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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
surreptitiously
C2
/ˌsɝːəpˈtɪʃəsli/
In a secret way, so as not to be noticed.
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gelatinous
C2
/ˈdʒelətɪnəs/
having a thick, soft, jellylike consistency
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contractually
C2
/kənˈtræktʃuːəli/
By the terms of a contract; as required by a legal agreement.
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conspicuously
C2
/kənˈspɪkjuːəsli/
in a manner tending to attract attention
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landlocked
B2
/ˈlændlɑːkt/
surrounded by land or cut off from the open sea
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windowless
C2
/ˈwɪndoʊləs/
Having no windows, especially no external windows.
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ignominious
C2
/ɪɡ.nəˈmɪ.ni.əs/
Causing or deserving public shame and dishonour.
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dermal
C2
/ˈdɝːməl/
relating to or existing on or affecting the skin
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highfalutin
C2
/ˌhaɪ.fəˈlu.tɪn/
informal and disapproving: pompous, pretentious, or designed to seem important or sophisticated
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blithely
C1
/ˈblaɪθli/
In a carefree way that shows no concern, often when you should be concerned.
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physiologically
C2
/ˌfɪziːəˈlɑːdʒɪkli/
In a way that relates to how the body normally functions.
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commensurate
C2
/kəˈmɛnsəɹət/
In proportion to something; matching it in size, degree, or amount.
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arable
C2
/ˈer.ə.bəl/
suitable for or used in growing crops
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barometric
C2
/ˌber.əˈmet.rɪk/
relating to atmospheric pressure or to its measurement with a barometer
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sectarian
C2+
/sɛkˈtɛɹi.ən/
belonging to or characteristic of a sect
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unrecognized
B2
/ʌnˈrek.əɡ.naɪzd/
not identified, noticed, or understood as known
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uncultured
C1
/ʌnˈkʌl.tʃɚd/
(of persons) lacking art or knowledge
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thunderstruck
C1
/ˈθʌn.dɚ.strʌk/
so astonished or shocked that one is temporarily unable to react or speak
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unaided
C1
/əˈneɪdɪd/
carried out without aid or assistance
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bookish
B2
/ˈbʊkɪʃ/
Very fond of reading and studying.
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unread
B2
/ʌnˈrɛd/
not yet or never read
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unsurpassed
C2
/ˌənsɝˈpæst/
Better than anything or anyone else; impossible to beat.
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naturalized
B2
/ˈnætʃɝəˌlaɪzd/
introduced from another region and persisting without cultivation
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tiptop
C1
/ˈtɪpˌtɑːp/
informal: excellent or of the highest quality
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ardently
C2
/ˈɑːrdəntli/
in an ardent manner
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mammalian
C2
/məˈmeɪl.jən/
Of, or pertaining to, mammals.
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sunlit
C2
/ˈsʌnˌlɪt/
lighted by sunlight
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shiftless
C2
/ˈʃɪftləs/
lacking ambition or initiative and habitually unwilling to work steadily
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uncharacteristic
B2
/ˌənˌkɛrɪktɝˈɪstɪk/
Not typical of how someone or something usually is.
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nonchalantly
C2
/ˈnɑːnʃəˈlɑːntli/
In a calm, relaxed way that shows no worry or concern.
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refreshingly
C1
/riːˈfrɛʃɪŋli/
in a pleasantly new or different way
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ineligible
C2
/ɪnˈɛlɪdʒəbəl/
not qualified or permitted to be chosen, receive something, or take part
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crawly
C2
/ˈkrɔːli/
moving by crawling or seeming to be full of crawling creatures
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chauvinistic
C2
/ˌtʃoʊvəˈnɪstɪk/
Of or pertaining to chauvinism or chauvinists.
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materially
C1
/məˈtɪriːəli/
with respect to material aspects
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verboten
C2+
/ˌfəɹˈboʊt(ə)n/
excluded from use or mention
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hierarchical
C1
/ˌhaɪˈɹɑɹkɪkəl/
classified according to various criteria into successive levels or layers
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jejune
C2
/d͡ʒəˈdʒuːn/
lacking in nutritive value
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lymphatic
C1
/lɪmˈfæt.ɪk/
relating to lymph or to the network of vessels and tissues that carries it through the body
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breakable
B2
/ˈbɹeɪkəbəl/
Easily broken or damaged.
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misspent
B2
/mɪsˈspɛnt/
Spent in a bad way, squandered
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slippy
C2
/ˈslɪpi/
slippery; difficult to stand on, hold, or control because it is smooth or wet
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apostate
C2
/əˈpɔs.teɪt/
Guilty of apostasy.
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erstwhile
C2
/ˈɝst.waɪl/
Respected, honourable.
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horsy
C2
/ˈhɔːr.si/
relating to, resembling, or characteristic of horses
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sylvan
C2
/ˈsɪlvən/
relating to or characteristic of wooded regions
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chronologically
C2
/ˌkɹɒnəˈlɒdʒɪkli/
In the order in which things happened in time.
