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.
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All 27,237 words
527 words
ferment
C2
/fɚˈmɛnt/
a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
heighten
C1
/ˈhaɪ̯.tən/
To make a feeling, effect, or quality stronger or more intense.
elasticity
C2
/ɪ.læsˈtɪs.ɪ.ti/
The ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or squeezed.
enrichment
C1
/ɛnˈɹɪtʃmənt/
the act or process of improving the quality, value, or interest of something
solidify
B1
/səˈlɪdəfaɪ/
to become solid, or to make a liquid or soft substance become solid
consummation
C2
/ˌkɑːnsəˈmeɪʃən/
the completion, fulfillment, or culminating result of a process or aim
dalliance
C2
/ˈdæli.əns/
A wasting of time in idleness or trifles.
reshape
C2
/ˌriːˈʃeɪp/
to give something a new or different physical shape
recast
B2
/ˌɹiːˈkæst/
to present, express, or organize something in a substantially different form
stiffen
C1
/ˈstɪfən/
To become stiff, hard, or tense.
ensue
C1
/ɪnˈsuː/
To happen afterwards as a result or consequence.
eradication
C2
/ɪˌrædəˈkeɪʃən/
the complete removal or destruction of a disease, problem, practice, or other harmful thing
furrow
C2
/ˈfʌɹoʊ/
hollow out in the form of a furrow or groove
readjust
B2
/ˌriːəˈdʒʌst/
to become accustomed again to a situation or to adapt to changed circumstances
mitigation
C1
/ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/
the action of reducing the severity, harm, or painfulness of something
causal
C2+
/ˈkɔ.zəl/
Of, relating to, or being a cause of something; causing.
impair
B1
/ɪmˈpɛɹ/
To make something worse or weaker, especially an ability or function.
downsize
B2
/ˈdaʊnsaɪz/
To make a company smaller by reducing the number of workers.
flotation
C2
/floʊˈteɪʃən/
the act, process, or capacity of floating in a liquid or gas
breakage
B2
/ˈbɹeɪkɪd͡ʒ/
the act or result of breaking something, especially accidental damage
predictability
C1
/prɪˌdɪktəˈbɪləti/
the quality or degree of being possible to predict
interplay
C1
/ˈɪntɚˌpleɪ/
the way two or more things affect, respond to, or depend on one another
iteration
C1
/ˌɪt.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
the repetition of a process, statement, or sequence, or one cycle within that repetition
unmake
C2
/ˌʌnˈmeɪk/
to reverse the making of something; destroy, dismantle, or cause it to lose its essential form or character
legislate
B2
/ˈlɛd͡ʒɪsˌleɪt/
To make laws.
offshoot
C2
/ˈɔːf.ʃuːt/
a group, organization, idea, or development that originates from something larger
moisten
B2
/ˈmɔɪsən/
to make something slightly wet or damp
immortalize
C1
/ɪˈmɔː(ɹ).təˌlaɪz/
To make someone or something famous and remembered forever.
volatility
C2
/ˌvɑː.ləˈtɪl.ə.t̬i/
the tendency of a price, market, or other quantity to change sharply and unpredictably
nascent
C2
/ˈnæɪ.sənt/
Just coming into existence and beginning to develop.
gymnastic
B2
/d͡ʒɪmˈnæstɪk/
Relating to gymnastics or physical exercises that develop strength and balance.
distillation
C2
/ˌdɪstɪˈleɪʃən/
The process of purifying a liquid by boiling it and condensing the vapor.
redistribute
B2
/ˌriːdɪˈstrɪbjuːt/
to distribute resources, wealth, responsibilities, or other things in a different way
outflow
B1
/ˈaʊtˌfloʊ/
the movement or discharge of a liquid, gas, or other material out of a place
wend
C2
/wɪ̟nd/
direct one's course or way
equalize
B2
/ˈiː.kwə.laɪz/
to make two or more amounts, conditions, opportunities, or effects equal
inestimable
C2
/ɪˈnɛs.tɪ.mə.bəl/
Not able to be estimated; not able to be calculated, computed or comprehended, as because of great scale, degree or magnitude.
domesticate
C1
/dəˈmɛ.stɪ.keɪt/
To tame an animal so it can live with and be useful to humans.
proliferate
C1
/pɹəˈlɪf.əɹ.eɪt/
To increase quickly in number and spread widely.
diversification
C1
/dɪˌvɝːsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the process or result of making something more varied
stagnate
C1
/ˈstæɡneɪt/
to stop flowing or circulating and become still or stale
amalgamation
C2
/əˌmælɡəˈmeɪʃən/
The process of amalgamating; a mixture, merger or consolidation.
smolder
C1
/ˈsmoʊldɚ/
to burn slowly with heat and smoke but little or no flame
emasculate
C2
/əˈmæs.kjəˌleɪt/
to deprive a person, institution, or measure of strength, power, or effectiveness
incipient
C2
/ˌɪnˈsɪpiːənt/
Just beginning to exist or develop; in an early stage.
crystallize
B2
/ˈkɹɪstəlaɪz/
To make an idea, plan, or feeling clear and definite, or to become clear in this way.
