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
526 words
control
A2
/kənˈtɹoʊl/
The power to direct, manage, or make decisions about something.
energy
A2
/ˈɛn.əɹ.d͡ʒi/
The strength and ability to be active without getting tired.
science
A1
/ˈsaɪ.əns/
The study of the physical world through observation and experiment, covering subjects like physics, chemistry, and biology.
research
A2
/ˈɹiːsɜːt͡ʃ/
A careful study to discover new facts or information.
lab
B1
/læb/
A room or building equipped for scientific work; short for laboratory.
theory
B1
/ˈθɪ.ɹi/
A set of ideas that explains how or why something happens, supported by evidence.
reaction
B1
/ɹiˈækʃən/
The way you behave or feel because of something that has happened.
experiment
B1
/ɪkˈspɛɹ.ə.mənt/
A scientific test done to discover something or to check whether an idea is true.
oxygen
B1
/ˈɑk.sɪ.d͡ʒən/
A colourless, odourless gas that humans and animals need to breathe and that makes up part of the air.
scientific
A2
/ˈsaɪ(.ə)n.ʈɨ.fɪk/
Relating to science or the way science is done.
discovery
B1
/dɪsˈkʌv(.ə).ɹi/
Something that is found or learned for the first time.
gravity
C1
/ˈɡɹævəti/
The natural force that pulls objects toward the earth or toward each other.
analysis
B1
/əˈnæl.ə.sɪs/
The careful study of something by examining its parts in detail.
chemical
A2
/ˈkɛm.ɪ.kəl/
A substance, such as an element or compound, used in or produced by chemistry.
poker
C2+
/ˈpoʊkɚ/
One who pokes.
vital
B2
/ˈvaɪtəl/
Extremely important; essential.
galaxy
C2
/ˈɡɛl.ək.si/
a vast gravitationally bound system of stars, gas, dust, dark matter, and other astronomical objects
react
B1
/ɹiːˈækt/
To behave in a particular way because of something that has happened.
formula
B1
/ˈfɔɹ.mjə.lə/
A mathematical or scientific rule written with symbols.
element
B1
/ˈɛləmənt/
One of the parts that together make up a whole.
genetic
B1
/d͡ʒəˈnɛt.ɪk/
Relating to genes or to the genes you inherit from your parents.
physics
B1
/ˈfɪz.ɪks/
The science that studies matter, energy, and how they affect each other.
chemistry
B1
/ˈkɛm.ɪ.stɹi/
The science that studies what substances are made of and how they change.
allergic
B1
/əˈlɝ.d͡ʒɪk/
Having a bad physical reaction to a particular substance.
ivy
C2
/ˈaɪvi/
Any of several woody, climbing, or trailing evergreen plants of the genus Hedera.
evolution
B2
/ˌɛvəˈluʃ(ə)n/
The gradual process by which something changes and develops over time.
laboratory
B1
/ˈlæb(ə)ɹəˌtɔɹi/
A room or building equipped for scientific research, experiments, or analysis.
coroner
C2
/ˈkɔɹ.ə.nɚ/
A public official who presides over an inquest into unnatural deaths, and who may have (or historically had) additional powers such as investigating cases of treasure trove.
mutant
C2
/ˈmjuː.tənt/
an organism, cell, gene, or other biological entity that carries a mutation
biology
B1
/baɪˈɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/
The science that studies living things such as plants and animals.
breakthrough
B1
/ˈbɹeɪk.θɹuː/
An important discovery or sudden advance that overcomes a major obstacle.
asteroid
C2
/ˈæst(ə)ɹɔɪd/
a natural rocky or metallic body smaller than a planet that orbits a star, especially one orbiting the Sun
hydrogen
C1
/ˈhaɪdɹəd͡ʒ(ə)n/
The lightest chemical element (symbol H), a colorless, odorless, highly flammable gas.
reactor
B1
/ɹiˈæktɚ/
A person who responds to a suggestion, stimulation or other influence.
plasma
B1
/ˈplæzmə/
(physical chemistry) a fourth state of matter distinct from solid or liquid or gas and present in stars and fusion reactors
meteor
B1
/ˈmiːtiɚ/
a streak of light produced when a small piece of matter from space enters Earth's atmosphere and becomes intensely hot
atom
A2
/ˈætəm/
The smallest part of a chemical element that can exist.
crate
C2
/kɹeɪt/
to put into a crate
beta
B2
/ˈbeɪtə/
preliminary or testing stage of a software or hardware product
gamma
B2
/ˈɡæ.mə/
the 3rd letter of the Greek alphabet
radioactive
C2
/ˌɹeɪdioʊˈæktɪv/
exhibiting or caused by radioactivity
slate
C2+
/slet/
designate or schedule
intercourse
C1
/ˈɪn.tɚˌkɔɹs/
Communication, conversation.
fusion
C1
/ˈfjuːʒən/
The act of joining separate things into one, or the result of doing so.
enthusiastic
B1
/ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk/
Showing great excitement and interest in something.
suction
C2
/ˈsʌkʃən/
the process or force by which reduced pressure draws in a fluid or makes surfaces adhere
volcanic
C1
/vɔlˈkænɪk/
of or relating to igneous rock produced by eruption and solidified on or near the earth's surface
Martian
C2
/ˈmɑːr.ʃən/
of or relating to the planet Mars or its actual or imagined inhabitants
extinction
B1
/ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/
The situation in which a species or group no longer exists.
thermal
C1
/ˈθɝməl/
relating to heat, temperature, or the transfer of heat
unicorn
C2
/ˈju.nɪ.kɔɹn/
A mythical horse, widely believed to exist until the 17th century, with a single, straight, spiraled horn projecting from its forehead.
