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
746 words
ventriloquize
C2
/venˈtrɪl.ə.kwaɪz/
to practice ventriloquism, making one's voice seem to come from another source
misname
C2
/ˌmɪsˈneɪm/
to call someone or something by an incorrect, unsuitable, or misleading name
emendation
C2
/ˌiːmɛnˈdeɪʃən/
a correction by emending
exordium
C2
/ɛɡˈzɔrdiəm/
the introductory part of a speech, essay, or other formal discourse
unreserve
C2
/ˌʌn.rɪˈzɝːv/
absence of restraint or concealment in speech or behavior; complete frankness or openness (formal or literary)
garrulity
C2
/ɡəˈɹuːləti/
the quality of talking excessively, especially about unimportant things
stylographic
C2
/ˌstaɪləˈɡræfɪk/
relating to writing or drawing with a stylus or similar pointed instrument
declaimer
C2
/dɪˈkleɪmər/
a person who delivers a forceful, theatrical, or rhetorical speech
bullyrag
C2+
/ˈbʊliˌræɡ/
to intimidate or dominate someone by bullying
depreciatory
C2
/dɪˈpriːʃiəˌtɔːri/
expressing a low opinion of someone or something; disparaging
infelicity
C2
/ˌɪnfəˈlɪsəti/
an awkward, inappropriate, or ill-chosen expression, action, or detail
superscribe
C2+
/ˌsuːpɚˈskraɪb/
to write an address, title, or other words on the outside or upper part of something
summarizer
C2
/ˈsʌməˌraɪzɚ/
a person, program, or other thing that condenses material into a summary
jocosity
C2
/dʒoʊˈkɑːsəti/
the quality or practice of merry joking
sophister
C2
/ˈsɑːfɪstɚ/
dated or rare: a person who uses clever but fallacious or misleading arguments; a sophist
cedilla
C2
/səˈdɪlə/
a diacritical mark, often similar to a comma, placed below the letter c to indicate that it is pronounced as an s
threap
C2+
/θriːp/
chiefly northern British or Scots: to scold, chide, argue with, or rebuke someone
homiletics
C2
The art of preaching (especially the application of rhetoric in theology).
malapropism
C2
/ˈmæləpɹɑpˌɪzəm/
The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar-sounding one.
unconciliatory
C2
/ˌʌnkənˈsɪliətɔri/
not intended or likely to end disagreement or restore goodwill; unwilling to compromise
promulgator
C2
/ˈprɑː.məlˌɡeɪ.tɚ/
a person who publicly proclaims, publishes, or spreads a law, doctrine, or idea
vociferation
C2
/voʊˌsɪf.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
the act or sound of shouting loudly and vehemently; a clamorous outcry
misstate
C2
/mɪsˈsteɪt/
to state, report, or describe something incorrectly or misleadingly
divagation
C2
/ˌdaɪ.vəˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
a departure from the main subject in speech or writing; a digression
attributive
C2
/əˈtɹɪ.bju.tɪv/
Describing a word, usually an adjective, that comes directly before the noun it modifies.
capital letter
A2
first language
B2
last name
A1
message board
B1
question mark
B1
text message
A2
blunt
C2+
/blʌnt/
having a dull edge or point; direct and tactless in speech
assent
C2+
/əˈsɛnt/
agreement or approval; to express agreement
eulogize
C2+
/ˈjuləˌdʒaɪz/
to praise highly, especially in a formal speech or writing
affix
C2+
/əˈfɪks/
to attach or fasten; a prefix or suffix added to a word
confab
C2+
/ˈkɑnfæb/
an informal conversation or discussion; to chat
aye
C2+
/aɪ/
yes; an affirmative vote or answer
denominate
C2+
/dɪˈnɑmɪneɪt/
to call by a name or to express in a given unit
dispraise
C2+
/dɪsˈpreɪz/
(literary) to speak of with disapproval; censure
gist
C2+
/dʒɪst/
the central or essential meaning of a speech or text
palaver
C2+
/pəˈlævɚ/
prolonged and idle talk; a tedious fuss
snarl
C2+
/snɑrl/
to growl with bared teeth, or to speak angrily
yea
C2+
/jeɪ/
yes; an affirmative vote or response
blab
C2+
/blæb/
to reveal secrets through careless or indiscreet talk
blather
C2+
/ˈblæðɚ/
to talk at length in a foolish or nonsensical way
