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
855 words
annoyance
B1
/əˈnɔɪ.əns/
The feeling of being slightly angry or impatient.
displeasure
B2
/dɪsˈplɛʒɚ/
A feeling of being annoyed or unhappy about something.
heady
C2
/ˈhɛdi/
strongly intoxicating or affecting the senses, as a drink or scent does
unnerving
C2
/ˈʌnˈnɜːvɪŋ/
Making someone feel nervous, uneasy, or afraid.
weepy
B2
/ˈwiːpi/
inclined to cry, or feeling close to tears
barometer
B2
/bəˈɹɑ.mə.tɚ/
An instrument that measures air pressure to help predict the weather.
mournful
B2
/ˈmɔɹnfəl/
Feeling or showing deep sadness or grief.
inflammatory
B2
/ɪnˈflæməˌtoɹi/
Likely to make people very angry or excited.
adjective
A2
/ˈæd͡ʒ.ɪk.tɪv/
a word that describes a noun, such as 'big' or 'happy'
disapproval
B2
/dɪsəˈpɹuvəl/
The feeling or showing that you think something is bad or wrong.
gnaw
C1
/nɔ/
To bite or chew at something repeatedly, especially something hard.
placid
C1
/ˈplæs.ɪd/
Calm and not easily upset or excited.
neurosis
B2
/n(j)ʊˈɹoʊ̯.sɪs/
A mental illness, less serious than psychosis, in which a person feels strong anxiety or fear.
furiously
B2
/ˈfjʊə̯ɹi.ə̯sli/
In a very angry way.
taut
C1
/tɔt/
Stretched or pulled tight, with no slack.
condolence
C2
/kənˈdoʊləns/
an expression of sympathy with another's grief
mirth
C2
/mɜɹθ/
The emotion usually following humor and accompanied by laughter.
repress
B2
/ɹəˈpɹɛs/
To stop yourself from showing or feeling an emotion or desire.
bereft
C2
/bəˈɹɛft/
Completely lacking something; deprived of it.
instill
B2
/ˌɪnˈstɪl/
To gradually teach someone an idea, feeling, or habit until it becomes part of them.
austere
C2
/ɔˈstiɹ/
Severe or stern in manner or appearance.
feign
C2
/feɪn/
To pretend to have a feeling or condition in order to deceive someone.
abhor
C2
/æbˈhɔɹ/
To hate something deeply; to find it utterly disgusting.
rekindle
C2
/ˌriːˈkɪndəl/
to make a feeling, relationship, interest, or activity become active again
perspiration
B2
/ˌpɝspəˈɹeɪʃən/
The salty liquid that comes out of your skin when you are hot or nervous; sweat.
euphoric
C2
/juˈfɔɹɪk/
Feeling or showing intense happiness and excitement.
gush
C1
/ˈɡʌʃ/
To flow out suddenly in a large, fast stream.
dissatisfaction
B2
/dɪsˌsætɪsˈfækʃən/
A feeling of being unhappy or not content with something.
astonishment
B2
/əˈstɑːnɪʃmənt/
A feeling of very great surprise.
indignant
C2
/ɪnˈdɪɡ.nənt/
Feeling or showing anger because something seems unfair or wrong.
engulf
B2
/ɪŋˈɡʌlf/
To cover or surround something completely.
bad-tempered
B2
Easily annoyed or angered; often in a bad mood.
huffy
C1
/ˈhʌfi/
angry and offended, especially over something relatively small
heartwarming
B2
/ˈhɑːrˌtwɔrmɪŋ/
Making you feel happy and full of warm emotion.
flighty
C2
/ˈflaɪti/
Acting on silly, sudden ideas rather than careful thought; not reliable.
eroticism
C2
/ɪˈrɑtəˌsɪzəm/
sexual desire, excitement, or the quality of being sexually arousing
displease
B2
/dɪsˈpliːz/
to make someone feel annoyed, dissatisfied, or offended; to fail to please
despondent
C2
/dɪˈspɑːndənt/
without or almost without hope
remorseful
C2
/ɹɪˈmɔː(ɹ)sfʊl/
Feeling deep regret and guilt for something you have done wrong.
elation
C2
/ɪˈleɪʃən/
A feeling of great happiness and excitement
irate
C1
/aɪˈɹeɪt/
Very angry.
misogynist
C2
/mɪˈsɑd͡ʒ.ən.ɪst/
One who professes misogyny; a hater of women.
inconsolable
C1
/ˌɪnkənˈsoʊləbəl/
so distressed, disappointed, or grief-stricken that comfort provides no relief
lethargic
C1
/ləˈθɑɹd͡ʒɪk/
Lacking energy and feeling slow or sleepy.
dampen
C2
/ˈdæmpən/
To make a feeling or activity weaker or less lively.
wistful
C2
/ˈwɪstfəl/
Sad and thoughtful, especially when remembering something or longing for it.
trepidation
C2
/ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən/
Anxiety over the uncertain future or possible ill-occurrence.
torturous
C1
/ˈtɔɹt͡ʃəɹəs/
Causing great physical or mental pain; extremely difficult to endure.
enviable
C1
/ˈɛn.vɪ.ə.b(ə)l/
So good or desirable that others would envy it.
fearfully
C1
/ˈfɪɹfəli/
in an alarming manner
revulsion
C2
/ɹɪˈvʌlʃən/
A strong feeling of disgust or loathing.
