The most common English words
This table is a measurement of our own library. Every word in 155,552 published chapters was counted — 210,375,850 word occurrences across 11,230 books — and sorted by how often it occurs. Rank 1 is the word you will meet most often on an English page.
2,989 of those words have a page of their own: the US transcription, the part of speech, a learner definition, every sense the entry carries, and real sentences from different books with a link into the chapter each one came from.
Learn it in bands
Ranks 401 onward
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| Rank | Word | Sound | Part of speech | Meaning | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | point | /pɔɪnt/ | noun | a geometric element that has position but no extension | 49,631 |
| 402 | remember | /rɪˈmɛm.bər/ | verb | To recall to mind. | 49,626 |
| 403 | doubt | /daʊt/ | noun | the state of being unsure of something | 49,619 |
| 404 | person | /ˈpɜːrsən/ | noun | a human being | 49,517 |
| 405 | truth | /truːθ/ | noun | a fact that has been verified | 49,465 |
| 406 | story | /ˈstɔːri/ | noun | a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; prese… | 49,382 |
| 407 | question | /ˈkwestʃən/ | verb | challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of | 49,351 |
| 408 | husband | /ˈhʌzbənd/ | noun | a married man; a woman's partner in marriage | 48,953 |
| 409 | power | /ˈpaʊər/ | noun | possession of controlling influence | 48,873 |
| 410 | during | /ˈdʊrɪŋ/ | preposition | all through a period, or at some point within it | 48,614 |
| 411 | close | /kloʊs/ | adjective | at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other | 48,497 |
| 412 | met | /met/ | verb | inflected form of “meet” — come together | 48,482 |
| 413 | year | /jɪr/ | noun | a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days | 48,438 |
| 414 | O | /oʊ/ | noun | a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflamm… | 48,421 |
| 415 | became | /bɪˈkeɪm/ | verb | inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition | 48,254 |
| 416 | bring | /brɪŋ/ | verb | take something or somebody with oneself somewhere | 48,224 |
| 417 | ground | /ɡraʊnd/ | noun | the solid part of the earth's surface | 48,032 |
| 418 | added | /ˈædəd/ | verb | past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; incre… | 47,980 |
| 419 | body | /ˈbɑːdi/ | noun | the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being) | 47,937 |
| 420 | saying | /ˈseɪɪŋ/ | noun | a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations | 47,898 |
| 421 | five | /faɪv/ | noun | the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one | 47,642 |
| 422 | either | /ˈiːðər/ | determiner | one or the other of two | 47,593 |
| 423 | red | /red/ | noun | red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood | 47,548 |
| 424 | hair | /her/ | noun | a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike str… | 47,315 |
| 425 | city | /ˈsɪti/ | noun | a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrativ… | 47,285 |
| 426 | show | /ʃoʊ/ | verb | give an exhibition of to an interested audience | 47,161 |
| 427 | mine | /maɪn/ | pronoun | the one or ones belonging to the person speaking | 47,028 |
| 428 | big | /bɪɡ/ | adjective | above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent | 47,013 |
| 429 | itself | /ˌɪtˈself/ | pronoun | used when the thing doing the action is also its object | 46,958 |
| 430 | toward | /təˈwɔːrd/ | preposition | in the direction of | 46,863 |
| 431 | window | /ˈwɪndoʊ/ | noun | a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall … | 46,694 |
| 432 | eye | /aɪ/ | noun | the organ of sight | 46,623 |
| 433 | longer | /ˈlɔːŋɡər/ | adverb | for more time | 46,462 |
| 434 | sea | /siː/ | noun | a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land | 46,440 |
| 435 | ye | /jiː/ | pronoun | an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person | 46,324 |
| 436 | means | /miːnz/ | noun | thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end | 46,307 |
| 437 | second | /ˈsekənd/ | noun | 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unit… | 46,293 |
| 438 | general | /ˈdʒenərəl/ | adjective | applying to all or most members of a category or group | 46,221 |
| 439 | hold | /hoʊld/ | verb | cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean” | 46,156 |
| 440 | appeared | /əˈpɪrd/ | verb | past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect | 46,101 |
| 441 | continued | /kənˈtɪnjuːd/ | adjective | without stop or interruption | 46,075 |
| 442 | lips | /lɪps/ | noun | plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play… | 45,894 |
| 443 | become | /bɪˈkʌm/ | verb | enter or assume a certain state or condition | 45,838 |
| 444 | yourself | /jərˈself/ | pronoun | used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action | 45,721 |
| 445 | daughter | /ˈdɔːtər/ | noun | a female human offspring | 45,703 |
