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
85 words
live
A1
/lɪv/
Performed or broadcast at the moment it happens, not recorded.
power
A2
/[ˈpʰaə]/
The ability to control or influence people and events.
driving
A2
/ˈdɹaɪvɪŋ/
The action of operating and steering a vehicle.
wire
B1
/ˈwaɪɚ/
A thin thread of metal, often used to carry electricity.
production
A2
/pɹəˈdʌkʃən/
The process of making or growing something, usually in large amounts.
supply
B1
/səˈplaɪ/
To provide something that someone needs or wants.
nuclear
B1
/ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/
Using the energy released when atoms are split or joined.
fuel
B1
/ˈfjuːəl/
A substance such as wood, coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or power.
electricity
B1
/ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɪsɪti/
The energy carried by the flow of electric charge, used to power lights, machines, and devices.
electric
A2
/ɪˈlɛktɹɪk/
Using, producing, or powered by electricity.
unable
B1
/ʌnˈeɪbl̩/
Not able to do something; lacking the power, skill, or means.
solar
B2
/ˈsoʊ.ləɹ/
Relating to the sun.
coal
B1
/kɒl/
A hard black rock that is burned as fuel for heat and energy.
industrial
B1
/ɪnˈdɐs.tɹi.əl/
Relating to industry and the making of goods in factories.
generator
B2
/ˈdʒɛnəˌreɪtɚ/
a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy
petrol
A2
/ˈpɛt.ɹəl/
A liquid fuel made from petroleum, used to power cars and other vehicles.
atomic
B1
/əˈtɑː.mɪk/
Relating to atoms, the tiny units that make up all matter.
mining
C1
/ˈmaɪnɪŋ/
The work of digging valuable materials such as coal, metals, or minerals out of the earth.
gasoline
B1
/ˈɡæs.ə.liːn/
a volatile, flammable blend of liquid hydrocarbons refined chiefly from petroleum and used mainly as fuel in spark-ignition engines; petrol
ignition
C1
/ɪɡˈnɪʃ.ən/
the process of starting combustion or another self-sustaining energy-producing reaction
furnace
B1
/ˈfɝnɪs/
an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
horsepower
C2
/ˈhɔɹsˌpaʊɚ/
a unit of power equal to 746 watts
manufacture
B2
/ˌmænjuˈfækt͡ʃɚ/
To make goods in large quantities using machines or labor.
slag
C1
/slæɡ/
waste material separated from metal during smelting or refining
voltage
B1
/ˈvoʊltɪd͡ʒ/
the electric potential difference between two points, equal to energy transferred per unit electric charge and measured in volts
detonation
B2
/ˌdɛtəˈneɪʃən/
the act of causing an explosive device or substance to explode
kerosene
B2
/ˈkɛɹəsiːn/
A thin oil made from petroleum, used as fuel for lamps, heaters, and aircraft.
windmill
B1
/ˈwɪndˌmɪl/
a machine that uses wind-driven sails or blades to provide power, especially for grinding grain or pumping water
recharge
C1
/ɹiːˈtʃɑː(ɹ)dʒ/
To fill a battery with electrical power again after it has run out.
smelt
C1
/smɛlt/
to extract a metal from its ore by heating and chemical reduction
petroleum
B1
/pəˈtroʊ.li.əm/
a naturally occurring oily liquid mixture of hydrocarbons found in underground rock formations and refined into fuels and chemical products; crude oil
stoker
C2
/ˈstoʊ.kɚ/
a worker who feeds fuel to and tends a furnace or boiler, especially on a steamship or steam train
sawmill
C2
/ˈsɑːˌmɪl/
a factory or mill where logs are cut into boards and other lumber
foundry
C1
/ˈfaʊn.dɹi/
a factory or workshop where metal is melted and poured into molds to make cast objects
ember
C1
/ˈɛmbɚ/
a small piece of wood or coal that remains hot and glows after a fire has stopped flaming
cinder
C2
/ˈsɪndɚ/
a small piece of partly burned coal, wood, or other material
kiln
C1
/kɪln/
a furnace or heated chamber used to fire, bake, calcine, or dry materials such as pottery, bricks, lime, timber, or grain
eco
B1
/ˈikoʊ/
Not harmful to the environment; environmentally friendly.
thermonuclear
C2
/ˌθɜɹ.moʊˈn(j)uk.li.əɹ/
relating to nuclear fusion reactions that occur or are initiated at extremely high temperatures
shipbuilding
C1
/ˈʃɪpˌbɪl.dɪŋ/
the activity, craft, or industry of designing and constructing ships
superheated
B1
/ˌsuːpərˈhiːtɪd/
heated above a normal boiling, saturation, or critical temperature without undergoing the expected phase change
tannery
C2
/ˈtænəɹi/
A place where people tan hides to make leather.
