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
1536 words
extinct
B1
/ɪkˈstɪŋkt/
No longer existing, with no living members left.
bumper
B2
/ˈbʌmpəɹ/
A bar at the front and back of a vehicle that absorbs the impact of a crash.
vacant
B2
/ˈveɪkənt/
Empty; not being used or lived in.
hasty
B1
/ˈheɪsti/
Done quickly and without enough thought or care.
ramp
B2
/ɹæmp/
A sloping surface that joins two levels, used instead of stairs.
occupy
B1
/ˈɑkjəpaɪ/
To fill or take up a space or amount of time.
southeast
B1
/ˌsaʊˈθiːst/
The compass point halfway between south and east.
withdrawal
C1
/wɪðˈdɹɔ(ə)l/
The act of taking money out of a bank account.
slope
B1
/sloʊp/
A surface or piece of ground that goes up or down at an angle.
spiral
B1
/ˈspɑɪɹəl/
A curve that winds around a central point, getting wider or moving along as it turns.
frequent
B1
/ˈfriːkwənt/
Happening or doing something often.
canteen
B1
/kænˈtin/
A place where meals are served in a school, factory, or other workplace.
retard
B2
/rɪˈtɑːrd/
To slow down or delay the progress of something.
dilemma
B2
/dɑeˈlemə/
A difficult situation in which you must choose between two options that both seem bad.
prominent
B1
/ˈpɹɑmɪnənt/
Important and well known.
haunting
B2
/ˈhɔntɪŋ/
Staying in your mind because it is beautiful or sad; not easily forgotten.
brink
C2
/bɹɪŋk/
The point just before something important or dangerous happens.
lunchtime
A2
/ˈlʌnt͡ʃtaɪm/
The time around the middle of the day when lunch is eaten.
withdrawn
C1
/wɪðˈdɹɔn/
Very quiet and not wanting to talk to or be with other people.
parcel
B1
/ˈpɑɹsəl/
An object wrapped up to be sent or carried, especially by post.
scroll
C2
/skɹoʊl/
To move text or images up, down, or across a screen to see different parts.
southwest
B1
/saʊθˈwɛst/
The compass point halfway between south and west.
vertical
C1
/ˈvɝ.tɪ.kəl/
Pointing or going straight up and down; at right angles to the ground.
traveler
A2
/ˈtɹæv.lɚ/
A person who is travelling or who often travels.
liaison
C1
/liˈeɪˌzɑn/
A person who passes information and helps two groups work together.
crater
B2
/ˈkɹeɪ.tɚ/
A large bowl-shaped hole in the ground made by an impact or explosion.
pluck
B2
/plʌk/
To pull or take something quickly and sharply from a place.
bourgeois
C1
/bʊɹʒˈwɑː/
conforming to the standards and conventions of the middle class
teens
B2
/tiːnz/
The years of a person's life between thirteen and nineteen.
downhill
B1
/ˌdaʊnˈhɪl/
toward the bottom of a hill or slope
northeast
B1
/ˌnɔrˈθiːst/
The direction halfway between north and east.
windy
A2
/ˈwɪn.di/
With a lot of wind blowing.
parasite
C1
/ˈpæɹəˌsaɪt/
An animal or plant that lives on or inside another and feeds off it.
shortage
B1
/ˈʃɔː(ɹ)tɪd͡ʒ/
A situation in which there is not enough of something.
momentum
C1
/ˌmoʊˈmɛntəm/
The driving force that keeps an idea, process, or campaign moving forward.
stance
B2
/[stɛəns]/
Your opinion or position on an issue.
clam
B2
/klæm/
A sea animal with a soft body inside two hard shells, often eaten as food.
sarcastic
C1
/sɑɹˈkæs.tɪk/
Using remarks that mean the opposite of what they say, in order to mock or insult.
descend
B2
/dəˈsɛnd/
To move down from a higher position to a lower one.
hostel
B1
/ˈhɑstəl/
A cheap place to stay where you share rooms and facilities with other travellers.
surroundings
B2
/səˈɹaʊndɪŋz/
The things and conditions that are around someone or something; the environment.
layout
C1
/ˈleɪ.aʊt/
The way the parts of something are arranged within a space.
junction
C1
/ˈd͡ʒʌŋkʃən/
A place where two or more roads, railways, or routes meet.
tendency
B1
/ˈten.dən.si/
A likelihood of behaving or happening in a particular way.
backward
B2
/ˈbækwɚd/
In the direction behind you; toward the back.
fiber
B2
/ˈfaɪ.bɚ/
The part of food that helps digestion and passes through the body.
transit
C1
/ˈtɹæn.zət/
The movement of people or goods from one place to another
rim
B2
/ɹɪm/
The outer edge of something, especially something round.
handicapped
A2
/ˈhændikæpt/
Held back or limited by a disadvantage of some kind.
