Most Common English Words 2,901–3,000: Meanings & IPA

RankWord Definition PronunciationPart of speech LevelExample

2901 rapidly very quickly; at great speed /ˈɹæpədli/ adverb B2 Prices rose rapidly last year.

2902 editor a person in charge of what goes into a newspaper or book /ˈɛdətɚ/ noun B2 She is a newspaper editor.

2903 engagement an agreement to marry; or involvement in something /ɛnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/ noun B2 They announced their engagement.

2904 transition a change from one state or stage to another /tɹænˈzɪʃən/ noun B2 The transition to democracy was peaceful.

2905 sword a weapon with a long sharp metal blade /ˈsɔɹd/ noun B2 The knight drew his sword.

2906 attractive pleasant to look at; or appealing /əˈtɹæktɪv/ adjective B1 She is a very attractive woman.

2907 steal to take something that is not yours without permission /ˈstil/ verb B1 Someone tried to steal my bag.

2908 horror great shock and fear /ˈhɔɹɚ/ noun B2 She loves horror films.

2909 firing present participle of fire /ˈfaɪɹɪŋ/ verb · fire B2 Soldiers were firing at the building.

2910 breathing present participle of breathe /ˈbɹiðɪŋ/ verb · breathe B1 Is he still breathing?

2911 reform a change made to improve a system /ɹəˈfɔɹm/ noun, verb B2 The government promised tax reform.

2912 tears drops of water from the eyes when crying, more than one /ˈtɛɹz/ noun · tear B1 Tears ran down her face.

2913 inner on the inside; close to the centre /ˈɪnɚ/ adjective B2 The inner door was locked.

2914 lieutenant a junior officer in the army, navy or police /luˈtɛnənt/ noun C1 The lieutenant gave the order.

2915 studying present participle of study /ˈstʌdiɪŋ/ verb · study A2 She is studying medicine.

2916 observed past of observe /əbˈzɝvd/ verb · observe B2 Scientists observed the birds for months.

2917 wire a thin metal thread used for electricity or fixing things /ˈwaɪɚ/ noun B1 A thin wire connects the two parts.

2918 root the part of a plant under the ground; or the cause of something /ˈɹut/ noun B2 The root of the problem is money.

2919 experiment a scientific test to find something out /ɪkˈspɛɹəmənt/ noun B1 We did an experiment in class.

2920 disappeared past of disappear /ˌdɪsəˈpɪɹd/ verb · disappear B1 The cat disappeared last week.

2921 connections links or useful contacts, more than one /kəˈnɛkʃənz/ noun · connection B1 He has good connections in politics.

2922 shadow a dark shape made when something blocks light /ˈʃæˌdoʊ/ noun B1 The tree cast a long shadow.

2923 somehow in a way that is not known or clear /ˈsʌmˌhaʊ/ adverb B1 We will finish it somehow.

2924 widely by a lot of people or over a large area /ˈwaɪdli/ adverb B2 English is widely spoken.

2925 recognition public praise for an achievement; or knowing someone again /ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃən/ noun B2 She received recognition for her work.

2926 deck the flat floor of a ship; or a pack of cards /ˈdɛk/ noun B2 We sat on the deck of the ship.

2927 enforcement making sure that laws or rules are obeyed /ɛnˈfɔɹsmənt/ noun C1 Law enforcement officers arrived.

2928 raw not cooked; or in a natural state /ˈɹɑ/ adjective B1 You can eat this fish raw.

2929 pushing present participle of push /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/ verb · push A2 Stop pushing me, please!

2930 dozen a group of twelve /ˈdʌzən/ noun B1 I bought a dozen eggs.

2931 category a group of things with shared features /ˈkætəˌɡɔɹi/ noun B2 Put each word in the right category.

2932 forth forward or onward /ˈfɔɹθ/ adverb C1 He paced back and forth.

2933 eve the day or evening before a special day /ˈiv/ noun B2 We met on New Year's Eve.

