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
697 words
equanimity
C2
/ˌɛkwəˈnɪmɪti/
steadiness of mind under stress
compos
C2
/ˈkɑːm.pəs/
of sound mind and in full control of one's mental faculties, chiefly in the phrase compos mentis
empirically
C2
/ɛmˈpɪrɪkəli/
in an empirical manner
thereupon
C2
/ˌðɛɹəˈpɑn/
Upon that; thereon.
fragmentary
C2
/ˈfrægmənˌtɛri/
consisting of small disconnected parts
insoluble
C1
/ɪnˈsɑljəbəl/
without hope of solution
thoughtlessness
C1
/ˈθɔtləsnɪs/
the trait of not thinking carefully before acting
subjectivity
C1
/səbdʒɛkˈtɪvɪti/
A subjective thought or idea.
therewith
C2
/ðɛəˈwɪθ/
with that or this or it
salivate
C1
/ˈsæləveɪt/
To produce saliva in your mouth, especially at the thought or smell of food.
engrossing
C1
/ɛnˈɡɹoʊsɪŋ/
So interesting that it holds all your attention.
irrationality
C1
/ɪˌɹæʃ.əˈnæl.ə.ti/
The quality or state of being irrational.
credulity
C2
/kɹɪˈduːlɪti/
an excessive readiness to believe claims without sufficient evidence
insupportable
C1
/ˌɪnsəˈpɔrtəbəl/
That cannot be tolerated or endured.
cavil
C2
/ˈkæv.əl/
To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.
minutely
C2
/maɪˈnjuːtlɪ/
in minute detail
sympathetically
C2
/ˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪkəli/
with respect to the sympathetic nervous system
reacquaint
C2
/ˌriː.əˈkweɪnt/
to make someone familiar again with a person, place, subject, or skill
philosophize
C2
/fɪˈlɑː.sə.faɪz/
to think or reason philosophically about fundamental questions
susceptibility
C2
/səˌsɛptəˈbɪləti/
The condition of being susceptible; vulnerability.
torpor
C2
/ˈtɔɹpɚ/
a state of motor and mental inactivity with a partial suspension of sensibility
retentive
C1
/rɪˈtɛntɪv/
able to remember information well
languor
C2
/ˈlæŋɡɚ/
A state of the body or mind caused by exhaustion or disease and characterized by a languid or weary feeling; lassitude; (countable) an instance of this.
dialectical
C1
/ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪkəl/
relating to dialectic: reasoning through the examination of opposing arguments
fecund
C2
/ˈfɛk.ənd/
Leading to new ideas or innovation.
self-knowledge
C2+
/ˌsɛlfˈnɑl.ɪdʒ/
Knowledge or insight into one's own character, abilities, feelings, or motivations; self-understanding.
coiffure
C2+
/kwɑˈfjʊɚ/
To style or arrange hair.
bifurcation
C2
/ˌbaɪfɚˈkeɪʃən/
The act of bifurcating; branching or dividing in two.
genealogical
C2
/ˌd͡ʒiniəˈlɑd͡ʒɪkəl/
of or relating to genealogy
salubrious
C2
/səˈlu.bɹi.əs/
favorable to health of mind or body
puzzlement
C1
/ˈpʌz.əl.mənt/
a state or feeling of confusion caused by being unable to understand something
inaccuracy
C2
/ɪnˈæk.jɚ.ə.si/
A statement, passage etc. that is inaccurate or false.
exultation
C2
/ˌɛɡzʌlˈteɪʃən/
The act of exulting; great joy at success or victory, or at any advantage gained; rapturous delight
extrapolation
C2
/ɛkˌstræpəˈleɪʃən/
An inference about some hypothetical situation based on known facts.
histrionic
C2
/ˌhɪs.triˈɑ.nɪk/
Overly dramatic or emotional, especially to get attention.
experiential
C1
/ɪkˌspɪriˈɛnʃəl/
relating to, encountered through, or based on direct experience
scornfully
C1
/ˈskɔɹnfəli/
In a way that shows you think someone or something deserves no respect.
prejudge
B2
/priːˈdʒʌdʒ/
To form an opinion about someone or something before knowing all the facts.
repugnance
C2
/ɹɪˈpʌɡnəns/
Extreme aversion, repulsion.
open-mindedness
C1
/ˌoʊpənˈmaɪndɪdnəs/
willingness to consider unfamiliar ideas, arguments, or evidence without prejudice
futurity
C2
/fjuːˈtjʊəɹɪti/
The future.
foreknowledge
C2
/ˌfɔɹˈnɑlɪdʒ/
knowledge of an event before it happens
syllogism
C2
/ˈsɪlədʒɪz(ə)m/
An argument whose conclusion is supported by two premises, of which one contains the term that is the predicate of the conclusion, and the other contains the term that is the subject of the conclusion; common to both premises is a term that is excluded from the conclusion.
stiffly
C2
/ˈstɪfli/
in a stiff manner
nominally
C2
/ˈnɑmɪnəli/
in name only
imbecility
C2
/ˌɪmbəˈsɪləti/
The quality of being imbecile; weakness; feebleness, especially of mind.
intuit
C1
/ɪnˈtuɪt/
To understand or sense something immediately, without conscious reasoning.
sagacity
C2
/səˈɡæ.sə.ti/
The quality of being sage, wise, or able to make good decisions; the quality of being perceptive, astute or insightful.
