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
365 words
fight
A2
/fəɪt/
To take part in a physical or violent struggle against someone.
fire
A1
/[ˈfaː(ə)]/
The flames, heat, and light produced when something burns.
war
A2
/wɔɹ/
An armed fight between countries or large groups, usually involving military forces.
gun
A2
/ˈɡʌn/
A weapon that fires bullets or other projectiles.
attack
A2
/əˈtæk/
To use violence against someone or something.
army
B1
/ˈɑɹ.mi/
A country's military force, especially the part that fights on land.
peace
A2
/pis/
A situation without war or fighting between countries or groups.
fighting
B1
/ˈfaɪ.tɪŋ/
The act of taking part in a physical or armed struggle.
private
A2
/ˈpɹaɪ.vɪt/
Meant for one particular person or group, not for everyone.
enemy
B1
/ˈɛn.ə.mi/
A person who hates you, opposes you, or wants to harm you.
battle
B1
/ˈbætl̩/
A fight between armies or groups of people during a war.
weapon
B1
/ˈwɛp.ən/
An object such as a gun, knife, or sword used to fight or harm people.
bomb
B1
/bɑm/
A weapon that explodes and causes damage.
military
A2
/ˈmɪl.ɪˌtɛ.ɹi/
Relating to the armed forces such as the army, navy, and air force.
strike
A2
/stiː.ɹaɪk/
To hit someone or something hard.
soldier
A2
/ˈsoʊld͡ʒɚ/
A person who serves in an army.
defense
B1
/ˈdiːˌfɛns/
The act of protecting someone or something from attack or harm.
violence
B1
/ˈvaɪ.(ə.)ləns/
Behaviour that uses physical force to hurt, damage, or kill.
armed
A2
/ɑɹmd/
Carrying or using weapons.
maid
C2+
/meɪd/
An adult or adolescent female servant or cleaner (short for maidservant). (In feudal times this could be anyone from a high-ranking assistant to a low-ranking cleaner.)
revolution
B2
/ˌɹɛv.əˈluː.ʃən/
A sudden, often violent attempt by people to overthrow a government and change the political system.
resist
B1
/ɹɪˈzɪst/
To stop yourself from doing or having something you want.
fort
C2
/fɔɹt/
A structure improvised from furniture, bedding, etc., for playing games.
fighter
A2
/ˈfaɪtɚ/
A person who fights, especially in a war or a sport like boxing.
admiral
B2
/ˈædmərəl/
a senior naval officer, typically of the highest ranks and often commanding a fleet
combat
C1
/ˈkɑmˌbæt/
To take action to stop or reduce something harmful.
conflict
B1
/ˈkɑn.flɪkt/
A serious disagreement or fight between people or groups.
scout
B2
/skaʊt/
a person sent ahead to observe an area or gather information, especially about an enemy
vault
C2
/vɑlt/
to jump across or leap over an obstacle
cannon
C2+
/ˈkæn.ən/
a large heavy gun for firing metal balls or shells
martial
B2
/ˈmɑɹʃəl/
Relating to war, soldiers, or the armed forces.
scotch
C1
/skɑt͡ʃ/
A block for a wheel or other round object; a chock, wedge, prop, or other support, to prevent slipping.
overcome
B1
/ˌoʊ.vəɹˈkʌm/
To successfully deal with or control a problem or difficulty.
pistol
C1
/ˈpɪstəl/
A lively, high-energy person.
invasion
B1
/ɪnˈveɪʒən/
The act of entering a country or area with an army to take control of it.
rascal
C2
/ˈɹæskl̩/
A dishonest person; a rogue, a scoundrel, a trickster.
missile
B2
/ˈmɪs.(ə)l/
A flying weapon that is powered and can be steered toward its target.
shotgun
C2
/ˈʃɑtɡʌn/
a smoothbore firearm designed to fire cartridges containing many small pellets or a single slug
ransom
C2+
/ˈɹæn.səm/
Money paid for the freeing of a hostage.
gin
C2+
/d͡ʒɪn/
trap with a snare
offensive
B1
/əˈfɛnsɪv/
Likely to upset or anger people; rude or insulting.
armor
A2
/ˈɑːɹ.mɚ/
tough more-or-less rigid protective covering of an animal or plant
hostile
C1
/ˈhɑstəl/
Unfriendly and showing strong dislike or opposition.
trophy
B2
/ˈtɹoʊfi/
A cup, statue, or other object given as a prize for winning a competition.
conquer
B1
/ˈkɑŋkɚ/
To take control of a country or people by force, usually in war.
bombing
B2
/ˈbɒmɪŋ/
An attack in which bombs are dropped or set off.
regiment
B2
/ˈɹɛd͡ʒɪmənt/
a military unit made up of several smaller groups of soldiers
ammunition
C1
/ˌæmjuˈnɪʃən/
information that can be used to attack or defend a claim or argument or viewpoint
fortress
B1
/ˈfoɹ.tɹɪs/
A fortified place; a large and permanent fortification, sometimes including a town; for example a fort, a castle; a stronghold; a place of defense or security.
