Bookish
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN English BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Spanish FR French DE German RU Russian ZH Chinese JA Japanese
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C1 adjective /ˈbʊkɪʃ/

Bookish

Meaning
studious; scholarly; devoted to reading and studying
Example
She was known for her bookish nature and love of literature.
B2 verb /ˌʌndərˈɡoʊ/

undergo

Meaning
to go through something, especially something unpleasant or difficult
Example
She had to undergo surgery to recover.
C2 verb /ˈɡrʌvəl/

grovel

Meaning
To act in an excessively humble or submissive way to gain favor.
Example
He groveled before his boss to avoid punishment.
C2 noun /ˈkeɪ.nə.naɪt/

canaanite

Meaning
a member of a people who lived in the ancient land of Canaan in the Middle East
Example
The Canaanites were known for their advanced trade networks.
C2 noun /kəmˈpleɪsəns/

complacence

Meaning
a feeling of quiet pleasure or self-satisfaction, often without awareness of potential danger
Example
His complacence prevented him from noticing the risks.
B1 noun /vɒlˈkeɪ.noʊ/

Volcano

Meaning
a mountain with an opening through which lava, gas, and ash can escape
Example
The volcano erupted after being dormant for decades.
C1 noun /ˈɒn.slɔːt/

onslaught

Meaning
A fierce or destructive attack.
Example
The village faced an onslaught of enemy forces.
C2 noun /ˈhɔɪdən/

hoyden

Meaning
a boisterous or tomboyish girl
Example
The hoyden preferred climbing trees to playing with dolls.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪtəm/ or /ˈdætəm/

datum

Meaning
a single piece of information; a fact used as a basis for reasoning or calculation
Example
Each datum in the survey was carefully analyzed.
A2 adjective /ˈwʊdən/

wooden

Meaning
made of wood
Example
The house had beautiful wooden floors.
A2 adjective /ˈiː.stərn/

Eastern

Meaning
relating to or situated in the east; from or characteristic of the eastern part of the world
Example
She studied Eastern philosophy at the university.
C1 adverb /ˌɪnsɪˈdɛntəli/

incidentally

Meaning
by the way; used to introduce a remark not directly related to the main subject
Example
Incidentally, did you know that she studied in Paris?
B1 noun /pərˈfɔːrmər/

performer

Meaning
a person who entertains an audience by acting, singing, dancing, or playing music
Example
The performer received a standing ovation for her song.
C2 verb /ˈwɔːbəl/

warble

Meaning
To sing or whistle with a quavering voice or with trills.
Example
The bird warbled a sweet tune in the morning.
C1 noun /ɪɡˈzuːbərəns/

exuberance

Meaning
the quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness
Example
Her exuberance made the whole team feel motivated.
B2 noun /məˈskiː.toʊ net/

Mosquito-net

Meaning
a fine mesh fabric used to cover beds or windows to keep mosquitoes and other insects out
Example
We use a mosquito net to protect ourselves from insect bites.
B2 noun /ˈbærəl/

barrel

Meaning
a large cylindrical container used to hold liquids
Example
The wine was stored in a wooden barrel.
B2 adjective /ˈærəɡənt/

Arrogant

Meaning
having an exaggerated sense of one's importance; proud
Example
His arrogant behavior made him very unpopular.
B1 adjective /ˈvaɪə.lət/

Violet

Meaning
of a bluish-purple color
Example
She wore a beautiful violet dress to the party.
C1 noun /ˈɪn.trə.vɜːrt/

introvert

Meaning
A person who tends to be shy and prefers spending time alone rather than in groups.
Example
As an introvert, he preferred reading over attending parties.
A2 adjective /ˈtaɪ.ni/

Tiny

Meaning
extremely small in size or amount
Example
The baby bird was tiny and helpless.
C1 adjective ɪˈluː.sər.i

illusory

Meaning
Based on illusion; not real although seeming to be.
Example
His sense of security was entirely illusory.
C1 noun /ɪˈnɪɡ.mə/

enigma

Meaning
A person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.
Example
Life remains an enigma to many.
C1 noun /ˈtɪt.bɪt/

