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
697 words
banish
C2
/ˈbænɪʃ/
To send someone away from a place, especially as an official punishment, and forbid them to return.
bias
B2
/ˈbaɪ.əs/
An unfair preference for or against a person, group, or idea.
atheist
C2
/ˈeɪθiɪst/
related to or characterized by or given to atheism
emphasis
B1
/ˈɛmfəsɪs/
Special importance or attention given to something
persuasion
B2
/pɚˈsweɪʒən/
The act of getting someone to do or believe something by giving reasons.
mindless
C2
/maɪnd.ləs/
requiring little mental effort
unheard
B1
/ʌnˈhɜː(ɹ)d/
Not heard by anyone.
intoxication
C2
/ɪntɑksɪˈkeɪʃən/
excitement and elation beyond the bounds of sobriety
muller
C2+
/ˈmʌləɹ/
A machine that mixes clay and sand under a roller for use in preparing a mould for metal casting.
sleet
C2
/sliːt/
precipitate as a mixture of rain and snow
unimaginable
B2
/ˌʌnɪˈmædʒɪnəbəl/
So great or extreme that you cannot imagine it.
unsure
B2
/ənˈʃʊr/
Not certain; not knowing what to think or do
satin
C2
/ˈsæt.ɪn/
A cloth woven from silk, nylon or polyester with a glossy surface and a dull back. (The same weaving technique applied to cotton produces cloth termed sateen).
catchy
B2
/ˈkæt͡ʃi/
Pleasant and easy to remember, especially a tune or phrase.
psychologically
B2
/ˌsaɪkəˈlɑːdʒɪkli/
In a way that relates to the mind and emotions.
meditate
B1
/ˈmɛ.dɪˌteɪt/
To rest the mind quietly, often for relaxation or spiritual reasons.
dreamy
B2
/ˈdriːmi/
Having a calm, pleasant, almost magical quality, like a dream.
demented
C1
/dɪˈmɛntɪd/
wildly irrational, disturbed, or out of control
infidelity
C2
/ˌɪnfɪˈdɛlɪti/
Unfaithfulness in a marriage or an intimate (sexual or romantic) relationship: practice or instance of having a sexual or romantic affair with someone other than one's spouse, without the consent of the spouse.
cognitive
C2
/ˈkɑɡ.nɪ.tɪv/
Connected with thinking, learning, understanding, and remembering
sweetly
B2
/ˈswiːtli/
in an affectionate or loving manner
foresee
B2
/fɔɹˈsi/
To know or expect that something will happen before it does.
bloodthirsty
C2
/ˈblʌdˌθɚsti/
Thirsty for blood: inexorably violent or eager for bloodshed; murderous.
puzzled
B2
/ˈpʌ.zl̩d/
Confused because you cannot understand something.
lapse
C1
/ˈlæps/
A small, temporary failure, especially of memory or attention.
wholesome
C2
/ˈhoʊl.səm/
sound or exhibiting soundness in body or mind
disapprove
B2
/ˌdɪsəˈpruːv/
To think that something is bad, wrong, or unacceptable.
remembrance
B1
/riːˈmɛmbrəns/
The act of remembering someone or something, especially in their honor.
flashback
C1
/ˈflæʃ.bæk/
A part of a film, book, or play that shows an earlier event, interrupting the main story.
forcibly
C2
/ˈfɔːsəbli/
in a forcible manner
problematic
C1
/ˌpɹɑ.bləˈmæt.ɪk/
Causing problems or difficulties.
invoke
B2
/ɪnˈvoʊk/
To mention or refer to something, such as a law or rule, to support your argument.
heresy
C2
/ˈhɛɹəsi/
A doctrine held by a member of a religion at variance or conflict with established religious beliefs.
wreath
C2+
/ɹiθ/
Something twisted, intertwined, or curled.
telepathy
C2
/təˈlep.ə.θi/
the supposed direct communication of thoughts or feelings between minds without speech, writing, or other ordinary physical signals
unwise
B2
/ʌnˈwaɪz/
Showing poor judgment; not sensible.
emphasize
B1
/ˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/
To give special importance or attention to something
superhuman
B2
/ˌsuːpɝˈhjuːmən/
above or beyond the human or demanding more than human power or endurance
courteous
B2
/ˈkɝti.əs/
characterized by courtesy and gracious good manners
agile
C2
/ˈæd͡ʒ.ɑel/
Able to move quickly and easily.
tranquility
C1
/træŋˈkwɪlɪti/
A state of peace and quiet.
rigorous
C1
/ˈɹɪɡəɹəs/
demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
mania
B2
/ˈmeɪ.ni.ə/
Excessive or unreasonable desire; insane passion affecting one or many people; fanaticism.
forgetful
B1
/fərˈɡɛtfəl/
likely to forget things or unable to remember them well
antics
C1
/ˈæntɪks/
Wild, silly, or attention-grabbing behaviour.
ascertain
B2
/ˌæsɚˈteɪn/
to learn or discover with certainty
deem
B2
/dim/
To consider or judge something to be a certain way.
poultry
B2
/ˈpoʊltɹi/
Domestic fowl (e.g. chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese) raised for food (meat, eggs, or both).
