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
519 words
diagonal
C2
/ˌdaɪ̯ˈeɪ̯ɡ(ə)nəl/
connecting two nonadjacent corners of a plane figure or any two corners of a solid that are not in the same face
scaly
C2
/ˈskeɪli/
Covered or abounding with scales.
azure
C2
/ˈæʒɚ/
to color blue
meanness
C1
/ˈmiːnnəs/
The condition, or quality, of being mean (any of its definitions)
artisan
C1
/ˈɑɹtɪzən/
A skilled manual worker who uses tools and machinery in a particular craft.
sine
B2
/saɪn/
in a right triangle, the ratio of the side opposite an angle to the hypotenuse; more generally, the corresponding trigonometric function
symbolically
C1
/ˌsɪmˈbɒlɪklɪ/
in a symbolic manner
kilogram
A2
/ˈkɪləɡɹæm/
A unit of mass equal to one thousand grams, used in the metric system.
syntax
C1
/ˈsɪn.tæks/
A set of rules that govern how words are combined to form phrases and sentences.
womanly
C2+
/ˈwʊmənli/
befitting or characteristic of a woman especially a mature woman
genealogy
C2
/ˌd͡ʒiniˈɑlədʒi/
the study or investigation of ancestry and family history
notation
B2
/noʊˈteɪ.ʃən/
a system of written symbols and rules used to represent quantities, sounds, moves, or other specialized information
camphor
C2
/ˈkæmfɚ/
a pungent resin obtained from the camphor tree, often used in pharmacy
levity
C2
/ˈlɛvɪti/
The state or quality of being light, buoyancy.
exponential
C2
/ˌek.spəˈnen.ʃəl/
describing growth or decay whose rate is proportional to the quantity's current value, producing repeated multiplication over equal intervals
impropriety
C2
/ˌɪm.pɹəˈpɹaɪ.ɪ.ti/
The condition of being improper.
undergrowth
C2
/ˈʌndɚˌɡɹoʊθ/
The plants in a forest which only reach a relatively low height (such as shrubs and bushes).
electrically
C1
/ɪˈlɛktrɪkəli/
by electricity
aperture
C1
/ˈæp.ɚˌt͡ʃʊɹ/
A small or narrow opening, gap, slit, or hole.
volt
B1
/voʊlt/
in the International System of Units, the derived unit of electrical potential and electromotive force (voltage); the potential difference across a conductor when a current of one ampere uses one watt of power. Symbol: V
furlong
C2
/ˈfɝː.lɔːŋ/
a unit of distance equal to one eighth of a mile, 220 yards, or 201.168 metres, now used chiefly in horse racing
scullery
C2
/ˈskʌləɹi/
A small room, next to a kitchen, where washing up and other domestic chores are done.
barium
C1
/ˈbɛriːəm/
a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group
asymmetrical
C2
/ˌeɪsɪˈmɛtɹɪk(ə)l/
irregular in shape or outline
muslin
C2
/ˈmʌz.lɪn/
a prototype of a sewing project, generally made of muslin or other cheap plain fabric
octagon
C2
/ˈɑːk.təˌɡɑːn/
a polygon with eight sides and eight angles
arbitrarily
C1
/ˈɑːrbɪˌtrɛrəli/
In an arbitrary manner.
vestibule
C2+
/ˈvɛ.stəˌbjul/
A small entrance hall, antechamber, passage, or room between the outer door and the main hall, lobby, or interior of a building.
deflection
C1
/dəˈflɛkʃən/
The act of deflecting or something deflected.
homunculus
C2
/həˈmʌŋk.jə.ləs/
A miniature man, once imagined by spermists to be present in human sperm.
yew
C2
/juː/
any of numerous evergreen trees or shrubs having red cup-shaped berries and flattened needlelike leaves
upshot
C1
/ˈʌpʃɑt/
A concise summary.
shrubbery
C2
/ˈʃɹʌbəɹi/
A planting of shrubs; a wide border to a garden where shrubs are thickly planted; or a similar larger area with a path winding through it.
parabolic
C1
/ˌpærəˈbɑlɪk/
mathematics: having the shape or properties of a parabola
soc
C1
/soʊʃ/
A society (circle, club, interest group).
subdivision
B2
/ˈsʌbdɪvɪʒən/
A smaller part into which something larger has been divided.
cylindrical
C1
/sɪˈlɪndɹɪkəl/
Shaped like a cylinder.
sufferer
C1
/ˈsʌfɝɝ/
One who suffers; one who is afflicted.
kingly
C1
/ˈkɪŋli/
having the rank of or resembling or befitting a king
duality
C1
/d(j)uːˈælɪti/
A classification into two subclasses or opposed parts.
swarthy
C2
/ˈswɔɹði/
Dark-skinned; black.
tuft
C2
/tʌft/
A small clump of trees or bushes.
roadway
C1
/ˈɹoʊdˌweɪ/
a path made for vehicular travel
acreage
C2
/ˈeɪkərɪdʒ/
An area of land, measured in acres.
hypotenuse
B2
/haɪˈpɑtəˌnus/
the side of a right triangle opposite its right angle
reverie
C1
/ˈɹɛvəɹi/
A state of dreaming while awake; a loose or irregular train of thought; musing or meditation; daydream.
