Commonly used words in written English - letter L with 330 words, sorted by frequency

The list of words starting with the letter L that occur frequently in written English is based on an analysis of the Google Books Ngram (a collection compiled by Peter Norvig in 2012, containing close to one trillion words).
  1. Word Frequency is calculated as the number of occurrences in one million words.
  2. Word Definition is sourced from the WordNet dictionary. You'll have to look up each word page for its complete definition and Part of Speech (POS) categories.
Word Frequency Definition
966
(verb) find enjoyable or agreeable; (adjective) resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination
928
(noun) a characteristic state or mode of living
648
(adverb) for an extended time or at a distant time; (adjective) primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
595
(adverb) not much; (adjective) (of children and animals) young, immature
513
(adverb) at a distance, wide of something (as of a mark); (adjective) above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
505
(verb) perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards; (noun) the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
479
(verb) be in line with; form a line along; (noun) a formation of people or things one beside another
454
(noun) the collection of rules imposed by authority
453
(adverb) used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; (adjective) (usually preceded by 'no') lower in quality
438
(adverb) most recently; (verb) persist for a specified period of time
422
(verb) aim at; (adjective) not showing abrupt variations
412
(adverb) toward or on the left; also used figuratively; (adjective) being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north
369
(verb) reach or come to rest; (noun) the land on which real estate is located
362
(adverb) comparative of the adverb 'late'
330
(verb) make lighter or brighter; (adjective) of comparatively little physical weight or density
319
(verb) make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen; (noun) a serve that strikes the net before falling into the receiver's court; the ball must be served again
298
(verb) have a great affection or liking for; (noun) a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
294
(adverb) used to form the superlative; (noun) something that is of no importance
287
(noun) a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
263
(noun) the syllable naming the sixth (submediant) note of a major or minor scale in solmization
258
(noun) the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
257
(adverb) not recorded; (verb) lead a certain kind of life; live in a certain style
257
(adjective) relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area; (noun) public transport consisting of a bus or train that stops at all stations or stops
251
(verb) make a lord of someone; (noun) a titled peer of the realm
242
(adverb) in a low position; near the ground; (adjective) less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
198
(verb) move something or somebody to a lower position
193
(verb) take somebody somewhere; (noun) an advantage held by a competitor in a race
191
(adjective) pertaining to living persons; (noun) people who are still living
185
(verb) win an athletic letter; (noun) a written message addressed to a person or organization
177
(adverb) later than usual or than expected; (adjective) being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
166
(adverb) for more time; (noun) a person with a strong desire for something
162
(adjective) has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
162
(adjective) no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
161
(noun) the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
158
(verb) give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of; (noun) a database containing an ordered array of items (names or topics)
157
(noun) the 12th letter of the Roman alphabet
156
(noun) the second of two or the second mentioned of two
152
(verb) work hard; (noun) a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
149
(verb) go away from a place; (noun) the period of time during which you are absent from work or duty
147
(noun) something that is lost
140
(noun) the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit
140
(adjective) appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms; (noun) the act of searching visually
139
(noun) the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
139
(noun) diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
137
(noun) a room where books are kept
132
(adjective) small in range or scope
129
(verb) be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position; (noun) a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
127
(noun) creative writing of recognized artistic value
126
(noun) a polite name for any woman
122
(adjective) established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules
121
(noun) the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
120
(adjective) large or big relative to something else
120
(verb) restrict or confine within limits; (noun) the greatest possible degree of something
117
(verb) gain knowledge or skills
116
(noun) the literary culture
109
(verb) put in a horizontal position; (adjective) not of or from a profession
108
(verb) turn over pages; (noun) the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
104
(verb) work hard; (noun) a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
100
(noun) a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
97
(verb) divide into lots, as of land, for example; (noun) a parcel of land having fixed boundaries
96
(noun) a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
96
(adjective) highly educated; having extensive information or understanding
92
(adjective) going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way
88
(noun) the body of people who lead a group
87
(verb) make or form a layer; (noun) single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance
85
(noun) a point or extent in space
78
(noun) the act of departing
76
(adjective) set down according to a plan
74
(verb) fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
73
(adverb) in large part; mainly or chiefly
68
(adjective) of or relating to or characteristic of literature
67
(noun) a person who rules or guides or inspires others
67
