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
527 words
retrogression
C2
/ˌrɛt.rəˈɡrɛʃ.ən/
movement or change backward to an earlier, less developed, or worse condition
overspread
C2
/ˌoʊvɚˈspɹɛd/
to spread over and cover a surface, place, or area
fossilize
C1
/ˈfɑː.səl.aɪz/
to become a fossil, or to preserve an organism or trace as a fossil
effluence
C2
/ˈɛfluəns/
the process of flowing or issuing outward
ossify
C2
/ˈɑ.sə.faɪ/
To become (or cause to become) inflexible and rigid in habits or opinions.
relock
B2
/ˌriːˈlɑk/
to lock something again
countervail
C2
/ˌkaʊntərˈveɪl/
to offset, compensate for, or neutralize the effect of something
permeation
C2
/ˌpɝː.miˈeɪ.ʃən/
the process of spreading through and becoming present throughout a substance, place, group, or system
roil
C2
/rɔɪl/
to make a liquid cloudy or muddy by stirring up sediment
extirpation
C2
/ˌɛkstɚˈpeɪʃən/
the complete destruction or removal of something harmful or unwanted
refashion
C1
/ˌɹiːˈfæʃ.ən/
to make or shape something again in a new form, style, or use
vitalize
C1
/ˈvaɪ.t̬ə.laɪz/
to give energy, vigor, or renewed activity to someone or something
percolation
C2
/pɝkəˈleɪʃən/
the slow passage of a liquid through pores or small spaces in soil, rock, or another material
systematize
C1
/ˈsɪstəmətaɪz/
to arrange facts, ideas, or activities into an organized and coherent system
draggle
C2+
/ˈdræɡəl/
to make or become wet, dirty, or bedraggled by trailing through mud or water
vivify
C2
/ˈvɪvɪfaɪ/
to give life, vitality, or renewed energy to someone or something
systematization
C2
/ˌsɪs.tə.mə.t̬əˈzeɪ.ʃən/
the act or process of arranging ideas, practices, or institutions into a coherent system
incitant
C2
/ɪnˈsaɪ.tənt/
something that provokes action or stimulates a response
counteractant
C2+
/ˌkaʊntɚˈæktənt/
a thing that counteracts, offsets, or reduces the effect of something else
inefficacy
C1
/ˌɪnˈɛfɪkəsi/
the inability to produce the intended result; lack of effectiveness
pullulate
C2+
/ˈpʊl.jəˌleɪt/
formal: to multiply, breed, or increase rapidly and abundantly
supervene
C2
take place as an additional or unexpected development
efflux
C2
/ˈɛflʌks/
the process of flowing out
recrudescence
C2
/ˌɹiːkɹuˈdɛsəns/
the renewed outbreak or return of something undesirable after a period of decline or inactivity
abscission
C2
/æbˈsɪ.ʃn̩/
The act or process of cutting off.
promotive
C2
/prəˈmoʊ.tɪv/
tending to advance, encourage, or contribute to the development of something
ruinate
C2+
/ˈɹuːɪneɪt/
To reduce to ruins; to destroy.
uglify
C2+
/ˈʌɡ.lɪ.faɪ/
to make a person, place, or thing ugly or less attractive
attemper
C2+
/əˈtɛmpər/
archaic: to moderate, soften, or adjust something by blending it with another quality
dissimilate
C2+
/dɪˈsɪmɪleɪt/
rare: to make two or more things unlike, or to become less similar
enfeeblement
C2
/ɪnˈfiː.bəl.mənt/
the act or process of making someone or something weak
regrind
C2
/ˌriːˈɡraɪnd/
to grind something again
aggravate
C2+
/ˈæɡrəˌveɪt/
to make a problem worse, or to annoy someone
darken
C2+
/ˈdɑɹkən/
to make or become dark or gloomy
resistant
C2+
/rɪˈzɪstənt/
able to withstand or opposing the effect of something
annihilate
C2+
/əˈnaɪəˌleɪt/
to destroy completely or reduce to nothing
decrement
C2+
/ˈdɛkrəmənt/
a reduction or decrease in amount; to reduce by steps
ameliorate
C2+
/əˈmiljəˌreɪt/
to make better or more tolerable; to improve
efficacious
C2+
/ˌɛfɪˈkeɪʃəs/
effective in producing a desired result
augment
C2+
/ɔɡˈmɛnt/
to make greater by adding to; to increase
changeable
C2+
/ˈtʃeɪndʒəbəl/
liable to change; able to be altered or varied
consequential
C2+
/ˌkɑnsəˈkwɛnʃəl/
following as a result or important in effect
entail
C2+
/ɪnˈteɪl/
to involve something as a necessary consequence
futile
C2+
/ˈfjutəl/
incapable of producing any useful result; pointless
potency
C2+
/ˈpoʊtənsi/
the power or strength of something to produce an effect
alteration
C2+
/ˌɔltəˈreɪʃən/
a change or modification to something
