The most commonly used 200 words in written English, sorted by frequency

The list of 200 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
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"
41,629
(preposition) used to indicate distance or direction from something, separation from something, or the condition of having been deprived of something
30,425
(conjunction) used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly
26,010
(preposition) used to express motion or direction toward a place, person, or thing approached and reached
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
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
11,271
(verb) present tense third-person singular of be
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
8,799
(conjunction) for the reason that; on this ground
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')
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
7,397
(verb) first and third person singular past of be
6,967
(preposition) used as a function word to indicate a participant in an action, transaction, or arrangement
6,479
(verb) have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
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
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
6,080
(adverb) negation of a word or group of words
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
5,222
(pronoun) used as the singular subject pronoun by a speaker or writer in referring to themselves
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
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
4,930
(conjunction) a particle that marks an alternative
4,855
(pronoun) belonging or pertaining to 'him'; used as a pronominal adjective or adjective pronoun
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
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
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
4,120
(verb) have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
3,754
(preposition) except with; unless with; without
3,665
(determiner) the form of the indefinite article used before words beginning with a vowel sound
3,516
(verb) past tense and past participle of have
3,310
(pronoun) used to refer to people in a general way or to a group of people who are not specified
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
3,052
(verb) past tense second-person singular, past tense plural, and past subjunctive of be
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
2,894
(pronoun) a form of the possessive case of plural they used as an attributive adjective, before a noun
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
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
2,251
(verb) preserve in a can or tin; (noun) airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.
2,237
(verb) get (something) done; (noun) the syllable naming the first (tonic) note of any major scale in solmization
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
2,195
(pronoun) the form of the objective and the possessive case of the personal pronoun 'she'
2,194
(verb) third person present of have
2,182
(adverb) in or at that place or location; (noun) a location other than here; that place
2,176
(verb) past participle of be
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
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
2,043
(preposition) used to introduce a question, at what time or period, or under what circumstances
2,006
(verb) decree or ordain; (noun) a fixed and persistent intent or purpose
1,980
(verb) past of will, in various senses
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
1,948
(conjunction) provided that; on condition that; in case that; if; (adverb) to a very great extent or degree
1,891
(adverb) referring to the degree to which a certain quality is present; (noun) a negative
1,872
(pronoun) used to refer to a woman, girl, or female animal previously mentioned or easily identified
1,841
(pronoun) the possessive form of it, used as an attributive adjective
1,771
(verb) expressing possibility; (noun) the month following April and preceding June
1,755
(pronoun) plural form of this used before a plural noun
1,643
(pronoun) used interrogatively as a request for specific information
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
1,593
(conjunction) used, as after comparative adjectives and adverbs, to introduce the second member of an unequal comparison
1,589
(determiner) an unspecified amount or number of; (adjective) remarkable
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
1,569
(verb) assign a time for an activity or event; (noun) an instance or single occasion for some event
1,538
(preposition) used as a function word to indicate entry, introduction, insertion, superposition, or inclusion
1,526
(adverb) with nevertheless the final result
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
1,478
(adverb) to so extreme a degree
1,455
(pronoun) a form of the possessive case of I used as an attributive adjective
1,453
(adjective) not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
1,439
(preposition) around; on the subject of; concerning; (adverb) all around or on all sides
1,411
(adverb) away from home; (verb) reveal (something) about somebody's identity or lifestyle
1,396
(adverb) in addition; too
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
1,322
(adverb) to any degree or extent
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
1,268
(verb) express in words; (noun) the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
1,241
(adverb) before anything else; (adjective) preceding all others in time or space or degree
1,192
(verb) past of can; used to indicate possibility; used in making polite requests
1,176
(pronoun) a form of the possessive case of we used as an attributive adjective
1,173
(adverb) subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors); (noun) that time; that moment
1,157
(adverb) used to form the superlative
1,101
(pronoun) used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself as the object of a verb or preposition
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
1,078
(preposition) behind in place; (adverb) behind or in the rear
1,019
(verb) past and past participle of say
1,009
(pronoun) of or relating to you or yourself or yourselves especially as possessor or possessors
1,004
(adverb) used as intensifiers; 'real' is sometimes used informally for 'really'; 'rattling' is informal
1,000
(preposition) in the space which separates; betwixt; (adverb) in the interval
991
(verb) past and past participle of make; (adjective) (of a bed) having the sheets and blankets set in order
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
972
(verb) move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
966
(verb) find enjoyable or agreeable; (adjective) resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination
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.