coefficient
B2
/ˌkoʊ.ɪˈfɪʃənt/
mathematics: a number or other constant that multiplies a variable or algebraic term
fingertip
C2
/ˈfɪŋɡɚˌtɪp/
The tip of the human finger.
unmoved
C2
/ənˈmuːvd/
Not affected emotionally, or not showing emotion.
sextant
C2
/ˈsɛk.stənt/
A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude.
tonnage
C1
/ˈtʌnɪd͡ʒ/
a tax imposed on ships that enter the US
oblong
C2+
/ˈɑblɔŋ/
longer in one direction than across
quadratic
C2
/kwɒdˈɹætɪk/
of or relating to the second power
concentric
C1
/kənˈsɛntrɪk/
having the same center, as two or more circles, spheres, or rings
quotient
C2
/ˈkwoʊʃənt/
the result obtained by dividing one number or quantity by another
slovenly
C2
/ˈslʌvənli/
Having an untidy appearance; unkempt.
yardstick
C2
/ˈjɑɹdˌstɪk/
a straight measuring stick one yard, or thirty-six inches, long
geometrical
C2
/ˌd͡ʒi.oʊˈmɛt.ɹɪk.əl/
Of, or relating to geometry; geometric.
hexagonal
C2
/hɛkˈsæɡ.ə.nəl/
Having six edges, or having a cross-section in the form of a hexagon.
crinkle
C2
/ˈkɹɪŋkəl/
To fold, crease, crumple, or wad.
iridescent
C2
/ˌɪɹ.ɪˈdɛs.ənt/
having a play of lustrous rainbow colors
cavernous
C2
/ˈkæv.ɚ.nəs/
being or suggesting a cavern
immeasurably
C2
/ˌɪˈmɛʒɝˌæbli/
In a manner that is not measurable, in a way that cannot be measured.
quintet
C2
/kwɪnˈtɛt/
a musical composition for five performers
kilowatt
C2
/ˈkɪləˌwɑːt/
a unit of power equal to one thousand watts; symbol kW
windowpane
C2
/ˈwɪndoʊˌpeɪn/
A fabric pattern of widely-spaced intersecting vertical and horizontal lines forming large squares.
mammalian
C2
/məˈmeɪl.jən/
Of, or pertaining to, mammals.
sunlit
C2
/ˈsʌnˌlɪt/
lighted by sunlight
condescension
C2
/kɑndiˈsɛnʃən/
affability to your inferiors and temporary disregard for differences of position or rank
hexagon
B1
/ˈhɛksəɡɑn/
a polygon with six sides and six angles
asymmetry
C2
/eɪˈsɪmɪtɹi/
An absence of symmetry or proportion between the parts of a thing, or a distinction that produces such a lack of symmetry.
cosine
C2
/ˈkoʊ.saɪn/
in a right triangle, the ratio of the side adjacent to an angle to the hypotenuse; more generally, the corresponding trigonometric function
courtly
C1
/ˈkɔɹtli/
Befitting of a royal court; reflecting the manners or behaviour of people at court.
thorium
C2
/ˈθɔːɹiəm/
a soft silvery-white tetravalent radioactive metallic element
oligarchy
C2
/ˈɑːlɪˌɡɑɹki/
a political system governed by a few people
masterly
C1
/ˈmæstɚli/
Executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill; masterful.
conical
C1
/ˈkɑ.nɪk.əl/
relating to or resembling a cone
concave
C2
/ˈkɑn.keɪv/
curved inward, like the inner surface of a bowl or sphere
hillock
C2
/ˈhɪlək/
A small hill.
subspecies
C2
/ˈsʌbspiːʃiːz/
A rank in the classification of organisms, below species.
longitudinal
C1
/ˌlɔn.dʒɪˈtu.dɪ.nəl/
over an extended time
isosceles
C2
/aɪˈsɑsəliz/
of a triangle, having two sides of equal length
alternately
C2
/ˈɔl.tɚ.nət.li/
in an alternating sequence or position
quantitative
C1
/ˈkwɑn.təˌteɪ.tɪv/
expressible as a quantity or relating to or susceptible of measurement
depreciation
C1
/dɪˌpriːʃiːˈeɪʃən/
a decrease in price or value
promontory
C2
/ˈpɹɑməntɔɹi/
A high point of land extending into a body of water, headland; cliff.
sodden
C2
/ˈsɑ.dən/
Soaked or drenched with liquid; soggy, saturated.
rightness
C1
/ˈraɪtnəs/
The property of being on, or moving toward, the right.
parabola
C2
/pəˈræbələ/
a symmetrical open curve whose points are equally distant from a fixed point and a fixed line
unsupported
C1
/ənsəˈpɔrtɪd/
not held up or borne
unbounded
C1
/ənˈbaʊndɪd/
seemingly boundless in amount, number, degree, or especially extent
insufficiency
C2
/ɪnsəˈfɪʃənsi/
lack of an adequate quantity or number
slowness
C1
/ˈsloʊnəs/
a rate demonstrating an absence of haste or hurry
quadrangle
C1
/ˈkwɑːdˌræŋɡəl/
a plane figure with four straight sides and four angles
florid
C2
/ˈfloɹɪd/
In a blatant, vivid, or highly disorganized state.
semicircle
C2
/ˈsem.iˌsɝː.kəl/
one half of a circle, bounded by a diameter and the arc joining its endpoints