The most commonly used 500 words in written English, sorted alphabetically

The list of 500 words that occur most 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. The 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
20,582
(determiner) used when referring to someone or something for the first time in a text or conversation; used to indicate membership of a class of people or things; (noun) the 1st letter of the Roman alphabet
248
(adjective) (usually followed by 'to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
1,439
(preposition) around; on the subject of; concerning; (adverb) all around or on all sides
345
(preposition) in or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface; over; (opposed to below or beneath); (adverb) (in writing) at an earlier place
240
(adjective) (followed by 'to') in agreement with or accordant with
303
(verb) be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something; (noun) a formal contractual relationship established to provide for regular banking or brokerage or business services
369
(verb) perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); (noun) a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
370
(verb) institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against; (noun) something done (usually as opposed to something said)
322
(noun) any specific behavior
296
(verb) make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
1,078
(preposition) behind in place; (adverb) behind or in the rear
438
(adverb) anew
551
(preposition) in opposition or hostility to, in competition with
332
(verb) begin to seem older; get older; (noun) how long something has existed
251
(verb) be broadcast; (noun) a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
254
(noun) a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
2,773
(determiner) used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing; (adjective) completely given to or absorbed by
292
(verb) let have
299
(adverb) (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
250
(preposition) by the length of; moving in a constant direction on (a road, path, or any more or less horizontal surface); (adverb) with a forward motion
266
(adverb) prior to a specified or implied time
1,396
(adverb) in addition; too
362
(conjunction) in spite of the fact that, even though
388
(adverb) at all times; all the time and on every occasion
317
(verb) present tense first-person singular of be
442
(adjective) of or relating to the United States of America or its people or language or culture; (noun) a native or inhabitant of the United States
432
(preposition) in or through the midst of, surrounded by, in company or association with
262
(verb) be tantamount or equivalent to; (noun) the relative magnitude of something with reference to a criterion
3,665
(determiner) the form of the indefinite article used before words beginning with a vowel sound
256
(noun) an investigation of the component parts of a whole and their relations in making up the whole
30,425
(conjunction) used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly
597
(adjective) any of various alternatives; some other
247
(verb) react verbally; (noun) a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
1,322
(adverb) to any degree or extent
409
(verb) come into sight or view
241
(verb) move towards; (noun) ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation
4,974
(verb) present tense second-person singular and present tense plural of be; (noun) a unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters
463
(noun) a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
303
(preposition) on all sides of; encircling; encompassing; so as to make the circuit of; about; (adverb) by a circular or circuitous route
222
(noun) the products of human creativity; works of art collectively
7,663
(preposition) used to refer to the function or character that someone or something has; during the time of being (the thing specified); (conjunction) used to indicate that something happens during the time when something is taking place; used to indicate by comparison the way that something happens or is done
379
(verb) make a request or demand for something to somebody
4,588
(preposition) primarily, this word expresses the relations of 'presence', 'nearness in place or time', or 'direction toward'; (noun) 100 at equal 1 kip in Laos
327
(adverb) from a particular thing or place or position ('forth' is obsolete); (adjective) used of an opponent's ground
321
(noun) the 2nd letter of the Roman alphabet
556
(adverb) in or to or toward a former location; (verb) be behind; approve of
264
(adjective) having a base
6,479
(verb) have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
823
(preposition) for the reason that, or due to the fact that; (conjunction) by or for the cause that; on this account that; for the reason that
724
(verb) enter or assume a certain state or condition
2,176
(verb) past participle of be
813
(preposition) in front of; preceding in space; ahead of
411
(verb) have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense; (noun) Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
869
(verb) present participle of be; (noun) the state or fact of existing
272
(verb) accept as true; take to be true
322
(adverb) in a most excellent way or manner; (adjective) (superlative of 'good') having the most positive qualities
303
(adverb) comparative of 'well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.; (verb) surpass in excellence
1,000
(preposition) in the space which separates; betwixt; (adverb) in the interval
270
(adjective) being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light; (noun) the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
414
(verb) invest with or as with a body; give body to; (noun) the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
501
(verb) engage for a performance; (noun) a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
731
(conjunction) as well; not only; equally
401
(verb) take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
228
(noun) a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
327
(noun) a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
3,754
(preposition) except with; unless with; without
6,323
(preposition) in the neighborhood of; near or next to; not far from; close to; along with; (adverb) so as to pass a given point
327
(noun) a general-purpose programing language closely associated with the UNIX operating system
689
(verb) ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality; (noun) a telephone connection
2,251
(verb) preserve in a can or tin; (noun) airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.
