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
4363 words
melancholic
C2+
/ˌmɛlənˈkɑlɪk/
marked by deep, pensive sadness or gloom
melodramatic
C2+
/ˌmɛlədrəˈmætɪk/
exaggeratedly emotional or sentimental in a theatrical way
mendicancy
C2+
/ˈmɛndɪkənsi/
the practice or condition of begging; living as a beggar
merchantable
C2+
/ˈmɝtʃəntəbəl/
of a quality fit to be sold; saleable
metaphorically
C2+
/ˌmɛtəˈfɔrɪkli/
in a figurative sense, not literally
methodic
C2+
/məˈθɑdɪk/
done according to an orderly, systematic method
mightily
C2+
/ˈmaɪtəli/
with great force, power, or to a great degree
mildness
C2+
/ˈmaɪldnəs/
the quality of being gentle, moderate, or not severe
milky
C2+
/ˈmɪlki/
resembling milk in color or cloudiness; pale and opaque
mince
C2+
/mɪns/
to cut into very small pieces; or to walk with affected daintiness
misadventurous
C2+
/ˌmɪsədˈvɛntʃərəs/
marked by misfortune or unlucky mishap
misandry
C2+
/ˈmɪsˌændri/
hatred of or strong prejudice against men
misanthropy
C2+
/mɪsˈænθrəpi/
a general dislike or distrust of humankind
misbelief
C2+
/ˌmɪsbəˈlif/
a wrong or false belief; a heretical opinion
mischanceful
C2+
/mɪsˈtʃænsfəl/
bringing or marked by misfortune; unlucky
mischievously
C2+
/ˈmɪstʃɪvəsli/
in a playfully troublesome or teasing manner
miserably
C2+
/ˈmɪzərəbli/
in a wretched, unhappy, or pitifully inadequate manner
misfortuned
C2+
/ˌmɪsˈfɔrtʃənd/
beset by misfortune; ill-fated
misogyny
C2+
/mɪˈsɑdʒəni/
hatred of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women
mispersuade
C2+
/ˌmɪspərˈsweɪd/
to persuade by false or mistaken reasoning; lead astray
misrepresent
C2+
/ˌmɪsˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt/
to give a false or misleading account of something
misshape
C2+
/mɪsˈʃeɪp/
to give a wrong or deformed shape to something
missy
C2+
/ˈmɪsi/
a young girl or woman, often used in mild reproach
modernity
C2+
/mɑˈdɜrnəti/
the quality or condition of being modern; contemporary ways of life
modesty
C2+
/ˈmɑdəsti/
the quality of being unassuming about one's abilities or achievements
moil
C2+
/mɔɪl/
to work hard; toil, or to churn about in confusion
monstrous
C2+
/ˈmɑnstrəs/
shockingly hideous, evil, or wrong; of enormous size
moodily
C2+
/ˈmudəli/
in a gloomy, sullen, or temperamental manner
moony
C2+
/ˈmuni/
dreamy, listless, or romantically distracted
morigerous
C2+
/mɔˈrɪdʒərəs/
obedient; compliant or submissive
mournfully
C2+
/ˈmɔrnfəli/
in a sorrowful or grieving manner
muddiness
C2+
/ˈmʌdinəs/
the quality of being muddy, murky, or unclear
multifarious
C2+
/ˌmʌltəˈfɛriəs/
having great variety or many different forms
multiformity
C2+
/ˌmʌltɪˈfɔrməti/
the quality of existing in many forms or kinds
murmuration
C2+
/ˌmɜrmərˈeɪʃən/
a flock of starlings in flight, or a low continuous sound
murmuring
C2+
/ˈmɜrmərɪŋ/
a low, continuous, indistinct sound or complaint
muscled
C2+
/ˈmʌsəld/
having well-developed muscles; brawny
mush
C2+
/mʌʃ/
a soft, pulpy mass, or sentimental nonsense
musicality
C2+
/ˌmjuzɪˈkæləti/
sensitivity to or talent for music; melodious quality
mutableness
C2+
/ˈmjutəbəlnəs/
the quality of being changeable or liable to alteration
mutely
C2+
/ˈmjutli/
in a silent or speechless manner
muttering
C2+
/ˈmʌtərɪŋ/
low, indistinct, often discontented speech
nastiness
C2+
/ˈnæstinəs/
the quality of being unpleasant, spiteful, or foul
nationalistic
C2+
/ˌnæʃənəˈlɪstɪk/
marked by strong, often excessive devotion to one's nation
nationhood
C2+
/ˈneɪʃənˌhʊd/
the status or condition of being a nation
necessitousness
C2+
/nəˈsɛsətəsnəs/
the condition of being needy or destitute
nectarous
C2+