2934 rail trains as a way of travelling; or a bar to hold onto /ˈɹeɪl/ noun B2 They travelled by rail.

2935 defensive quick to protect yourself from criticism; or used to resist attack /dɪˈfɛnsɪv/ adjective B2 He became defensive when asked.

2936 cooperation working together toward a shared goal /koʊˌɑpɚˈeɪʃən/ noun B2 Thank you for your cooperation.

2937 belong to be owned by someone; or to be a member /bɪˈlɔŋ/ verb A2 Does this bag belong to you?

2938 kings male rulers of countries, more than one /ˈkɪŋz/ noun · king A2 England has had many kings.

2939 pink of a pale red colour /ˈpɪŋk/ adjective A1 She wore a pink dress.

2940 ease lack of difficulty /ˈiz/ noun B2 She won with ease.

2941 colleagues people you work with, more than one /ˈkɑliɡz/ noun · colleague B1 My colleagues are very friendly.

2942 situations sets of conditions at a particular time, more than one /ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃənz/ noun · situation A2 She handles difficult situations well.

2943 prisoners people kept in jail, more than one /ˈpɹɪzənɚz/ noun · prisoner B1 The prisoners were released.

2944 partnership a relationship where people or firms work together /ˈpɑɹtnɚˌʃɪp/ noun B2 The two firms formed a partnership.

2945 witnesses people who saw an event happen, more than one /ˈwɪtnəsəz/ noun · witness B2 Police are looking for witnesses.

2946 responded past of respond /ɹɪˈspɑndɪd/ verb · respond B2 She responded to my email quickly.

2947 rivers large natural flows of water, more than one /ˈɹɪvɚz/ noun · river A1 Two rivers meet here.

2948 stupid showing a lack of good sense /ˈstupəd/ adjective A2 That was a stupid mistake.

2949 chocolate a sweet brown food made from cocoa /ˈtʃɔklət/ noun A1 I love dark chocolate.

2950 lifted past of lift /ˈlɪftəd/ verb · lift B1 He lifted the box onto the table.

2951 trick a clever act to deceive or entertain someone /ˈtɹɪk/ noun B1 He showed us a card trick.

2952 priest a person who leads religious services /ˈpɹist/ noun B1 The priest said a prayer.

2953 engines machines that make vehicles move, more than one /ˈɛndʒənz/ noun · engine B1 The plane has four engines.

2954 alleged said to have happened or be true, but not proven /əˈlɛdʒd/ adjective C1 The alleged attack took place at night.

2955 inflation a general rise in prices over time /ˌɪnˈfleɪʃən/ noun C1 Inflation rose to five percent.

2956 chip a tiny electronic part in a computer; or a fried strip of potato /ˈtʃɪp/ noun B2 The computer needs a new chip.

2957 suspended stopped from working or playing for a time; or hung up /səˈspɛndɪd/ verb C1 The player was suspended for three games.

2958 fifty the number 50 /ˈfɪfti/ numeral A1 He is fifty years old.

2959 towns places with many houses and shops, smaller than cities, more than one /ˈtaʊnz/ noun · town A1 We visited three towns.

2960 intention something you plan to do /ˌɪnˈtɛntʃən/ noun B1 I have no intention of leaving.

2961 separated past participle of separate /ˈsɛpɚˌeɪtɪd/ verb · separate B1 My parents are separated.

2962 gray of the colour between black and white /ˈɡɹeɪ/ adjective A1 He has gray hair.

2963 resolution a formal decision made by a group vote; or a firm promise /ˌɹɛzəˈluʃən/ noun B2 The UN passed a resolution.

2964 province a large area of a country with its own local government /ˈpɹɑvəns/ noun B2 Each province has its own government.

2965 assist to help someone /əˈsɪst/ verb B2 Can I assist you?

2966 comic funny; or a magazine of picture stories /ˈkɑmɪk/ adjective, noun B1 He reads comic books.

2967 extensive large in amount or area /ɪkˈstɛnsɪv/ adjective B2 The house needs extensive repairs.

