Most Common English Words 3,401–3,500: Meanings & IPA

RankWord Definition PronunciationPart of speech LevelExample

3401 tale a story, often invented /ˈteɪl/ noun B2 She told us a tale of adventure.

3402 wolf a wild animal like a large dog that lives in packs /ˈwʊlf/ noun B1 A wolf howled in the night.

3403 bath washing your body in a tub of water; or the tub /ˈbæθ/ noun A1 I'm going to have a bath.

3404 inspiration something that gives you new ideas or the wish to create /ˌɪnspɚˈeɪʃən/ noun B2 Nature is her inspiration.

3405 relatives members of your family, more than one /ˈɹɛlətɪvz/ noun · relative B1 We visited our relatives at Christmas.

3406 obtained past of obtain /əbˈteɪnd/ verb · obtain B2 She obtained a visa.

3407 gathering a meeting of people /ˈɡæðɚɪŋ/ noun B2 It was a small family gathering.

3408 stole past of steal /ˈstoʊl/ verb · steal B1 Someone stole my bike.

3409 improvement a change that makes something better /ˌɪmˈpɹuvmənt/ noun B1 There has been a big improvement.

3410 passage a narrow way through; or a short part of a text /ˈpæsədʒ/ noun B2 A narrow passage led to the garden.

3411 celebrated past of celebrate /ˈsɛləˌbɹeɪtɪd/ verb · celebrate B1 We celebrated her birthday.

3412 percentage an amount expressed as part of a hundred /pɚˈsɛntədʒ/ noun B1 What percentage of students passed?

3413 titles names of books, films or songs, more than one /ˈtaɪtəlz/ noun · title B1 The shop sells over a thousand titles.

3414 agriculture farming: growing crops and raising animals /ˈæɡɹɪˌkʌltʃɚ/ noun B2 Agriculture is important to the region.

3415 loving showing great warmth and affection /ˈlʌvɪŋ/ adjective B1 She comes from a loving family.

3416 referring present participle of refer /ɹɪˈfɝɪŋ/ verb · refer B2 Who are you referring to?

3417 mess an untidy or dirty state /ˈmɛs/ noun B1 The kitchen is a mess.

3418 researchers people who study a subject to find new facts, more than one /ˈɹisɚtʃɚz/ noun B2 Researchers found a new drug.

3419 alarm a device that makes a loud warning sound /əˈlɑɹm/ noun B1 The alarm went off at six.

3420 initiative the ability to act without being told; or a new plan /ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ noun C1 She showed great initiative.

3421 legislation laws, or the making of laws /ˌlɛdʒəˈsleɪʃən/ noun C1 New legislation protects workers.

3422 directors people who manage a company or direct films, more than one /dɚˈɛktɚz/ noun · director B1 The company has five directors.

3423 grateful feeling or showing thanks /ˈɡɹeɪtfəl/ adjective B1 I am grateful for your help.

3424 stomach the organ where food goes after you swallow it /ˈstʌmək/ noun A2 My stomach hurts.

3425 gates doors in a fence or wall, more than one /ˈɡeɪts/ noun · gate A2 The gates open at nine.

3426 column a regular newspaper article; or a tall stone post /ˈkɑləm/ noun B2 She writes a weekly column.

3427 ears the organs you hear with, more than one /ˈɪɹz/ noun · ear A1 The rabbit has long ears.

3428 impression an idea or feeling formed about someone or something /ˌɪmˈpɹɛʃən/ noun B2 She made a good impression.

3429 involve to include as a necessary part /ˌɪnˈvɑlv/ verb B1 The job will involve some travel.

3430 manufacturing making goods in large numbers in factories /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃɚɪŋ/ noun B2 He works in manufacturing.

3431 pants trousers, in American English; or underwear in British /ˈpænts/ noun A2 He wore black pants.

3432 technologies kinds of scientific knowledge used in practice, more than one /tɛkˈnɑlədʒiz/ noun · technology B2 New technologies change how we work.