unobtrusively
C2
/ˌʌn.əbˈtɹuː.sɪv.li/
In a quiet way that does not attract attention or get in the way
mystification
C2
/ˌmɪs.tə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃən/
a state or feeling of bewilderment caused by not understanding something
unaccountably
C2
/ˌənəˈkaʊntəbli/
in an unaccountable manner
mesmerism
C2
/ˈmɛzməˌrɪzəm/
historical: a system developed by Franz Mesmer that claimed an invisible force could produce physical or hypnotic effects
knowable
C1
/ˈnoʊ.ə.bəl/
capable of being known, understood, or discovered
unreasoning
C2
/ənˈriːznɪŋ/
Lacking or without reason.
cogito
C2
/ˈkɑɡɪtoʊ/
Descartes's argument cogito, ergo sum ("I think, therefore I am"), or the act of thought on which it rests
demystify
C2
/diːˈmɪstəˌfaɪ/
To make something easier to understand by explaining it clearly.
cognizance
C2
/ˈkɑɡnɪzəns/
Notice or awareness.
arbitrariness
C2
/ˈɑːrbəˌtrɛriːnəs/
The quality or state of being arbitrary; the extent to which something is arbitrary.
unexcused
C2
Without an acceptable reason or permission; not officially allowed.
quizzical
C1
/ˈkwɪz.ɪ.kəl/
showing mild puzzlement or questioning, often with amusement
persuasively
C1
/pɝˈsweɪsɪvli/
In a way that makes someone believe or agree with you.
preconception
C2
/ˌpɹikənˈsɛpʃən/
An opinion formed before you have enough facts, often based on bias.
calculative
C2
/ˈkælkjələtɪv/
concerned with calculation, especially deliberate reasoning about means and consequences
mesmeric
C2
/mɛzˈmɛɹɪk/
So fascinating that it holds your complete attention, as if by magic.
tautology
C2
/tɔˈtɑl.ə.d͡ʒi/
useless repetition
inductive
C2
/ɪnˈdʌktɪv/
arising from inductance
instrumentality
C2
/ˌɪnstrəmɛnˈtælɪti/
The condition or quality of being instrumental; being useful; serving a purpose.
iconoclastic
C2
/ˌaɪkənəˈklæstɪk/
Characterized by attack on established and accepted beliefs, customs, or institutions; of or pertaining to iconoclasm.
ptarmigan
C2
/ˈtɑːmɪɡən/
large Arctic and subarctic grouse with feathered feet and usually white winter plumage
shilly-shally
C2
/ˈʃɪl.iˌʃæl.i/
to hesitate, waver, or waste time because one is unable or unwilling to make a decision
preoccupy
B2
/pɹiˈɑkjupaɪ/
To fill someone's mind so much that they cannot think about anything else.
logician
C2
/ləˈd͡ʒɪʃən/
A person who studies or teaches logic.
suggestibility
C2
/səˌdʒɛstəˈbɪləti/
the tendency to accept and act on other people's suggestions readily
externalize
C2
/ɪkˈstɝːnəlaɪz/
to express thoughts or feelings in an outward, observable form
uncritical
C1
/ʌnˈkɹɪtɪkəl/
not applying careful judgment, analysis, or evaluation
knower
C2
/ˈnoʊɚ/
a person who knows something, especially the conscious subject in a theory of knowledge
chooser
B2
/ˈtʃuːzər/
a person or thing that makes a choice
compellingly
C2
/kəmˈpɛlɪŋli/
In a way that holds your attention or convinces you strongly
adequacy
C2
/ˈædɪkwəsi/
The quality of being sufficient, adequate or able to meet the needs.
maladjustment
C2
/ˌmæl.əˈdʒʌst.mənt/
a failure or inability to adapt successfully to one's social environment or the ordinary demands of life, often resulting in emotional or behavioral difficulties
piebald
C2+
/ˈpaɪ.bɔld/
Spotted or blotched, especially in black and white.
brilliancy
C2
/ˈbɹɪljənsi/
A shining quality; brilliance.
misremember
C1
/ˌmɪsɹɪˈmɛmbɚ/
to remember something incorrectly
dilatory
C2
/daɪˈleɪt(ə)ɹi/
Intentionally delaying (someone or something), intended to cause delay, gain time, or adjourn decision.
premeditate
C2
/priːˈmɛdɪteɪt/
think or reflect beforehand or in advance
solipsism
C2
/ˈsɒlɪpsɪzəm/
The philosophical idea that only your own mind is sure to exist.
cynosure
C2
/ˈsaɪnəʃʊɹ/
a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration
epistemological
C2
/ɪˌpɪstəməˈlɑd͡ʒəkəl/
Of or pertaining to epistemology or theory of knowledge, as a field of study.
introversion
C2
/ɪntɹəˈvəɹʒən/
a personality orientation toward one's inner thoughts and feelings, often accompanied by a preference for lower-stimulation or solitary settings
vacillation
C2
/ˌvæsəˈleɪʃən/
indecision shown by repeatedly changing between opinions, choices, or courses of action
overvalue
C1
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈvæl.juː/
to regard a person, quality, prospect, or contribution as more important or beneficial than it really is
telepathist
C2+
/təˈlɛpəθɪst/
a person believed to receive or transmit thoughts directly without using the known senses
advisability
C1
/ədˌvaɪ.zəˈbɪl.ə.ti/
the quality of being sensible, prudent, or worth recommending in the circumstances
unwaveringly
C1
In a firm and steady way, without any doubt or change.
monomaniac
C2
/ˌmɑː.noʊˈmeɪ.ni.æk/
a person obsessively preoccupied with one subject, idea, or goal to the exclusion of other concerns
unfamiliarity
C1
/ˌʌnfəˌmɪliˈærəti/
lack of knowledge, experience, or acquaintance with someone or something