animadvert
C2+
/ˌænɪmædˈvɜrt/
to comment critically or make hostile remarks
differentiation
C2+
/ˌdɪfəˌrɛnʃiˈeɪʃən/
the process of recognizing or making something different
inflexible
C2+
/ɪnˈflɛksəbəl/
not able to be bent, or unwilling to change
loosen
C2+
/ˈlusən/
to make or become less tight or firmly fixed
meliorate
C2+
/ˈmiljəˌreɪt/
to make or become better; to improve
nurture
C2+
/ˈnɝtʃɚ/
to care for and encourage the growth or development of
reconsideration
C2+
/ˌrikənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən/
the act of thinking about a decision again, often to change it
telling
C2+
/ˈtɛlɪŋ/
having a striking or revealing effect; significant
unstable
C2+
/ʌnˈsteɪbəl/
likely to change, fail, or collapse; not steady
atomize
C2+
/ˈætəˌmaɪz/
to reduce to fine particles, or to fragment into units
deterioration
C2+
/dɪˌtɪriəˈreɪʃən/
the process of becoming progressively worse
effectual
C2+
/ɪˈfɛktʃuəl/
producing the intended result; effective
enliven
C2+
/ɪnˈlaɪvən/
to make more lively or interesting
ineffectual
C2+
/ˌɪnəˈfɛktʃuəl/
failing to produce the intended effect; lacking force
nobilitate
C2+
/noʊˈbɪlɪteɪt/
to make noble; to raise to the rank of nobility (archaic)
transmogrify
C2+
/trænzˈmɑːɡrɪfaɪ/
to transform, especially in a surprising or grotesque way
unification
C2+
/ˌjuːnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the process of being united into a single whole
volatile
C2+
/ˈvɑːlətəl/
liable to sudden change; easily evaporated or unstable
acquaint
C2+
/əˈkweɪnt/
to make familiar with or aware of something
blacken
C2+
/ˈblækən/
to make or become black or dark; to defame
changeful
C2+
/ˈtʃeɪndʒfəl/
full of or subject to change; variable
contentious
C2+
/kənˈtɛnʃəs/
causing or likely to cause disagreement; argumentative
deprave
C2+
/dɪˈpreɪv/
to corrupt morally; to make wicked or perverted
eternalize
C2+
/ɪˈtɜrnəˌlaɪz/
to make eternal or perpetual; to immortalize
fruitless
C2+
/ˈfrutləs/
failing to achieve the desired result; unproductive
inconvenience
C2+
/ˌɪnkənˈvinjəns/
trouble or difficulty causing discomfort; also, to cause such trouble
metamorphose
C2+
/ˌmɛtəˈmɔrfoʊz/
to change completely in form or nature; to transform
operative
C2+
/ˈɑpərətɪv/
functioning or having effect; in operation
progression
C2+
/prəˈɡrɛʃən/
a process of developing or moving gradually toward a stage
adventitious
C2+
/ˌædvɛnˈtɪʃəs/
arising from an external or accidental cause rather than inherently
afoot
C2+
/əˈfʊt/
in the process of happening or being planned
approximation
C2+
/əˌprɑksɪˈmeɪʃən/
a value or result that is close but not exact
bootless
C2+
/ˈbutləs/
useless or unavailing; without result
brighten
C2+
/ˈbraɪtən/
to make or become brighter or more cheerful
computation
C2+
/ˌkɑmpjuˈteɪʃən/
the act or result of calculating something
continuate
C2+
/kənˈtɪnjuət/
uninterrupted or continuous; to make continuous
divulge
C2+
/daɪˈvʌldʒ/
to make known or reveal a secret or private information
efficacity
C2+
/ˌɛfɪˈkæsəti/
the power or capacity to produce a desired effect; efficacy
efficacy
C2+
/ˈɛfɪkəsi/
the ability to produce a desired or intended result
elucidate
C2+
/ɪˈlusɪdeɪt/
to make something clear by explanation
envenom
C2+
/ɪnˈvɛnəm/
to fill with poison; to embitter or make malignant
freshen
C2+
/ˈfrɛʃən/
to make or become fresh, cleaner, or more invigorated
gladden
C2+
/ˈɡlædən/
to make glad or joyful
invalidate
C2+
/ɪnˈvælɪdeɪt/
to make something no longer valid or legally binding
narration
C2+
/næˈreɪʃən/
the act or process of telling a story or describing events
nonspecific
C2+
/ˌnɑnspɪˈsɪfɪk/
not specific; vague or not limited to a particular cause or type
nullify
C2+
/ˈnʌlɪˌfaɪ/
to make legally void or cancel out the effect of
quieten
C2+
/ˈkwaɪətən/
to make or become quiet or calm
refinement
C2+
/rɪˈfaɪnmənt/
the process of improving something, or cultivated elegance of manner
shorten
C2+
/ˈʃɔrtən/
to make or become shorter in length, duration, or extent