Most Common English Words 3,001–3,100: Meanings & IPA

RankWord Definition PronunciationPart of speech LevelExample

3001 offices rooms or buildings where people work at desks, more than one /ˈɔfəsəz/ noun · office A2 Their offices are in the city centre.

3002 suppose to think something is probably true /səˈpoʊz/ verb B1 I suppose you are right.

3003 expand to grow larger, or make larger /ɪkˈspænd/ verb B1 The company plans to expand abroad.

3004 regularly often, at even intervals /ˈɹɛɡjəlɚli/ adverb B1 She visits her parents regularly.

3005 angle the space between two lines that meet /ˈæŋɡəl/ noun B1 Hold the camera at an angle.

3006 satellite an object that circles a planet in space /ˈsætəˌlaɪt/ noun B1 The satellite sends pictures back to earth.

3007 explosion a sudden violent burst with a loud noise /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/ noun B1 The explosion broke every window.

3008 landed past of land /ˈlændəd/ verb · land B1 The plane landed safely.

3009 bloody bleeding, or involving much killing and wounding /ˈblʌdi/ adjective B2 He had a bloody nose after the fight.

3010 representative a person chosen to act or speak for others /ˌɹɛpɹəˈzɛntətɪv/ noun, adjective B2 She is the union's representative.

3011 efficient working well without wasting time or energy /ɪˈfɪʃənt/ adjective B2 The new engine is more efficient.

3012 potentially possibly, though not yet so /pəˈtɛnʃəli/ adverb B2 This is potentially dangerous.

3013 universal true or shared everywhere, by everyone /ˌjunəˈvɝsəl/ adjective B2 Music is a universal language.

3014 designs plans or drawings showing how something will look, more than one /dɪˈzaɪnz/ noun · design B1 She sells her designs online.

3015 philosophy the study of ideas about truth, life and knowledge /fəˈlɑsəfi/ noun B2 He studied philosophy at university.

3016 depth how far down something goes /ˈdɛpθ/ noun B2 The lake has a depth of ten metres.

3017 fighter a person who boxes or battles; or a small warplane /ˈfaɪtɚ/ noun B2 He is a skilled fighter.

3018 rural in or of the countryside /ˈɹʊɹəl/ adjective B2 They live in a rural area.

3019 skill the ability to do something well /ˈskɪl/ noun A2 Cooking is a useful skill.

3020 weird very strange /ˈwɪɹd/ adjective B1 That was a weird dream.

3021 passenger a person travelling in a vehicle but not driving it /ˈpæsəndʒɚ/ noun A2 The passenger sat by the window.

3022 egg an oval object laid by a hen, eaten as food /ˈɛɡ/ noun A1 I had an egg for breakfast.

3023 humanity all the people in the world; or kindness /hjuˈmænɪti/ noun B2 War is a crime against humanity.

3024 random chosen by chance, without a plan /ˈɹændəm/ adjective B1 Pick a random number.

3025 everyday ordinary, and happening often /ˈɛvɹiˈdeɪ/ adjective B1 These are everyday problems.

3026 wishes hopes for something or for someone's good, more than one /ˈwɪʃɪz/ noun · wish B1 Send her my best wishes.

3027 rely to depend on or trust /ɹɪˈlaɪ/ verb B2 You can rely on me.

3028 successfully in a way that achieves the aim /səkˈsɛsfəli/ adverb B1 The test was completed successfully.

3029 strategic part of a long-term plan to win or succeed /stɹəˈtidʒɪk/ adjective B2 It was a strategic decision.

3030 portion a part or share of something /ˈpɔɹʃən/ noun B2 A large portion of the money was lost.

3031 examples cases that show what something is like, more than one /ɪɡˈzæmpəlz/ noun · example A2 Can you give me some examples?

3032 gods beings worshipped as having power over nature, more than one /ˈɡɑdz/ noun B1 The Greeks believed in many gods.

3033 roots the parts of a plant that grow underground, more than one /ˈɹuts/ noun · root B1 The tree has deep roots.

