Most Common English Words 2,301–2,400: Meanings & IPA

RankWord Definition PronunciationPart of speech LevelExample

2301 scheme an official plan for doing something /ˈskim/ noun B2 The council launched a new recycling scheme.

2302 unusual not common or normal /əˈnjuˌʒuəl/ adjective B1 It is unusual for her to be late.

2303 pride a feeling of pleasure in what you or others have done /ˈpɹaɪd/ noun B2 She looked at her son with pride.

2304 argument an angry disagreement; or a reason given for a view /ˈɑɹɡjəmənt/ noun B1 They had an argument about money.

2305 cap a soft hat with a stiff part at the front /ˈkæp/ noun A2 He wore a baseball cap.

2306 seeking present participle of seek /ˈsikɪŋ/ verb · seek B2 They are seeking a new manager.

2307 views opinions about something, more than one /ˈvjuz/ noun · view B1 We have different views on this.

2308 angry feeling strongly annoyed /ˈæŋɡɹi/ adjective A1 My father was angry with me.

2309 keys metal pieces for opening locks, more than one /ˈkiz/ noun · key A1 I cannot find my keys.

2310 proposal a plan or idea put forward for others to consider /pɹəˈpoʊzəl/ noun B2 They rejected our proposal.

2311 loves present of love, for he, she or it /ˈlʌvz/ verb · love A1 She loves chocolate.

2312 engineering the design and building of machines, roads and bridges /ˈɛndʒəˈnɪɹɪŋ/ noun B2 He studied engineering at university.

2313 relative a member of your family /ˈɹɛlətɪv/ noun B1 She is staying with a relative.

2314 depending present participle of depend /dɪˈpɛndɪŋ/ verb · depend B2 We may go, depending on the weather.

2315 license an official paper that gives permission to do something /ˈlaɪsəns/ noun B1 You need a license to sell alcohol.

2316 bills papers showing how much you owe, more than one /ˈbɪlz/ noun · bill B1 We have to pay the bills.

2317 developing present participle of develop /dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ/ verb · develop B1 The city is developing quickly.

2318 owners people who own something, more than one /ˈoʊnɚz/ noun · owner B1 The owners of the house are away.

2319 violent using force to hurt or kill /ˈvaɪələnt/ adjective B1 He was arrested for violent behaviour.

2320 contains present of contain, for he, she or it /kənˈteɪnz/ verb · contain B1 This drink contains a lot of sugar.

2321 actors people who perform in plays or films, more than one /ˈæktɚz/ noun · actor A2 The actors were very good.

2322 literally exactly, or used to stress that something is true /ˈlɪtɚəli/ adverb B2 There were literally thousands of people.

2323 hide to put something where no one can find it /ˈhaɪd/ verb B1 Where did you hide the money?

2324 hired past of hire /ˈhaɪɚd/ verb · hire B2 They hired a new teacher.

2325 sites places where something is or happened, more than one /ˈsaɪts/ noun · site B1 There are many historic sites in Rome.

2326 decade a period of ten years /dɛˈkeɪd/ noun B2 Prices have doubled in the last decade.

2327 teachers people who teach at a school, more than one /ˈtitʃɚz/ noun · teacher A1 The teachers are in a meeting.

2328 stuck past of stick; or unable to move /ˈstʌk/ verb · stick B1 The car got stuck in the mud.

2329 tape a narrow strip of sticky plastic or paper /ˈteɪp/ noun B1 Fix the paper with some tape.

2330 burn to damage or destroy with fire or heat /ˈbɝn/ verb B1 Be careful not to burn the toast.

2331 grade a mark given for school work /ˈɡɹeɪd/ noun B1 She got a good grade in maths.

2332 campus the land and buildings of a university /ˈkæmpəs/ noun B1 The library is in the middle of the campus.

2333 comment a remark giving an opinion /ˈkɑmɛnt/ noun, verb B1 She made a rude comment about my hair.

