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
fluff
C2+
/flʌf/
soft light downy material; trivial or inconsequential content
formidability
C2+
/ˌfɔrmɪdəˈbɪləti/
the quality of inspiring fear, awe, or respect by strength
gnash
C2+
/ˈnæʃ/
to grind the teeth together, especially in anger or pain
gratefulness
C2+
/ˈɡreɪtfəlnəs/
the state of feeling or showing thankfulness
gratify
C2+
/ˈɡrætəˌfaɪ/
to give pleasure or satisfaction to
grimace
C2+
/ˈɡrɪməs/
a twisted facial expression of pain or disgust
heaviness
C2+
/ˈhɛvinəs/
the quality of being heavy in weight, mood, or burden
hedonic
C2+
/hiːˈdɑːnɪk/
relating to pleasure or the pursuit of it
hedonistic
C2+
/ˌhiːdəˈnɪstɪk/
devoted to pleasure and self-gratification as a way of life
hysterics
C2+
/hɪˈstɛrɪks/
a fit of uncontrollable emotion, laughter, or weeping
imbue
C2+
/ɪmˈbju/
to fill or inspire thoroughly with a feeling or quality
imparadise
C2+
/ɪmˈpærəˌdaɪs/
to make supremely happy as if in paradise
impassion
C2+
/ɪmˈpæʃən/
to fill with intense feeling or passion
indifference
C2+
/ɪnˈdɪfərəns/
lack of interest, concern, or sympathy
indignation
C2+
/ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/
anger aroused by something perceived as unjust or unworthy
ireful
C2+
/ˈaɪərfəl/
full of anger; wrathful
kindle
C2+
/ˈkɪndəl/
to set alight or arouse a feeling
liking
C2+
/ˈlaɪkɪŋ/
a feeling of fondness or preference for something
lonelihood
C2+
/ˈloʊnliˌhʊd/
the state of being lonely; solitude
lonelily
C2+
/ˈloʊnlɪli/
in a lonely manner
lonesomeness
C2+
/ˈloʊnsəmnəs/
the feeling or state of being lonely and sad
lovelorn
C2+
/ˈlʌvˌlɔrn/
unhappy because of unrequited or lost love
misgiving
C2+
/mɪsˈɡɪvɪŋ/
a feeling of doubt, apprehension, or distrust
mourning
C2+
/ˈmɔrnɪŋ/
the expression of deep sorrow, especially for someone who has died
nerveless
C2+
/ˈnɝvləs/
lacking strength or feeling; calmly fearless
nervosity
C2+
/nɝˈvɑsəti/
the quality or state of being nervous; nervousness
numbness
C2+
/ˈnʌmnəs/
loss of sensation or feeling; emotional deadening
objectivity
C2+
/ˌɑbdʒɛkˈtɪvɪti/
the quality of judging fairly, free from personal bias or feeling
odontalgia
C2+
/ˌoʊdɑnˈtældʒə/
toothache; pain in a tooth or the teeth
offendedness
C2+
/əˈfɛndɪdnəs/
the state of feeling hurt, insulted, or resentful
otalgia
C2+
/oʊˈtældʒə/
earache; pain in the ear
outburst
C2+
/ˈaʊtbɝst/
a sudden violent release of emotion or energy
painfully
C2+
/ˈpeɪnfəli/
in a manner causing physical or emotional pain, or to an extreme degree
panicked
C2+
/ˈpænɪkt/
overcome by sudden uncontrollable fear
penitent
C2+
/ˈpɛnɪtənt/
feeling or showing sorrow for wrongdoing
plaintive
C2+
/ˈpleɪntɪv/
sounding sad and mournful
premonition
C2+
/ˌprɛməˈnɪʃən/
a strong feeling that something, often unpleasant, is about to happen
presentiment
C2+
/prɪˈzɛntɪmənt/
a feeling that something, especially something bad, is about to happen
queasy
C2+
/ˈkwizi/
feeling nauseous or uneasy in the stomach
redoubtable
C2+
/rɪˈdaʊtəbəl/
formidable and commanding respect or fear
regretfully
C2+
/rɪˈɡrɛtfəli/
with regret or a feeling of sorrow
repentant
C2+
/rɪˈpɛntənt/
feeling or expressing sincere regret for one's wrongdoing
resentful
C2+
/rɪˈzɛntfəl/
feeling bitter indignation at unfair or hurtful treatment
reverent
C2+
/ˈrɛvərənt/
feeling or showing deep and solemn respect
ruefully
C2+