(noun) the temporary provision of money (usually at interest)
66
(noun) freedom of choice
64
(adjective) of or relating to the ancient Latins or the Latin language; (noun) any dialect of the language of ancient Rome
63
(verb) hear with intention
62
(noun) the activity of leading
60
(adjective) tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition; (noun) a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties
60
(adjective) situated in a particular spot or position
58
(adjective) existing as or having characteristics of a liquid; especially tending to flow; (noun) a substance that is liquid at room temperature and pressure
58
(noun) United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
57
(noun) a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
57
(verb) produce laughter; (noun) the sound of laughing
56
(noun) a unit of instruction
52
(noun) the quality of being limited or restricted
52
(noun) either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
52
(verb) fill or place a load on; (noun) weight to be borne or conveyed
51
(noun) law enacted by a legislative body
51
(noun) the means of connection between things linked in series
50
(noun) a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
50
(verb) unite to form a league; (noun) an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
50
(adjective) held dear
45
(verb) deliver a lecture or talk; (noun) a speech that is open to the public
45
(noun) the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference
43
(noun) staying power
43
(noun) the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
41
(noun) the side of something that is sheltered from the wind
41
(adjective) designating or involving an equation whose terms are of the first degree
40
(verb) fasten with a lock; (noun) a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed
38
(adjective) on a list
38
(adjective) capable of or reflecting the capability for correct and valid reasoning
37
(adverb) in addition
36
(verb) assign a label to; designate with a label; (noun) a brief description given for purposes of identification
36
(verb) embellish with plants; (noun) an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
36
(noun) persons who make or amend or repeal laws
36
(verb) enter into a log, as on ships and planes; (noun) a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
36
(noun) either of two saclike respiratory organs in the chest of vertebrates; serves to remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen to the blood
35
(adjective) relating to a legislature or composed of members of a legislature
35
(noun) any localized abnormal structural change in a bodily part
35
(verb) take hold of something and move it to a different location; (noun) the act of giving temporary assistance
35
(adjective) connected by a link, as railway cars or trailer trucks
35
(noun) something lost (especially money lost at gambling)
34
(noun) the state of being legally obliged and responsible
34
(noun) large and complicated reddish-brown glandular organ located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity; secretes bile and functions in metabolism of protein and carbohydrate and fat; synthesizes substances involved in the clotting of the blood; synthesizes vitamin A; detoxifies poisonous substances and breaks down worn-out erythrocytes
33
(noun) United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)
33
(noun) a commissioned military officer
33
(noun) 16th President of the United States; saved the Union during the American Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)
33
(noun) a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
32
(adjective) situated at or extending to the side
32
(adjective) found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
32
(adverb) without restraint; (adjective) not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
31
(noun) a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
31
(verb) authorize officially; (noun) a legal document giving official permission to do something
31
(verb) move in loops; (noun) anything with a round or oval shape (formed by a curve that is closed and does not intersect itself)
29
(verb) propel with force; (noun) a motorboat with an open deck or a half deck
29
(verb) to incline or bend from a vertical position; (adjective) lacking in mineral content or combustible material
29
(noun) the act of hearing attentively
29
(adjective) characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
28
(noun) an artificial source of visible illumination
28
(noun) a transparent optical device used to converge or diverge transmitted light and to form images
28
(adverb) in the lowest position; nearest the ground
27
(noun) Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
27
(verb) grant use or occupation of under a term of contract; (noun) property that is leased or rented out or let
27
(adjective) held legally responsible
26
(noun) one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
26
(noun) a golf course that is built on sandy ground near a shore
25
(noun) a narrow way or road
25
(noun) a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events
25
(verb) be a lodger; stay temporarily; (noun) small house at the entrance to the grounds of a country mansion; usually occupied by a gatekeeper or gardener
24
(verb) show or affirm to be just and legitimate; (adjective) of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful
24
(noun) the quality of being loyal
24
(verb) take the midday meal; (noun) a midday meal
23
(noun) Chinese distance measure; approximately 0.5 kilometers
23
(adjective) held up in the air
23
(adjective) consisting of or related to language
23
(noun) large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
23
(adjective) appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
22
(noun) an intermediate platform in a staircase
22
(adjective) in the current fashion or style; (noun) the most recent news or development
22
(adverb) in a literal sense
22
(adjective) feeling or showing love and affection
21
(adjective) of less size or importance
20
(adjective) owning or consisting of land or real estate
20
(noun) an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; an optical device that produces an intense monochromatic beam of coherent light
20
(verb) impose and collect; (noun) a charge imposed and collected
20
(noun) the act of liberating someone or something
20
