The most common English words
This table is a measurement of our own library. Every word in 191,625 published chapters was counted — 210,375,850 word occurrences across 13,850 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.
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Ranks 1,401 onward
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| Rank | Word | Sound | Part of speech | Meaning | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,404 | rushed | /rʌʃt/ | adjective | done under pressure | 13,123 |
| 1,405 | interesting | /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/ | adjective | arousing or holding the attention | 13,122 |
| 1,406 | car | /kɑːr/ | noun | a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine | 13,094 |
| 1,407 | stage | /steɪdʒ/ | noun | any distinct time period in a sequence of events | 13,076 |
| 1,408 | leading | /ˈliːdɪŋ/ | adjective | indicating the most important performer or role | 13,073 |
| 1,409 | police | /pəˈliːs/ | noun | the force of policemen and officers | 13,066 |
| 1,410 | asking | /ˈæskɪŋ/ | noun | the verbal act of requesting | 13,062 |
| 1,411 | splendid | /ˈsplendɪd/ | adjective | having great beauty and splendor | 13,060 |
| 1,412 | pieces | /ˈpiːsəz/ | noun | plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole | 13,045 |
| 1,413 | charming | /ˈtʃɑːrmɪŋ/ | adjective | pleasing or delighting | 13,025 |
| 1,414 | roof | /ruːf/ | noun | a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building | 13,021 |
| 1,415 | fellows | /ˈfeloʊz/ | noun | plural of “fellow” — a boy or man | 13,013 |
| 1,416 | rough | /rʌf/ | adjective | having or caused by an irregular surface | 12,964 |
| 1,417 | shown | /ʃoʊn/ | verb | inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience | 12,963 |
| 1,418 | daily | /ˈdeɪli/ | adverb | every day; without missing a day | 12,952 |
| 1,419 | forgot | /fərˈɡɑːt/ | verb | inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering | 12,926 |
| 1,420 | absence | /ˈæbsəns/ | noun | the state of being absent | 12,910 |
| 1,421 | anxiety | /æŋˈzaɪəti/ | noun | (psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a varie… | 12,898 |
| 1,422 | ordinary | /ˈɔːrdəneri/ | noun | a judge of a probate court | 12,891 |
| 1,423 | mistake | /mɪˈsteɪk/ | noun | a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention | 12,887 |
| 1,424 | Mademoiselle | /ˌmædəməˈzel/ | noun | small silvery drumfish often mistaken for white perch; found along coasts of United Sta… | 12,883 |
| 1,425 | grey | /ɡreɪ/ | adjective | of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and … | 12,876 |
| 1,426 | possessed | /pəˈzest/ | adjective | influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion | 12,867 |
| 1,427 | nine | /naɪn/ | noun | the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one | 12,845 |
| 1,428 | clean | /kliːn/ | adjective | free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits | 12,841 |
| 1,429 | desired | /dɪˈzaɪərd/ | adjective | wanted intensely | 12,839 |
| 1,430 | approached | /əˈproʊtʃt/ | verb | past form of “approach” — move towards | 12,829 |
| 1,431 | serve | /sɜːrv/ | verb | serve a purpose, role, or function | 12,805 |
| 1,432 | impression | /ˌɪmˈpreʃən/ | noun | a vague idea in which some confidence is placed | 12,801 |
| 1,433 | gazed | /ɡeɪzd/ | verb | past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes | 12,793 |
| 1,434 | bare | /ber/ | adjective | completely unclothed | 12,780 |
| 1,435 | weary | /ˈwɪri/ | verb | exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress | 12,773 |
| 1,436 | ended | /ˈendəd/ | adjective | having come or been brought to a conclusion | 12,761 |
| 1,437 | acquaintance | /əˈkweɪntəns/ | noun | personal knowledge or information about someone or something | 12,756 |
| 1,438 | thanks | /θæŋks/ | noun | an acknowledgment of appreciation | 12,724 |
| 1,439 | occupied | /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/ | adjective | held or filled or in use | 12,722 |
| 1,440 | somewhere | /ˈsʌmwer/ | adverb | in or at or to some place | 12,710 |