Titbit

Meaning
a small piece of tasty food; a small interesting piece of information
Example
She served delicious titbits at the party.
B2 noun /ɪnˈfɔːrsmənt/

enforcement

Meaning
the act of making sure that laws or rules are followed
Example
The police are responsible for law enforcement.
B2 noun /liːɡ/

league

Meaning
An association of people or groups united for a common purpose; also a unit of distance (old use).
Example
Several clubs formed a league to promote sportsmanship.
C1 noun /bɑːm/

balm

Meaning
A soothing ointment or something that provides comfort or relief.
Example
The balm helped relieve the pain from her sunburn.
B1 verb /piːl/

peel

Meaning
to remove the outer covering or skin from a fruit or vegetable
Example
She peeled the mango before eating it.
B2 verb /əˈbɒlɪʃ/

abolish

Meaning
to formally end or stop something; to cancel or eliminate completely
Example
The government decided to abolish the old tax system.
A2 noun /ˈləʊɡəʊ/

logo

Meaning
a symbol or other small design adopted by an organization to identify its products, uniform, vehicles, etc.
Example
The company's logo was redesigned to reflect its new image.
A1 article /ðə/

the

Meaning
used to specify a noun as something already mentioned or known
Example
The sun rises in the east.
B1 adjective; verb (past and past participle of prepare) /prɪˈpɛrd/

prepared

Meaning
made ready in advance; having made plans or taken steps beforehand
Example
She was fully prepared for the final exam.
C2 verb /ɪnˈdɒktrɪˌneɪt/

indoctrinate

Meaning
To teach someone to fully accept a set of beliefs or ideas without question.
Example
The regime tried to indoctrinate the youth with propaganda.
C1 noun /ˌɑːk.sɪˈmɔːr.ɒn/

oxymoron

Meaning
a figure of speech where two contradictory terms are combined
Example
The phrase 'deafening silence' is a classic oxymoron.
B1 adjective /ɪnkəˈrɛkt/

incorrect

Meaning
not correct or accurate
Example
The information you provided was incorrect.
A1 verb /raɪt/

write

Meaning
to mark letters, words, or symbols on a surface
Example
I write letters to my grandmother every month.
B2 noun /ˌklærɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

clarification

Meaning
The action of making a statement or situation less confused and more clearly comprehensible.
Example
The manager requested clarification on the project details.
C2 verb /dɪˈtruːd/

detrude

Meaning
To thrust or force something downward or outward.
Example
The violent waves detruded rocks from the cliff.
A1 verb (past participle of 'bear'), adjective /bɔːrn/

born

Meaning
To come into life; brought into existence.
Example
He was born in Dhaka in 1995.
B2 verb /slæʃ/

slash

Meaning
to cut with a sharp blade; to reduce drastically
Example
The company slashed prices to attract more customers.
C2 noun /fɪˈlændərər/

philanderer

Meaning
a man who habitually engages in casual romantic or sexual affairs
Example
The politician was exposed as a notorious philanderer.
C1 verb /kənˈfleɪt/

conflate

Meaning
To combine two or more things, often confusingly, into one.
Example
The article tends to conflate facts with opinions.
C1 noun /ɪˈrɛlɪvənsi/

irrelevancy

Meaning
the state of being unrelated or unimportant to the matter at hand
Example
The judge dismissed the argument because of its irrelevancy to the case.
C1 noun /ˈmɒnəˌlɒɡ/

monologue

Meaning
A long speech by one person, often in a play or performance.
Example
The actor delivered a powerful monologue on stage.
C2 noun /ˌmɪn.ɪˈstreɪ.ʃən/

ministration

Meaning
The act of providing care, assistance, or religious service.
Example
She recovered thanks to the kind ministrations of the nurses.
C2 noun /ˌɛksɪˈkreɪʃən/

execration

Meaning
An act of cursing or denouncing someone or something with hatred.
Example
The dictator’s name was spoken with execration after his fall.
B1 adjective /rɪˈpiː.tɪd/

Repeated

Meaning
done again; happening again; occurring multiple times
Example
He made repeated attempts to contact her.
C2 adjective /ˈfɜːr.vɪd/