247
(verb) feel concern or interest; (noun) the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
318
(verb) have with oneself; have on one's person; (noun) the act of carrying something
838
(verb) look over, usually with the intention to rob; (noun) an occurrence of something
412
(verb) give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; (noun) events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
282
(noun) any small compartment
322
(noun) a period of 100 years
343
(adjective) certain to occur; destined or inevitable
554
(verb) cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; (noun) an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
396
(noun) a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
253
(verb) engrave or inscribe characters on; (noun) the inherent complex of attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions
741
(noun) a young person of either sex
354
(verb) perform a special church rite or service for; (noun) one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
409
(noun) a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
225
(verb) assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing; (noun) an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
265
(noun) a collection of things sharing a common attribute
972
(verb) move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
315
(adjective) belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
275
(noun) a group of people living in a particular local area
404
(verb) be a companion to somebody; (noun) an institution created to conduct business
245
(noun) the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
378
(verb) exercise authoritative control or power over; (noun) power to direct or determine
1,192
(verb) past of can; used to indicate possibility; used in making polite requests
575
(noun) the territory occupied by a nation
396
(verb) move swiftly through or over; (noun) education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
387
(verb) engage in social activities leading to marriage; (noun) an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
274
(verb) bring into existence
225
(noun) the 4th letter of the Roman alphabet
341
(noun) a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn
633
(noun) time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
316
(noun) the time during which someone's life continues
570
(noun) a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
305
(noun) the event of dying or departure from life
427
(noun) act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
927
(verb) past tense of do
270
(verb) pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life; (noun) a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers
266
(noun) the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
513
(adjective) unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
2,237
(verb) get (something) done; (noun) the syllable naming the first (tonic) note of any major scale in solmization
276
(verb) past participle of do; (adjective) having finished or arrived at completion
573
(preposition) in a descending direction along; from a higher to a lower place upon or within; at a lower place in or on; (adverb) spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position
225
(adverb) directly or exactly; straight; (adjective) owed and payable immediately or on demand
602
(preposition) throughout the duration, continuance, or existence of
808
(adverb) to or from every one of two or more (considered individually)
353
(adverb) before the usual time or the time expected; (adjective) at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
291
(adjective) of or relating to an economy, the system of production and management of material wealth
282
(noun) the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
308
(verb) produce; (noun) an impression (especially one that is artificial or contrived)
311
(conjunction) either precedes two, or more, cordinate words or phrases, and is introductory to an alternative. It is correlative to 'or'; (adverb) after a negative statement used as an intensive meaning something like 'likewise' or 'also'
487
(verb) have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical; (noun) either extremity of something that has length
262
(adjective) of or relating to or characteristic of England or its culture or people; (noun) an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
254
(adverb) as much as necessary; (noun) an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
230
(adverb) to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
911
(adverb) used as an intensive especially to indicate something unexpected; (verb) become even or more even
279
(adverb) at any time
528
(adjective) (used of count nouns) each and all of the members of a group considered singly and without exception
513
(noun) an item of information that is typical of a class or group
318
(verb) undergo or live through a difficult experience; (noun) the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
231
(noun) opinion or judgment
248
(verb) be opposite; (noun) the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
501
(noun) a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
249
(verb) resolve into factors; (noun) anything that contributes causally to a result
464
(noun) a social unit living together
388
(adverb) to a considerable degree; very much; (adjective) located at a great distance in time or space or degree
314
(noun) a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
432
(adjective) a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by 'a'; a small but indefinite number; (noun) a small elite group
237
(verb) catch or pick up (balls) in baseball or cricket; (noun) a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
465
(verb) be or play a part of or in; (noun) a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
412
(verb) come upon, as if by accident; meet with
1,241
(adverb) before anything else; (adjective) preceding all others in time or space or degree