2334 abandoned past of abandon /əˈbændənd/ verb · abandon B2 They abandoned the car in the snow.

2335 photos pictures taken with a camera, more than one /ˈfoʊˌtoʊz/ noun · photo A1 She took lots of photos on holiday.

2336 chicken a farm bird kept for its eggs and meat /ˈtʃɪkən/ noun A1 We had roast chicken for lunch.

2337 defend to protect against attack or criticism /dɪˈfɛnd/ verb B1 He tried to defend his family.

2338 edition one version of a book or newspaper printed at one time /əˈdɪʃən/ noun B2 This is the first edition of the book.

2339 revenue money that a business or government receives /ˈɹɛvəˌnu/ noun C1 The company's revenue rose by ten percent.

2340 shock a sudden upsetting surprise /ˈʃɑk/ noun B1 The news came as a shock.

2341 referred past of refer /ɹəˈfɝd/ verb · refer B2 She referred to the problem in her speech.

2342 neighborhood an area of a town where people live /ˈneɪbɚˌhʊd/ noun B1 They live in a quiet neighborhood.

2343 plot the series of events in a story /ˈplɑt/ noun B2 The plot of the film was hard to follow.

2344 machines pieces of equipment with moving parts, more than one /məˈʃinz/ noun · machine A2 The factory has new machines.

2345 soil the top layer of earth where plants grow /ˈsɔɪl/ noun B2 Plants grow well in this soil.

2346 closing present participle of close /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/ verb · close B1 The shop is closing early today.

2347 upset unhappy or worried because of something bad /əpˈsɛt/ adjective B1 She was upset about the news.

2348 dates particular days of the month or year, more than one /ˈdeɪts/ noun · date A2 Write the dates in your diary.

2349 comfortable pleasant to sit in or wear /ˈkʌmfɚtəbəl/ adjective A2 This chair is very comfortable.

2350 occur to happen /əˈkɝ/ verb B2 Most accidents occur near the home.

2351 dramatic sudden and very great or exciting /dɹəˈmætɪk/ adjective B2 There has been a dramatic rise in prices.

2352 initially at the start, at first /ˌɪˈnɪʃəli/ adverb B2 Initially, I did not like him.

2353 deaths ends of life, more than one /ˈdɛθs/ noun · death B1 The storm caused several deaths.

2354 fallen past participle of fall /ˈfɑlən/ verb · fall B1 Prices have fallen this year.

2355 capture to catch and hold a person or animal /ˈkæptʃɚ/ verb B2 The police tried to capture the thief.

2356 clients people who pay for a professional service, more than one /ˈklaɪənts/ noun · client B1 She meets her clients in the office.

2357 pleasure a feeling of enjoyment /ˈplɛʒɚ/ noun B1 It was a pleasure to meet you.

2358 mad very angry; or mentally ill /ˈmæd/ adjective B1 My mom will be mad at me.

2359 trained past of train /ˈtɹeɪnd/ verb · train B1 She trained as a nurse.

2360 anybody any person at all /ˈɛnibədi/ pronoun A2 Did anybody see what happened?

2361 anniversary the date on which something happened in an earlier year /ˌænəˈvɝsɚi/ noun B1 It is our wedding anniversary today.

2362 conduct to organise and carry out an activity /ˈkɑndəkt/ verb B2 They will conduct a survey next month.

2363 listening present participle of listen /ˈlɪsənɪŋ/ verb · listen A1 Are you listening to me?

2364 scenes parts of a play or film in one place, more than one /ˈsinz/ noun · scene B1 The film has some violent scenes.

2365 ray a narrow line of light or heat /ˈɹeɪ/ noun B2 A ray of sunlight came through the window.

2366 surrounding all around a place /sɚˈaʊndɪŋ/ adjective B2 We explored the surrounding countryside.

2367 fruit the sweet part of a plant that you can eat, like apples /ˈfɹut/ noun A1 Eat more fresh fruit.