3433 suggesting present participle of suggest /səˈdʒɛstɪŋ/ verb · suggest B1 Are you suggesting I'm wrong?

3434 latter the second of two things mentioned /ˈlætɚ/ noun, adjective C1 Of tea and coffee, I prefer the latter.

3435 shirt a piece of clothing with buttons for the upper body /ˈʃɝt/ noun A1 He wore a white shirt.

3436 radar a system using radio waves to find objects /ˈɹeɪˌdɑɹ/ noun C1 The plane disappeared from the radar.

3437 claiming present participle of claim /ˈkleɪmɪŋ/ verb · claim B2 He is claiming money from the insurer.

3438 worn past participle of wear /ˈwɔɹn/ verb · wear B1 She has worn that dress twice.

3439 gene a unit in a cell that passes features from parent to child /ˈdʒin/ noun C1 Eye colour is controlled by a gene.

3440 followers people who support someone or receive their posts, more than one /ˈfɑloʊɚz/ noun B2 She has a million followers online.

3441 channels television stations, more than one /ˈtʃænəlz/ noun · channel B2 We get over a hundred TV channels.

3442 proven past participle of prove /ˈpɹuvən/ verb · prove C1 The method has proven successful.

3443 opponent a person you compete or fight against /əˈpoʊnənt/ noun B2 She beat her opponent easily.

3444 imperial of an empire or emperor /ˌɪmˈpɪɹiəl/ adjective C1 They visited the imperial palace.

3445 picking present participle of pick /ˈpɪkɪŋ/ verb · pick A2 We went picking strawberries.

3446 touched past of touch /ˈtʌtʃt/ verb · touch A2 She touched my arm.

3447 consumer a person who buys goods or services /kənˈsumɚ/ noun B2 Consumer prices rose again.

3448 radiation dangerous energy given off by some substances /ˌɹeɪdiˈeɪʃən/ noun C1 They were exposed to radiation.

3449 rape the crime of forcing someone to have sex /ˈɹeɪp/ noun C1 He was charged with rape.

3450 races competitions of speed, more than one /ˈɹeɪsəz/ noun · race B1 She has won three races.

3451 chart a drawing that shows information as lines or bars /ˈtʃɑɹt/ noun B1 The chart shows sales by month.

3452 naked wearing no clothes /ˈneɪkəd/ adjective B2 The baby was naked.

3453 presentation a talk giving information to an audience /ˌpɹɛzənˈteɪʃən/ noun B1 She gave a presentation on climate change.

3454 succeed to achieve what you wanted /səkˈsid/ verb B1 I hope you succeed.

3455 asset a useful quality or person; or something of value owned /ˈæˌsɛt/ noun C1 She is a great asset to the team.

3456 declined past of decline /dɪˈklaɪnd/ verb · decline B2 Sales declined last year.

3457 phones devices for calling people, more than one /ˈfoʊnz/ noun · phone A1 Please switch off your phones.

3458 banned past participle of ban /ˈbænd/ verb · ban B2 Smoking is banned here.

3459 bags containers for carrying things, more than one /ˈbæɡz/ noun · bag A1 Put your bags in the car.

3460 gifts things given to someone, more than one /ˈɡɪfts/ noun · gift A2 We bought gifts for everyone.

3461 strict demanding that rules are obeyed /ˈstɹɪkt/ adjective B1 Her parents are very strict.

3462 ambulance a vehicle that takes sick people to hospital /ˈæmbjələns/ noun A2 Call an ambulance!

3463 lowest superlative of low /ˈloʊəst/ adjective · low B1 This is the lowest price.

3464 reward something given in return for good work or help /ɹɪˈwɔɹd/ noun, verb B1 There is a reward for finding the dog.

3465 relation a connection between things /ɹiˈleɪʃən/ noun B2 The fall in sales has no relation to the weather.

3466 aunt the sister of your mother or father /ˈænt/ noun A1 My aunt lives in Madrid.

