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
738 words
chew
B2
/tʃɪʊ̯/
To crush food with your teeth before swallowing it.
annual
B1
/ˈæn.ju.əl/
Happening once every year.
calendar
A2
/ˈkæl.ən.dɚ/
A chart or set of pages showing the days, weeks, and months of a year.
invention
A2
/ˌɪnˈvɛnʃən/
A new device or process that someone has created for the first time.
promising
B2
/ˈpɹɑmɪsɪŋ/
Showing signs of future success or good results.
relevant
B2
/ˈɹɛləvənt/
Closely connected with the subject or situation being discussed.
occasionally
B1
/əˈkeɪʒənəli/
From time to time; now and then, but not often.
consistent
B2
/kənˈsɪstənt/
Behaving or happening in the same way over time; dependable.
harmony
A2
/ˈhɑ̟ɹ.mə.ni/
A state in which people get along well and agree with one another.
investigator
B2
/ɪnˈvɛs.tɪˌɡeɪ.tɚ/
A person who examines something carefully to find out the facts.
hence
C1
/ˈhɛns/
For this reason; therefore.
tick
B1
/tɪk/
The short, regular sound made by a clock or watch.
frequency
B1
/ˈfɹiːkwənsi/
How often something happens within a period of time.
obsession
B2
/əbˈsɛʃən/
A state of thinking about something or someone all the time, in an unhealthy way.
casual
B1
/ˈkæʒ(u)əl/
Relaxed and informal; not formal or smart.
decade
B1
/ˈdɛkeɪd/
A period of ten years.
demanding
B2
/dəˈmændɪŋ/
Needing a lot of effort, skill, energy, or time.
efficient
B1
/ɪˈfɪʃənt/
Working well without wasting time, effort, or money.
extend
B1
/ɛkˈstɛnd/
To make something longer or larger in size, time, or scope.
breakdown
B2
/ˈbɹeɪkˌdaʊn/
A failure of a machine or system to keep working.
moonlight
B2
/ˈmunˌlaɪt/
The light of the moon.
lease
B2
/ˈliːs/
A legal contract that lets someone use property for a set time in return for payment.
deadline
B1
/ˈdɛdˌlaɪn/
A time or date by which something must be finished.
predict
A2
/pɹɪˈdɪkt/
To say that something will happen in the future, based on knowledge or reasoning.
reign
C1
/ɹeɪn/
The period during which a king or queen rules.
antique
B1
/ˌænˈtik/
Old and valuable because of its age and history.
unite
B1
/juˈnaɪt/
To join people together for a common purpose.
aged
A2
/ˈeɪ.dʒɪd/
Having a particular number of years; being a certain age.
boiling
B2
/ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/
Very hot.
pause
B1
/pɔz/
A short stop in activity or speech before continuing.
gradually
A2
/ˈɡɹæd͡ʒuəli/
Slowly, in small steps over a period of time.
dusty
B1
/ˈdʌsti/
Covered with a layer of dust.
permanently
B1
/ˈpɝmənəntli/
In a way that lasts for ever or for a very long time.
temporarily
B2
/ˌtɛmpəˈɹɛɹəli/
For a short time only; not permanently.
baggage
B1
/ˈbæɡɪd͡ʒ/
The bags and cases you take with you when travelling.
weekly
A2
/ˈwiːk.li/
Happening or done once a week or every week.
dynasty
B1
/ˈdaɪnəsti/
A series of rulers who all belong to the same family.
gaze
B2
/ɡeɪz/
To look at someone or something for a long time, often with wonder or interest.
rebuild
B1
/ɹiːˈbɪld/
To build something again after it has been damaged or destroyed.
shaped
B2
/ʃeɪpt/
Having a particular form or outline.
long-term
B2
/ˈlɔŋˈtɝːm/
Continuing or having effects over a long period of time.
await
B2
/əˈweɪt/
To wait for something or someone.
babysitter
B1
/ˈbeɪ̯biˌsɪtɚ/
A person who looks after children for a short time while the parents are away.
newly
B1
/ˈnuli/
Very recently; only a short time ago.
historic
B1
/hɪˈstɔɹɪk/
Important in history; likely to be remembered for a long time.
suspension
C1
/səˈspɛnʃən/
The act of officially stopping something for a time, or the period of this delay.
monthly
B1
/ˈmʌnθli/
Happening or done once a month.
briefly
B1
/ˈbɹiːfli/
For a short time.
boiled
A2
/bɔɪld/
Cooked in hot bubbling water.
surfing
A2
/ˈsɝfɪŋ/
The sport of riding on waves while standing on a surfboard.