| 1,441 | deeply | /ˈdiːpli/ | adverb | to a great depth psychologically or emotionally | 12,709 |
| 1,442 | hopes | /hoʊps/ | noun | plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful | 12,708 |
| 1,443 | cost | /kɑːst/ | noun | the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor | 12,701 |
| 1,444 | usually | /ˈjuːʒəwəli/ | adverb | under normal conditions | 12,697 |
| 1,445 | presented | /priˈzentɪd/ | verb | past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience | 12,696 |
| 1,446 | crime | /kraɪm/ | noun | (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act | 12,687 |
| 1,447 | wounded | /ˈwuːndɪd/ | noun | people who are wounded | 12,680 |
| 1,448 | suit | /suːt/ | verb | be agreeable or acceptable to | 12,675 |
| 1,449 | resolved | /riˈzɑːlvd/ | adjective | determined | 12,667 |
| 1,450 | uttered | /ˈʌtərd/ | adjective | communicated in words | 12,663 |
| 1,451 | succeeded | /səkˈsiːdɪd/ | verb | past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal | 12,661 |
| 1,452 | accept | /ækˈsept/ | verb | consider or hold as true | 12,643 |
| 1,453 | fish | /fɪʃ/ | noun | any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breath… | 12,643 |
| 1,454 | directly | /dərˈektli/ | adverb | without deviation | 12,625 |
| 1,455 | suffer | /ˈsʌfər/ | verb | undergo or be subjected to | 12,614 |
| 1,456 | won | /wʌn/ | noun | the basic unit of money in South Korea | 12,613 |
| 1,457 | conscious | /ˈkɑːnʃəs/ | adjective | intentionally conceived | 12,606 |
| 1,458 | dogs | /dɑːɡz/ | noun | plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf)… | 12,590 |
| 1,459 | equal | /ˈiːkwəl/ | verb | be identical or equivalent to | 12,587 |
| 1,460 | peculiar | /pəˈkjuːljər/ | adjective | beyond or deviating from the usual or expected | 12,576 |
| 1,461 | stared | /sterd/ | verb | past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes | 12,574 |
| 1,462 | price | /praɪs/ | noun | the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something… | 12,571 |
| 1,463 | wondered | /ˈwʌndərd/ | verb | past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something | 12,568 |
| 1,464 | thinks | /θɪŋks/ | noun | plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking | 12,561 |
| 1,465 | miserable | /ˈmɪzərəbəl/ | adjective | very unhappy; full of misery | 12,558 |
| 1,466 | unhappy | /ənˈhæpi/ | adjective | experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent | 12,548 |
| 1,467 | bridge | /brɪdʒ/ | noun | a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or cana… | 12,532 |
| 1,468 | stars | /stɑːrz/ | noun | plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy deriv… | 12,503 |
| 1,469 | ahead | /əˈhed/ | adverb | at or in the front | 12,494 |
| 1,470 | sufficient | /səˈfɪʃənt/ | adjective | of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant | 12,492 |
| 1,471 | content | /ˈkɑːntent/ | noun | (usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or includ… | 12,484 |
| 1,472 | taught | /tɔːt/ | verb | inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to | 12,484 |
| 1,473 | bought | /bɑːt/ | verb | inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transacti… | 12,473 |
| 1,474 | foolish | /ˈfuːlɪʃ/ | adjective | devoid of good sense or judgment | 12,469 |
| 1,475 | perceived | /pərˈsiːvd/ | adjective | detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues | 12,461 |
| 1,476 | bow | /baʊ/ | noun | a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces | 12,432 |
| 1,477 | advanced | /ədˈvænst/ | adjective | farther along in physical or mental development | 12,415 |
| 1,478 | eager | /ˈiːɡər/ | adjective | having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy | 12,398 |
| 1,479 | liberty | /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/ | noun | The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of lif… | 12,398 |
| 1,480 | imagination | /ˌɪmædʒəˈneɪʃən/ | noun | the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not p… | 12,380 |
| 1,481 | slept | /slept/ | verb | inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep | 12,365 |
