Vocabulary · Audiobook read-along
Vocabulary from A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens introduces these 48 key English words — graded A2–C2, each with a short definition and an example. Learn them before you read, or review them after. In the reader you can tap any word to hear it and see it highlighted in the sentence.
A2 words (10)
- abroad/əˈbrɔd/A2
- in a foreign country“markets abroad”
- accompany/əˈkəmpəni/A2
- be present or associated with an event or entity“French fries come with the hamburger”
- active/ˈæktɪv/A2
- chemical agent capable of activity“`The boy threw the ball' uses the active voice”
- admit/ədˈmɪt/A2
- declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of“He admitted his errors”
- affair/əˈfɛr/A2
- a vaguely specified concern“several matters to attend to”
- afford/əˈfɔrd/A2
- be able to spare or give up“I can't afford to spend two hours with this person”
- afraid/əˈfreɪd/A2
- filled with fear or apprehension“afraid even to turn his head”
- alive/əˈlaɪv/A2
- possessing life“the happiest person alive”
- amazed/əˈmeɪzd/A2
- affect with wonder“Your ability to speak six languages amazes me!”
- ancient/ˈeɪnʧənt/A2
- a very old person“ancient history”
B1 words (10)
- accommodate/əˈkɑməˌdeɪt/B1
- be agreeable or acceptable to“This suits my needs”
- adapt/əˈdæpt/B1
- make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose“Adapt our native cuisine to the available food resources of the new country”
- adjust/əˈʤəst/B1
- alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard“Adjust the clock, please”
- adjustment/əˈʤəstmənt/B1
- making or becoming suitable“an allowance for profit”
- adventure/ədˈvɛnʧər/B1
- a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)“When you buy these stocks you are gambling”
- alarm/əˈlɑrm/B1
- fear resulting from the awareness of danger“I was horrified at the thought of being late for my interview”
- alike/əˈlaɪk/B1
- having the same or similar characteristics“all politicians are alike”
- alter/ˈɔltər/B1
- cause to change“The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city”
- altogether/ˌɔltəˈgɛðər/B1
- informal terms for nakedness“in the raw”
- announcement/əˈnaʊnsmɛnt/B1
- a formal public statement“the government made an announcement about changes in the drug war”
B2 words (10)
- abject/ˈæbʤɛkt/B2
- of the most contemptible kind“abject cowardice”
- abode/əˈboʊd/B2
- any address at which you dwell more than temporarily“a person can have several residences”
- accuracy/ˈækjərəsi/B2
- the quality of being near to the true value“he was beginning to doubt the accuracy of his compass”
- ache/eɪk/B2
- a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain“Were you hurting after the accident?”
- acquaintance/əkˈweɪntəns/B2
- personal knowledge or information about someone or something“I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances”
- adamant/ˈædəmənt/B2
- very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a gem“he is adamant in his refusal to change his mind”
- administer/ədˈmɪnɪstər/B2
- work in an administrative capacity“administer a program”
- admiration/ˌædmərˈeɪʃən/B2
- a feeling of delighted approval and liking“a small token in admiration of your works”
- affection/əˈfɛkʃən/B2
- a positive feeling of liking“he had trouble expressing the affection he felt”
- affectionate/əˈfɛkʃənət/B2
- having or displaying warmth or affection“affectionate children”
C1 words (9)
- accustom/əˈkəstəm/C1
- make psychologically or physically used (to something)“She became habituated to the background music”
- acquaint/əkˈweɪnt/C1
- cause to come to know personally“permit me to acquaint you with my son”
- affront/əˈfrənt/C1
- a deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect“turning his back on me was a deliberate insult”
- agitate/ˈæʤəˌteɪt/C1
- try to stir up public opinion“The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks”
- aldermen/ˈɔldərmɪn/C1
- a member of a municipal legislative body (as a city council)“aldermen usually represent city wards”
- apoplectic/ˌæpəˈplɛktɪk/C1
- pertaining to or characteristic of apoplexy“apoplectic seizure”
- apparition/ˌæpərˈɪʃən/C1
- a ghostly appearing figure“we were unprepared for the apparition that confronted us”
- appraise/əˈpreɪz/C1
- evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, ability, extent, or significance of“I will have the family jewels appraised by a professional”
- archway/ˈɑrʧˌweɪ/C1
- a passageway under a curved masonry construction“they built a triumphal arch to memorialize their victory”
C2 words (9)
- adjoin/əˈʤɔɪn/C2
- lie adjacent to another or share a boundary“Canada adjoins the U.S.”
- appalC2
- strike with disgust or revulsion“The scandalous behavior of this married woman shocked her friends”
- barenessC2
- a bleak and desolate atmosphere“the nakedness of the landscape”
- barerC2
- completely unclothed“bare bodies”
- bedightC2
- decorate“deck the halls with holly”
- behindhandC2
- behind schedule“was behindhand with the rent”
- besoughtC2
- ask for or request earnestly“The prophet bid all people to become good persons”
- bewilder/bɪˈwɪldər/C2
- be a mystery or bewildering to“This beats me!”
- bittererC2
- marked by strong resentment or cynicism“an acrimonious dispute”