Most Common English Words 1,401–1,500: Meanings & IPA

RankWord Definition PronunciationPart of speech LevelExample

1401 exist to be real; to be present in the world /ɪɡˈzɪst/ verb B1 Do ghosts really exist?

1402 selling present participle of sell /ˈsɛlɪŋ/ verb · sell B1 They are selling their house.

1403 features important parts or qualities, more than one /ˈfitʃɚz/ noun · feature B1 The phone has many new features.

1404 horse a large animal that people ride /ˈhɔɹs/ noun A1 She rides a horse every weekend.

1405 window an opening in a wall with glass in it /ˈwɪndoʊ/ noun A1 Open the window, please.

1406 smaller comparative of small /ˈsmɔlɚ/ adjective · small A1 I need a smaller size.

1407 generally usually; in most cases /ˈdʒɛnɚəli/ adverb B1 I generally get up at seven.

1408 walking present participle of walk /ˈwɔkɪŋ/ verb · walk A1 We are walking to school.

1409 orders commands, or requests for goods, more than one /ˈɔɹdɚz/ noun · order B1 The soldiers followed orders.

1410 device a small machine or tool made for a purpose /dɪˈvaɪs/ noun B1 This device measures your heart rate.

1411 kingdom a country ruled by a monarch /ˈkɪŋdəm/ noun B2 The old king ruled a large kingdom.

1412 putting present participle of put /ˈpʌtɪŋ/ verb · put A2 She is putting the books away.

1413 recorded past of record /ɹəˈkɔɹdɪd/ verb · record B1 The band recorded a new album.

1414 cities large towns, more than one /ˈsɪtiz/ noun · city A1 She has lived in many cities.

1415 status a person’s official or social position /ˈstætəs/ noun B2 What is your marital status?

1416 magic special powers that make impossible things happen /ˈmædʒɪk/ noun, adjective B1 He did a magic trick.

1417 active busy and doing a lot /ˈæktɪv/ adjective B1 She is very active for her age.

1418 bringing present participle of bring /ˈbɹɪŋɪŋ/ verb · bring B1 She is bringing a cake.

1419 wedding the ceremony where two people marry /ˈwɛdɪŋ/ noun A2 Their wedding is in June.

1420 larger comparative of large /ˈlɑɹdʒɚ/ adjective · large A2 We need a larger room.

1421 escape to get away from a place or danger /ɪˈskeɪp/ verb, noun B1 The prisoner tried to escape.

1422 solution a way of dealing with a problem /səˈluʃən/ noun B1 We need a solution to this problem.

1423 collection a group of things gathered together /kəˈlɛkʃən/ noun B1 He has a large collection of stamps.

1424 religious believing in a god and following a faith /ɹɪˈlɪdʒəs/ adjective B1 She is very religious.

1425 enter to go into a place; or to type information in /ˈɛntɚ/ verb A2 Please enter the room quietly.

1426 prove to show something is true /ˈpɹuv/ verb B1 Can you prove it?

1427 powers rights or abilities to control, more than one /ˈpaʊɚz/ noun · power B2 The police have special powers.

1428 bear a large heavy wild animal with thick fur; or to put up with /ˈbɛɹ/ noun, verb B1 We saw a bear in the forest.

1429 valley low land between hills or mountains /ˈvæli/ noun B1 The village lies in a green valley.

1430 journey travel from one place to another /ˈdʒɝni/ noun A2 The journey took six hours.

1431 possibly perhaps; maybe /ˈpɑsəbli/ adverb B1 It is possibly the best film of the year.

1432 activity something that you do, especially for fun /ækˈtɪvəti/ noun B1 Swimming is a healthy activity.

1433 bodies the physical forms of people or animals, more than one; or official groups /ˈbɑdiz/ noun · body B2 Two bodies were found in the river.

1434 everybody all people; each person /ˈɛvɹiˌbɑdi/ pronoun A1 Everybody likes her.

1435 studies pieces of research, more than one; or present of study /ˈstʌdiz/ noun, verb · study B1 Studies show that sleep is important.

1436 toward in the direction of /təˈwɔɹd/ preposition B1 She walked toward the door.

1437 mentioned past of mention /ˈmɛnʃənd/ verb · mention B1 She mentioned your name.

1438 established past of establish /ɪˈstæblɪʃt/ verb · establish B2 The company was established in 1990.

1439 sales amounts sold, more than one; or times of cheap prices /ˈseɪlz/ noun · sale B1 Sales rose last month.

1440 teacher a person who helps others to learn at school /ˈtitʃɚ/ noun A1 My teacher is very kind.

1441 threat something that may cause harm or danger /ˈθɹɛt/ noun B2 Pollution is a threat to wildlife.

1442 understanding knowing how or why something works /ˌʌndɚˈstændɪŋ/ noun B2 She has a good understanding of the subject.

1443 prevent to stop something from happening /pɹɪˈvɛnt/ verb B1 Wash your hands to prevent illness.

1444 victim a person harmed by a crime or accident /ˈvɪktəm/ noun B1 The victim was taken to hospital.

1445 afternoon the part of the day from noon until evening /ˌæftɚˈnun/ noun A1 We met in the afternoon.

1446 forest a large area covered with trees /ˈfɔɹəst/ noun A2 We got lost in the forest.

1447 closer comparative of close /ˈkloʊsɚ/ adjective, adverb · close B1 Come a little closer.

1448 sitting present participle of sit /ˈsɪtɪŋ/ verb · sit A2 She is sitting by the window.

1449 stuff things in general, in casual speech /ˈstʌf/ noun B1 Put your stuff in the car.

1450 shop a place where things are sold /ˈʃɑp/ noun, verb A1 The shop opens at nine.

