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
terrorize
C2+
/ˈtɛrəˌraɪz/
to fill with intense fear, often through threats or violence
abridge
C2+
/əˈbrɪdʒ/
to shorten a text or account while retaining its essential content
achy
C2+
/ˈeɪki/
affected by a dull, persistent pain
adoration
C2+
/ˌædəˈreɪʃən/
deep love, worship, or reverence
afraidness
C2+
/əˈfreɪdnəs/
the state of being afraid; fearfulness (rare)
alas
C2+
/əˈlæs/
an exclamation expressing grief, pity, or regret
alcoholicity
C2+
/ˌælkəhɔˈlɪsəti/
the degree or strength of alcoholic content in a liquid
amoret
C2+
/ˈæmərɛt/
a love token, a sweetheart, or a little cupid (archaic)
apprehensively
C2+
/ˌæprɪˈhɛnsɪvli/
in a manner showing anxiety or fear about the future
bereavement
C2+
/bɪˈrivmənt/
the state of grief and loss following someone's death
bravado
C2+
/brəˈvɑdoʊ/
a bold show of confidence, often to conceal fear
bristle
C2+
/ˈbrɪsəl/
a short stiff hair; to react with sudden anger or indignation
caprice
C2+
/kəˈpris/
a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior
cheerily
C2+
/ˈtʃɪrəli/
in a happy and brightly cheerful manner
companionship
C2+
/kəmˈpænjənˌʃɪp/
the comfort and pleasure of having company
contrite
C2+
/kənˈtraɪt/
feeling deep remorse for wrongdoing
cringe
C2+
/krɪndʒ/
to recoil or wince in embarrassment or fear
delectation
C2+
/ˌdilɛkˈteɪʃən/
delight or enjoyment; the giving of pleasure
disrelish
C2+
/dɪsˈrɛlɪʃ/
a feeling of distaste or dislike; to regard with distaste
distraught
C2+
/dɪˈstrɔt/
deeply agitated or distressed with worry or grief
enkindle
C2+
/ɛnˈkɪndəl/
to set alight or to arouse a feeling
entice
C2+
/ɛnˈtaɪs/
to attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage
excitation
C2+
/ˌɛksaɪˈteɪʃən/
the action of exciting or the state of being excited, especially in physics
expiation
C2+
/ˌɛkspiˈeɪʃən/
the act of making amends for guilt or wrongdoing
foreboding
C2+
/fɔrˈboʊdɪŋ/
a feeling that something bad is about to happen
fortitude
C2+
/ˈfɔrtɪtud/
courage and strength of mind in enduring pain or adversity
frigid
C2+
/ˈfrɪdʒɪd/
extremely cold; lacking warmth of feeling
furiousness
C2+
/ˈfjʊriəsnəs/
the state of being extremely angry or violent
gleeful
C2+
/ˈɡlifəl/
full of exuberant joy or delight
grame
C2+
/ɡreɪm/
anger, sorrow, or vexation (archaic)
gratifying
C2+
/ˈɡrætɪfaɪɪŋ/
giving pleasure or satisfaction
heartless
C2+
/ˈhɑrtləs/
lacking compassion or feeling; cruelly indifferent
hopelessness
C2+
/ˈhoʊpləsnəs/
the feeling or state of having no hope; despair
hurrah
C2+
/həˈrɑ/
a shout of joy, triumph, or approval
hysteric
C2+
/hɪˈstɛrɪk/
affected by or characterized by uncontrolled emotion or panic
infliction
C2+
/ɪnˈflɪkʃən/
the act of imposing something unpleasant, such as pain or punishment
insecurity
C2+
/ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊrɪti/
a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety; lack of safety or stability
insensible
C2+
/ɪnˈsɛnsəbəl/
unconscious or unaware; lacking feeling or perception
insentient
C2+
/ɪnˈsɛnʃənt/
incapable of feeling or perception; lifeless
intension
C2+
/ɪnˈtɛnʃən/
the internal content or connotation of a concept; intensity of effort
ire
C2+
/ˈaɪər/
intense anger; wrath
jubilant
C2+
/ˈdʒubɪlənt/
feeling or expressing great joy and triumph
lickerish
C2+
/ˈlɪkərɪʃ/
greedy, lustful, or eager for sensual pleasure
lonesome
C2+
/ˈloʊnsəm/
sad from being alone; lonely
plaint
C2+
/pleɪnt/
an expression of grief or complaint; a lament
regretful
C2+
/rɪˈɡrɛtfl/
feeling or showing sorrow or remorse
seethe
C2+
/sið/
to be filled with intense but unexpressed anger, or to boil and bubble
sensual
C2+
/ˈsɛnʃuəl/
relating to gratification of the senses or physical pleasure
serendipity
C2+
/ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪti/
the occurrence of fortunate discoveries by happy accident
speechless
C2+
/ˈspitʃləs/
unable to speak, especially through shock or strong emotion
sting
C2+
/stɪŋ/
to wound with a sharp pointed organ; a sharp tingling pain
tempestuous
C2+
/tɛmˈpɛstʃuəs/
characterized by strong, turbulent emotion or weather
token
C2+
/ˈtoʊkən/
a thing serving as a visible sign or symbol of a fact, quality, or feeling
unhopeful
C2+
/ʌnˈhoʊpfəl/
feeling or offering no hope; pessimistic
unquiet
C2+
/ʌnˈkwaɪət/
restless, anxious, or turbulent
wretched
C2+
/ˈrɛtʃɪd/
in a very unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable state
abhorrence
C2+
/əbˈhɔrəns/
a feeling of strong repugnance or disgust
absolution
C2+
/ˌæbsəˈluːʃən/
formal release from guilt, sin, or punishment
aglow
C2+
/əˈɡloʊ/
glowing with warmth, light, or emotion
alack
C2+
/əˈlæk/
an archaic exclamation expressing sorrow or regret
anxiousness
C2+
/ˈæŋkʃəsnəs/
the state of being uneasy or worried; nervous apprehension
autonomic
C2+
/ˌɔtəˈnɑmɪk/
involuntary or self-regulating, especially of the nervous system
benumbed
C2+
/bɪˈnʌmd/
deprived of feeling or sensation; numbed
blase
C2+
/blɑˈzeɪ/
unimpressed or indifferent through overfamiliarity or surfeit of pleasure
blessedly
C2+
/ˈblɛsɪdli/
in a way that brings relief, joy, or blessing
bosom
C2+
/ˈbʊzəm/
the chest or breast, especially as the seat of emotion; close and intimate
brokenhearted
C2+
/ˌbroʊkənˈhɑrtɪd/
overwhelmed by grief or disappointment, especially in love
careworn
C2+
/ˈkɛrˌwɔrn/
showing the effects of worry and prolonged anxiety
choler
C2+
/ˈkɑlɚ/
irritability or anger; one of the four medieval humors
compassionateness
C2+
/kəmˈpæʃənɪtnəs/
the quality of showing sympathy and concern for others' suffering
cowardice
C2+
/ˈkaʊɚdɪs/
a lack of bravery; shameful fear in the face of danger
crunk
C2+
/krʌŋk/
a style of energetic Southern hip-hop; wildly excited or drunk (slang)
delirious
C2+
/dɪˈlɪriəs/
in a confused, excited state; wildly ecstatic
despairful
C2+
/dɪˈspɛrfəl/
full of or marked by despair; hopeless
despisement
C2+
/dɪˈspaɪzmənt/
the act or feeling of despising; contempt
despond
C2+
/dɪˈspɑnd/
to lose heart or hope; become dejected
discontent
C2+
/ˌdɪskənˈtɛnt/
a feeling of dissatisfaction or restless unhappiness
disenchantment
C2+
/ˌdɪsɪnˈtʃæntmənt/
a feeling of disappointment after losing illusions
dishearten
C2+
/dɪsˈhɑrtən/
to cause to lose hope, courage, or enthusiasm
disheartening
C2+
/dɪsˈhɑrtənɪŋ/
causing a loss of hope or enthusiasm; discouraging
displeased
C2+
/dɪsˈplizd/
feeling annoyance or dissatisfaction
disquiet
C2+
/dɪsˈkwaɪət/
a feeling of anxiety or unease
downcast
C2+
/ˈdaʊnkæst/
feeling dejected; directed downward
dubiety
C2+
/duˈbaɪəti/
a feeling of doubt or uncertainty
edgy
C2+
/ˈɛʤi/
tense and nervous, or daringly unconventional
emotionless
C2+
/ɪˈmoʊʃənləs/
showing or feeling no emotion; impassive
emotive
C2+
/ɪˈmoʊtɪv/
arousing or expressing strong feeling
encouragingly
C2+
/ɛnˈkɝɪʤɪŋli/
in a way that gives support, confidence, or hope
epicurish
C2+
/ˈɛpɪkjʊrɪʃ/
somewhat epicurean; fond of refined sensory and especially culinary pleasure
evince
C2+
/ɪˈvɪns/
to reveal or show clearly the presence of a feeling or quality
excitable
C2+
/ɪkˈsaɪtəbəl/
easily roused to strong emotion or activity
exclamation
C2+
/ˌɛkskləˈmeɪʃən/
a sudden cry or remark expressing surprise, anger, or pain
expressively
C2+
/ɪkˈsprɛsɪvli/
in a manner that vividly conveys feeling or meaning
fervent
C2+
/ˈfɜrvənt/
showing intense, passionate feeling or zeal
fervid
C2+
/ˈfɜrvɪd/
intensely passionate or ardent; burning with feeling
feverishness
C2+
/ˈfivərɪʃnəs/
the state of being feverish or restlessly excited