shaper
C2
/ˈʃeɪ.pɚ/
a person, force, or thing that gives form or character to something
resultant
B1
/rɪˈzʌl.tənt/
caused by or following from the thing just described
supplant
C2
/səˈplænt/
take the place or move into the position of
repercussion
C2
/ˌɹi.pɚˈkʌʃ.ən/
a remote or indirect consequence of some action
recombine
C2
/ˌriːkəmˈbaɪn/
to put separated or analyzed parts together again, sometimes in a new arrangement
abortive
C2
/əˈbɔɹ.tɪv/
failing to accomplish an intended result
aerate
C2
/ˈer.eɪt/
to supply or expose something to air or oxygen
upend
C1
/ʌpˈɛnd/
to turn or set something on its end or upside down
rearrangement
C1
/ˌriː.əˈreɪndʒ.mənt/
the act or result of arranging people or things again in a different order or pattern
contributory
C2
/ˈkɑntrɪbjəˌtɔri/
helping to cause or bring about a result
elaboration
C1
/ɪˌlæbɝˈeɪʃən/
The act of adding more detail or explanation to something.
desiccation
C2
/ˌdɛsəˈkeɪʃən/
the process of removing moisture from something or causing it to become completely dry
protrude
C2
/pɹəˈtɹud/
To stick out beyond a surface or edge.
reinvigorate
C2
/ˌriːɪnˈvɪɡəreɪt/
to give someone renewed health, energy, or vitality
reverberation
C2
/ɹiˈvɜː(ɹ)bəɹeɪʃən/
A sound that echoes and continues after the original sound has stopped.
upturn
B2
/ˈʌp.tɝn/
An upward turn or trend, especially in business activity or profit.
mainspring
C2
/ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ/
the chief motive, source, or driving force behind an action or development
congeal
C1
/kənˈdʒiːl/
to become or cause something to become thick, semisolid, or solid, especially through cooling
automate
C2
/ˈɔ.təˌmeɪt/
To make a process work by machines or computers instead of by people.
polarize
C2+
/ˈpoʊ.lə.ɹaɪz/
To cause to have a polarization.
deathblow
C2
/ˈdɛθˌbloʊ/
a blow that causes death
mutable
B2
/ˈmjuːtəbəl/
Able to change or be changed.
standardize
B2
/ˈstændɚˌdaɪz/
to make things follow the same agreed form, rule, or level of quality
dissociate
C1
/dɪˈsoʊ.ʃi.eɪt/
to separate or disconnect someone or something from an association, relationship, or idea
equalization
B2
/ˌiː.kwə.ləˈzeɪ.ʃən/
the process of making amounts, conditions, rights, or opportunities equal or more nearly equal
efface
C2
/əˈfeɪs/
to erase or remove marks, writing, or visible features
agglomeration
C2
/əˌglɑːmɝˈeɪʃən/
a mass or collection of different things gathered or clustered together
petrify
C2
/ˈpɛtrɪfaɪ/
to make someone so frightened that they cannot move or think clearly
interconnection
C1
/ˌɪntərkəˈnɛkʃən/
a reciprocal relationship or connection between two or more things
edify
C2
/ˈɛdɪfaɪ/
To improve someone morally or intellectually through teaching.
overgrowth
B2
/ˈoʊvɚˌɡroʊθ/
excessive, abnormal, or uncontrolled growth in size, amount, or number
labile
C2
/ˈleɪbaɪl/
liable to change
accumulative
C2
/əˈkjuːmjəˌleɪtɪv/
increasing through successive additions; cumulative
parch
C2
/pɑːrtʃ/
to make something extremely dry or withered through intense heat or lack of moisture
recompose
C2
/ˌɹikəmˈpoʊz/
to make oneself calm and controlled again
convoke
C2
/kənˈvoʊk/
To convene, to cause to assemble for a meeting.
rankle
C2
/ˈɹæŋ.kəl/
To cause irritation, bitterness or acrimony.
obviate
C2
/ˈab.viˌeɪt/
to remove the need for something; to make it unnecessary
moulder
C2
/ˈmoʊl.dɚ/
to decay or crumble slowly, often until little remains; usually followed by away
discolor
C1
/dɪsˈkʌlɚ/
to change color, or cause something to change color, usually in an unwanted way
derange
C1
/dɪˈɹeɪndʒ/
to disturb the order, arrangement, or normal operation of something; formal
roughen
B1
/ˈɹʌfən/
to make a surface rough or rougher
reabsorb
C1
/ˌriː.əbˈzɔːrb/
to absorb something again after it has been released, separated, or excreted
overfill
C2
/ˌoʊvɚˈfɪl/
to fill beyond capacity, need, or an appropriate limit
counteraction
C2
/ˌkaʊntɚˈækʃən/
action taken to oppose, offset, or neutralize the effect of another action or force
inroad
C1
/ˈɪn.roʊd/
a noticeable advance, effect, or penetration, especially in the phrase make an inroad or make inroads
flexibly
B2
/ˈflɛksəbli/
In a way that can change easily to suit different conditions.
tatter
B2
/ˈtætə(ɹ)/
A torn, hanging piece of cloth or paper.
overspill
C2
/ˈoʊvɚˌspɪl/
something that spills, flows, or extends beyond a container, boundary, or available capacity
refold
B2
/ɹiːˈfoʊld/
To fold again.