285
(adjective) being one more than four; (noun) the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
395
(verb) to travel behind, go after, come after
380
(adjective) going or proceeding or coming after in the same direction; (noun) a group of followers or enthusiasts
268
(verb) pay for something; (noun) the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
8,799
(conjunction) for the reason that; on this ground
391
(verb) impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably; (noun) a powerful effect or influence
693
(verb) create (as an entity); (noun) the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
635
(adjective) come upon unexpectedly or after searching; (noun) food and lodging provided in addition to money
355
(adjective) being one more than three; (noun) the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
293
(verb) grant freedom to; free from confinement; (adjective) not limited or hampered; not under compulsion or restraint
291
(noun) a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
4,663
(preposition) used as a function word to indicate a starting point of a physical movement or a starting point in measuring or reckoning or in a statement of limits
271
(verb) beat for the purpose of cleaning and thickening; (adjective) containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
303
(verb) perform as expected when applied; (noun) (mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)
286
(adverb) to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage ('further' is used more often than 'farther' in this abstract sense); (adjective) more distant in especially degree
617
(verb) command as a general; (adjective) applying to all or most members of a category or group
699
(verb) come into the possession of something concrete or abstract; (noun) a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
577
(verb) cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense; (noun) the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
499
(adjective) acknowledged as a supposition; (noun) an assumption that is taken for granted
820
(verb) follow a procedure or take a course; (adjective) functioning correctly and ready for action
533
(noun) a man of such superior qualities that he seems like a deity to other people
279
(noun) advancing toward a goal
792
(adjective) having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified; (noun) benefit
576
(noun) the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
749
(adjective) relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind; (noun) a person who has achieved distinction and honor in some field
597
(verb) arrange into a group or groups; (noun) any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
3,516
(verb) past tense and past participle of have
269
(adverb) partially or to the extent of a half; (adjective) (of siblings) related through one parent only
403
(verb) guide or conduct or usher somewhere; (noun) the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
2,194
(verb) third person present of have
4,120
(verb) have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
5,526
(pronoun) the man or male being (or object personified to which the masculine gender is assigned), previously designated; a pronoun of the masculine gender, usually referring to a specified subject already indicated; (noun) the 5th letter of the Hebrew alphabet
361
(verb) to go or travel towards; (noun) the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
232
(noun) a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
240
(adjective) occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
352
(verb) give help or assistance; be of service
2,195
(pronoun) the form of the objective and the possessive case of the personal pronoun 'she'
581
(adverb) in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is; (noun) the present location; this place
591
(adverb) at a great altitude; (adjective) greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
1,587
(pronoun) used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a male person or animal previously mentioned or easily identified
419
(pronoun) an emphasized form of the third person masculine pronoun; used as a subject usually with 'he'
4,855
(pronoun) belonging or pertaining to 'him'; used as a pronominal adjective or adjective pronoun
387
(noun) the aggregate of past events
391
(adverb) at or to or in the direction of one's home or family; (verb) provide with, or send to, a home
226
(verb) expect and wish; (noun) a specific instance of feeling hopeful
517
(verb) contain or cover; (noun) a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
847
(preposition) used in questions, the way or manner in which
698
(adverb) despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
375
(adjective) characteristic of humanity
5,222
(pronoun) used as the singular subject pronoun by a speaker or writer in referring to themselves
325
(noun) the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
2,104
(preposition) used as a function word to introduce an exclamation expressing a wish; (conjunction) in case that; granting, allowing, or supposing that; introducing a condition or supposition
284
(adjective) being one more than one; (noun) the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
428
(adjective) of great significance or value
22,707
(preposition) the specific signification of 'in' is situation or place with respect to surrounding, environment, encompassment, etc. It is used with verbs signifying being, resting, or moving within limits, or within circumstances or conditions of any kind conceived of as limiting, confining, or investing, either wholly or in part. In its different applications, it approaches some of the meanings of, and sometimes is interchangeable with, 'within', 'into', 'on', 'at', 'of', and 'among'; (adverb) to or toward the inside of
433
(verb) have as a part, be made up out of
262
(verb) become bigger or greater in amount; (noun) a change resulting in an increase
385
(adjective) being or characteristic of a single thing or person; (noun) a single organism
264
(verb) have and exert influence or effect; (noun) a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
384
(noun) a message received and understood
414
(verb) excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of; (noun) a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
1,538
(preposition) used as a function word to indicate entry, introduction, insertion, superposition, or inclusion
11,271
(verb) present tense third-person singular of be
322
(verb) circulate or distribute or equip with; (noun) an important question that is in dispute and must be settled
7,716
(pronoun) the neuter pronoun of the third person, corresponding to the masculine pronoun 'he' and the feminine 'she', and having the same plural ('they', 'their' or 'theirs', 'them')
1,841
(pronoun) the possessive form of it, used as an attributive adjective
300
(pronoun) the neuter reflexive pronoun of It
316
(noun) youngest son of Henry II; King of England from 1199 to 1216; succeeded to the throne on the death of his brother Richard I; lost his French possessions; in 1215 John was compelled by the barons to sign the Magna Carta (1167-1216)
610
(adverb) only a moment ago; (adjective) used especially of what is legally or ethically right or proper or fitting
324
(adjective) having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior; (noun) a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
306
(noun) a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
809
(verb) be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about; (noun) the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
250
(noun) the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
326
(adjective) apprehended with certainty
263
(noun) the syllable naming the sixth (submediant) note of a major or minor scale in solmization
369
(verb) reach or come to rest; (noun) the land on which real estate is located
287
(noun) a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
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
438
(adverb) most recently; (verb) persist for a specified period of time
362
(adverb) comparative of the adverb 'late'
454
(noun) the collection of rules imposed by authority
294
(adverb) used to form the superlative; (noun) something that is of no importance
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
453
(adverb) used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; (adjective) (usually preceded by 'no') lower in quality
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
422
(verb) aim at; (adjective) not showing abrupt variations
928
(noun) a characteristic state or mode of living
330
(verb) make lighter or brighter; (adjective) of comparatively little physical weight or density
966
(verb) find enjoyable or agreeable; (adjective) resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination
479
(verb) be in line with; form a line along; (noun) a formation of people or things one beside another
595
(adverb) not much; (adjective) (of children and animals) young, immature
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
258
(noun) the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
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
505
(verb) perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards; (noun) the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
251
(verb) make a lord of someone; (noun) a titled peer of the realm
298
(verb) have a great affection or liking for; (noun) a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
242
(adverb) in a low position; near the ground; (adjective) less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
991
(verb) past and past participle of make; (adjective) (of a bed) having the sheets and blankets set in order
227
(verb) have as one's principal field of study; (adjective) of greater importance or stature or rank
844
(verb) engage in
275
(noun) (usually plural) the components needed for making or doing something
824
(verb) take charge of a certain job; occupy a certain work place; (noun) an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
984
(determiner) a large number of; (adjective) a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by 'as' or 'too' or 'so' or 'that'; amounting to a large but indefinite number
251
(verb) engage in the commercial promotion, sale, or distribution of; (noun) the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold
328
(adjective) derived from or composed of matter; (noun) the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
357
(noun) a vaguely specified concern
1,771
(verb) expressing possibility; (noun) the month following April and preceding June
1,101
(pronoun) used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself as the object of a verb or preposition
282
(verb) mean or intend to express or convey; (adjective) excellent
352
(noun) thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
259
(verb) come together; (noun) a meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held
395
(noun) one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
610
(noun) the force of workers available
369
(noun) a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
550
(noun) physical strength
342
(verb) be offended or bothered by; take offense with, be bothered by; (noun) that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
291
(verb) plan or create according to a model or models; (noun) a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
248
(noun) the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
255
(noun) a time unit of approximately 30 days
2,080
(adverb) used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; (noun) English statesman who opposed Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and was imprisoned and beheaded; recalled for his concept of Utopia, the ideal state
1,157
(adverb) used to form the superlative
283
(verb) care for like a mother; (noun) a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
