hoarse voice or loss of voice.
meld
C2
/ˈmɛld/
To combine (multiple things) together; to blend, to fuse.
clarion
C2
/ˈklæ.ɹi.ən/
brilliantly clear, loud, and commanding, especially of a voice, sound, or appeal
deary
C1
/ˈdɪri/
an affectionate, old-fashioned, or sometimes patronizing form of address, especially to a woman or child
ventilate
C1
/ˈvɛntɪleɪt/
To let fresh air move through a room or building.
spate
C2
/ˈspeɪt/
A sudden heavy downpour of rain.
hullabaloo
C1
/ˌhʌləbəˈlu/
a loud commotion, uproar, or noisy fuss
repartee
C1
/ˌrɛpɚˈteɪ/
a quick, witty reply
duplicitous
C2
/duːˈplɪsətəs/
Given to or marked by deliberate deceptiveness in behavior or speech.
bromide
C2
/ˈbɹoʊ.maɪd/
A dull person with conventional thoughts.
recitation
C2
/ˌɹɛsəˈteɪʃən/
The act of saying a poem, speech, or passage aloud, usually from memory.
abbreviation
C2
/əˌbɹi.viˈeɪ.ʃn̩/
a shortened form of a word or phrase used to represent the whole
lucidity
C2
/luːˈsɪdəti/
clarity of expression, explanation, or style that makes something easy to understand
claptrap
C2
/ˈklæpˌtɹæp/
Empty verbiage or nonsense.
oratory
C2
/ˈɔ.ɹəˌtɔ.ɹi/
addressing an audience formally, usually a long and rhetorical address and often pompous
paraphrase
C2
/ˈper.ə.freɪz/
a restatement of a passage or idea in different words, usually to make its meaning clearer
firebrand
C2
/ˈfaɪɚ.bɹænd/
An argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary; one who agitates against the status quo.
frenetic
C2
/ˈfɹɛ.nɪt.ɪk/
Frenzied and frantic, harried; having extreme enthusiasm or energy.
consonant
B1
/ˈkɑn.sə.nənt/
A speech sound made by blocking the airflow, such as b, t, or s; also a letter representing it.
twaddle
C2
/ˈtwɑdəl/
speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly
esprit
C2
/eˈspriː/
lively intelligence, wit, or vivacious cleverness
congratulatory
C1
/kənˌɡrætʃəˈleɪtɔri/
expressing pleasure and praise for someone's success, good fortune, or special occasion
indecipherable
C1
/ˌɪn.dɪˈsaɪ.fɚ.ə.bəl/
impossible or extremely difficult to read or decode
synonym
B2
/ˈsɪn.əˌnɪm/
A word or phrase that means the same, or nearly the same, as another.
intonation
B2
/ˌɪntəˈneɪʃən/
the pattern of rising and falling pitch in a person's speech
rigmarole
C2
/ˈrɪɡməˌroʊl/
a long, complicated, and often unnecessary procedure
heigh
C2+
/heɪ/
an exclamation used to attract attention, urge someone on, or express surprise
tirade
C2
/ˈtaɪɹeɪd/
A long, angry or violent speech.
generalize
B2
/ˈd͡ʒen.(ə.)ɹə.lɑez/
To make a broad statement that is supposed to apply to many cases, based on only a few examples.
quoth
C2
/kwoʊθ/
said; an archaic past-tense verb used chiefly before a first- or third-person subject
inscribe
B1
/ɪnˈskɹaɪb/
To write or carve words onto a surface, often as a lasting record.
bookish
B2
/ˈbʊkɪʃ/
Very fond of reading and studying.
postscript
B2
/ˈpoʊstˌskrɪpt/
a note added to a letter after the signature, usually introduced by P.S.
alliteration
C2
/əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃən/
the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words, especially in a phrase or line of verse