(noun) the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)
20
(noun) a surrounding or nearby region
20
(noun) a large number or amount; (adverb) to a very great degree or extent
19
(adjective) nonexistent
19
(verb) pass abruptly from one state or topic to another; (noun) a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
19
(verb) whip with a leather strap; (noun) an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
19
(adjective) (of weapons) charged with ammunition
18
(noun) the activity of laughing; the manifestation of joy or mirth or scorn
18
(noun) time available for ease and relaxation
18
(noun) the ratio of the gross weight of an airplane to some factor determining its lift
18
(noun) an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
18
(noun) (New Testament) the Apostle closely associated with St. Paul and traditionally assumed to be the author of the third Gospel
17
(verb) give birth to a lamb; (noun) young sheep
17
(noun) a landowner who leases to others
17
(adjective) showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
17
(verb) cover with lime so as to induce growth; (noun) any of various related trees bearing limes
17
(noun) the act of making a list of items
16
(adjective) lasting a long time without change
16
(adverb) in the recent past
16
(noun) the angular distance between an imaginary line around a heavenly body parallel to its equator and the equator itself
16
(noun) the production of eggs (especially in birds)
16
(verb) bestow a quality on
16
(noun) property that is leased or rented out or let
16
(noun) apparatus for supplying artificial light effects for the stage or a film
16
(adjective) strictly limiting the reference of a modified word or phrase
16
(noun) the humanistic study of a body of literature; (adjective) set afire or burning
16
(noun) something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
15
(noun) someone (especially a child) who learns (as from a teacher) or takes up knowledge or beliefs
15
(conjunction) with the intention of preventing (something undesirable); to avoid the risk of
15
(noun) the probability of a specified outcome
15
(noun) a sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium that was deposited by the remains of marine animals
15
(noun) an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
15
(noun) a state in southern United States on the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War
15
(adjective) steadfast in allegiance or duty
15
(adjective) having or bringing good fortune
15
(noun) German theologian who led the Reformation; believed that salvation is granted on the basis of faith rather than deeds (1483-1546)
14
(noun) (law) a gift of personal property by will
14
(adverb) without good reason
14
(adjective) full of life and energy
14
(noun) United States comic actor in silent films; he used physical danger as a source of comedy (1893-1971)
14
(verb) discover the location of; determine the place of; find by searching or examining
14
(adjective) marked by dejection from being alone
14
(adjective) of or relating to lines of longitude
14
(adjective) below the surround or below the normal position
13
(noun) a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
13
(adjective) bearing or marked with a label or tag
13
(adjective) having a lining or a liner; often used in combination
13
(noun) someone who listens attentively
13
(noun) the ability to read and write
13
(noun) a large number or amount
12
(noun) someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor
12
(noun) someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor
12
(noun) a boy or man
12
(verb) come unraveled or undone as if by snagging; (noun) steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
12
(noun) the immature free-living form of most invertebrates and amphibians and fish which at hatching from the egg is fundamentally unlike its parent and must metamorphose
12
(noun) a plan or design of something that is laid out
12
(adverb) by law; conforming to the law
12
(noun) (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Leo
12
(noun) abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
12
(verb) detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of; as for political or economic favors; (noun) the people who support some common cause or business or principle or sectional interest
12
(noun) (anatomy) a somewhat rounded subdivision of a bodily organ or part
12
(adverb) by a particular locality
12
(noun) the specific site of a particular gene on its chromosome
12
(adjective) having or displaying great dignity or nobility
12
(noun) the authority of a lord
11
(verb) hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.
11
(verb) lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another; (noun) the upper side of the thighs of a seated person
11
(noun) an inclination to do something
11
(noun) anything that is owed to someone else
11
(noun) a professional person trained in library science and engaged in library services
11
(verb) transport in a flatbottom boat; (noun) a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires
11
(noun) a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
11
(noun) an associative relation
11
(adjective) limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text
11
(noun) a legal proceeding in a court; a judicial contest to determine and enforce legal rights
11
(noun) incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
10
(adjective) potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
10
(noun) an arrangement of points or particles or objects in a regular periodic pattern in 2 or 3 dimensions
10
(adjective) conformable to or allowed by law
10
(noun) a field of cultivated and mowed grass
10
(verb) tell anonymously; (noun) an accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape
10
(noun) Russian founder of the Bolsheviks and leader of the Russian Revolution and first head of the USSR (1870-1924)
10
(noun) a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday
10
(noun) United States writer of thrillers (born in 1925)
10
(adjective) of or relating to or characterized by homosexual relations between woman; (noun) a female homosexual
10
(noun) a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum
10
(verb) authorize officially; (noun) excessive freedom; lack of due restraint
10
(noun) a movable top or cover (hinged or separate) for closing the opening at the top of a box, chest, jar, pan, etc.