243
(noun) a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something
808
(adverb) to a great degree or extent; (noun) a great amount or extent
891
(verb) be obliged to; should (expressing necessity); (noun) a necessary or essential thing
1,455
(pronoun) a form of the possessive case of I used as an attributive adjective
416
(verb) assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to; (noun) a language unit by which a person or thing is known
231
(noun) the people who live in a nation or country
361
(adjective) of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country; (noun) a person who owes allegiance to that nation
352
(noun) the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
282
(adjective) absolutely essential
372
(verb) have or feel a need for; (noun) a condition requiring relief
493
(adverb) not ever; at no time in the past or future
1,453
(adjective) not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
294
(adverb) at the time or occasion immediately following; (adjective) (of a day of the week) nearest (or nearest but one) after the present moment
258
(noun) the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
1,891
(adverb) referring to the degree to which a certain quality is present; (noun) a negative
233
(conjunction) used in negative phrases, especially after neither, to introduce the second member in a series, or any subsequent member
240
(adverb) in a northern direction; (adjective) situated in or facing or moving toward or coming from the north
6,080
(adverb) negation of a word or group of words
314
(verb) make mention of; (noun) a brief written record
302
(adverb) in no respect; to no degree; (noun) a quantity of no importance
913
(adverb) in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events; (noun) the momentary present
579
(verb) give numbers to; (noun) the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
266
(verb) express or raise an objection or protest or criticism or express dissent; (noun) a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
251
(verb) come into possession of
281
(verb) come to one's mind; suggest itself
41,629
(preposition) used to indicate distance or direction from something, separation from something, or the condition of having been deprived of something
409
(preposition) not on; away from; (adverb) at a distance in space or time
230
(verb) make available or accessible, provide or furnish; (noun) the verbal act of offering
261
(noun) place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
437
(adverb) in many cases or instances
538
(adjective) (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age; (noun) past times (especially in the phrase 'in days of old')
6,176
(preposition) the general signification of 'on' is situation, motion, or condition with respect to contact or support beneath; (adverb) indicates continuity or persistence or concentration
359
(adverb) on one occasion
2,981
(pronoun) referring to a person or thing previously mentioned or easily identified; (adjective) used of a single unit or thing; not two or more
1,526
(adverb) with nevertheless the final result
264
(verb) cause to open or to become open; (adjective) affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed
4,930
(conjunction) a particle that marks an alternative
559
(verb) give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority; (noun) (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
234
(noun) a group of people who work together
2,236
(pronoun) a person or thing that is different or distinct from one already mentioned or known about; (adjective) not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
1,176
(pronoun) a form of the possessive case of we used as an attributive adjective
1,411
(adverb) away from home; (verb) reveal (something) about somebody's identity or lifestyle
962
(preposition) above, or higher than, in place or position, with the idea of covering; opposed to under; (adverb) at or to a point across intervening space etc.
716
(verb) have ownership or possession of
693
(noun) something determined in relation to something that includes it
266
(adjective) first and most important; (noun) a fact about some part (as opposed to general)
382
(verb) have or participate in a party; (noun) an organization to gain political power
279
(verb) go across or through; (noun) (military) a written leave of absence
309
(adjective) enduring trying circumstances with even temper or characterized by such endurance; (noun) a person who requires medical care
885
(verb) fill with people; (noun) (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
258
(adverb) by chance
378
(noun) the interval taken to complete one cycle of a regularly repeating phenomenon
469
(noun) a human being
679
(verb) place somebody in a particular situation or location; (noun) any area set aside for a particular purpose
258
(verb) have the will and intention to carry out some action; (noun) a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
624
(verb) mark (Hebrew words) with diacritics; (noun) a geometric element that has position but no extension
330
(noun) a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
375
(adjective) involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
334
(verb) cause to be in an appropriate place, state, or relation; (noun) the particular portion of space occupied by something
366
(adjective) capable of happening or existing; (noun) something that can be done
608
(verb) supply the force or power for the functioning of; (noun) possession of controlling influence
258
(verb) carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions; (noun) a customary way of operation or behavior
604
(verb) bring forward and present to the mind; (adjective) being or existing in a specified place
291
(verb) exert pressure or force to or upon; (noun) the print media responsible for gathering and publishing news in the form of newspapers or magazines
245
(noun) a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
523
