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
counterpart
C1
/ˈkaʊntɚˌpɑɹt/
A person or thing that has the same role or function as another in a different place or system.
wristwatch
B1
/ˈɹɪstˌwɔt͡ʃ/
A watch worn on a strap or band around the wrist.
roundup
C1
/ˈraʊnˌdəp/
A short summary of the main news or events.
harrow
B2
/ˈhæɹoʊ/
A heavy farm tool dragged across ploughed land to break up and smooth the soil.
applicant
B2
/ˈæp.lə.kɪnt/
A person who formally asks for something such as a job, a place at a school, or admission.
slant
B2
/slænt/
to slope or cause something to slope in a diagonal direction
downwards
B2
/ˈdaʊnwɚdz/
Towards a lower place or position.
sag
B2
/sæɡ/
To sink or hang down in the middle, usually because of weight or age.
innermost
B1
/ˈɪnɚmoʊst/
Located furthest inside; deepest within something.
resuscitate
C2
/ɹɪˈsʌsɪˌteɪt/
To bring an unconscious or apparently dead person back to life
thirdly
B2
/ˈθɚdli/
In the third place; used to introduce a third point.
exclusion
B2
/ɪksˈkluːʒən/
The act of leaving someone or something out, or of keeping them out.
banishment
C2
/ˈbænɪʃmənt/
The state of being sent away from a place and forbidden to return; exile.
mountaintop
B1
/ˈmaʊnt(ɪ)nˌtɑp/
The highest part or peak of a mountain.
sceptical
C1
Doubtful about whether something is true, right, or worthwhile.
desolation
B2
/ˌdɛsəˈleɪʃən/
A deep feeling of sadness and loneliness.
negatively
B2
/ˈnɛgətɪvli/
In a way that is bad or harmful.
consolidate
C1
/kənˈsɑ.lə.deɪt/
To combine several things into a single, more effective whole.
nostril
B2
/ˈnɑ.stɹəl/
Either of the two openings at the bottom of the nose, used for breathing and smelling.
swivel
C2
/ˈswɪvəl/
To turn or swing around on a central point, as on a pivot.
aboriginal
B2
/ˌæb.əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.n̩.l̩/
relating to the original people who lived in a place before others arrived, especially in Australia
underside
C2
/ˈʌndɚˌsaɪd/
the lower or underneath surface of something
snowboarding
A2
The sport of sliding down snowy slopes while standing on a snowboard.
tropic
B2
/ˈtɹɒpɪk/
One of two imaginary lines around the Earth, north and south of the equator, marking the edges of the hottest region.
knee-deep
C2+
/ˌniːˈdiːp/
reaching as high as the knees, or submerged up to the knees
resuscitation
C2
/rɪˌsəsɪˈteɪʃən/
The act of bringing an unconscious or apparently dead person back to life
recuperate
C2
/ɹɪˈk(j)uːpəˌɹeɪt/
To recover, especially after an illness, injury, or exhaustion.
occupant
C1
/ˈɑ.kjə.pənt/
A person who lives in or uses a place such as a house, room, or vehicle.
intermediary
C2
/ˌɪn(t)ɚˈmidiˌɛɹi/
A person who acts as a link between two sides to help them reach an agreement.
repose
C2
/ɹəˈpoʊz/
A calm, restful state free from work or worry.
underfoot
B2
/ˌʌndɚˈfʊt/
under one's feet, especially while being stepped on or trampled
wry
C1
/ɹaɪ/
Showing dry, slightly mocking humour.
propel
C2
/pɹəˈpel/
cause to move forward with force
noun
A2
/nɒ(ʊ)n/
A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.
originate
B2
/əˈɹɪd͡ʒɪneɪt/
To begin or come into existence in a particular place or way.
intermediate
B1
/ɪn.tə(ɹ)ˈmi.di.ət/
in the middle, between two levels or extremes.
stockpile
B2
/ˈstɑkˌpaɪl/
A large supply of something kept for future use.
westward
B1
/ˈwɛst.wɚd/
Towards the west.
advantageous
C1
/ˌædvənˈteɪd͡ʒ(i)əs/
Giving a benefit or putting one in a better position.
guidebook
A2
/ˈgaɪdˌbʊk/
A book that gives information about a place, especially for tourists.
substitution
C1
/ˌsʌb.stɪˈtu.ʃən/
The act of putting one thing or person in place of another.
dais
C2
/ˈdeɪ.ɪs/
a raised platform that gives prominence to a speaker, honored person, throne, or table
stratosphere
C2
/ˈstrætəsˌfɪr/
The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, where the ozone layer absorbs the sun's ultraviolet rays.
inclusive
C1
/ɪnˈkluːsɪv/
Welcoming and fair to everyone, especially people who are often left out.
oppress
B1
/əˈpɹɛs/
To treat a group of people in a cruel and unfair way, keeping them down by force or authority.
subside
B2
/sʌbˈsaɪd/
To become less strong or intense; to die down.
midair
B2
/(ˈ)mɪdˈɛɹ/
the open air at a point above the ground; the state of being airborne
globally
B2
/ˈɡloʊbəli/
Across the whole world.