2368 hunt to chase and kill wild animals /ˈhʌnt/ verb B1 Lions hunt at night.

2369 comedy a funny film or play that makes people laugh /ˈkɑmədi/ noun B1 We watched a romantic comedy.

2370 cent a coin worth one hundredth of a dollar or euro /ˈsɛnt/ noun A2 I did not spend a single cent.

2371 users people who use a product or service, more than one /ˈjuzɚz/ noun · user B1 The app has millions of users.

2372 flag a piece of cloth with a pattern that stands for a country /ˈflæɡ/ noun A2 The flag has three colours.

2373 discussion a talk in which people share views on a subject /dɪˈskʌʃən/ noun B1 We had a long discussion about it.

2374 pattern a design of repeated shapes or colours /ˈpætɚn/ noun B1 The dress has a flower pattern.

2375 mainly mostly, more than anything else /ˈmeɪnli/ adverb B1 The workers are mainly young.

2376 environmental to do with nature and the natural world /ɪnˌvaɪɹənˈmɛntəl/ adjective B2 Pollution is a serious environmental problem.

2377 estimated past participle of estimate /ˈɛstəˌmeɪtəd/ verb · estimate B2 The cost is estimated at two million.

2378 manner the way something is done /ˈmænɚ/ noun B2 She spoke in a calm manner.

2379 recognized past of recognize /ˈɹɛkəɡˌnaɪzd/ verb · recognize B1 I recognized her voice at once.

2380 democratic based on rule by the people through free votes /ˌdɛməˈkɹætɪk/ adjective B2 The country held its first democratic elections.

2381 tournament a competition with many games or matches /ˈtʊɹnəmənt/ noun B1 Our team won the tennis tournament.

2382 appointment an arranged time to see someone /əˈpɔɪntmənt/ noun B1 I have a doctor's appointment at ten.

2383 cooking preparing meals, or the food someone makes /ˈkʊkɪŋ/ noun A2 Her cooking is wonderful.

2384 staying present participle of stay /ˈsteɪɪŋ/ verb · stay A2 We are staying at a hotel.

2385 improved past of improve /ˌɪmˈpɹuvd/ verb · improve B1 His English has improved a lot.

2386 prefer to like one thing more than another /pɹəˈfɝ/ verb A2 I prefer tea to coffee.

2387 roof the top covering of a building /ˈɹuf/ noun A2 There is a cat on the roof.

2388 tool an object you hold to do a job, like a hammer /ˈtul/ noun B1 A hammer is a useful tool.

2389 brief lasting only a short time /ˈbɹif/ adjective B2 She gave a brief speech.

2390 author a person who writes books /ˈɔθɚ/ noun B1 Who is the author of this book?

2391 loan money borrowed that must be paid back /ˈloʊn/ noun B1 We took out a loan to buy the car.

2392 opportunities chances to do something, more than one /ˌɑpɚˈtunətiz/ noun · opportunity B1 There are good job opportunities here.

2393 recovery the process of getting well again /ɹɪˈkʌvɹi/ noun B2 She made a quick recovery after the operation.

2394 noticed past of notice /ˈnoʊtəst/ verb · notice B1 I noticed a strange smell.

2395 waves moving lines of water on the sea, more than one /ˈweɪvz/ noun · wave A2 The waves were very high today.

2396 discovery the act of finding something for the first time /dɪˈskʌvɚi/ noun B1 The discovery of oil changed the town.

2397 threatened said that he or she would do something harmful /ˈθɹɛtənd/ verb B2 He threatened to call the police.

2398 liked past of like /ˈlaɪkt/ verb · like A1 She liked the film.

2399 horses large animals that people ride, more than one /ˈhɔɹsəz/ noun · horse A1 They keep horses on the farm.

2400 personnel the people employed by an organization /ˌpɝsəˈnɛl/ noun C1 Only authorized personnel may enter.

Most common English words: 2,301–2,400