(noun) a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
453
(verb) subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition; (noun) (psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents
361
(verb) bring forth or yield; (noun) fresh fruits and vegetable grown for the market
254
(noun) an artifact that has been created by someone or some process
234
(noun) the act or process of producing something
301
(verb) arrange a program of or for; (noun) a system of projects or services intended to meet a public need
277
(noun) something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
524
(verb) give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
462
(adjective) not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole; (noun) a body of people sharing some common interest
282
(verb) reach a decision; (noun) an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
338
(verb) put into a certain place or abstract location
477
(verb) challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of; (noun) an instance of questioning
233
(adverb) to a degree (not used with a negative)
263
(verb) assign a rank or rating to; (noun) a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
362
(adverb) on the contrary
231
(verb) reach a destination, either real or abstract; (noun) the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
222
(verb) interpret something that is written or printed; (noun) something that is read
245
(adjective) being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory; (noun) the basic unit of money in Brazil; equal to 100 centavos
339
(verb) decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion; (noun) a rational motive for a belief or action
232
(noun) a relation between people; ('relationship' is often used where 'relation' would serve, as in 'the relationship between inflation and unemployment', but the preferred usage of 'relationship' is for human relations or states of relatedness)
291
(verb) to give an account or representation of in words; (noun) a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
293
(verb) attempt to find out in a systematically and scientific manner; (noun) systematic investigation to establish facts
604
(verb) issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end; (noun) something that results
337
(verb) go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before; (noun) a coming to or returning home
733
(adverb) precisely, exactly; (verb) make reparations or amends for
224
(noun) normal or customary activity of a person in a particular social setting
242
(noun) an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
298
(verb) decide with authority; (noun) a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
245
(verb) move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time; (noun) a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely
766
(noun) the 19th letter of the Roman alphabet
1,019
(verb) past and past participle of say
839
(pronoun) the same thing as something previously mentioned; (adjective) same in identity
610
(verb) communicate or express nonverbally; (noun) the chance to speak
523
(verb) educate in or as if in a school; (noun) an educational institution
236
(noun) a particular branch of scientific knowledge
453
(adverb) in the second place; (verb) give support or one's approval to
335
(noun) a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
1,489
(verb) perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight; (noun) the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
550
(verb) appear to exist
287
(adjective) (used as a combining form) relating to--of or by or to or from or for--the self; (noun) your consciousness of your own identity
265
(verb) detect some circumstance or entity automatically; (noun) a general conscious awareness
288
(verb) be used by; as of a utility; (noun) work done by one person or group that benefits another
460
(verb) establish as the highest level or best performance; (noun) a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
358
(adjective) (used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
469
(auxiliary verb) used to express what is inevitable or seems likely to happen in the future
1,872
(pronoun) used to refer to a woman, girl, or female animal previously mentioned or easily identified
264
(adverb) without possessing something at the time it is contractually sold; (adjective) primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
1,094
(auxiliary verb) used to express the opinion that the action of the main verb is one of duty, or what is proper, or what is a good idea
706
(verb) give an exhibition of to an interested audience; (noun) the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
409
(verb) take sides for or against; (noun) a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
226
(adjective) marked by correspondence or resemblance
499
(preposition) between a particular past time and the present; (conjunction) seeing that; because; considering; formerly followed by 'that'
222
(verb) hit a single; (adjective) used of flowers having usually only one row or whorl of petals
235
(noun) the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
486
(adverb) on a small scale; (adjective) limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
1,948
(conjunction) provided that; on condition that; in case that; if; (adverb) to a very great extent or degree
488
(adjective) relating to human society and its members
351
(noun) an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
1,589
(determiner) an unspecified amount or number of; (adjective) remarkable
300
(pronoun) used with, or sometimes added to, a word referring to a number to indicate an additional amount, unknown, unspecified, or forgotten
242
(noun) a male human offspring
267
(verb) get (a product) from another country or business; (noun) a document (or organization) from which information is obtained
262
(adverb) in a southern direction; (adjective) situated in or facing or moving toward or coming from the south