interlude
C2
/ˈɪntə(ɹ)luːd/
A short period or event that comes between two longer ones.
wrangle
C1
/ˈɹæŋɡəl/
To argue or quarrel noisily and at length.
parasitic
C2
/ˌpɛɹ.əˈsɪt.ɪk/
Relating to or caused by parasites, which live on or in another organism.
undersea
B2
/ˌəndɝˈsiː/
Existing or used below the surface of the sea.
impede
C1
/ɪmˈpiːd/
To slow down or get in the way of something, making it harder.
eclectic
C1
/ɛkˈlɛk.tɪk/
Made up of a wide mixture of styles, ideas, or things chosen from many sources.
preside
C1
/pɹɪˈzaɪd/
To be in charge of a meeting, ceremony, or organization.
cloister
C2
/ˈklɔɪstɚ/
A covered walkway around an open courtyard, usually in a monastery or cathedral
citywide
B2
/ˈsɪt.iˌwaɪd/
Happening or spreading across a whole city.
biochemistry
B1
/ˌbaɪəʊˈkɛmɪstɹi/
The study of the chemical processes that happen inside living things.
nether
C2
/ˈnɛðɚ/
situated below or beneath; lower, chiefly in literary or fixed expressions
girth
C2
/ɡɝθ/
stable gear consisting of a band around a horse's belly that holds the saddle in place
retention
C1
/ɹɪˈtɛnʃən/
The act of keeping something rather than losing or giving it up.
globalization
B2
/ˌɡloʊ.bə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
The process by which businesses, ideas, and cultures spread and connect across the whole world.
ascendant
C2
/əˈsɛndənt/
most powerful or important or influential
cul-de-sac
C2
/ˈkʌldəsæk/
a street, passage, or route closed at one end
deficient
C2
/dɪˈfɪʃənt/
Not having enough of something that is needed.
transcendent
C2
/tɹæn(t)ˈsɛndənt/
beyond and outside the ordinary range of human experience or understanding
rectangular
B2
/ɹɛkˈtæŋɡjəlɚ/
Shaped like a rectangle; having four right angles.
suitably
B2
/ˈsuːtəbli/
In a way that is right or appropriate for the situation.
motley
C1
/ˈmɑtli/
Made up of many different and oddly mixed kinds of people or things.
hitherto
C2
/ˈhɪðəɹˌtu/
Until now; up to this point in time.
whitewash
C2
/ˈwaɪtwɒʃ/
cover with whitewash
thereabouts
C1
/ˈðer.ə.baʊts/
approximately; near the stated number, amount, or time
retrospective
C2
/ˌɹɛt.ɹə(ʊ)ˈspɛk.tɪv/
Looking back on or relating to the past.
suburbia
C1
/səˈbɝ.bi.ə/
The suburbs of a city, considered as a place and way of life.
cranny
C1
/ˈkɹæni/
a small, narrow opening, crack, or crevice
prostrate
C2
/ˈpɹɑstɹeɪt/
Lying flat on the ground, usually face down.
reunification
B1
/riːˌuːnəfəˈkeɪʃən/
The act of joining something back together after it has been divided, especially a country.
aimless
C1
/ˈeɪm.ləs/
Without purpose, goal, or direction.
irrevocable
C2
/iˈɹɛvəkəbəl/
Impossible to change, reverse, or take back; final.
intangible
C2
/ɪnˈtæn.d͡ʒə.bəl/
hard to pin down or identify
overlay
C2
/ˌoʊvɚˈleɪ/
To lay or spread something over the surface of something else.
floodgates
C2
/ˈflʌdˌgeɪts/
Gates that control the flow of water; often used figuratively for whatever is holding back a sudden rush of something.
wayside
C1
/ˈweɪsaɪd/
The edge or side of a road or path.
liaise
C2
/liːˈeɪz/
To work together and exchange information to reach a common goal.
collider
C2
/kəˈlaɪdɚ/
A machine that speeds up particles and makes two beams of them crash into each other for research.
conformity
C1
/kənˈfɔɹmɪti/
behaviour that follows the accepted rules or standards of a group or society
homeward
B2
/ˈhoʊmwɚd/
In the direction of home.
seesaw
B2
/ˈsi.sɔ/
a long board balanced in the middle that children sit on at each end to go up and down
flit
C2
/flɪt/
To move quickly and lightly from one place to another.
statewide
B2
/steɪtˈwaɪd/
Happening across or affecting a whole state.
thither
C2+
/ˈðɪðɚ/
to or toward that place
duplex
C2
/ˈdu.plɛks/
allowing communication in opposite directions simultaneously
spacesuit
C2
/ˈspeɪs.suːt/
a sealed protective suit with life-support equipment that allows an astronaut to survive and work in space or a near-vacuum
interpersonal
B2
/ˌɪntɝˈpɝːsənəl/
relating to relationships or communication between people.
snowboard
B1
/ˈsnoʊˌbɔɹd/
A wide board that you stand on to slide down snowy slopes.
interject
C1
/ɪn.tɚˈd͡ʒɛkt/
To break into a conversation to say something.