| 1,482 | le | /lə/ | noun | a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints) | 12,354 |
| 1,483 | expressed | /ɪkˈsprest/ | adjective | communicated in words | 12,348 |
| 1,484 | hast | /hæst/ | auxiliary verb | an old form of “have”, used with “thou” | 12,333 |
| 1,485 | harm | /hɑːrm/ | noun | any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc. | 12,331 |
| 1,486 | glory | /ˈɡlɔːri/ | noun | a state of high honor | 12,326 |
| 1,487 | prison | /ˈprɪzən/ | noun | a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment | 12,278 |
| 1,488 | madam | /ˈmædəm/ | noun | a woman of refinement | 12,277 |
| 1,489 | e | /iː/ | noun | a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxida… | 12,276 |
| 1,490 | joined | /dʒɔɪnd/ | adjective | of or relating to two people who are married to each other | 12,272 |
| 1,491 | firm | /fɜːrm/ | adjective | marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable | 12,268 |
| 1,492 | parts | /pɑːrts/ | noun | the local environment | 12,254 |
| 1,493 | named | /neɪmd/ | verb | past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to | 12,243 |
| 1,494 | strike | /straɪk/ | verb | deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon | 12,240 |
| 1,495 | mysterious | /mɪˈstɪriəs/ | adjective | of an obscure nature | 12,239 |
| 1,496 | driven | /ˈdrɪvən/ | adjective | compelled forcibly by an outside agency | 12,234 |
| 1,497 | produced | /prəˈduːst/ | verb | past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield | 12,223 |
| 1,498 | animal | /ˈænəməl/ | noun | a living organism characterized by voluntary movement | 12,211 |
| 1,499 | friendly | /ˈfrendli/ | adjective | characteristic of or befitting a friend | 12,202 |
| 1,500 | faithful | /ˈfeɪθfəl/ | adjective | steadfast in affection or allegiance | 12,186 |
| 1,501 | information | /ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/ | noun | a message received and understood | 12,179 |
| 1,502 | prisoner | /ˈprɪzənər/ | noun | a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war | 12,179 |
| 1,503 | period | /ˈpɪriəd/ | noun | an amount of time | 12,177 |
| 1,504 | singing | /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/ | noun | the act of singing vocal music | 12,152 |
| 1,505 | Robert | /ˈrɑːbərt/ | noun | United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (… | 12,133 |
| 1,506 | native | /ˈneɪtɪv/ | adjective | characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin | 12,131 |
| 1,507 | hastily | /ˈheɪstəli/ | adverb | in a hurried or hasty manner | 12,128 |
| 1,508 | excited | /ɪkˈsaɪtəd/ | adjective | (of persons) excessively affected by emotion | 12,127 |
| 1,509 | carrying | /ˈkæriɪŋ/ | verb | -ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or … | 12,115 |
| 1,510 | dance | /dæns/ | noun | an artistic form of nonverbal communication | 12,115 |
| 1,511 | alas | /əˈlæs/ | exclamation | used to show sadness, pity, or regret | 12,111 |
| 1,512 | rage | /reɪdʒ/ | noun | a feeling of intense anger | 12,099 |
| 1,513 | finger | /ˈfɪŋɡər/ | verb | feel or handle with the fingers | 12,087 |
| 1,514 | flung | /flʌŋ/ | verb | inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness | 12,083 |
| 1,515 | report | /riˈpɔːrt/ | verb | to give an account or representation of in words | 12,082 |
| 1,516 | unto | /ˈʌntuː/ | preposition | an old word for “to” | 12,074 |
| 1,517 | somehow | /ˈsʌmhaʊ/ | adverb | in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means | 12,069 |
| 1,518 | extraordinary | /ˌekstrəˈɔːrdəneri/ | adjective | beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable | 12,065 |
| 1,519 | mention | /ˈmenʃən/ | verb | make reference to | 12,062 |
| 1,520 | stretched | /stretʃt/ | adjective | (of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching | 12,051 |
| 1,521 | sigh | /saɪ/ | verb | heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily | 12,045 |
| 1,522 | struggle | /ˈstrʌɡəl/ | verb | make a strenuous or labored effort | 12,023 |
