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
135 words
cool
A1
/kul/
Slightly cold in a pleasant way.
hot
A1
/hɑt/
Very recent and exciting; in great demand.
cold
A1
/kold/
Having a low temperature, or feeling a low temperature.
wind
A2
/ˈwaɪ̯nd/
Air moving naturally across the land, sometimes with great force.
smoke
A2
/smoʊk/
The grey or black cloud of gas and tiny particles that rises from something burning.
warm
A1
/wɔɹm/
Having a pleasant temperature that is fairly high but not hot.
rain
A1
/ˈɹæɪ̯n/
Water that falls from clouds in drops.
weather
A1
/ˈwɛð.ɚ/
The state of the air outside at a particular time and place, such as how hot, cold, wet, or windy it is.
snow
A1
/snoʊ̯/
Soft white flakes of frozen water that fall from the sky in cold weather.
storm
A2
/stɔɹm/
Very bad weather with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, or lightning.
thunder
B1
/ˈθʌndɚ/
The loud rumbling or crashing sound that follows a flash of lightning.
disaster
B1
/dɪˈzas.təː/
A sudden event, such as a flood or earthquake, that causes great damage or loss of life.
temperature
A2
/ˈtɛm.pəɹˌt͡ʃɚ/
A measure of how hot or cold something is.
hail
B2
/heɪl/
When small balls of ice fall from the sky.
cloud
A2
/ˈklæʊ̯d/
A mass of water droplets floating in the sky, often grey or white.
lightning
B1
/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/
A bright flash of light in the sky during a storm, caused by electricity.
sunny
A1
/ˈsʊni/
Having a lot of bright sunshine.
breeze
A2
/briːz/
A light, gentle wind.
flood
A2
/flʌd/
A large amount of water covering land that is usually dry.
climate
B1
/ˈklaɪ.mɪt/
The usual weather conditions of an area over a long period of time.
fog
A2
/fɔɡ/
A thick cloud near the ground that makes it hard to see.
frost
B1
/fɹɔst/
A thin layer of tiny ice crystals that forms on cold surfaces.
hurricane
B1
/ˈhʌɹɪkeɪn/
A very powerful tropical storm with extremely strong winds and heavy rain.
sticky
B1
/ˈstɪki/
Tending to stick to things; covered with something that sticks.
mild
B1
/ˈmaɪld/
Not strong, severe, or extreme.
heating
A2
/ˈhiːtɪŋ/
The system that warms a room or building.
tropical
B1
/ˈtɹɑ.pɪ.kəl/
Belonging to or coming from the hot, wet regions near the equator.
chilly
C1
/ˈtʃɪli/
Cold enough to feel uncomfortable.
lava
B2
/ˈlɑːvə/
Hot, melted rock that flows out of a volcano and hardens as it cools.
rainy
A1
/ˈɹeɪni/
Having a lot of rain.
tornado
B1
/tɔɹˈneɪ.doʊ/
A violent, spinning column of wind shaped like a funnel that touches the ground.
icy
B2
/ˈaɪsi/
Covered with ice or very slippery because of ice.
aurora
C1
/əˈrɔrə/
a display of colored light in the polar sky caused by charged solar particles interacting with the upper atmosphere
drought
B2
/ˈdɹɐʊ̯t/
A long period with little or no rain, causing a shortage of water.
forecast
B1
/ˈfɔɹkæst/
To say what is likely to happen in the future, based on what you know now.
puddle
C2
/ˈpʌdl̩/
a small, shallow pool of water or another liquid, especially one formed by rain
greenhouse
B1
/ˈɡɹːnˌ(h)aʊs/
A glass building where plants are grown and protected from cold weather.
thunderclap
C2
/ˈθʌndɚˌklæp/
a single sudden, loud crash of thunder, especially from a nearby lightning strike
frosty
C1
/ˈfɹɔsti/
Very cold, with frost in the air.
snowy
A1
/ˈsnoʊi/
Covered with snow, or with a lot of snow falling.
atmospheric
C1
/ˌætməsˈfɪɹɪk/
Creating a strong and pleasing mood or feeling.
rainforest
B1
/ˈɹeɪn.fɔɹ.ɪst/
A thick forest in a warm area that has a lot of rain all year.
monsoon
C2
/mɑːnˈsuːn/
a seasonal wind system that reverses direction between summer and winter, especially in South and Southeast Asia
humid
B1
/ˈhjuːmɪd/
Having a lot of moisture in the air; warm and damp.
thunderstorm
A2
/ˈθʌn.dɚˌstɔɹm/
A storm with thunder, lightning, and usually heavy rain.
quench
C2
/kwɛnt͡ʃ/
cool by plunging into cold water or other liquid
snowflake
B2
/ˈsnoʊ.fleɪk/
a small crystal or flake of snow, often with six-sided symmetry
slush
B2
/slʌʃ/
partly melted snow or ice, especially when lying wet and dirty on the ground
drizzle
C2
/ˈdrɪz.əl/
very light rain falling in fine drops
rainstorm
B2
/ˈɹeɪnstɔɹm/
A storm with heavy rain.