| 446 | ten | /ten/ | noun | the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system | 45,620 |
| 447 | sometimes | /səmˈtaɪmz/ | adverb | on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always | 45,523 |
| 448 | strong | /strɔːŋ/ | adjective | having strength or power greater than average or expected | 45,446 |
| 449 | m | /em/ | noun | the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximatel… | 45,392 |
| 450 | silence | /ˈsaɪ.ləns/ | noun | Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness. | 45,382 |
| 451 | need | /niːd/ | noun | a condition requiring relief | 45,355 |
| 452 | gentleman | /ˈdʒentəlmən/ | noun | a man of refinement | 45,298 |
| 453 | none | /nʌn/ | pronoun | not one, and not any | 45,245 |
| 454 | smile | /smaɪl/ | verb | change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure | 45,217 |
| 455 | sound | /saʊnd/ | noun | the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause | 45,169 |
| 456 | feeling | /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ | noun | the experiencing of affective and emotional states | 45,167 |
| 457 | wanted | /ˈwɔːntɪd/ | adjective | desired or wished for or sought | 45,061 |
| 458 | opened | /ˈoʊpənd/ | adjective | used of mouth or eyes | 44,902 |
| 459 | taking | /ˈteɪkɪŋ/ | noun | the act of someone who picks up or takes something | 44,851 |
| 460 | horse | /hɔːrs/ | noun | solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times | 44,771 |
| 461 | idea | /aɪˈdiːə/ | noun | the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about | 44,757 |
| 462 | state | /steɪt/ | noun | the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation | 44,558 |
| 463 | street | /striːt/ | noun | a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings | 44,555 |
| 464 | fellow | /ˈfeloʊ/ | noun | a boy or man | 44,551 |
| 465 | fine | /faɪn/ | adjective | being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition | 44,267 |
| 466 | land | /lænd/ | noun | the land on which real estate is located | 44,250 |
| 467 | able | /ˈeɪbəl/ | adjective | (usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority… | 44,020 |
| 468 | ought | /ɔːt/ | modal verb | used with “to” to say what is right or advisable | 43,781 |
| 469 | reached | /riːtʃt/ | verb | past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract | 43,749 |
| 470 | possible | /ˈpɑːsəbəl/ | adjective | capable of happening or existing | 43,738 |
| 471 | cold | /koʊld/ | adjective | having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having bee… | 43,623 |
| 472 | past | /pæst/ | noun | the time that has elapsed | 43,440 |
| 473 | earth | /ɜːrθ/ | noun | the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on | 43,338 |
| 474 | low | /loʊ/ | adjective | less than normal in degree or intensity or amount | 43,251 |
| 475 | therefore | /ˈðerfɔːr/ | adverb | for that reason; as a result | 43,118 |
| 476 | deep | /diːp/ | adjective | relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply | 43,117 |
| 477 | madame | /ˈmædəm/ | noun | title used for a married Frenchwoman | 43,031 |
| 478 | arm | /ɑːrm/ | noun | a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the el… | 42,952 |
| 479 | fair | /fer/ | adjective | free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established… | 42,829 |
| 480 | sense | /sens/ | noun | a general conscious awareness | 42,764 |
| 481 | bad | /bæd/ | adjective | having undesirable or negative qualities | 42,517 |
| 482 | road | /roʊd/ | noun | an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation | 42,514 |
| 483 | ran | /ræn/ | verb | inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground a… | 42,333 |
| 484 | glad | /ɡlæd/ | adjective | showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy | 42,255 |
| 485 | entered | /ˈentərd/ | verb | past form of “enter” — to come or go into | 42,118 |
| 486 | several | /ˈsevrəl/ | adjective | (used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many | 42,081 |
| 487 | hours | /ˈaʊərz/ | noun | a period of time assigned for work | 42,057 |
| 488 | run | /rʌn/ | verb | move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time | 41,973 |
| 489 | tried | /traɪd/ | adjective | tested and proved useful or correct | 41,964 |
| 490 | certainly | /ˈsɜːrtənli/ | adverb | definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”) | 41,947 |
| 491 | sun | /sʌn/ | noun | the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system | 41,790 |
| 492 | doctor | /ˈdɑːktər/ | noun | a licensed medical practitioner | 41,701 |
| 493 | forward | /ˈfɔːrwərd/ | adverb | at or to or toward the front | 41,450 |
| 494 | exclaimed | /ɪkˈskleɪmd/ | verb | past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy | 41,299 |
| 495 | blood | /blʌd/ | noun | The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels. | 41,232 |
| 496 | walked | /wɔːkt/ | verb | past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps | 40,632 |
| 497 | john | /dʒɑːn/ | noun | a room or building equipped with one or more toilets | 40,535 |
