Intermediate Vocabulary (B1 · 339 lessons)
Intermediate vocabulary covers fluent everyday communication: complex tenses, linking words and common phrases. Open any lesson below for the explanation, examples and practice points.
achieve (v.)
to succeed in reaching a goal
appreciate (v.)
to value or be grateful for
approach (v.)
to come near; to deal with
available (adj.)
able to be used or obtained
avoid (v.)
to stay away from
benefit (n.)
a helpful result
concern (n.)
worry; something that matters
consider (v.)
to think carefully about
convince (v.)
to make someone believe
currently (adv.)
at the present time
demand (n.)
a strong request; need
reliable (adj.)
can be trusted
opportunity (n.)
a chance to do something
recommend (v.)
to suggest as good
responsible (adj.)
having a duty; accountable
suitable (adj.)
right for a purpose
valuable (adj.)
worth a lot
accommodation (n.)
a place to stay
accurate (adj.)
correct in every detail
admire (v.)
to respect and like someone
afford (v.)
to have enough money for
annoy (v.)
to make slightly angry
anxious (adj.)
worried and nervous
apparent (adj.)
clear or obvious
apply (v.)
to make a formal request
arrange (v.)
to organise or plan
attitude (n.)
a way of thinking or behaving
average (adj.)
typical or normal
aware (adj.)
knowing about something
behave (v.)
to act in a certain way
brilliant (adj.)
extremely clever or bright
campaign (n.)
organised activity for a goal
casual (adj.)
relaxed and informal
cheerful (adj.)
happy and optimistic
combine (v.)
to join together
complain (v.)
to say you are unhappy about something
confident (adj.)
sure of yourself
consequence (n.)
a result of an action
convenient (adj.)
easy and suitable
damage (n.)
harm to something
delay (n.)
a time when something is late
deliver (v.)
to take goods to a place
describe (v.)
to say what something is like
disappointed (adj.)
sad because hopes were not met
encourage (v.)
to give support or hope
essential (adj.)
absolutely necessary
establish (v.)
to set up or create
exhausted (adj.)
extremely tired
generous (adj.)
happy to give more than expected
impress (v.)
to make people admire you
income (n.)
money received regularly
independent (adj.)
not needing help from others
influence (n.)
power to affect others
junior (adj.)
lower in rank or age
knowledge (n.)
facts and skills you have learned
memorable (adj.)
easy to remember
obvious (adj.)
easy to see or understand
permit (v.)
to allow
persuade (v.)
to make someone agree
properly (adv.)
in the correct way
reasonable (adj.)
fair and sensible
reduce (v.)
to make smaller
refuse (v.)
to say no
rely (v.)
to depend on
satisfied (adj.)
pleased with what you have
severe (adj.)
very serious or harsh
temporary (adj.)
lasting a short time
tradition (n.)
a custom passed down over time
unique (adj.)
one of a kind
urgent (adj.)
needing immediate action
itinerary (n.)
a planned route or schedule
destination (n.)
the place you are going to
boarding (n.)
getting onto a plane or ship
layover (n.)
a short stop between flights
excursion (n.)
a short organised trip
backpacker (n.)
a traveller with a rucksack on a budget
hostel (n.)
cheap shared accommodation
visa (n.)
an official permit to enter a country
jet lag (n.)
tiredness after a long flight
commute (v.)
to travel regularly to work
diagnosis (n.)
identification of an illness
surgery (n.)
an operation or a doctor's office
recovery (n.)
getting better
infection (n.)
disease caused by germs
dose (n.)
an amount of medicine
chronic (adj.)
lasting a long time
cure (n.)
a treatment that ends illness
immune (adj.)
protected from disease
wound (n.)
an injury to the skin
therapy (n.)
treatment
application (n.)
a program for a task (app)
browser (n.)
a program to view websites
encryption (n.)
coding data for security
database (n.)
organised stored data
firewall (n.)
a security barrier for a network
bandwidth (n.)
data transfer capacity
virtual (adj.)
existing online
cloud (n.)
online storage
streaming (n.)
playing media over the internet
update (n.)
a new version
resume (n.)
a summary of your career
promotion (n.)
moving to a higher job
resign (v.)
to quit a job
retire (v.)
to stop working permanently
workload (n.)
the amount of work
negotiation (n.)
discussion to reach a deal
qualification (n.)