/ˈnɛktərəs/
resembling or sweet as nectar; deliciously fragrant
needs
C2+
/nidz/
of necessity; necessarily (used with must)
neglectable
C2+
/nɪˈɡlɛktəbəl/
able to be neglected; negligible
neoplasm
C2+
/ˈniəˌplæzəm/
an abnormal new growth of tissue; a tumor
nesh
C2+
/nɛʃ/
sensitive to cold; soft or delicate (dialectal)
nettlesome
C2+
/ˈnɛtl̩səm/
causing irritation or difficulty; vexing
nevermore
C2+
/ˌnɛvərˈmɔr/
never again
niceness
C2+
/ˈnaɪsnəs/
the quality of being pleasant or agreeable; fineness of distinction
niddering
C2+
/ˈnɪdərɪŋ/
a base coward; cowardly or contemptible (archaic)
nightly
C2+
/ˈnaɪtli/
happening or done every night
noggin
C2+
/ˈnɑɡən/
(informal) the head; a small mug or measure of drink
noncontinuous
C2+
/ˌnɑnkənˈtɪnjuəs/
not continuous; interrupted or discrete
nonessential
C2+
/ˌnɑnɪˈsɛnʃəl/
not absolutely necessary
nonexistent
C2+
/ˌnɑnɪɡˈzɪstənt/
not existing; absent
nonexperienced
C2+
/ˌnɑnɪkˈspɪriənst/
lacking experience; not experienced
nonextant
C2+
/nɑnˈɛkstənt/
no longer existing; not extant
nonfigurative
C2+
/nɑnˈfɪɡjərətɪv/
not representing recognizable objects; abstract
nonlicet
C2+
/nɑnˈlaɪsɛt/
not permitted or lawful (from Latin)
nonliving
C2+
/nɑnˈlɪvɪŋ/
not alive; inanimate
nonmandatory
C2+
/nɑnˈmændəˌtɔri/
not required; optional
nonobjective
C2+
/ˌnɑnəbˈdʒɛktɪv/
not representing real objects; abstract; not impartial
nonparallel
C2+
/nɑnˈpærəˌlɛl/
not parallel; lacking correspondence
nonportable
C2+
/nɑnˈpɔrtəbəl/
not able to be carried or easily moved
nonpredictable
C2+
/ˌnɑnprɪˈdɪktəbəl/
not able to be predicted; unpredictable
nonpregnant
C2+
/nɑnˈprɛɡnənt/
not pregnant
nonresistant
C2+
/ˌnɑnrɪˈzɪstənt/
offering no resistance; not resistant
nonsignificant
C2+
/ˌnɑnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
not significant, especially statistically
nonstandard
C2+
/nɑnˈstændərd/
not conforming to the established standard or norm
nonsystematic
C2+
/ˌnɑnˌsɪstəˈmætɪk/
not done according to a system; haphazard
nontransparent
C2+
/ˌnɑntrænsˈpɛrənt/
not transparent; opaque or not open to scrutiny
nonurgent
C2+
/nɑnˈɝdʒənt/
not urgent; able to wait
nope
C2+
/noʊp/
(informal) no
northeasterly
C2+
/ˌnɔrθˈistərli/
toward or coming from the northeast
northwesterly
C2+
/ˌnɔrθˈwɛstərli/
toward or coming from the northwest
numerically
C2+
/nuˈmɛrɪkli/
in terms of numbers; by numerical means
obligingly
C2+
/əˈblaɪdʒɪŋli/
in a helpful and accommodating manner
obligingness
C2+
/əˈblaɪdʒɪŋnəs/
the quality of being eager to help and accommodate others
obscenity
C2+
/əbˈsɛnɪti/
the quality of being offensively indecent; an obscene word or act
obscurity
C2+
/əbˈskjʊrɪti/
the state of being unknown, unimportant, or difficult to understand
obtrusive
C2+
/əbˈtrusɪv/
noticeable or prominent in an unwelcome, intrusive way
offensively
C2+
/əˈfɛnsɪvli/
in a way that causes offense; or in an attacking manner
oft
C2+
/ɔft/
often; frequently (archaic or literary)
oftenness
C2+
/ˈɔfənnəs/
the quality or frequency of happening often
ofttimes
C2+
/ˈɔftˌtaɪmz/
often; many times (archaic or literary)
omnicompetence
C2+
/ˌɑmnɪˈkɑmpɪtəns/
the quality of being able to handle all matters or possessing unlimited authority
ooze
C2+
/uz/
to flow or seep out slowly; soft mud or slime
opportuneness
C2+
/ˌɑpɚˈtunnəs/
the quality of being well-timed or favorable for a purpose
oppositeness
C2+
/ˈɑpəzɪtnəs/
the state or quality of being directly contrary or opposed
oracular
C2+
/ɔˈrækjəlɚ/
resembling an oracle; prophetic, wise, or ambiguously mysterious
ornateness
C2+
/ɔrˈneɪtnəs/
the quality of being elaborately or excessively decorated