hypothesis
C2
/[haɪˈpʰɑθəsɪs]/
An idea put forward to explain something, which can then be tested.
sap
C1
/sæp/
To slowly drain away someone's strength, energy, or determination.
watermelon
C2
/ˈwɑtəɹˌmɛlən/
An environmentalist with socialist leanings, an ecosocialist.
molecular
B1
/məˈlɛk.jə.ləɹ/
relating to or produced by or consisting of molecules
gravitational
C2
/ˌɡɹævɪˈteɪʃənəl/
Relating to or caused by gravity.
dioxide
B1
/daɪˈɑksaɪd/
A chemical compound that has two oxygen atoms in each molecule.
infrared
C2
/ˌɪnfɹəˈɹɛd/
using or relating to electromagnetic wavelengths longer than visible red light but shorter than microwaves
energetic
A2
/ˌɛnɚˈd͡ʒɛtɪk/
Full of energy and eager to be active.
cellular
B2
/ˈsɛl.ju.lɚ/
characterized by or divided into or containing cells or compartments (the smallest organizational or structural unit of an organism or organization)
blooming
B2
/ˈbluːmɪŋ/
Producing flowers; in flower.
zodiac
C2
/ˈzoʊ.di.æk/
the belt of the sky centered on the ecliptic through which the sun, moon, and visible planets appear to move
fetus
C1
/ˈfiːtəs/
An unborn or unhatched vertebrate showing signs of the mature animal.
lobe
C1
/ləʊb/
(anatomy) a somewhat rounded subdivision of a bodily organ or part
nebula
C2
/ˈnebjələ/
an interstellar cloud of gas and dust, often associated with the formation or death of stars
genetics
B1
/ˈdʒɛ.nə.ʈɪks/
The branch of biology that studies how characteristics are passed from parents to children.
meteorite
B2
/ˈmiːtiəˌraɪt/
a piece of rock or metal from space that survives passage through an atmosphere and reaches the ground
scientifically
B2
/ˌsɑe.ənˈtɪfɪkli/
From the point of view of science.
lifeless
B2
/ˈlaɪfləs/
Dead, or appearing to be dead.
elk
C2
/ɛlk/
large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male
ether
B2
/ˈi.θɚ/
a substance once thought to fill space and carry light or electromagnetic waves
ion
B2
/ˈaɪ.ɑn/
an atom or group of atoms with a positive or negative electrical charge because it has lost or gained electrons
chameleon
C2
/kəˈmi.li.ən/
A small to mid-size reptile, of the family Chamaeleonidae, and one of the best known lizard families able to change color and project its long tongue.
biologist
B1
/baɪˈɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
a scientist who studies living organisms and the processes of life
relativity
B2
/ɹɛl.əˈtɪv.ɪ.ti/
(physics) The scientific theory that space and time are not fixed but depend on the observer's motion.
molecule
B1
/ˈmɑ.lɪ.kjul/
The smallest unit of a substance that still has all its chemical properties, made of two or more atoms joined together.
supernova
B2
/ˌsuː.pɚˈnoʊ.və/
an extremely energetic stellar explosion that makes a star suddenly become vastly more luminous
malignant
C2+
/məˈlɪɡnənt/
Harmful, malevolent, injurious.
neutron
B2
/ˈnu.tɹɑn/
an elementary particle with 0 charge and mass about equal to a proton
embryo
C1
/ˈɛmbɹi.oʊ/
a plant, animal, or human in the earliest stages of development
orbital
B1
/ˈɔrbɪtəl/
relating to an orbit or to motion around another body
metabolism
C1
/məˈtæb.əˌlɪz.əm/
the set of chemical processes by which a living organism converts substances into energy and materials needed for life, growth, and repair
Neanderthal
C2
/niˈændərˌtɑːl/
a member of an extinct human species, Homo neanderthalensis, that lived in Europe and western Asia until about 40,000 years ago
genome
C1
/ˈd͡ʒiː.noʊm/
The complete set of genetic information in an organism.
geology
B1
/d͡ʒiˈɑ.lə.dʒi/
The science that studies the structure of the earth and its rocks.
geologist
B1
/d͡ʒiˈɑːlədʒɪst/
a specialist in geology
bisexual
C1
/baɪˈsɛk.ʃ(əw).əl/
in biology, involving or possessing both male and female sexes or reproductive structures
antimatter
C1
/ˈæn.tiˌmæt.ɚ/
matter composed of antiparticles corresponding to the particles in ordinary matter
evasion
C2
/ɪˈveɪʒən/
nonperformance of something distasteful, as by deceit or trickery, that you are supposed to do
telepathic
B2
/ˌtɛlɪˈpæθɪk/
communicating without apparent physical signals
inconclusive
C2
/ˌɪnkənˈklusɪv/
Not conclusive, not leading to a conclusion.
regeneration
B2
/riːˈdʒɛnɝˈeɪʃən/
Rebuilding or restructuring; large scale repair or renewal; revitalisation.
wavelength
B2
/ˈweɪvˌlɛŋ(k)θ/
a shared orientation leading to mutual understanding
reproductive
B2
/ˌɹiːpɹəˈdʌktɪv/
producing new life or offspring
interstellar
C1
/ˌɪntɝˈstɛlɝ/
situated, occurring, or traveling between stars
ultraviolet
C1
/ˌʌl.trəˈvaɪə.lət/
relating to electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible violet light, conventionally about 10 to 400 nanometers