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
107 words
order
A1
/ˈɔɹ.dɚ/
The way things are arranged in relation to one another.
hotel
A1
/ˈhoʊ.tɛl/
A building where travellers pay to stay overnight and are given meals and other services.
service
B1
/ˈsɝ.vɪs/
Work done by one person or organization that helps or benefits others.
store
A2
/stɔɹ/
A building or shop where you can buy things.
shop
A1
/ʃɑp/
A building or place where goods or services are sold to the public.
restaurant
A1
/ˈɹɛst(ə)ˌɹɑnt/
A place where you can buy and eat meals, usually served at your table.
ticket
A1
/ˈtɪk.ət/
A printed piece of paper that shows you have paid to travel or to enter a place.
appointment
A2
/əˈpɔɪnt.mɪnt/
An arrangement to meet someone or be somewhere at a set time.
sale
A2
/seːl/
The act of selling something, or an item that is sold.
delivery
B1
/dɪˈlɪv.(ə.)ɹi/
The act of taking goods, mail, or other items to a place or person.
mall
A2
/mɔːl/
A large building or area with many shops and restaurants under one roof.
waiter
A1
/ˈweɪtɚ/
A person, especially a man, whose job is to serve food and drink to customers at their tables in a restaurant.
counter
B1
/ˈkaʊn.tɚ/
A long, flat surface in a shop, kitchen, or bank where people are served.
repair
A2
/ɹɪˈpɛɹ/
To fix something that is broken or damaged.
waitress
A1
/ˈweɪ.tɹɪs/
A woman whose job is to serve food and drink to customers at their tables in a restaurant.
reservation
B1
/ˌɹɛz.ɚˈveɪ.ʃən/
An arrangement made in advance to keep a room, table, or seat for you.
receipt
A2
/ɹɪˈsit/
A piece of paper showing that you have paid for something.
stall
B1
/stɔl/
A small open shop or table where goods are sold, especially in a market.
purchase
B2
/ˈpɝ.t͡ʃəs/
Something that you have bought.
buyer
B1
/ˈbaɪ.ɚ/
A person who buys something.
merchant
B1
/ˈmɝt͡ʃənt/
A person who buys and sells goods, especially in large amounts or as a business.
cupboard
A2
/ˈkʌb.ɚd/
A piece of furniture with doors and shelves, used to store food, dishes, or other things.
sew
A2
/ˈsoʊ̯/
To join or repair pieces of cloth using a needle and thread.
cafeteria
A2
/ˌkæfəˈtɪ(ə)ɹi.ə/
A self-service restaurant where you choose your food and carry it to a table, often in a school or workplace.
dictionary
A1
/ˈdɪk.ʃəˌnɛ.ɹi/
A book or app that lists words in alphabetical order and explains their meanings, spelling, and pronunciation.
booking
B1
/ˈbʊkɪŋ/
An arrangement to have a seat, room, or service kept for you at a later time.
bookstore
A1
/ˈbʊkˌstɔr/
A shop where books are sold.
comply
C1
/kəmˈplaɪ/
To do what a rule, order, or request demands.
refund
B1
/ɹɪˈfʌnd/
Money that is given back to you, usually because you returned something.
retail
B1
/ˈɹiˌteɪl/
The selling of goods directly to ordinary customers.
drugstore
A2
/ˈdɹʌɡ.stoɹ/
A shop that sells medicines along with everyday items like cosmetics and snacks.
functional
B2
/ˈfʌŋkt͡ʃənəl/
Working properly; in good working order.
catalog
B2
/ˈkætəlɔg/
A book or list showing items, often things for sale.
draper
C2
/ˈdreɪpər/
a person who sells cloth, curtains, and related textile goods
shoplifting
B2
/ˈʃɑːˌplɪftɪŋ/
The crime of stealing goods from a shop while pretending to be a customer.
bazaar
B2
/bəˈzɑɹ/
a marketplace or shopping district consisting of many small shops or stalls, especially in the Middle East or South Asia
consecutive
C1
/kənˈsɛkjətɪv/
Following one after another without a break.
rearrange
B1
/ˌɹiːəˈɹeɪndʒ/
To change the order, position, or arrangement of things.
unplug
C1
/ʌnˈplʌɡ/
To disconnect an electrical device by pulling its plug out of the socket.
consignment
C2
/kənˈsaɪnmənt/
A batch of goods that is sent or delivered, especially for sale.
check-in counter
B1
The act of reporting your arrival at an airport or hotel, often at a special desk.
bookshop
A2
/ˈbʊkˌʃɑːp/
A shop where books are sold.
commissary
C1
/ˈkɑːməˌseri/
a store that supplies food and other goods to members of a military base, prison, or similar institution
alphabetical
B2
/ˌælfəˈbɛtɪkəl/
Arranged in the order of the letters of the alphabet.
disorganized
B2
/dɪˈsɔrgəˌnaɪzd/
Not arranged or planned in a clear, ordered way; messy and confused.
wares
C1
/wɛɹz/
Goods or products that are offered for sale.