downpour
B2
/ˈdaʊn.pɔːr/
a sudden or heavy fall of rain
snowfall
B1
/ˈsnoʊfɔl/
an occasion or period during which snow falls
temperate
B2
/ˈtɛmpəɹət/
(of weather or climate) Mild, without extreme heat or cold.
icicle
B2
/ˈaɪsɪkəl/
a hanging, tapering piece of ice formed when dripping water freezes
choppy
C2
/ˈtʃɑpi/
of water or weather, rough with many small, short waves
torrential
C2
/tɔˈɹɛn.t͡ʃəl/
Of rain, falling very heavily.
squall
C1
/skwɔːl/
a sudden, brief increase in wind speed, often accompanied by rain or snow
dewy
C1
/ˈdjuː.i/
wet or covered with dew
raindrop
C2
/ˈɹeɪndɹɑp/
a single drop of rain falling from a cloud or resting on a surface
windward
C2
/ˈwɪndwɚd/
facing or situated toward the direction from which the wind is blowing
sunburst
C1
/ˈsʌnˌbɝst/
a sudden strong appearance or outburst of sunlight, especially through clouds
moonless
C1
/ˈmuːn.ləs/
having no visible moon or moonlight
afterglow
C1
/ˈæftərˌɡloʊ/
light or color remaining in the sky after the sun has set
broil
C2
/bɹaɪl/
to cook under a broiler
barometric
C2
/ˌber.əˈmet.rɪk/
relating to atmospheric pressure or to its measurement with a barometer
subzero
B1
/ˌsʌbˈzɪr.oʊ/
below zero on a numerical scale, especially a temperature scale
gusty
C1
/ˈɡʌs.ti/
marked by sudden, brief bursts of strong wind
cumulus
C2
/ˈkjumjələs/
a dense, white, rounded cloud with a flat base, formed by rising warm air
unfrozen
B1
/ʌnˈfɹoʊzən/
not frozen; remaining liquid or free of ice
snowdrift
C1
/ˈsnoʊˌdrɪft/
a mound or bank of snow piled up by the wind
rime
C2+
/ɹaɪm/
a white frost of ice crystals on a cold surface
dewdrop
C2
/ˈduːˌdrɑːp/
a small drop of water formed as dew on a cool surface
clime
C2
/klaɪm/
a region considered in relation to its climate, especially in literary use
sirocco
C2
/sɪˈrɑːkoʊ/
a hot, often dusty wind that blows from the Sahara across the Mediterranean into southern Europe
waterspout
C2
/ˈwɔ.təɹ spaʊt/
a rotating column of air and spray formed over water; figuratively, any violently whirling or surging mass
swelter
C1
/ˈswɛltɚ/
to suffer or feel extremely uncomfortable because of intense heat
thundercloud
C1
/ˈθʌn.dərˌklaʊd/
a large dark cloud, usually a cumulonimbus, that produces thunder and lightning
weathercock
C2
/ˈwɛðɚˌkɑk/
a weather vane, traditionally shaped like a rooster
hailstone
C2
/ˈheɪlˌstoʊn/
a single ball or irregular lump of ice that falls from a storm cloud as hail
aeolian
C2
/iˈoʊ.li.ən/
relating to, produced by, or resembling the action or sound of the wind
simoom
C2
/sɪˈmuːm/
a violently hot, dry, dust-laden wind that blows in the deserts of Arabia and North Africa
equable
C2
/ˈɛkwəbəl/
Calm and not easily upset.
whitecap
C2
/ˈwaɪtˌkæp/
a wave whose crest has broken into white foam
bedew
C2
/bɪˈduː/
literary: to wet or cover something with dew or with small drops resembling dew
hoarfrost
C2
/ˈhɔːrfrɑːst/
a white deposit of feathery ice crystals formed when water vapor freezes directly onto a cold outdoor surface
unmelted
B1
/ˌʌnˈmɛltɪd/
not melted; still in a solid state
inclemency
C2
/ɪnˈklɛmənsi/
the condition of weather being severe, stormy, or unpleasant
vapory
C2
/ˈveɪpəri/
full of, obscured by, or resembling vapour
cloud bank
C2
/ˈklaʊdˌbæŋk/
a dense mass or broad piled-up layer of cloud, especially one seen near the horizon
equinoctial
C2
/ˌiː.kwəˈnɑːk.ʃəl/
of or occurring near an equinox, especially in the phrase equinoctial gale
harmattan
C2
/ˌhɑːrməˈtæn/
a dry, dusty northeasterly wind that blows from the Sahara across West Africa, chiefly during the cooler months
onding
C2
/ˈɑːnˌdɪŋ/
chiefly Scottish and Northern English: a heavy, continuous fall of rain or snow; a downpour
diluvian
C2
/daɪˈluvɪən/
relating to, caused by, or resembling a great flood or deluge
unsunned
C2+
/ʌnˈsʌnd/
not exposed to or reached by sunlight
climate change
B2
weather forecast
B1