Vocabulary from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll 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.

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A2 words (10)

absence/ˈæbsəns/A2: the state of being absent“he was surprised by the absence of any explanation”
accident/ˈæksədənt/A2: an unfortunate mishap“winning the lottery was a happy accident”
advise/ədˈvaɪz/A2: give advice to“The teacher counsels troubled students”
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”
ancient/ˈeɪnʧənt/A2: a very old person“ancient history”
angry/ˈæŋgri/A2: feeling or showing anger“angry at the weather”
anywhere/ˈɛniˌwɛr/A2: at or in or to any place“you can find this food anywhere”

B1 words (10)

acceptance/əkˈsɛptəns/B1: the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true“he gave credence to the gossip”
accidentally/ˌæksəˈdɛnəli/B1: without advance planning“they met accidentally”
adoption/əˈdɑpʃən/B1: the act of accepting with approval“its adoption by society”
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”
alarmed/əˈlɑrmd/B1: fill with apprehension or alarm“I was horrified at the thought of being late for my interview”
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”
anger/ˈæŋgər/B1: a strong emotion“The news angered him”
anxious/ˈæŋʃəs/B1: eagerly desirous“anxious to see the new show at the museum”

B2 words (10)

abide/əˈbaɪd/B2: dwell“You can stay with me while you are in town”
absurd/əbˈsərd/B2: a situation in which life seems irrational and meaningless“The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth”
accusation/ˌækjəˈzeɪʃən/B2: a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person“the newspaper published charges that Jones was guilty of drunken driving”
accustomed/əˈkəstəmd/B2: make psychologically or physically used (to something)“She became habituated to the background music”
advisable/ədˈvaɪzəbəl/B2: worthy of being recommended or suggested“such action is neither necessary nor advisable”
affectionately/əˈfɛkʃənətli/B2: with affection“she loved him dearly”
afterwards/ˈæftərwərdz/B2: happening at a time subsequent to a reference time“he apologized subsequently”
agony/ˈægəni/B2: intense feelings of suffering“an agony of doubt”
alas/əˈlæs/B2: a flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism“the alae of the nose”
aloud/əˈlaʊd/B2: using the voice“please read the passage aloud”

C1 words (9)

adjourn/əˈʤərn/C1: close at the end of a session“The court adjourned”
askance/əˈskæns/C1: (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy“her eyes with their misted askance look”
audibly/ˈɑdəbli/C1: in an audible manner“he spoke audibly”
bawl/bɔl/C1: shout loudly and without restraint“Don't bawl in public!”
beautify/ˈbjutɪˌfaɪ/C1: make more beautiful“Flowers adorned the tables everywhere”
behead/bɪˈhɛd/C1: cut the head of“the French King was beheaded during the Revolution”
bristle/ˈbrɪsəl/C1: a stiff fiber (coarse hair or filament)“The room abounded with screaming children”
busily/ˈbɪzəli/C1: in a busy manner“they were busily engaged in buying souvenirs”
cackle/ˈkækəl/C1: the sound made by a hen after laying an egg“The women cackled when they saw the movie star step out of the limousine”

C2 words (9)

comfitC2: candy containing a fruit or nut“This medicine is home-confected”
crosslyC2: in an ill-natured manner“she looked at her husband crossly”
doubtfullyC2: in a doubtful manner“Gerald shook his head doubtfully”
draggledC2: make wet and dirty, as from rain“the beggar's bedraggled clothes”
drawlingC2: lengthen and slow down or draw out“drawl one's vowels”
gloomily/ˈgluməli/C2: with gloom“such a change is gloomily foreseen by many”
inquisitivelyC2: with curiosity“the baby looked around curiously”
mournfullyC2: in a mournful manner“the young man stared into his glass mournfully”
patteringC2: rain gently“It has only sprinkled, but the roads are slick”