233
(adjective) for a special service or occasion; (noun) a special offering (usually temporary and at a reduced price) that is featured in advertising
264
(verb) be standing; be upright; (noun) the position where a thing or person stands
229
(adjective) conforming to or constituting a standard of measurement or value; or of the usual or regularized or accepted kind; (noun) a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
237
(verb) get off the ground; (noun) the beginning of anything
1,268
(verb) express in words; (noun) the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
551
(adverb) with reference to action or condition; without change, interruption, or cessation; (verb) lessen the intensity of or calm
254
(noun) a piece of fiction that narrates a chain of related events
232
(adjective) having strength or power greater than average or expected
278
(verb) give a structure to; (noun) a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
316
(noun) a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
552
(verb) be a student; follow a course of study; be enrolled at an institute of learning; (noun) applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)
400
(verb) cause to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to; (adjective) being under the power or sovereignty of another or others
1,478
(adverb) to so extreme a degree
252
(verb) imply as a possibility
266
(verb) give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to; (noun) the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
228
(verb) come to the surface; (adjective) on the surface
769
(noun) instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
379
(verb) arrange or enter in tabular form; (noun) a set of data arranged in rows and columns
924
(verb) carry out; (noun) the act of photographing a scene or part of a scene without interruption
328
(adjective) be affected with an indisposition
482
(verb) let something be known; (noun) a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)
225
(verb) name formally or designate with a term; (noun) a word or expression used for some particular thing
246
(noun) the amount of money needed to purchase something
250
(verb) put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to; (noun) any standardized procedure for measuring sensitivity or memory or intelligence or aptitude or personality etc
1,593
(conjunction) used, as after comparative adjectives and adverbs, to introduce the second member of an unequal comparison
10,755
(determiner) used to identify a specific person or thing observed or heard by the speaker; referring to a specific thing previously mentioned, known, or understood; (pronoun) used to indicate a person, thing, idea, state, event, time, remark, as pointed out or present, mentioned before, supposed to be understood by the speaker and the listener, or by way of emphasis
71,382
(determiner) used before a noun, with a specifying or particularizing effect, as opposed to the indefinite or generalizing force of the indefinite article "a" or "an"
2,894
(pronoun) a form of the possessive case of plural they used as an attributive adjective, before a noun
1,612
(pronoun) the objective case of they; used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to two or more people or things previously mentioned or easily identified
291
(pronoun) a reflexive form of plural they, used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or the object of a preposition
1,173
(adverb) subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors); (noun) that time; that moment
273
(noun) a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
2,182
(adverb) in or at that place or location; (noun) a location other than here; that place
345
(adverb) (used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
1,755
(pronoun) plural form of this used before a plural noun
3,310
(pronoun) used to refer to people in a general way or to a group of people who are not specified
232
(noun) a special situation
351
(noun) any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
410
(verb) judge or regard; look upon; judge; (noun) an instance of deliberate thinking
236
(adverb) in the third place; (adjective) coming next after the second and just before the fourth in position
5,143
(pronoun) used to indicate a person, thing, idea, state, event, time, remark, as present, near, just mentioned or pointed out, supposed to be understood by the speaker and the listener, or by way of emphasis
929
(pronoun) plural of that, or you use those to mean 'people'
424
(conjunction) granting, admitting, or supposing that; notwithstanding that; if; (adverb) (postpositive) however
458
(noun) the organized beliefs of a period or group or individual
656
(adjective) being one more than two; (noun) the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
869
(preposition) from end to end of, or from side to side of; from one surface or limit of, to the opposite; into and out of at the opposite, or at another, point; (adverb) from beginning to end
474
(adverb) in the way indicated
1,569
(verb) assign a time for an activity or event; (noun) an instance or single occasion for some event
328
(noun) a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
26,010
(preposition) used to express motion or direction toward a place, person, or thing approached and reached
272
(adverb) in contact with each other or in proximity; (adjective) mentally and emotionally stable
521
(adverb) in addition
270
(verb) add up in number or quantity
285
(adverb) as acknowledged; (verb) make level, square, balanced, or concentric
1,391
(adjective) being one more than one; (noun) the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
412
(verb) write by means of a keyboard with types; (noun) a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
787
(preposition) below or lower, in place or position, with the idea of being covered; lower than; beneath; opposed to over; (adverb) down to defeat, death, or ruin
370
