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
431 words
ambrosial
C2+
/æmˈbroʊʒəl/
exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; worthy of the gods
cimmerian
C2+
/sɪˈmɪriən/
very dark or gloomy, as in perpetual darkness
clatter
C2+
/ˈklætɚ/
to make a loud rattling sound, as of hard objects striking
darkling
C2+
/ˈdɑrklɪŋ/
in the dark or growing dark; obscure
decorous
C2+
/ˈdɛkərəs/
correct and proper in behavior or appearance
flavorous
C2+
/ˈfleɪvərəs/
full of flavor; savory
gamy
C2+
/ˈɡeɪmi/
having the strong flavor or smell of game meat; spirited
leer
C2+
/lɪr/
to look in a lustful, sly, or malicious way
microscopical
C2+
/ˌmaɪkrəˈskɑpɪkəl/
of or relating to the microscope; visible only under magnification
noiseless
C2+
/ˈnɔɪzləs/
making or accompanied by no sound
noisome
C2+
/ˈnɔɪsəm/
having an extremely offensive smell; harmful or disagreeable
odor
C2+
/ˈoʊdər/
a distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one
oversight
C2+
/ˈoʊvərˌsaɪt/
an unintentional failure to notice; supervision or watchful care
semblance
C2+
/ˈsɛmbləns/
an outward appearance or likeness, often superficial
sentience
C2+
/ˈsɛnʃəns/
the capacity to feel, perceive, or experience sensations
sparkler
C2+
/ˈspɑrklər/
a hand-held firework that emits bright sparks
stillness
C2+
/ˈstɪlnəs/
the absence of movement or sound; calm quiet
unseemly
C2+
/ʌnˈsimli/
not in good taste or proper; indecorous
acerbic
C2+
/əˈsɝbɪk/
sharp and biting in tone, manner, or taste
behear
C2+
/bɪˈhɪr/
to hear or listen to (archaic)
bruit
C2+
/brut/
to spread a report or rumor; an abnormal sound heard in auscultation
caliginous
C2+
/kəˈlɪdʒɪnəs/
(literary) misty, dim, or dark; obscure
caress
C2+
/kəˈrɛs/
to touch or stroke gently and lovingly
darksome
C2+
/ˈdɑrksəm/
dark or gloomy; shadowy
decorously
C2+
/ˈdɛkɚəsli/
in a manner showing proper decorum and good taste
discordant
C2+
/dɪsˈkɔrdənt/
disagreeing or clashing; harsh and unharmonious in sound
fishwife
C2+
/ˈfɪʃwaɪf/
a woman who sells fish; a coarse, loud-mouthed woman
fizz
C2+
/fɪz/
a hissing or bubbling sound, or effervescence in a drink
flaming
C2+
/ˈfleɪmɪŋ/
burning with flames; bright red or intense
fleer
C2+
/flɪr/
to laugh or grin mockingly; a derisive look or remark
forgiveness
C2+
/fɚˈɡɪvnəs/
the act of pardoning an offense or ceasing to feel resentment
gloominess
C2+
/ˈɡluminəs/
the state of being dark, dim, or melancholy
homeliness
C2+
/ˈhoʊmlinəs/
plainness of appearance, or simple, unpretentious comfort
insulation
C2+
/ˌɪnsəˈleɪʃən/
material used to prevent the passage of heat, sound, or electricity
lowering
C2+
/ˈlaʊərɪŋ/
dark and threatening, as of the sky; scowling
murky
C2+
/ˈmɝki/
dark, dim, and unclear; obscure or suspect
quietness
C2+
/ˈkwaɪətnəs/
the state of being calm, still, or free from noise
scrunch
C2+
/skrʌntʃ/
to crush or crumple, or to make a crunching sound
skulk
C2+
/skʌlk/
to move or lurk furtively in order to avoid notice
soundless
C2+
/ˈsaʊndləs/
making or accompanied by no sound; silent
sunshiny
C2+
/ˈsʌnʃaɪni/
bright with sunshine; cheerful
transfigurement
C2+
/trænsˈfɪɡjərmənt/
a transformation in form or appearance, especially an exalting one
acclamation
C2+
/ˌækləˈmeɪʃən/
loud and enthusiastic approval or applause
acidulent
C2+
/əˈsɪdjələnt/
somewhat sour or sharp in taste or temper
acoustical
C2+
/əˈkustɪkəl/
relating to sound or the science of sound
acuity
C2+
/əˈkjuəti/
sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing
advertent
C2+
/ədˈvɜrtənt/
attentive; heedful and giving careful notice
alertness
C2+
/əˈlɜrtnəs/