dumbfounded
C2
/ˌdʌmˈfaʊndɪd/
so astonished or bewildered that one is temporarily unable to speak or react
unconcerned
B2
/ˌənkənˈsɝːnd/
Not worried or anxious about something.
impassioned
C2
/ɪmˈpæʃənd/
filled with or expressing intense emotion and strong conviction
disillusion
B2
/ˌdɪsɪˈluːʒən/
To make someone realize that something they believed in is not really true or good.
tizzy
C2
/ˈtɪz.i/
a state of nervous excitement, agitation, or confused distraction
unease
B2
/ʌnˈiːz/
A feeling of worry or discomfort that something is wrong.
incandescent
C2
/ˌɪn.kænˈdɛs.ənt/
emitting light as a result of being heated
puritanical
C2
/pjɚ.ɪˈtæn.ɪ.kl̩/
Very strict about morals and behaviour, and disapproving of pleasure.
exhilaration
C1
/ɪgˌzɪlɝˈeɪʃən/
A feeling of great happiness and excitement.
jealously
B2
/ˈdʒɛləsli/
In a way that carefully protects something you value.
effusion
C2
/ɪˈfjuːʒən/
an abundant or unrestrained expression of emotion or words
exasperating
C2
/ɪɡˈzæspəˌɹeɪtɪŋ/
extremely annoying, especially because a problem or behavior continues
jubilation
C2
/ˌd͡ʒuːbəlˈeiːʃən/
the utterance of sounds expressing great joy
ardor
C2
/ˈɑːɹdɚ/
Strong enthusiasm or passion for something.
idolize
B2
/ˈaɪdəlaɪz/
To admire or love someone so much that you can see no fault in them.
lethargy
C1
/ˈlɛθ.ə(ɹ).d͡ʒi/
A feeling of having no energy or enthusiasm; tiredness.
fume
B2
/ˈfjuːm/
Strong-smelling or dangerous gas, smoke, or vapour.
irritability
C2
/ˌɪɹɪtəˈbɪlɪti/
a tendency to become annoyed, impatient, or angry easily
disillusionment
C1
/ˌdɪsɪˈluʒənmənt/
A feeling of disappointment when you discover that something or someone is not as good as you had believed.
lighthearted
B2
/ˌlaɪtˈhɑrtɪd/
cheerful and carefree, without anxiety or gloom
populist
C2+
/ˈpɑ.pjə.lɪst/
A person who advocates populism (a movement against ruling elites who are presumed not to act in the interests of the ordinary citizen).
mourner
B1
/ˈmɔrnɚ/
a person who feels or expresses grief, especially after someone's death
tribulation
C2
/ˌtrɪbjəˈleɪʃən/
great trouble, suffering, or distress
downhearted
C1
/ˌdaʊnˈhɑːrtɪd/
sad, discouraged, or low in spirits
unsettle
C1
/ʌnˈsɛtəl/
To make someone feel worried, nervous, or uncomfortable.
uplifted
B1
/ˈʌplɪftɪd/
Feeling happy, hopeful, or inspired.
thunderstruck
C1
/ˈθʌn.dɚ.strʌk/
so astonished or shocked that one is temporarily unable to react or speak
consternation
C2
/ˌkɑn.stɚˈneɪ.ʃən/
A feeling of shock, alarm, and dismay that leaves you unsure what to do.
brouhaha
C2
/ˈbruˌhɑˌhɑ/
A noisy and excited reaction to something, often greater than it deserves.
feverishly
B1
/ˈfi.vɚ.ɪʃ.li/
In a very busy, excited, and hurried way.
unfailing
C1
/ənˈfeɪlɪŋ/
unceasing, not wavering or in danger of stopping
bewilderment
B2
/bɪˈwɪldəɹmənt/
A feeling of complete confusion.
hanker
C1
/ˈhæŋkər/
to have a strong or persistent desire for something, usually followed by for or after
remorseless
C1
/rɪˈmɔrsləs/
Showing no guilt, pity, or mercy.
heartsick
C2
/ˈhɑːrt.sɪk/
overcome with grief, disappointment, or hopeless longing
constriction
C2
/kənˈstɹɪk.ʃən/
a tight feeling in some part of the body
awestruck
C1
/ˈɑːstrʌk/
filled with overwhelming wonder, admiration, reverence, or fear
misanthrope
C2
/ˈmɪs.ənˌθɹoʊp/
One who has a negative view of the entire human race.
cheerfulness
B2
/ˈt͡ʃɪɹfəlnəs/
The quality of being happy and full of good spirits.
engender
C2
/ɛnˈd͡ʒɛn.dɚ/
To cause something, especially a feeling or situation, to come into being.
irk
C2
/ɝːk/
to annoy, irritate, or weary someone
sheepish
C1
/ˈʃiː.pɪʃ/
embarrassed or ashamed, especially after being caught making a mistake
brandish
C2
/ˈbɹændɪʃ/
To wave or swing something, especially a weapon, in a threatening or excited way.
lamentation
C2
/ˌlæm.ənˈteɪ.ʃən/
The act of expressing deep grief, often loudly; a sorrowful cry.
horrify
B1
/ˈhɔɹəfaɪ/
To shock someone deeply, making them feel fear or disgust.