Vocabulary · Audiobook read-along
Vocabulary from Pygmalion
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw 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)
- abandon/əˈbændən/A2
- the trait of lacking restraint or control“she danced with abandon”
- abroad/əˈbrɔd/A2
- in a foreign country“markets abroad”
- absence/ˈæbsəns/A2
- the state of being absent“he was surprised by the absence of any explanation”
- absolutely/ˌæbsəˈlutli/A2
- completely and without qualification“an absolutely magnificent painting”
- academic/ˌækəˈdɛmɪk/A2
- an educator who works at a college or university“the academic curriculum”
- accompany/əˈkəmpəni/A2
- be present or associated with an event or entity“French fries come with the hamburger”
- accuse/əˈkjuz/A2
- bring an accusation against“The neighbors accused the man of spousal abuse”
- acquire/əkˈwaɪər/A2
- come into the possession of something concrete or abstract“She got a lot of paintings from her uncle”
- admit/ədˈmɪt/A2
- declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of“He admitted his errors”
- adopt/əˈdɑpt/A2
- choose and follow“She followed the feminist movement”
B1 words (10)
- accessible/ækˈsɛsəbəl/B1
- capable of being reached“a town accessible by rail”
- accordingly/əˈkɔrdɪŋli/B1
- (sentence connectors) because of the reason given“consequently, he didn't do it”
- accurate/ˈækjərət/B1
- conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy“an accurate reproduction”
- 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”
- 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”
- ambassador/æmˈbæsədər/B1
- a diplomat of the highest rank“an ambassador of good will”
- anchor/ˈæŋkər/B1
- a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving“faith is his anchor”
- angle/ˈæŋgəl/B1
- the space between two lines or planes that intersect“he angled his way into the room”
B2 words (10)
- abruptly/əˈbrəptli/B2
- quickly and without warning“he stopped suddenly”
- absorb/əbˈzɔrb/B2
- become imbued“The liquids, light, and gases absorb”
- absurd/əbˈsərd/B2
- a situation in which life seems irrational and meaningless“The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth”
- absurdity/əbˈsərdəti/B2
- a message whose content is at variance with reason“the crowd laughed at the absurdity of the clown's behavior”
- accent/ˈækˌsɛnt/B2
- distinctive manner of oral expression“he couldn't suppress his contemptuous accent”
- accessory/ækˈsɛsəri/B2
- clothing that is worn or carried, but not part of your main clothing“he was charged with being accessory to the crime”
- acquaintance/əkˈweɪntəns/B2
- personal knowledge or information about someone or something“I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances”
- 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”
- afterwards/ˈæftərwərdz/B2
- happening at a time subsequent to a reference time“he apologized subsequently”
C1 words (9)
- aback/əˈbæk/C1
- having the wind against the forward side of the sails“the ship came up into the wind with all yards aback”
- abate/əˈbeɪt/C1
- make less active or intense“The storm abated”
- abysmal/əˈbɪzməl/C1
- very great“abysmal misery”
- accustom/əˈkəstəm/C1
- make psychologically or physically used (to something)“She became habituated to the background music”
- afterthought/ˈæftərˌθɔt/C1
- thinking again about a choice previously made“he had second thoughts about his purchase”
- alliteration/əˈlɪtərˌeɪʃən/C1
- use of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse“around the rock the ragged rascal ran”
- amenity/əˈmɛnəti/C1
- pleasantness resulting from agreeable conditions“a well trained staff saw to the agreeableness of our accommodations”
- amiable/ˈeɪmiəbəl/C1
- disposed to please“an amiable villain with a cocky sidelong grin”
- apologetically/əˌpɑləˈʤɛtɪˌkli/C1
- in an apologetic manner“he spoke apologetically about his past”
C2 words (9)
- abominablyC2
- in an offensive and hateful manner“I don't know anyone who could have behaved so abominably”
- accost/əˈkɔst/C2
- speak to someone“he was solicited by a prostitute”
- aggrieve/əˈgriv/C2
- infringe on the rights of“his behavior grieves his mother”
- appalC2
- strike with disgust or revulsion“The scandalous behavior of this married woman shocked her friends”
- appreciatively/əˈpriʃjətɪvli/C2
- with appreciation“he accepted my offer appreciatively”
- apprehensivenessC2
- fearful expectation or anticipation“the student looked around the examination room with apprehension”
- barometricalC2
- relating to atmospheric pressure or indicated by a barometer“barometric pressure”
- bewilder/bɪˈwɪldər/C2
- be a mystery or bewildering to“This beats me!”
- blighterC2
- a persistently annoying person“that chap is your host”