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
432 words
overstatement
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈsteɪtmənt/
an exaggerated or excessive statement of something
parlance
C2+
/ˈpɑrləns/
a particular way of speaking or the vocabulary of a group
perchance
C2+
/pɚˈtʃæns/
perhaps; by chance (archaic or literary)
physicalism
C2+
/ˈfɪzɪkəˌlɪzəm/
the philosophical doctrine that everything is physical or supervenes on the physical
precognition
C2+
/ˌprikɑɡˈnɪʃən/
supposed foreknowledge of an event through extrasensory means
prodigality
C2+
/ˌprɑdɪˈɡæləti/
wasteful or extravagant spending; lavishness
protestation
C2+
/ˌprɑtəˈsteɪʃən/
an emphatic declaration or objection
pruriency
C2+
/ˈprʊriənsi/
excessive interest in sexual matters
reoccurrence
C2+
/ˌriəˈkɝəns/
a repeated happening of an event
resiliency
C2+
/rɪˈzɪliənsi/
the ability to recover quickly from difficulty
sapient
C2+
/ˈseɪpiənt/
wise or showing great wisdom and sagacity
steadfast
C2+
/ˈstɛdfæst/
firmly fixed in purpose or loyalty; unwavering
subtext
C2+
/ˈsʌbtɛkst/
an underlying meaning not stated explicitly in what is said
tenet
C2+
/ˈtɛnɪt/
a principle or belief held as part of a doctrine
thoughty
C2+
/ˈθɔti/
dialectal term for thoughtful, attentive, or careful
transcription
C2+
/trænˈskrɪpʃən/
a written or printed representation of something said or recorded
uneath
C2+
/ʌnˈiθ/
with difficulty; scarcely (archaic)
unhearty
C2+
/ʌnˈhɑrti/
lacking warmth, vigor, or sincerity
univocally
C2+
/juˈnɪvəkli/
in a way that has only one meaning; unambiguously
valuation
C2+
/ˌvæljuˈeɪʃən/
an estimation of the worth or monetary value of something
abearance
C2+
/əˈbɛrəns/
behavior or conduct; demeanor
abomination
C2+
/əˌbɑməˈneɪʃən/
a thing that causes disgust or hatred
adulation
C2+
/ˌædʒəˈleɪʃən/
excessive flattery or admiration
advertency
C2+
/ədˈvɜrtənsi/
attentiveness or heed to something
amenity
C2+
/əˈmɛnɪti/
a desirable or useful feature that adds comfort or convenience
atheism
C2+
/ˈeɪθiˌɪzəm/
disbelief in or denial of the existence of any deity
atomization
C2+
/ˌætəməˈzeɪʃən/
the reduction of something into tiny particles or fragmented units
benignity
C2+
/bɪˈnɪɡnəti/
kindness, gentleness, or harmlessness
botheration
C2+
/ˌbɑðəˈreɪʃən/
informal annoyance or trouble; also used as a mild exclamation
brilliance
C2+
/ˈbrɪljəns/
intense brightness of light; exceptional talent or splendor
carnality
C2+
/kɑrˈnæləti/
preoccupation with bodily, especially sexual, desires
clemency
C2+
/ˈklɛmənsi/
mercy or leniency, especially toward an offender
coinheritance
C2+
/ˌkoʊɪnˈhɛrɪtəns/
joint inheritance of property or traits shared among heirs
coloration
C2+
/ˌkʌləˈreɪʃən/
the arrangement or pattern of colors on something
complaisance
C2+
/kəmˈpleɪzəns/
willingness to please others; obliging agreeableness
conceptional
C2+
/kənˈsɛpʃənəl/
relating to a concept or to conception
conniption
C2+
/kəˈnɪpʃən/
a fit of rage, hysteria, or excitement
connotative
C2+
/ˈkɑnəˌteɪtɪv/
conveying or implying an additional meaning beyond the literal one
constellation
C2+
/ˌkɑnstəˈleɪʃən/
a recognized pattern of stars, or any grouping of related things
conventionality
C2+
/kənˌvɛnʃəˈnæləti/
conformity to accepted standards or customs
cryptic
C2+
/ˈkrɪptɪk/
having a hidden or obscure meaning; mysterious
dao
C2+
/daʊ/
the Tao; the guiding principle or path in Chinese philosophy
designedly
C2+
/dɪˈzaɪnɪdli/
intentionally; on purpose
despecification
C2+
/diˌspɛsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the removal or loss of specific detail or specification
determinism
C2+
/dɪˈtɝmɪˌnɪzəm/
the doctrine that all events are determined by prior causes
discouragement
C2+
/dɪˈskɝɪdʒmənt/
a loss of confidence or enthusiasm; dispiritedness
dissonance
C2+
/ˈdɪsənəns/
a harsh or inharmonious combination of sounds or ideas
enticement
C2+
/ɛnˈtaɪsmənt/
something that attracts or tempts; an allurement
extermination
C2+
/ɪkˌstɜrmɪˈneɪʃən/
the complete destruction or eradication of something
fatty
C2+