a certificate or skill
recruit (v.)
to hire
supervisor (n.)
a person who oversees workers
contract (n.)
a legal work agreement
invest (v.)
to put money in for profit
interest (n.)
money paid for borrowing or saving
inflation (n.)
rising prices
mortgage (n.)
a loan to buy a home
insurance (n.)
protection against loss
savings (n.)
money kept for the future
expense (n.)
a cost
refund (n.)
money returned
wage (n.)
money paid for work, often hourly
transaction (n.)
a financial exchange
climate (n.)
usual weather in a region
pollution (n.)
harmful substances in nature
recycle (v.)
to reuse materials
habitat (n.)
natural home of an animal
endangered (adj.)
at risk of extinction
drought (n.)
a long period without rain
flood (n.)
too much water covering land
ecosystem (n.)
a community of living things
renewable (adj.)
able to be replaced naturally
landscape (n.)
scenery
appetite (n.)
desire for food
cuisine (n.)
a style of cooking
portion (n.)
an amount of food served
seasoning (n.)
herbs or spices added to food
vegetarian (n.)
a person who doesn't eat meat
marinate (v.)
to soak food in sauce
simmer (v.)
to cook gently below boiling
savoury (adj.)
salty or spicy, not sweet
beverage (n.)
a drink
nutritious (adj.)
good for health
apartment (n.)
a flat in a building
landlord (n.)
a person who rents property
tenant (n.)
a person who rents a home
rent (n.)
money paid for a home
decorate (v.)
to make attractive
appliance (n.)
an electrical machine
ceiling (n.)
the top surface of a room
balcony (n.)
a platform outside a window
renovate (v.)
to restore
curriculum (n.)
subjects taught
assignment (n.)
a task given
lecture (n.)
an educational talk
scholarship (n.)
money awarded for study
tuition (n.)
teaching or fees for it
discipline (n.)
training or an area of study
campus (n.)
university grounds
syllabus (n.)
a course outline
revise (v.)
to review for an exam
plagiarism (n.)
copying others' work
grateful (adj.)
thankful
frustrated (adj.)
annoyed by obstacles
enthusiastic (adj.)
full of eager interest
sympathy (n.)
feeling of pity
miserable (adj.)
very unhappy
furious (adj.)
extremely angry
relieved (adj.)
freed from worry
stressed (adj.)
under mental pressure
curious (adj.)
eager to know
ancestor (n.)
a person from whom you descend
generation (n.)
people of a similar age
sibling (n.)
a brother or sister
descendant (n.)
a person who descends from another
acquaintance (n.)
someone you know slightly
elderly (adj.)
old (polite)
mature (adj.)
fully grown
retail (n.)
selling to the public
brand (n.)
a company's product name
bargain (n.)
something cheap and good
stylish (adj.)
fashionable
tailor (n.)
a person who makes clothes
accessory (n.)
an extra item like a belt
outfit (n.)
a set of clothes
wholesale (n.)
selling in bulk
warranty (n.)
a guarantee
fabric (n.)
cloth
tournament (n.)
a series of contests
opponent (n.)
a person you play against
compete (v.)
to take part to win
fitness (n.)
physical health
spectator (n.)
a person who watches
penalty (n.)
a punishment in sport
marathon (n.)
a 42 km race
endurance (n.)
ability to last
rival (n.)
a competitor
goalkeeper (n.)
the player who guards the goal
exhibition (n.)
a public display
performance (n.)
a show
director (n.)
the person who makes a film
sculpture (n.)
a carved or modelled art object
portrait (n.)
a picture of a person
plot (n.)
the storyline
review (n.)
a critical evaluation
orchestra (n.)
a large group of musicians
masterpiece (n.)
an outstanding work
genre (n.)
a type of art
parliament (n.)
a law-making assembly
democracy (n.)
rule by the people
politician (n.)
a person in politics
policy (n.)
a plan of action
legislation (n.)
laws
constitution (n.)
a country's fundamental laws
rights (n.)
things you are entitled to
witness (n.)
a person who sees an event
evidence (n.)
proof
verdict (n.)
a court's decision
predator (n.)
an animal that hunts
prey (n.)
an animal that is hunted
mammal (n.)
a warm-blooded animal
reptile (n.)
a cold-blooded creature
species (n.)
a type of living thing
extinct (adj.)
no longer existing
migrate (v.)