boo
C2+
/bu/
an exclamation to startle or to express disapproval
decipher
C2+
/dɪˈsaɪfɚ/
to convert from code or obscure form into intelligible language
execrate
C2+
/ˈɛksəˌkreɪt/
to feel or express great loathing for; to curse
locution
C2+
/loʊˈkjuʃən/
a particular word, phrase, or style of expression
monotone
C2+
/ˈmɑnəˌtoʊn/
a single unvaried tone or pitch in speech or sound
stutter
C2+
/ˈstʌtɚ/
to speak with involuntary repetition of sounds
underscore
C2+
/ˌʌndɚˈskɔːr/
to emphasize; to draw a line beneath text
whilom
C2+
/ˈhwaɪləm/
archaic word for formerly or former
accouple
C2+
/əˈkʌpəl/
archaic word for to join or couple together
attaintment
C2+
/əˈteɪntmənt/
archaic word for the act of attainting or staining with dishonour
backbite
C2+
/ˈbækbaɪt/
to speak maliciously about someone who is absent
balderdash
C2+
/ˈbɔːldɚdæʃ/
senseless or nonsensical talk; rubbish
befile
C2+
/bɪˈfaɪl/
archaic word for to make foul or defile
betalk
C2+
/bɪˈtɔk/
to talk about, discuss, or address at length
blabber
C2+
/ˈblæbɚ/
to talk foolishly, indiscreetly, or at excessive length
blither
C2+
/ˈblɪðɚ/
to talk nonsense; to babble incoherently
expletive
C2+
/ˈɛksplɪtɪv/
a profane or obscene exclamation; a meaningless filler word
intemperate
C2+
/ɪnˈtɛmpərət/
lacking moderation, especially in indulgence or speech
interrogatory
C2+
/ˌɪntəˈrɑɡətɔri/
having the form of a question; also a formal written question in law
literate
C2+
/ˈlɪtərət/
able to read and write; well educated
mute
C2+
/mjut/
refraining from or unable to produce speech or sound
prolix
C2+
/proʊˈlɪks/
tediously lengthy and wordy in speech or writing
subscribe
C2+
/səbˈskraɪb/
to arrange to receive something regularly, or to express agreement
vocalize
C2+
/ˈvoʊkəlaɪz/
to utter or express with the voice
ay
C2+
/aɪ/
yes; an affirmative vote or reply
baloney
C2+
/bəˈloʊni/
foolish or deceptive talk; nonsense
baragouin
C2+
/ˌbærəˈɡwɪn/
unintelligible or jargon-like speech; gibberish
chatter
C2+
/ˈtʃætɚ/
to talk rapidly and at length about trivial matters
connective
C2+
/kəˈnɛktɪv/
serving to connect; a word or tissue that links
contraction
C2+
/kənˈtrækʃən/
the act of shrinking or a shortened word form
debatable
C2+
/dɪˈbeɪtəbəl/
open to question or dispute; uncertain
explicate
C2+
/ˈɛksplɪˌkeɪt/
to analyze and develop in detail; to explain fully
gainsay
C2+
/ˌɡeɪnˈseɪ/
to deny or contradict; to speak against
hyperbolize
C2+
/haɪˈpɝbəˌlaɪz/
to exaggerate or describe in extravagant terms
mime
C2+
/maɪm/
acting using gesture and movement without speech; to perform thus
overstate
C2+
/ˌoʊvərˈsteɪt/
to express or describe something as more than it really is
poser
C2+
/ˈpoʊzər/
a puzzling question or problem; one who poses or affects a persona
prattle
C2+
/ˈprætəl/
to talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way
rede
C2+
/rid/
counsel or advice; an archaic word for guidance or a plan
scrawl
C2+
/skrɔl/
to write or draw in a hurried, careless, untidy way
tummy
C2+
/ˈtʌmi/
the stomach or belly, especially in informal or childish speech
vocable
C2+
/ˈvoʊkəbəl/
a word regarded as a unit of sound rather than meaning
abbreviate
C2+
/əˈbriviˌeɪt/
to shorten a word, phrase, or text
acceptation
C2+
/ˌæksɛpˈteɪʃən/
the accepted or usual meaning of a word or expression
agonist
C2+
/ˈæɡənɪst/
a contender or protagonist; (pharmacology) a substance that triggers a response
ar
C2+
/ɑr/
the name of the letter R
blandish
C2+
/ˈblændɪʃ/
to coax or persuade with flattery; to cajole
bunny
C2+
/ˈbʌni/
a child's word for a rabbit
cajole
C2+
/kəˈdʒoʊl/
to persuade someone by flattery or coaxing
cant
C2+
/kænt/
hypocritical or insincere talk; the jargon of a particular group
civility
C2+
/səˈvɪləti/
formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech