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
746 words
reprehend
C2
/ˌɹɛpɹəˈhɛnd/
express strong disapproval of
yawp
C2+
/jɔp/
to utter a loud, harsh, or coarse cry
enthuse
C2
/ɛnˈθuz/
To talk or write about something with great excitement and enthusiasm.
prevaricate
C1
/pɹɪˈvæɹɪkeɪt/
To speak or act in a manner that is intentionally ambiguous or evasive; equivocate.
ductus
C2
/ˈdʌktəs/
the characteristic direction, order, speed, and manner of the strokes used in handwriting or calligraphy
monotonously
C1
In a boring way that never changes or has any variety.
reword
B2
/ˌriˈwɝd/
to express the same statement or idea again using different words
expostulate
C2
/ɪkˈspɑːstʃəleɪt/
to reason or protest earnestly with someone in an effort to dissuade or correct them, usually followed by with
importunity
C2
/ˌɪmpɔrˈtuːnəti/
persistent and pressing requests or demands, especially when they are troublesome
monosyllable
C1
/ˌmɑː.noʊˈsɪl.ə.bəl/
a word or utterance consisting of one syllable
précis
C2
/ˈpreɪ.si/
a concise summary of the essential facts or main points of a text, speech, or argument
self-assertion
C1
/ˌsɛlfəˈsɝʃən/
the confident expression of one's opinions, rights, or wishes
ideogram
C2
/ˈɪd.i.oʊ.ɡɹæm/
a written or graphic symbol that represents an idea or thing without directly representing the sounds of its name
append
C2
/ʌˈpɛnd/
to add something at the end of a document, list, or data structure
discursive
C2
/dɪˈskɝsɪv/
moving from subject to subject rather than following a concise, orderly line
corrector
C2
/kəˈrɛktɚ/
a person, device, or process that identifies and corrects errors, faults, or improper behavior
sibilant
C2
/ˈsɪbɪlənt/
having or producing a hissing or hushing sound
blether
C2
/ˈblɛðər/
chiefly Scottish and Northern English: foolish, idle, or long-winded talk
sophist
C2
/ˈsoʊfɪst/
a person who uses clever but fallacious or misleading arguments
intone
C1
/ɪnˈtoʊn/
to say something slowly and solemnly, often with little variation in pitch
downstroke
C2
/ˈdaʊnˌstɹoʊk/
a stroke or movement made downward, especially with a pen, brush, tool, or musical plectrum
gibe
C2
/dʒaɪb/
a mocking or insulting remark intended to wound or provoke
flapdoodle
C2
/ˈflæpˌduːdəl/
informal, often dated: foolish, pretentious, or insincere talk; nonsense
speechmaking
C2
/ˈspiːtʃˌmeɪ.kɪŋ/
delivering an address to a public audience
dragoman
C2
/ˈdræɡəmən/
an interpreter and guide in the Near East
demur
C2
/dɪˈmɝ/
to raise an objection or express reluctance, often politely
disavowal
C2
/ˌdɪs.əˈvaʊ.əl/
an act or statement denying knowledge of, responsibility for, connection with, or support for something
valediction
C2
/ˌvæləˈdɪkʃən/
the act of saying farewell, or the words used when parting
pabulum
C2
/ˈpæbjʊləm/
bland, simplistic, or intellectually undemanding material offered as if it were nourishing
upstroke
C2
/ˈʌpˌstɹoʊk/
a stroke or movement made upward, especially with a pen, brush, piston, or musical plectrum
reciter
C1
/ɹɪˈsaɪtɚ/
a person who recites a poem, speech, or other text aloud, often from memory
stenographic
C2
/ˌstɛnəˈɡɹæfɪk/
relating to, written in, or employing shorthand or stenography
restatement
B1
/ˌɹiːˈsteɪtmənt/
the act of expressing something again, often more clearly or in different words
formule
C2+
/ˈfɔː(ɹ)mjuːl/
formula (model)
gnomic
C2
/ˈnoʊmɪk/
expressed in a short, mysterious way that seems wise but is difficult to understand
declamation
C2
/ˌdɛkləˈmeɪʃən/
the formal, forceful, or theatrical delivery of a speech
sermonize
C1
/ˈsɝːmənaɪz/
to speak as though delivering a sermon, especially by giving prolonged moral advice or criticism
shibboleth
C2
/ˈʃɪb.əl.eθ/
a slogan, belief, or custom strongly associated with a group, especially one repeated after it has lost much of its original force or truth
prattler
C2
/ˈpɹætəlɚ/
a person who talks at length in a foolish, trivial, or childlike way
incommunicable
C2
/ˌɪn.kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.bəl/
That cannot be communicated or transmitted
neologism
C2
/niˈɑləˌd͡ʒɪzəm/
A word or phrase which has recently been coined; a new word or phrase.
stentorian
C2
/stenˈtɔːriən/
extremely loud and powerful, especially when describing a person's voice
intelligibility
C2
/ɪnˌtɛlədʒəˈbɪləti/
the quality or degree of being understandable or capable of rational explanation
confirmatory
C1
/kənˈfɝməˌtɔɹi/
serving to confirm, support, or corroborate a statement or conclusion
picaresque
C2
/pɪkəˈɹɛsk/
involving clever rogues or adventurers especially as in a type of fiction
execration
C2
/ˌɛksəˈkreɪʃən/
a curse or forceful expression of hatred and condemnation
euphony
C2
/ˈjuːfəni/
A pronunciation of letters and syllables which is pleasing to the ear.
miscall
C1
/mɪsˈkɔl/
to call or name a person or thing incorrectly
panegyric
C2
/ˌpænəˈdʒɪrɪk/
a formal speech or piece of writing that offers elaborate praise
typewrite
C2
/ˈtaɪp.raɪt/
dated: to write or produce text with a typewriter
exclamatory
C2
/ɪkˈsklæməˌtɔɹi/
expressed as, containing, or resembling an exclamation
unconvincingly
C1
In a way that fails to persuade or seem believable.
temporize
C2
/ˈtɛmpəraɪz/
to delay making a decision or commitment, or to act evasively, in order to gain time or an advantage
gesticulation
C2
/dʒɛˌstɪkjəˈleɪʃən/
an expressive movement of the hands, arms, or body, especially one made while speaking
preachment
C1
/ˈpriːtʃ.mənt/
a sermon on a moral or religious topic
swearer
C1
/ˈswɛrər/
a person who swears an oath or gives sworn testimony
mispronunciation
C2
/mɪspɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/
an incorrect pronunciation or the act of pronouncing something incorrectly
indirection
C1
/ˈɪndəˈɹɛkʃən/
indirect procedure or action
defamer
C2
/dɪˈfeɪmɚ/
a person who damages another person's reputation by making false or malicious statements
stenograph
C2
/ˈstɛn.ə.ɡɹæf/
to write down or report speech rapidly in shorthand
heliograph
C2
/ˈhiːliəˌɡræf/
an instrument that sends coded signals over a distance by reflecting flashes of sunlight with a mirror
signification
C2
/ˌsɪɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
reduplication
C2
/rɪˌduːplɪˈkeɪʃən/
a word-formation process in which all or part of a word, root, or syllable is repeated
prolixity
C2
/pɹoʊˈlɪksəti/
the quality of using too many words or continuing for a tiresomely long time
recriminate
C2
/ɹɪˈkɹɪmɪneɪt/
to answer an accusation by making a counteraccusation
italicize
B2
/ɪˈtæl.ɪ.saɪz/
To print or write words in italics, the slanted style of letters
indite
C2
/ˌɪnˈdaɪt/
to write or compose a text, especially a formal or literary one
maunder
C2+
/ˈmɔndɚ/
To speak in a disorganized or desultory manner; to babble or prattle.
volubility
C2
the quality of being facile in speech and writing
disputant
C2
/dɪˈspjuːtənt/
formal: a person who takes part in a dispute, controversy, or debate
raillery
C2
/ˈreɪlɚi/
formal: good-humored teasing, banter, or lightly mocking talk
analogical
C1
expressing, composed of, or based on an analogy
stentor
C2
/ˈstɛntɝ/
a person with an exceptionally loud or powerful voice
misstatement
C2
/ˌmɪsˈsteɪtmənt/
an inaccurate or incorrect statement, especially one made unintentionally
moue
C2
/muː/
a small pout or grimace expressing disdain, discontent, mock annoyance, or flirtatious displeasure
traduce
C2
/tɹəˈdus/
to speak maliciously and falsely about someone; to defame
eulogist
C2
/ˈjuːlədʒɪst/
a person who delivers a speech or piece of writing in praise of someone, especially at a funeral
declamatory
C2
/dɪˈklæməˌtɔri/
delivered in the forceful, formal manner of a public speech or recitation
periphrasis
C2
/pəˈrɪfrəsɪs/
an indirect or roundabout way of expressing something
elogium
C2
/ɪˈloʊdʒiəm/
a formal expression of praise; an encomium or eulogy
disquisition
C2
/ˌdɪs.kwɪˈzɪʃ.ən/
a long, formal, and methodical discussion or written analysis of a subject
blandishment
C2
/ˈblæn.dɪʃ.mənt/
Flattering words or actions used to coax or persuade someone.
lexicographer
C2
/ˌlɛksɪˈkɑɡrəfər/
a person who writes, compiles, or edits dictionaries
undiscussed
C1
/ˌʌndɪˈskʌst/
not considered, examined, or talked about in discussion
expatiate
C2
/ɪkˈspeɪʃɪeɪt/
to speak or write at length and in detail about a subject, usually followed by on or upon
ululation
C2
/ˌjuljuˈleɪʃən/
a long, loud, wavering or trilling cry expressing strong emotion, or the act of making such a cry
expostulation
C2
/ɪkˌspɑː.stjəˈleɪ.ʃən/
an earnest expression of disagreement, protest, or complaint intended to persuade someone
scurrility
C2
/skəˈrɪləti/
coarse, abusive, obscene, or foul-mouthed language
adjuration
C2
/ˌædʒəˈreɪʃən/
an earnest appeal, solemn command, or urgent entreaty
interrogatively
C2
In a questioning way; as if asking a question.
denotation
C2
/ˌdiː.noʊˈteɪ.ʃən/
The direct, literal meaning of a word, as opposed to the feelings it suggests.
confute
C2
/kənˈfjuːt/
to prove a claim, argument, or person wrong by evidence or reasoning; to refute conclusively
peroration
C2+
/pɛɹəˈɹeɪʃən/
the concluding section of an oration
soliloquize
C2
/səˈlɪləˌkwaɪz/
To talk to oneself, especially aloud and at length.
incoherency
C2
/ˌɪnkoʊˈhɪrənsi/
lack of logical connection, clarity, or orderly organization
exoteric
C2
/ˌɛksəˈtɛɹɪk/
intended or suitable for the general public rather than a restricted inner circle