2968 grave a place in the ground where a dead person is buried /ˈɡɹeɪv/ noun, adjective B2 They visited her grave.

2969 medium of middle size or amount /ˈmidiəm/ adjective A2 I would like a medium coffee.

2970 signature your name written in your own special way /ˈsɪɡnətʃɚ/ noun B1 Put your signature here.

2971 involving present participle of involve /ˌɪnˈvɑlvɪŋ/ verb · involve B2 There was an accident involving two cars.

2972 corporation a large company /ˌkɔɹpɚˈeɪʃən/ noun B2 He works for a large corporation.

2973 techniques particular skilled ways of doing things, more than one /tɛkˈniks/ noun · technique B2 She uses modern techniques.

2974 threats warnings that someone will cause harm, more than one /ˈθɹɛts/ noun · threat B2 He received death threats.

2975 liquid a substance that flows freely, like water /ˈlɪkwəd/ noun, adjective B1 Water is a liquid.

2976 abroad in or to a foreign country /əˈbɹɔd/ adverb A2 She has lived abroad for years.

2977 academic relating to schools, universities and study /ˌækəˈdɛmɪk/ adjective B2 The academic year starts in September.

2978 monster a large frightening imaginary creature /ˈmɑnstɚ/ noun B1 The child was afraid of the monster.

2979 secondary for pupils aged about 11 to 18; or less important /ˈsɛkənˌdɛɹi/ adjective B1 She teaches at a secondary school.

2980 regions large areas of a country or the world, more than one /ˈɹidʒənz/ noun · region B1 The northern regions are cold.

2981 extent how large, important or serious something is /ɪkˈstɛnt/ noun C1 To what extent do you agree?

2982 spiritual relating to the soul and religion, not the body /ˈspɪɹɪˌtʃuəl/ adjective B2 He is a deeply spiritual man.

2983 flash a sudden bright light lasting a moment /ˈflæʃ/ noun, verb B2 There was a flash of lightning.

2984 principles basic beliefs or rules, more than one /ˈpɹɪnsəpəlz/ noun · principle B2 She has strong moral principles.

2985 railway the track and system used by trains /ˈɹeɪlˌweɪ/ noun A2 The railway runs along the coast.

2986 rapid happening very quickly /ˈɹæpəd/ adjective B2 The city saw rapid growth.

2987 engage to attract someone's interest and attention; or to take part /ɛnˈɡeɪdʒ/ verb C1 The teacher tries to engage the students.

2988 odd strange or unusual /ˈɑd/ adjective B1 That is an odd thing to say.

2989 guards people who protect a place or watch prisoners, more than one /ˈɡɑɹdz/ noun · guard B1 The guards stood at the gate.

2990 escaped past of escape /ɪˈskeɪpt/ verb · escape B1 Two prisoners escaped last night.

2991 exit a door or way out of a place /ˈɛɡzɪt/ noun A2 Where is the exit?

2992 aged having lived for a given number of years /ˈeɪdʒd/ adjective B2 She has two children aged five and seven.

2993 principle a basic rule or belief that guides behaviour /ˈpɹɪnsəpəl/ noun B2 It is a matter of principle.

2994 duties tasks that are part of a job, more than one /ˈdutiz/ noun · duty B1 His duties include answering the phone.

2995 bones hard white parts of a skeleton, more than one /ˈboʊnz/ noun · bone A2 The dog buried its bones in the garden.

2996 traveling present participle of travel /ˈtɹævəlɪŋ/ verb · travel A2 She is traveling around Europe.

2997 forgotten past participle of forget /fɚˈɡɑtən/ verb · forget A2 I have forgotten his name.

2998 audio relating to recorded or broadcast sound /ˈɑdiˌoʊ/ adjective, noun B2 The audio quality is poor.

2999 poverty the state of being very poor /ˈpɑvɚti/ noun B2 Many families live in poverty.

3000 repeat to say or do something again /ɹɪˈpit/ verb A1 Could you repeat that, please?

Most common English words: 2,901–3,000