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
697 words
infer
B2
/ɪnˈfɝ/
To reach an opinion or conclusion from the information you have.
justly
C1
/ˈdʒʌstli/
In a fair and reasonable way.
drawbridge
C2
/ˈdɹɑbɹɪd͡ʒ/
A hinged bridge which can be raised (to prevent its being crossed, as across a moat, or to allow watercraft to travel beneath it).
tentative
C2+
/ˈtɛntətɪv/
unsettled in mind or opinion
snide
C2
/snaɪd/
Disparaging or derisive in an insinuative way.
formulate
C1
/ˈfɔː(ɹ)mjʊleɪt/
To create or develop a plan, idea, or theory through careful thought.
optimum
C2+
/ˈɑptɪməm/
most desirable possible under a restriction expressed or implied
implementation
C1
/ˌɪmpləmɛnˈteɪʃən/
The act of putting a plan, decision, or idea into practice.
short-sighted
C2+
/ˌʃɔrtˈsaɪtəd/
Near-sighted; myopic; unable to focus on distant objects.
mixed-up
B2
/ˌmɪkstˈʌp/
confused, troubled, or unable to think clearly
workmanship
C2
/ˈwɜːk.mən.ʃɪp/
The skill of an artisan or craftsman.
dreamland
C2
/ˈdriːmˌlænd/
an imaginary world experienced in dreams or created by the imagination
thrush
C2
/θɹʌʃ/
Any of numerous species of songbirds of the cosmopolitan family Turdidae, such as the song thrush, mistle thrush, bluebird, and American robin.
theological
C1
/θi.əˈlɑd͡ʒɪkl/
of or relating to or concerning theology
cleverness
C1
/ˈklɛvɚnəs/
The quality of being quick to understand, learn, or think of ideas.
hypnotism
C1
/ˈhɪpnətɪzəm/
the practice or process of inducing hypnosis, especially through focused attention and suggestion
mysticism
C2
/ˈməs.təˌsəz.əm/
A doctrine of direct communication or spiritual intuition of divine truth.
telepath
C2
/ˈtɛl.əˌpæθ/
a person believed or imagined to communicate thoughts directly without speech or other physical signals
unfeeling
C1
/ənˈfiːlɪŋ/
devoid of feeling or sensation
nuance
C2
/ˈnju.ɑns/
a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
delightfully
C1
/dɪˈlaɪtfəli/
in a delightful manner
ingratitude
C2
/ɪnˈɡɹætɪtud/
A lack or absence of gratitude; thanklessness.
rationality
C1
/ˌræʃəˈnælɪti/
the state of having good sense and sound judgment
purview
C2
/ˈpɜː(ɹ)vjuː/
Scope or range of interest or control.
locality
C1
/loʊˈkæl.ɪ.ti/
The fact or quality of having a position in space.
repute
C1
/ɹɪˈpjuːt/
The opinion people have of someone or something, especially a good reputation.
painstaking
C2
/ˈpeɪnˌsteɪkɪŋ/
Done with great care, attention to detail, and effort.
whimsy
C2
/ˈwɪmzi/
an odd, fanciful, or capricious idea or impulse
forgetfulness
C1
/fəˈɡɛtfʊlnɪs/
unawareness caused by neglectful or heedless failure to remember
snub
C2
/snʌb/
a refusal to recognize someone you know
elicit
C2
/ɪˈlɪsɪt/
derive by reason
digress
C2
/daɪˈɡɹɛs/
lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking
misinterpret
B2
/ˌmɪs.ɪnˈtɝː.prət/
to understand, explain, or judge the meaning of something incorrectly
tiredness
B2
/ˈtaɪɝdnɪs/
The state of needing rest because of physical or mental effort.
obstinacy
C2
/ˈɑbstɪnəsi/
The state, or an act, of stubbornness or doggedness.
unearthly
C1
/ʌnˈɝθ.li/
Not of the earth; nonterrestrial.
misjudge
B2
/mɪsˈdʒʌdʒ/
to form an incorrect opinion or estimate of a person, situation, quantity, or outcome
unequivocally
C2
/ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvək(ə)li/
In a way that leaves no doubt; clearly and firmly.
preoccupation
C2
/ˌpɹiɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/
The state of being so absorbed in a thought that you notice little else.
deductive
C1
/dɪˈdʌktəv/
relating to logical deduction
triumphantly
C1
/traɪˈʌmfəntli/
in a triumphant manner
afterthought
C1
/ˈæftɚˌθɔt/
an idea, action, or addition considered only after an original decision or plan
heretical
C2
/həˈɹɛtɪkəl/
Of or pertaining to heresy or heretics.
embryonic
C2
/ˌɛmbriːˈɑːnɪk/
in an early stage of development
unwitting
B2
/ənˈwɪtɪŋ/
not aware of the full facts or of one's involvement in something
attentively
B2
/əˈtɛntɪvli/
In a way that shows careful attention.
immemorial
C1
/ɪ.məˈmɔːɹi.əl/
That is beyond memory; ancient.
stringent
C2
/ˈstɹɪn.d͡ʒənt/
Strict, severe, and demanding close attention to rules or standards.