Fervid

Meaning
passionate; intensely enthusiastic; burning with emotion
Example
She gave a fervid speech about environmental protection.
C1 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv/

Indecisive

Meaning
unable to make decisions quickly; hesitant; wavering
Example
She was indecisive about which university to attend.
C1 adjective /rɪˈpliːt/

replete

Meaning
Filled or well-supplied with something; abundantly full.
Example
The book is replete with fascinating historical details.
C1 noun /ˈkiːpˌseɪk/

keepsake

Meaning
An object kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event.
Example
She gave me a small locket as a keepsake of our friendship.
B1 noun /trænzˈleɪʃən/

translation

Meaning
the process of converting text or speech from one language into another
Example
She completed the translation of the book within two months.
C1 verb /ɪnˈsɜːrkəl/

encircle

Meaning
to form a circle around something
Example
The protesters encircled the building in a human chain.
C1 noun /ˈpɒpjʊləs/

populace

Meaning
the general public; the ordinary people living in a country or area
Example
The new law was welcomed by the local populace.
C1 verb /ɪnˈfjuːz/

infuse

Meaning
to fill or spread through something; to instill a quality, idea, or feeling
Example
The teacher tried to infuse her students with a love for reading.
C2 noun /ˈkæn.toʊ/

canto

Meaning
A main division of a long poem, especially in epic poetry.
Example
The Divine Comedy is divided into several cantos.
A2 noun /hɛlθ/

health

Meaning
The state of being free from illness or injury.
Example
Exercise is important for good health.
C2 adjective /kəˈnjuːbiəl/

connubial

Meaning
Relating to marriage or the relationship of a married couple.
Example
They celebrated their connubial bliss with a honeymoon trip.
C2 verb /ˈmɒrəlaɪz/

moralize

Meaning
To comment on issues of right and wrong, often with an air of superiority.
Example
He tends to moralize about other people's choices.
B1 verb /rɪˈper/

repair

Meaning
to fix something that is broken or damaged
Example
The mechanic will repair the car's engine tomorrow.
A2 noun /ˈkʌzn/

cousin

Meaning
A child of one's uncle or aunt.
Example
My cousin is coming to visit us this weekend.
C2 noun /əˈkwaɪərmənt/

acquirement

Meaning
the act of acquiring something; something that has been acquired, especially a skill or possession
Example
Language proficiency is an important acquirement for global careers.
C1 adjective /ˈʌndərhænd/

underhand

Meaning
done secretly and dishonestly; deceitful
Example
The politician was accused of using underhand tactics to win the election.
A1 pronoun /ˈsʌmbədi/

somebody

Meaning
an unspecified person
Example
Somebody is knocking at the door.
C1 adjective tɪˈneɪ.ʃəs

tenacious

Meaning
Not readily letting go of, giving up, or separated from an object that one holds, a position, or a principle; persistent.
Example
Her tenacious spirit helped her overcome hardships.
C2 noun /dɪsˈjuːnjən/

disunion

Meaning
the state of being separated or not united
Example
Civil wars often result from national disunion.
B2 noun /ˈbæŋ.ɡəl/

Bangle

Meaning
a rigid bracelet or anklet worn as jewelry
Example
She wore beautiful gold bangles on her wrists.
C1 noun /oʊˈmɪʃ.ən/

Omission

Meaning
the action of excluding or leaving out someone or something; a failure to include
Example
The omission of his name from the list was intentional.
C2 noun /proʊˈskrɪp.ʃən/

proscription

Meaning
the act of forbidding something, especially by law
Example
The proscription of child labor is an important human rights achievement.
C2 verb /əˈdʌltəreɪt/

adulterate

Meaning
to make something poorer in quality by adding another substance, usually of lower quality
Example
The company was fined for adulterating its products with cheap chemicals.
A2 adverb /əˈhɛd/

ahead

Meaning
in front; in advance; before someone or something in position or progress
Example
She walked ahead of the group.
C2 adjective, adverb /ˈsaɪdlɔːŋ/

sidelong

Meaning
Directed to the side; indirect, furtive, or not straightforward.
Example
She gave him a sidelong glance across the room.
B1 noun, verb /stɒk/

stock

Meaning
a supply of goods kept for sale or use; to keep or fill with goods
Example
The shop stocks a wide variety of products.
B2 adjective /skeərs/

