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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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 27,899 wordsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
8073 words
alternatively
B2
/ɔlˈtɝ.nə.tɪv.li/
Used to suggest another possibility or choice.
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dusky
C2
/ˈdʌs.ki/
lighted by or as if by twilight
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interchangeable
C1
/ɪntɚˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒəbl̩/
(mathematics, logic) such that the arguments or roles can be interchanged
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debonair
C2
/dɛbəˈnɛɹ/
having a sophisticated charm
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legible
B2
/ˈlɛdʒəbəl/
clear enough to be read or deciphered
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absurdly
C1
/æbˈsɝd.li/
in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree
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involuntarily
B1
/ɪnˌvɑlənˈtɛɹɪli/
Without meaning to or without conscious control.
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satirical
C2
/səˈtɪɹɪkəl/
exposing human folly to ridicule
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nineteenth
C2
/ˌnaɪnˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the eighteenth in position
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respectively
C1
/ɹɪˈspɛktɪvli/
In the order already mentioned, matching each item to the one before it.
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preventive
B2
/pɹɪˈvɛntɪv/
Intended to stop something bad, especially illness, from happening.
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mercantile
C2
/ˈmɝ.kənˌtaɪl/
Connected with trade and the buying and selling of goods for profit.
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pervasive
C2
/pɚˈveɪ.sɪv/
Present or spreading everywhere; affecting every part of something.
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marginally
C1
/ˈmɑɹd͡ʒɪnəli/
By a very small amount; slightly.
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eighteenth
C2
/ˌeɪˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the seventeenth in position
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intrinsic
C2
/ɪnˈtɹɪn.zɪk/
Belonging naturally to something as part of its basic nature.
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complementary
C1
/ˌkɑmplɪˈmɛnt(ə)ɹi/
Combining well with something else to make a complete or better whole.
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attuned
C2
/əˈtuːnd/
Aware of and able to respond well to something, such as people's feelings or a situation.
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afield
C1
/əˈfiːld/
away from home, a starting point, or one's usual surroundings, often at some distance
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asymmetrical
C2
/ˌeɪsɪˈmɛtɹɪk(ə)l/
irregular in shape or outline
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listless
C2
/ˈlɪstlɪs/
lacking zest or vivacity
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hurriedly
B1
/ˈhɝɪdli/
In a quick and hasty way, often because there is little time.
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oblique
C2
/oʊˈbliːk/
Said in an indirect way rather than plainly; not straightforward.
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clarion
C2
/ˈklæ.ɹi.ən/
brilliantly clear, loud, and commanding, especially of a voice, sound, or appeal
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miscreant
C2
/ˈmɪskriːənt/
Lacking in conscience or moral principles; unscrupulous.
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wistful
C2
/ˈwɪstfəl/
Sad and thoughtful, especially when remembering something or longing for it.
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drudgery
C2
/ˈdrʌdʒɝi/
Hard, boring, and tiring work that requires little skill.
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unassuming
C2
/ʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
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thousandth
A2
/ˈθaʊzən(d)θ/
the ordinal number of one thousand in counting order
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deductive
C1
/dɪˈdʌktəv/
relating to logical deduction
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torturous
C1
/ˈtɔɹt͡ʃəɹəs/
Causing great physical or mental pain; extremely difficult to endure.
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fervently
C2
/ˈfɝvəntli/
with passionate fervor
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structurally
C1
/ˈstrʌktʃɝəli/
In a way that relates to the way something is built or put together.
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abhorrent
C2
/æbˈhɔɹ.ənt/
Causing strong feelings of disgust and hatred; utterly unacceptable.
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enviable
C1
/ˈɛn.vɪ.ə.b(ə)l/
So good or desirable that others would envy it.
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proximal
C2
/ˈprɑːksəməl/
Located nearest to the point of attachment, origin, or the body's centre.
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restrictive
B2
/ɹɪˈstɹɪktɪv/
limiting what someone can do, use, or access
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spry
C1
/spraɪ/
active, nimble, and energetic, especially despite advanced age
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philanthropic
C2
/ˌfɪl.ənˈθɹɑ.pɪk/
Generous in giving money and help to good causes.
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aesthetically
C1
/ɛsˈθɛtɪkli/
In a way that relates to beauty or is pleasing to the senses.
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triumphantly
C1
/traɪˈʌmfəntli/
in a triumphant manner
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half-dozen
C2+
/ˈhæfˌdəzən/
denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units
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maliciously
C2
/məˈlɪʃɪsli/
In a way that is intended to harm or hurt others.
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hand-held
B1
/ˈhændˌhɛld/
Small and light enough to be used while you hold it in your hands.
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fearfully
C1
/ˈfɪɹfəli/
in an alarming manner
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torrential
C2
/tɔˈɹɛn.t͡ʃəl/
Of rain, falling very heavily.
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omniscient
C2
/ɑmˈnɪʃənt/
Having total knowledge.
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indivisible
C2
/ˌɪndɪˈvɪzɪbəl/
impossible of undergoing division
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pedantic
B2
/pəˈdæn.tɪk/
Too concerned with small details and formal rules, often in a way that annoys others.