pied
C2+
/paɪd/
Decorated or colored in blotches.
conjecture
C2
/kənˈd͡ʒɛk.t͡ʃɚ/
A guess or opinion based on incomplete evidence.
foolishly
B2
/ˈfuːlɪʃli/
In a way that shows a lack of good sense or judgement.
delirium
C2
/dɪˈlɪɹ.i.əm/
A temporary mental state with a sudden onset, usually reversible, including symptoms of confusion, inability to concentrate, disorientation, anxiety, and sometimes hallucinations. Causes can include dehydration, drug intoxication, and severe infection.
connoisseur
C1
/ˌkɑnəˈsɝ/
An expert whose judgement is respected, especially in art, food, or other matters of taste.
conceivable
B2
/kənˈsiːvəbl̩/
possible to imagine or believe
apostle
C2
/əˈpɑsl̩/
One of the early leaders of a religious mission, especially the twelve chief followers of Jesus.
dissect
C1
/dɪˈsɛkt/
To cut open a body to study its internal parts.
unwelcome
C2+
/ənˈwɛlkəm/
not welcome
daydream
C1
/ˈdeɪdɹiːm/
A pleasant series of thoughts about something nice while you are awake.
retrace
C1
/ɹiːˈtɹeɪs/
To go back over a route or path you have already taken.
poignant
C2
/ˈpɔɪnənt/
keenly distressing to the mind or feelings
figment
C1
/ˈfɪɡmənt/
something invented or imagined that has no real existence
foresight
C2
/ˈfɔɹsaɪt/
the ability to think ahead and prepare for what may happen
fixation
B1
/fɪkˈseɪʃən/
an intense or obsessive preoccupation with a person, idea, or thing
brainstorm
A2
/ˈbɹeɪnstɔɹm/
To think up many ideas quickly, often as a group.
symbolism
B2
/ˈsɪmbəˌlɪzəm/
Representation of a concept through symbols or underlying meanings of objects or qualities.
daze
B1
/deɪz/
A state of being confused and unable to think clearly.
carelessly
B1
/ˈkɛɹləsli/
In a way that shows a lack of attention or care.
idealistic
C2
/aɪˌdiːəˈlɪstɪk/
Of or pertaining to an idealist or to idealism.
differentiate
C1
/ˌdɪf.əˈɹɛn.ʃi.eɪt/
To recognize or show how two or more things are different.
unconsciously
C2
/ˌʌnˈkɑnʃəsli/
without awareness or deliberate intention
recollect
B2
/ɹɛkəˈlɛkt/
To bring something back to mind; to remember.
explicitly
C1
/ɪkˈsplɪsətli/
In a clear and detailed way, leaving no doubt.
emancipation
C1
/ɪˌmæn.səˈpeɪ.ʃən/
The act of setting free from the power of another, as from slavery, subjection, dependence, or controlling influence.
minion
C2+
/ˈmɪnjən/
A loyal servant of another, usually a more powerful being.
insistence
B2
/ɪnˈsɪstəns/
the act of insisting on something
incubator
C2
/ˈɪn.kjuːˌbeɪ.ɾɚ/
A support programme for the development of entrepreneurial companies.
narcotic
C2
/nɑɹˈkɑtɪk/
inducing mental lethargy
agility
C2
/əˈd͡ʒɪl.ə.ti/
The ability to move quickly and easily.
freshness
B2
/ˈfɹɛʃnəs/
The state or quality of being fresh.
unanimously
C1
/juːˈnænəməsli/
In a unanimous manner; without objection.
psychoanalysis
C2
/ˌsaɪkoʊəˈnæləsɪs/
a family of theories and therapeutic methods that interpret unconscious mental processes, conflicts, and motives
classify
B1
/ˈklæs.əˌfaɪ/
To arrange things into groups according to their type or qualities.
estimation
C1
/ˌɛs.təˈmeɪ.ʃən/
A rough calculation or judgement of an amount, value, or degree.
riveting
C1
/ˈrɪvɪtɪŋ/
So interesting or exciting that it completely holds your attention.
resolute
C2
/ˈɹɛ.zəˌl(j)uːt/
Firm, unyielding, determined.
meticulously
C2
/məˈtɪkjələsli/
In a very careful and precise way, paying attention to every detail.
inferiority
B2
/ˌɪnfɪriːˈɔrɪˌtiː/
an inferior quality
chimera
C2
/kaɪˈmɪɹə/
Anything composed of very disparate parts.
sensuality
C2
/ˌsɛn.ʃuˈæl.ɪ.ti/
The state of being sensual or sensuous.
outwit
B2
/ˌaʊtˈwɪt/
to defeat or gain an advantage over someone by being more clever
musty
C2
/ˈmʌsti/
Affected by dampness or mould; damp, mildewed, mouldy.
elude
C1
/ɪˈljuːd/
To escape from or avoid someone or something, often by being clever or quick.
evoke
C1
/ɪˈvoʊk/
To bring a feeling, memory, or image into someone's mind.
awkwardness
C1
/ˈɔkwɝdnəs/
the inelegance of someone stiff and unrelaxed
perplexed
C2
/pɚˈplɛkst/
full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
fleshy
C2
/ˈflɛʃi/
Of, related to, or resembling flesh.