3034 definition a statement of what a word means /ˌdɛfəˈnɪʃən/ noun B1 Look up the definition in a dictionary.

3035 generations all the people born around the same time, more than one /ˌdʒɛnɚˈeɪʃənz/ noun · generation B1 Three generations live in that house.

3036 indicate to show or point to /ˈɪndəˌkeɪt/ verb B2 The results indicate a problem.

3037 crossing a place where you can go over a road or river /ˈkɹɔsɪŋ/ noun B1 Use the pedestrian crossing.

3038 interior the inside part of something /ˌɪnˈtɪɹiɚ/ noun, adjective B2 The interior of the car is leather.

3039 rocks large pieces of stone, more than one /ˈɹɑks/ noun · rock A2 We sat on the rocks by the sea.

3040 wings the parts a bird or plane uses to fly, more than one /ˈwɪŋz/ noun · wing B1 The bird spread its wings.

3041 concrete a hard building material of cement and stones; or real, specific /kənˈkɹit/ noun, adjective B2 The floor is made of concrete.

3042 confused unable to think clearly or understand /kənˈfjuzd/ adjective A2 I am confused by the instructions.

3043 computers electronic machines that store and process data, more than one /kəmˈpjutɚz/ noun · computer A1 The school bought new computers.

3044 handed past of hand /ˈhændəd/ verb · hand B1 She handed me the letter.

3045 dirty not clean /ˈdɝti/ adjective A1 Your shoes are dirty.

3046 essentially in its most basic nature /ɛˈsɛnʃəli/ adverb B2 The two plans are essentially the same.

3047 ward a room or section in a hospital /ˈwɔɹd/ noun B2 He was moved to another hospital ward.

3048 corps a branch or unit of an army, or an organised group /ˈkɔɹ/ noun C1 He joined the Marine Corps.

3049 finger one of the five long parts at the end of the hand /ˈfɪŋɡɚ/ noun A1 She wore a ring on her finger.

3050 pm after midday, when giving a time /ˈpiˈɛm/ adverb A2 The shop closes at 6 pm.

3051 impressed admiring someone or something greatly /ˌɪmˈpɹɛst/ adjective B1 I was impressed by her speech.

3052 discover to find something for the first time /dɪˈskʌvɚ/ verb A2 Scientists discover new species every year.

3053 maintenance work done to keep something in good condition /ˈmeɪntənəns/ noun B2 The lift is closed for maintenance.

3054 virus a tiny germ that causes illness; or harmful computer code /ˈvaɪɹəs/ noun B1 She caught a virus at school.

3055 cheese a solid food made from milk /ˈtʃiz/ noun A1 Would you like some cheese?

3056 cousin the child of your aunt or uncle /ˈkʌzən/ noun A2 My cousin lives in Canada.

3057 nurse a person trained to care for sick people /ˈnɝs/ noun A1 The nurse took my temperature.

3058 searching present participle of search /ˈsɝtʃɪŋ/ verb · search B1 I am searching for my keys.

3059 contained past of contain /kənˈteɪnd/ verb · contain B1 The box contained old letters.

3060 infrastructure roads, power and other basic systems a society needs /ˌɪnfɹəˈstɹʌktʃɚ/ noun C1 The country needs better infrastructure.

3061 extraordinary very unusual and remarkable /ˌɛkstɹəˈɔɹdəˌnɛɹi/ adjective B2 She has an extraordinary voice.

3062 hearts the organs that pump blood; or feelings, more than one /ˈhɑɹts/ noun · heart A2 The film won our hearts.

3063 arranged planned or put in order, in the past /ɚˈeɪndʒd/ verb B1 We arranged a meeting for Monday.

3064 laugh to make sounds showing you find something funny /ˈlæf/ verb, noun A1 Her jokes always make me laugh.

3065 relevant connected with what is being discussed /ˈɹɛləvənt/ adjective B2 Is this information relevant?

3066 twenty the number 20 /ˈtwɛnti/ numeral A1 She is twenty years old.