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freckled
C2
/ˈfɹɛkəld/
covered with freckles or small brownish spots
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laterally
C1
/ˈlæ.tə.ɹə.li/
in a lateral direction or location
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good-sized
B2
/ˌɡʊdˈsaɪzd/
reasonably or notably large in size, amount, or extent
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natured
C1
/ˈneɪtʃɝd/
having a specified temperament or disposition, used chiefly in compounds such as good-natured and ill-natured
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feverishly
B1
/ˈfi.vɚ.ɪʃ.li/
In a very busy, excited, and hurried way.
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unfailing
C1
/ənˈfeɪlɪŋ/
unceasing, not wavering or in danger of stopping
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unobtrusive
C2
/ˌʌnəbˈtɹusɪv/
Not easily noticed; quiet and not drawing attention.
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appallingly
C1
/ʌˈpɑlɪŋli/
In a shocking and extremely bad way.
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courtly
C1
/ˈkɔɹtli/
Befitting of a royal court; reflecting the manners or behaviour of people at court.
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brackish
C2
/ˈbɹækɪʃ/
slightly salty (especially from containing a mixture of seawater and fresh water)
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spindly
C2
/ˈspɪnd.li/
long or tall, unusually thin, and appearing weak or fragile
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nascent
C2
/ˈnæɪ.sənt/
Just coming into existence and beginning to develop.
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nohow
C2
/ˈnoʊˌhaʊ/
dated or dialectal: in no way; not at all
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recessive
C1
/ɹɪˈsɛsɪv/
Describing a gene whose effect only appears when both inherited copies carry it; the opposite of dominant.
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unrivaled
C1
/ʌnˈraɪvəld/
having no equal or competitor; better or greater than all others of the same kind
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calamitous
C2
/kəˈlæmətəs/
Causing or involving great harm or disaster.
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toothy
C2
/ˈtuːθi/
showing many teeth or having large, noticeable teeth
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neglectful
C1
/nɪˈglɛktfəl/
Failing to give proper care or attention to something or someone.
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taciturn
C2
/ˈtæsɪtɝn/
Saying very little; not inclined to talk.
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strenuously
C2
/ˈstrɛnjuːəsli/
In a strenuous manner.
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preeminent
C2
/priːˈɛmənənt/
Better than all others; outstanding in rank or quality.
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episcopal
C2
/ɪˈpɪskəpəl/
of or relating to bishops or to government of a church by bishops
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lactic
C2
/ˈlæktɪk/
relating to, derived from, or occurring in milk
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capillary
C2
/kəˈpɪl.ə.ɹi/
long and slender with a very small internal diameter
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gymnastic
B2
/d͡ʒɪmˈnæstɪk/
Relating to gymnastics or physical exercises that develop strength and balance.
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stoat
C1
/ˈstəʊt/
Mustela erminea, the ermine or short-tailed weasel, a mustelid native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip.
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earthen
C1
/ˈɝθən/
made of baked clay
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communicable
C2
/kəˈmjuːnɪkəbəl/
readily communicated
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knightly
C1
/ˈnaɪtli/
relating to knights, knighthood, or medieval chivalry
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hieroglyphic
C2
/ˌhaɪ.rəˈɡlɪf.ɪk/
written in or relating to a system that uses pictorial symbols, especially ancient Egyptian writing
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bric-a-brac
C2
/ˈbrɪk.əˌbræk/
a collection of small decorative objects, curios, and ornaments, usually of little practical or monetary value
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inborn
B2
/ˈɪn.bɔɹn/
Present from birth rather than learned.
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inviolable
C2
/ɪnˈvaɪələbl̩/
incapable of being transgressed or dishonored
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flat-footed
C1
/ˈflætˌfʊtɪd/
informal: directly, openly, and without qualification or hesitation
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attainable
B2
/əˈtæɪ.nə.bəl/
Possible to achieve or reach with effort.
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utilitarian
C2
/juˌtɪləˈtɛɹi.ən/
Designed to be useful and practical rather than attractive.
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remorseless
C1
/rɪˈmɔrsləs/
Showing no guilt, pity, or mercy.
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masterly
C1
/ˈmæstɚli/
Executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill; masterful.
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geologically
C1
In terms of geology; from the point of view of the earth's rocks and structure.
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scornful
C1
/ˈskɔɹnfəl/
Showing that you think someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.
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analogous
B2
/əˈnɛl.ə.ɡəs/
corresponding in function but not in evolutionary origin
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vertebrate
C2
/ˈvɛɹ.tɪ.bɹeɪt/
having a backbone or spinal column
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ashen
C2+
/ˈæʃ.ən/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
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ably
C2
/ˈeɪ.bli/
In an able manner; with great ability.
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threadbare
C2
/ˈθɹɛdˌbɛ(ə)ɹ/
having the nap worn away so that the threads show through
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briskly
C2
/ˈbɹɪskli/
in a brisk manner
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muscle-bound
C2
Having very large, stiff muscles from too much exercise.
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afeard
C2+
/əˈfɪə(ɹ)d/
Afraid.
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subzero
B1
/ˌsʌbˈzɪr.oʊ/
below zero on a numerical scale, especially a temperature scale
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