Most Common English Words 1,001–1,100: Meanings & IPA

RankWord Definition PronunciationPart of speech LevelExample

1001 unit a single part of something larger; or a department /ˈjunət/ noun B1 The hospital has a new heart unit.

1002 therefore for that reason; as a result /ˈðɛɹˌfɔɹ/ adverb B1 It was late, therefore we took a taxi.

1003 title the name of a book, film or song /ˈtaɪtəl/ noun A2 What is the title of the book?

1004 fish an animal that lives and swims in water /ˈfɪʃ/ noun, verb A1 We had fish for dinner.

1005 western in or from the part where the sun sets /ˈwɛstɚn/ adjective A2 They live in western France.

1006 grow to get bigger over time /ˈɡɹoʊ/ verb A1 Tomatoes grow well in the sun.

1007 reached past of reach /ˈɹitʃt/ verb · reach A2 We reached the top at noon.

1008 flight a journey by plane /ˈflaɪt/ noun A2 Our flight leaves at six.

1009 drop to let something fall /ˈdɹɑp/ verb, noun A2 Do not drop the glass.

1010 district an area of a town or country /ˈdɪstɹɪkt/ noun B1 They live in a quiet district.

1011 growth an increase in size or amount /ˈɡɹoʊθ/ noun B1 The country saw rapid economic growth.

1012 workers people who work, more than one /ˈwɝkɚz/ noun · worker A2 The workers went on strike.

1013 powerful having great strength or control /ˈpaʊɚfəl/ adjective B1 He is a very powerful man.

1014 heat high temperature, or warmth /ˈhit/ noun, verb B1 I cannot stand this heat.

1015 prison a building where criminals are locked up /ˈpɹɪzən/ noun B1 He spent two years in prison.

1016 ring a circle of metal worn on a finger /ˈɹɪŋ/ noun, verb A2 She wore a gold ring.

1017 responsible having the duty of dealing with something, and the blame /ɹiˈspɑnsəbəl/ adjective B1 Who is responsible for this mess?

1018 beat to defeat in a game; or to hit again and again /ˈbit/ verb, noun B1 Spain beat Italy two to one.

1019 region a large area of a country or the world /ˈɹidʒən/ noun B1 It rains a lot in this region.

1020 successful achieving what was hoped for /səkˈsɛsfəl/ adjective B1 Her business is very successful.

1021 treatment medical care for an illness or injury /ˈtɹitmənt/ noun B1 The treatment for the illness takes weeks.

1022 memory the power to keep things in the mind; or something recalled /ˈmɛmɚi/ noun B1 She has a good memory for names.

1023 arrived past of arrive /ɚˈaɪvd/ verb · arrive A1 The train arrived late.

1024 bar a place that serves drinks; or a long rod /ˈbɑɹ/ noun A2 We met at a bar near the station.

1025 sit to rest on a chair or seat /ˈsɪt/ verb A1 Please sit down.

1026 regular happening often, at fixed times /ˈɹɛɡjəlɚ/ adjective B1 He is a regular customer here.

1027 broke past of break; or having no money /ˈbɹoʊk/ verb · break A2 He broke his leg skiing.

1028 stars points of light in the night sky, more than one /ˈstɑɹz/ noun · star A1 We looked up at the stars.

1029 except but not; apart from /ɪkˈsɛpt/ preposition B1 Everyone came except Tom.

1030 hotel a building where travellers pay to sleep /hoʊˈtɛl/ noun A1 We stayed in a small hotel.

1031 currently at the present time /ˈkɝəntli/ adverb B1 She is currently living in Rome.

1032 cash money in coins and notes /ˈkæʃ/ noun A2 Can I pay in cash?

1033 missing lost, or not where it should be /ˈmɪsɪŋ/ adjective B1 My keys are missing.

1034 quality how good or bad something is /ˈkwɑləti/ noun B1 The food here is of high quality.

1035 pick to choose; or to pull off a fruit or flower /ˈpɪk/ verb A2 Pick a card, any card.

1036 respect admiration felt for someone and their qualities /ɹɪˈspɛkt/ noun, verb B1 You should show respect to your teachers.

1037 approach a way of dealing with something; or to come near /əˈpɹoʊtʃ/ noun, verb B1 We need a new approach to the problem.

1038 lady a polite word for a woman /ˈleɪdi/ noun A2 An old lady sat next to me.

1039 records written accounts kept for the future, more than one /ɹəˈkɔɹdz/ noun · record B1 The hospital keeps records of every patient.

1040 centre the middle point or part /ˈsɛntɚ/ noun A1 We live in the city centre.

1041 drink to take liquid into the mouth and swallow /ˈdɹɪŋk/ verb, noun A1 I drink tea every morning.

1042 exchange giving one thing and receiving another /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/ noun, verb B1 She went to Paris on a student exchange.

1043 television a set that shows programmes with pictures and sound /ˈtɛləˌvɪʒən/ noun A1 We watched television all evening.

1044 ability the power or skill to do something /əˈbɪləˌti/ noun B1 She has the ability to stay calm.

1045 previously at an earlier time /ˈpɹiviəsli/ adverb B1 She previously worked in a bank.

1046 holding present participle of hold /ˈhoʊldɪŋ/ verb · hold A2 She is holding a baby.

1047 animals living creatures that are not plants, more than one /ˈænəməlz/ noun · animal A1 The farm has many animals.

1048 damage harm done to something /ˈdæmədʒ/ noun, verb B1 The storm caused a lot of damage.

1049 economic to do with money, trade and industry /ˌɛkəˈnɑmɪk/ adjective B1 The country faces economic problems.

1050 appear to come into view; or to seem /əˈpɪɹ/ verb B1 Stars appear in the sky at night.