1451 mental to do with the mind /ˈmɛntəl/ adjective B2 Exercise is good for your mental health.

1452 rain water falling from clouds /ˈɹeɪn/ noun, verb A1 The rain stopped at noon.

1453 sweet tasting of sugar /ˈswit/ adjective A2 This cake is too sweet.

1454 independent free from control by others /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt/ adjective B1 The country became independent in 1960.

1455 ancient very old; from long ago /ˈeɪntʃənt/ adjective B1 We visited an ancient temple.

1456 host a person who receives guests; or presents a TV show /ˈhoʊst/ noun, verb B1 The host welcomed the guests.

1457 surprise something unexpected /sɚˈpɹaɪz/ noun, verb A2 What a lovely surprise!

1458 planet a large round body moving around a star /ˈplænət/ noun B1 Earth is our planet.

1459 promise to say you will certainly do something /ˈpɹɑməs/ verb, noun A2 I promise to call you.

1460 executive a senior person in charge in a company /ɪɡˈzɛkjətɪv/ noun, adjective B2 She is a senior executive at a bank.

1461 crisis a time of serious difficulty or danger /ˈkɹaɪsəs/ noun B2 The country is in an economic crisis.

1462 border the line between two countries /ˈbɔɹdɚ/ noun B1 We crossed the border at night.

1463 spoke past of speak /ˈspoʊk/ verb · speak A2 She spoke to the manager.

1464 festival a series of events like music or films, held each year /ˈfɛstəvəl/ noun A2 The town holds a music festival every summer.

1465 accident something bad that happens by chance, causing harm /ˈæksədənt/ noun A2 He had a car accident.

1466 artist a person who paints, draws or creates art /ˈɑɹtəst/ noun A2 She is a famous artist.

1467 fellow being in the same group or situation as you /ˈfɛloʊ/ adjective, noun B2 She thanked her fellow workers.

1468 tells present of tell, for he, she or it /ˈtɛlz/ verb · tell A1 She tells great stories.

1469 starts present of start, for he, she or it /ˈstɑɹts/ verb · start A1 The film starts at eight.

1470 letters written messages sent by post, more than one /ˈlɛtɚz/ noun · letter A1 She wrote two letters.

1471 intelligence the ability to learn and understand; or secret information /ˌɪnˈtɛlədʒəns/ noun B2 She is a woman of great intelligence.

1472 weekend Saturday and Sunday /ˈwiˌkɛnd/ noun A1 What are you doing this weekend?

1473 album a collection of songs released together /ˈælbəm/ noun B1 The band released a new album.

1474 progress movement toward a goal; improvement /ˈpɹɑˌɡɹɛs/ noun B1 She is making good progress.

1475 basic simple; at the simplest level /ˈbeɪsɪk/ adjective B1 You need basic computer skills.

1476 structure the way parts are arranged to form a whole /ˈstɹʌktʃɚ/ noun B2 The structure of the building is strong.

1477 push to press against something to move it away /ˈpʊʃ/ verb, noun A2 Push the door to open it.

1478 movies films for the cinema or TV, more than one /ˈmuviz/ noun · movie A1 We watched two movies.

1479 electric running on power from a battery or the mains /ɪˈlɛktɹɪk/ adjective B1 She drives an electric car.

1480 ends present of end, for he, she or it /ˈɛndz/ verb, noun · end A2 The film ends at ten.

1481 helping present participle of help /ˈhɛlpɪŋ/ verb · help A2 She is helping her mother.

1482 lie to say something false; or to rest flat /ˈlaɪ/ verb, noun B1 Do not lie to me.

1483 crowd a large number of people together /ˈkɹaʊd/ noun B1 A large crowd gathered outside.

1484 fuel a substance burned to give heat or power /ˈfjuəl/ noun B1 The car is low on fuel.

1485 arrest to take someone away by police order /ɚˈɛst/ verb, noun B1 The police will arrest him.

1486 absolutely totally; used to agree strongly /ˌæbsəˈlutli/ adverb B1 You are absolutely right.

1487 universe all of space and everything in it /ˈjunəˌvɝs/ noun B1 The universe is very large.

1488 sale the act of selling something /ˈseɪl/ noun B1 The house is for sale.

1489 wine an alcoholic drink made from grapes /ˈwaɪn/ noun A1 Would you like red or white wine?

1490 completed past of complete /kəmˈplitəd/ verb · complete B1 She completed the course.

1491 trees tall plants with trunks and branches, more than one /ˈtɹiz/ noun · tree A1 The trees lost their leaves.

1492 officials people with positions of authority, more than one /əˈfɪʃəlz/ noun · official B2 Government officials met today.

1493 content what is inside something, or written in it /ˈkɑntɛnt/ noun B2 The content of the website changes daily.

1494 hundreds many lots of a hundred; a large number /ˈhʌndɹədz/ noun · hundred A2 Hundreds of people came.

1495 activities things people do, especially for fun, more than one /ækˈtɪvətiz/ noun · activity B1 The hotel offers many activities.

1496 dollars units of American money, more than one /ˈdɑlɚz/ noun · dollar A2 It costs twenty dollars.

1497 actions things done, more than one /ˈækʃənz/ noun · action B1 We are responsible for our actions.

1498 library a place where books can be borrowed /ˈlaɪbɹɛˌɹi/ noun A1 I borrowed this book from the library.

1499 committed past of commit; or loyal and dedicated /kəˈmɪtɪd/ verb · commit B2 He committed a serious crime.

1500 setting the time and place where a story happens /ˈsɛtɪŋ/ noun B2 The setting of the film is Paris.

Most common English words: 1,401–1,500