/ˈrufəli/
in a manner expressing regret or sorrow
satiety
C2+
/səˈtaɪəti/
the feeling of fullness or gratification beyond which desire ceases
skittish
C2+
/ˈskɪtɪʃ/
nervous and easily startled or excitable
smarting
C2+
/ˈsmɑrtɪŋ/
causing or feeling a sharp stinging pain
solicitude
C2+
/səˈlɪsɪtud/
care, concern, or anxious attentiveness toward someone
sorrowfulness
C2+
/ˈsɑroʊfəlnəs/
the state of feeling or showing deep sorrow
stoic
C2+
/ˈstoʊɪk/
enduring pain or hardship without showing feeling or complaint
strife
C2+
/straɪf/
angry or bitter conflict or disagreement
strut
C2+
/strʌt/
to walk with a proud, stiff swagger; or a supporting bar
thankfulness
C2+
/ˈθæŋkfəlnəs/
the quality of feeling or showing gratitude
timorousness
C2+
/ˈtɪmərəsnəs/
the quality of being nervous, fearful, or easily frightened
trembling
C2+
/ˈtrɛmblɪŋ/
shaking involuntarily, as from cold, fear, or weakness
unbowed
C2+
/ʌnˈbaʊd/
not subdued or defeated; remaining proud and defiant
uncompassion
C2+
/ˌʌnkəmˈpæʃən/
lack of sympathy or pity; absence of compassion
uncompassionate
C2+
/ˌʌnkəmˈpæʃənət/
showing no sympathy or pity
unfeelingly
C2+
/ʌnˈfilɪŋli/
without sympathy or emotion; callously
unguilty
C2+
/ʌnˈɡɪlti/
free from guilt; innocent
unhappily
C2+
/ʌnˈhæpəli/
in a sad manner; unfortunately
unsatisfied
C2+
/ʌnˈsætɪsˌfaɪd/
not content or fulfilled
unthreatening
C2+
/ʌnˈθrɛtənɪŋ/
not causing fear or appearing dangerous
unworried
C2+
/ʌnˈwɜrid/
free from worry or anxiety; untroubled
wanhope
C2+
/ˈwɑn.hoʊp/
despair; the absence or failure of hope
woe
C2+
/woʊ/
great sorrow or distress, or a cause of such grief
worshipful
C2+
/ˈwɝ.ʃɪp.fəl/
feeling or showing reverence and adoration; honorable
writhe
C2+
/raɪð/
to twist or squirm, especially in pain or discomfort
animus
C2
/ˈæn.ɪ.məs/
strong hostility or ill feeling
bugbear
C1
/ˈbʌɡbɛr/
a persistent source of irritation or annoyance
infatuation
C1
/ɪnˌfætʃuˈeɪʃən/
an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone or something
knead
B1
/niːd/
to press and fold dough in order to make it smooth and elastic
overwrought
C1
/ˌoʊvərˈrɔt/
in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety
quavering
C1
/ˈkweɪvərɪŋ/
shaking or trembling in voice, often due to nervousness or emotion
scowl
B2
/skaʊl/
an angry or bad-tempered expression, typically involving a frown or grimace
smite
C1
/smaɪt/
to strike with a firm blow
stomp
B2
/stɑmp/
to tread heavily or noisily, often to express anger or frustration
ecstasiate
C2+
/ɛkˈsteɪziˌeɪt/
rare: to fill someone with ecstasy or cause someone to become ecstatic
disincline
C2+
/ˌdɪsɪnˈklaɪn/
to make someone unwilling or reluctant to do or accept something
unpitied
C2
/ʌnˈpɪt.id/
receiving no pity, sympathy, or compassionate concern
misgive
C2+
/mɪsˈɡɪv/
of one's mind or heart: to fill one with doubt, apprehension, or foreboding
fear-struck
C2+
/ˈfɪrˌstrʌk/
overcome, transfixed, or deeply affected by fear
self-gratulation
C2
/ˌsɛlfˌɡrætʃ.əˈleɪ.ʃən/
pleased reflection on one's own success, good fortune, or supposed merit; self-congratulation, often with a suggestion of complacency
sportiveness
C2
/ˈspɔrtɪvnəs/
lively, high-spirited playfulness or a tendency to frolic
inspirit
C2
/ɪnˈspɪrɪt/
literary: to give someone renewed courage, energy, or vigor
dumbfounder
C2+
/dʌmˈfaʊndɚ/
dated: to astonish or bewilder someone completely