to move seasonally
wildlife (n.)
wild animals
herd (n.)
a group of animals
hibernate (v.)
to sleep through winter
muscle (n.)
tissue that moves the body
spine (n.)
the backbone
skull (n.)
the bones of the head
artery (n.)
a vessel carrying blood from the heart
vein (n.)
a vessel carrying blood to the heart
pulse (n.)
heartbeat felt at the wrist
joint (n.)
where bones meet
posture (n.)
the way you hold your body
atom (n.)
the smallest unit of an element
molecule (n.)
a group of atoms
gene (n.)
a unit of heredity
cell (n.)
the basic unit of life
chemical (n.)
a substance in chemistry
evolution (n.)
gradual development of species
galaxy (n.)
a huge system of stars
solar (adj.)
relating to the sun
variable (n.)
something that can change
discover (v.)
to find for the first time
invention (n.)
a new device
suburb (n.)
an area outside a city centre
pedestrian (n.)
a person walking
junction (n.)
where roads meet
roundabout (n.)
a circular junction
motorway (n.)
a major highway
public transport (n.)
buses and trains for all
congestion (n.)
crowding, especially traffic
infrastructure (n.)
basic structures of a city
landmark (n.)
a recognisable feature
outskirts (n.)
edges of a town
punctual (adj.)
on time
frequently (adv.)
often
occasionally (adv.)
sometimes
decade (n.)
ten years
annual (adj.)
yearly
simultaneously (adv.)
at the same time
eventually (adv.)
finally
meanwhile (adv.)
in the time between
postpone (v.)
to delay
marketing (n.)
promoting and selling
competitor (n.)
a rival company
shareholder (n.)
a person who owns shares
headquarters (n.)
the main office
merger (n.)
joining of companies
invoice (n.)
a bill for goods
logistics (n.)
organisation of supplies
franchise (n.)
a licence to run a brand
startup (n.)
a new business
strategy (n.)
a long-term plan
communicate (v.)
to share information
discuss (v.)
to talk about
opinion (n.)
a personal view
express (v.)
to show feelings in words
suggest (v.)
to propose
admit (v.)
to confess
declare (v.)
to announce firmly
gossip (n.)
talk about others
rumour (n.)
unverified information
interrupt (v.)
to break into speech
sociable (adj.)
enjoying company
sensible (adj.)
having good judgement
arrogant (adj.)
too proud
modest (adj.)
not boastful
sincere (adj.)
genuine
determined (adj.)
firm in purpose
ruthless (adj.)
without pity
humorous (adj.)
funny
trustworthy (adj.)
deserving trust
loyal (adj.)
faithful
drizzle (n.)
fine light rain
blizzard (n.)
a heavy snowstorm
hail (n.)
frozen raindrops
heatwave (n.)
a long hot period
overcast (adj.)
covered with clouds
mist (n.)
thin fog
compare (v.)
to examine similarities
contribute (v.)
to give to a shared aim
create (v.)
to make something new
develop (v.)
to grow or build
investigate (v.)
to examine closely
predict (v.)
to say what will happen
prevent (v.)
to stop
provide (v.)
to supply
replace (v.)
to substitute
require (v.)
to need
survive (v.)
to remain alive
quantity (n.)
an amount
fraction (n.)
a part of a whole
majority (n.)
most of a group
minority (n.)
a smaller part
approximately (adv.)
about
statistics (n.)
numerical data
equation (n.)
a mathematical statement
pastime (n.)
a hobby
leisure (n.)
free time
volunteer (v.)
to work without pay
photography (n.)
taking pictures
hiking (n.)
long walks in nature
woodwork (n.)
making things from wood
embroidery (n.)
decorative sewing
crossword (n.)
a word puzzle
burglar (n.)
a person who breaks in to steal
suspect (n.)
a person thought guilty
arrest (v.)
to take into custody
fraud (n.)
deception for gain
victim (n.)
a person harmed
detective (n.)
an investigator
fine (n.)
money paid as punishment
ceremony (n.)
a formal event
heritage (n.)
inherited traditions
ritual (n.)
a set of actions
folklore (n.)
traditional stories
anniversary (n.)
yearly date of an event
carnival (n.)
a street festival
ethnic (adj.)
of a cultural group
Other levels for Vocabulary: Beginner · Elementary · Upper-Intermediate · Advanced