secondly
A2
/ˈsɛk.(ə)ndli/
used to introduce the second point in a list or argument
postpone
B2
/poʊstˈpoʊn/
To move an event or activity to a later time or date.
optimistic
B2
/ˌɑptɪˈmɪstɪk/
Expecting good things to happen; hopeful about the future.
skate
A2
/skeɪt/
to move over ice or a hard surface wearing skates
motivated
B2
/ˈmoʊtəˌveɪtəd/
Eager and willing to work hard, especially toward a goal.
increasingly
B1
/ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋgli/
More and more over time.
ongoing
B2
/ˈɑːnˌgoʊɪŋ/
Still happening or continuing; in progress.
combine
B1
/kəmˈbaɪn/
To join two or more things together to make a single thing.
estimated
B2
/ˈɛstəˌmeɪtɪd/
Based on a rough calculation rather than exact figures.
quarantine
B2
/ˈkwɔɹ.ən.tin/
A period when a person or animal is kept away from others to stop a disease from spreading.
spelling
B1
/ˈspɛlɪŋ/
The way letters are put together to form a word.
occasional
B1
/əˈkeɪʒ(ə)nəl/
Happening from time to time, but not often.
worthwhile
B1
/ˌwɜː(ɹ)θˈwaɪl/
Important or useful enough to be worth the time, money, or effort.
scrape
C2
/skɹeɪp/
a harsh noise made by scraping
grilled
A2
/ɡɹɪld/
Cooked over or under direct heat.
workout
B1
/ˈwɝk.aʊ̯t/
A period of physical exercise.
chronic
C1
/ˈkɹɑ.nɪk/
(of an illness) Lasting a long time or coming back again and again.
correction
B1
/kəˈɹɛkʃən/
A change that fixes a mistake.
irritating
B2
/ˈɪrəˌteɪtɪŋ/
Making you feel slightly angry or annoyed
undressed
B2
/ənˈdrɛst/
Having taken off some or all of your clothes.
sauna
C1
/ˈsɔː.nə/
A hot room where people sit to sweat and relax, often with steam.
hiking
A2
/ˈhaɪkɪŋ/
The activity of walking in the countryside for pleasure or exercise.
vinegar
B2
/ˈvɪnəɡɚ/
A sour liquid made from fermented alcohol, used to flavour or preserve food.
wrapping
B1
/ˈɹæp.ɪŋ/
The material used to cover or enclose something.
simultaneously
B1
/ˌsaɪmlˈteɪnɪəsli/
At the same time.
contemporary
B2
/kənˈtɛm.pəˌɹɛɹ.i/
Belonging to the present time; modern.
millennium
C2
/mɪˈlen.i.əm/
a period of one thousand years
intensive
B1
/ˌɪnˈtɛnsɪv/
involving a lot of work or effort in a short time; highly concentrated.
last-minute
B2
/ˌlæˈsmɪnət/
Done or happening at the latest possible time before an event.
duration
C1
/dʒʊˈɹeɪʃn̩/
The length of time that something lasts or continues.
lasting
B1
/ˈlastɪŋ/
Continuing for a long time without changing.
educate
B1
/ˈɛd͡ʒ.ʊˌkeɪt/
To teach someone over a period of time, especially at a school.
colonial
B2
/kəˈloʊ.njəl/
Relating to a time when a country ruled and controlled other lands as colonies.
presently
C1
/ˈprɛzəntli/
Soon; before long.
suspend
B2
/səsˈpɛnd/
To stop something for a period of time before it continues again.
inconvenient
B1
/ˌɪnkənˈviːnjənt/
Causing trouble, difficulty, or discomfort; not suiting your needs or plans.
reconstruction
C1
/ˌɹikənˈstɹʌkʃən/
The act of building or putting something together again, often better than before.
presidency
B2
/ˈpɹɛzɪdənsi/
The job or position of being a president.
highlight
B1
/ˈhaɪˌlaɪt/
To draw attention to something so people notice how important it is.
prehistoric
B2
/ˌpriːhɪˈstɔrɪk/
Belonging to the time before history was written down.
herald
C2
/ˈhɛɹ.əld/
To be a sign that something is coming or about to happen.
strive
B2
/ˈstɹaɪv/
To try very hard over time to achieve something.
sophomore
B1
/ˈsɑf.mɔɹ/
A second-year student at a US high school or university.
shabby
B2
/ˈʃæbi/
Worn out, untidy, or in poor condition because of age or neglect.
fortnight
B1
/ˈfɔɹt.naɪt/
A period of two weeks.
precedent
C1
/ˈpɹiː.sɪ.dənt/
An earlier event or action used as an example or guide for later ones.