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draconian
C2
/dɹəˈkoʊ.ni.ən/
of or relating to Draco or his harsh code of laws
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indomitable
C2
/ɪnˈdɑmɪtəbl̩/
Incapable of being subdued, overcome, or vanquished.
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dumbfounded
C2
/ˌdʌmˈfaʊndɪd/
so astonished or bewildered that one is temporarily unable to speak or react
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woolen
A2
/ˈwʊlən/
made of wool or relating to wool
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unimaginably
B2
To a degree so great that it is hard to imagine.
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counterproductive
C2
/ˌkaʊntəpɹəˈdʌktɪv/
Having the opposite effect to the one you intended; doing more harm than good.
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painstakingly
C2
/ˈpeɪnˌsteɪkɪŋli/
With great care and effort; very slowly and carefully.
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arbitrarily
C1
/ˈɑːrbɪˌtrɛrəli/
In an arbitrary manner.
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purposeful
B2
/ˈpɝ.pəs.fəl/
Showing that you know what you want and are determined to get it.
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mannered
C2+
/ˈmænɝd/
having unnatural mannerisms
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devotional
C1
/dɪˈvoʊʃənəl/
relating to religious worship, prayer, or private devotion
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bespoke
C2
/bəˈspoʊk/
made specially for a particular customer, especially referring to clothing
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unconcerned
B2
/ˌənkənˈsɝːnd/
Not worried or anxious about something.
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nitric
C2
/ˈnaɪ.trɪk/
relating to nitrogen, especially nitrogen in a relatively high oxidation state
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charmingly
C1
/ˈtʃɑːrmɪŋli/
In a charming manner.
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haphazard
C2
/(ˌ)hæpˈhæz.ɚd/
Done without any clear plan or order; careless and random.
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surrealist
C2
Relating to surrealism, or having a strange, dreamlike quality.
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dewy
C1
/ˈdjuː.i/
wet or covered with dew
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resplendent
C2
/ɹɪˈsplɛn.dənt/
Shining brilliantly; gleaming; radiant.
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distrustful
B1
/dɪˈstrʌstfəl/
feeling or showing a lack of trust; suspicious and wary
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chronological
B1
/ˌkɹɑnəˈlɑd͡ʒɪkəl/
Arranged in the order in which events happened, from earliest to latest.
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heretical
C2
/həˈɹɛtɪkəl/
Of or pertaining to heresy or heretics.
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panoramic
C1
/ˌpænəˈɹæmɪk/
Showing a wide view of a large area.
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palatial
C2+
/pəˈleɪʃəl/
suitable for or like a palace
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embryonic
C2
/ˌɛmbriːˈɑːnɪk/
in an early stage of development
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northward
B2
/ˈnɔɹθwɚd/
Toward the north.
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unwitting
B2
/ənˈwɪtɪŋ/
not aware of the full facts or of one's involvement in something
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underhand
C1
/ˈʌndɚˌhænd/
dishonest, secretive, or deceitfully indirect
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coolly
C1
/ˈkuːl.li/
in a composed and unconcerned manner
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nearsighted
C2
/ˈnɪɹˌsaɪtɪd/
able to see nearby objects clearly but unable to see distant objects clearly
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tubular
C1
/ˈtuːbjələr/
shaped like a tube or made from one or more tubes
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furtive
C2
/ˈfɝtɪv/
Of a person or an animal: sly, stealthy.
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attentively
B2
/əˈtɛntɪvli/
In a way that shows careful attention.
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implacable
C2
/ɪmˈplækəbəl/
incapable of being placated
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subcutaneous
C2
/ˌsʌbkjʊˈteɪniəs/
situated, occurring, or administered beneath the skin
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ghoulish
C2
/ˈɡuː.lɪʃ/
morbidly interested in death or suggesting the horror associated with ghouls
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immemorial
C1
/ɪ.məˈmɔːɹi.əl/
That is beyond memory; ancient.
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unjustified
C1
/ʌnˈdʒʌs.tə.faɪd/
not supported by an adequate reason or sufficient evidence; unwarranted
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unilateral
C1
/ˌjuːnɪˈlætərəl/
affecting, occurring on, or involving only one side of the body or another structure
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impassioned
C2
/ɪmˈpæʃənd/
filled with or expressing intense emotion and strong conviction
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medial
C1
/ˈmiːdiəl/
situated in or toward the middle, especially nearer the midline of the body
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personable
B2
/ˈpɜːsn̩əbl/
pleasant, friendly, and easy to like in manner or appearance
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vehemently
C2
/ˈviː.ə.məntli/
in a vehement manner
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convalescent
C2
/ˌkɒnvəˈlɛsənt/
returning to health after illness or debility
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emphatic
C2
/ɛmˈfætɪk/
forceful and definite in expression or action
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acrobatic
C2
/ˌækɹəˈbætɪk/
Involving skilful, agile movements like those of an acrobat.
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crudely
C1
/ˈkɹudli/
In a rough, simple, or poorly made way.
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