10
(noun) a manner of living that reflects the person's values and attitudes
10
(noun) any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
10
(noun) an oily organic compound insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents; essential structural component of living cells (along with proteins and carbohydrates)
10
(noun) any animals kept for use or profit
10
(noun) English empiricist philosopher who believed that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience (1632-1704)
10
(noun) prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
10
(verb) come into view indistinctly, often threateningly; (noun) a textile machine for weaving yarn into a textile
10
(verb) move heavily or clumsily; (noun) the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
10
(verb) put together indiscriminately
9
(noun) association of ex-servicemen
9
(noun) someone who makes or enacts laws
9
(noun) lawfulness by virtue of being authorized or in accordance with law
9
(noun) yellow oval fruit with juicy acidic flesh
9
(noun) disposing of money or property with the expectation that the same thing (or an equivalent) will be returned
9
(adjective) relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
9
(noun) a historical area and former kingdom in northwestern Spain
9
(noun) a sheet or band of tough fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages or supporting muscles or organs
9
(adjective) set afire or burning
9
(noun) a protective covering that protects an inside surface
9
(noun) a large city in northwestern England; its port is the country's major outlet for industrial exports
9
(noun) the act of causing to become less
9
(verb) write lyrics for (a song); (adjective) used of a singer or singing voice that is light in volume and modest in range
8
(adjective) filled with a great quantity
8
(noun) a holder or proprietor of land
8
(adverb) the item at the end
8
(noun) 16 ounces avoirdupois
8
(noun) someone who lends money or gives credit in business matters
8
(noun) a political orientation that favors social progress by reform and by changing laws rather than by revolution
8
(noun) the right to take another's property if an obligation is not discharged
8
(verb) remain present although waning or gradually dying
8
(adjective) confined or restricted to a particular location
8
(adverb) according to logical reasoning
8
(adverb) for the most time
8
(adverb) with relatively high volume
8
(noun) self-indulgent sexual desire (personified as one of the deadly sins)
8
(noun) a thin coagulable fluid (similar to plasma but) containing white blood cells (lymphocytes) and chyle; is conveyed to the blood stream by lymphatic vessels
8
(noun) an agranulocytic leukocyte that normally makes up a quarter of the white blood cell count but increases in the presence of infection
7
(verb) do lacework; (noun) a cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment)
7
(verb) move quickly, as if by cutting one's way
7
(noun) the position of a prominent or well-known object in a particular landscape
7
(verb) end, at least for a long time; (noun) a break or intermission in the occurrence of something
7
(noun) an Asian republic at east end of Mediterranean
7
(noun) someone who lectures professionally
7
(noun) a city in southeastern Germany famous for fairs; formerly a music and publishing center
7
(noun) 30 to 300 kilohertz
7
(adjective) (of a gas e.g.) released from chemical combination
7
(adjective) given official approval to act
7
(noun) similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things
7
(noun) the descendants of one individual
7
(noun) the scientific study of language
7
(adjective) of or relating to locomotion; (noun) a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
7
(adverb) in a relaxed manner; not rigid
7
(noun) qualities that attract by seeming to promise some kind of reward
6
(noun) a city in northwestern England
6
(noun) light in a transparent protective case
6
(verb) lash or flick about sharply; (noun) leather strip that forms the flexible part of a whip
6
(noun) garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering
6
(noun) rock that in its molten form (as magma) issues from volcanos; lava is what magma is called when it reaches the surface
6
(noun) someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person
6
(adjective) moving slowly and gently
6
(verb) grant freedom to
6
(noun) United States sculptor and architect whose public works include the memorial to veterans of the Vietnam War in Washington (born in 1959)
6
(noun) a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)
6
(verb) strew; (noun) the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
6
(noun) the financial means whereby one lives
6
(noun) the act of lodging
6
(adjective) lacking companions or companionship
6
(noun) the state of being alone in solitary isolation
6
(noun) United States poet (1917-1977)
6
(noun) United States screenwriter and filmmaker (born in 1944)
6
(adjective) of or pertaining to Martin Luther or his teachings; (noun) follower of Lutheranism
5
(verb) express grief verbally; (noun) a cry of sorrow and grief
5
(noun) a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy
5
(noun) a record in which commercial accounts are recorded
5
(verb) decrease in size, extent, or range
5
(noun) (New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel
5
(noun) town in eastern Massachusetts near Boston where the first battle of the American Revolution was fought
5
(noun) a channel for communication between groups
5
(noun) the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another
5
(noun) a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment
5
(noun) a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship
5
(noun) a quantity of food (other than bread) formed in a particular shape
5
(noun) a determination of the place where something is
5
(verb) sit or recline comfortably; (noun) a room (as in a hotel or airport) with seating where people can wait
5
(noun) a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; usually occurs in association with yttrium
5
(adjective) softly bright or radiant
5
(noun) the council in 1274 that effected a temporary reunion of the Greek Orthodox with the Roman Catholic Church