/ˈfæti/
containing or resembling fat; greasy
fulfillment
C2+
/fʊlˈfɪlmənt/
the achievement of something desired or promised; satisfaction
hinderance
C2+
/ˈhɪndərəns/
something that impedes or obstructs (variant of hindrance)
hylicism
C2+
/ˈhaɪlɪˌsɪzəm/
the philosophical doctrine that matter is the ultimate reality; materialism
hylism
C2+
/ˈhaɪlɪzəm/
the doctrine that matter is the first principle of all things; materialism
idealize
C2+
/aɪˈdiəˌlaɪz/
to regard or represent as perfect or better than reality
implosion
C2+
/ɪmˈploʊʒən/
a violent collapse inward; a sudden internal failure
imprecision
C2+
/ˌɪmprəˈsɪʒən/
lack of exactness or accuracy
impulsivity
C2+
/ˌɪmpʌlˈsɪvəti/
the trait of acting quickly on impulse without weighing consequences
inconsistency
C2+
/ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənsi/
lack of consistency, or a detail that conflicts with another
indemnification
C2+
/ɪnˌdɛmnəfəˈkeɪʃən/
compensation for loss or harm, or security against it
inexertion
C2+
/ˌɪnɪɡˈzɝʃən/
lack of exertion or effort
insinuation
C2+
/ɪnˌsɪnjuˈeɪʃən/
an indirect, often unpleasant suggestion or hint
institutionalism
C2+
/ˌɪnstɪˈtuʃənəˌlɪzəm/
emphasis on established institutions, or the effects of prolonged institutional life
insularism
C2+
/ˈɪnsələˌrɪzəm/
narrowness of outlook arising from isolation; insularity
intimation
C2+
/ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃən/
an indirect suggestion or hint; an announcement
irrelation
C2+
/ˌɪrɪˈleɪʃən/
absence of relation or connection
liberality
C2+
/ˌlɪbəˈrælɪti/
generosity in giving; broad-mindedness
metaphorical
C2+
/ˌmɛtəˈfɔrɪkəl/
using figurative comparison rather than literal meaning
modality
C2+
/moʊˈdæləti/
a particular mode, method, or manner in which something exists or is done
nonextinction
C2+
/ˌnɑnɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/
the fact of not becoming extinct or not being extinguished
overrate
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈreɪt/
to value or assess too highly
pessimism
C2+
/ˈpɛsɪmɪzəm/
a tendency to expect the worst outcome
pretension
C2+
/prɪˈtɛnʃən/
a claim or assertion of importance; pretentious display
rapacity
C2+
/rəˈpæsɪti/
aggressive greed or grasping acquisitiveness
resoluteness
C2+
/ˈrɛzəˌlutnəs/
firmness of purpose; unwavering determination
senseless
C2+
/ˈsɛnsləs/
without meaning or purpose; lacking consciousness or sensation
seriation
C2+
/ˌsɪriˈeɪʃən/
the arrangement of items into a sequence by a shared attribute
slutty
C2+
/ˈslʌti/
sexually provocative or promiscuous (slang, derogatory)
snobbism
C2+
/ˈsnɑbɪzəm/
snobbish attitudes or behavior; snobbery
sooth
C2+
/suθ/
truth or reality (archaic)
sublation
C2+
/sʌˈbleɪʃən/
in Hegelian philosophy, the simultaneous canceling and preserving of a thing at a higher level
subordination
C2+
/səˌbɔrdnˈeɪʃən/
the placing or treating of something as of lower rank or importance
summity
C2+
/ˈsʌmɪti/
the highest point or summit; the topmost part
swith
C2+
/swɪθ/
quickly or instantly; archaic and dialectal for swiftly
tao
C2+
/daʊ/
in Chinese philosophy, the absolute principle underlying the universe; the way
toom
C2+
/tuːm/
dialectal Scots and northern English term meaning empty
travesty
C2+
/ˈtrævəsti/
a grotesque or absurd imitation or distortion of something
unability
C2+
/ˌʌnəˈbɪləti/
lack of ability; inability
uncouth
C2+
/ʌnˈkuːθ/
lacking good manners, refinement, or grace
unhasty
C2+
/ʌnˈheɪsti/
not hurried; deliberate and measured
unperpetuated
C2+
/ˌʌnpərˈpɛtʃuˌeɪtɪd/
not continued or kept in existence
viscosity
C2+
/vɪˈskɑsɪti/
a fluid's resistance to flow; thickness or stickiness
vouch
C2+
/vaʊtʃ/
to assert or guarantee the truth, reliability, or worth of something
weighty
C2+
/ˈweɪ.ti/
heavy, or of great seriousness, importance, or influence
zenith
C2+
/ˈziː.nɪθ/
the highest point reached; the point in the sky directly overhead
aphoristic
C2
/ˌæf.əˈɹɪs.tɪk/
relating to or characterized by a concise statement or principle expressing a general truth; terse and pithy