A1 Adjectives
A1 adjective vocabulary in alphabetical order with definitions and example sentences.
afraid
Feeling fear; frightened because you think that you might be hurt or suffer.
Example
Don't be afraid.
amazing
Very surprising, especially in a way that you like or admire.
Example
an amazing feat/story/experience
angry
Having strong feelings about something that you dislike very much or about an unfair situation.
Example
Her behaviour really made me angry.
bad
Unpleasant; full of problems.
Example
I have some bad news for you, I'm afraid.
beautiful
Having beauty; giving pleasure to the senses or to the mind.
Example
a beautiful woman/girl
better
Of a higher standard or less poor quality; not as bad as something else.
Example
We're hoping for better weather tomorrow.
black
Having the very darkest colour, like coal or the sky at night.
Example
a shiny black car
blond
Describes hair that is fair or pale yellow.
Example
She has blond hair and blue eyes.
blue
Having the colour of a clear sky or the sea on a clear day.
Example
piercing blue eyes
bored
Feeling tired and impatient because you have lost interest in somebody/something or because you have nothing to do.
Example
There was a bored expression on her face.
boring
Not interesting; making you feel tired and impatient.
Example
He's such a boring man!
brown
Having the colour of earth or coffee.
Example
brown eyes/hair
capital
Having the form and size used at the beginning of a sentence or a name.
Example
English is written with a capital ‘E’.
cheap
Costing little money or less money than you expected.
Example
cheap imports/flights
clean
Not dirty.
Example
Are your hands clean?
cold
Having a lower than usual temperature; having a temperature lower than the human body.
Example
I'm cold. Turn the heating up.
common
Happening often; existing in large numbers or in many places.
Example
a common problem/occurrence/practice
complete
Including all the parts, etc. that are necessary; whole.
Example
a complete list/sequence/picture/profile
cool
Fairly cold; not hot or warm.
Example
cool air/water
correct
Accurate or true, without any mistakes.
Example
Do you have the correct time?
dangerous
Likely to injure or harm somebody, or to damage or destroy something.
Example
The situation is extremely dangerous.
dark
With no or very little light, especially because it is night.
Example
a dark room/street/forest/night
dear
Used at the beginning of a letter before the name or title of the person that you are writing to.
Example
Dear Sir or Madam
delicious
Having a very pleasant taste or smell.
Example
Who cooked this? It's absolutely delicious.
different
Not the same as somebody/something; not like somebody/something else.
Example
American English is significantly different from British English.
difficult
Not easy; needing effort or skill to do or to understand.
Example
The competition judges were given a very difficult task.
dirty
Not clean.
Example
dirty hands/clothes/dishes
early
Near the beginning of a period of time, an event etc.
Example
the early morning
east
In or towards the east.
Example
East Africa
easy
Not difficult; done or obtained without a lot of effort or problems.
Example
an easy way to make bread
excited
Feeling or showing happiness and enthusiasm.
Example
Staff got excited when they heard they were getting a bonus.
exciting
Causing great interest or excitement.
Example
This is an exciting opportunity for me.
expensive
Costing a lot of money.
Example
an expensive car/restaurant/holiday
extra
More than is usual, expected, or than exists already.
Example
extra money/cash/funding
famous
Known about by many people.
Example
a famous artist/actor
fantastic
Extremely good; excellent.
Example
He's done a fantastic job.
fast
Moving or able to move quickly.
Example
a fast car/horse
fat
Having too much flesh on it and weighing too much.
Example
a big fat man/woman
favorite
Liked more than all others.
Example
Blue is my favorite color.
final
Being or happening at the end of a series of events, actions, statements, etc.
Example
his final act as party leader
fine
In good health.
Example
‘How are you?’ ‘Fine, thanks.’
free
Without particular plans or arrangements; not busy.
Example
Are you free on Saturday? We're having a barbecue.
friendly
Behaving in a kind and pleasant way because you like somebody or want to help them.
Example
a warm and friendly person
full
Containing or holding as much or as many as possible; having no empty space.
Example
a full bottle of wine
funny
Making you laugh.
Example
a funny story/joke
good
Of high quality or an acceptable standard.
Example
a good book
gray
Having a gray color.
Example
The sky looks gray today.
great
Very good or pleasant.
Example
He's a great bloke.
green
Having the colour of grass or the leaves of most plants and trees.
Example
green grass/leaves/vegetables
happy
Feeling or showing pleasure; pleased.
Example
a happy family
hard
Difficult to do, understand or answer.
Example
a hard choice/decision/question
healthy
Having good health and not likely to become ill.
Example
a healthy child/baby/adult
hot
Having a high temperature; producing heat.
Example
It's hot today, isn't it?
important
Having a great effect on people or things; of great value.
Example
an important issue/question/point/factor
interested
Giving your attention to something because you enjoy finding out about it or doing it; showing interest in something and finding it exciting.
Example
He sounded genuinely interested.
interesting
Attracting your attention because it is/they are special, exciting or unusual.
Example
The article raises several interesting questions.
large
Big in size or quantity.
Example
a large group/city/area/crowd/family
late
Arriving, happening or done after the expected, arranged or usual time.
Example
I'm sorry I'm late.
left
On the side of your body that is towards the west when you are facing north.
