Most Common English Words 1,901–2,000: Meanings & IPA

RankWord Definition PronunciationPart of speech LevelExample

1901 provides present of provide, for he, she or it /pɹəˈvaɪdz/ verb · provide B1 The hotel provides free towels.

1902 instance an example of something /ˈɪnstəns/ noun B2 For instance, you could take the train.

1903 noise a sound, especially a loud or unpleasant one /ˈnɔɪz/ noun A2 Stop making that noise!

1904 tradition a custom passed down over many years /tɹəˈdɪʃən/ noun B1 It is a family tradition to eat fish at Christmas.

1905 unknown not identified or familiar to anyone /ənˈnoʊn/ adjective B1 The cause of the fire is unknown.

1906 crown a circle of gold worn on the head of a king or queen /ˈkɹaʊn/ noun B2 The queen wore a gold crown.

1907 delivered past of deliver /dɪˈlɪvɚd/ verb · deliver B1 The letter was delivered this morning.

1908 focused past of focus /ˈfoʊkəst/ verb, adjective · focus B2 She focused on her studies.

1909 housing homes for people to live in, considered as a whole /ˈhaʊzɪŋ/ noun B2 The city needs more cheap housing.

1910 bag a container of cloth, plastic or leather for carrying things /ˈbæɡ/ noun A1 Put your books in your bag.

1911 labor work, especially physical work, and the workers who do it /ˈleɪbɚ/ noun B2 The cost of labor has risen.

1912 iron a strong hard grey metal /ˈaɪɚn/ noun, verb B1 The gate is made of iron.

1913 values beliefs about what is right and important /ˈvæljuz/ noun · value B2 They share the same values.

1914 somewhere in or to a place not named /ˈsʌmˌwɛɹ/ adverb A2 I left my keys somewhere.

1915 stick to fix one thing to another with glue /ˈstɪk/ verb, noun B1 Stick the stamp on the envelope.

1916 vehicles cars, buses or trucks, more than one /ˈvihɪkəlz/ noun · vehicle B1 No vehicles are allowed in the park.

1917 ships large boats that carry people or goods, more than one /ˈʃɪps/ noun · ship A2 Large ships sail into the port.

1918 danger the chance of harm or injury /ˈdeɪndʒɚ/ noun B1 Their lives are in danger.

1919 formed past of form /ˈfɔɹmd/ verb · form B1 They formed a band at school.

1920 uncle the brother of your mother or father /ˈʌŋkəl/ noun A1 My uncle lives in Canada.

1921 yellow the colour of lemons or the sun /ˈjɛloʊ/ adjective, noun A1 She wore a yellow dress.

1922 stood past of stand /ˈstʊd/ verb · stand A2 He stood by the window.

1923 chair a seat for one person, with a back /ˈtʃɛɹ/ noun A1 Please take a chair.

1924 heavily a lot, or with great force /ˈhɛvəli/ adverb B2 It rained heavily all night.

1925 testing present participle of test /ˈtɛstɪŋ/ verb · test B1 They are testing a new drug.

1926 defeat a loss in a game, battle or contest /dɪˈfit/ noun, verb B2 The team suffered a heavy defeat.

1927 castle a large strong building with thick walls, built long ago /ˈkæsəl/ noun A2 We visited an old castle.

1928 affairs matters of public or personal business /əˈfɛɹz/ noun · affair B2 He is an expert in foreign affairs.

1929 paying present participle of pay /ˈpeɪɪŋ/ verb · pay A2 Who is paying for dinner?

1930 navy the part of the armed forces that fights at sea /ˈneɪvi/ noun B2 He served in the navy.

1931 shortly soon; in a little while /ˈʃɔɹtli/ adverb B2 The train will arrive shortly.

1932 roads wide ways for cars and other traffic, more than one /ˈɹoʊdz/ noun · road A1 The roads were icy this morning.

1933 theatre a building where plays are performed /ˈθiətɚ/ noun A2 We went to the theatre last night.

