CEFR Level
to wave or swing something about wildly; to thrash about
"He flailed his arms to keep afloat in the water."
a person who lavishes praise, often insincerely and in order to gain advantage
"The king was surrounded by flatterers who only told him what he wanted to hear."
the accumulation of gas in the digestive system; excessive gas in the stomach or intestines
"Eating beans can sometimes cause flatulence."
a plant whose fibers are used to make linen and whose seeds are edible
"Flax is often used in making linen fabrics."
to strip off the skin of something or criticize severely
"The chef flayed the fish before cooking it."
a small spot or mark, often of a different color
"There was a fleck of paint on the floor."
The act of bending or the state of being bent, especially of a limb or joint.
"The doctor tested the patient's knee flection during the examination."
To develop wing feathers large enough for flight; to bring up until able to fly.
"The young birds will fledge in a few weeks."
A young bird that has just developed its feathers and is learning to fly; a beginner.
"The fledgeling was trying hard to take its first flight."
unstable, impulsive, or easily distracted; lacking seriousness or stability
"She’s too flighty to stick with one job for long."
lack of seriousness; showing a disrespectful or trivial attitude
"His flippancy during the meeting offended his colleagues."
not showing a serious or respectful attitude
"His flippant remarks annoyed the teacher."
to move quickly and lightly from one place to another
"Butterflies flitted from flower to flower."
a large sheet of floating ice
"The polar bears rested on the ice floe."
The process, state, or period of flowering.
"The garden reached its peak florescence in spring."
Having a red or flushed complexion; or excessively ornate and intricate.
"The speaker’s florid style made the lecture hard to follow."
A small fleet of ships or boats operating together.
"A flotilla of fishing boats left the harbor at dawn."
Floating debris from a shipwreck or things discarded and left floating.
"The beach was littered with flotsam after the storm."
A pipe or channel for smoke and waste gases produced by a fire, gas heater, or power station.
"The chimney flue needs to be cleaned regularly."
Having the power to influence or flowing freely (rare/archaic usage).
"The fluential speaker captivated the entire audience."
A stroke of luck; an unexpected piece of good fortune.
"Winning the lottery was a complete fluke."
To confuse or bewilder someone completely.
"The complicated puzzle flummoxed the students."
Completely confused or bewildered.
"He looked flummoxed after hearing the strange question."
having grooves or ridges, often for decoration
"The vase had a beautiful fluted design around the rim."
relating to or found in a river
"The fluvial deposits indicated the presence of an ancient river system."
a yellow flowering plant with leaves shaped like a horse's hoof, also known as coltsfoot
"The foal-foot plant grows wild in many meadows and is often the first flower to bloom in spring."
having an offensive, unpleasant smell
"The foetid smell from the garbage made it hard to breathe."
A minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character.
"She loved him despite his little foibles."
To impose something unwelcome or unnecessary on someone.
"He tried to foist his old books onto his friends."
A sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves (four pages) of a book; also a term for a large book or manuscript.
"The library houses an ancient Shakespeare folio."
To instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).
"The rebel leader tried to foment unrest among the people."
The action of instigating or stirring up; also the application of warm substances to the body to ease pain.
"His speech led to the fomentation of violence in the region."
To stroke or caress lovingly or gently.
"She fondled the kitten gently in her lap."
Silly or foolish behavior or actions.
"His constant foolery made the meeting hard to take seriously."
Recklessly bold or rash; taking foolish risks.
"It was foolhardy of him to climb the mountain without proper gear."
Free to go anywhere or do anything; not tied down by responsibilities.
"After graduating, he felt footloose and ready to explore the world."
Foolish or excessive concern with one's appearance or manners; pretentious behavior.
"His obsession with fashion was dismissed as mere foppery."
Excessively concerned with clothes and appearance in a vain or foolish way.
"He looked rather foppish in his brightly colored suit."
Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance, especially in difficult situations.
"She showed remarkable forbearance during the heated argument."
In addition; besides (archaic Scottish/English word).
"He is kind and generous, and wise forby."
To predict or have a strong inner feeling of a future misfortune or evil.
"Dark clouds forebode a coming storm."
The forward part of a ship below the deck, traditionally used as living quarters for the crew.
"The sailors gathered in the forecastle after their shift."
an open area in front of a large building, especially a petrol station or hotel
"The car was parked in the hotel forecourt."
To judge beforehand without adequate information.
"It is unfair to forejudge someone without knowing the facts."
Awareness of something before it happens or exists.
"The prophet claimed to have foreknowledge of the event."
to determine or decree something in advance; to predestine
"Some believe that our lives are foreordained by fate."
the act of determining something in advance; predestination
"The doctrine of foreordination suggests that events are fixed by divine will."
The compartment in the forward part of a ship, often used for storage.
"The sailors stored extra ropes in the forepeak."
To go before; to precede in time, place, or action.
"Dark clouds often forerun a storm."
The principal sail set on the foremast of a sailing vessel.
"The crew adjusted the foresail to catch the wind."