| 1,523 | dignity | /ˈdɪɡnəti/ | noun | the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect | 12,020 |
| 1,524 | hurry | /ˈhɜːri/ | noun | a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry | 12,017 |
| 1,525 | rapidly | /ˈræpədli/ | adverb | with speed | 12,015 |
| 1,526 | minister | /ˈmɪnəstər/ | noun | a person authorized to conduct religious worship | 12,013 |
| 1,527 | absolutely | /ˌæbsəˈluːtli/ | adverb | completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers | 12,006 |
| 1,528 | hide | /haɪd/ | verb | prevent from being seen or discovered | 11,998 |
| 1,529 | horror | /ˈhɔːrər/ | noun | intense and profound fear | 11,991 |
| 1,530 | ashamed | /əˈʃeɪmd/ | adjective | feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse | 11,968 |
| 1,531 | task | /tæsk/ | noun | any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted | 11,965 |
| 1,532 | wealth | /welθ/ | noun | the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and m… | 11,959 |
| 1,533 | ease | /iːz/ | verb | move gently or carefully | 11,956 |
| 1,534 | bosom | /ˈbʊzəm/ | noun | the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept | 11,951 |
| 1,535 | returning | /rɪˈtɜːrnɪŋ/ | adjective | tending to return to an earlier state | 11,937 |
| 1,536 | Arthur | /ˈɑːrθər/ | noun | elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was… | 11,926 |
| 1,537 | conscience | /ˈkɑːnʃəns/ | noun | motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's t… | 11,924 |
| 1,538 | fully | /ˈfʊli/ | adverb | to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used… | 11,912 |
| 1,539 | professor | /prəˈfesər/ | noun | someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university | 11,902 |
| 1,540 | actually | /ˈæktʃuːəli/ | adverb | in actual fact | 11,900 |
| 1,541 | instance | /ˈɪnstəns/ | noun | an occurrence of something | 11,899 |
| 1,542 | particularly | /ˌpɑːrˈtɪkjələrli/ | adverb | to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common | 11,881 |
| 1,543 | plenty | /ˈplenti/ | noun | a full supply | 11,848 |
| 1,544 | shape | /ʃeɪp/ | noun | any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline) | 11,843 |
| 1,545 | terms | /tɜːrmz/ | noun | status with respect to the relations between people or groups | 11,837 |
| 1,546 | weight | /weɪt/ | noun | the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity | 11,836 |
| 1,547 | aid | /eɪd/ | noun | a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do | 11,833 |
| 1,548 | attack | /əˈtæk/ | noun | (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons) | 11,823 |
| 1,549 | d | /diː/ | noun | a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets | 11,815 |
| 1,550 | evidence | /ˈevədəns/ | noun | your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief | 11,815 |
| 1,551 | whenever | /weˈnevər/ | conjunction | at any time that; every time that | 11,800 |
| 1,552 | kindness | /ˈkaɪndnəs/ | noun | the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic | 11,798 |
| 1,553 | lighted | /ˈlaɪtəd/ | adjective | set afire or burning | 11,785 |
| 1,554 | emotion | /ɪˈmoʊʃən/ | noun | any strong feeling | 11,780 |
| 1,555 | cool | /kuːl/ | adjective | neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat | 11,776 |
| 1,556 | escaped | /ɪˈskeɪpt/ | adjective | having escaped, especially from confinement | 11,772 |
| 1,557 | Anne | /æn/ | noun | Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stu… | 11,770 |
| 1,558 | main | /meɪn/ | adjective | most important element | 11,762 |
| 1,559 | dawn | /dɔːn/ | noun | the first light of day | 11,758 |
| 1,560 | major | /ˈmeɪdʒər/ | adjective | of greater importance or stature or rank | 11,734 |
| 1,561 | shining | /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/ | adjective | marked by exceptional merit | 11,720 |
| 1,562 | helped | /helpt/ | verb | past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service | 11,712 |
| 1,563 | entrance | /ˈentrəns/ | noun | something that provides access (to get in or get out) | 11,703 |
| 1,564 | arrival | /ərˈaɪvəl/ | noun | accomplishment of an objective | 11,702 |