1934 knowing present participle of know /ˈnoʊɪŋ/ verb · know B1 Knowing her, she will be late.

1935 feelings emotions, more than one /ˈfilɪŋz/ noun · feeling A2 I do not want to hurt his feelings.

1936 unfortunately sadly; used when giving bad news /ənˈfɔɹtʃənətli/ adverb A2 Unfortunately, the shop was closed.

1937 replaced past of replace /ˌɹiˈpleɪst/ verb · replace B1 They replaced the old windows.

1938 allowing present participle of allow /əˈlaʊɪŋ/ verb · allow B1 They are allowing dogs in the park now.

1939 returning present participle of return /ɹɪˈtɝnɪŋ/ verb · return B1 She is returning home tomorrow.

1940 alternative another choice or possibility /ɔlˈtɝnətɪv/ noun, adjective B1 Is there an alternative to driving?

1941 lawyer a person trained to give advice on the law /ˈlɔjɚ/ noun B1 You should talk to a lawyer.

1942 finds present of find, for he, she or it /ˈfaɪndz/ verb · find A2 She always finds a way.

1943 suffering great pain or unhappiness /ˈsʌfɚɪŋ/ noun, verb · suffer B2 The war caused great suffering.

1944 teaching the job of giving lessons /ˈtitʃɪŋ/ noun, verb · teach B1 She has worked in teaching for years.

1945 careful giving attention to avoid harm or mistakes /ˈkɛɹfəl/ adjective A2 Be careful when you cross the road.

1946 officially in a formal way approved by those in charge /əˈfɪʃəli/ adverb B2 The bridge was officially opened today.

1947 represent to act or speak for someone else /ˌɹɛpɹɪˈzɛnt/ verb B2 She will represent our school.

1948 surgery medical treatment that involves cutting the body open /ˈsɝdʒɚi/ noun B2 He needs surgery on his knee.

1949 adult a fully grown person /əˈdʌlt/ noun, adjective A2 Tickets cost ten euros for an adult.

1950 fill to make something full /ˈfɪl/ verb A2 Fill the bottle with water.

1951 bigger larger in size than another /ˈbɪɡɚ/ adjective · big A1 We need a bigger house.

1952 funny making you laugh /ˈfʌni/ adjective A1 He told a funny story.

1953 crazy very foolish or mad /ˈkɹeɪzi/ adjective A2 That is a crazy idea.

1954 novel a long written story about imaginary people /ˈnɑvəl/ noun B1 She is writing her first novel.

1955 blow to move air, as wind does or from the mouth /ˈbloʊ/ verb, noun B1 The wind began to blow hard.

1956 tests sets of questions to check knowledge, more than one /ˈtɛsts/ noun · test A2 We have two tests next week.

1957 minor small and not very important /ˈmaɪnɚ/ adjective B2 It was only a minor problem.

1958 soft not hard or firm; smooth to touch /ˈsɑft/ adjective A2 The bed is very soft.

1959 switch to turn a machine on or off; or to change /ˈswɪtʃ/ verb, noun B1 Switch off the light, please.

1960 birds animals with feathers and wings, more than one /ˈbɝdz/ noun · bird A1 The birds are singing.

1961 apply to ask formally for a job or place, usually in writing /əˈplaɪ/ verb B1 I want to apply for the job.

1962 lights lamps that give brightness, more than one /ˈlaɪts/ noun · light A1 Turn off the lights, please.

1963 owns present of own, for he, she or it /ˈoʊnz/ verb · own A2 She owns two cars.

1964 smoke the grey cloud given off by something burning /ˈsmoʊk/ noun, verb A2 Smoke came out of the chimney.

1965 positions places where things or people stand, more than one /pəˈzɪʃənz/ noun · position B2 The players took their positions on the field.

1966 assistant a person who helps someone, or serves in a shop /əˈsɪstənt/ noun A2 Ask the shop assistant for help.