propagation
C1
/pɹɑpəˈɡeɪʃən/
The multiplication or natural increase in a population.
exhibitionist
C1
/ˌɛksəˈbɪʃənɪst/
someone who behaves in a way designed to attract attention to themselves
unknowable
C2
/ʌnˈnoʊəbəl/
impossible to know, discover, or determine
zoological
C2
/zoʊəˈlɑd͡ʒɪkl̩/
of or relating to animals or animal groups
contemptuous
C2
/kənˈtɛmp.t͡ʃu.əs/
Showing that you think someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.
lattice
C2
/ˈlætəs/
A flat panel constructed with widely-spaced crossed thin strips of wood or other material, commonly used as a garden trellis.
orthodoxy
C2
/ˈɔɹθədɑksi/
Correctness of doctrine and belief in regard to any doctrinal (i.e. philosophical or theological) system.
solver
C2
/ˈsɑːl.vɚ/
a person or thing that finds the answer to a problem, puzzle, or equation
eye-opener
C1
/ˈaɪˌoʊ.pən.ɚ/
an experience, fact, or revelation that produces a sudden and surprising understanding
unequivocal
C2
/ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkəl/
Completely clear and leaving no doubt.
pictorial
C2
/pɪkˈtɔɹi.əl/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
passively
C1
/ˈpæsɪvli/
in a passive manner
inordinate
C2
/ɪnˈɔɹd(ə)nət/
Excessive; unreasonable or inappropriate in magnitude.
recurrent
C1
/ɹɪˈkɝənt/
Recurring; happening time after time.
dictaphone
C2
/ˈdɪktəˌfoʊn/
a tape recorder that records and reproduces dictation
dimly
C1
/ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
introspection
C2
/ɪntɹəˈspɛkʃən/
A looking inward; specifically, the act or process of self-examination, or inspection of one's own thoughts and feelings; the cognition which the mind has of its own acts and states.
dialectic
C1
/ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪk/
of or relating to or employing dialectic
phantasm
C2
/ˈfæntæzəm/
an apparition, phantom, or image that appears real but has no physical existence
naively
C1
/naɪˈivli/
In a way that shows a lack of experience or judgement, or too much trust.
allusion
C2
/əˈlu.ʒən/
An indirect mention of something the speaker expects you to recognize.
unrecognized
B2
/ʌnˈrek.əɡ.naɪzd/
not identified, noticed, or understood as known
hedonism
C2
/ˈhiːdənɪzəm/
The philosophical belief that happiness, particularly sensual pleasure, is the highest good in life.
fluctuate
C2
/ˈflʌkt͡ʃu.eɪt/
To rise and fall or change irregularly.
quickness
C1
/ˈkwɪknəs/
rapidity of movement or activity; agility or dexterity
gaslight
C1
/ˈɡæslaɪt/
to manipulate someone into doubting their own memory, perceptions, or judgment
unobtrusive
C2
/ˌʌnəbˈtɹusɪv/
Not easily noticed; quiet and not drawing attention.
agonize
B2
/ˈæɡ.ɪ.naɪz/
To worry or think very anxiously about a difficult decision.
neglectful
C1
/nɪˈglɛktfəl/
Failing to give proper care or attention to something or someone.
scornful
C1
/ˈskɔɹnfəl/
Showing that you think someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.
briskly
C2
/ˈbɹɪskli/
in a brisk manner
conscientiously
C1
/ˌkɑːntʃiːˈɛntʃəsli/
In a careful and thorough way, with great attention to duty.
unpleasantly
C2
/ənˈplɛzəntli/
in an unpleasant manner
presumptive
C2
/pɹɪˈzʌmptɪv/
based on reasonable inference or probability rather than direct proof or certainty
forethought
C2+
/ˈfɔː(ɹ)θɔːt/
Thinking beforehand or in advance, planning; prior or previous consideration.
egotism
C2
/ˈiːgəˌtɪzəm/
an exaggerated opinion of your own importance
impious
C1
/ˈɪmpi.əs/
lacking due respect or dutifulness
busily
C1
/ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
unquestioned
B2
/ənˈkwɛstʃənd/
accepted without doubt, challenge, or investigation
omnipotence
C2
/ɑːmˈnɪpətəns/
Unlimited power; commonly attributed to a deity or deities.
uppermost
C2
/ˈʌpɚˌmoʊst/
in or into the highest position
perceptual
C1
/pə(ɹ)ˈsɛp.tʃ(u)əl/
of or relating to the act of perceiving
thought-provoking
C1
/ˈθɔːtpɹəvəʊkɪŋ/
Making you think carefully, often by challenging your beliefs or ideas.
chaw
C2
/t͡ʃɔ/
to chew without swallowing
proviso
C2
/pɹəˈvaɪzoʊ/
A conditional provision to an agreement.
dreamless
C1
/ˈdriːmləs/
without dreams, especially describing deep and undisturbed sleep
sublimate
C2
/ˈsʌb.ləˌmeɪt/
psychology: to redirect an unacceptable impulse or desire into a socially acceptable or constructive activity
disdainful
C2
/dɪsˈdeɪnfəl/
Showing contempt or scorn for someone or something you think is not worthy.