Scarce

Meaning
rare; not easily found; existing in small quantities
Example
Fresh water is becoming increasingly scarce in desert regions.
C2 noun /voʊˈsɪfərəns/

vociferance

Meaning
the act of shouting or making a loud outcry
Example
The vociferance of the protesters filled the streets.
C2 noun /vəˈliːɪti/

velleity

Meaning
A wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action.
Example
His interest in painting never grew beyond a mere velleity.
C1 noun /ˌnɑm.əˈni/

Nominee

Meaning
a person who is nominated for an office, award, or honor
Example
She was the nominee for the Best Actress award.
C1 verb /blæntʃ/

blanch

Meaning
to turn pale from shock, fear, or to briefly boil food to remove skin or prepare it
Example
She blanched at the sight of blood.
C1 noun /ˈmɪlɪtəˌrɪzəm/

militarism

Meaning
The belief in maintaining a strong military and using it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.
Example
The rise of militarism in the region caused tension among neighboring countries.
A1 noun /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

beginning

Meaning
The start or first part of something.
Example
The beginning of the story was very interesting.
C2 noun /ˌmɛtəfɪˈzɪʃən/

metaphysician

Meaning
A person who studies or is an expert in metaphysics.
Example
The metaphysician debated the essence of reality with his peers.
B2 noun /ˈsɪɡ.nə.tʃər/

Signature

Meaning
a person's name written in their own handwriting as identification or authorization
Example
Please put your signature at the bottom of the document.
C1 adjective /bræʃ/

brash

Meaning
self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overconfident way
Example
His brash comments offended many people at the meeting.
B1 noun ˈɪn.də.stri

industry

Meaning
Economic activity concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacture of goods in factories.
Example
The industry focuses on luxury experiences.
C1 noun /voʊɡ/

vogue

Meaning
the prevailing fashion, style, or trend at a particular time
Example
Minimalist design is currently in vogue.
C1 noun ˈmaɪ.krəʊˌnjuː.tri.ənt

micronutrient

Meaning
Essential nutrients required by the body in small amounts, including vitamins and minerals.
Example
Iron and zinc are essential micronutrients for growth.
C1 adjective /dɪˈraɪsɪv/

derisive

Meaning
Expressing contempt or ridicule.
Example
She gave a derisive laugh at his attempt to sing.
C1 adjective /ˈed.jʊ.keɪ.tɪv/

Educative

Meaning
providing education; instructive; informative
Example
The documentary was highly educative and informative.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛreɪtɪd/

serrated

Meaning
Having a notched or saw-toothed edge.
Example
The bread knife had a serrated blade.
B1 adverb /ˈbriːf.li/

Briefly

Meaning
in a short and clear way; for a short time
Example
Please explain the problem briefly.
C1 noun /brɪˈɡeɪd/

brigade

Meaning
A large group of people organized for a specific purpose, especially a military unit.
Example
The fire brigade arrived quickly to put out the flames.
B1 adjective /ˈæktʃuəl/

actual

Meaning
real and existing, not just imagined or supposed
Example
The actual cost was higher than expected.
C2 adjective /hərˈmɛtɪk/

hermetic

Meaning
Completely sealed, especially so that no air can enter or escape.
Example
The medicine was kept in a hermetic container.
B2 noun /ˈfleɪ.vər/

Flavour

Meaning
the distinctive taste of a food or drink; a particular quality or atmosphere
Example
The soup had a rich flavour of herbs and spices from the garden.
C1 verb /proʊˈtrækt/

protract

Meaning
To prolong or extend in time or duration.
Example
Negotiations were protracted for several months.
C2 adjective /ˈdʒes.tɪŋ/

Jesting

Meaning
joking or teasing in a playful manner
Example
He was only jesting when he said he would quit his job.
B1 adjective /ˈkɒn.fɪ.dənt/