the state of being watchful and quick to notice or respond
auditory
C2+
/ˈɔdəˌtɔri/
relating to the sense or organs of hearing
aviso
C2+
/əˈvaɪzoʊ/
a dispatch boat, or an official notice or advice
banging
C2+
/ˈbæŋɪŋ/
informally excellent or very good; also a loud repeated knocking
blare
C2+
/blɛr/
to sound loudly and harshly; a loud raucous noise
choky
C2+
/ˈtʃoʊki/
tending to choke or feel constricted; British slang for prison
clairvoyance
C2+
/klɛrˈvɔɪəns/
the supposed power to perceive things beyond normal sensory contact
clamorous
C2+
/ˈklæmərəs/
loud and insistent in noise or demand
clink
C2+
/klɪŋk/
to make a light sharp ringing sound; informally, prison
clunk
C2+
/klʌŋk/
a dull heavy sound, as of metal striking metal
comeliness
C2+
/ˈkʌmlinəs/
pleasing physical appearance; attractiveness
confessional
C2+
/kənˈfɛʃənəl/
a booth for hearing confession; intimately self-revealing
creaky
C2+
/ˈkriki/
making a harsh squeaking sound; stiff and decrepit
dawning
C2+
/ˈdɔnɪŋ/
the beginning or first appearance of something
deafen
C2+
/ˈdɛfən/
to make deaf or overwhelm with noise
deafening
C2+
/ˈdɛfənɪŋ/
extremely loud
deface
C2+
/dɪˈfeɪs/
to spoil the surface or appearance of
descry
C2+
/dɪˈskraɪ/
to catch sight of or discern something distant or obscure
disfigure
C2+
/dɪsˈfɪɡjɚ/
to spoil the appearance of; mar
disfigurement
C2+
/dɪsˈfɪɡjɚmənt/
a spoiling of appearance; a marring blemish
earsplitting
C2+
/ˈɪrˌsplɪtɪŋ/
extremely loud and harsh to the ear
embitter
C2+
/ɪmˈbɪtɚ/
to make someone feel resentful or bitter
espial
C2+
/ɪˈspaɪəl/
the act of spying or catching sight of something
flare
C2+
/flɛr/
a sudden bright burst of flame or light; a signaling fire
footstep
C2+
/ˈfʊtstɛp/
the sound or mark of a foot taking a step
fragrancy
C2+
/ˈfreɪɡrənsi/
sweetness of smell; fragrance
garish
C2+
/ˈɡɛrɪʃ/
obtrusively bright, showy, or gaudy
gride
C2+
/ˈɡraɪd/
to scrape or cut with a grating sound
guffaw
C2+
/ɡəˈfɔ/
a loud, hearty burst of laughter
guise
C2+
/ˈɡaɪz/
an external appearance or pretence concealing the truth
haptic
C2+
/ˈhæptɪk/
relating to the sense of touch or tactile perception
hark
C2+
/hɑːrk/
to listen attentively; used to call attention to a sound
hooter
C2+
/ˈhutɚ/
a device that makes a hooting sound, such as a horn or siren
illogical
C2+
/ɪˈlɑdʒɪkəl/
lacking sound reasoning; contrary to logic
inartistically
C2+
/ˌɪnɑrˈtɪstɪkli/
in a manner lacking artistic taste or skill
kowtow
C2+
/ˈkaʊˈtaʊ/
to act with excessive deference; to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground
marbleize
C2+
/ˈmɑrbəˌlaɪz/
to give something the streaked, mottled appearance of marble
monition
C2+
/moʊˈnɪʃən/
a warning or admonition; a formal notice
optic
C2+
/ˈɑptɪk/
relating to the eye or vision; a lens or eye
outstare
C2+
/ˌaʊtˈstɛr/
to stare at someone longer than they can, until they look away
pasty
C2+
/ˈpeɪsti/
pale and unhealthy in appearance; also a filled folded pastry
pat
C2+
/ˈpæt/
to touch lightly with a flat hand; also exactly apt or glib
pinched
C2+
/pɪntʃt/
drawn and tense in appearance, especially from cold, hunger, or strain
pitchy
C2+
/ˈpɪtʃi/
resembling, full of, or covered with pitch; intensely dark
putrefaction
C2+
/ˌpjutrəˈfækʃən/
the decay of organic matter accompanied by a foul smell
quack
C2+
/kwæk/
a fraudulent medical practitioner, or the sound a duck makes
reptilelike
C2+
/ˈrɛptaɪlˌlaɪk/
resembling a reptile in appearance or manner
scratchy
C2+
/ˈskrætʃi/
rough and irritating to the touch; making a harsh, grating sound
screaming
C2+
/ˈskrimɪŋ/
making or characterized by loud, shrill cries; strikingly conspicuous