sabotage
C2
/ˈsæb.ə.tɑːʒ/
deliberate damage, obstruction, or disruption intended to weaken an activity, organization, or opponent
bedtime
C2
/ˈbɛdtaɪm/
The time or hour at which one retires to bed in order to sleep.
dove
B2
/dʌv/
A small, usually white or grey bird similar to a pigeon, often used as a symbol of peace.
relieve
B2
/ɹɪˈliːv/
To make pain, worry, or a problem less severe.
artillery
B2
/ɑɹˈtɪləɹi/
Weapons, especially siege engines.
waltz
C2
/wɔlts/
A ballroom dance in 3/4 time.
wrath
C1
/ɹæθ/
belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong, personified as one of the deadly sins
foam
C1
/foʊm/
a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
troop
B2
/tɹuːp/
Soldiers, especially when thought of as a group.
ashore
B2
/əˈʃɔɹ/
towards the shore from the water
truce
B2
/truːs/
an agreement between opponents to stop fighting or arguing for a limited time
warfare
C1
/ˈwɔɹfɛɹ/
The activity of fighting a war or armed conflict.
veteran
B2
/ˈvɛ.tə.ɹən/
A person who has served in the armed forces, especially during a war.
siege
C1
/siːd͡ʒ/
Military action.
groan
C2
/ˈɡɹoʊ̯n/
indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
dungeon
C2+
/ˈdʌn.d͡ʒən/
An underground prison or vault, typically built underneath a castle.
sideways
C2
/ˈsaɪdweɪz/
toward one side
typewriter
C2
/ˈtaɪˌpraɪtɝ/
One who uses a typewriter; a typist.
commandant
C1
/ˈkɑːmənˌdænt/
the officer in charge of a military unit, fort, camp, school, prison, or district
cadet
C2
/kəˈdɛt/
a student or trainee preparing to become a military or police officer
staircase
C2+
/ˈstɛɹˌkeɪs/
a way of access, upward and downward, consisting of a set of steps
precaution
C2
/pɹiːˈkɔːʃən/
a precautionary measure warding off impending danger, damage or injury
freight
B1
/ˈfreɪt/
the charge for transporting something by common carrier
bein
C2+
/biːn/
Wealthy; well-to-do.
mace
B2
/meɪs/
a heavy club, sometimes fitted with a spiked metal head, formerly used as a weapon
confrontation
C1
/ˌkɑn.fɹənˈteɪ.ʃən/
An angry meeting or argument between people who disagree, often face to face.
pantry
C2
/ˈpæntɹi/
A small room, closet, or cabinet usually located in or near the kitchen, dedicated to shelf-stable food storage or storing kitchenware, like a larder, but smaller.
feud
C2
/fjuːd/
a long and bitter quarrel between people, families, or groups, sometimes involving violence
disarm
B2
/dɪsˈɑɹm/
to take a weapon or the means of attack away from a person or group
unworthy
B1
/ʌnˈwɝði/
lacking in value or merit
housekeeping
C2
/ˈhaʊˌskiːpɪŋ/
The chores of maintaining a house as a residence, especially cleaning.
humbly
C2
/ˈhʌmbli/
in a humble manner
lumber
C2
/ˈlʌm.bɚ/
move heavily or clumsily
gunner
B2
/ˈɡʌnər/
a member of the armed forces who operates or serves a gun, especially an artillery piece
outpost
B2
/ˈaʊt.poʊst/
a small military position located some distance from the main force or base
commodore
C2
/ˈkɑmədɔr/
a naval officer ranking above captain and below rear admiral
swordsman
C1
/ˈsɔːrdz.mən/
a person skilled in fighting or fencing with a sword
self-respect
C2+
/ˌsɛlfrɪˈspɛkt/
The knowledge of one's own worth.
liberate
B1
/ˈlɪb.ə.ɹeɪt/
To set someone or something free.
picket
C1
/ˈpɪk.ɪt/
a person or group stationed outside a workplace or other site to protest and discourage entry
firearm
B2
/ˈfaɪəɹˌɑː(ɹ)m/
A gun that can be carried and used as a weapon.
reconnaissance
C1
/ɹiˈkɒnəsəns/
the act of reconnoitring (especially to gain information about an enemy or potential enemy)
battleship
B2
/ˈbætəlˌʃɪp/
a large, heavily armored warship armed with powerful guns, especially a twentieth-century capital ship
evasive
C2
/ɪˈveɪsɪv/
deliberately vague or ambiguous
saber
C1
/ˈseɪ.bɚ/
a cavalry sword with a curved, single-edged blade
deserter
B2
/dɪˈzɝtɚ/
a member of the armed forces who leaves a post or service without permission and intends not to return
adversary
C1
/ˈæd.vəɹˌsɛɹi/
An enemy, opponent, or rival.