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
osculate
C2+
/ˈɑskjəleɪt/
to kiss; in geometry, to touch so as to share a common tangent
ostensive
C2+
/ɑˈstɛnsɪv/
directly demonstrating or pointing out, especially by example
ostentatious
C2+
/ˌɑstɛnˈteɪʃəs/
characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress
otherworldly
C2+
/ˌʌðɚˈwɝldli/
seeming to belong to another world; ethereal or supernatural
outstandingly
C2+
/ˌaʊtˈstændɪŋli/
in a remarkably excellent or exceptional manner
overassessment
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚəˈsɛsmənt/
an excessively high valuation, charge, or estimate
overcharge
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈtʃɑrdʒ/
to charge too high a price; to load excessively
overdone
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈdʌn/
done to excess; cooked too long
overmuch
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈmʌtʃ/
to too great an extent; excessively
overpowering
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈpaʊɚɪŋ/
extremely strong or intense; impossible to resist
overrefined
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚrɪˈfaɪnd/
excessively subtle, polished, or delicate to the point of artificiality
overthink
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈθɪŋk/
to think about something too much or for too long, often anxiously
ovular
C2+
/ˈoʊvjələr/
relating to or resembling an ovule or egg
oxy
C2+
/ˈɑksi/
containing oxygen, used as a combining prefix or informal shortening
paddock
C2+
/ˈpædək/
a small enclosed field for keeping or exercising horses
paleness
C2+
/ˈpeɪlnəs/
the state of being pale or lacking in color
panical
C2+
/ˈpænɪkəl/
of, relating to, or marked by panic
parsimoniousness
C2+
/ˌpɑrsəˈmoʊniəsnəs/
the quality of being extremely sparing or stingy
patronly
C2+
/ˈpeɪtrənli/
resembling or befitting a patron or protector
pauperism
C2+
/ˈpɔpərɪzəm/
the state of being extremely poor, especially as a widespread condition
paving
C2+
/ˈpeɪvɪŋ/
the hard surface material of a road, path, or area
peccable
C2+
/ˈpɛkəbəl/
liable to sin or to err
pedagogy
C2+
/ˈpɛdəgoʊdʒi/
the method and practice of teaching
pedantical
C2+
/pɪˈdæntɪkəl/
marked by a tedious, narrow concern for formal correctness
peeper
C2+
/ˈpipər/
one who peeps or pries; informally, an eye or a small frog
peon
C2+
/ˈpiɑn/
a low-ranking worker or laborer, often unskilled or menial
perfidiousness
C2+
/pərˈfɪdiəsnəs/
the quality of being deceitful and untrustworthy
periodic
C2+
/ˌpɪriˈɑdɪk/
occurring or recurring at regular intervals
perishable
C2+
/ˈpɛrɪʃəbəl/
liable to decay or spoil quickly
permeant
C2+
/ˈpɜrmiənt/
passing or spreading through something; able to permeate
perpetually
C2+
/pərˈpɛtʃuəli/
in a way that never ends or seems to recur constantly
persistently
C2+
/pərˈsɪstəntli/
in a continuing or repeatedly insistent manner
persuadable
C2+
/pərˈsweɪdəbəl/
able to be convinced or won over by argument
perverseness
C2+
/pərˈvɜrsnəs/
the quality of being deliberately contrary or unreasonable
phantomlike
C2+
/ˈfæntəmlaɪk/
resembling a phantom; insubstantial or ghostly
philanthropical
C2+
/ˌfɪlənˈθrɑpɪkəl/
relating to or characterized by goodwill and charity toward others
phraseology
C2+
/ˌfreɪziˈɑlədʒi/
a particular mode or choice of words and expressions
pixilated
C2+
/ˈpɪksəˌleɪtɪd/
mildly eccentric or whimsical, as if led astray by pixies; slightly drunk
planetary
C2+
/ˈplænəˌtɛri/
relating to a planet or planets
plausibleness
C2+
/ˈplɔzəbəlnəs/
the quality of seeming reasonable or believable
plentifully
C2+
/ˈplɛntɪfəli/
in abundant or copious quantities
plumelet
C2+
/ˈpluːmlɪt/
a small plume or tuft of feathers
plush
C2+
/plʌʃ/
luxurious and expensive; a soft fabric with a long pile
polychromatic
C2+
/ˌpɑlikroʊˈmætɪk/
having or consisting of several or many colors
porcupine
C2+
/ˈpɔrkjəˌpaɪn/
a large rodent covered with protective quills or spines
portmanteau
C2+
/pɔrtˈmæntoʊ/
a large traveling bag; a word blending two others (e.g. smog)
possessional
C2+