| 1,565 | address | /ˈædres/ | verb | speak to | 11,700 |
| 1,566 | gaze | /ɡeɪz/ | noun | a long fixed look | 11,692 |
| 1,567 | proceeded | /prəˈsiːdɪd/ | verb | past form of “proceed” — continue talking | 11,675 |
| 1,568 | gods | /ɡɑːdz/ | noun | plural of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and om… | 11,658 |
| 1,569 | picked | /pɪkt/ | verb | past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group | 11,640 |
| 1,570 | admiration | /ˌædmərˈeɪʃən/ | noun | a feeling of delighted approval and liking | 11,639 |
| 1,571 | feared | /fɪrd/ | verb | past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or pro… | 11,639 |
| 1,572 | buried | /ˈberid/ | adjective | placed in a grave | 11,636 |
| 1,573 | luck | /lʌk/ | noun | your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to y… | 11,631 |
| 1,574 | comfortable | /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/ | adjective | providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal) | 11,621 |
| 1,575 | bearing | /ˈberɪŋ/ | noun | relevant relation or interconnection | 11,593 |
| 1,576 | resumed | /rɪˈzuːmd/ | verb | past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew | 11,571 |
| 1,577 | fifteen | /fɪfˈtiːn/ | noun | the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one | 11,565 |
| 1,578 | poet | /ˈpoʊət/ | noun | a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry) | 11,542 |
| 1,579 | officers | /ˈɔːfəsərz/ | noun | plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authorit… | 11,537 |
| 1,580 | win | /wɪn/ | verb | be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious | 11,514 |
| 1,581 | admitted | /ədˈmɪtɪd/ | verb | inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or tru… | 11,502 |
| 1,582 | remark | /rɪˈmɑːrk/ | noun | a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information | 11,497 |
| 1,583 | marked | /mɑːrkt/ | adjective | strongly marked; easily noticeable | 11,487 |
| 1,584 | eagerly | /ˈiːɡərli/ | adverb | with eagerness; in an eager manner | 11,479 |
| 1,585 | works | /wɜːrks/ | noun | buildings for carrying on industrial labor | 11,461 |
| 1,586 | mass | /mæs/ | noun | the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field | 11,460 |
| 1,587 | choose | /tʃuːz/ | verb | pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives | 11,439 |
| 1,588 | contrary | /ˈkɑːntreri/ | adjective | very opposed in nature or character or purpose | 11,434 |
| 1,589 | special | /ˈspeʃəl/ | adjective | unique or specific to a person or thing or category | 11,430 |
| 1,590 | aloud | /əˈlaʊd/ | adverb | using the voice; not silently | 11,423 |
| 1,591 | swift | /swɪft/ | adjective | moving very fast | 11,422 |
| 1,592 | loose | /luːs/ | adjective | not compact or dense in structure or arrangement | 11,417 |
| 1,593 | leaned | /liːnd/ | verb | past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position | 11,412 |
| 1,594 | stick | /stɪk/ | verb | put, fix, force, or implant | 11,411 |
| 1,595 | moral | /ˈmɔːrəl/ | adjective | concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and… | 11,398 |
| 1,596 | accepted | /ækˈseptɪd/ | adjective | generally approved or compelling recognition | 11,388 |
| 1,597 | clearly | /ˈklɪrli/ | adverb | without doubt or question | 11,387 |
| 1,598 | somebody | /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/ | pronoun | a person, without saying who | 11,380 |
| 1,599 | arose | /ərˈoʊz/ | verb | inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape | 11,363 |
| 1,600 | friendship | /ˈfrendʃɪp/ | noun | the state of being friends (or friendly) | 11,363 |
| 1,601 | clouds | /klaʊdz/ | noun | plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is … | 11,358 |
| 1,602 | Louis | /ˈluːɪs/ | noun | United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981) | 11,357 |
| 1,603 | wound | /waʊnd/ | noun | an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin) | 11,333 |
A word list is only half of it
Words are learned where they live. Every entry here links into a chapter that uses it, and the library holds 13,850 complete books to read them in.