3467 hungry wanting or needing food /ˈhʌŋɡɹi/ adjective A1 I'm hungry, so let's eat.

3468 dies present of die, for he, she or it /ˈdaɪz/ verb · die B1 The plant dies without water.

3469 copper a soft reddish-brown metal /ˈkɑpɚ/ noun B2 The pipes are made of copper.

3470 producers companies or people who make goods or films, more than one /pɹəˈdusɚz/ noun · producer B2 Oil producers raised prices.

3471 smoking breathing in burning tobacco from cigarettes /ˈsmoʊkɪŋ/ noun A2 Smoking is not allowed.

3472 ear the organ you hear with /ˈiɹ/ noun A1 She whispered in my ear.

3473 articles pieces of writing in a newspaper or magazine, more than one /ˈɑɹtəkəlz/ noun · article B1 He writes articles for newspapers.

3474 wells deep holes dug to reach water or oil, more than one /ˈwɛlz/ noun · well B2 The villagers dug new wells.

3475 flights journeys by plane, more than one /ˈflaɪts/ noun · flight A2 All flights were cancelled.

3476 bunch a group of things tied or growing together /ˈbʌntʃ/ noun B2 He bought a bunch of flowers.

3477 networks systems of connected people or computers, more than one /ˈnɛˌtwɝks/ noun · network B2 Social networks connect millions.

3478 deserve to have earned something by your actions /dɪˈzɝv/ verb B2 You deserve a holiday.

3479 safely without harm or danger /ˈseɪfli/ adverb B1 They arrived safely.

3480 inches units of length of about 2.5 centimetres, more than one /ˈɪntʃəz/ noun B1 The snow was six inches deep.

3481 expanded past of expand /ɪkˈspændəd/ verb · expand B2 The company expanded rapidly.

3482 beta an early test version of software; or the second Greek letter /ˈbeɪtə/ noun C2 You can test the beta version now.

3483 tragedy a very sad event; or a serious play ending badly /ˈtɹædʒədi/ noun B2 The accident was a tragedy.

3484 samples small amounts taken to be tested or tried, more than one /ˈsæmpəlz/ noun · sample B2 The doctor took blood samples.

3485 emotions strong feelings such as love or fear, more than one /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/ noun · emotion B1 He hides his emotions.

3486 medal a metal disc given as a prize or honour /ˈmɛdəl/ noun B1 She won a gold medal.

3487 outcome the final result of an event /ˈaʊtˌkʌm/ noun B2 We are waiting for the outcome.

3488 shops places where goods are sold, more than one /ˈʃɑps/ noun · shop A1 The shops close at eight.

3489 desk a table for working or writing at /ˈdɛsk/ noun A1 My desk is by the window.

3490 secrets things kept hidden from others, more than one /ˈsikɹəts/ noun · secret B1 Can you keep secrets?

3491 popularity the state of being liked by many people /ˌpɑpjəˈlɛɹəti/ noun B2 The singer's popularity grew quickly.

3492 spell to say or write the letters of a word in order /ˈspɛl/ verb A1 How do you spell your name?

3493 pursue to follow, or try to achieve, something /pɚˈsu/ verb C1 She wants to pursue a career in law.

3494 bits small pieces, more than one /ˈbɪts/ noun · bit B1 The glass broke into bits.

3495 loaded past of load /ˈloʊdɪd/ verb · load B2 They loaded the van with boxes.

3496 documentary a film or programme giving facts about real events /ˌdɑkjəˈmɛntɚi/ noun B1 We watched a documentary about whales.

3497 payments sums of money paid, more than one /ˈpeɪmənts/ noun · payment B1 Monthly payments are due on the first.

3498 climb to go up using hands and feet /ˈklaɪm/ verb A2 Let's climb the hill.

3499 operational working and ready for use /ˌɑpɚˈeɪʃənəl/ adjective C1 The new airport will be operational next year.

3500 chef a skilled cook in a restaurant /ˈʃɛf/ noun A2 The chef cooked a great meal.

Most common English words: 3,401–3,500