1051 reading looking at and understanding written words; present participle of read /ˈɹidɪŋ/ noun, verb · read A2 Reading is my favourite hobby.

1052 previous coming just before this one /ˈpɹiviəs/ adjective B1 The previous owner left the furniture.

1053 super very good; excellent /ˈsupɚ/ adjective B1 We had a super time.

1054 planning deciding in advance how something will be done /ˈplænɪŋ/ noun B1 The trip took months of planning.

1055 none not one, or not any /ˈnʌn/ pronoun A2 None of my friends came.

1056 required past of require; or needed by rule /ɹiˈkwaɪɚd/ verb · require B1 A passport is required to travel.

1057 supposed past of suppose; or expected to do something /səˈpoʊzd/ verb · suppose B1 You were supposed to call me.

1058 pain the feeling of being hurt /ˈpeɪn/ noun A2 I have a pain in my back.

1059 miles units of distance of about 1.6 km, more than one /ˈmaɪlz/ noun · mile A2 We drove two hundred miles.

1060 trial a case heard in a court of law; or a test /ˈtɹaɪəl/ noun B2 The trial lasted three weeks.

1061 served past of serve /ˈsɝvd/ verb · serve B1 Dinner was served at eight.

1062 thousands many lots of a thousand; a very large number /ˈθaʊzəndz/ noun · thousand A2 Thousands of people came to the concert.

1063 response an answer or reaction /ɹɪˈspɑns/ noun B1 We are still waiting for a response.

1064 addition something extra that is put in /əˈdɪʃən/ noun B2 In addition, the hotel has a pool.

1065 reports accounts of events or facts, more than one /ɹɪˈpɔɹts/ noun · report B1 The reports say the road is closed.

1066 tree a tall plant with a trunk and branches /ˈtɹi/ noun A1 We sat under a tree.

1067 standard a level of quality; or normal and usual /ˈstændɚd/ noun, adjective B1 The food was of a high standard.

1068 grew past of grow /ˈɡɹu/ verb · grow A2 The village grew into a town.

1069 famous known by very many people /ˈfeɪməs/ adjective A1 She is a famous singer.

1070 sounds present of sound, for he, she or it; or noises, more than one /ˈsaʊndz/ verb, noun · sound A2 That sounds like a good plan.

1071 increased past of increase /ˌɪnˈkɹist/ verb · increase B1 Prices increased last year.

1072 color the quality of being red, blue, green and so on /ˈkʌlɚ/ noun A1 What color is your car?

1073 dangerous likely to cause harm /ˈdeɪndʒɚəs/ adjective A2 The road is dangerous at night.

1074 female of the sex that can have babies or lay eggs /ˈfiˌmeɪl/ adjective, noun B1 The female bird sits on the eggs.

1075 caught past of catch /ˈkɑt/ verb · catch A2 He caught the ball.

1076 professional doing a job for money, with training and skill /pɹəˈfɛʃənəl/ adjective, noun B1 She is a professional photographer.

1077 provided past of provide /pɹəˈvaɪdɪd/ verb · provide B1 The hotel provided towels.

1078 rise to go up or increase /ˈɹaɪz/ verb, noun B1 Prices continue to rise.

1079 lake a large area of water with land all around /ˈleɪk/ noun A1 We swam in the lake.

1080 plays present of play, for he, she or it /ˈpleɪz/ verb, noun · play A1 She plays tennis on Sundays.

1081 queen a female ruler, or the wife of a king /ˈkwin/ noun A2 The queen visited the town.

1082 brown of the colour of earth or chocolate /ˈbɹaʊn/ adjective A1 She has brown eyes.

1083 shares parts of a company owned by investors, more than one /ˈʃɛɹz/ noun, verb · share B2 She bought shares in the company.

1084 bridge a structure carrying a road over a river /ˈbɹɪdʒ/ noun A2 We walked across the bridge.

1085 cross to go from one side to the other /ˈkɹɔs/ verb, noun A2 Look both ways before you cross.

1086 committee a small group chosen to make decisions for a larger one /kəˈmɪti/ noun B1 The committee meets every Monday.

1087 winter the coldest season of the year /ˈwɪntɚ/ noun A1 It snows here in winter.

1088 signed past of sign /ˈsaɪnd/ verb · sign B1 She signed the contract.

1089 cars road vehicles with engines, more than one /ˈkɑɹz/ noun · car A1 There are too many cars in the city.

1090 listen to pay attention to sounds or speech /ˈlɪsən/ verb A1 Listen to me carefully.

1091 driving present participle of drive /ˈdɹaɪvɪŋ/ verb · drive A2 He was driving too fast.

1092 cell the smallest living unit of a plant or animal; or a small room in a prison /ˈsɛl/ noun B1 A cell is the smallest part of a living thing.

1093 fear the feeling of being afraid /ˈfɪɹ/ noun, verb B1 She has a fear of spiders.

1094 competition an event where people try to win /ˌkɑmpəˈtɪʃən/ noun B1 She won a singing competition.

1095 tour a trip visiting several places /ˈtʊɹ/ noun, verb A2 We went on a tour of the city.

1096 designed past of design /dɪˈzaɪnd/ verb · design B1 The house was designed by her father.

1097 certainly without any doubt /ˈsɝtənli/ adverb A2 I will certainly be there.

1098 teams groups playing or working together, more than one /ˈtimz/ noun · team A1 Both teams played well.

1099 schools places where children are taught, more than one /ˈskulz/ noun · school A1 The schools are closed today.

1100 election a vote to choose a leader or government /ɪˈlɛkʃən/ noun B1 Who won the election?

Most common English words: 1,001–1,100