(adjective) characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
388
(noun) the body of faculty and students at a university
358
(preposition) used as a function word to indicate continuance (as of an action or condition) to a specified time; (conjunction) as far as; to the place or degree that; especially, up to the time that; till
1,319
(preposition) from a lower to a higher place on, upon, or along; at a higher situation upon; at the top of; (adverb) spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
715
(preposition) up and on, upward so as to get or be on, in an elevated position on
695
(pronoun) the persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; the objective case of 'we'
797
(verb) put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose; (noun) the act of using
704
(adjective) employed in accomplishing something
270
(noun) an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
240
(adverb) under normal conditions
340
(verb) fix or determine the value of; assign a value to; (noun) a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
265
(adjective) distinctly dissimilar or unlike
1,004
(adverb) used as intensifiers; 'real' is sometimes used informally for 'really'; 'rattling' is informal
402
(verb) look at carefully; study mentally; (noun) the visual percept of a region
333
(verb) have need of
483
(verb) make or wage war; (noun) the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
7,397
(verb) first and third person singular past of be
477
(verb) supply with water, as with channels or ditches or streams; (noun) binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
752
(adverb) to a great degree or by a great distance; very much ('right smart' is regional in the United States); (noun) the condition of things generally
2,765
(pronoun) the plural of I, used as the subject of a sentence when the speaker wishes to refer to himself or herself and another or others
909
(adverb) (often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard ('good' is a nonstandard dialectal variant for 'well'); (verb) come up, as of a liquid
3,052
(verb) past tense second-person singular, past tense plural, and past subjunctive of be
1,643
(pronoun) used interrogatively as a request for specific information
2,043
(preposition) used to introduce a question, at what time or period, or under what circumstances
902
(preposition) at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or to what place; (conjunction) whereas; that
330
(conjunction) in case; if; used to introduce the first or two or more alternative clauses, the other or others being connected by 'or', or by 'or whether'. When the second of two alternatives is the simple negative of the first it is sometimes only indicated by the particle 'not' or 'no' after the correlative, and sometimes it is omitted entirely as being distinctly implied in the 'whether' of the first
4,221
(pronoun) used as a function word to introduce a nonrestrictive relative clause and to modify a noun in that clause and to refer together with that noun to a word or word group in a preceding clause or to an entire preceding clause or sentence or longer unit of discourse
650
(conjunction) during the time that; as long as; whilst; at the same time that; (noun) a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition
324
(adjective) being of the achromatic color of maximum lightness; having little or no hue owing to reflection of almost all incident light; (noun) the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)
1,968
(pronoun) originally, an interrogative pronoun, later, a relative pronoun also; used always substantively, and either as singular or plural. See the Note under What, , 1. As interrogative pronouns, 'who' and 'whom' ask the question: What or which person or persons? 'Who' and 'whom', as relative pronouns (in the sense of 'that'), are properly used of persons (corresponding to 'which', as applied to things), but are sometimes, less properly and now rarely, used of animals, plants, etc. 'Who' and 'whom', as compound relatives, are also used especially of persons, meaning the person that; the persons that; the one that; whosoever
356
(adjective) including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete; (noun) all of something including all its component elements or parts
225
(pronoun) the objective case of 'who'
263
(pronoun) that which belongs to whom, used without a following noun as a pronoun equivalent in meaning to the adjective whose
310
(noun) the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase 'the whys and wherefores'
2,006
(verb) decree or ordain; (noun) a fixed and persistent intent or purpose
6,967
(preposition) used as a function word to indicate a participant in an action, transaction, or arrangement
472
(preposition) in the inner or interior part of; inside of; not without
625
(preposition) used as a function word to indicate the absence or lack of something or someone
646
(noun) an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
250
(noun) a unit of language that native speakers can identify
305
(noun) the words that are spoken
932
(verb) exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity; (noun) activity directed toward making or doing something
695
(noun) people in general; especially a distinctive group of people with some shared interest
1,980
(verb) past of will, in various senses
289
(verb) produce a literary work
507
(noun) a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
757
(noun) the time during which someone's life continues
400
(conjunction) nevertheless; notwithstanding; however; (adverb) up to the present time
385
(noun) the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
3,240
(pronoun) the pronoun of the second person singular or plural, used of the person or persons being spoken to, in the nominative or objective case
323
(adjective) (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth; (noun) any immature animal
1,009
(pronoun) of or relating to you or yourself or yourselves especially as possessor or possessors