| 498 | human | /ˈhjuːmən/ | adjective | characteristic of humanity | 40,446 |
| 499 | English | /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/ | noun | an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language … | 40,379 |
| 500 | stand | /stænd/ | verb | be standing; be upright | 40,268 |
| 501 | prince | /prɪns/ | noun | a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sover… | 40,256 |
| 502 | meet | /miːt/ | verb | come together | 40,088 |
| 503 | doing | /ˈduːɪŋ/ | verb | -ing form of “do” — engage in | 39,839 |
| 504 | company | /ˈkʌmpəniː/ | noun | an institution created to conduct business | 39,720 |
| 505 | seems | /siːmz/ | verb | third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward a… | 39,698 |
| 506 | drew | /druː/ | noun | United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862) | 39,562 |
| 507 | late | /leɪt/ | adjective | being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time | 39,317 |
| 508 | neither | /ˈniːðər/ | determiner | not one and not the other of two | 39,199 |
| 509 | beyond | /bɪˈɑːnd/ | preposition | on the far side of; further than | 39,145 |
| 510 | river | /ˈrɪvər/ | noun | a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek) | 39,116 |
| 511 | thinking | /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/ | noun | the process of using your mind to consider something carefully | 38,946 |
| 512 | comes | /kʌmz/ | noun | plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by t… | 38,721 |
| 513 | interest | /ˈɪntrəst/ | noun | a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something | 38,633 |
| 514 | clear | /klɪr/ | verb | rid of obstructions | 38,604 |
| 515 | later | /ˈleɪtər/ | adverb | happening at a time subsequent to a reference time | 38,386 |
| 516 | book | /bʊk/ | noun | a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together) | 38,351 |
| 517 | loved | /lʌvd/ | adjective | held dear | 38,261 |
| 518 | chance | /tʃæns/ | noun | a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances | 38,142 |
| 519 | sleep | /sliːp/ | noun | a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspend… | 38,104 |
| 520 | seem | /siːm/ | verb | give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect | 38,044 |
| 521 | afraid | /əˈfreɪd/ | adjective | filled with fear or apprehension | 37,903 |
| 522 | sister | /ˈsɪstər/ | noun | a female person who has the same parents as another person | 37,600 |
| 523 | slowly | /ˈsloʊli/ | adverb | without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”) | 37,576 |
| 524 | Tom | /tɑːm/ | noun | male cat | 37,378 |
| 525 | received | /rəˈsiːvd/ | adjective | conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers | 37,330 |
| 526 | carried | /ˈkærid/ | verb | inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hand… | 37,259 |
| 527 | led | /led/ | noun | diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; co… | 37,228 |
| 528 | try | /traɪ/ | verb | make an effort or attempt | 37,093 |
| 529 | happened | /ˈhæpənd/ | verb | past form of “happen” — come to pass | 36,902 |
| 530 | pleasure | /ˈpleʒər/ | noun | a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience | 36,850 |
| 531 | trouble | /ˈtrʌbəl/ | noun | a source of difficulty | 36,749 |
| 532 | stopped | /stɑːpt/ | adjective | (of a nose) blocked | 36,642 |
| 533 | laughed | /læft/ | verb | past form of “laugh” — produce laughter | 36,621 |
| 534 | save | /seɪv/ | preposition | except for; apart from | 36,607 |
| 535 | wind | /waɪnd/ | noun | air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area… | 36,551 |
| 536 | spirit | /ˈspɪrət/ | noun | the vital principle or animating force within living things | 36,488 |
| 537 | play | /pleɪ/ | verb | participate in games or sport | 36,199 |
| 538 | change | /tʃeɪndʒ/ | verb | cause to change; make different; cause a transformation | 36,195 |
| 539 | forth | /fɔːrθ/ | adverb | from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete) | 36,159 |
| 540 | standing | /ˈstændɪŋ/ | adjective | having a supporting base | 36,119 |
| 541 | please | /pliːz/ | verb | give pleasure to or be pleasing to | 36,116 |
| 542 | tears | /terz/ | noun | the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds) | 35,913 |
| 543 | caught | /kɑːt/ | verb | inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpected… | 35,841 |
| 544 | ago | /əˈɡoʊ/ | adverb | in the past | 35,724 |
| 545 | laid | /leɪd/ | adjective | set down according to a plan | 35,650 |
| 546 | church | /tʃɜːrtʃ/ | noun | one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship | 35,635 |
| 547 | wait | /weɪt/ | verb | stay in one place and anticipate or expect something | 35,494 |
| 548 | cut | /kʌt/ | verb | separate with or as if with an instrument | 35,424 |
| 549 | seeing | /ˈsiːɪŋ/ | noun | perception by means of the eyes | 35,405 |
| 550 | front | /frʌnt/ | noun | the side that is forward or prominent | 35,375 |
| 551 | gold | /ɡoʊld/ | noun | coins made of gold | 35,282 |