Confident

Meaning
self-assured; certain; having belief in one's abilities
Example
She felt confident about her performance in the exam.
C1 noun /ˌɑːsɪˈleɪʃən/

oscillation

Meaning
The movement back and forth at a regular speed.
Example
The oscillation of the pendulum controls the clock.
A2 verb /kaʊnt/

count

Meaning
to determine the total number of something
Example
She carefully counted the money on the table.
A1 noun /ˈɛərpleɪn/

airplane

Meaning
a powered flying vehicle with fixed wings and engines
Example
The airplane took off smoothly from the runway.
B2 adjective /hɪˈlɛəriəs/

hilarious

Meaning
Extremely funny or amusing.
Example
The comedian told a hilarious story that had everyone laughing.
B1 noun, verb /paʊnd/

pound

Meaning
a unit of weight equal to 16 ounces or a unit of currency
Example
The price of the book is five pounds.
A1 noun /ˈsɪti/

city

Meaning
a large town or an urban area with its own government
Example
Dhaka is the largest city in Bangladesh.
C2 noun /kɒŋk/

Conck

Meaning
a shell, especially a large spiral one used as a horn or for decoration
Example
The priest blew the conch shell to signal the start of the ceremony.
C1 noun /slæɡ/

slag

Meaning
Stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting process.
Example
The factory dumped the slag near the river.
C1 noun /djuːˈɛt/

duet

Meaning
a musical performance by two singers or instrumentalists
Example
They sang a beautiful duet together on stage.
C1 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈvɜːrsəbl/

irreversible

Meaning
Not able to be undone, changed, or reversed.
Example
The damage caused by the fire was irreversible.
C2 noun /ɪˌlɛkˈtrɑː.lə.sɪs/

electrolysis

Meaning
A chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution.
Example
Electrolysis is used to separate hydrogen from water.
A2 noun /flʌd/

Flood

Meaning
an overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits
Example
The heavy rain caused a flood in the village.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪz.mə.ɡræf/

seismograph

Meaning
An instrument that measures and records details of earthquakes, such as force and duration.
Example
The seismograph detected a strong tremor in the area.
B2 noun /ˈtʃæpəl/

chapel

Meaning
A small church or a room used for Christian worship, often within a larger building.
Example
The couple got married in a small countryside chapel.
B2 verb /ˈvɪʒuəlaɪz/

visualize

Meaning
To form a mental image of something; to imagine.
Example
She tried to visualize her success before the big presentation.
C1 noun /dɪˌsem.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

dissemination

Meaning
The action or fact of spreading something, especially information, widely.
Example
The dissemination of false information is a major issue.
C1 verb /dɪˈmoʊt/

demote

Meaning
to reduce to a lower rank or position
Example
The manager decided to demote the employee for poor performance.
B2 noun /piːk/

Peak

Meaning
the highest point of a mountain or hill; the maximum level or intensity
Example
The climbers reached the peak of Mount Everest.
C1 noun /ˈhɛrətɪk/

heretic

Meaning
a person who holds beliefs that go against established religious teachings or accepted beliefs.
Example
The church declared him a heretic for his radical ideas.
C1 noun /ˈprɛsɪdəns/ or /prɪˈsiːdəns/

precedence

Meaning
the condition of being considered more important than someone or something else; priority
Example
Safety takes precedence over speed in this factory.
C1 verb /ˈfɔːrtɪˌfaɪ/

fortify

Meaning
To strengthen a place, person, or thing physically or mentally.
Example
They fortified the city walls to protect against invasion.
C2 verb /dɪˈdʒɛkt/

deject

Meaning
to make someone feel sad, depressed, or dispirited
Example
The news of his failure seemed to deject him deeply.
C1 noun /sɪˈnɒpsɪs/

synopsis

Meaning
a brief summary of the main points of a text, film, or research
Example
The publisher asked the author to submit a one-page synopsis of the novel.
C2 verb /ɛkˈskɔːrieɪt/

excoriate

Meaning
To strongly criticize someone; to denounce severely.
Example
The critic excoriated the film for its poor script.