3067 remembered past of remember /ɹɪˈmɛmbɚd/ verb · remember A2 I remembered her name at last.

3068 encourage to give someone support or confidence to do something /ɛnˈkɝɪdʒ/ verb B1 Teachers encourage students to read.

3069 employment paid work /ɛmˈplɔɪmənt/ noun B2 She found employment in a bank.

3070 primarily mainly, above all /pɹaɪˈmɛɹəli/ adverb B2 The course is primarily for beginners.

3071 reception the desk where visitors are greeted; or a formal party /ɹɪˈsɛpʃən/ noun B1 Leave your key at reception.

3072 circuit a closed path for electric current; or a racing track /ˈsɝkət/ noun B2 The electrical circuit is broken.

3073 participate to join in an activity /pɑɹˈtɪsəˌpeɪt/ verb B2 All students must participate.

3074 effectively in a way that works well /ɪˈfɛktɪvli/ adverb B2 She manages the team effectively.

3075 recommended past of recommend /ˌɹɛkəˈmɛndɪd/ verb · recommend B1 The doctor recommended rest.

3076 worker a person employed to do a job, often with their hands /ˈwɝkɚ/ noun A2 He is a hard worker.

3077 covers present of cover, for he, she or it /ˈkʌvɚz/ verb · cover B1 Snow covers the hills.

3078 voices the sounds people make when speaking, more than one /ˈvɔɪsəz/ noun · voice A2 I heard voices outside.

3079 steady firm, regular and not changing much /ˈstɛdi/ adjective B2 He has a steady job.

3080 governments groups that rule countries, more than one /ˈɡʌvɚmənts/ noun · government B1 Governments must act on climate change.

3081 rid to free a place or person of something unwanted /ˈɹɪd/ verb B1 I want to get rid of this old sofa.

3082 announcement a public statement giving news /əˈnaʊnsmənt/ noun B1 They made an important announcement.

3083 conclusion a decision reached after thinking; or the end /kənˈkluʒən/ noun B2 What is your conclusion?

3084 panel a group of experts; or a flat piece of material /ˈpænəl/ noun B2 A panel of experts will decide.

3085 competitive involving rivalry; or keen to win /kəmˈpɛtətɪv/ adjective B2 Prices here are very competitive.

3086 reverse to change to the opposite; or drive backwards /ɹɪˈvɝs/ verb, noun B2 She had to reverse the car.

3087 routine the usual order in which you do things /ɹuˈtin/ noun B1 Exercise is part of my daily routine.

3088 practices usual ways of doing things, more than one /ˈpɹæktəsəz/ noun · practice B2 They changed their working practices.

3089 gear the part of a vehicle setting its speed; or equipment /ˈɡɪɹ/ noun B1 Change into second gear.

3090 strikes refusals by workers to work, more than one /ˈstɹaɪks/ noun · strike B2 The strikes closed the factories.

3091 sacrifice giving up something valued for another purpose /ˈsækɹəˌfaɪs/ noun, verb B2 It was a great sacrifice for her.

3092 winds moving air, more than one /ˈwɪndz/ noun · wind B1 Strong winds blew all night.

3093 electrical relating to power carried by wires /ɪˈlɛktɹɪkəl/ adjective B1 The fire was caused by an electrical fault.

3094 suspected past of suspect /səˈspɛktɪd/ verb · suspect B2 Police suspected him of theft.

3095 drives present of drive, for he, she or it /ˈdɹaɪvz/ verb · drive A2 She drives to work every day.

3096 wound an injury where the skin is cut /ˈwaʊnd/ noun B2 The wound healed slowly.

3097 thick wide between opposite sides; not thin /ˈθɪk/ adjective B1 The walls are very thick.

3098 accurate correct in every detail /ˈækjɚət/ adjective B1 The report is accurate.

3099 encouraged past of encourage /ɛnˈkɝɪdʒd/ verb · encourage B1 My teacher encouraged me to write.

3100 drunk affected by having had too much alcohol /ˈdɹʌŋk/ adjective B1 He was too drunk to drive.

Most common English words: 3,001–3,100