Example
Fewer people write with their left hand than with their right.
light
Pale in colour.
Example
He's got light blue eyes.
little
Not big; small; smaller than others.
Example
a little house
local
Belonging to or connected with the particular place or area that you are talking about or with the place where you live.
Example
local people/residents/businesses
long
Measuring or covering a great length or distance, or a greater length or distance than usual.
Example
She had long dark hair.
main
Being the largest or most important of its kind.
Example
Be careful crossing the main road.
married
Having a husband or wife.
Example
a married man/woman
modern
Of the present time or recent times.
Example
the modern industrial world
natural
Existing in nature; not made or caused by humans.
Example
the natural world (= of trees, rivers, animals and birds)
near
A short distance away.
Example
His house is very near.
negative
Bad or harmful.
Example
The crisis had a negative effect on trade.
new
Not existing before; recently made, invented, introduced, etc.
Example
Have you read her new novel?
next
Coming straight after somebody/something in time, order or space.
Example
The next train to Baltimore is at ten.
nice
Pleasant or attractive.
Example
a nice day/smile/place
north
In or towards the north.
Example
North London
OK
Safe and well; in a calm or happy state.
Example
Are you OK?
old
Of a particular age.
Example
be… years, months, etc. old, The baby was only a few hours old.
online
Available on or done using the internet or other computer network.
Example
Online shopping is both cheap and convenient.
only
Used to say that no other or others of the same group exist or are there.
Example
She's their only daughter.
open
Allowing things or people to go through; not closed or blocked.
Example
A wasp flew in the open window.
opposite
On the other side of a particular area from somebody/something and usually facing them.
Example
Answers are given on the opposite page.
orange
Between red and yellow in colour.
Example
yellow and orange flames
other
Used to refer to people or things that are additional or different to people or things that have been mentioned or are known about.
Example
Mr Harris and Mrs Bate and three other teachers were there.
own
Used to emphasize that something belongs to or is connected with somebody.
Example
It was her own idea.
past
Gone by in time.
Example
in past years/centuries
perfect
Having everything that is necessary; complete and without faults or weaknesses.
Example
in perfect condition
personal
Your own; not belonging to or connected with anyone else.
Example
The novel is written from personal experience.
pink
Pale red in colour.
Example
pale pink roses
poor
Having very little money; not having enough money for basic needs.
Example
They were too poor to buy shoes for the kids.
popular
Liked or enjoyed by a large number of people.
Example
Andalucia is a popular tourist destination.
positive
Good or useful.
Example
The tests have so far yielded positive results.
possible
That can be done or achieved.
Example
New technology has made it possible to communicate more easily.
present
Existing or happening now.
Example
I am not satisfied with the present situation.
pretty
Attractive without being very beautiful.
Example
a pretty face
purple
Having the colour of blue and red mixed together.
Example
a purple flower/dress
quick
Done with speed; taking or lasting a short time.
Example
a quick look/check/search
quiet
Making very little noise.
Example
her quiet voice
ready
Fully prepared for what you are going to do and able to start it immediately.
Example
Just a minute—I'm almost ready.
real
Actually existing or happening and not imagined or pretended.
Example
a real danger/risk/threat/concern
red
Having the colour of blood or fire.
Example
bright/light/dark red lipstick
rich
Having a lot of money or property.
Example
She's one of the richest women in the world.
right
True or correct as a fact.
Example
Did you get the answer right?
sad
Unhappy or showing unhappiness.
Example
We are very sad to hear that you are leaving.
same
Exactly the one or ones referred to or mentioned; not different.
Example
We have lived in the same house for twenty years.
short
Measuring or covering a small length or distance, or a smaller length or distance than usual.
Example
He had short curly hair.
sick
Physically or mentally ill.
Example
a sick child
similar
Like somebody/something but not exactly the same.
Example
We have very similar interests.
slow
Not moving, acting or done quickly; taking a long time; not fast.
Example
a slow pace/speed
small
Not large in size, number, degree, amount, etc.
Example
a small town/village/community
south
In or towards the south.
Example
South Wales
special
Not ordinary or usual; different from what is normal.
Example
The school will only allow this in special circumstances.
strong
Having a lot of physical power so that you can lift heavy weights, do hard physical work, etc.
Example
He's strong enough to lift a car!
sure
Confident that you know something or that you are right.
Example
‘Is that John over there?’ ‘I'm not sure’.
tall
Having a greater than average height.
Example
She's tall and thin.
terrible
Very unpleasant; making you feel very unhappy, upset or frightened.
Example
a terrible experience
tired
Feeling that you would like to sleep or rest; needing rest.
Example
to be/look/feel tired
useful
That can help you to do or achieve what you want.
Example
a useful tool
welcome
Accepted or wanted somewhere.
Example
I'll go, then. I know when I'm not welcome.
west
In or towards the west.
Example
West Africa
white
Having the colour of fresh snow or of milk.
Example
a crisp white shirt
wonderful
Very good, pleasant or a lot of fun.
Example
This is a wonderful opportunity to invest in new markets.
yellow
Having the colour of lemons or butter.
Example
pale yellow flowers
young
Having lived or existed for only a short time; not fully developed.
Example
Young babies need to be wrapped up warmly.