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.
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All 27,237 words
142 words
play
A1
/pleɪ/
A story written to be performed by actors on a stage.
die
A2
/daɪ/
To stop living.
part
A2
/pɑɹt/
One of the pieces or amounts that make up a whole.
party
A1
/ˈpɑɹ.ti/
A social event where people meet to celebrate, eat, and have fun.
fun
A1
/fʊn/
Enjoyment, amusement, or a good time.
wedding
A2
/ˈwɛdɪŋ/
A ceremony at which two people get married, often with a celebration afterwards.
movie
A1
/ˈmuːvi/
A story told through moving pictures and sound, shown on a screen.
film
A2
/fɪlm/
A story or events recorded as moving pictures and shown in a cinema or on screen; a movie.
star
A1
/stɑɹ/
A bright point of light seen in the night sky.
relax
A2
/ɹɪˈlæks/
To rest and become calm, free from worry or effort.
joke
A2
/d͡ʒoʊk/
Something said or done to make people laugh.
hero
A2
/ˈhɪɹ.oʊ/
A person who is admired for their bravery or for doing something good and difficult.
cast
B2
/kast/
To choose an actor for a role in a film or play.
toy
A2
/taɪ/
An object for children to play with.
festival
A1
/ˈfɛstəv(ə)l/
A series of special events celebrating something, such as music, film, or culture.
footage
C1
/ˈfʊtɪd͡ʒ/
A piece of film or video that has been recorded.
comedy
B1
/ˈkɑmədi/
Entertainment, such as films or shows, that is meant to make people laugh.
musical
A2
/ˈmju.zɪ.kəl/
Connected with music or its performance.
cinema
A1
/ˈsɪn.ə.mə/
A building where people go to watch films.
plot
B1
/plɑt/
The main events and story of a book, film, or play.
entertainment
A2
/ˌɛn.tɚˈteɪn.mənt/
Activity such as films, music, or games that gives people enjoyment.
celebration
B1
/ˌsɛl.əˈbɹeɪ.ʃən/
A party or special event held to mark a happy occasion.
gamble
B1
/ˈgæmbəl/
to risk money on a game, contest, or uncertain event in the hope of winning more
scenario
C1
/sɪˈnɛəɹioʊ/
A description of a possible sequence of events that might happen.
hobby
A1
/ˈhɑ.bi/
An activity that you enjoy doing in your free time.
amateur
C1
/ˈæ.mə.t͡ʃɚ/
A person who does an activity for pleasure rather than as a paid job.
pursuit
B2
/pɜːɹˈsuːt/
The act of trying hard to achieve or get something.
suspenseful
C2
/səˈspɛnsfəl/
causing excited uncertainty or anxiety about what will happen next
trump
C1
/tɹʌmp/
a suit or card in a card game that outranks the others
amusement
A2
/əˈmjuzmənt/
The feeling of being entertained or finding something funny.
heroine
C1
/ˈhɪɹoʊɪn/
The main female character in a story, film, or play.
leisure
A2
/ˈlɛʒə(ɹ)/
Time when you are free from work and can relax and do what you enjoy.
gala
C1
/ˈɡeɪ.lə/
a special public celebration or entertainment, often held for a formal or charitable purpose
garland
C1
/ˈɡɑːr.lənd/
a decorative chain or ring of flowers, leaves, or other material, worn or hung as an ornament
giggle
B1
/ˈɡɪɡl̩/
To laugh in a quiet, silly, or nervous way.
arcade
B1
/ɑrˈkeɪd/
a place containing coin-operated or electronic games for public entertainment
playful
A2
/ˈpleɪfl̩/
Full of fun and energy; wanting to play.
farce
C1
/fɑɹs/
A situation that is absurd or ridiculous, often because it is so badly handled.
cabaret
C1
/ˌkæbəˈreɪ/
live entertainment consisting of songs, comedy, dance, or short acts presented in a restaurant, nightclub, or intimate theater
enjoyable
B1
/ɛnˈd͡ʒɔɪ.ə.bl̩/
Giving pleasure; pleasant and fun.
bonfire
C2
/ˈbɑːn.faɪr/
a large controlled outdoor fire, especially one lit for celebration or as a signal
festive
B1
/ˈfɛstɪv/
Cheerful and full of fun, as at a holiday or celebration.
sequel
C1
/ˈsiːkwəl/
A book, film, or play that continues the story of an earlier one.
ceremonial
C2
/ˌsɛɹɪˈmoʊniəl/
marked by pomp or ceremony or formality
checkers
A2
/ˈtʃɛkərz/
US: a two-player board game in which pieces move diagonally and capture opposing pieces by jumping over them; draughts
jubilee
C2
/ˈd͡ʒubəˌli/
a special anniversary or the celebration of it
raffle
B2
/ˈræfəl/
a prize drawing in which people buy numbered tickets and winners are chosen at random
domino
C2
/ˈdɑːmɪnoʊ/
a small rectangular game tile divided into two squares marked with dots
adaptation
C1
/ˌæd.æpˈteɪ.ʃən/
The process of changing to fit a new situation or environment.
nightcap
B2
/ˈnaɪtˌkæp/
an alcoholic drink taken at the end of an evening, especially shortly before bed
thriller
B1
/ˈθɹɪ.ləɹ/
An exciting book, film, or play full of suspense, often about crime or danger.