/pəˈzɛʃənəl/
relating to possession or ownership
possessionary
C2+
/pəˈzɛʃəˌnɛri/
of or relating to possession; held in possession
posthaste
C2+
/ˌpoʊstˈheɪst/
with all possible speed; very quickly
posy
C2+
/ˈpoʊzi/
a small bunch of flowers
powerfulness
C2+
/ˈpaʊɚfəlnəs/
the quality of being powerful; strength or force
practic
C2+
/ˈpræktɪk/
practical or active (archaic); practice or skill
practicalness
C2+
/ˈpræktɪkəlnəs/
the quality of being practical or useful
preciseness
C2+
/prɪˈsaɪsnəs/
the quality of being exact or accurate
precognitive
C2+
/priˈkɑgnɪtɪv/
relating to foreknowledge of events, especially through extrasensory means
precondition
C2+
/ˌprikənˈdɪʃən/
a condition that must be met before something else can happen
predictably
C2+
/prɪˈdɪktəbli/
in a way that was expected or could be foreseen
predictively
C2+
/prɪˈdɪktɪvli/
in a manner that predicts or forecasts something
prediluvian
C2+
/ˌpridɪˈluviən/
existing before the biblical flood; extremely old or antiquated
predisposed
C2+
/ˌpridɪˈspoʊzd/
inclined or made susceptible to something beforehand
preen
C2+
/prin/
to tidy and clean feathers with the beak; to groom oneself with vanity
preform
C2+
/priˈfɔrm/
to form or shape beforehand; a partly shaped piece of material
prejudicious
C2+
/ˌprɛdʒəˈdɪʃəs/
causing prejudice or harm; detrimental
preparatory
C2+
/prɪˈpɛrəˌtɔri/
serving as or carried out in preparation for something
presentable
C2+
/prɪˈzɛntəbəl/
fit to be seen or shown; clean and tidy in appearance
prestigiousness
C2+
/prɛˈstɪdʒəsnəs/
the quality of having high status or commanding respect
presumptively
C2+
/prɪˈzʌmptɪvli/
on the basis of a reasonable assumption; supposedly
pretentiousness
C2+
/prɪˈtɛnʃəsnəs/
the quality of attempting to impress by affecting greater importance than is real
prettiness
C2+
/ˈprɪtinəs/
the quality of being attractive in a delicate or dainty way
prickle
C2+
/ˈprɪkəl/
a small sharp point on a plant or skin, or to cause a tingling sensation
primal
C2+
/ˈpraɪməl/
relating to an early or original stage; basic and instinctive
probableness
C2+
/ˈprɑbəbəlnəs/
the quality or state of being likely to happen or be true
proboscis
C2+
/prəˈbɑsɪs/
an elongated tubular mouthpart of an insect, or a long flexible snout
profitableness
C2+
/ˈprɑfɪtəbəlnəs/
the quality of yielding financial gain or benefit
propense
C2+
/prəˈpɛns/
naturally inclined or disposed toward something
proportionality
C2+
/prəˌpɔrʃəˈnæləti/
the property of corresponding in size, degree, or magnitude
proportionately
C2+
/prəˈpɔrʃənətli/
in a way that corresponds in size or degree to something else
proscriptive
C2+
/proʊˈskrɪptɪv/
tending to forbid, prohibit, or denounce something
protuberant
C2+
/proʊˈtubərənt/
bulging out from a surface; protruding
pseudopregnant
C2+
/ˌsudoʊˈprɛɡnənt/
showing signs of pregnancy without an actual conceptus, as in false pregnancy
puckishly
C2+
/ˈpʌkɪʃli/
in a mischievous or playfully impish manner
pukka
C2+
/ˈpʌkə/
genuine and of good quality; proper or first-class
puny
C2+
/ˈpjuni/
small, weak, or insignificant
purposefully
C2+
/ˈpɝpəsfəli/
with deliberate intent and determination
purr
C2+
/pɝ/
to make a low vibrating sound, as a contented cat does
pursuantly
C2+
/pɚˈsuəntli/
in accordance with or following from something
putrid
C2+
/ˈpjutrɪd/
decaying and emitting a foul stench; rotten
pyrexia
C2+
/paɪˈrɛksiə/
an abnormally high body temperature; fever
quaff
C2+
/kwɑf/
to drink heartily or in large gulps
queerness
C2+
/ˈkwɪrnəs/
the quality of being strange, odd, or unconventional
questionably
C2+
/ˈkwɛstʃənəbli/
in a way open to doubt or of dubious quality
quintessence
C2+
/kwɪnˈtɛsəns/
the most perfect or essential embodiment of a quality
quintessential
C2+
/ˌkwɪntəˈsɛnʃəl/
representing the most perfect or typical example of something
rachitic
C2+
/rəˈkɪtɪk/
affected with or relating to rickets
ramshackle
C2+
/ˈræmˌʃækəl/
loosely held together and on the verge of collapse; rickety
rangy
C2+
/ˈreɪndʒi/
tall, slender, and long-limbed, often suggesting agility