durability
C2
/dəɹəˈbɪləti/
permanence by virtue of the power to resist stress or force
colliery
C2
/ˈkɑljəri/
a coal mine together with its surface buildings and equipment
diggings
C2
/ˈdɪɡ.ɪŋz/
an area where miners dig for gold or other valuable minerals
briquette
C2
/bɹɪˈkɛt/
a small compressed block of combustible material, especially charcoal or coal dust, used as fuel
placer
C2
/ˈplæsɚ/
a surface or near-surface deposit of sand or gravel containing particles of a valuable mineral, especially gold
gasworks
C2
/ˈɡæs.wɝːks/
a factory where fuel gas is produced, stored, or distributed
amperage
C2
/ˈæm.pəɹ.əd͡ʒ/
the strength of an electrical current measured in amperes
fissionable
C1
/ˈfɪʃənəbəl/
capable of undergoing nuclear fission
cordwood
C2
/ˈkɔrdˌwʊd/
firewood cut into lengths and stacked or sold by the cord
lignite
C2
/ˈlɪɡnaɪt/
a soft, brownish-black, low-grade coal intermediate between peat and bituminous coal
industrialism
C1
/ɪnˈdʌs.tri.əˌlɪz.əm/
a social and economic system based on large-scale mechanized industry rather than chiefly on agriculture or craft production
refiner
C1
/ɹɪˈfaɪnɚ/
a person or company that purifies or processes a raw substance such as oil, sugar, or metal
stannary
C2
/ˈstænəri/
historical, usually plural: one of the tin-mining districts of Cornwall and Devon, together with its mines, works, and special legal institutions
woodyard
C2
/ˈwʊdˌjɑːrd/
a yard where timber or firewood is stored, cut, processed, or sold
heatless
C1
/ˈhitləs/
without warmth or heat; cold
brickfield
C2
/ˈbrɪkˌfiːld/
chiefly British, historical: a place where clay is dug and bricks are made or fired; a brickyard
limekiln
C2
/ˈlaɪmˌkɪln/
a kiln or furnace in which limestone or shells are burned to produce lime
scarce
C2+
/skɛrs/
insufficient in supply; rarely found
throttle
C2+
/ˈθrɑːtəl/
to choke or strangle; to control the flow of fuel or power
electrify
C2+
/ɪˈlɛktrəˌfaɪ/
to charge with electricity; to thrill or excite intensely
potence
C2+
/ˈpoʊtəns/
power, potency, or strength
complemental
C2+
/ˌkɑmpləˈmɛntəl/
serving to complete or supply what is lacking; complementary
dictatorial
C2+
/ˌdɪktəˈtɔriəl/
having unlimited power; domineering and overbearing in manner
disenable
C2+
/ˌdɪsɪˈneɪbəl/
to deprive of power or ability; to disable
energize
C2+
/ˈɛnɚdʒaɪz/
to give vitality and enthusiasm to; to supply with energy
potentate
C2+
/ˈpoʊtənˌteɪt/
a ruler with great power; a monarch or sovereign
autocratic
C2+
/ˌɔtəˈkrætɪk/
ruling with absolute power; domineering
glut
C2+
/ɡlʌt/
an excessive supply; to supply or fill to excess
clout
C2+
/klaʊt/
influence or power; informally, a heavy blow
communism
C2+
/ˈkɑmjəˌnɪzəm/
a system advocating communal ownership of the means of production
conduction
C2+
/kənˈdʌkʃən/
the transmission of heat, electricity, or signals through a medium
economizer
C2+
/ɪˈkɑnəˌmaɪzɚ/
a device that saves energy or fuel, especially in a boiler
fetish
C2+
/ˈfɛtɪʃ/
an object of irrational devotion, or an item believed to hold magic power
juju
C2+
/ˈdʒudʒu/
a charm or fetish believed to hold magical power
merciful
C2+
/ˈmɝsɪfəl/
showing compassion or forgiveness toward those in one's power
supercharge
C2+
/ˈsupɚtʃɑrdʒ/
to increase the power or energy of something dramatically
throne
C2+
/θroʊn/
the ceremonial seat of a monarch; royal power itself
volition
C2+
/voʊˈlɪʃən/
the faculty or power of using one's will; a deliberate choice
wellspring
C2+
/ˈwɛl.sprɪŋ/
a source of continual supply, especially of something abstract
sycophancy
C2
/ˈsɪkəfənsi/
excessive flattery, servile compliance, or obsequious behavior intended to gain favor or advantage from someone in power
stellarator
C2
/ˈstel.əˌreɪ.tɚ/
a device that confines hot plasma for nuclear-fusion research using a twisted arrangement of external magnetic coils
tanyard
C2
/ˈtænˌjɑːrd/
the part of a tannery containing the vats and working area where hides are tanned
sawlog
C2
/ˈsɔːˌlɔɡ/
a log of suitable size and quality to be sawn into lumber at a sawmill