respectively
C1
/ɹɪˈspɛktɪvli/
In the order already mentioned, matching each item to the one before it.
haphazard
C2
/(ˌ)hæpˈhæz.ɚd/
Done without any clear plan or order; careless and random.
shoplift
B2
/ˈʃɒplɪft/
To steal goods from a shop while pretending to be a customer.
tobacconist
C2
/təˈbæk.ə.nɪst/
a person who sells tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and related goods
bookseller
B2
/ˈbʊkˌsɛlɚ/
a person whose business is selling books
consign
C2
/kənˈsaɪn/
To hand something or someone over to another's care or keeping.
paperless
B2
/ˈpeɪpɝləs/
Using electronic methods instead of paper to store or send information.
coster
C2
/ˈkɑː.stɚ/
dated British: a street seller of fruit, vegetables, or other goods; a costermonger
perfumery
C2
/pɚˈfjuːməri/
perfumes or fragrant preparations collectively
shopkeeping
C1
/ˈʃɑpˌkiːpɪŋ/
the business or occupation of owning, managing, or working in a retail shop
porterage
C2
/ˈpɔɹtəɹəd͡ʒ/
the work or service of carrying luggage or goods, especially by a porter
touter
C2+
/ˈtaʊtɚ/
a person who solicits customers or promotes something in an insistent or obtrusive way
check-in desk
B1
department store
A2
grocery store
A2
shop assistant
A2
bespeak
C2+
/bɪˈspiːk/
to be evidence of; to order or reserve in advance
burglarize
C2+
/ˈbɝɡləˌraɪz/
to break into a building unlawfully in order to steal
outright
C2+
/ˈaʊtˌraɪt/
wholly and completely; without reservation
receptacle
C2+
/rɪˈsɛptəkəl/
a container used to hold or store something
chasten
C2+
/ˈtʃeɪsən/
to discipline or subdue in order to correct or improve
chippy
C2+
/ˈtʃɪpi/
irritable and quarrelsome; or a British fish-and-chip shop
chronicle
C2+
/ˈkrɑnɪkəl/
a factual written account of events in order of occurrence
commandment
C2+
/kəˈmændmənt/
a divine rule or authoritative order
disordered
C2+
/dɪsˈɔrdɚd/
lacking order or arrangement; in a state of confusion
alphabetic
C2+
/ˌælfəˈbɛtɪk/
arranged in or relating to the order of the alphabet
alphabetize
C2+
/ˈælfəbəˌtaɪz/
to arrange in alphabetical order
arsenal
C2+
/ˈɑrsənəl/
a store or collection of weapons and military equipment
auxesis
C2+
/ɔɡˈzisɪs/
rhetorical amplification arranging ideas in ascending order of importance; growth by cell enlargement
countermine
C2+
/ˈkaʊntɚˌmaɪn/
to thwart an enemy's mine by digging a counter-tunnel; to counter a hostile scheme
disarrange
C2+
/ˌdɪsəˈreɪndʒ/
to disturb the order or arrangement of; to throw into disorder
disorganization
C2+
/dɪsˌɔrɡənəˈzeɪʃən/
lack of order or systematic arrangement; confusion
disruptive
C2+
/dɪsˈrʌptɪv/
causing disturbance or upheaval; radically altering an established order
exportation
C2+
/ˌɛkspɔrˈteɪʃən/
the act of sending goods abroad for sale
hoard
C2+
/hɔrd/
to accumulate and hide away a store of something
injunction
C2+
/ɪnˈdʒʌŋkʃən/
a court order requiring or forbidding an action; an authoritative command
permutation
C2+
/ˌpɜrmjəˈteɪʃən/
an arrangement of items in a particular order, or one of several variations
precedence
C2+
/ˈprɛsɪdəns/
priority in importance, order, or rank
provider
C2+
/prəˈvaɪdɚ/
one who supplies something or supports a family
sequential
C2+
/sɪˈkwɛnʃəl/
following in a logical order or consecutive succession
supranatural
C2+
/ˌsuprəˈnætʃərəl/
transcending or lying beyond the natural order; supernatural
bakeshop
C2+
/ˈbeɪkˌʃɑp/
a bakery; a shop where bread and pastries are made or sold
banquette
C2+
/bæŋˈkɛt/
an upholstered bench along a wall, especially in a restaurant
cashier
C2+
/kæˈʃɪr/
a person who handles payments; to dismiss from service in disgrace
cetacean
C2+
/sɪˈteɪʃən/
a marine mammal of the order including whales, dolphins, and porpoises
chandlery
C2+
/ˈtʃændləri/
a shop or store selling supplies, especially for ships
chelonian
C2+
/kɪˈloʊniən/
a reptile of the order comprising turtles and tortoises
collate
C2+
/kəˈleɪt/
to collect and arrange items in proper order, especially for comparison
commandery
C2+
/ˈkɑmənˌdɛri/
a district or estate under the command of a knightly order
enjoin
C2+
/ɛnˈʤɔɪn/
to instruct or urge to do something; to prohibit by order