Vocabulary · Audiobook read-along
Vocabulary from The Metamorphosis
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka 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”
- absolutely/ˌæbsəˈlutli/A2
- completely and without qualification“an absolutely magnificent painting”
- 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”
- advise/ədˈvaɪz/A2
- give advice to“The teacher counsels troubled students”
- affair/əˈfɛr/A2
- a vaguely specified concern“several matters to attend to”
- afraid/əˈfreɪd/A2
- filled with fear or apprehension“afraid even to turn his head”
- 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)
- acceptance/əkˈsɛptəns/B1
- the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true“he gave credence to the gossip”
- alarm/əˈlɑrm/B1
- fear resulting from the awareness of danger“I was horrified at the thought of being late for my interview”
- alert/əˈlərt/B1
- condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action“bombers were put on alert during the crisis”
- alright/ˌɔˈlraɪt/B1
- nonstandard usage“it's expensive all right”
- altogether/ˌɔltəˈgɛðər/B1
- informal terms for nakedness“in the raw”
- anger/ˈæŋgər/B1
- a strong emotion“The news angered him”
- angle/ˈæŋgəl/B1
- the space between two lines or planes that intersect“he angled his way into the room”
- announcement/əˈnaʊnsmɛnt/B1
- a formal public statement“the government made an announcement about changes in the drug war”
- anxious/ˈæŋʃəs/B1
- eagerly desirous“anxious to see the new show at the museum”
- appreciation/əˌpriʃiˈeɪʃən/B1
- understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something“he has a good grasp of accounting practices”
B2 words (10)
- abruptly/əˈbrəptli/B2
- quickly and without warning“he stopped suddenly”
- accumulate/əˈkjumjəˌleɪt/B2
- get or gather together“I am accumulating evidence for the man's unfaithfulness to his wife”
- accurately/ˈækjərətli/B2
- with few mistakes“he works very accurately”
- accusation/ˌækjəˈzeɪʃən/B2
- a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person“the newspaper published charges that Jones was guilty of drunken driving”
- ache/eɪk/B2
- a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain“Were you hurting after the accident?”
- adjoining/əˈʤɔɪnɪŋ/B2
- lie adjacent to another or share a boundary“Canada adjoins the U.S.”
- affection/əˈfɛkʃən/B2
- a positive feeling of liking“he had trouble expressing the affection he felt”
- afterwards/ˈæftərwərdz/B2
- happening at a time subsequent to a reference time“he apologized subsequently”
- agitated/ˈæʤəˌteɪtəd/B2
- try to stir up public opinion“The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks”
- amazement/əˈmeɪzmənt/B2
- the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising“he looked at me in astonishment”
C1 words (9)
- aggrieved/əˈgrivd/C1
- infringe on the rights of“his behavior grieves his mother”
- assail/əˈseɪl/C1
- attack someone physically or emotionally“The mugger assaulted the woman”
- astonish/əˈstɑnɪʃ/C1
- affect with wonder“Your ability to speak six languages amazes me!”
- bombard/bɑmˈbɑrd/C1
- a large shawm“They pelted each other with snowballs”
- burdensome/ˈbərdənsəm/C1
- not easily borne“the burdensome task of preparing the income tax return”
- bushy/ˈbʊʃi/C1
- used of hair“bushy locks”
- calmness/ˈkɑmnəs/C1
- steadiness of mind under stress“he accepted their problems with composure and she with equanimity”
- captivate/ˈkæptɪˌveɪt/C1
- attract“She captured all the men's hearts”
- carelessly/ˈkɛrlɛsli/C1
- without care or concern“carelessly raised the children's hopes without thinking of their possible disappointment”
C2 words (9)
- charwoman/ˈʧɑrwʊmən/C2
- a human female employed to do housework“the char will clean the carpet”
- deepnessC2
- the intellectual ability to penetrate deeply into ideas“the profundity of the mine was almost a mile”
- denude/dɪˈnud/C2
- lay bare“denude a forest”
- derange/dɪˈreɪnʤ/C2
- derange mentally, throw out of mental balance“The death of his parents unbalanced him”
- disconcert/ˌdɪskənˈsərt/C2
- cause to feel embarrassment“The constant attention of the young man confused her”
- dishevel/dɪˈʃɛvəl/C2
- disarrange or rumple“The strong wind tousled my hair”
- dullyC2
- without liveliness“she nodded her head dully”
- engross/ɪnˈgroʊs/C2
- devote (oneself) fully to“He immersed himself into his studies”
- enquiringlyC2
- in an inquiring manner“Tom Swift looked at his cabin mates inquiringly”