| 552 | different | /ˈdɪfərənt/ | adjective | unlike in nature or quality or form or degree | 35,174 |
| 553 | minutes | /ˈmɪnəts/ | noun | a written account of what transpired at a meeting | 35,129 |
| 554 | chair | /tʃer/ | noun | a seat for one person, with a support for the back | 35,107 |
| 555 | except | /ɪkˈsept/ | preposition | apart from; not including | 35,031 |
| 556 | knows | /noʊz/ | noun | plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people | 35,004 |
| 557 | stay | /steɪ/ | verb | stay the same; remain in a certain state | 34,972 |
| 558 | lived | /lɪvd/ | verb | past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in | 34,940 |
| 559 | real | /riːl/ | adjective | being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory | 34,789 |
| 560 | age | /eɪdʒ/ | noun | how long something has existed | 34,690 |
| 561 | wild | /waɪld/ | adjective | marked by extreme lack of restraint or control | 34,674 |
| 562 | art | /ɑːrt/ | auxiliary verb | an old form of “are”, used with “thou” | 34,579 |
| 563 | uncle | /ˈʌŋkəl/ | noun | the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt | 34,573 |
| 564 | die | /daɪ/ | verb | pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to susta… | 34,547 |
| 565 | foot | /fʊt/ | noun | the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint | 34,540 |
| 566 | early | /ˈɜːrli/ | adjective | at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or… | 34,531 |
| 567 | free | /friː/ | verb | grant freedom to; free from confinement | 34,413 |
| 568 | six | /sɪks/ | noun | the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one | 34,326 |
| 569 | pay | /peɪ/ | verb | give money, usually in exchange for goods or services | 34,247 |
| 570 | fall | /fɔːl/ | verb | descend in free fall under the influence of gravity | 34,195 |
| 571 | bear | /ber/ | verb | have | 34,140 |
| 572 | beauty | /ˈbjuːti/ | noun | the qualities that give pleasure to the senses | 34,068 |
| 573 | blue | /bluː/ | adjective | of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a… | 33,969 |
| 574 | thoughts | /θɔːts/ | noun | plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about | 33,935 |
| 575 | sweet | /swiːt/ | adjective | having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar | 33,922 |
| 576 | cause | /kɑːz/ | noun | events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something | 33,911 |
| 577 | struck | /strʌk/ | adjective | (used in combination) affected by something overwhelming | 33,678 |
| 578 | tone | /toʊn/ | noun | the quality of a person's voice | 33,593 |
| 579 | green | /ɡriːn/ | noun | green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass | 33,506 |
| 580 | pass | /pæs/ | verb | go across or through | 33,489 |
| 581 | living | /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ | noun | the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities | 33,390 |
| 582 | beside | /bɪˈsaɪd/ | preposition | next to; at the side of | 33,379 |
| 583 | hardly | /ˈhɑːrdli/ | adverb | only a very short time before | 33,364 |
| 584 | further | /ˈfɜːrðər/ | adverb | to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more of… | 33,363 |
| 585 | secret | /ˈsiː.krət/ | noun | Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others. | 33,356 |
| 586 | dinner | /ˈdɪnər/ | noun | the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday | 33,295 |
| 587 | war | /wɔːr/ | noun | the waging of armed conflict against an enemy | 33,271 |
| 588 | remained | /rɪˈmeɪnd/ | verb | past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state | 33,164 |
| 589 | silent | /ˈsaɪlənt/ | adjective | marked by absence of sound | 33,040 |
| 590 | walk | /wɔːk/ | noun | the act of traveling by foot | 33,012 |
| 591 | subject | /səbˈdʒekt/ | noun | the subject matter of a conversation or discussion | 32,981 |
| 592 | heaven | /ˈhevən/ | noun | any place of complete bliss and delight and peace | 32,888 |
| 593 | form | /fɔːrm/ | noun | the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to desc… | 32,845 |
| 594 | deal | /diːl/ | verb | act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression | 32,790 |
| 595 | position | /pəˈzɪʃən/ | noun | the particular portion of space occupied by something | 32,672 |
| 596 | quiet | /ˈkwaɪət/ | adjective | characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity | 32,584 |
| 597 | line | /laɪn/ | noun | a formation of people or things one beside another | 32,500 |
| 598 | grew | /ɡruː/ | verb | inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property… | 32,471 |
| 599 | wonder | /ˈwʌndər/ | noun | the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising | 32,448 |
| 600 | although | /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/ | conjunction | in spite of the fact that | 32,409 |
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Words are learned where they live. Every entry here links into a chapter that uses it, and the library holds 11,230 complete books to read them in.