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
929
(pronoun) plural of that, or you use those to mean 'people'
928
(noun) a characteristic state or mode of living
927
(verb) past tense of do
924
(verb) carry out; (noun) the act of photographing a scene or part of a scene without interruption
913
(adverb) in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events; (noun) the momentary present
911
(adverb) used as an intensive especially to indicate something unexpected; (verb) become even or more even
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
902
(preposition) at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or to what place; (conjunction) whereas; that
891
(verb) be obliged to; should (expressing necessity); (noun) a necessary or essential thing
885
(verb) fill with people; (noun) (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
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
869
(verb) present participle of be; (noun) the state or fact of existing
847
(preposition) used in questions, the way or manner in which
844
(verb) engage in
839
(pronoun) the same thing as something previously mentioned; (adjective) same in identity
838
(verb) look over, usually with the intention to rob; (noun) an occurrence of 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)
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
820
(verb) follow a procedure or take a course; (adjective) functioning correctly and ready for action
813
(preposition) in front of; preceding in space; ahead of
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
808
(adverb) to or from every one of two or more (considered individually)
808
(adverb) to a great degree or extent; (noun) a great amount or extent
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
792
(adjective) having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified; (noun) benefit
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
769
(noun) instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
766
(noun) the 19th letter of the Roman alphabet
757
(noun) the time during which someone's life continues
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
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
741
(noun) a young person of either sex
733
(adverb) precisely, exactly; (verb) make reparations or amends for
731
(conjunction) as well; not only; equally
724
(verb) enter or assume a certain state or condition
716
(verb) have ownership or possession of
715
(preposition) up and on, upward so as to get or be on, in an elevated position on
706
(verb) give an exhibition of to an interested audience; (noun) the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
704
(adjective) employed in accomplishing something
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
698
(adverb) despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
695
(noun) people in general; especially a distinctive group of people with some shared interest
695
(pronoun) the persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; the objective case of 'we'
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
693
(noun) something determined in relation to something that includes it
689
(verb) ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality; (noun) a telephone connection
679
(verb) place somebody in a particular situation or location; (noun) any area set aside for a particular purpose
656
(adjective) being one more than two; (noun) the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
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
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
646
(noun) an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
635
(adjective) come upon unexpectedly or after searching; (noun) food and lodging provided in addition to money
633
(noun) time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
625
(preposition) used as a function word to indicate the absence or lack of something or someone
624
(verb) mark (Hebrew words) with diacritics; (noun) a geometric element that has position but no extension
617
(verb) command as a general; (adjective) applying to all or most members of a category or group
610
(adverb) only a moment ago; (adjective) used especially of what is legally or ethically right or proper or fitting
610
(verb) communicate or express nonverbally; (noun) the chance to speak
610
(noun) the force of workers available
608
(verb) supply the force or power for the functioning of; (noun) possession of controlling influence
604
(verb) issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end; (noun) something that results
604
(verb) bring forward and present to the mind; (adjective) being or existing in a specified place
602
(preposition) throughout the duration, continuance, or existence of
597
(adjective) any of various alternatives; some other
597
(verb) arrange into a group or groups; (noun) any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
595
(adverb) not much; (adjective) (of children and animals) young, immature
591
(adverb) at a great altitude; (adjective) greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
581
(adverb) in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is; (noun) the present location; this place
579
(verb) give numbers to; (noun) the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
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
576
(noun) the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
575
(noun) the territory occupied by a nation
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
570
(noun) a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
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
556
(adverb) in or to or toward a former location; (verb) be behind; approve of
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
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)
551
(preposition) in opposition or hostility to, in competition with
551
(adverb) with reference to action or condition; without change, interruption, or cessation; (verb) lessen the intensity of or calm
550
(verb) appear to exist
550
(noun) physical strength
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')
533
(noun) a man of such superior qualities that he seems like a deity to other people
528
(adjective) (used of count nouns) each and all of the members of a group considered singly and without exception
524
(verb) give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
523
(verb) educate in or as if in a school; (noun) an educational institution
523
(noun) a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
521
(adverb) in addition
517
(verb) contain or cover; (noun) a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
513
(noun) an item of information that is typical of a class or group
513
(adjective) unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
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
507
(noun) a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
505
(verb) perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards; (noun) the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
501
(verb) engage for a performance; (noun) a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
501
(noun) a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
499
(preposition) between a particular past time and the present; (conjunction) seeing that; because; considering; formerly followed by 'that'
499
(adjective) acknowledged as a supposition; (noun) an assumption that is taken for granted
493
(adverb) not ever; at no time in the past or future
488
(adjective) relating to human society and its members
487
(verb) have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical; (noun) either extremity of something that has length
486
(adverb) on a small scale; (adjective) limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
483
(verb) make or wage war; (noun) the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
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)
479
(verb) be in line with; form a line along; (noun) a formation of people or things one beside another
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