uncover
B1
/ʌnˈkʌvɚ/
To find out and reveal something that was hidden or secret.
middle-aged
B1
/ˌmɪdl̩ˈeɪd͡ʒd/
Being roughly between 45 and 65 years old; neither young nor old.
retain
B1
/ɹəˈteɪn/
To keep or continue to have something.
balanced
B2
/ˈbælənst/
Having different parts in the right proportions; not too much of any one thing.
handshake
B1
/ˈhæn(d)ˌʃeɪk/
The act of two people holding and shaking each other's hand as a greeting or to agree on something.
appoint
B1
/əˈpɔɪnt/
To officially choose someone for a job or position.
rotation
C1
/ɹoʊˈteɪʃən/
The act of turning around a central point or axis.
span
B2
/spæːn/
The full length of time that something lasts or covers.
waterfall
B1
/ˈwɔtɚfɔl/
A place where water flows down over the edge of a cliff or steep rocks.
windshield
B2
/ˈwɪndˌʃiːld/
The large glass window at the front of a vehicle that protects those inside from wind and weather.
dominate
B2
/ˈdɑ.məˌneɪt/
To have power and control over someone or something.
assign
B1
/əˈsaɪn/
To give someone a particular task or job to do.
removal
C1
/ɹɪˈmu.vəl/
The act of taking something away or getting rid of it.
outdoor
B1
/ˈaʊtˌdɔr/
Existing, happening, or used in the open air rather than inside a building.
margin
B2
/ˈmɑɹ.d͡ʒɪn/
The empty space around the edge of a page.
digest
B2
/daɪˈd͡ʒɛst/
To break down food in the body so it can be absorbed.
indoors
B1
/ɪnˈdɔɹz/
Inside a building, rather than outside.
eligible
B2
/ˈɛl.ə.d͡ʒə.bəl/
Having the right to do or receive something because you meet the necessary conditions.
rubble
B2
/ˈɹʌb.əl/
Broken pieces of stone, brick, or concrete left after a building has been destroyed.
flap
B2
/flæp/
To move up and down or back and forth, especially wings.
prevail
B2
/pɹɪˈvæɪl/
To win or be successful in a struggle or competition.
suppress
B2
/səˈpɹes/
To stop something by force, especially a protest or rebellion.
sarcasm
C1
/ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/
The use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say, in order to mock or insult someone.
outdoors
B1
/aʊtˈdɔː(ɹ)z/
In or into the open air, not inside a building.
gateway
B2
/ˈɡeɪtˌweɪ/
An opening or entrance that can be closed by a gate.
pavement
B2
/ˈpeɪvmənt/
A paved path at the side of a road for people to walk on.
genetically
B1
/d͡ʒəˈneɾɪkli/
In a way relating to genes or genetics.
fasten
B1
/ˈfæsn̩/
To join or attach two things firmly together.
correspondence
B2
/ˌkoɹ.ɪˈspɑn.dəns/
Letters or messages exchanged between people.
matron
C2
/ˈmeɪtɹən/
a married woman, usually middle-aged with children, who is staid and dignified
folder
A2
/ˈfoʊɫdɚ/
A place on a computer where files and other folders are kept together.
overlook
B2
/ˈoʊ.vɚˌlʊk/
To fail to notice or consider something.
cavity
C1
/ˈkæv.ɪt.i/
A hole or hollow space inside a solid object.
rut
C1
/rʌt/
a long, deep track or groove made in soft ground or another surface by repeated passage
orientation
C1
/ˌɔɹiɛnˈteɪʃən/
A meeting or short course that introduces people to a new job, school, or situation.
crossroads
B1
/ˈkrɔsˌroʊdz/
A place where two or more roads cross each other.
component
B2
/kəmˈpoʊnənt/
One of the parts that make up a larger machine, system, or whole.
tyre
B1
/ˈtaɪɝ/
The rubber ring fitted around a wheel, usually filled with air.
rift
C2
/ɹɪft/
A serious break in friendly relations; a state of conflict or distance between people.
outlet
B2
/ˈaʊtlɛt/
A point on a wall where you plug in electrical devices.
right-hand
A2
/raɪtˈhænd/
On or relating to the right side.
underage
B1
/ˌʌndəɹˈeɪd͡ʒ/
Younger than the legal age allowed for something, such as drinking or voting.
omelet
A2
/ˈɑːmlət/
A dish made of beaten eggs cooked in a pan, often folded around a filling such as cheese or ham.
intrusion
B2
/ɪnˈtɹuːʒən/
The act of entering a place or situation where you are not wanted.
prestige
B2
/pɹɛsˈtiːd͡ʒ/
Respect and admiration gained through success, position, or wealth.
astray
C1
/əˈstɹeɪ/
Away from the correct path, place, or direction.
bedside
B1
/ˈbɛdˌsaɪd/
The space beside a bed, especially the bed of someone who is ill.