soundtrack
B2
/ˈsaʊndˌtɹæk/
The music recorded for a film, video game, or similar work.
juggle
B2
/ˈd͡ʒʌɡəl/
to repeatedly throw and catch several objects so that at least one remains in the air
trapeze
C2
/trəˈpiːz/
a horizontal bar suspended by two ropes, used by acrobats for swinging performances
melodrama
C2
/ˈmɛl.əˌdɹɑː.mə/
a sensational dramatic work with exaggerated emotions, clear moral oppositions, stock characters, and an eventful plot
portray
C1
/poːˈtɹæ̝ɪ̯/
To describe or represent someone or something in a particular way.
protagonist
C1
/pɹoʊˈtæɡ.ə.nɪst/
The main character in a story, film, or play.
mediation
C2
/ˌmidiˈeɪʃən/
The process of helping two sides settle a dispute through a neutral third party.
acrobat
C2
/ˈæk.ɹə.bæt/
a performer or athlete who carries out difficult feats of balance, agility, and coordination, especially in a circus
frolic
C2
/ˈfɹɑlɪk/
To play and move about in a happy, lively, carefree way.
backgammon
B2
/ˈbækˌɡæmən/
a board game for two players who move fifteen checkers according to dice rolls and try to bear them all off first
bunting
B2
/ˈbʌntɪŋ/
coloured flags, cloth, or paper hung as festive decoration
soiree
C2
/swɑːˈreɪ/
formal: an evening social gathering or party, often held in a private home and sometimes featuring music or conversation
marquee
C2
/mɑɹˈkiː/
a large tent used for an outdoor event
cameo
C2
/ˈkæm.i.oʊ/
a small but noticeable role or appearance by a well-known person in a film, play, or other work
pantomime
C2
/ˈpæn.təˌmaɪm/
in Britain, a comic musical stage show based on a traditional story and performed especially around Christmas
skittles
C2
/ˈskɪtəlz/
a game in which players roll or throw a ball to knock down a group of wooden pins
fete
C2
/feɪt/
An outdoor public celebration or party, often held to raise money for charity.
juggler
C2
/ˈdʒʌɡlɚ/
a performer who repeatedly throws and catches several objects or performs similar dexterity tricks
checker
A2
/ˈtʃɛkɚ/
a flat round piece used in checkers, draughts, backgammon, and some other board games
tinsel
C1
/ˈtɪn.səl/
thin strips or threads of shiny material used as decoration
sleight
C2
/slaɪt/
skillful use of the hands, especially in performing tricks
romp
C2
/ɹɑmp/
To play in a lively, rough, and energetic way.
gaiety
B2
/ˈɡeɪ.ə.ti/
A feeling of happiness and cheerfulness.
palais
C2
/pəˈleɪ/
a palace or grand public building, especially one with a French name or cultural setting
kaleidoscope
C2
/kəˈlaɪdəˌskoʊp/
a tube containing mirrors and loose colored pieces that form changing symmetrical patterns when rotated
marionette
C1
/ˌmæɹiəˈnɛt/
a puppet moved from above by strings attached to its limbs
harlequin
C2
/ˈhɑːrlɪkwɪn/
the agile, mischievous servant-clown of Italian commedia dell'arte, traditionally dressed in a diamond-patterned costume
ringmaster
C2
/ˈrɪŋˌmæstər/
the person who directs and announces the acts in a circus ring
whist
C2
/ˈwɪst/
a card game for four players who form two partnerships
angler
C2
/ˈæŋ.ɡlɚ/
a person who catches fish with a rod, hook, and line, especially for recreation
tomfoolery
C2
/ˌtɑːmˈfuː.lɚ.i/
playful, foolish, or nonsensical behavior or talk
ventriloquism
C2
/vɛnˈtɹɪləkwɪzəm/
the art of speaking with little visible lip movement so that the voice seems to come from another source
summarily
C2
/səˈmɛɹɪli/
Suddenly and without ceremony or proper discussion.
entitle
B2
/ənˈtaɪtəl/
To give someone the right to have or do something.
tic-tac-toe
C2+
/ˌtɪk.tækˈtoʊ/
a game in which two players alternately mark a three-by-three grid and try to complete a row of three matching symbols
stargazing
C2
/ˈstɑrˌɡeɪzɪŋ/
observation of the stars
outdoorsman
C1
/ˈaʊtˌdɔːrz.mən/
chiefly North American, a man experienced in outdoor pursuits such as hiking, hunting, fishing, or camping
farcical
C2
/ˈfɑː(ɹ)sɪkəl/
So ridiculous or absurd that it seems like a joke.
adhesion
C2
/ædˈhiːʒən/
The way one surface sticks to another.
piquet
C2
/pɪˈkeɪ/
a card game for two players using a thirty-two-card pack and scoring combinations and tricks
popgun
C2
/ˈpɑpˌɡʌn/
a toy gun that shoots a cork or similar object and makes a popping sound
quadrille
C2
/kwɑˈdrɪl/
a four-player card game derived from ombre and especially popular in the eighteenth century
greenroom
C2
/ˈɡriːnˌruːm/
a room in a theater, studio, or venue where performers wait or relax before and after appearing
streamer
B1
/ˈstɹiːmɚ/
a long narrow strip of cloth, paper, or similar material used as decoration or a flag
subplot
B2
/ˈsʌb.plɑt/
A second, less important story within the main story of a book, film, or play.