1967 prepare to get ready, or make something ready /pɹiˈpɛɹ/ verb A2 I need to prepare for the exam.

1968 till up to the time of /ˈtɪl/ preposition, conjunction A2 The shop is open till six.

1969 tools objects held in the hand for doing jobs, more than one /ˈtulz/ noun · tool A2 He keeps his tools in the garage.

1970 legs the limbs used for standing and walking, more than one /ˈlɛɡz/ noun · leg A1 My legs are tired after the walk.

1971 giant extremely large; or a huge imaginary person /ˈdʒaɪənt/ adjective, noun B1 There is a giant screen in the square.

1972 writer a person who produces books or articles as a job /ˈɹaɪtɚ/ noun A2 She is a famous writer.

1973 volume how loud a sound is; or the amount of space something fills /ˈvɑljum/ noun B2 Please turn the volume down.

1974 cultural connected with art, music and the customs of a society /ˈkʌltʃɚəl/ adjective B1 The city has many cultural events.

1975 scientific based on careful testing and the study of nature /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/ adjective B1 They did a scientific study.

1976 measure to find the size, length or amount of something /ˈmɛʒɚ/ verb, noun B1 Measure the room before buying a carpet.

1977 gay attracted to people of the same sex /ˈɡeɪ/ adjective B2 He is openly gay.

1978 manage to succeed in doing something difficult; or to run a business /ˈmænədʒ/ verb B1 Did you manage to finish the work?

1979 sport a game or activity done for exercise or competition /ˈspɔɹt/ noun A1 Football is my favourite sport.

1980 upper higher in position /ˈʌpɚ/ adjective B2 She lives on an upper floor.

1981 truck a large road vehicle for carrying goods /ˈtɹʌk/ noun A2 A large truck blocked the road.

1982 weak not physically strong /ˈwik/ adjective A2 She felt weak after the illness.

1983 besides in addition to; also /bɪˈsaɪdz/ preposition, adverb B2 Besides English, she speaks French.

1984 normally usually; in the ordinary way /ˈnɔɹməli/ adverb B1 I normally get up at seven.

1985 supported past of support /səˈpɔɹtɪd/ verb · support B1 My family supported my decision.

1986 proved past of prove /ˈpɹuvd/ verb · prove B2 The test proved he was right.

1987 granted past of grant /ˈɡɹæntəd/ verb · grant B2 She was granted a visa.

1988 presented past of present /pɹiˈzɛntɪd/ verb · present B1 She presented her report to the board.

1989 desire a strong feeling of wanting something /dɪˈzaɪɚ/ noun, verb B2 He had a strong desire to travel.

1990 ending the last part of a story or film /ˈɛndɪŋ/ noun B1 The film has a happy ending.

1991 attacked past of attack /əˈtækt/ verb · attack B1 The dog attacked a child.

1992 somebody a person not named or known /ˈsʌmˌbɑdi/ pronoun A2 Somebody left the door open.

1993 suspect to think something is probably true, often something bad /səˈspɛkt/ verb, noun B2 I suspect she knows the truth.

1994 acts things that someone does, more than one /ˈækts/ noun · act B2 There were many acts of kindness.

1995 identify to recognise and say who or what someone is /aɪˈdɛntəˌfaɪ/ verb B2 Can you identify the man in the photo?

1996 pool a large tank of water for swimming /ˈpul/ noun A2 The hotel has a swimming pool.

1997 teach to help someone learn something /ˈtitʃ/ verb A1 Can you teach me to swim?

1998 launched past of launch /ˈlɔntʃt/ verb · launch B2 The company launched a new app.

1999 cells the smallest living units of a body, more than one /ˈsɛlz/ noun · cell B2 The body is made of millions of cells.

2000 sentence a group of words that makes a statement; or a punishment from a court /ˈsɛntəns/ noun, verb A2 Write a sentence using this word.

Most common English words: 1,901–2,000